Yesterday's game in the heat and humidity of South Florida looked like it had slipped away from the Bills after they had built an early 14-0 lead. But trailing by a point late in the 4th quarter, their $16 million man, defensive end Mario Williams, sacked Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill and forced him to fumble into the backfield. The fumble was recovered by defensive tackle Kyle Williams - but just barely. Kyle looked like he wanted to try to pick up the ball and run with it but fell clumsily and was able to grab it with some difficulty. From there, quarterback Thad Lewis led the Bills into filed goal territory where former Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter put them up by 2 points. His subsequent short kick-off was returned to mid-field and the game finally ended with a hail-mary pass to the end zone which was knocked to the ground.
Bills coach Doug Marrone was asked at his post-game press conference if he was surprised that the Dolphins were passing at that point in the game. He considered his answer carefully before saying "you would really have to ask them about that". I like Marrone a lot. He is trying to change the culture of mediocrity which has become entrenched within the team for almost 15 years now. He talks about expecting to win. Chan Gailey, by comparison, often looked thankful to win and sometimes even surprised. Not that he experienced the sensation all that often. Marrone's team is now 3-4 and yesterday he talked about wanting the team to "get on a roll". It's going to be tough however as the Bills play at New Orleans next week. The Saints lost their last game at New England and will have had 2 weeks to prepare for the Bills. Not that coming off a bye week seemed to help the Dolphins much yesterday.
One thing I noticed watching yesterday's game was the surprising number of empty seats at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. The Dolphins have a rich history with much success in their past. The franchise has had a Hall of Fame coach in Don Shula and was quarterbacked by one of the most prolific passers the NFL has ever seen in Dan Marino for many years. The team has not reached the Superbowl since the 1984 season but had numerous playoff appearances with Marino under centre. Florida is college football country with the Gators, Seminoles and Hurricanes all enjoying very strong fan support. The state's 2 other NFL franchises, in Jacksonville and Tampa, have not had much recent success either (although Tampa won the Superbowl in 2002) and are also experiencing attendance problems. In Jacksonville, for example, the top corner sections of the upper deck of EverBank Field have been covered by tarps (maybe the Toronto Argonauts learned this strategy from them) but the team still can not come close to selling out their home games. I can't explain why pro football seems to take a back seat to the college game in Florida to the extent that it does but the league can not be happy about persistent empty seats and local television black-outs.
Speaking of black-outs, the Bills announced last week that their next home game against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 3rd has sold out. Each of the first 5 home games have now sold out and if the team can string together a few more wins and stay in contention, they could sell out the last 2 as well. I'm going to the Chiefs game and I'm looking forward to spending the day with my old school friend and Buffalo native Chris Banning. Maybe the Bills can be the first team to beat Kansas City this season.
Commentary on the Buffalo Bills, politics and whatever else is on my mind
Monday, 21 October 2013
Tuesday, 15 October 2013
Bengals 27, Bills 24 OT
I try to watch Mark Shields and David Brooks every Friday on the PBS Newshour. They provide their analysis of the week's news and events, mostly focusing on US politics. Shields is a syndicated columnist - and more of a liberal - while Brooks is a columnist with the New York Times -and more of a conservative. Neither is partisan for or against either of the two major US political parties and, while they often disagree, they do so in a more respectful and considerate way than just about any other political panel I can think of.
This past Friday, they discussed the current US government shutdown and the looming possibility that the government could default on its debt obligations. Both agreed that the position taken by House Tea Party Republicans is quickly driving down the popularity of the Republican Party. I guess I knew that but the extent of the damage, according to Shields and Brooks, was a bit of a surprise to me. Shields suggested that the Republican Party now has the support of about 28% of the American population. This level of support would be good in four party system but, in a two party system, it is disastrous. Not that I really mind seeing the GOP self-destruct, but when the world's financial system is potentially put at risk, something needs to be done.
The problem is that certain Tea Party Republicans ran on the basis that they would fight for their issues (reversing the Affordable Care Act, cuts to entitlements etc) and that in the course of the fight, they would not compromise. The American legislative system is based on compromise and without it, over the course of the country's history, very few legislative initiatives would have ever been come to pass. I understand that the Tea Party does not support Obamcare and that they want cuts to social security to balance the budget - I really do understand that (although I don't agree) - but not being willing to compromise is recipe for a failure of the system. Imagine if a group of Democrats refused to raise the debt ceiling unless significant gun control or carbon emission legislation were passed.
The GOP is being punished (rightly) in public opinion polls. I am not naive enough to think that only 28% of the American public supports the Tea Party's position on the issues. I am certain that's not the case. But what does seem likely is that three quarters of Americans oppose the idea of a refusal to compromise. And so they should. There are now two days left to get some kind of a deal before the US defaults on its debt obligations and sends the world economy off the edge. House Speaker John Boehner has publicly suggested that the President seems like he will settle for nothing less than a total surrender by House Democrats whereby they would gain virtually nothing in whatever deal emerges. At least he's right about that.
This past Friday, they discussed the current US government shutdown and the looming possibility that the government could default on its debt obligations. Both agreed that the position taken by House Tea Party Republicans is quickly driving down the popularity of the Republican Party. I guess I knew that but the extent of the damage, according to Shields and Brooks, was a bit of a surprise to me. Shields suggested that the Republican Party now has the support of about 28% of the American population. This level of support would be good in four party system but, in a two party system, it is disastrous. Not that I really mind seeing the GOP self-destruct, but when the world's financial system is potentially put at risk, something needs to be done.
The problem is that certain Tea Party Republicans ran on the basis that they would fight for their issues (reversing the Affordable Care Act, cuts to entitlements etc) and that in the course of the fight, they would not compromise. The American legislative system is based on compromise and without it, over the course of the country's history, very few legislative initiatives would have ever been come to pass. I understand that the Tea Party does not support Obamcare and that they want cuts to social security to balance the budget - I really do understand that (although I don't agree) - but not being willing to compromise is recipe for a failure of the system. Imagine if a group of Democrats refused to raise the debt ceiling unless significant gun control or carbon emission legislation were passed.
The GOP is being punished (rightly) in public opinion polls. I am not naive enough to think that only 28% of the American public supports the Tea Party's position on the issues. I am certain that's not the case. But what does seem likely is that three quarters of Americans oppose the idea of a refusal to compromise. And so they should. There are now two days left to get some kind of a deal before the US defaults on its debt obligations and sends the world economy off the edge. House Speaker John Boehner has publicly suggested that the President seems like he will settle for nothing less than a total surrender by House Democrats whereby they would gain virtually nothing in whatever deal emerges. At least he's right about that.
Monday, 7 October 2013
Browns 37, Bills 24
I went to a Bills playoff in Cleveland in January of 1990 - the season before they began their 4 year Superbowl run. Cleveland won the game 34-30 after Ronnie Harmon dropped the game-winning touchdown pass from Jim Kelly in the endzone in the dying seconds of the game. On the following play, Kelly was intercepted by Clay Matthews to seal the win for the Browns. There are 2 things I remember very clearly from that game: first, Bills receiver Don Beebe jumped high to catch a pass, was hit in the air and made NFL highlight reels for years to come by then bouncing vertically off the top of his head. He was not injured. The other memory from that game was a kick-off return by Eric Melcalfe of the Browns. As a fan of the visiting team, I was not participating in the roaring of the crowd as he broke through the wedge and coasted from his own 40 yard line. As opposed to a goal in hockey for example, a kick-off return for a touchdown affords the crowd a good 10-15 seconds of frenzied cheering before the play ends and I remember looking around the stadium (the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium) at the crowd and thinking that Cleveland fans must be among the best in the NFL. It was deafening.
The Browns and the Bills share more than Lake Erie waterfronts. Both franchises have had success in the past but, in recent years, both teams have been very disappointing to their loyal fan bases. Art Modell even moved Cleveland's team to Baltimore and the city had to then press the restart button with an expansion team. Both teams have been dismal since 1999 which was the last year that the Bills made the playoffs and the year that the new expansion version of the Browns first took the field. So, because both are struggling rust belt cities with dedicated working class fan bases, because of the recent on-field sorrows they share and because I have been to a game there, if the Bills are to lose a game, it may as well be to the Cleveland Browns. Plus, they have the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.
The most entertaining game of week 5 took place in Dallas yesterday. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Denver quarterback Peyton Manning put on an a spectacular offensive show in the Broncos 51-48 win. But the story from the game will probably be that Tony Romo once again found a way to make a critical mistake at the end of the game by throwing an interception deep in his own territory. Manning then got the Broncos close and simply ran out the clock to set up the game winning field goal as time expired. Romo has a strong arm, can scramble when he needs to and shows himself to be a strong competitor but, as Rodney Harrison pointed out last night, when crunch time comes, he seems to worry about making a critical mistake. Then he makes it. But, he's still probably better than whoever is going to be under centre for the Bills for next few weeks.
As of Friday, there were 7.500 unsold tickets for the Bills next two home games - against Cincinnati and Kansas City - and about 10,000 left for the remaining two games against the Jets and Miami. At 2-3 and with the franchise quarterback EJ Manuel on the shelf with a knee injury, Bills fans are likely to experience 4 local black-outs this year after the team sold out the first 3 home games. At least we will be able to watch the Toronto game against Atlanta as it will certainly be "sold out". In fact, it already is.
The Browns and the Bills share more than Lake Erie waterfronts. Both franchises have had success in the past but, in recent years, both teams have been very disappointing to their loyal fan bases. Art Modell even moved Cleveland's team to Baltimore and the city had to then press the restart button with an expansion team. Both teams have been dismal since 1999 which was the last year that the Bills made the playoffs and the year that the new expansion version of the Browns first took the field. So, because both are struggling rust belt cities with dedicated working class fan bases, because of the recent on-field sorrows they share and because I have been to a game there, if the Bills are to lose a game, it may as well be to the Cleveland Browns. Plus, they have the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.
The most entertaining game of week 5 took place in Dallas yesterday. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Denver quarterback Peyton Manning put on an a spectacular offensive show in the Broncos 51-48 win. But the story from the game will probably be that Tony Romo once again found a way to make a critical mistake at the end of the game by throwing an interception deep in his own territory. Manning then got the Broncos close and simply ran out the clock to set up the game winning field goal as time expired. Romo has a strong arm, can scramble when he needs to and shows himself to be a strong competitor but, as Rodney Harrison pointed out last night, when crunch time comes, he seems to worry about making a critical mistake. Then he makes it. But, he's still probably better than whoever is going to be under centre for the Bills for next few weeks.
As of Friday, there were 7.500 unsold tickets for the Bills next two home games - against Cincinnati and Kansas City - and about 10,000 left for the remaining two games against the Jets and Miami. At 2-3 and with the franchise quarterback EJ Manuel on the shelf with a knee injury, Bills fans are likely to experience 4 local black-outs this year after the team sold out the first 3 home games. At least we will be able to watch the Toronto game against Atlanta as it will certainly be "sold out". In fact, it already is.
Monday, 30 September 2013
Bills 23, Ravens 20
I have been looking after a white dog - Sophie, the one in the photo - for the past couple of weeks. I've been in Muskoka for as much of that time as possible. Not because it necessarily suits me but for her. She loves to chase squirrels and tennis balls, swim and spend her days roaming around the property and the shoreline. Of all the dogs I have known, Sophie is probably the most intelligent one. And definitely the one which sheds the most white hair. I will need to borrow her owner's Dyson.
So, the US government is set to "shut down" as early as tomorrow. This is thanks to Tea Party Republicans who see the budget and debt ceiling debate as an opportunity to defund the Affordable Care Act, known as "Obamacare". Republicans who are not members of or supported by the Tea Party movement have been urging their colleagues to back off for fear of a public backlash against the party. There is now a clear division within the Republican party which makes it look as if the right hand doesn't know what the extreme right hand is doing. The best thing that the more "mainstream" Republicans could do is to ask their Tea Party colleagues to form their own party where they would be free to continue to create their own set of facts and truths as well as the policies which fit within them. They could continue to advocate for further tax cuts for "the job creators" and rail against the evils of "big government". FOX News could move from being their unofficial to their official broadcaster and they wouldn't have to waste time bad-mouthing people like David Frum any more. I am now convinced that a three party system is what's needed in the United States. The time has come. And the fact that the Democrats would govern the country for at least a couple of generations would just be an added benefit. After Obama's second term ends, Hillary Clinton would serve two terms as the first female President and then maybe the Democrats could nominate a Hispanic for President. Let's call him President Martinez.
After finally selling my tickets to yesterday's game on NFL TicketExchange on Saturday morning, I decided to stay at the cottage to watch the game. Mainly for Sophie of course. The Bills were able to run for more than 200 yards against the Ravens and, along with the career high five interceptions given up by Joe Flacco, the running game dictated time of possession and was key in winning this close game. All four Bills games this year have been decided by seven points or less.
Up next is a Thursday night road game against the Bills' Lake Erie cousins, the Cleveland Browns. Then the Bills will have 10 days to prepare for the Cincinnati Bengals who come to Orchard Park on Canadian Thanksgiving Day.
So, the US government is set to "shut down" as early as tomorrow. This is thanks to Tea Party Republicans who see the budget and debt ceiling debate as an opportunity to defund the Affordable Care Act, known as "Obamacare". Republicans who are not members of or supported by the Tea Party movement have been urging their colleagues to back off for fear of a public backlash against the party. There is now a clear division within the Republican party which makes it look as if the right hand doesn't know what the extreme right hand is doing. The best thing that the more "mainstream" Republicans could do is to ask their Tea Party colleagues to form their own party where they would be free to continue to create their own set of facts and truths as well as the policies which fit within them. They could continue to advocate for further tax cuts for "the job creators" and rail against the evils of "big government". FOX News could move from being their unofficial to their official broadcaster and they wouldn't have to waste time bad-mouthing people like David Frum any more. I am now convinced that a three party system is what's needed in the United States. The time has come. And the fact that the Democrats would govern the country for at least a couple of generations would just be an added benefit. After Obama's second term ends, Hillary Clinton would serve two terms as the first female President and then maybe the Democrats could nominate a Hispanic for President. Let's call him President Martinez.
After finally selling my tickets to yesterday's game on NFL TicketExchange on Saturday morning, I decided to stay at the cottage to watch the game. Mainly for Sophie of course. The Bills were able to run for more than 200 yards against the Ravens and, along with the career high five interceptions given up by Joe Flacco, the running game dictated time of possession and was key in winning this close game. All four Bills games this year have been decided by seven points or less.
Up next is a Thursday night road game against the Bills' Lake Erie cousins, the Cleveland Browns. Then the Bills will have 10 days to prepare for the Cincinnati Bengals who come to Orchard Park on Canadian Thanksgiving Day.
Monday, 23 September 2013
Jets 27, Bills 20
The way I see it, Justin Rogers owes me $6,550.60. That was going to be the payout on my 6 game parlay Pro-line ticket yesterday. Each and every one of the 5 other games came in as required and a Bills win yesterday by 4 or more points would have earned me that amount. According to the fans calling in to WGR after yesterday's game at the Meadowlands, the ugly loss can be pinned entirely on the Bills 3rd year cornerback.
Rogers, a product of the University of Richmond Spiders, was selected by the Bills in the 7th round of the 2011 NFL draft and stands 4th on the depth chart at his position. But with Stephon Gilmore and Ron Brooks inactive yesterday due to injuries and after Leodis McKelvin went down early on, Rogers was lined up against the Jets top wide-outs for the rest of the afternoon. And he was thoroughly torched, as receivers he was "covering" gained 270 of the Jets 331 passing yards on the day. As WGR's Mike Schopp repeatedly asked callers, is Rogers really any worse than most other 4th string cornerbacks on NFL rosters? Should the Bills release him and sign a cornerback from another team's practice roster? Maybe they should and maybe they will but when injuries take their toll and 4th string players are lined up for every snap, opposing coaches will always take advantage. I feel sorry for Justin Rogers. I really do. But I still need him to fork over the Pro-line payout. After all, it was his fault.
If I were Rogers though, I would take a walk over to EJ Manuel's locker and ask him to consider a healthy contribution as well. Not only does Manuel earn 1st round draft pick money, he was quite simply terrible yesterday. The Jets defence played very well and were not only able to shut down the Bills running game early on but they brought relentless pressure on Manuel who looked rattled and ended up struggling mightily with accuracy on his throws. As much as last week's game winning drive boosted Manuel's (and Bills Nation's) confidence, yesterday's debacle may well have done even more to erode it.
Yet, somehow - thanks largely to the 20 penalties taken the the Jets - the Bills were able to tie the game at 20 in the 4th quarter before Jets quarterback Gino Smith found Santonio Holmes for the game-winning 69 yard touchdown. Smith threw to Holmes because, after all, he was covered by Justin Rogers.
The defending Superbowl champion Baltimore Ravens come to Orchard Park on Sunday. Although they have lost Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, their defence is still formidable and if the injury plagued Bills are going to recover from this difficult loss, why not do it against the defending champions? The game is sold out and my tickets are currently listed on NFL TicketExchange. If Justin Rogers has family, friends or any other morbidly curious fans in need of tickets, I would gladly give them to him. After he pays me.
Rogers, a product of the University of Richmond Spiders, was selected by the Bills in the 7th round of the 2011 NFL draft and stands 4th on the depth chart at his position. But with Stephon Gilmore and Ron Brooks inactive yesterday due to injuries and after Leodis McKelvin went down early on, Rogers was lined up against the Jets top wide-outs for the rest of the afternoon. And he was thoroughly torched, as receivers he was "covering" gained 270 of the Jets 331 passing yards on the day. As WGR's Mike Schopp repeatedly asked callers, is Rogers really any worse than most other 4th string cornerbacks on NFL rosters? Should the Bills release him and sign a cornerback from another team's practice roster? Maybe they should and maybe they will but when injuries take their toll and 4th string players are lined up for every snap, opposing coaches will always take advantage. I feel sorry for Justin Rogers. I really do. But I still need him to fork over the Pro-line payout. After all, it was his fault.
If I were Rogers though, I would take a walk over to EJ Manuel's locker and ask him to consider a healthy contribution as well. Not only does Manuel earn 1st round draft pick money, he was quite simply terrible yesterday. The Jets defence played very well and were not only able to shut down the Bills running game early on but they brought relentless pressure on Manuel who looked rattled and ended up struggling mightily with accuracy on his throws. As much as last week's game winning drive boosted Manuel's (and Bills Nation's) confidence, yesterday's debacle may well have done even more to erode it.
Yet, somehow - thanks largely to the 20 penalties taken the the Jets - the Bills were able to tie the game at 20 in the 4th quarter before Jets quarterback Gino Smith found Santonio Holmes for the game-winning 69 yard touchdown. Smith threw to Holmes because, after all, he was covered by Justin Rogers.
The defending Superbowl champion Baltimore Ravens come to Orchard Park on Sunday. Although they have lost Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, their defence is still formidable and if the injury plagued Bills are going to recover from this difficult loss, why not do it against the defending champions? The game is sold out and my tickets are currently listed on NFL TicketExchange. If Justin Rogers has family, friends or any other morbidly curious fans in need of tickets, I would gladly give them to him. After he pays me.
Monday, 16 September 2013
Bills 24, Panthers 23
"Are you carrying currency over $1,000?" asked the US Customs and Border Patrol officer at the Queenston/Lewiston Bridge yesterday morning around 9am. This came after I was asked to remove my cap and wind down my rear window (I don't have tinted windows). Maybe his reflector sunglasses prevented him from seeing the folded card table, barbque, bag of charcoal and our other usual Bills game gear in the back seat of the car.
"No Sir" I answered, trying not to make my response too military sounding. He then handed the 2 passports back to me and we were on our way south towards Orchard Park. I must have crossed the border in my car close to 100 times and somehow, I'm sure by design, every time I do, I am asked a question which I have never heard before.
The NFL has made a concerted effort over the past few years to make the game-day experience more "family friendly" and this effort continues. There was more evidence of it yesterday with an increased police presence in the parking lots before the game (we saw mounted police for the first time) and a new fence which effectively removed access to a small stream bed beside Drive 5 which had always been a very popular urinating location (for men at least). The atmosphere at the tailgate party was more subdued than it has been in the past and security inside the stadium has, over the last 10 years or so, gone from non-existent to being "on call" by way of a simple text message. Messages on the jumbotron encourage fans to report any security or behaviour "issues" they may be having by text and the take-up of this service seem to be strong. Maybe too much so. At least twice, 2 Erie County Sheriffs were summoned (we presume) to the section beside ours to "deal with" a few Carolina fans who appeared to be guilty of simply cheering for their team. They didn't look to be drunk, abusive, excessively loud or disruptive. It looked like some Bills fans just didn't like them showing up and rooting for the visiting team. The worst offence we saw was a few people sitting in our section without proper tickets. When I first started going to what was Rich Stadium in the 1980s, it was a real-life "Lord of the Flies" experience. The most obvious result of this effort by the league to transform the game-day experience is that there are noticeably more women attending the games. Although the Lord of the Flies experience was often entertaining, it was sometimes unsettling. I think its a better experience now.
Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel took a big step yesterday. After struggling at times and turning the ball over twice in the second half, he lead the team to a game-winning 80 yard touchdown drive in the last 1 minute and 38 seconds, with no time-outs left. Aided by a key (but undeniable) pass interference call against Stevie Johnson deep in Carolina territory, Manuel found Johnson in the corner of the endzone (the corner closest to our seats) with 2 seconds left to tie the game at 23. The extra point sealed the win. Fans were rightfully ecstatic and, as Tony Dungy said last night, it looks like the Bills and their fans have someone under centre who they can believe in. Jim Kelly retired after the 1996 season and the franchise has been in the doldrums more or less ever since. In his second NFL game ever, EJ Manuel became the toast of the town yesterday and he has the potential to lead a turn-around that Buffalo and Bills fans have been denied for far too long.
Also, this just in: Cam Newton is a good athlete.
The 1-1 Bills travel to New Jersey next Sunday to face the Jets in a big division match-up before returning home to face the defending Superbowl champion Baltimore Ravens in week 4.
"No Sir" I answered, trying not to make my response too military sounding. He then handed the 2 passports back to me and we were on our way south towards Orchard Park. I must have crossed the border in my car close to 100 times and somehow, I'm sure by design, every time I do, I am asked a question which I have never heard before.
The NFL has made a concerted effort over the past few years to make the game-day experience more "family friendly" and this effort continues. There was more evidence of it yesterday with an increased police presence in the parking lots before the game (we saw mounted police for the first time) and a new fence which effectively removed access to a small stream bed beside Drive 5 which had always been a very popular urinating location (for men at least). The atmosphere at the tailgate party was more subdued than it has been in the past and security inside the stadium has, over the last 10 years or so, gone from non-existent to being "on call" by way of a simple text message. Messages on the jumbotron encourage fans to report any security or behaviour "issues" they may be having by text and the take-up of this service seem to be strong. Maybe too much so. At least twice, 2 Erie County Sheriffs were summoned (we presume) to the section beside ours to "deal with" a few Carolina fans who appeared to be guilty of simply cheering for their team. They didn't look to be drunk, abusive, excessively loud or disruptive. It looked like some Bills fans just didn't like them showing up and rooting for the visiting team. The worst offence we saw was a few people sitting in our section without proper tickets. When I first started going to what was Rich Stadium in the 1980s, it was a real-life "Lord of the Flies" experience. The most obvious result of this effort by the league to transform the game-day experience is that there are noticeably more women attending the games. Although the Lord of the Flies experience was often entertaining, it was sometimes unsettling. I think its a better experience now.
Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel took a big step yesterday. After struggling at times and turning the ball over twice in the second half, he lead the team to a game-winning 80 yard touchdown drive in the last 1 minute and 38 seconds, with no time-outs left. Aided by a key (but undeniable) pass interference call against Stevie Johnson deep in Carolina territory, Manuel found Johnson in the corner of the endzone (the corner closest to our seats) with 2 seconds left to tie the game at 23. The extra point sealed the win. Fans were rightfully ecstatic and, as Tony Dungy said last night, it looks like the Bills and their fans have someone under centre who they can believe in. Jim Kelly retired after the 1996 season and the franchise has been in the doldrums more or less ever since. In his second NFL game ever, EJ Manuel became the toast of the town yesterday and he has the potential to lead a turn-around that Buffalo and Bills fans have been denied for far too long.
Also, this just in: Cam Newton is a good athlete.
The 1-1 Bills travel to New Jersey next Sunday to face the Jets in a big division match-up before returning home to face the defending Superbowl champion Baltimore Ravens in week 4.
Monday, 9 September 2013
Patriots 23, Bills 21
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gathered his senior leadership team together earlier this year for a brainstorming session on the subject of ensuring that the league maintains its prominent position in North American sports culture. He cited examples of companies and organizations who had enjoyed dominant market positions and then lost those positions, never to recover them. The biggest risk to the future success of the league that he saw was the issue of player safety, concussions and the civil action commenced against the league by a group of 4,900 former players who alleged that the league withheld information it had on the danger to its players - both short and long term - of concussions and, in particular, repeated concussions.
When former Chicago Bears player Dave Duerson died from suicide in February, 2011, he did so by shooting himself in the chest after leaving a note requesting that his brain be studied for possible signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). When recently retired star player Junior Seau died the same way in May, 2012 (without leaving a note), his family also had his brain tested for CTE. Both tests were positive. Seau's wife later said that although he had never officially "had" a concussion during his playing career, he did suffer many blows to his head, after which he always "bounced right back".
Over the course of my school sports career, I can remember hearing the expression "you just had your bell rung; get back out there". Thankfully, it was never said to me. I have, however, at least twice, while playing hockey as an adult, fallen to the ice without being able to properly brace myself. Each time, I banged the back of my helmet on the ice and I certainly felt a little dazed and confused afterward. I recall that once I continued playing and the other time I sat down for the rest of the game. I have not suffered any long term effects of those incidents - at least not that I know of.
The NFL now requires that a strict protocol be followed for each player who suffers a head blow. That protocol does not include "getting right back out there". Players must be symptom free for a period of time before returning to play. The lawsuit brought against the league by former players was settled a couple of weeks ago for $765 million with no admission of liability on the part of the league. The league earns about $10 billion in annual revenue. I am certain that the commissioner pushed very hard for a settlement in an effort to move past this issue and to protect the league's dominant position in the professional sports market and its $10 billion revenue stream. Two important questions remain: first, will the protocol now being followed for head injuries be enough to protect players in the long term, especially for those who suffer repeated head injuries? Second, will enough parents across North America begin to withdraw their children from contact football - or never register them for it in the first place? "Enough", as in, will high school and college programs begin to see a decline in player participation and will the NFL eventually find itself drafting from a much smaller pool of college players so as to dilute the quality and the fan appeal of the game? These questions will be probably be answered over the next decade or so.
I saw none of the Bills game yesterday. I know that they had the lead and the ball at mid-field with about 5 minutes remaining and then blew it. But it could have been worse. The Carolina Panthers come to Buffalo next weekend and the Bills will look to even their record before going to the Meadowlands to play the Jets in week 3.
When former Chicago Bears player Dave Duerson died from suicide in February, 2011, he did so by shooting himself in the chest after leaving a note requesting that his brain be studied for possible signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). When recently retired star player Junior Seau died the same way in May, 2012 (without leaving a note), his family also had his brain tested for CTE. Both tests were positive. Seau's wife later said that although he had never officially "had" a concussion during his playing career, he did suffer many blows to his head, after which he always "bounced right back".
Over the course of my school sports career, I can remember hearing the expression "you just had your bell rung; get back out there". Thankfully, it was never said to me. I have, however, at least twice, while playing hockey as an adult, fallen to the ice without being able to properly brace myself. Each time, I banged the back of my helmet on the ice and I certainly felt a little dazed and confused afterward. I recall that once I continued playing and the other time I sat down for the rest of the game. I have not suffered any long term effects of those incidents - at least not that I know of.
The NFL now requires that a strict protocol be followed for each player who suffers a head blow. That protocol does not include "getting right back out there". Players must be symptom free for a period of time before returning to play. The lawsuit brought against the league by former players was settled a couple of weeks ago for $765 million with no admission of liability on the part of the league. The league earns about $10 billion in annual revenue. I am certain that the commissioner pushed very hard for a settlement in an effort to move past this issue and to protect the league's dominant position in the professional sports market and its $10 billion revenue stream. Two important questions remain: first, will the protocol now being followed for head injuries be enough to protect players in the long term, especially for those who suffer repeated head injuries? Second, will enough parents across North America begin to withdraw their children from contact football - or never register them for it in the first place? "Enough", as in, will high school and college programs begin to see a decline in player participation and will the NFL eventually find itself drafting from a much smaller pool of college players so as to dilute the quality and the fan appeal of the game? These questions will be probably be answered over the next decade or so.
I saw none of the Bills game yesterday. I know that they had the lead and the ball at mid-field with about 5 minutes remaining and then blew it. But it could have been worse. The Carolina Panthers come to Buffalo next weekend and the Bills will look to even their record before going to the Meadowlands to play the Jets in week 3.
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