On Taylor and Tributes

I opened up Week 13 in a local bar with The Ticket so I was able to catch the beginning of all the early games. The Washington - Buffalo game probably wouldn't have been one of the six showing had it not been for the tragic death of Sean Taylor. Instead, it was on half of the available televisions. His passing wasn't quite enough to steal the 60 inch projection screen from Peyton Manning and the Colts (I guess it would take a plane crash involving a third of the team to get that kind of treatment), but nevertheless, I was able to catch all the pregame tributes. The video messages and highlights were moving and the crowd with all their "21" towels made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

I noticed the entire league was wearing Taylor's number on their helmets and the Skins had a black 21 patch on their jerseys. This was refreshing to see since I know how difficult it is for the NFL change their uniform policies.

There had been rumors swirling all week that the Redskins would open their first defensive series with 10 men on the field, leaving Taylor's safety spot vacant. At first, I thought what a bad ass way to honor a fallen player. Then I thought wait a second, this is the NF fucking L here. The pregame or halftime celebrations are great but as soon as that ball is kicked off it's go time.

If I am Dick Jauron and I see 10 men out there on defense, I'm dropping Trent Edwards back into shotgun formation and spreading that bitch 5 wide. I'm sending Roscoe Parish and Lee Evans on deep crossing routes on the empty side of the field. My team is 5-6, we are barely clinging to playoff life and here is this opportunity on a silver platter. Let's ram this shit down their throats and maybe let Evans realize a fraction of his fantasy value for the first time all year. I'll make my peace with God at another time; I'm winning this game today.

As it turned out, Buffalo chose to run Fred Jackson (Who?) off the left tackle for a gain of 22 yards. Fortunately for them, they won the game on a last second field goal but if you ask me, they could have had the game won on their first play from scrimmage.

Quick Hits From Buffalo

Its Tuesday afternoon and only now am I beginning to recover from a hedonistic voyage to the armpit of New York. I've heard plenty of stories but never expected Buffalo to be such a shithole. Their economic plight in the 21st century rivals that of Detroit or Cleveland. You would think they would be happy the eight weekends a year when the Bills play at Ralph Wilson and out of town guests come up and dump their hard earned dollars at local establishments. It would only make sense right? Not even a little bit. Logic is in short supply, probably as a result of the city's proximity to Canada.

Here are some more thoughts and observations from the weekend.

• Ralph Wilson Stadium is a great venue. Say what you will about the city or the state for that matter, but the stadium is a hell of a place to watch football. Not a bad seat in the house. Compare that to Gillette where you need oxygen if you get stuck high enough up in the 300's. There's also something about bench seating that you just can't beat.
• There are two types of Bills fans - Most are scumbag locals who would fight a girl if she was wearing a Brady jersey (don't laugh, this came inches away from happening) while the remaining minority are Canadians sick of the single A CFL product. The Canadians are a little light in the loafers, but much more friendly to deal with.
• The trip from Boston to Buffalo is god awful. 8 hours of pure misery.
• When somebody tells you to hit the strip clubs in Canada, go to the strip clubs in Canada. They are only a half hour away and you might actually get to see some nudity. In Buffalo, the girls are required to wear band-aids over their nips. They are like flesh toned pasties.
• Speaking of the strip clubs, I've come to the conclusion that I have a real hard time distinguishing where the strip club ends and reality resumes. Honestly, it sometimes takes a good two days before it sinks in that you can't actually lear at anything with breasts and 20 dollars won't get you a private showing somewhere out back.
• As for the game, well we all saw what happened there. Give the Bills credit, they played it close for the first 7 minutes.