Snap Judgement

by Ryan

Are the Cleveland Browns a better football team with Brady Quinn at quarterback, or does it not matter at all? This becomes very important after Sunday, and if you watched any of the game tonight, we have some things to talk about in the morning. Next Monday Night is a lot closer than it feels.



Wow, and we thought Trent looked ridiculous when he threw.

8 in 8: AFC North

By Chris

Today's installment of the Roost's NFL Preview, "Eight Divisions in Eight Days," takes a look at the AFC North.

1. Baltimore Ravens
Despite their tough schedule (Weeks 12-14 include a road trip to San Diego and then two home games against New England and the Colts), the Ravens should win this division and secure the fourth playoff berth in the AFC. The defense was absolutely insane last year, and even without Adalius Thomas, there's no reason to think they can't lead the league in pretty much of all of the major stat categories again. And no, I'm not going to mention that slimeball new runningback they just traded fo--oops.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers
That's right, the Steelers are back. Couple a healthy Ben Roethlisberger with an MVP season for Troy Polamalu, and I see the Steelers locking up that first wild card spot in the AFC. The Bengals may be a sexier pick here, but everyone seems to forget that the Steelers were the defending champs going into last season. They faced a plethora of distractions, including Big Ben’s motorcycle wreck and Bill Cowher’s impending retirement that led to their disappointing season. New coach Mike Tomlin should be able to get the team focused and in shape to make another serious push for the postseason.


3. Cincinati Bengals
Just because they're finishing in third doesn't mean they're going to suck. I think they can seriously make a push for the Wild Card, but getting swept by the Steelers isn't going to help
their cause. Just a prediction. Carson Palmer is nasty and I love how 85 is already talking trash, but I just can't see this team leapfrogging over the Ravens or the Steelers, at least not this year at least.

4. Cleveland Browns
They're going to be soooo bad. They'll have a Top 3 pick again in the draft I bet, and they won't even be able to use it since they traded it away to get backup Brady Quinn this year. Good news for Dallas. This team could go 1-15 and I'm not sure anyone would be totally shocked. Looks to me like the curtain on the Romeo Crennell era may be drawing to a close...

Main Street

by Ryan

I used to think that living in Buffalo wasn't all that bad. Then I heard everyone else's opinion. Unfortunately Buffalo is one of those cities that gets crap out of habit from just about anyone that pleases to opine. It also happens to have a bad track record with its sports teams. You can see where this is going.

So when I read the Bills season preview on Deadspin I was prepared for the worst. In all honesty, I was actually let down a bit.

The article itself was very solid, but the comments were the same things I've read or heard about Buffalo for years.

"Scott Norwood still kicking for them?"

"I'd imagine post-riot Buffalo would look pretty much like pre-riots Buffalo, no matter how destructive said riots were."

And so on.

The thing is, what was said wasn't offensive at all. In fact, I'm just appalled by the lack of originality. I mean, Scott Norwood jokes don't even register with us anymore. Sure, watching a replay of it still makes me want to rip my my esophagus out and jump some rope with it, but making a Norwood crack doesn't even phase me at this point. The same goes with a Brett Hull joke. At this point, whatever. I've heard it so many times, it's a moot point at best.

In all honesty, those horrific moments from our sporting past are nowhere near as painful as the current troubles we have. Why not tell me that no free agent would be caught dead in Buffalo? That reality would hurt more than a joke about a 47 year old placekicker.

All I'm asking for is a little more creativity when you make fun of us. The least you can do is ask when John Rigas is going to give us the tools to "finish the job." Ask me how that waterfront stadium is treating us, or if the Rockies like playing downtown.

I really don't have a problem with making fun of Buffalo. In fact, some of the best advice I've ever gotten was that you have to make fun of yourself before you learn to make fun of others. All I'm asking is for something new. Anything other than Norwood, Hull, and calling it a cesspool would be an exciting change of pace.

Heck, even Cleveland has Brady Quinn now, and their stadium was built on an ocean.