SAM BRADFORD WOULD BE THE ANTI-TYROD TAYLOR
The two veteran quarterbacks mentioned most prominently as potential starting quarterback for the 2018 Buffalo Bills are Alex Smith (Kansas City) and Sam Bradford (Minnesota).
Both are former No. 1 overall picks in the NFL college draft: Smith in 2005 by San Francisco and Bradford in 2010 by the St. Louis Rams.
Smith is likely to available because the Chiefs are expected to start second-year QB Patrick Mahomes, the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
Smith, 33, led the NFL with a 104.0 passer rating this season (341-of-505; .675; 4,042 yards passing; 26 TD passes; 5 INT). He’ll turn 34 before next season but still has a strong arm and mobility. He had 60 carries for 355 yards (5.9-yard average) this season.
Smith probably would be a perfect bridge for a year or two between Tyrod Taylor and the young “franchise quarterback” the Bills hope to pick in this year’s college draft.
Bradford, 30, could be available because the Vikings might prefer Case Keenum and Teddy Bridgewater. He also has a knee problem.
Bradford is the opposite of Tyrod Taylor. He’s an extremely accurate passer (.716 completion percentage in 15 games in 2016 and .744 in 2 games in 2017) and has no mobility.
Two teams being mentioned as 2018 destinations for Tyrod Taylor, assuming he’s no longer in Buffalo’s plans, are the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Both are predominantly running teams and have to be attracted by Taylor’s low turnover rate. It is Taylor’s best trait as a QB and it isn’t a bad one to have.
SEVEN NEW BASEBALL HALL-OF-FAMERS WOULD BE MOST SINCE 2006
If baseball Hall of Fame voting tracker Ryan Thibodaux’s numbers hold up, the writers will select five players in balloting for the Cooperstown Class of 2018. Jack Morris and Alan Trammel already are in via the Veterans Committee.
Through Tuesday night, Thibodaux had accounted for 178 of the anticipated 424 total ballots (42 percent).
A player must appear on 75 percent of the ballots to be elected. As of now, the five players on pace to be announced January 24 as the new Hall of Famers are (years on the ballot in parentheses)
(1) Chipper Jones 98.3 percent; on 175 of the 178 ballots
(1) Vladimir Guerrero 94.4 percent; 16
(1) Jim Thome 93.3 percent; 166
(9) Edgar Martinez 80.3 percent; 143
(3) Trevor Hoffman 78.1 percent; 139
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(5) Mike Mussina 73.0 (130)
(6) Curt Schilling 66.3 (118)
(6) Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens 66.3 percent (118 each)
(8) Larry Walker 39.0 percent (69)
(1) Omar Vizquel 29.4 percent (52)
(2) Manny Ramirez 25.3 percent (45)
(9) Fred McGriff 16.3 percent (29)
(6) Sammy Sosa 12.9 percent (23)
(5) Jeff Kent 11.2 percent (20)
(1) Scott Rolen 10.7 percent (19)
(3) Billy Wagner 10.2 percent (18)
(4) Gary Sheffield 9.6 percent (17)
(1) Johan Santana 1.7 percent (3)
(1) Johnny Damon 1.7 percent (3).
If the Class of 2018 has seven members, it would be the most since 2006, when the 18 new Hall of Famers were Bruce Sutter and 17 people selected by the Committee on African-American Baseball. Sadly, all of the products of the Negro leagues and pre-Negro leagues were deceased.
MARTIN BIRON IS THE NEWEST AMERK HALL OF FAMER
Goalie Martin Biron on Tuesday became the newest member of the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame. It was only a matter of time.
Biron had an excellent record with Rochester in portions of four seasons: 103 games; 59-32-9 record; 2.36 goals-against average; .921 save percentage; 2.36 goals-against average.
His best season for the Amerks was 1998-99: 36-13-3 record; 2.07 goals-against average; .930 save percentage; 6 shutouts. He was a first-team AHL all-star.
One of his most impressive numbers for Rochester was 13 shutouts in his 103 games.
Biron’s 1997-98 season with the Amerks was a clue to his potential. The team wasn’t very good but he was: 14-18-6; 2.94 GAA; .910 save percentage; 5 shutouts in 41 games. He shared time with journeyman Mike Bales, who had a 13-19-5 record, 3.42 GAA; .893 save percentage; 3.42 GAA; 0 shutouts in 39 games.
Biron is the 62nd member of the Amerks Hall of Fame and only the sixth goalie, joining Bobby Perreault (1986 inaugural class), Gerry Cheevers (1987), Jacques Cloutier (2000), Darcy Wakaluk (2012) and Daren Puppa (2016).
The induction ceremony will be February 16 before the game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
SABRES-COYOTES REMATCH WILL BE MARCH 21
The Buffalo Sabres and Arizona Coyotes are embroiled in a not-of-exciting battle for the basement on the 31-team National Hockey League.
Entering Wednesday, both teams had played 43 games.
Buffalo had three more points in the standings (29 of a possible 86 points; 30th in the NHL) than Arizona (26 of a possible 86 points; 31st in the NHL).
Buffalo has been outscored by an NHL-most 54 goals (96 goals for; 150 goals against). Arizona has been outscored by 52 goals, second-most in the NHL (98 goals for and 150 goals against).
Buffalo is 31st in the NFL in goals per game (2.19). Arizona is 30th (2.26).
The Coyotes are slightly better in special teams (20th on power play and 17th in penalty killing) than the Sabres (30th on power play and t21st in penalty killing).
Buffalo beat the host Coyotes 5-4 on November 2.
The rematch will be March 21 in Buffalo. It will not be among the most anticipated events in Buffalo’s sports history.
FORMER RED WINGS STAR JUSTIN MORNEAU OFFICIALLY RETIRES
Former Rochester Red Wings slugger Justin Morneau officially announced his retirement as a player yhis week and will join the Minnesota Twins as a special assistant. He’s 36 and last played for the Chicago White Sox in 2016. Concussions shortened what might have been an even better career.
The left-handed hitting first baseman’s major-league stat line includes a .281 batting average; 1,603 hits; 772 runs; 247 HRs and 985 RBI.
Morneau had two productive half-seasons in Rochester:
2003 -- .268, 11 doubles, 1 triple, 16 HRs, 42 RBI in 71 games
2004 --.306, 23 doubles, 22 HRs, 63 RBI in 72 games.
Among his achievements, he won the 2009 Home Run Derby, was the 2014 National League batting champion for the Colorado Rockies and was the 2006 American League Most Valuable Player.
Many New York Yankees fans still can’t believe Morneau topped MVP runner-up Derek Jeter that year.
Morneau received 15 first-place votes and 320 total voting points. Jeter had 12 first-place votes and 306 total voting points. Boston’s David Ortiz was a distant third.
Their 2006 stats:
Morneau – .321 batting average (190-of-592); 97 runs; 37 doubles; 1 triple; 34 HRs; 130 RBI; .934 OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage).
Jeter – .343 batting average (214-of-623); 118 runs; 39 doubles; 3 triples; 14 HRs; 97 RBI; .900 OPS. Derek deserved extra credit for playing shortstop. It was the closest he came to being league MVP.
Ortiz -- .287 batting average (160-for-558); 115 runs; 29 doubles; 2 triples; 54 HRs; 137 RBI; 1.049 OPS. He led the AL in HRs, RBI and total bases. Being a DH hurt his cause.
PACHECO COULD BE A VALUABLE RED WING
The Minnesota Twins signed veteran Jordan Pacheco for Rochester. He’ll turn 32 January 30 and is not expected to help the Twins. But he figures to be an important Red Wing because he can play first, base, second base, third base and catcher.
Pacheco once had a promising future. He was the MVP of the South Atlantic League in 2009 (.322, 13 HRs, 79 RBI; mostly as a catcher). He tied for sixth in National League Rookie of the Year voting with Colorado in 2012 (.309, 32 doubles, 3 triples, 5 HRs, 54 RBI) but hasn’t done much since. He is not regarded as a strong defensive player and he has very little power. He spent the 2017 season with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League: .273 (41-for-150), 13 doubles, 3 HRs, 22 RBI); mostly at !B and catcher.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Wednesday, January 10
Landon Collins (24)...Henrik Tallinder (39)...Adam Kennedy (42)...Jake Delhomme (43)...Hollis Thomas (44)...Glenn Robinson (45)...former Red Wing Kelvin Torve (58)...Bobby Rahal (65)...George Foremnan (69)...Willie McCovey (80)...Frank Mahovlich (80). Pat Benatar (65) and Rod Stewart (73) are invited to the birthday party.
Thursday, January 11
Mark Pysyk (26)...David DeCastro (28)...Danny Salazar (28)...Tony Allen (36)...Mike Williams (38)...Rey Ordonez (37)...Rory Fitzpatrick (43)...Tracy Caulkins (55)...Brett Bodine (59)...Lloyd McClendon (59)...Freddie Solomon (65)...Chris Ford (69). On this date 45 years ago (1973), the American League adopted the designated hitter rule. On this date 35 years ago (1983), Billy Martin was named manager of the New York Yankees – for the third time.