COMMENTARY
No catch: get the ball to Evans
Here’s what three wasted time-outs can bring a day after watching the Bills lose on Monday Night Football:
• It doesn’t take an offensive genius, or even the forgettable Mike Sheppard and the regrettable Tom Clements, to figure out that passing the ball to Lee Evans is a sound football decision. Evans for years has been their franchise receiver if not their best player, with all due respect to punter Brian Moorman.
Evans had more in common with the fans in the stands than his teammates in the huddle Monday, which is to say he had no catches and spent the game waving his arms and wondering why he wasn’t getting the ball. It snapped a streak of 67 games with at least one reception and marked just the second time in his career that he was shut out.
The Bills masterminds work 16 hours a day, enough to hatch a plan to get Evans more touches. Trent Edwards was much to blame, of course. He had time in the pocket. His one pass in Evans’ direction was intercepted.
Let’s face it, the ’08 Browns weren’t the ’85 Bears. Edwards’ recent play is a clear sign that he’s not processing the game, that he’s not seeing the field, that he’s indecisive, that he’s rattled. Remember, his knack for making quick decisions and accurate passes enabled him to become the No. 1 quarterback in the first place.
Evans has six catches for 63 yards and no touchdowns in the past three games, which is one fewer reception and 53 fewer yards than he had against Miami to start the four-game losing streak. He averaged six catches and 86.8 yards per game and scored three touchdowns in helping the Bills to a 5-1 record before their visit to the tank.
• Week after week, I continue seeing the same mind-boggling mistakes. Forget the Bills. This is about adult males who paint their faces for games.
Two quick questions: Do they have jobs? Do they have kids?
No way do these dudes walk into work the next day and not feel humiliated. One guy shaved his chest and stomach, clearing the canvas for a Bills’ logo and ESPN. Another had his head shaved and painted to look like a Bills’ helmet, confirming he needed one. It’s not momentary fame, fellas. It’s asinine.
Memo to 40-something face painters: Your co-workers aren’t whispering, “He’s cool” behind your back. And do you really think little Johnny proudly walks into class and says, “Did you see my old man on TV painted up like a Bills helmet?”
It’s one thing to wear body paint if you’re, say, a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. At the risk of sounding sexist and offending women, including my wife and daughter, the models get a pass because they’re smokin’ hot babes who would be naked without the artwork.
Otherwise, face paint should be reserved for the county fair, Halloween, soldiers and Ronald McDonald.
• Just so you know, I take no joy in watching the Bills’ slide after suggesting fans should temper their emotions and proceed with caution following the victory over Oakland and a 3-0 start. This gig prevents me from being a fan of Buffalo’s teams, but I’m a huge fan of Buffalo, N. Y.
I simply saw a flawed team that September day and thought starving fans and local media were going overboard without cause. Now that they’re 5-5, the opposite is true. The Bills are in a serious funk and need an immediate turnaround, but their season is far from over.
Fans and media were calling for Tom Coughlin’s job last season, and the Giants were written off after going 4-4 over the final eight weeks. They slipped into the playoffs, rediscovered the chemistry that lifted them to six straight wins earlier in the year and won the Super Bowl.
So people should step away from the ledge. If they’ve learned anything, it’s how quickly things can change.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments
Learn more about our moderation system.