Tuesday's Thoughts

While thinking about how much turkey I'm going to eat on Thursday, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* Sunday's Browns game had me screaming at the television set for most of it. The 26-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons kept their playoff hopes alive but there are some troubling signs to consider. Brian Hoyer's game was abysmal. Three interceptions with the worst being in the end zone which could have extended the lead and forced to Falcons to get more than a field goal. I'm sounding like a broken record but my biggest concern is that the Browns are still going to need a legitimate playoff type quarterback. They don't have one on the current roster and that includes Johnny Manziel. 

* I'm also concerned with the coaching staff. Time management is an issue and it was evident at the end of the first half as they left time outs on the table when they should have used one after Josh Gordon's huge catch. At the end of the game, instead of using their last time out, Hoyer could have spiked the ball and then used the time out before the field goal attempt. Speaking of field goal attempt, going for a 60 yarder with Devin Hester back there was dumb. It was especially dumb in that Billy Cundiff has the worst field goal percentage outside the 50 yard line in all of the NFL. Mike Pettine needs to be smarter. 

* While many in the Cleveland media praise Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan, I'm not as impressed. Not being able to capitalize on turnovers for touchdowns will eventually come back to haunt the Browns. This has been a problem all season long. I also have to call into question the play that was called which led to Hoyer's interception in the end zone. It was first and goal from the five yard line so there was no need to throw especially the way Isiah Crowell was running inside the red zone. 

* Kudos to the rookie running backs, Crowell & Terrence West, as they showed why the Browns didn't need the disgruntled Ben Tate. What else can you say about Josh Gordon. This guy is unreal and would have had more yardage if Hoyer was on target. The Browns defense also made plays, particularly Paul Kruger, Joe Haden and Craig Robertson.  

* The Maple Leafs responded to the media-created controversy by defeating the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. The Leafs really turned it up in the third period and everything got started with Tyler Bozak's shorthanded goal that gave the Leafs 2-1 lead and they never looked back.  Once again, the Peter Holland - Mike Santorelli - Leo Komorov line was a factor as Holland and Komorov each scored and they provided a strong forecheck inside the Detroit zone. Holland's goal was a beauty. 

* Roman Polak will be out for four weeks due to a knee sprain that was suffered as a result of a collision with the Wings Tomas Tatar. It could have been worse but the Leafs will have to weather the storm while Polak is out.

* The usual Toronto media critics who are regularly all over Jake Gardiner had nothing to say after the Red Wing game. The kid had a solid game as did Morgan Reilly but I didn't hear any of the TO gasbags giving any praise. 

* Really sad to hear about the passing of Pat Quinn. As a Leaf fan, Quinn's teams in the late 90s early 2000s were playoff contenders and made the Eastern Conference finals twice. The Big Irishman will be missed. Every time I hear the song, The Mighty Quinn, I always think of him. God bless you, Pat.

* Had to laugh hearing Milan Lucic whine like a baby after he was knocked down with one punch by the Blue Jackets' Dalton Prout. If you watch the replay, Lucic initiated the whole thing by going at Prout. If he didn't want to fight then why did he go at Prout. Lucic should have shut his mouth and if he feels so inclined take care of things the next time the Bruins play Columbus. 

* Can't wait to hear more on this story involving Johnny Manziel and the altercation that took place early Saturday morning. Manziel's agent issued a statement which conflicts with initial reports so it remains to be seen what else comes out. Bottom line: Johnny Football needs to grow up. This is why I did not want the Browns to draft him. 

* The Boston Red Sox made a big splash with the signings of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. They have created a glut of bats which could result in a trade for a frontline pitcher. Think: Cole Hamels. 

* Meanwhile, Brian Cashman is getting ready to repel down a building in Connecticut with Bobby Valentine. 

* Why not bring Willie Randolph back as infield and first base coach? The guy is a Yankee through and through and knows the game. By the way if you want a nice gift for a Yankee fan, get Randolph's book "The Yankee Way". It's a great read!!

* Solomon Wilcots made a jerk out of himself on the Bills-Jets broadcast. Spero Dedes was talking about the catch that Odell Beckham Jr. made on Sunday night when Solomon said, "everyone will know your name, Ladell Beckham Jr. " And this guy gets paid to do this. 

* The new Hockey Night In Canada broadcast is terrible. Too many know-it-all talking heads and the new host, George Stroumboulopoulus, is annoying.  

* Finally, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here in the U.S.

Salute To The Toronto Media

Many will tell you that the New York media is the worst. But as bad as it can be (and I read the NY dailies every day), the Toronto media covering the Maple Leafs is the worst. The contrived controversy over the Leafs not saluting the fans after their 5-2 win over Tampa Bay is the biggest joke in the sports world and is a disgrace to Canada's largest city. As a long time Leafs fan, I could careless whether they go to center ice and raise their sticks or not.

The media can say that they didn't create this story but they poured gasoline on it. In my mind, those in the media who have their shorts in a knot over this, are masking their disgust for certain players on this team. The classic example is Jeff O'Neill. He has been slamming Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf since he's been on the radio. Well, yesterday his venom spewed dramatically as he proclaimed that he's talked to people in the NHL who have said that no team can be successful if Kessel and Phaneuf are your leaders. As a former player he should be ashamed of himself. He criticized Phaneuf because he should have been truthful and said that they were pissed about the jersey throwing and the booing. Jeff, why don't you be truthful. Why don't you say that you are jealous you didn't make the money that these players are making. Why don't you be truthful O'Neill and tell us who these people in the NHL are who have told you that Phaneuf and Kessel are losers. Oh, that's right you are a big time journalist so you won't divulge your sources. You are a joke, O'Neill. 

His partner, Brian Hayes, also got in on the act. I was shocked that he decided to make this such a big deal when it was total nonsense. Maybe the ratings on his show are slipping. But he sounded like a complete moron. I have listened to Leafs Lunch for a long time. I am done until Bitter Beer-Face O'Neill is removed. 

The print media also has it share of muckrakers. Top on the list are Steve Simmons and DaveFeschuk. Simmons whines that these players don't understand the market. What do you mean Steve? The Toronto market is so fragile that the fan base needs to be cajoled and patronized? C'mon Steve. All I want are wins, a playoff berth and some success in the playoffs. I could give a damn about the salute. The problem with Simmons and Feschuk is that they dislike the fact that Kessel doesn't like dealing with the media and Phaneuf is filled with cliche's. 

The other problem that these 2 so-called sports journalists have is that they can't stand Brian Burke. Burkie brought both Phaneuf and Kessel to Toronto so they are considered "Burke's Guys". Yesterday Burkie was on TSN's Drive Time with Dave Naylor. Simmons was Naylor's co-host but during the Burke interview Simmons was no where to be found. He re-appeared when Brendan Shanahan appeared on the next segment. During Naylor's interview, Burke said that he wouldn't expect members of the media to be cheerleaders for the team. But, he did say that in every market their are some media members whose sole mission is to cause controversy. That's where Feschuk and Simmons fit in. 

I saw one survey that showed 28% of fans were upset by the Leafs for not saluting. The remainder were not upset or could careless. But, certain members of the Toronto media want to keep this fire going. So to Hayes, O'Neill, Simmons & Feschuk here is my salute to you:

Tuesday's Thoughts

While beginning my four month bitch about the cold and snow, here's what is on my mind this morning:

* What a sports weekend. Let's first start with my favorite hockey team: the Toronto Maple Leafs. After a great game against the Boston Bruins, the Leafs dropped back to back games on the weekend. Friday they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the ACC. The Leafs didn't play great but they certainly had a chance to get a point. But the 6-2 loss to the lowly Buffalo Sabres left many Leaf fans shaking their heads. The Leafs were awful in all aspects of the game and it's hard to understand. How can a team play so well against the Bruins and be embarrassed by Buffalo. 

* Remember the controversy caused when Joffrey Lupul said it was frustrating playing at home because the ACC crowd was too quiet? Well in Buffalo on Saturday, there were more Leaf fans in the First Niagara Center than Sabre fans. Not only were there more Leaf fans but they were loud and proud! So much for the crowd getting the team going. If the Leafs played with as much passion as the Leaf fans who go to Buffalo to watch them play, their record in Buffalo would not be 1-14-1 in their last 16 games at First Niagara Center. 

* There has been plenty of questions, both inside and outside the organization, about the first line being weak defensively. If that is the case, why not break them up? Prior to Joffrey Lupul being injured, Randy Carlyle did just that. After the Lupul injury, Carlyle had Daniel Winnick on the line with Phil Kessel and Nazem Kadri. But, when Carlyle needed some offense he went back to Tyler Bozak and James van Reimsdyk teaming up with Kessel. So what do you want Randy??  

* The furor that was caused by Phil Kessel refusing to speak to the media after Saturday's debacle in Buffalo is a joke on many levels. First, Kessel was obviously pissed at being embarrassed by the worst team in the NHL. But, you see he can't win. Kessel has been criticized for showing no emotion and being a me-first player. But when he shows emotion he's a dirt bag because he wouldn't talk to the media. Leading the media pity party was TSN Leaf beat reporter Jonas Siegel. Siegel believes that Kessel owes it to the fans to speak to the media. Really Jonas?? I could careless if Kessel speaks to you ever again. What I also found interesting that Siegel said that he covers for the players. I want to know, what are you covering up Siegel?? I don't buy that for a minute. 

* Secondly, there are members of the Toronto media who will never warm up to Phil Kessel. I remember a couple of years before he re-signed with the Leafs, some media types saying that Kessel will leave Toronto when he became a free agent so the Leafs should trade him to get something before they lost him and got nothing. You see, according to these geniuses, Kessel didn't like the pressure of playing in Toronto and would want to go back to the U.S. Well, I guess they were wrong as Kessel has expressed numerous times about how he loves playing in Toronto.  

* I wonder how many members of the Washington media are ready to run Alex Ovechkin out of town because he isn't a good two-way player. In fact, I would make the argument that Kessel is a better all around player than Ovechkin. I am sick and tired of the Kessel bashing by the Toronto media. He is Toronto's best player. The challenge for Brendan Shanahan is to surround him with players who can compliment his talent. Is he a great two-way player? No he is not. But he is their most talented player and I'm not expecting him to be Patrice Bergeron. Kessel is not this team's problem. 

* If you want to look at a problem, how about Mimico's own David Clarkson. I was happy when the Leafs signed him but he has been a major disappointment. He does not deserve to be on the second power play unit and I question as to whether or not he shouldn't be on the fourth line. His penalty in Buffalo on Saturday killed the momentum that the Leafs had achieved and led to a Sabres power play goal. The guy should not be up on the second line with Kadri. He actually played his best when he was with Bozak and JVR. 

* Its to the point where I honestly believe that it is in Jake Gardiner's best interest to be traded. Heaven help him if he makes a bad play that leads to a goal but when Cody Franson swan dives, misses the puck and allows the Sabre forward to come out in front of the net which leads to a Buffalo goal, you don't hear a word about it. Maybe what all of the Toronto media would like to see is Kessel, Gardiner, and Phaneuf traded for draft picks so we can build through the draft. Boy, wouldn't that be great!!

* Funny how the Toronto media criticizes Kessel for being a terrible interview but goes bonkers when he tells them to get away. Good for Phil. 

* By the way, for a guy who the media believes is out of shape, Phil Kessel has not missed a game in the 5 1/2 seasons he has played for the Leafs.

* Boy, I miss Brian Burke.

* The Cleveland Browns could not stand prosperity as they went from first to last place after their 23-7 loss to the Houston Texans at home. I really lay the blame for this loss on the coaching staff. Why would you not blitz a quarterback who was making his first start in four years? Why wouldn't you have put eight men in the box to stop the run and force Ryan Mallett to make plays? Why would you not play Ben Tate who was going up against his former team? Why would Terrence West, your leading rusher the last two games, only get five carries?? Mike Pettine and his staff were completely out-coached. 

* I still have my doubts on Brian Hoyer being the guy to lead the Browns to the promise land. The problem is I don't believe Johnny Manziel is the answer either. If I'm right, the Browns will still be looking for a quarterback in 2016. 

* Browns General Manager Ray Farmer needs to be held accountable as both of his first round picks: Manziel and Justin Gilbert have not contributed at all. Cleveland cannot afford first round picks not having an immediate impact. I wonder if Ray watched Zach Mettenberger last night. Mettenberger was Tennessee's sixth round pick in the 2014 Draft and has had more of an impact that Johnny Football.

* Remember when all the so-called media experts pronounced the end of the New England Patriots? Well, they have won six in a row including Sunday night's domination of the Indianapolis Colts. Right now they are the best team in the AFC and maybe in the entire NFL. 

* It might be time to take the Kansas City Chiefs and the Arizona Cardinals seriously. I have been a believer of the Cardinals as they shutdown the Detroit Lions Sunday. It will be interesting to see how they perform against Seattle this week. Kansas City's victory over the Seahawks is starting to get me to take notice.  The Chiefs are not a great team but they have a great running back, an efficient quarterback and a very good defense. They should make the playoffs once again.

* I wonder if Packers head coach Mike McCarthy realizes that he doesn't need to run up the score to make the final four in the NFL. It's difficult to explain why McCarthy has left Aaron Rodgers late in games against the Bears and the Eagles. I wonder what he would think if some frustrated defensive player took a big hit against Rodgers putting him out for awhile.

* A month ago, Notre Dame was a possible final four contender and Everrett Golson was a potential Heisman candidate. Well, ever since their heart breaking loss to Florida State the bottom has fallen out for the Irish and for Golson. Golson has been a turnover machine and Notre Dame has lost two in a row, the last defeat at the hands of Northwestern at South Bend. At this rate, Notre Dame may be looking at the Poulan Weedwacker Bowl. 

* Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman wants all Yankee fans to be excited because he re-signed Chris Young and acquired left-handed reliever Justin Wilson for Francisco Cervelli. Young being the Yankees fourth outfielder really excites me when it's a good bet that he may start close to 100 games as a result of the injury prone Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran. Young couldn't start for the Mets. As for Wilson, Cashman says that the left-hander is a part of building a deep bullpen even though Wilson had an ERA over 4. 

* While Cashman talks about building a deep bullpen, there is a chance he will let the team's closer David Robertson leave via free agency. I would not be surprised if Robertson is this year's Robinson Cano.

* While Cashman fiddles, the Blue Jays signed Russell Martin and are reportedly interested in Jon Lester and Andrew Miller. The Red Sox are courting World Series star Pablo Sandoval. If these teams load up, you can be looking at another playoff-less October in 2015 for the Bronx Bombers.

* While the New York media continues to speculate whether Giants head coach Tom Coughlin will be shown the door at the end of the season, the real focus should be on their general manager Jerry Reese. Reese has done a terrible job in drafting and Coughlin may pay the price. The other casualty of Reese's ineptitude is Eli Manning.

* It's looking like Bills head coach Doug Marrone may be on the hot seat after his team's 22-9 loss to the Miami Dolphins last Thursday. While Marrone deserves to be wondering about his job, GM Doug Whaley also deserves to be looked at critically. Whaley believed so much in EJ Manuel that he traded away his first round draft pick in 2015 to obtain Sammy Watkins. I love Watkins but what good is it to have him if no one can get him the ball. The Bills could have stayed at number eight and selected Mike Evans. If Marrone has to go the same could be said for Whaley. Under Ralph Wilson, the Bills were criticized for not bringing in top coaches and general managers to run football operations. If Terry Pegula wants to make a mark on this franchise he needs to bring in quality football people to run his team.

* And finally, thoughts and prayers with hockey great Gordie Howe and his family.

Leafs Redeem Themselves With 6-1 Win Over Boston

In October the Toronto Maple Leafs were embarrassed on their home ice in a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Boston Bruins. The loss resulted in a players only meeting which has led to a 6-1-1 record that was topped off by last night's convincing 6-1 win over the Boston Bruins. Without a doubt the Leafs responded not only offensively but defensively.

Not much more you can say about Phil Kessel other than he is a world class goal scorer who the Leafs have not had on the wing since Lanny McDonald. Hopefully this puts to bed the nonsense about Kessel's off season work habits. The bottom line is that Kessel is their best player whether he skates 10 times in the summer or 100 times in the summer. The chemistry of the first line is outstanding and one of the most dangerous in the NHL.

But the line that seems to be the biggest surprise and is giving an identity to this Leaf team is the Mike Santorelli, Peter Holland, Leo Komorov line. When the Leafs brought back Komorov many were critical of the team for the contract given to the hard-hitting Finn. But so far this season, it is clear that it has been money well spent as Komorov has continued his aggressive fore-checking style, killing penalties and chipping in offensively. Mike Santorelli was brought in to do exactly what he is doing: taking the body, being defensively responsible, taking face-offs when needed and providing some offense. Peter Holland has shown so far that if given the opportunity he can be a solid all-around player. The additional ice time has given the former first rounder a chance to show his offensive ability and he has proven to be a good penalty killer. It seems pretty clear that these three have developed a great chemistry.

What really impressed me last night was how well the Leafs played inside their own zone. Their breakouts were very efficient and they weren't running around chasing the Bruins. The forwards did a nice job in back checking and Jonathan Bernier came up with big saves when he needed to. I thought last night Stephane Robidas played his best game as a Maple Leaf and the two youngsters, Jake Gardiner and Morgan Reilly, looked very comfortable and used their skating ability to move the puck out of their zone and set up offensive chances. Both of them have been taken to task for their play but if last night is any indication they have gotten the message.

I have been critical of Randy Carlyle but I give him credit for giving the fourth liners more ice time in the third period, including power play time, when the game was in hand. Josh Leivo seems to be fitting in well with Richard Panik and Trevor Smith and Carlyle needs to continue to give this unit reasonable ice time.

The score was indicative of the complete domination by the Leafs. Their special teams out-performed the Bruins as the Leafs were 3 for 3 on the power play and they killed all three Bruin power plays. Without a doubt, this was their best game of the season. The key is to continue this type of play. It doesn't mean that they will continue to win games by five goals. But what it does mean is that they will be a tough team to play against which would be a far cry from last year's team.

Next up is Pittsburgh on Friday night at the ACC and the way I see it, the Leafs have another score to settle with one of the other Eastern Conference powers.

Will The Leafs Compete Tonight?

The last time the Boston Bruins were at the Air Canada Center they dominated the home team by a score of 4-1. The score doesn't really indicate how badly the Leafs were outplayed as they were booed off the ice. What was disturbing was their total lack of effort.

Since that game the Leafs are 5-1-1. While they have had a propensity to give up the first goal, their energy level has been ratcheted up immensely. During these seven games they have lost Joffrey Lupul and Daniel Winnik but they have been able to persevere. Peter Holland has been elevated to the third line with Mike Santorelli and Leo Komorov and he is showing why many believe that he can be a top 6 forward. The Leafs also seem to be getting secondary scoring to compliment the big line of Phil Kessel, James van Reimsdyk and Tyler Bozak. 

The Leafs seem to be playing a more gritty game led by the likes of Santorelli, Komorov and guys like Sam Carrick. Richard Panik seems to be settling in and showing why Steve Yzerman didn't want to part with him. The Leafs will need all four lines to use their speed and be aggressive on the forecheck. And it goes without saying that they need to be defensively responsible in their own end.

While it is still very early in the season, tonight's game is a good measuring stick for this Leaf team. No one believes that Toronto is a legitimate Stanley Cup contender but if they are going to be a playoff team then the Leafs need to have a better effort against one of the top teams in the league. A win would be great but I'm looking for a an effort worthy of a team who desperately wants to make the playoffs. The Bruins have been the big bully who kicks sand in the Leafs face. It's time for the Leafs to take a stand. The game will be nationally televised in the U.S. on NBC Sports Network's Rivalry Night. Puck drop is at 8 pm.

Tuesday's Thoughts

While thinking it might be a good time to start my snow blower up, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* The Toronto Maple Leafs completed a weekend sweep on Sunday by defeating the Ottawa Senators 5-3 after winning 5-4 on Saturday against the New York Rangers. In both games, the Leafs gave up the first goal but were able to prevail. What was really hopeful was that the Leafs were able to get secondary scoring from the likes of Peter Holland, Leo Komorov, Mike Santorelli and Josh Leivo. Holland has 3 goals and 2 assists since being moved up to the third line. Anyone who has read this blog knows that I have been advocating more ice time for Holland. This kid can be a contributor in the top nine of the Maple Leafs and he has shown that every time he has been given the opportunity. 

* Wednesday night the Leafs take on the Boston Bruins. If you remember the Bruins dominated the Leafs on a Saturday night in Toronto as they came away with a 4-1 win. The score was not indicative of how widely the Bruins dominated the game. After Wednesday, the Leafs take on the Penguins Friday night. Pittsburgh also dominated the Leafs on a Saturday night at home. It will be interesting to see if the Leafs are more competitive in these two games than they were in October. 

* Had the opportunity to be at the Sabres-Penguins game on Saturday in Buffalo. I only stayed for the first period as the game was a joke. It was like a Jr. A team playing a pee wee team. Can't believe Sabres season ticket holders are very happy with the entertainment value they are being provided by St. Pegula's team. 

* Great article by Bucky Gleason in the Buffalo News about Sabres fans hoping and praying for Connor McDavid. Gleason pointed out that the Sabres chances to get the number one overall pick was 20%. More importantly, he correctly stated that one player is not going to turn things around and that the Sabres will need more than McDavid. Pittsburgh took off not only with Sidney Crosby. They also had Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, and Kris Letang to name a few. 

* Well, they are drawing me back in. I have been fighting not to jump on the bandwagon. I've been burned too many times. But Thursday night's 24-3 victory at Cincinnati has me getting ready to jump on the Cleveland Browns bandwagon. With a stout defense and the rediscovery of their ground game, the Browns came out victorious in a game that I had very little faith in their ability to win. Brian Hoyer played an efficient game and helped to ease my doubts about his ability to lead this team. The upcoming game Sunday against Houston is one that they should win but it won't be easy. The Browns don't have the luxury to take a game off if they want to maintain the top spot in the AFC North. 

* Watched all of the Bills-Chiefs game on Sunday and it was plain and simple: the Bills gave the game away. Sure there was the McKelvin fumble and Dixon fumbling out of the end zone which hurt the Bills. But, they were in the red zone twice and had to settle for two field goals. In the one series, Kyle Orton overthrew two open receivers in the end zone. The defense, which played well for the most part, gave up a 39 yard touchdown run to Jamaal Charles on a fourth and one play. If the Bills falter, this will be the game they look back on as the one they let slip away. 

* Things are blowing up in Chicagoland as the Bears were embarrassed by their bitter rivals, the Green Bay Packers, Sunday night on national television. I really believe that Marc Trestman is in over his head. Of course, the guy who really should be held accountable is GM Phil Emery. 

* How pathetic is the NFC South that New Orleans leads the division with a 4-5 record. Atlanta at 3-6 is still in the race. 

* What a tough break for Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals as Palmer is done for the year with a torn ACL. It will be interesting to see if Bruce Arians is able to keep things going with Drew Stanton as their QB. 

* Very happy for Rex Ryan as his NY Jets pulled off a huge upset over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Everyone believed the Steelers would roll over the hapless Jets but Ryan & Company dialed a game plan up which led to a victory. Just goes to show you: "on any given Sunday".

* The recent information that has come out pertaining to Alex Rodriguez is hard to believe. What really annoys me is that it is beyond a reasonable doubt that ARod has lied about his use of performance enhancing drugs. Would it not have been better for him to negotiate a deal in 2013 as opposed to the charade that we all witnessed? The Yankees have a lot of issues to resolve in 2015 and it was hoped that ARod would be a part of the solution. However, I think it is clear that the media circus will be back as a result of this latest revelation that ARod admitted to the Feds that he bought PEDs from Anthony Bosch in exchange for immunity from any prosecution.

* Rumors flying around that the Yankees may be interested in Elvis Andrus and Alexi Ramirez to play shortstop next year. The rumors never indicate who the Yanks would have to give up but Andrus is only 26 years old while Ramirez is 33 years old. I would take either over Stephen Drew. The one draw back on Andrus is that he will just be starting an eight year contract.

* Everrett Golson took himself out of any Heisman thoughts with his terrible performance Saturday against Arizona State. It also took his Notre Dame football team out of any consideration for the Final Four. 

* I must admit I was never a big Mark Sanchez fan but I did think he got a raw deal in New York. That's why it's nice to seem him bounce back in Philadelphia. Only 28 years old, Sanchez could be the Eagles franchise quarterback as he put on a fine performance last night against Carolina. If there needs to be another reason why John Idzik should be fired as Jets GM, it's watching Sanchez possibly leading Philadelphia deep into the playoffs.

* And finally, GR Gasbag Howard "I never met a donut I didn't like" Simon was equating Marcel Dareus with Warren Sapp. While Dareus may have the same stats as Sapp did at this point in both of their careers, the key will be if Dareus can stay out of trouble long enough to even think about the hall of fame. It's guys like Simon and the rest of the GR Gasbags who perpetuate the unrealistic perceptions of Buffalo's professional athletes.

Tuesday's Thoughts

While wondering who will win a World Series first, the Yankees or the Cubs, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* Well, the Cleveland Browns once again won a game yet somehow many weren't overly excited. You see, as against the winless Oakland Raiders last week, the Browns struggled to win 22-17 over the 1-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While throwing for 300 yards, Brian Hoyer still had enough moments to make one wonder if he is the quarterback of the future. Once again the Browns sputtered inside the red zone in the first half. These last eight games of the season will be important for this franchise to determine if Hoyer is the guy. If he's not, then there is a decision that will have to be made: go with Johnny Manziel or draft another quarterback.

* Really like the undrafted wide receiver from Abilene Christian, Taylor Gabriel. He is a part of a receiving corp that has stepped up in the absence of Josh Gordon. I really think they should try this kid on kick and punt returns.

* With the performances of rookie wide receivers Mike Evans, Odell Beckham and Sammy Watkins, I don't know what Browns GM Ray Farmer was thinking in passing up on any of them.

* Thursday night's game against Cincinnati may well decide the direction of this season for the Browns. With the bunched up AFC North and wild card teams, the Browns will need as many wins as possible. A loss would not be devastating but it will make the road to the playoffs all that much harder. 

* The Toronto Maple Leafs begin a four game stretch tonight against the Arizona Coyotes where they will play 3 out of the next 4 on the road. It will be imperative that the Leafs continue their recent play in this 4 game stretch. 

* It is really tiring to hear the constant goaltending debate both in the media and in Leaf Nation. I think it is clear that Leaf management considers Jonathan Bernier the number one goalie. If both Bernier and James Reimer play well, it only benefits the team. In spite of Reimer's great performance against Chicago, I would expect Bernier to play 3 of the 4 games with Reimer playing Sunday against the Ottawa Senators in the back end of a back-to-back weekend. Reimer has a very good record against the Sens. 

* One has to wonder what is going on with the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers lost to the St. Louis Rams on Sunday and the rumors are really heating up about the future of Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. The most popular rumor has him going to his alma mater, Michigan. But keep an eye on the situation in Chicago where questions are being asked about Marc Trestman. The Seahawks held on to defeat the winless Oakland Raiders. Things were so bad that the 12th Man booed the World Champs off the field at halftime. There seems to be plenty of internal issues in that locker room and one wonders if Pete Carroll is the right guy to deal with the situation. 

* Kudos to Mark Sanchez for a nice game filling in for the injured Nick Foles in Philadelphia's 31-21 win over the Houston Texans. Foles will be out 6 to 8 weeks, so Sanchez will have an excellent opportunity to further prove what a moron NY Jets General Manager John Idzik is. It was Idzik who drafted Geno Smith and basically pushed Sanchez out of New York. 

* The New England Patriots continue their winning ways by dominating the Denver Broncos 43-21. The Patriots own the best record in the AFC, so much for the demise of Belichek and Brady. 

* Really felt bad for Ole Miss on Saturday as they lost their star receiver with a broken leg and lost the game against Auburn all on the same play.  

* I'm amazed at the amount of hate being directed at Knicks head honcho Phil Jackson. Funny how I don't remember hearing anything when he was coaching the Bulls and Lakers. By the way, I think Derek Fisher is going to make a good NBA coach. 

* If the Yankees don't re-sign David Robertson, Brian Cashman is a bigger idiot than I thought. Robertson replaced the greatest closer in the game and did an excellent job. To allow him to leave and place the closing role on Dellin Betances is a huge mistake but what do you expect from a GM who stockpiles past their prime players. 

* Reports out of New York also indicate that the Boy Genius Cashman is considering bringing back Stephen Drew to play shortstop. What a joke!!

* The Alex Rodriguez story continues as it is being reported that A-Rod paid his cousin, Yuri Sucart, $1,000,000 million dollars for his silence about A-Rod's PED use. Apparently, A-Rod is a key witness in the government's case against Sucart and Anthony Bosch.

* Monday the Chicago Cubs announced the hiring of Joe Maddon as their manager. This was a great move by Theo Epstein as the Cubs and their young stars appear to be ready to be contenders in the National League Central Division. The Cubs are being mentioned as being big-time players in this year's free agent market with Jon Lester and Max Scherzer being on their shopping list. Maddon should be the right guy to bring playoff dreams to the North Side.

* Wrigley Field is undergoing renovations so the Cubs held the Maddon press conference at the iconic Cubby Bear Lounge which is across the street from Wrigley. At the end of the press conference, Maddon called on a bartender to give everyone a shot and a beer and that it was on him. My kind of guy!!

* This past Friday was Halloween and the Western New York Sport's Leader, WGR 550, had a Candy Draft on Stupe & the Bulldog Show. Not that anything else was going on in the world of sports. Oops, I forgot the Bills had a bye so the NFL didn't exist this past weekend.

* And finally, whatever happened to The Coach, Chuck Dickerson.

Leafs Answer The Bell, Defeat Hawks 3-2

The Toronto Maple Leafs answered the bell with a rousing 3-2 win over Chicago on a Saturday night at the Air Canada Center. Both Chicago goals were on the power play and James Reimer stoned the Hawks in the third period stopping 26 shots. These weren't all ordinary saves, there were several game saving stops and was by far Reimer's best game of the season.

For the first two periods, the Leafs had the edge in 5 on 5 play without a doubt. Randy Carlyle decided to move Peter Holland to the third line and he responded with the game winning goal and his aggressive fore-check set up James van Reimsdyk's goal. Leo Komorov continues to show why he is an asset to this club as his huge hit on Johnny Oduya set up the Holland goal. 

The Leafs made the right move bringing up Sam Carrick from the Marlies. I would have loved to see the fourth line play a little more and hopefully they will during the upcoming road trip. Carlyle has to be happy with the play of Daniel Winnik on the Kessel-Kadri line. It seems that playing with Kessel has really put a charge into Kadri's game. I don't see how Carlyle can separate those two.

There were many who were questioning this Leaf team heading into last night's contest. Big deal that they beat Buffalo, the critics would say. Columbus is injury-riddled so not much you can say about Friday night's win. Saturday night was going to be a true test and the Leafs responded well. Is this team a lock to make the playoffs? No, but it certainly can compete with any team in the league if it utilizes its speed, is aggressive on the forecheck and takes the body when necessary. They did all of that last night and that is why their performances against Boston and Pittsburgh was so alarming.

The Leafs answered the bell and made a statement that they can be a tough team to play against. They still need to get some consistent secondary scoring. The power play needs to start clicking and there needs to be a consistent commitment to defensive zone coverage. But, the Leafs have showed us that they have what it takes to be a playoff team and they don't have the luxury to take a night off.

Saturday A Statement Game For Leafs?

The Toronto Maple Leafs won their second game in a row with a solid 4-1 victory over the injury riddled Columbus Blue Jackets. The night began with the news that Joffrey Lupul has a broken bone in his hand and will be out of action for an undetermined amount of time. As a result, the Leafs top two lines had to be altered with Daniel Winnik teamed up with Nazem Kadri and Phil Kessel and David Clarkson matched up with Tyler Bozak and James van Reimsdyk. The restructured top two lines accounted for all four of the Leaf goals letting all Leaf fans breathe a sigh of relief.

Winnik did not look out of place on the top line, in fact he cleared space for his line mates and was rewarded with a goal late in the third period. Once again, Phil Kessel led the way with a goal and two assists which included a pretty pass to Kadri. The young center seems to be benefiting from being paired up with Kessel and hopefully this will continue. The constant bashing that Kessel gets from certain members of the media and the fan base because he only skated 10 times during the summer needs to end once and for all. The bottom line is that Kessel makes his line mates better. Look what he has done with Tyler Bozak and now it appears Kadri may be the next beneficiary.

Jonathan Bernier played very well last night and appears to have shaken off the early rust that he had in the first couple of his starts in goal. The Leaf defense played well last night. Morgan Reilly continues to grow and it seems that Roman Polak makes for a nice defense partner for him. It looked like Jake Gardiner played a much more simpler game last night and as a result was sound defensively.

The fourth line had one shift in the third period and that resulted in a foolish Matt Frattin penalty that led to a power play goal for Columbus. I didn't have a problem with the Leafs re-acquiring Frattin, even though I like Jerry D'Amigo's game. But Frattin has been awful since the pre-season and has not shown any signs of being a solid contributor for this team. It is unfortunate for his line mates, Peter Holland and Carter Ashton. Ashton needs to get a fair shot with the Leafs so they can determine where this kid stands in this organization. As for Holland, I still believe that this kid can be a solid possible top-6 forward with the Leafs. He set up the Clarkson goal with a nice pass to Dion Phaneuf. It is encouraging that Randy Carlyle is giving Holland power play time but he needs to get more minutes. If Frattin continues to be a liability then Leaf management needs to make a decision and bring up someone like Josh Leivo. As an aside, the Komorov-Santorelli-Panik line had a strong game and Komorov has been a difference maker on the PK along with Winnik.

Tonight the Leafs step up in weight class as they take on the Chicago Black Hawks at the ACC. In home meetings against Pittsburgh, Detroit and Boston, the Leafs were completely out played and out hustled. The games were brutal to watch. Last season, the Leafs had a huge 7-3 win against the Black Hawks at home where Peter Holland led the way with 2 goals. The Leafs have something to prove tonight to their fans and to themselves. A lackluster performance tonight will rewind the criticism of the core of this team. Fans will be looking for scapegoats. A win isn't necessary but what is necessary is some effort. Certainly a better effort than what they showed against the Penguins, Red Wings and Bruins. While it's fairly early in the season, tonight's game very well may be a statement game on this season.