Now before I have people wanting to burn my avatar in effigy, I must first make a disclaimer. Although I don't agree with the coaching direction currently, I by no means wish for the Magic to drop to the bottom of the standings and not make the playoffs. If the team is on they can compete with any team in the NBA in a given series and only three teams (Thunder, Heat, Bulls) give me cause to worry. This is just a hypothetical look towards the future and the options the team could have. After this season is over the Magic will have more on their plate than most other teams in the league. Front Office positions, morale, coaching evaluations, of course Howard and lastly an assessment of the players on the team. Whether it's due to Otis' ability as a GM to make more moves or the pieces we have not having much value on the market, I think it can be determined we're going to either need another team or someone very imaginative to bring another top player to the roster. That is why I'm posing this question, would the Magic be better off being in the lottery? If it were to happen there could be some advantages: 1. Possibly getting in the top three and drafting an immediate impact player. 2. Getting a pick that can be used to trade down and receive a player in return. 3. Combining that pick with a player on the roster to get the impact player we may need. But some negatives to the question could be among others: 1. Morale will be at an all time low and season ticket holders may think twice next year 2. The cleaning of house may go overboard thereby decimating an already meager front office 3. We end up with one of the lower lottery picks and decrease any bargaining power 4. Upcoming free agents currently interested in the Magic may change their minds So while it would be unthinkable for this team to drop so far after some promise, would they be better off than going deep in to the playoffs, possibly losing and receiving a pick in the low twenties again? Have at it!

I know a headline like this would be used to stir up trouble and insinuations but I'm going to only post what I observed personally at the game yesterday.  Every year a group of guys and myself fly to Miami for the game and while we're always on the second level of Sun Life Stadium we're always on the Bills side and seated within the forties.  I enjoy watching the game but what really interests me is what goes on on the sidelines.  I found a new level of respect for Fred Jackson when he, not Fitzpatrick rounded up the offense and drilled them for a few minutes.  All eyes were on him and it looks like everyone listened.  But what I did see which concerned me was Stevie's perceived disinterest in the team.  I didn't see one time when he sat with the receivers.  He stood apart from the team itself, sometimes by distances of ten yards.  Fitzpatrick had to approach him on occasions but I didn't see one time when he approached anyone and had a discussion.  I read he was sick.  Maybe that's the reason, I don't know, but it didn't look good.  And now hearing someone from CBS reporting Fitz expressed concern about Levitre's snapping during weekly practice, which should have stayed in the locker room?  I'm sorry but I think something's wrong internally.  Was anyone else at the game and noticed the same?  Am I just blowing smoke?

Well, it looks like Stevie has decided to take his rap from the Kentucky locker room to YouTube.  Maybe he can be another Shaq-Fu.  Sounds like he's on an introspective tip with this one and unbelievably he's not cursing!  Probably loses a little street cred for that decision (unless he gets shot) but I welcome the change.  Click below and let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKARtCOdS9A

Usually when you're checking out every mock draft you can find and buying every overpriced draft guide at your local Walgreens, you find a guy you've never heard of being declared the sleeper pick of the draft.  Then you'll sit through two (now three) days of the NFL Draft to see where the sleeper pick will go, check him off on your list and never hear from him again.  I've prided myself on being prepared and having at least some knowledge of many of the players who will be picked in the next few months.  I was preparing for the usual QBs who's names will be mentioned early, the Newtons, Lockers, Ponders, Mallets etc., but there is one name that just came out of the blue, Blaine Gabbert.

I have to admit, until last week when Mel Kiper placed him at #5 on his mock draft (#5?), I'd never heard of the guy all year and I live in the St. Louis metropolitan area.  I knew Missouri had a serviceable QB but nothing that would be selected in the top ten of the draft.  Now within a week he is now listed as the number one pick by Andrew Perloff (who again?) of CNNSI and I'm again saying, "Who the hell is Blain Gabbert?".  I've attempted to watch video on the man and all of it left me shrugging.  I checked out his website (yes he does have his own website) and left unfulfilled.  His stats were pretty good, 3186 yards passing, 63.4 completion percentage, 16 tds, 9 interceptions but take away the Insight Bowl game against Iowa where he exploded for 434 yards (in a loss) and I don't see a top five pick.

I know I don't have all the info or inside information, nor do I have access to game film from all his games, so can somebody, anybody please tell me where this guy came from and how he is now one of the most wanted quarterbacks in the nation according to some sporting sites?

 

 

 

 

If any of you read the recent post stating Gailey's interest in bolstering the Bills defense and just finished watching the BCS Championship, I'm sure your mouth watered just thinking about a defensive line consisting of Fairley, Williams and Carrington or Edwards.  Fairley looked like the second coming of Suh on the field but I wonder if this performance and Luck's decision just moved him out of the Bills reach?  What do you think?

 

 

ESPN is reporting if Vick returns to the Eagles Kevin Kolb will want to be traded.  Could this be good news for the Bills?  Earlier rumors stated the Eagles were demanding a first round pick for Kolb.  Kolb remains on the Eagles' roster so it's possible the demands could be considered too high.  Certainly, the Bills' 3rd pick would be out of the question, but what could be considered appropriate compensation for a quarterback with Kolb's skill set?  Since Luck is staying another year and (hopefully) nobody is expecting the Bills to be in contention for the first pick next year, would the Bills be interested in Kolb or would they rather draft a quarterback and ride Fitzpatrick for another season?  What do you think?

Rarely during interviews will you hear one player speak disparagingly about another (ahem T.O.).  Most of the time they will stick to the company line, say everything is fine, we're all professionals, or if they are near the boiling point possibly say something like, "It's a team matter and I choose to handle things behind closed doors."  But sometimes whether through body language or something said inadvertently you're able to get a peek into the players true feelings. 

CJ Spiller was interviewed by the press corps yesterday on BuffaloBIlls.com and over the 9:49 interview I must say I was impressed by how he handled himself.  He came across as very mature, humble and a professional.  He spoke very confidently in his ability and handled the question about his relationship with Fred and MarShawn at the 5:00 mark the way you would have figured.  He said the relationship was "great" and there was "no jealousy amongst us".  He said they "were very supportive since the decision was made" and basically said everyone was one big happy family.  But it was something he said later which raised the eyebrows.

At the 8:00 mark, he was asked about the first time he saw someone wearing his jersey, an experience which seemed to fill him with pride as he talked about it but then he spoke about being a role model for kids and not "being in the papers for the wrong things and being up here answering questions about what happened (drum roll) DOWNTOWN.
 

Was this a swipe towards MarShawn?  Did this statement give us a peek into the true relationship between a player who was once the starter but due to production and bone headed actions lost his position and the "new jack rookie"?  I'm not trying to start a "rap beef" between Team Lynch and Team Spiller but watch the video and let me know what you think.