Chris Berman is a pro at speaking at public, and has done HOF ceremonies before, so this was a natural choice for Bills' owner Ralph Wilson. Berman, a noted Bills fan, will introduce the longtime Bills owner before he is inducted into the hall of fame this August. Via the San Jose Mercury News....

Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson has picked ESPN football broadcaster Chris Berman to introduce him at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in August.

In announcing his decision Thursday, Wilson said he and Berman have been friends for many years and noted that, "Chris really embodies the Bills fans."

The broadcaster nicknamed "Boomer" has had a soft spot for the Bills during his 30 years at ESPN, and is noted for coining the phrase, "Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills."

Wilson, who founded the franchise in 1959, is one of six to be inducted on Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio. The group includes former Bills defensive end Bruce Smith, who has selected former assistant coach Ted Cottrell to introduce him.

So obviously the big news over the weekend was the fact that Terrell Owens quickly signed on with the Buffalo Bills, to the tune of $6.5 million. While the ink was still drying on that deal, the Bills decided that they can't be wasting time in recouping some of that guaranteed (so stupid) money, so they got word out that T.O. jerseys were for sale on their website. With #81 already taken (James Hardy), the team decided to give Owens the only number that would work for him. #1....


How fitting huh? Owens can always switch, or buy eighty one from Hardy, so this #1 jersey might be worth something in the future. Well at least worth a bit of comedy when you wear it out in public next year.

I don't think I've ever seen a stoppage of play so that workers can straighten the goal posts on the field, but that's exactly what just happened in Buffalo. This is what 40 mph winds can do to your kicking game....

If you happened to watch the Bills epic collapse against the Jets, then you probably saw the Shaun Ellis fumble recovery to give the Jets the lead. What you may not have seen is the referee on that play getting absolutely destroyed during Ellis' romp to the endzone. The Sports Hernia provides the photographic evidence, but here's video of said destruction....

As a proud alum of (THE) James Madison University, it always made me chuckle that one of the three Football jerseys that are retired by the school is of one, Scott Norwood (Gary Clark, Charles Haley). I have never been on the losing side of any Championship game, for any of my teams, so I can't even imagine how Bills fans felt in the 90s.

Fast forward to tonight and another MNF game for the Bills that came down to a FG. Last year Nick Folk who provided the dagger after an onside kick, this year it was Tirico, Jaws and Kornheiser that slid the weapon in before Rian Lindell's game winning attempt....

Who: Browns at Bills
Where: Ralph Wilson Stadium
Why: So Tony can further develop his man crush on Brady Quinn
Spreads: Bills -5.5, O/U 40
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Tony Kornheiser

Monday Night Countdown Segments:

“Unmasked:” Marshawn Lynch

When asked to describe his attitude going into his rookie season in 2007, Bills running back Marshawn Lynch exclaimed, “Beast Mode.” His teammates feel like the description fits Lynch’s running style and Lynch went so far as to have grills made for his teeth that say “BEAST MODE” in diamonds.

ESPN the Magazine's “For Love or The Game:” Kellen Winslow

Kellen Winslow will be the subject of Monday’s “For Love or The Game”. Winslow’s wife, Janelle, and his teammate Brodney Pool battle to see who really knows Winslow better.

EA Sports Virtual Playbook: Browns Quarterback Brady Quinn

Tom Jackson breaks down how Brady Quinn's short passing game could create problems for the Bills.

(FYI- ESPN is also airing a new "This is Sports Center" spot during the game's first commercial break. The ad will star Carolina Panther's Wide Receiver, Steve Smith.)

AA's Prediction:

I've been wrong about three weeks in a row now, so I'm going to go against my better judgment and pick the Browns. I think they looked pretty solid with Quinn last week, and the Bills offense seems to be regressing as the season goes on (much like the Redskins). I'll see you a little after 8pm for the fun!

Browns 24 - Bills 14

Update: Canceling the live-blog for tonight because something came up. Enjoy the game, and I'll see you first thing tomorrow morning.

Yes, that is Tom's baby mama Bridget Moynahan, ostensibly pre-pregnancy and birth.

The Patriots start with a hand-off to Evans for a few yards up the middle and then send him rushing again for a first down after that. There's one pass to Stallworth, but it's back to Evans again, and John mentions Maroney may have injury issues. Brady is now targeting Stallworth, and he brings it in on the Buffalo 25 yard line. Kyle Eckel barrels through for a few more yards.

"There are many things to like about Tom Brady, but the big one is just how easy he makes it look." - JM, #8.
"The great ones always make it look easy." - AM

We get a Joe Montana comparison and a "Tom Brady is playing this position better than anyone has ever played it" from John for #9. Brady then chucks it to Gaffney for more yardage. Eckel then rushes on 1st for three more.

Halftime thoughts; Kevin Everett has had a hard life. He had a critical drop in a #3 Miami @ #5 VT game in college, he suffers a devastating injury, then NBC puts him in a room with Tiki Barber when he's not able to run away. Poor guy. - anon

"He looks like he has one of those Excedrin headaches." - JM, on a Buffalo defensive player. Brady throws incomplete to Moss, and Coach Hobo will have to decide whether to kcik or not, and they're going for it, which explains the boos. Brady tosses a floater to Ben Watson for another touchdown. 42-7, Pats after the kick.

I started this game with 10 beers down here hoping to finish them before the half. I am too depressed to even drink though. - Sebastian

Yikes. McGee brings the kickoff back past the 30 and we get Cake's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" for the bump.

Buffalo's actually making a drive, as Losman converts a 3rd down with his feet. This has turned away from Tom Brady-blowing to generic-Patriot pimping and dynasty talk now. Losman throws a deep one that almost gets picked. He throws another incomplete on 3rd down, and the fans are booing not going for it on fourth down rather than kicking the field goal. Rian Lindell's kick is another goofy one, Phil Dawson style, as it hit the camera on its way to being good. 42-10, Patriots, after the FG.

I'm convinced Madden classifies the Patriots and Brett Favre videos as "porn". - Mookie

NIGHTMARE FUEL. Thanks. And since they just played "Super Freak" after the kick-off, I'm obliged to post the Chappelle skit:



That shit still holds up.

Yep, the Patriots are still passing out of the gun, everyone

That field goal should have been no good. It's not whether or not the ball breaks the plane, but where it ends up. At least that's what a FanHouse commenter said earlier, and they're never wrong. - OMDQ

Heh. If they talk any more about running up the score, they're gonna put me to sleep, I swear. Brady rushes for a few extra yards with three minutes to go. 3rd and 3 at the 13 of the Bills, and another question of whether Coach Hobo goes for it -- like it really is a question, and the Buffalo crowd is booing again. Moss catches the short slant for a 1st and goal. Eckel runs it to about the 2, and the third quarter's done.

AM "At some point they are just going to have to stop them. They are letting unknown RBs break off 14 yard gains"...He must have missed the 4 plays they threw out of the gun right before that. - Sebastian
"Whats pouring it on more, kicking a FG up 42-10 or going for it 42-10?" -AM - Anon
Kyle Eckel is breaking off 10+ yard runs - when does the O-line get verbally fellated? - OMDQ

Madden did it earlier, but it's probably a good time to give the O-line some slobbering again. Especially because Kyle Eckel just got in the end zone with Junior Seau playing fullback. 49-10, Patriots, as the kick is good.

The last two pieces of bump music have been disappointing. Britney Spears and then that "Life is a Highway" song by whomever the fuck that was.

The Pats put a vicious hit on the Bills' wide reeiver and Ellis Hobbs catches it in mid-air, then rolls it all the way back for six more. 56-10 after the PAT. Oof.

Wait, did they just say they flexed in Pats-Eagles? Seriously? Can we just kill this flex thing? - Anon

I know they flexed in one more Pats game after next week, too. Eventually I'm really going to be sick of these guys unless they happen to be on my fantasy team.

Seriously, I'm not really sure what to write about any more and there's 13 minutes left here. Brady's probably out of the game, and I'm just going to track Al and John for anything too stupid at this point. Oh, if someone scores again, I'll make a note of it, but the Patriots' efficiency just sucks the caring out of a game.

We have a Matt Cassel sighting, and Heath Evans is still rushing for eight yards on the Buffalo D, which looks thoroughly demoralized.

"Did Bill Belichick just yawn?" - JM
"I think he may be doing a commercial." - AM

Yeah, good news for the Belichick Coaching Tree -- the only one doing well is Romeo Crennel, Al. Beating Duke does not constitute good for Weis; neither does upsetting the Steelers improve the Jets' shitty season.

"Ever notice how the back-up QB starts to take on mannerisms of the starter?" - JM
"It's like he's morphing into him." - AM

"Tom Brady, right now, this year, is playing better than Joe Montana ever did." - JM. That's an even #10. Here we go with the Montana : Rice :: Brady : Moss analogy again. My God. The Pats have a 4th down on the Bills' 30 something and he sent out the punter.

There's a rule saying that a team can only appear on Sunday Night Football and MNF a maximum of 4 times, and no more then 3 times on a given network.

NE appeared on Sunday Night in week 2 and this week, and will be on there again next week. They had a MNF appearance in week 4, again in week 13, and a Saturday night game in week 17, for a total of 6 appearances.

If you were an NFL owner, wouldn't you be having a fit about this (especially if your game got bumped last week or this week)? - Anon

This is a good question, actually, and one I'd like to see answered somewhere down the line.

The Bills are basically running out the clock, more or less, and I think we can end it here. The final score will be 56-10, Patriots. Thanks for joining me, folks, and it's likely I'll see you in the same spot next week.

I open tonight's live blog by noting that tonight is NBC's first of the Flex games for this NFL season, and relating it to the photo at your right by saying I bet that Gisele is able to flex in ways I could only dream of. Again, we're setting the "Brady On-Air B.J." over/under for Al and John at 25. Record keeping is encouraged in comments, as usual.

Wow, this Faith Hill intro with the whole benching the bass player was badly conceived. I didn't know the writers' strike was hitting THAT hard.

"Tom Brady, he's as close to perfect as you can be, and he's just fun to watch." - JM
"Perfect is the operative word." - AM

Brady Blow-Job Count: 1.

faith hill can make the least-wittiest comment in the history of mankind, and I would still do her 6 ways from Sunday. - Dummy

I'd agree with this more if I didn't hate pop-country so damn much.

Hey, did anyone else see Brady heading up to the booth and dropping his pants? - Mookie

He just wears a robe up there in the press box. Easier access.

Affirming sad-music montage for Kevin Everett, who is actually interviewed and it's shown over the stadium screen. That actually warms my very, very cynical heart. Best of luck to him. Buffalo will get the ball to start here. Terence McGee is nailed inside the 20, and here comes Losman and the Bills offense, without Marshawn Lynch. Losman goes right to Lee Evans on first down for 16 yards, and we'll probably be seeing a lot of that if the Patriots don't stop it. Adalius Thomas whacks Losman for a sack on second down.

Madden mentions that the Bills expected to see a 3-4 and would be confused by seeing Thomas on the line. Why, I'm not sure -- when in Baltimore, Thomas was used as a linebacker, a down lineman, and even in the secondary -- he's that freakishly good.

Randall Gay picks off Losman on 3rd down, and here comes the Dreamboat and Straight Cash with a short field. Not good for the Buffalo fans, plus a personal foul for a late hit. Brady slings it to Jabar Gaffney at the 4 for a first down right off the bat.

"Just look at him, how cool and calm and collected, the pace that he plays the game at is amazing." - JM, that's #2.

Laurence Maroney just walks into the end zone, and how many of you drafted him in fantasy early to have him hurt and get his first rushing TD of the season just then? Kick is up and good, so the Pats are up 7-0 within two minutes of the start of the game. Yikes. If NE's going to score at this clip, we may have a 40-something point differential by the end of the first half. I don't think NBC flexed for this game in order to get something non-competitive.

McGee is taken down on the kickoff, and here comes Losman again. Three and out after two rushes by Anthony Thomas and a broken play forces Losman to rush to avoid a sack. Here comes the punt team. Pats will have it at their own 37, and Al just called the Patriots' O "The Brady Bunch."

Oh, and the bump music was the Goo Goo Dolls' "Broadway." NBC likes to practice localism when it can.

John Madden just called the Bills coach Jick. - Sebastian

"It's gone up from 34 degrees to 36 right now, so global warming has come to Buffalo." - AM

Donte' Stallworth drops an easy one on 2nd and 3 from Brady. First down at the 41 as Brady converts by tossing to TE Benjamin Watson.

"Look how calm Tom Brady is, there's a pass rush, four defensive ends....the faster they come, the slower he gets. He slows everything down." - JM. DING! #3.

Weird, Randy Moss' intro, he doesn't mention Marshall University, I don't think. Rare dropped pass by Randy Moss. A bit of bye-week rust, or moss? (Yeah, not so funny.) Randy just made up for it -- next pass is in the corner of the end zone, and it's straight cash, homey. Kick from Gostowski is good. 14-0, Patriots, and we have 8 minutes left in the quarter.

Okay, would that be considered one long Brady BJ or a bunch of short ones? If it's the latter, my personal count is up to six or seven and the over/under is in serious danger. - OMDQ

That was considered a long, sloppy one. I'm still at three, I'm being generous to Al and John. Bump after the kickoff is Iggy Pop, "Lust for Life." Losman throws to Josh Reed, and he just pushes forward with a defender on him for a first down. Anthony Thomas barrels through for five yards.

"Maybe when we align our stars, we can include some offensive linemen in them." - JM. I understand where he went with this, but it's still kind of goofy. Thomas gets a couple more for a first down, and even without Lynch, the Bills basically need to run the ball a lot if only to keep Brady and Co. off the field as long as they can.

You'll be seeing that last play a lot on SportsCenter later -- Losman had the ball knocked away, picked it back up, scrambled to his right, and hit the receiver 14 yards downfield for a first down. Nicely done, sir.

"That's a Tony Romo type play. He Romo'd it." - JM. Man, working in some Romo rimjobbing too, huh John?

Even better throw downfield on that 47 yard hurl to Roscoe Parrish, who stutter-stepped to adjust and make the catch for six. 14-7, Pats, after the kick goes through.

Bill Belichick is gonna perform a live sacrifice on one of the practice squad players after this series. Maybe before halftime. - OMDQ

Coach Hobo, Voodoo Priest. Dick Jauron is challenging the kickoff return, claiming the returner fumbled and the Bills recovered. No dice. What does Jauron going to Yale have to do with his challenge success rate? Thank you, non-sequitur. Tom Brady is bitching at the ref on an intentional grounding call -- because it didn't get back to the line of scrimmage.

Coach Hobo has a headband on. He looks like he should be in a Jazzercise class rather than on a sideline. Stallworth brings in Brady's next pass at the 30 yard line. Gaffney brings in the pass downfield sliding -- that's ish some #1 or #2 guys can't do in this league. Maroney rushes to the 37. Koolaid rumbles to the 29 for a first down. Wes Welker gets the end-around for a few by avoiding a hit in the backfield. Another toss to Moss at the 17 to end the quarter.

The Brady B.J. count is still at three. Nothing too nasty for the past few minutes, by my metrics.

"He's Peyton Manning-like in that respect." - AM, talking about Brady's work ethic. Tom then throws another pass to Moss, who avoids a tackle and gets in the end zone again. 21-7, Patriots, as the kick is good. I'm not sure if the Peyton reference counts as #4, but I'll add it to the total anyway.

"McGee saying, 'Anyone get the plate number on that jackrabbit?'" - AM. Wha?

There's another BJ. "I've never seen anyone play the QB position better than Tom Brady is playing it now."-JM - NHZ

#5. Thanks! Who knew Brady has had a personal quarterbacking coach since the age of 13? I know he comes from a tony Bay Area burb, but wow, that's an investment. Anthony Thomas turns the corner for the Bills and gets another first down after 16 yards -- whoops, there's an illegal formation call to knock that right off the board.

I know we all hate it, but I think for once these "blow jobs" are deserving as much as that makes me quezy. This is the best qb season of all-time - Mike W.

I'm trying to keep it to the super-hyperbolic or weird. I mean, we can't deny that Brady is having a season in terms of stats that is for the ages right now. Buffalo had to punt it away, and Brady throws a strike to Watson on first down for mucho yards.

"You know, it's amazing the surgery that this offense performs on you." - JM. New England Hope, anyone? Topic #2 of interest: the camera mess, which Al is rambling on about again. Brady tosses on the next 2nd and 6 to Wes Welker, while I consider wishing death upon Al and John for continuing to call it "Spygate." It just took five guys to bring down Maroney on the next carry even though he only got a couple of yards max there. Stallworth gets another first at the Bills 21 on a 3rd and 2.

Could we start "Collective Pats BJ Count" and "Kraft Family BJ Count"? Yes, we know the Pats are good! Now pay attention to the game! - Anon

If I do, I'm not gonna actually be able to write anything about the game. Trying to note verbal fellatio and judge whether it's a true knob-slobbering or not is hard enough. Brady rushes it and slides as someone yells "You can't do that!" while he's sliding.

"He has great presence; he feels the pressure and knows what to do about it." - JM, #6. I've always kind of wondered why they use "presence." Jesus, another TD pass to Moss. Clearly Randy was watching T.O. score four times on the Skins and wanted to re-assert his "best receiver in the League status." 28-7, Patriots.

"The Patriots, with the exception of the Colts, are turning the rest of the league into the Washington Generals; they are the Harlem Globetrotters." - AM.

He pushes off EVERY single play in the endzone. Seriously. - AA

I'm actually convinced that this is the difference between the very good and great receivers (and the same goes for corners): the great ones are really good at disguising their efforts at things that should be penalties. Buffalo gets a first down thanks to a hands to the face penalty on the Patriots. Thomas barrels through for seven yards on the next play. No, no, no...no more Boston slurping, okay? Thomas looked like he got a first down on the next rush, but it's a few inches short. Losman gets the first down, but just barely. Losman goes down again, this time via Adalius Thomas and Ty Warren. Losman tosses to Anthony Thomas on the screen to pick up a few.

Mookie says we got Brady BJ #7. If anyone can document, please do in comments. I think I missed it, but I'll up the count. Evans is on his back for a completion, and the Bills know he didn't catch it, because they're rushing to get a play snapped. This is going to be reversed.

Ok, new topic: Why the HELL is JP Losman in instead of Trent Edwards? The guy looks like Drew Bledsoe the way he just stands there and takes sacks. - Anon

Losman hadn't done anything prior to Edwards' return from injury to lose the job, I suppose.

In honor of Bruschi they should play the Strokes....I'm sorry, the fellatio fest is making me insult stroke victims; that's not really funny. - Dan

Yeah, it's too soon still, but I understand. Call reversed, and here comes another Bills punt, this one with Welker back to receive. He gets back to his own 28 after the kick. Brady to Welker on the next play for about 8, and the Pats are in the hurry-up. Next pass goes to Moss for a first.

"You know how people like mild or hot? I prefer mine [chicken wings] suicidal. I'll eat them all." - JM
"Did you order them?" - AM
"No, they just brought them over and I just ate them out of the box." - JM

Did Al just call Coors "the backward beer"? - Dan

I think he did. I was trying to type his buffalo wing rant first. Welker brings in another first down with less than a minute to go and three Pats timeouts.

There's actually a record for most touchdowns in the first 10 games with a new team? Now they're just making up accolades as they go along. - Hanrahan

Elias comes up with this shit just so they have something to do, right? Brady to Moss again, this time at the Bills' 18. Madden has basically espoused my take on the whole "running up the score" bit about the Pats: if you want them not to score, hit Brady, get past the O-line, do something. Kyle Evans pounds in for a first down. Also note the point that the Patriots are in the shotgun more often than a lot of teams -- it's like they are the equivalent of a college football team always in the spread offense, while most of the opponents are like this year's Michigan defense.

Brady to Moss for another six and Randy grabs it while being forced out of bounds (he got both feet in.) Pats are up 35-7 now. Moss will be texting or calling T.O. after the game, saying: "Shit, it took you a whole game to get 4 TD catches? Gotta catch up, man!"

Ahh...nice, Michaels mentions gambling. - Mookie

Heh. The line was 16 last I checked. Losman goes for end zone to end the half and the Pats knock it down. 35-7, Patriots at halftime, we've got a total of 7 for the Brady B.J. count, and I'll see you in the second half.

Hi folks, S2N with you again for another Sunday night game. Most of you are still watching Redskins-Cowboys or some such, but document Costas & Co.'s atrocities here, along with the number of times Brady is verbally fellated. We'll be setting the over/under at 25. The spread for this game is 15 or 16, I think, so it's more a question of whether the Bills can cover tonight. With no Marshawn Lynch a possibility. I say no.

Score pick: Patriots 34, Bills 10.