Just a quick thought... an immediate reaction if you will.

As I sit here hosting Sportstalk Saturday, the reports continue to roll in regarding NFL free agency, and the celebrated Howard Simon Show question, "Are the Bills better today?", is unclear. Sure, they've signed a second-string signal caller in Ryan Fitzpatrick, but everyone in the AFC East has made a significant improvement in the first 24 hours of free agency.

(Fitzpatrick married a fellow Harvard athlete who played goalkeeper on the Crimson soccer team. Did the Bills get rights to their child?)

I'm not going to jump into the NHL rhetoric -- which may be true, according to my talk with Kevyn Adams -- that Buffalo is the opposite of a destination city, but you have to wonder what the heck is going on.

The Jets picked up a linebacker and cornerback who would be the best on the Bills, in Baltimore's Bart Scott and Philadelphia's Lito Sheppard, respectively. The Patriots received a second-round pick for their second-string quarterback, Matt Cassel (Kansas City), and also picked up Fred Taylor, away from the Bills. They also got a pick for a linebacker on the extreme downside of his career, Mike Vrabel. The Dolphins added a starting safety in Gibril Wilson.

I'm not saying things have to happen in the first 24 hours, and the truth is that the Bills could sign someone the minute I leave the studio to head for the gym. Still, this is a scary spot for Bills fans, who are facing a daunting schedule -- which could look less daunting come September, this is the NFL -- and opened up a hole at left guard by releasing Derrick Dockery, when there may have been something in return left by the fax machine (?!?).

Is it absurd to suggest the Bills best moves would be the two with the fewest question marks. Re-inking Angelo Crowell and Jabari Greer would bring back two guys who their teammates like. You might doubt that about Crowell, but look at it from the athlete's perspective... he left one day after he knew he would get paid. That's the culture.

As far as Greer, I have a feeling that Detroit is going to give him dollars that ensure a private island, but if not, why not fork over the bucks for a corner who knows "the system." Greer isn't a world-beater, but he's solid, and hopefully after 2009, you're looking at him as the No. 2 to an improved Leodis McKelvin, with Terrence McGee getting far too much money somewhere else.

Look at it this way: the Jets hole is.... quarterback. Maybe running back. Either way, with Sheppard across from Darrelle Revis, and Scott behind that defensive line... wow. The Dolphins and Pats certainly have less holes than the Bills. There's a lot of work to be done, and it can be, but if Friday is the starting line, the Bills got a start that is average at best, and the other runners might be faster, anyway.

Theser are just some quick thoughts that could be moot in 20 minutes. I don't care if that's irresponsible: nick@wgr550.com

Scanning the list of NFL free agents, here are five quick names that jumped off the bottom of the page:

Chris Simms, quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Simms isn't a name that's really "under the radar," but I'd love to see him get a shot. Had a miserable start to 2006 before that pesky exploded spleen thing put him down for almost two years. The 10-TD, 7-INT season he put together in 2005 has lingered in my mind for a while now. Hard to believe he's 28.

Leonard Pope, tight end, Arizona Cardinals (RFA) -- The 6'8', 258-pound under-achieving monster kind of screams Courtney Anderson and whoever the other stupid tall guy the Bills signed in 2008, but hear me out. Pope was absolutely vicious for Georgia, and was behind several receiving options on the NFC Champs. Then again, we said the same about Bryant Johnson...

Kendall Simmons, guard, Pittsburgh Steelers -- The Derrick Dockery demons that say, "He comes from a good offensive line" trouble me, but may be a bargain coming off an injury that sidelined him for much of 2008.

Maurice Morris, running back, Seattle Seahawks -- Combining with Fred Jackson for a few weeks might be enough to lure him to Buffalo for some increased workload. I wonder if a one-year deal would sound about right to a guy who generally averages over 4.2 yards-per-carry but has never hauled more than 162 carries in a year. The Oregon Duck could end up back in Seattle, tempted by another chance to be a true No. 1 back if he can trump Julius Jones.

Andra Davis, linebacker, Cleveland Browns -- While I'm expecting the Bills to go OLB/DE with their No. 1 pick in April's draft, Davis would be a servicable alternative re-signing Angelo Crowell.

Email: nick@wgr550.com

(WGR 550) -- After playing for Toronto, Florida, Columbus, Carolina, Phoenix and Chicago, local product Kevyn Adams will suit up for the (radio home of the) Buffalo Sabres.

Adams will join The Howard Simon Show from 8 to 9 a.m. Thursday morning, as well as co-host a trade deadline show with me (Nick Mendola) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 4. We caught up with 34-year old Stanley Cup Champion and former first round pick of the Boston Bruins early Thursday.

Q: So you're retired, and back living at home... a lot of "returning the favor" to your wife for years of being out-of-town going on?

A: Yes. There's a lot of driving kids to school, and the fact that I haven't been traded this year is almost unbelievable, even though I'm not playing. I thought I still could get traded.

Q: What's Buffalo's reputation around the league?

A: It's very good actually in terms of living here in Buffalo, the guys love it. In terms of the organization itself, I think it's very good around the league. Guys like playing for Lindy and they know they're going to do it the right way. Guys sometimes get a little concerned when they come here, just because they don't know enough about the city, but once they get here, they generally like it.

Q: So, do you do ambassador work for Buffalo around the league?

A: I do. You can ask guys over the years. I've always spoken highly of this area. We'd come into town and everyone would get on my case because obviously the downtown needs a little work and that's all guys ever see, so I'd say, "Hey, there's a lot of nice areas..." I've always kept a place at Lake Chautauqua, so I had roots even when I was gone all those years.

Q: The Sabres are going through goaltender issues with Ryan Miller's high-ankle sprain, and now Patrick Lalime has a flu bug. You won a Cup with Carolina with Cam Ward and Martin Gerber splitting time in net. What's that like for a locker room?

A: Good question. I can't say we weren't concerned when Cam Ward went in net. We were down 2-0 in the series going into Montreal, and kid is a rookie. We got unconcerned real quick because he was just phenomenal. What calmed us in front of him was just his mannerisms. The kid was more calm at 20 years-old than all of us who had been in the league for a while. So, I think once he got on a roll, we were comfortable.

Q: You played a big role in helping Patrick Kane get acclimated to the league last year in Chicago. Obviously, folks around here think he's pretty special, but what's the scoop on him?

A: He's a world-class talent. It just oozes out of him. He's just so skilled. He does some things, even as an 18-year old last year, that I've never seen before with the puck. He's just going to have to realize that it's not going to come easy all the time. He's going to have to fight through some adversity as we go along here, but he's a special player and he'll be an elite player for a long-time.

Q: I've gotta admit, as a charter member of the beard club for young guys... your lack of that beautiful beard we saw in the 2005-06 Cup run is both disappointing, and alarming.

A: That was a good, nice red one. Maybe I'll grow it again, just to feel like I'm playing still.

Email: nick@wgr550.com

There are precious few moments where I know, I mean know, what's coming next in a hockey game, regardless of the score, situation, or teams. Saturday night felt like one of them. Sitting in section 121, I saw Rangers forward Scott Gomez charge behind the net, put his stick on Ryan Miller, along with his leg for good measure, sending the Sabres star goaltender to the ice.

Now, as a guy who would run a goaltender in his embarassingly-low-level playing days, I can tell you what's coming next generally isn't pretty, and as Miller limped back to his crease in the hopes of a puck accidentally hitting his chest, my eyes darted around the ice to see who would be heading after Gomez. Looked like Paul Gaustad.

Indeed, New York coach Tom Renney left Gomez out for the next shift, and Lindy Ruff didn't need to swap lines. There across from Gomez at puck-drop was Gaustad, Miller's good friend and a hulk of a man. The crowd was ready, booing and understanding that even on the softest of soft teams, something is going down.

The puck was dropped.

Gomez was off-balance.

Gaustad moved his arms into cross-check mode...

...Pushed Gomez in the back and skated away.

That'll teach 'em.

I can't recall a time I was more let down by the physical incapabilities of the Buffalo Sabres. Here was a non-fighting-5'11"-on-a-good-day-center who just up-ended your best healthy player. Here is a chance for literally anyone on your team, up-to-and-including Derek Roy, to pony-up for a teammate. Here is a moment that for the rest of his time in Buffalo, regardless of stature, fans can point to the moment that (Insert name here) got the gumption to do something righteous.

Instead we got Tim Connolly trying to get at Gomez five minutes after the fact, and the refs doing their best to ensure nothing happens.

What does it mean when the guy who steps up has a head injury history shakier than post-op Frankenstein? It means he didn't think anyone else would do the job. So, after two years of "Tim Whinerle" and "Tim Concussionly," I've got a newfound level of respect for No. 19, and a newfound bevy of questions for many of his teammates.

Welcome to a playoff run with no Miller, no Vanek, and precious little heart. For three weeks, I've been slowly-moving towards "Why not?" -- "The Sabres might be pretty good," Feb. 18 -- as I wrote last week. All it took was one moment, one ridiculous moment where your goaltender is treated like a character in "Street Fighter" to prove that nothing's changed.

No excuses. No "Gomez is a respected veteran" garbage, and I'm especially not buying what Lindy Ruff did to try and take blame off his team. If your coach has to make an excuse about not wanting to give up a 5-on-3 with a three-goal lead in the third period at home as if that is actually believable, there should be a level of embarassment.

You generally don't write this "column" unless you are 100 percent sure it's what you believe... unless you know that every word you write you'd say to a man in that locker room if challenged. And in the immortal words of one Forrest Gump, that's all I have to say about that.

It's all tough stuff, though I'm imagining not as tough as what lies ahead. Anyone need tickets for Tuesday?

Email: nick@wgr550.com

BEFORE YOU READ ANYTHING IN THIS BLOG... This has absolutely nothing to do with sports, and I am not a political expert by any means. What this is is a column on two things that mean something to me as a human being. This isn't featured on the front page of the site. It's just on my blog. In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a moderate who generally leans democrat:

You can read Dick Gregory's political comedy all over the Internet, and it's pretty darn funny. For example, this is a part of his routine from the early 1960s (For the purposes of this joke, it should be noted that Gregory is an African-American).

"Last time I was down South I walked into this restaurant and this white waitress came up to me and said, 'We don't serve colored people here,' I said. 'That's all right. I don't eat colored people. Bring me a whole fried chicken,'."

Yet the email I received this weekend from my sister ticked me off to no end. Gregory spoke at my sister's college, Colgate, this past Friday, and during a talk about conspiracies and not being naive, seemed to allege that Flight 3407 was a conspiracy. From Colgate's web site:


"In one piece, he suggested that the plane crash in Buffalo occurred because Beverly Eckert, one of the passengers on board, had requested that the investigation about her husband's death in the 9/11 attacks be re-opened two days earlier."

Look, Dick Gregory, I went to college, I'm moderate at best and I watch documentaries that uncover all the shady goings-on in America, but if you want to come into New York State and grandstand on what is surely an absurd concept one week after our region was shocked by a 50-death tragedy... Don't come back. I generally want to punch the "college is only for liberals" pundits in the face, but thanks for reinforcing the stereotype, buddy.

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I don't want to turn in my democrat card or anything, but I'm going to stay on the conservative side for a second. At church this Sunday, they laid out the new abortion rights bill that's going into the state legislature. With the understand that catholicism likely has a multiple-point agenda in the case, apparently one of the aspects of the bill is that Catholic hospitals would have to grant abortions under law to stay open, which as you could guess is completely contrary to the Church's teaching. Whether you're a freedom of religion person, or anti-religion person, I don't think that should fly. Maybe that's just me.

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Something funny about sports.

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Email: nick@wgr550.com

I write about sports so often that I'm giving myself the gift of a birthday blog, and passing the benefits on to you. Here's a list of thinks I don't talk about a lot, but really enjoy:

1. Food and bars in Buffalo... You don't have to go on vacation to gain 100 pounds... just spend a week going out. A short list: Louie's hot dogs downtown, Mohawk Place, Big John's Pasta House in Tonawanda, The Nine-Eleven Tavern in South Buffalo, Founding Fathers downtown, Ilio DiPaolo's in Blasdell, Chef's downtown, et cetera. There's such a good variety that I'm terrified to leave out all the chefs, waiters and barkeeps who deliver on a weekly basis... Red Pepper Vietnamese in Amherst, Mexican Denny's on the Blvd (I think it's called El Palenque), El Canelo on Dingens... oh boy.

2. The song, "Your Humble Narrator," by Two Cow Garage... There's something to be said about a band who's goal is to kick your guts in with rock and roll, but there's something more to be said when they write a guttural "ballad" that has more garage-punk roots than a 1,000 year-old Oak tree on Bidwell. Micah Schnabel's voice probably isn't for everyone, but I don't much care.

3. Antonín Leopold Dvořák -- A friend emailed today asking if I liked classical music, and the answer is yes and no. I think there is a lot of mediocre material passed off as masterpiece, largely on account of pretention. The good stuff, however, is legit. I'm more a "piece" than composer guy, except in the case of Dvorak, who's music is genius. I would honestly say he has a lot of rock and roll in his music. Maybe I'm crazy and dumb, but he works for me.

4. Older movies that set standards in genre -- Next time you go to see the next big action, suspense or horror film, save yourself the trouble and rent:

1. Alfred Hitchcock's "Dial 'M' For Murder," "Vertigo," "Strangers on a Train," etc.
2. "Taking of the Pelham 1,2,3" -- the original. Walter Matthau > John Travolta.
3. "Die Hard"
4. "The Blues Brothers"
5. "The Shining" -- Like "The Godfather," I watch it almost any time it's on.
6. "Once Upon A Time in the West" -- the greatest Western ever made.
7. "The Last Waltz" -- Scorsese plus The Band. Any questions?
8. "Jeremiah Johnson"

If you're an "Art house" guy, this applies to you, too. Ingmar Bergman's "The Virgin Spring," also called "Jungfrukallan," is 100 years ahead of its time in haunting moral issues and more. Max Von Sydow is a more important Swede than any hockey player.

Recent "not necessarily great" movies that kicked my butt:

1. "Hot Rod" -- not for everyone, but totally irreverent and relatively-clean.
2. "Rocket Science" -- A stuttering kid tries to join a debate team.
3. "Stranger Than Fiction"
4. "Green Street Hooligans" -- Ten times better if Elijah Wood could act "tough"
5. "Good Night, and Good Luck" -- Glad I wasn't in the media during the Cold War.

5. Soccer... You don't get it, I know. You might even hate it. But do me a favor and tell me why, and we'll talk about things like how most American football games are 3-2.

6. is my least favorite number. So it's out.

7. Dogs

Thanks for all the birthday wish emails. You're all pretty swell: nick@wgr550.com

Why not?

It's a question I found myself asking during the Leafs game, at the risk of feeling "homerish." I mean, what happened to having fun watching the hometown team?

Truth be told, the Sabres took us on a wond'rous ride a few years back and followed it up by winning the most games of anyone in the NHL. We were spellbound, we were driven, and then we were let down by a bunch of kids who didn't know better, and a bunch of veterans who couldn't show them the way.

So, I ask again for this year... why not? If you think the Sabres are awful, then the rest of the league is even worse. Look at their records against the East's Top Ten:

Boston- 3-2 (home game left)
New Jersey- 2-1 (home game left)
Washington- 1-2 (road game left)
Philadelphia- 0-1 (Two road, one home left)
NY Rangers- 2-0 (One road, one home left)
Montreal 2-1-1 (One road, one home left)
Carolina 1-1 (Two road left)
Florida 1-1 (Two home left)
Pittsburgh 2-1-1 (Season series concluded)
TOTAL 14-10-2 (Seven road, seven at HSBC Arena)

Those are slightly misleading on account of shoot-out wins for the Sabres, but when you think about it, this team has a lot more stupid losses to teams like Atlanta, the Islanders and Ottawa than to the above teams. In fact, if you take out Buffalo's 8-6-1 record against the West, the Sabres' real pathetic record is against the East's 11 through 15 teams.. a moribund 8-6-3 against the bottom feeders

Plus, it's more fun if you watch the team as a contender. It makes all sorts of "Jochen Hecht and a defenseman for Pierre-Marc Bouchard's oddly-shaped head" fan-created trades possible.

---- For the record, the Hockey Buzz site has Buffalo and Calgary working a Tim Connolly/pick/prospect for Adrian Aucoin/top prospect deal... which is interesting if Buffalo is dealing a blue liner. I think a Super Trade between the teams is in order... Connolly/Hecht/Tallinder/prospect/pick for Conroy/Cammalleri/Aucoin. Let's do this, fellas. Darcy Regier hasn't super fleeced someone since Jakub Klepis for Mike Grier. Also, I am well-aware I'm making up trades that would never happen, so save the ALL CAPS, URE SO DUMM 2 THINK N-E WOULD EVR DO THAT emails. Please. ----

To be honest, the only teams I think the Sabres absolutely couldn't beat in a seven-game series are the Devils and Capitals, and one of those you could talk me into a win (Washington. Still pretty green, and Propecia between the pipes).

Ryan Miller's having the best year of his pro career. Thomas Vanek has decided that playing defense is alright. Chris Butler's even better than I thought he'd be, and Drew Stafford is playing like the guy we saw at North Dakota.

Sure when the Bills were 4-1, I asked "Why not?", and ended up getting a spinkick to the Adam's Apple, but I'm a sucker and I don't want to play the "jaded @$$" role my entire sports life.

Let's have fun, folks. It's hockey. It's Buffalo. Why not?

Email: nick@wgr550.com