Does Lindy Ruff Hate His Goaltenders, and Is the Feeling Mutual?
I’ve spent a little too much time on Sabres Twitter lately, and one thing I’ve noticed is that there seems to be a hangover from how last season ended. And I don’t think it’s just the fans dealing with it. I think Lindy Ruff is dealing with it, too.
Nobody particularly loved Buffalo’s two-goalie rotation last season, even though it helped the Sabres win the Atlantic Division. Alex Lyon would play well, then Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen would play well. One struggled, the other took over. During the regular season, you can live with that. In the playoffs, every goal becomes a referendum on who should be starting.
That’s basically what happened against Montreal. Lyon finished the series with an .847 save percentage, while UPL posted an .897. Buffalo had a legitimate opportunity to reach the Eastern Conference Final, but neither goaltender established himself as the guy.
And here’s my theory: Lindy Ruff is completely sick of dealing with this situation.
Spoiled by Hasek and Miller
Think about Ruff’s first run in Buffalo. He inherited Dominik Hasek and eventually had Ryan Miller. Two of the best goaltenders of their generations. There was no guessing who would start important games. As long as they were healthy, you knew exactly who was standing between the pipes. This happened for 11 seasons while Lindy was here the first time.
Then Ruff left Buffalo, and things got complicated.
Dallas: Two Goalies, One Giant Headache
In Dallas, Ruff dealt with Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi, two veteran goaltenders who struggled with consistency. In February 2015, Ruff publicly expressed his frustration after a loss to Colorado.
“Our goaltending has been tough on our team, and I think that’s where the frustration is.”
During the 2016 playoffs against St. Louis, Ruff pulled Lehtonen in Game 2, Niemi in Game 3, and Lehtonen again in Game 7 as Dallas was eliminated.
I wonder how much that experience still influences him.
New Jersey: Here We Go Again
In New Jersey, Ruff encountered another goalie carousel with Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid. During the 2023 playoffs, he replaced Vanecek with Schmid after two losses to the Rangers, and the move helped the Devils win the series.
But New Jersey fell to Carolina in the next round, and the goaltending problems continued the following season.
Not every Ruff goalie change has backfired, but there’s a difference between rotating goaltenders during an 82-game season and trusting somebody to win four playoff rounds.
Maybe Ruff has simply grown tired of trying to figure out who’s his guy.
Which Brings Us Back to Buffalo
Monday against Florida, Colten Ellis was pulled in the second period after allowing two goals on nine shots. UPL replaced him, and Buffalo rallied for a 5-3 victory.
Two goals. Nine shots. Gone.
I’m not suggesting Ellis deserved to finish the game, but that’s a pretty damn short leash. And I wonder how much of Ruff’s decision-making is influenced by last spring’s playoff disappointment.
During those playoffs, it sometimes felt like every other game involved somebody getting pulled or somebody else getting a chance to take over the net. That’s an exaggeration, obviously, but that’s what it felt like watching the damn thing.
Maybe Ruff is pissed off at Ellis. Maybe he’s pissed off at UPL and Lyon. Maybe he’s pissed off at the entire situation. But I get the feeling his patience has evaporated.
And at some point, the coach has to take responsibility for how he’s managing the position. You can’t keep playing musical chairs with your goaltenders and then act surprised when nobody establishes himself as the clear No. 1.
The Hellebuyck Factor
This is why I keep coming back to the Connor Hellebuyck situation.
There was plenty of talk this summer about the Sabres trying to acquire the Winnipeg goaltender. I have absolutely no inside information about how Ruff felt about those negotiations, but I would be shocked if he wasn’t pounding the table for that deal.
Think about what Hellebuyck represents. He’s a proven, elite goaltender with multiple Vezina Trophies. Somebody you bring in expecting to play 55 or 60 games and be standing between the pipes when the playoffs begin. For a coach who spent years with Hasek and Miller, that probably sounds like heaven.
And maybe UPL could have been that guy. Maybe Ruff would have been perfectly happy if Luukkonen established himself as a reliable No. 1, with Lyon giving him an occasional night off. Instead, we’re right back to the same situation Ruff dealt with in Dallas, New Jersey and last spring in Buffalo.
But here’s what I keep wondering about: How much of this has gotten into the goaltenders’ heads?
UPL spent the offseason hearing trade rumors, including speculation about whether he would waive his no-trade protection. Lyon and Ellis knew the organization was looking at other options. Imagine showing up to training camp wondering whether your team actually wants you, only to find yourself on the bench after a couple of bad goals.
I have no idea what these guys are thinking, but they’re human beings. Confidence matters, especially at a position where everybody in the building can see your mistakes.
You can’t spend an offseason making your goaltenders feel expendable and then expect them to play like they’re untouchable.
And if Ruff is already frustrated with them, I wonder how frustrated they’re becoming with him.
And About Last Night
Of course, UPL played well tonight against Montreal, helping Buffalo battle back from a 3-1 deficit before losing 4-3 in a shootout. It was an encouraging performance, especially considering how poorly his season started.
Now I’m sure some random journalist will eventually write the heartwarming story about how Ruff humbled UPL by sitting him while Lyon was injured, and how that tough love was exactly what he needed to rediscover his confidence. I’m sure those same people believe benching James Cook after his fumbles would somehow make the Bills a better football team.
Sometimes a player just needs to play through his struggles without somebody turning it into a motivational coaching masterpiece. Then again, this happens all the time with a 2-headed monster where someone gets “hot” after being “mid”
The Coach Has to Own Some of This
Maybe Ruff is right about these goaltenders. Maybe none of them is good enough to be a true No. 1 on a Stanley Cup contender. But if that’s the case, it’s a roster problem that should have been addressed during the offseason.
I’m not advocating that Ruff leave a struggling goalie in every game. Sometimes changes are necessary. But there’s a difference between making adjustments and creating an environment where everybody thinks they’re one bad goal away from losing their job.
Ruff spent his best coaching years knowing exactly who his goaltender was. Since leaving Buffalo the first time, he’s spent far too much time playing musical chairs, and now he’s doing it again.
Maybe I’m completely wrong. Maybe Ruff loves all three guys and thinks everything is going according to plan.
But I think Lindy Ruff is sick of his goaltenders. And I’m starting to wonder whether his goaltenders are getting sick of Lindy Ruff.
Because eventually, somebody has to give these guys a little confidence instead of another seat at the end of the bench.
Stathead of the Week: 56.4
That’s Josh Allen’s passer rating on throws traveling 15+ yards downfield over the last three games, compared to 141.4 in the first two games.
Remember when the Bills were throwing the football downfield? It wasn’t that long ago. Through the first two games of the season, Josh Allen was completing 57.1% of his passes traveling at least 15 yards in the air, throwing for 258 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions.
He led the NFL in deep passing touchdowns, ranked fourth in yards and was tied for second in completions. The Bills weren’t just taking shots downfield. They were connecting on them.
Then something happened over the next three games. DJ Moore has been playing hurt and missed the Rams game and the results have been affected.
Allen completed just six of 17 deep passes for 183 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Completion percentage dropped to 35.3%
Passing rating plunged from 141.4 to 56.4. his NFL ranking in deep passing yards fell from fourth to 20th.
What’s interesting is that Buffalo hasn’t completely abandoned the deep ball, with Allen averaging 5.7 attempts per game over the last three weeks compared to seven over the first two. The problem is that the production has fallen off a cliff.
Overall, Allen’s five deep passing touchdowns are still tied for the NFL lead, and his 441 yards rank sixth. But his 45.2% completion rate ranks 18th, and his 91.8 passer rating ranks 17th.
Those are respectable overall numbers being propped up by a terrific first two games. Whether it’s Joe Brady’s play-calling, opposing defenses adjusting or Allen simply missing throws, something has changed. And with the Bills struggling to consistently threaten defenses downfield, it’s worth asking whether this offense has become a little too predictable.
Hockey Stat of the Week: 55 Games
I’m not saying the Dylan Cozens-for-Josh Norris trade is going to become another Michael Peca-for-Tim Connolly-and-Taylor Pyatt deal, but it’s starting to give me that same uncomfortable feeling.
Buffalo traded away a dependable young center who was clearly in a funk and brought back a talented player with a history of durability concerns. Now they’re watching the guy they traded away suit up night after night while the guy they acquired has struggled to stay healthy.
Since the trade, here are the updated numbers, including Norris scoring against Montreal tonight:
Yes, Norris has a slightly better points-per-game average, and he scored a big goal against Montreal tonight. I’m not going to pretend he isn’t a talented hockey player.
But Cozens has played 55 more games.
He’s scored 17 more goals and produced 35 more points. And while Norris has a slight advantage in scoring pace, Cozens still has the better goals-per-game average.
Here’s the part that drives me nuts. The injury concerns with Norris weren’t some closely guarded secret. Buffalo knew what it was getting. Norris was already dealing with injury concerns when the Sabres traded for him, and Buffalo didn’t just give up Cozens. They threw in a second-round pick, too.
I understand why the Sabres wanted to move on from Cozens. His development had stalled, his contract was looking questionable, and perhaps both sides needed a change of scenery. But if you’re going to make that kind of trade, especially for another expensive center, you better be damn sure you’re getting someone who can actually play.
I’m not declaring this another Peca disaster. We’re not there yet. But the early returns are becoming awfully difficult to defend.
Availability matters. A lot. You can’t help your team win from the press box, no matter how pretty your points-per-game average looks.
Fire Kevyn Adams. Again.
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The Viral Buffalo Post Of The Week
Earlier this week, I quote-tweeted this post about Orchard Park residents opposing commercial development around the new Bills stadium. I basically described Orchard Park as a collection of cattle, trees and MAGA flags. As you can imagine, that went over about as well as Scott Norwood at a Super Bowl reunion. Eventually, I muted the conversation because there are only so many arguments about Orchard Park I can handle in one lifetime.
Now, I’ll admit something. Maybe I was unfair to Orchard Park. Growing up, the town was good for one thing: going to Bills games. That was my experience. I’ve lived outside Western New York since 2002, so perhaps Orchard Park has developed into some wonderful entertainment destination that I’ve somehow missed. Maybe I’m wrong about the area, and I’ll own that.
But after reading some of the comments from residents at a recent public hearing, I still think the opposition to commercial development around the stadium is some galaxy brain thinking.
One resident, Sandra, argued that the proposed mixed-use zoning changes weren’t benefiting the people who live near the stadium and were instead padding the pocketbooks of the Bills. Another resident, Lou, worried that entertainment-related development would forever change the character of Orchard Park.
And then there’s William, who said the town should approach the state and county about beautifying the stadium area before adding commercial buildings. His argument included this line:
“We don’t need Orchard Park to be a business-making enterprise.”
I’m sorry, what?
You built a multibillion-dollar NFL stadium, attracting tens of thousands of people on game days, and the concern is that the surrounding area might actually become a place where people spend money?
Listen, I understand not wanting a shopping center in your backyard. Nobody wants their residential street turning into the Las Vegas Strip. And Sandra raises a legitimate question about who benefits financially from all this development. The Pegulas don’t need another taxpayer-funded gift basket.
But here’s a crazy thought: Why can’t commercial development benefit both the Bills and the community?
I’ve said for years that one of the coolest things they could build near the stadium is a giant Wegmans with an attached beer hall. Or better yet, a Buffalo Beer Hall of Fame, featuring local breweries, Buffalo sports history and regional food. Indoor water park! Something that could become a destination beyond the handful of Bills home games each year.
William talks about beautifying Orchard Park before allowing development. Fine. Why not do both? Make the roads better, improve the sidewalks, create green spaces and give people actual places to eat, drink and spend time. Those things aren’t mutually exclusive.
And Lou’s concern about changing the character of Orchard Park? I understand that to a degree. But the town has hosted an NFL franchise for more than 50 years. It’s not exactly some undiscovered village in the Adirondacks that just found out professional football exists.
If the goal is to preserve the residential character of certain neighborhoods, that’s a reasonable discussion. But treating restaurants, shops and entertainment options near a major stadium as some existential threat seems ridiculous to me.
Especially when so much public money has already gone into the stadium project.
I’m not suggesting that every inch of Orchard Park needs to become commercial real estate. Residents deserve protections, and any development should be planned intelligently.
But here’s where I stand: If you’re going to build an enormous NFL stadium in the suburbs, you should at least try to build something around it that benefits fans, local businesses and the broader community.
So, Orchard Park, I’ll walk back my cattle, trees and MAGA flags comment. Maybe I’ve underestimated what your town has become.
But if your vision for the neighborhood surrounding a brand-new NFL stadium is to make sure absolutely nothing changes, then maybe I wasn’t that far off about the trees.
DAD SHOTS
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Dad Shot: The Sabres fans Hangover…You always hear about a hangover in sports. A team loses a heartbreaking playoff game, comes within inches of accomplishing something special, and everybody wonders whether that disappointment carries into the following season. But after watching the Sabres and thinking about their offseason, I’m starting to wonder if the bigger hangover isn’t with the players. Maybe it’s with the fans, and I’m including myself in that group.
The Sabres were one overtime goal away from reaching the Eastern Conference Final against Montreal. After finally giving Buffalo fans meaningful playoff hockey again, you’d think the organization would have spent the offseason looking for that one major addition to help push this team over the top. Instead, we watched Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram leave and got replacements who, unless you’re a pretty hardcore hockey fan, probably weren’t exactly household names.
I’m not saying those guys can’t play. I’m saying that after everything this franchise has put its fans through, I expected something more. A monster move. Something that told everybody the Sabres weren’t satisfied with getting close. Instead, we’re once again hearing about internal improvement and how the young players already in the organization are going to take the next step.
Maybe the new players will surprise me. Maybe the young guys really are ready to take another step. Maybe Jarmo and the organization know something I don’t. I certainly hope so, because I’d much rather spend the winter watching meaningful hockey than complaining about roster construction.
But I think there’s a real difference between being disappointed by a playoff loss and being disappointed by what your team did afterward. The first one is part of sports. The second one is something an organization actually has some control over.
And that’s why I think the Sabres might be dealing with a different kind of hangover right now. The fans finally got a taste of winning, and instead of feeling like the organization went all-in on taking the next step, we’re being told to trust another collection of young players.
The Sabres don’t need to sell me on their future anymore. I’ve been buying that pitch for two decades. It’s time to start selling me on the present and hopefully their game against the Panthers is the start.
Dad Shot: Is Joe Brady Already Losing the Local Media?…I’ve been listening to a few Bills podcasts lately, including Tim Graham’s show with Joe Buscaglia and Owen Parker, and Bleav in Bills with Adam Benigni and Sal Maiorana, and I’m noticing something. The local media already seems a little frustrated with Joe Brady and his press conferences.
We’re only five games into his first season, and I’m surprised we’re having this conversation already.
When I listen to Brady, I hear a guy who sounds nervous and wants to get through his answers as quickly as possible. I also hear someone who is guarding nuclear codes and wants to give zero info. I’ve followed the Buffalo media long enough to know that if you’re not giving reporters good quotes, things can get prickly pretty quickly.
Remember Rex Ryan? I don’t care how much people want to rewrite history now. A lot of the local media loved covering that guy because he was a quote machine. Meanwhile, Sean McDermott wasn’t exactly everybody’s favorite when he arrived, but he made considerable strides with reporters over nine seasons and they couldn’t wait to write about how his personality changed after being visited by 3 ghosts. Maybe some people miss that familiarity more than they expected.
Now we’re also hearing complaints about players like Dion Dawkins and Maxwell Hairston not speaking after the Patriots game. Personally, I don’t really care. It’s a case-by-case situation, and I don’t automatically question somebody’s accountability because he didn’t give an interview. And it’s hard for me to get angry at players for not talking or feel bad for the media when Terry Pegula went years without taking questions from the media about the two franchises he owns and the push back from outlets seemed to be minimal.
Here’s where I’m a hypocrite. I recently heard Bomani Jones discuss how much people enjoy his inside-baseball stories about ESPN and the media. I enjoy that stuff, too. Hell, I’m writing about it right now. But there’s a difference between an entertaining media complaint and something fans should genuinely be concerned about.
I’ve worked in television for more than 20 years, so I understand the frustration of interviewing somebody who gives you absolutely nothing. But just because somebody makes your job more difficult doesn’t mean the audience gives a shit. And once the media starts turning its own frustration into a bigger story about leadership, accountability or team culture, I think we need to be careful.
Maybe Brady needs to loosen up. Maybe reporters need time to get used to him. But I don’t need my football coach to be a quote machine, and I certainly don’t need every player giving a postgame TED Talk.
—Dad shot: Hold My Hand… and Buy My Bills Shirt?…I was browsing the Buffalo Bills Store when suddenly Darius Rucker popped up selling his own line of NFL clothing.
Wait, what? Did I miss something? When the hell did the guy from Hootie & the Blowfish become an NFL fashion designer? Apparently, he’s had a deal with Fanatics since 2021, and somehow I missed this entire development.
Look, I know Hootie was huge in the ‘90s, and Rucker reinvented himself as a successful country singer, so good for him. But I’m still confused about how this partnership came together. Who at Fanatics sat in a meeting and said, “You know what NFL fans really want? Clothing designed by the guy who sang ‘Only Wanna Be with You.’” What’s next? The Spin Doctors designing Jets jackets? Counting Crows releasing a line of throwback jerseys? And the best part? Rucker is a Dolphins fan! So now we’re selling Bills fans clothing from a Dolphins fan who was singing about holding hands when Jim Kelly was still playing quarterback. Only in the NFL.
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Dad shot: Where the hell is the Blade Gang?…Did these guys only come out for the playoffs? Are they currently training in the mountains like Rocky getting ready to fight Ivan Drago? Where the hell did they go? I always had a theory that they were Barstool plants who magically appeared for the playoffs, and their sudden disappearance only adds fuel to that fire. I’m just asking questions here.
Dad shot: who wants to trade me a Sabres Sword…Seriously, who wants to get me one of those Sabres swords? I’ve got a Mets bobblehead or something lying around that I’d be willing to trade. I’m not paying some ridiculous price for one, but I wouldn’t mind having a giant Sabres sword sitting in my house. My wife might have a different opinion.
Dad Shot: The Hall of Shamelessness..Jon Gruden showing up at a Donald Trump rally doesn’t really surprise me. People are allowed to support whoever they want politically, and if Gruden wanted to sit there, clap and cheer, whatever. But getting up there and actually firing up the crowd? That just felt a little icky to me.
Maybe it is because Gruden already comes with some baggage here. This is a guy who lost his Raiders job after emails surfaced containing racist, homophobic and misogynistic language, and for years there has been this feeling from his side that he was somehow the guy who got screwed because those emails became public. Now he shows up at a Trump rally, gets introduced as one of Trump’s favorite coaches and starts working the room like he is getting ready for kickoff.
And the timing makes the whole thing even stranger.
Two days after Gruden appeared at the Ohio rally, Trump was in Nebraska talking about Iran potentially being able to “take out” Los Angeles or San Diego while making his argument about the war. Gruden wasn’t at that rally, so I’m not putting those words on him, but there is some bizarre football symmetry here considering Gruden spent four years coaching the Raiders in Oakland.
I would actually love to hear Coach Gruden break that one down on the telestrator.
“Alright guys, we’ve got Los Angeles over here, San Diego down here, Iran is bringing pressure off the edge. Spider 2 Y Banana is NOT going to fix this one.”
There is also something almost perfect about where Gruden has landed professionally. He is now fully back in the sports-media ecosystem at Barstool, a place that has essentially built part of its brand around giving people a microphone when other places might decide the baggage isn’t worth it. Gruden has his shows, breaks down football and gets treated like the lovable football-obsessed coach again.
Maybe none of this changes how you feel about Jon Gruden. Maybe you think the emails were old, he paid the price and everyone should move on. Maybe you think showing up at a political rally is his business.
I just think there is a difference between attending one and becoming part of the show. And when your public rehabilitation tour follows a scandal involving racist, homophobic and misogynistic emails, grabbing a microphone at a political rally and pumping up the crowd probably isn’t the first play I’m calling.
But hey, I’m not a Super Bowl-winning coach.
And because apparently Jon Gruden wasn’t enough, we now have Roger Clemens praising Donald Trump as a “winner.” Of course he is. Here’s a guy who won seven Cy Young Awards and should be remembered as one of the greatest pitchers ever, but instead his legacy is forever tied to steroid allegations and being left out of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Clemens has always denied cheating, but the controversy isn’t going away. And now Trump is giving him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. There’s something almost poetic about Clemens standing next to Trump talking about winning while both men have spent years fighting controversies surrounding their legacies. The synergy practically writes itself for this trio of liars and hateful bigots.
Can we ever get current or ex-white athletes besides Hasek and the Long Brothers to call this fucking doofus out? Josh Rosen was our only hope and he sucked as a QB.
—Dad Shot: Isn’t note taking supposed to be good?…A clip of Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon made the rounds online, and because this is social media in 2026, people immediately started acting like she was standing on the sideline in the middle of the game interrogating coaches through her headset.
Except that wasn’t what was happening.
The clip people were reacting to was B-roll from before the game, with Irsay-Gordon asking questions and trying to understand what was going on. Somebody posts it during the game without much context, it starts flying around, and suddenly the internet has decided she’s Jerry Jones with a headset calling Cover 2.
Come on.
I know her being down on the field with a headset is unusual. Most NFL owners are sitting in a luxury box somewhere, probably eating food I can’t afford while somebody else explains to them why their $60 million offensive line can’t block anybody. But if I’m a Colts fan, why exactly am I supposed to be angry that my owner actually wants to know how her football team works?
I’d rather have that.
If you’re going to own an NFL franchise worth billions of dollars, I’d actually prefer you know something about football beyond where to sign the checks.
There is obviously a difference between being involved and meddling.
If Irsay-Gordon starts grabbing the headset in the fourth quarter and saying, “Shane, run outside zone here,” then yeah, we have a conversation. If she starts deciding who gets drafted because she watched three YouTube clips, then we have a problem.
But asking questions and listening?
Who cares? Terry Pegula has a fucking notebook on every state run embedded series.
We’ve already seen the alternative around the NFL. Jerry Jones has spent decades making himself part owner, part general manager, part spokesman and part main character. Woody Johnson has presided over a Jets organization that sometimes feels like it is being operated as a social experiment to see how much pain one fan base can endure.
And Colts fans just lived through the final years of Jim Irsay’s ownership, when his health became a major concern and the organization made some decisions that were, to put it nicely, unconventional. We all remember Jeff Saturday becoming an NFL head coach basically out of nowhere.
So his daughter comes in and apparently wants to learn everything she possibly can about the operation she inherited.
And this is bad?
Maybe I’m missing something, but I’d rather have the owner standing on the sideline asking questions before kickoff than sitting upstairs completely detached from what is happening below her.
Just don’t call the plays, Carlie.
Other than that, put the headset on.
Dad Shot: When Did Executions Become Must-See TV?…I cannot believe we have reached the point where we’re going to livestream the execution of someone convicted of a mass shooting. What the fuck is the point of this?
Nidal Hasan was convicted of murdering 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009, and now there are plans to broadcast his execution by firing squad. And for what? So people can grab some popcorn, sit on their couches and watch another human being die?
I’m not here to defend Hasan or get into some lengthy debate about the death penalty. But there’s a difference between carrying out a punishment and turning someone’s execution into a television event. What exactly are we accomplishing here? Is this supposed to deter the next mass shooter? Give the victims’ families closure? Or is this just another opportunity for people to celebrate violence as long as they believe the person on the receiving end deserves it?
And what’s next? For sweeps next year, are we going to turn this into The Running Man on Netflix? Maybe let viewers vote on how the execution happens? Throw in a celebrity host and a halftime show while we’re at it? I mean, seriously, where the hell does this end?
And let’s not pretend this footage won’t end up all over social media, chopped into clips, turned into memes and passed around like it’s another viral moment. We’ve become so obsessed with watching everything happen in real time that apparently even someone’s final moments need an audience.
You can believe someone deserves the harshest punishment under the law without needing a front-row seat to watch it happen.
When the hell did justice become must-see TV?
—Dad Shot: First Take, Worst Take…There was a time when Stephen A. Smith was one of my guilty pleasures.
Yes, I know. It’s terrible.
But once I started looking at First Take like professional wrestling, it became easier to enjoy. Stephen A. was playing a character, the arguments were entertainment, everyone yelled, and then we all moved on with our lives.
Where he started losing me was when he began dipping his toes into politics, social issues and every other subject beyond sports. Suddenly the guy I watched to scream about the Cowboys apparently needed to give me his thoughts on everything.
Then came the Lane Johnson segment.
Johnson retired four games into the season and said he needed to prioritize his mental health and family. You want Stephen A. to criticize the timing? Fine. The Eagles are trying to win football games and losing one of the best offensive linemen of his generation in October is obviously a huge problem.
Just say the Eagles are screwed.
Instead, Stephen A. kept hammering the mental-health part of Johnson’s explanation until Kimberley A. Martin eventually pushed back. Stephen A. clarified that he wasn’t trying to make light of mental health, and I’m not going to pretend I know what was in his head or whether he had information we don’t know about.
But it sounded terrible. SAS then did another video later in the day to kind of apologize but he made it more about himself which is definitely a big part of his gimmick and he basically implied that we misunderstood him. Then the next day he did like 2 mins to do a more of an apology.
All this is annoying especially because Johnson’s struggles with anxiety and depression aren’t something he suddenly invented this week. He’s talked publicly about them for years.
Sometimes a guy can just be done.
Sometimes a 36-year-old who has played professional football for 14 years can decide that football isn’t worth sacrificing everything else anymore.
And sometimes Stephen A. Smith can just tell me the Eagles stink.
That version I could tolerate.
Dad Shot: Rest in Power, Walter White Jr…Really sad to hear about the suicide of RJ Mitte at just 34 years old. As a huge Breaking Bad fan, I’ll always remember him as Walter White Jr., one of the few genuinely decent people in a show filled with awful human beings.
Beyond the show, he was a terrific advocate for people with disabilities and helped open doors in Hollywood.
Way too young.
—Dad Shot: The Forbidden Fruit Is NOT Affordable…Can we talk about what an absolute racket apple picking has become? What used to be a fun, inexpensive fall afternoon with the family has somehow turned into another opportunity to shake down parents who just want to get their kids out of the house for a few hours.
We recently went apple picking, and instead of paying for whatever apples we wanted, the place charged $25 per person for a bag that supposedly holds 12 apples. Now, if you really wanted to work at it, you could probably squeeze 20 apples into that thing.
But here’s the kicker: You’re paying $25 per person whether you want that many apples or not. So a family of four could potentially be dropping $100 to pick their own fruit. And we’re the ones doing the manual labor! And that wasn’t
I understand farms need to make money, and I’m all for supporting local agriculture. But somewhere along the way, apple picking became the fall equivalent of going to Disney World. We’re paying admission disguised as a bag of apples, taking the obligatory family photos, and pretending this is some wholesome bargain. Meanwhile, I can walk into a supermarket and buy enough apples to keep my family eating fruit until Thanksgiving for a fraction of the price.
And the best part? After spending all that money, you get home with 50 apples and realize nobody in the house actually likes apples that much. Now you’re Googling apple pie recipes and trying to convince your kids that applesauce is dessert.
Congratulations. You just paid a small fortune to become a seasonal farm employee for two hours. At least give me a paycheck with my cider doughnut.
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