Bleacher Report - Articles by Matt James

Lindy Ruff to Turn Back Time

Matt James — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:53:40 -0500

After last night's loss against the Florida Panthers, Lindy Ruff head coach of the Buffalo Sabres called a team meeting to announce a controversial time travel plan. This was a drastic measure that was taken after last week's announcement of setting the team's schedule and scoring records back to zero failed.

Doc Brown and Marty arrived in a Delorean shortly after 11 PM at the HSBC Arena. The original meeting set for last week was delayed due to the fact there was a lot of back up traffic getting from 1985 to present day.

The time travel that the Sabres front office is hoping to achieve would be desperation move to lock down Chris Drury and possibly Daniel Briere. While in the process of time traveling they have also make a stop to warn the Buffalo Bills against a really big Schobel contract.

As an outsider looking in to the organization I'm shocked and pleased that the Buffalo Sabres are going to be saved by controversial technology from the '80s. I have full faith things are about to turn around!

Dear God, Why Do You Hate Buffalo So Much?

Matt James — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:20:20 -0500

Digging deep into my own mind I have searched for answers, read countless articles, wrote several gibberish articles, wept into a dish of blue cheese struggling for answers as to the current climate of Buffalo sports.

Both the Bills and the Sabres are written about on this blog and read probably by only people devoted to the teams and the city. I'm beating a dead horse but the only reasonable explanation to this misery is that God hates Buffalo!

I haven't lived in Buffalo since 1995 when I left for college but I spent the greatest 18 years of my life in the suburbs playing football, little league, riding bikes, eating Mighty Taco. These activities were always safe and always enjoyable. I was treated like a family everywhere I went.

I live on the ocean and I have brushed snow off my car about twice a year on average. It was sometime during my stint on the shoreline watching Buffalo, NY from afar when I realized that it has little to do with geography rather a higher power severely dislikes the Buffalo region.

This is the only way the Bills and the Sabres could never win. We have been blessed with many talented athletes and opportunities for big games but have never been able to capitalize. In short here's the rest of my proof...

1. Norwood, money kicker but not when it counted.

2. Sabres 1999 season that ended with a legit Brett Hull goal, which over the years I can just now admit it was a good one.

3. Playing Miami in December, in Toronto, in a dome. Yuck!

4. So much snow that it's hard to think I learned to drive in two icy tire trails on every road. By the way Buffalo, the rest of the world shuts down when this happens. Not Buffalonians!

5. Bars are open until four in the morning. Hint, this is God sabotaging you! I fell for and continue to whenever I get back home.

6. Our brilliant native son, host of "Meet the Press," and only nationwide Bills advocate that isn't Chris Berman was taken away from us far too early. Miss you Tim!

7. Lake Effect Snow.

8. Derek Roy's outside/inside move that never works.

9. Genny Cream Ale.

It's too painful to continue but you can see the evidence. I'd be willing to bet that God may retract some of his wicked rage if he ever went to Jim's Steak Out at three in the morning.

My NFL Fan Status: To Be Decided in a Foreign Country This Sunday

Matt James — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:35:51 -0500

As we head into another week of NFL action, I'm still in awe of how bad it is to watch Detroit every year on Thanksgiving—and Plaxico shooting himself was incredible.

The hits keep rolling for a Bills fan as doom and gloom awaits this Sunday over the Peace Bridge in what could be an eerie preview of the future of Buffalo's franchise.

A lot of people ask me how I have managed to stay a Bills fan this long. I promptly let them know that my elementary cafeteria replaced chocolate milk with Pepto in the late 1980s. It would also be fair to say that Tina suffered a lot of abuse from Ike before she hit the skids!

Listen, it's bad out there for a Bills fan these days.

Even the local writers who manage to sound professional 90 percent of the time seem more fed up than I have ever heard them. This is probably due to the small glimmer of hope that was dangled away from us in the past two months. I take that back; it most certainly is the issue.

I imagine the offices of local sports guys with the little garbage can basketball hoop, paper basketballs all over the floor, holes in the wall, and empty liquor bottles strewn about amongst the shattered dreams of what may have been.

Has everyone given up? I feel like I'm starting to! Imagine, it took 87 years for the Red Sox to return to glory, and at least the Red Sox were willing to spend some money. I think this franchise is going over the falls without a barrel. Plug your noses if you are going along for the ride!

Bills Sign Their Own Death Notice

Matt James — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:26:35 -0500

With a slew of errors today the Bills still put up some pretty good numbers, however lackluster seems to be the 12th man of the Buffalo Bills this past month and a half.

Missed field goals continue to terrorize the Buffalo Bills as well as their fans. I'm now cringing each time Lindell takes the field and, not to say that it's fair, but look at history. I'm sure there are many educated Bills fans that would agree that Lindell's attempts have become a little reminiscent of the Norwood days.

I could be wrong and feel free to comment, but I do feel that his leg could have won us a few more games.

Marshawn Lynch managed to put together a pretty great day of rushing despite the weather. Some iffy calls on offense and the fourth and goal stop was heartbreaking.

As soon as Losman took the field I could smell the sacks coming from my living room, which is about eight hours away from Orchard Park, NY. Granted driving the team 85 yards and win the game is a little difficult for a shockingly unintelligent quarterback such as Losman, but at the end of the day it's his job.

JP checked down to a running back on 4th-and-15. "Beast Mode" is great but with a minute left in the game you may want to stick to the fundamentals. For example if you need 15 yards for the first try something within the 14-17 yard range.

I felt bad most of all for the fans. I flew into Buffalo for the Giants game last season and never stopped regretting it. The time frame was enough to watch the game, have dinner at Buffalo Sports Garden, then fly back to Connecticut. Watching people suffer through a miserable game just when you thought you would see a commanding win against a not so good team. Welcome to Ralph Wilson Stadium.

If I was at that game I would get a Super Mighty pack, take a hot shower, and try to keep my chin up at work tomorrow, the whole time knowing that every team in our division will spend more money next year in free agency while the Bills will not.

In fact, the only signing that I feel Ralph Wilson will do is with Toronto. Ouch.

Buffalo Bills Lack Tools To Disprove Selves As Gutless Wonders

Matt James — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 07:58:14 -0500

This Sunday, as predicted in my previous article, Wes Welker was a major headache for the Buffalo Bills and had himself spectacular game for the New England Patriots. Probably the safest prediction that could have been made in this week of NFL action.

The Bills set the tone early in the game with soft-spoken Dick Jauron challenging a Welker reception. The only issue with the challenge is that nobody asserted themselves enough to get the referee's attention. This proved to be a costly mistake, as the ensuing plays led to a Cassel scramble for a touchdown.

The entire game, I saw 11 athletes competing on the field as individuals going through the motions in the 20-10 loss. No heart, no hustle. This is a team game that requires intensity and spirit.

If you are a Bills fan and wanted to see individual athletes that actually show heart and spirit, you could have changed the station to NBC's coverage of the Paralympics. Brave men and women who spend time training for one day of coverage; people who seem to appreciate and know what it means to be brave and rise to the occasion. This wasn't the case on CBS.

To say Buffalo played poorly would be an understatement. Three weeks, three division rivals, three crushing defeats. This game is considered by many to be the nail in the coffin that will shut the Bills out from a share of the division championships.

With 1:57 left, rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis scored and, according to the tone of the rest of the game, I'm shocked that the Bills didn't just finish things out by taking knees and running clock. If it wasn't for Leodis McKelvin's return, they might have.

Today and for the better part of the past month, the Bills have played like gutless wonders. The intensity has been lost as they spent four quarters floundering on each field they have set their cleats upon.

All three of the other teams in the AFC East are playing with fire running in their veins. The list of what went wrong today is long and obvious. Many readers understand the frightening trend that is occurring with the offensive line.

Will the hemorrhaging stop before it's too late? At this rate it, probably not.

Sadly, the Bills look as if they are going to roll over and die unless by the grace of the football gods allows something special to happen. By the way, are sacks still legal in the NFL? If so, what does this defense have to do to get one?

Bills Fans, Hold Off on the Panic Button

Matt James — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:46:46 -0500

The Buffalo Bills have waited a very long time to get back into the playoff race and all indicators said that this season would be the year. They have a young team, a solid quarterback, and a hunger for victory.

To say that the city of Buffalo is starved for a playoff berth would be an understatement. Famished is a better way to put it.

What players like Jason Peters may not understand is that this team is bigger than him and the three years left on his contract. While he held out and has yet to produce anything resembling a Pro Bowl year, the rest of the team worked.

The rest of the team has also made costly mistakes and handed two games to division rivals in back-to-back weeks.

Does it seem like I singled out Peters? I did. His less than impressive showing is one of many standout mistakes keeping this team from reaching the next level.

What now? The Bills have dropped two in a row, heading into their road game against the New England Patriots—a team which may not currently be firing on all cylinders, but has a chance to put Buffalo down and out of the division. The fans and the city go hungry for another year.

But what if? What if the Bills produce a two-pronged dangerous run game, creating an opportunity for a 100-yard game for Marshawn Lynch? What if Robert Royal plays a little tougher, Trent Edwards eliminates those young quarterback mistakes, James Hardy makes a big catch in the corner of the end zone, and our defense forces a turnover?

If those stars align, I say let 'em have it, boys. Pull yourself up by the boot straps and get back into this game, this division, and this league.

It's your job to get out there this Sunday and start earning your check for the sake of your organization and all the hard-working people of Buffalo who wear years of heartache on their sleeves.

I'm calling this team out to produce. Guess what, Mr. Peters? I've been a part of this Bills organization since I popped out of my mother's womb and I've never asked for anything more than a win on Sunday.

Buffalo Bills: From First to Third, Horrific Plays Stings Yet Again

Matt James — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:07:15 -0500

Today the Buffalo Bills did everything in their power to hand another division rival a win. Make no mistakes Jets fans; this was a gift. Lackluster play and horrible mistakes gave Brett and the Jets a win that further muddles up the AFC East.

Where's the accountability on this lack of effort and bad play? Trent throwing a bad pick for six, offensive line break downs, no running game, and a defense that hardly made stops and continues to not pressure quality quarterbacks? I think having your offense on the field for 15 minutes and losing seven points is a great indicator of a huge flaw in your game. This is the team that started out the season strong but could never really finish or had to play from behind to snatch a victory.

Western New Yorkers should be worried. The Bills have become a team that cannot close the door on a team no matter how good or bad they may be. You know what that means in the NFL? You are an inconsistent team bathing in the waters of mediocrity.

It's not time to make playoff arrangements; it's time to get back to work and stop the errors that are knocking Buffalo into the basement of the AFC East.

At week nine in the NFL season it's time to prepare yourself better mentally as well as physically. You think the Patriots were watching and laughing the entire time? You bet, and they are getting ready to shove the football right down your throat with a backup quarterback.

Buffalo Bills: Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?

Matt James — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:22:24 -0400

Sunday is a day when we mostly sit back and enjoy the ride. This weekend, for some of us, a few helium balloons became our biggest opponent.

As dinner was being cooked, I paused the Bills/Chargers matchup to prepare a few items and avoid a few of the thousand commercial breaks. As I fast-forwarded, I noticed I was now watching the Steelers playing the Bengals. How can this be? First the Bills had a crushing loss to ponder for two weeks, and now the stadium has no power, and only two beers into the game!

With a racing mind and angry friends ringing my cell phone off the hook, I went into panic mode. Quick thinking yields success; I grab three beers and head for my car, where I have satellite radio. Ahhh, much better, and there were no State Troopers around to question my alcohol consumption while parked outside of my house. I don't think this is illegal, but I'm willing to risk it. War line rings, the game is back, and I head in.

It's not long after my heart rate levels out when the power blanks again. A friend in the Philly region informs me he is about to rip somebody's face off via text message. So it's back to the car, where I listen to the call on the radio via cell phone on WGR 550. This is living; all bases covered. I'm a fan to the proudest degree.

In preparation for the next black out I grab the portable radio unit (good thinking, Sirius) and head back in, where I now had to climb onto my roof to get a clear satellite signal.

Success! No longer having to crank beers in my car, I was back to the comfort of my plasma screen to catch highlights as I listened to the half time report. I'm careful, but not too careful, because if my wife finds out that this amount of multitasking occurred, life could get complicated in a hurry.

Power restored and so is my faith in the Bills' defense, and ball-controlling offense. J.P. is safely sitting on the sidelines watching the game and not playing it. Dinner is almost done. Bills win; Monday just got easier.