HOW ABOUT BAKER MAYFIELD AS STARTING QB FOR THE BILLS?
How would probable 2017 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma look in a Buffalo Bills jersey next season?
An “unnamed NFL executive” this week told NFL.com that he believes Mayfield would be a great fit for the Bills and would start immediately next season.
I’m all for it, how about you?
Of course, the Bills probably would need to package a few prime picks in the 2018 NFL college draft – including maybe both of next year’s first-rounders – to move up to select him.
Mayfield is a fiery leader who can make all the throws. He has decent mobility and has been durable. I think the fans would love him.
Buffalo has employed two Heisman Trophy quarterbacks – Doug Flutie and Matt Leinart.
Flutie (Boston College; won the 1984 Heisman Trophy) was productive and immensely popular in his three seasons with the Bills (1998-1999-2000). He had a 21-9 record as the starter, including 7-3 in 1998 and 10-5 in 1999, when he was rested in the final game of the regular season and Rob Johnson played so well in his place that owner Ralph Wilson (we believe) strongly suggested to coach Wade Phillips that Johnson start in the ill-fated 22-16 playoff loss at the Tennessee Titans.
Johnson was named the starter in 2000. He was 4-7 when he was healthy and Flutie was 4-1 when he “had” to start.
Leinart (USC; won the 2004 Heisman Trophy) was signed during a manpower punch during 2013 training camp. He looked awful in a brief stint in one exhibition game and was cut after one week.
WHY KANSAS FIGURES TO BEAT SYRACUSE BY 20-PLUS POINTS
The Syracuse Orange and the Kansas Jayhawks both are 6-0 this young men’s basketball season.
So why is Kansas ranked No. 2 in the nation while SU has yet to receive a single No. 25 vote in the weekly AP poll?
And why am I predicting a Kansas romp in Saturday’s game (5:30 p.m., News Radio WHAM 1180 and ESPN, American Airliners Arena, in Miami, Fla.)?
Jim Boeheim’s SU team is very young with impressive potential. Bill Self’s Jayhawks have more raw talent, size, shooting skills and experience.
Shooting percentages this season (rank in NCAA Division I in parentheseses):
Field-goal percentage – Kansas .541 (4th)...Syracuse .450 (175th)
Three-point FG percentage – Kansa .452 (7th)...SU .291 (314th)
Free-throw percentage – Kansas .718 (137th)...Syracuse .641 (315th).
They’ve played three common opponents this season:
Texas Southern – Kansas won 114-71...Syracuse won 80-67
Oakland – Kansas won 102-59...Syracuse won 74-50
Toledo – Kansas won 96-58...Syracuse won 72-64.
Bob’s pick: Kansas 87, Syracuse 65.
DATE TO CIRCLE: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24: SU AT DUKE
Jim Boeheim versus Mike Krzyzewski – Syracuse at Duke – Saturday, Feb. 24. Must-see TV.
The main theme of this big-time basketball game will be the coaches 1-2 on the list of all-time Division I victories:
1-Krzyzewski 1079
2-Boeheim 1010*
3-Bobby Knight 899 (retired)
4-Dean Smith 899 (retired)
5-Jim Calhoun 877 (retired).
That lousy * means Boeheim’s victory count includes 101 wins vacated by the clueless and vindictive NCAA.
The * also deprives (according to the NCAA) Boeheim of the distinction of the most Division I victories at one school. All of Boeheim’s wins were at SU. 73 of Krzyzewski’s wins were at Army.
The NCAA could show some class by restoring Boeheim’s “lost” 101 wins before the latest Boeheim-Coach K reunion.
I don’t expect that to happen. I don’t know if it ever will happen.
But if Boeheim ever retires – and don’t be shocked if he stays just long enough to top Krzyzewski for the most Division I career wins – and he gets a much-deserved huge statue outside the Carrier Dome, I hope the largest type salutes “Most Division I Victories at One School” – his alma mater.
TIME FOR SABRES FANS TO START FOCUSING ON THE 2018 NHL DRAFT?
What do fans of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres have in common?
Among other things, the annual drafts lately have been the highlights of the season and the major cause for optimism: With enough plum picks and some luck, our teams could be really good, really soon.
Through 25 games this NHL season, the Sabres (6-15-4 and outscored by 30 goals) are “battling” the Arizona Coyotes (6-17-4 and outscored by 32 goals) for the worst record in the 31-team league.
Buffalo is last in NHL scoring with 2.20 goals per game. The Sabres have been shut out only twice – their last two games. But they’ve scored one goal seven times and two goals seven times.
The Sabres are 3-8-1 at home and outscored 35-23.
On the road, Buffalo is 3-7-3 and has been outscored 50-32.
The team’s leading goal scorer – Evander Kane(12 goals) – was the team’s main trade bait. Would they dare deal him now?
Tied for second with seven goals each are Jack Eichel and captain Ryan O’Reilly (minus-17 in plus/minus).
You might get tired of being reminded of this, but through 25 games, not a single Buffalo defenseman (they’ve used 10 of them) has scored a goal – not even by accident.
Buffalo is 30th on the power play: 12.8 percent (10-of-78; while allowing 7 short-handed goals). To be fair, the Sabres are a respectable 13th in penalty killing (81.1 percent; 60-of-74).
The Sabres aren’t tanking. They’re simply not very good.
Can the Sabres turn things around and make the playoffs? I give the Bills a much better chance – at around 30 percent.
Who are Rasmus Dahlin and Andrei Svechnikov?
The defenseman and right wing -- as of now -- appear to be by far the best prospects for the 2018 NHL entry draft. Maybe one of them will be wearing a Sabres jersey one of these years.
NFL WEEK 13’s “BEST BET”: JAGUARS (-9 ½) TO BREAK THE COLTS
The team with significantly more talent and coming off a disappointing loss often is a strong play in the NFL.
Jacksonville has a great chance to make the playoffs and is likely to bounce back from last week’s 27-24 loss in Arizona.
This week’s “Best Bet”: JACKSONVILLE (-9 ½) 33, Indianapolis 17.
Sunday’s other games
(home team in CAPS)
New England 38, BUFFALO (+8 ½) 17 – I’ll be rooting for the Bills but I can’t pick them. Tom Brady has owned Buffalo and there is no logical reason to expect a different outcome this time.
Minnesota 23, ATLANTA (-3) 20 – I like the way the Falcons are playing but Minnesota’s seven-game winning streak, stingy defense, hot QB Case Keenum and the 3-point spot are too much to pass up.
TENNESSEE (-7) 28, Houston 17 – The QB mismatch – Marcus Mariota over inconsistent Tom Savage – should be the difference.
Kansas City 23, NEW YORK JETS (+3) –The slumping Chiefs have much more to play for and QB Alex Smith can’t be as lousy as he has played lately.
Denver 20, MIAMI (+1 ½) 14 – Both teams are slumping but Denver’s defense should be by far the best unit on the field and I don’t consider the return of Jay Cutler a plus for the Dolphins. Warning: Denver is 0-7 outright and against the point spread (ATS) in its last seven games.
GREEN BAY (-2) 23, Tampa Bay 17 – Packers back-up QB Brett Hundley appear to be improving and I can’t take Ryan Fitzpatrick giving up points on the road.
Detroit 27, BALTIMORE (-3) 20 – Ravens QB Joe Flacco hasn’t looked right all season and Lions QB Matthew Stafford is far more likely to have a big game. Warning: Detroit is 1-16 away coming off Thanksgiving Day. I don’t care. I believe the Lions are poised to do the Bills a big favor.
San Francisco 20, CHICAGO (-3) 17 – Jimmy Garoppolo should be the difference in his first start for the 49ers.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (-14) 30, Cleveland 10 – The Chargers are 5-2 since their 0-4 start and looking good on both sides of the football. The Brown are the Browns. Do you think Philip Rivers is going to lose a QB duel against DeShone Kizer.
OAKLAND (-8 ½) 20, New York Giants 7 – The Raiders were favored by 6 ½ points before the Giants benched Eli Manning in favor of Geno Smith. I don’t think Eli was the main reason the Giants are 2-9.
NEW ORLEANS (-4) 35, Carolina 24 – Drew Brees and Co. figure to bounce back at home after their eight-game winning streak ended with a 26-20 loss to the LA Rams.
Los Angeles Rams 27, ARIZONA (+7) 17 – The Rams crushed the Cardinals 33-0 in London earlier this season. The rematch figures to be closer – but not that much closer.
Philadelphia 38, SEATTLE (+5 ½) 24 – The Seahawks seldom are underdogs at home but they rarely take on visitors as potent as the Eagles. Seattle is banged-up on defense and Philadelphia QB Carson Wentz is a top candidate for MVP.
Monday night’s game
Pittsburgh 27, CINCINNATI (+5 ½) 20 – Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is 39-13 outright and 32-19-1 ATS in December and playmates Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown are in top form.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S PLAYOFF FINAL FOUR TO BE DECIDED THIS WEEKEND
Here are the biggest college football games this weekend and my projected four teams in the championship playoffs:
USC (favored by 3 ½ points) 30, Stanford 27 – The Trojans won 42-24 September 9 in Los Angeles. The rematch Friday night (9 p.m., ESPN) in Santa Clara figures to be much closer.
Oklahoma (-7) 35, TCU 24 – The Sooners won 38-20 last month and QB Baker Mayfield could wrap up the Heisman Trophy with a solid performance. I like his chances Saturday in Arlington, Texas (12:30 p.m., FOX).
Georgia (+2 ½) 27, Auburn 24 – Auburn romped 40-17 last month so the Bulldogs should be eager to make amends Saturday in Atlanta (4 p.m., CBS). Tigers versatile star running back Kerryon Johnson has a shoulder injury that could limit his effectiveness.
Clemson (-9 ½) 33, Miami 20 – The defending national champion Tigers have the defense to frustrate the Hurricanes, who looked awful in a 24-14 loss at Pittsburgh last month. The game is 8 p.m. on ABC. Warning: Syracuse upset visiting Clemson this season (and then lost five straight to close another non-bowl campaign), so I guess Miami could do it, too.
Wisconsin (+6) 28, Ohio State 21 – It isn’t undefeated (12-0) Wisconsin’s fault that it hasn’t defeated any “elite” opponents this season. The Badgers have a lot to improve as 6-point underdogs to the tough-to-figure two-loss Buckeyes Saturday in Indianapolis (8 p.m., FOX).
Bob’s four playoff teams (TBA announced Sunday afternoon): Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
DID REX RYAN TAKE TOO MUCH HEAT FOR BUFFALO’S DECLINE ON DEFENSE?
The main knock on Rex Ryan during his two-year stint as head coach of the Buffalo Bills (2015-2016) was the team’s decline in defense from 2014, when defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz did such a fine job for head coach Doug Marrone (the defense ranked 4th in the NFL and the Bills finished 9-7).
Buffalo’s defense certainly did decline in 2015 and 2016, but the defense hasn’t been any better this season in Sean McDermott’s first year as coach with Leslie Frazier as defensive coordinator:
2014 – Total defense 312.2 yards allowed per game (4th)...18.1 points allowed per game (4th)
2015 – Total defense 356.4 YAPG (19th)...22.4 PAPG (15th)
2016 – Total defense 357.0 YAPG (19th)...23.6 PAPG (t16th)
2017 – Total defense 354.9 (25th)...23.6 PAPG (17th).
Interestingly, Buffalo’s offense in 2015 and 2016 for Rex Ryan was considerably better than in 2014 and so far in 2017:
2014 – Total offense 318.5 YPG (26th)...21.4 PPG (18th)
2015 – Total offense 360.9 YPG (12th)...23.7 PPG (21st)
2016 – Total offense 354.1 YPG (16th)...24.9 PPG (t10th)
2017 – Total offense 299.0 YPG (26th)...20.4 PPG (22nd).
Rank in the 32-team NFL in parentheses.
TWINS SIGN FOUR SIX-YEAR MINOR-LEAGUE FREE AGENTS
The Minnesota Twins on Thursday announced the signings of four minor-league free agents for the 2018 season. A few of them figure to be Rochester Red Wings:
Ryan LaMarre – 29-year-old outfielder...best season 2016 with Pawtucket (International League): 86 games; .303 batting average (96-for-317); 15 doubles; 10 HRs; 41 RBI; 17 stolen bases.
Bobby Wilson – 34-year-old journeyman catcher...in 75 games with Oklahoma City (PCL) last season, .243, 11 HRs, 45 RBI...in 2016, in 75 games with Texas, Tampa Bay and Detroit, .237, 7 HRs, 33 RBI.
Willans Astudillo – An interesting guy...26-year-old, 5-foot-9, 225-pound catcher-infielder...main claim to fame is his extraordinarily low strikeout rate (only 67 Ks in 2,154 minor-league ABS)...in 35 games with Reno (PCL) last season, .343 BA (41-for-120), 14 doubles, 4 HRs, 22 RBI...2015 Florida State League batting champion He obviously can hit.
Myles Jaye – 25-year-old right-handed pitcher – 4-13 record, 3.96 ERA in AA/AAA last season...five games with Detroit: 1-2, 12.08 ERA.
SHORT SHOTS
Good luck to Mike Quade, who won’t be returning for a fourth season as manager of the Red Wings. Rochester is the only team in the 14-team International League with a winning record in each of the last five seasons. The Red Wings were 77-67, 81-63 and 80-62 (232-192) on his three-year watch. No. 8 was a class act with his players, the fans and the media.
I’m surprised that POTUS Donald Trump has not tweeted namberry.com to contest that “Donald” ranked only 690th among the names of boys born in America in 2017. Atticus was No. 1 in a “stunning upset.” Olivia was No. 12 for girls for the second year in a row.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Friday, December 1
Javier Baez (25)...DeSean Jackson (31)...Jabar Gaffney (37)...Barry Sims (43)...Todd Steussie (47)...Reggie Sanders (50)...Larry Walker (51)...Steve Walsh (51)...former Red Wings catcher Jeff Tackett (52)...Duane Bickett (55)...former Amerk defenseman Steve Dykstra (55)...George Foster (69)...Lee Trevino (78). Sarah Silverman (47), Bette Milder (72) and Woody Allen (82) are invited to the birthday party.
Saturday, December 2
Gary Sanchez (25)...Brandon Knight (26)...Matt McGloin (28)...Aaron Rodgers (34)...Jarron/Jason Collins (39)...Monica Seles/Mrs. Tom Golisano (40)...Eddy Garabito (41)...Mark Kotsay (42)...Jan Ullrich (44)...O.J. McDuffie (48)...Rich/Ron Sutter (54)...Gerry Cheevers (77). Britney Spears (36) and Lucy Liu (49) are invited to the birthday party.
Sunday, December 3
Josh Docston (25)...J.T. Chargois (27)...Lindsey Hunter (47)...Paul Byrd (47)...Lindsey Hunter (47)...Katarina Witt (52)...Mike Ramsey (57)...Igor Larionov (57)...Franz Klammer (64)...Rick Mears (66). Daryl Hannah (57) and Ozzy Osbourne (69) are invited to the birthday party.