The 2008 Bills: Now with 13% less Buffalo!

Screenwriter and columnist Yoni Brenner gives us Deadspin's 2008 Buffalo Bills preview, including his take on the team's decision to play eight games over the next five years in Toronto, including this November 30th against Miami:

"How soon before the "Shout!" song is supplanted by Gordon Lightfoot? How soon before Trent Edwards is required to call audibles in English and French? How soon before the locker room is riven by differing viewpoints on the War of 1812? It's sort of like your girlfriend announcing that she's going to spend a couple nights a week at this handsome, rich guy's bachelor pad—let's call him, I don't know, Pierre. But don't worry! It won't affect your relationship at all. In fact, as she tells it, the intermittent Pierre-boffing is actually going to make your relationship stronger."

Tim Russert: 1950 - 2008

MSNBC is reporting that Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press, has died today of a heart attack after collapsing at NBC's Washington news bureau. He was 58 years old.

Not to mention a huge Buffalo Bills fan. He even invoked god at one point to help the Bills beat the Cowboys in the Super Bowl.

I'll try to collect the links as they show up. They're talking about him right now on MSNBC if you can tune in.

NBC’s Tim Russert Dies
New York Times

TIM RUSSERT DIES FROM APPARENT HEART ATTACK
NYPost

NBC News' Russert dies at 58
MSNBC.com

Tim Russert's last interview
Vigilance needed on campaign claims - MSNBC

Who the F#@! Will Wear a Helmet Like This?

Something called the Gladiator helmet could be the next big trend in NFL headwear. And Jon Corzine can balance the budget of New Jersey without making everyone broke.

Seriously, who the hell in the NFL is going to wear this monstrosity?!? I know, they're supposedly so much better in terms of the prevention of head and neck injuries, but could you imagine Peyton Manning wearing one of these? LaDainian Tomlinson? Hell, I don't even think Michael Vick would wear one to a dog fighting contest.

I mean, Mark Kelso isn't in the league any more. He's about the only player I can think of who'd ever consider wearing something like this!

In Buffalo until Wednesday

This is the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, the home of the original buffalo wing and one of the many places I'll be checking out while I'm up here.

While this means I'll be licking my wing-sauced fingers and hoping the Bills don't make a fool of themselves on Monday night, it also means there won't be any new cartoons until Thursday.

But fear not true believer, the news is just piling up for me to cover. Bob Levy is still AWOL, Blackwater is still being run like a bunch of Mexican bandits in Iraq, and the bears of New Jersey will survive for another season.

Were you ready for some football?

It wasn't a good day for the teams from NJ/NY. The Jets lost (once again) to the Patriots in the Meadowlands, while the Giants fell in a high-scoring game to the Wade Philips' led Cowboys. And to add injury to insult, both Chad Pennington and Eli Manning were hurt.

My Buffalo Bills didn't fare any better, loosing on a last-second field goal by the Broncos. Now, I may be biased, but will the refs EVER call holding on the Broncos? It's ridiculious! There were at least 8 plays I saw where holding was blatant, right at the point of attack. I know the NFL backed the referees off the line of scrimmage this year as a precaution against injury, but com'on!!!

And don't let me just blame it on the Broncos. J.P. Losman took a step back to say...2005!!!! He had less than 100 yards passing, and after Elam missed from 43 yards with a little over 3 minutes in the game, the Bills only ran 1:19 off the clock thanks to a bone-headed incomplete J.P. Losman pass on an attempted deep route to Lee Evans. Hmmmm, Marshawn Lynch was averaging over 5 yards a carry, and we need to run time off the clock. LETS PASS IT! Thanks 'I don't know DICK...Jauron.' From that point, Denver took possession with 2:13 to go, and it used literally every last second to win the game.