The Bills fired coach Sean McDermott after 9 ultra successful seasons and then held a press coach that went entirely up in smoke. Bills owner Terry Pegula (fracking, natural gas) attempted to defend newly promoted President Brandon Beane’s track record, but ultimately revealed a level of internal dysfunction and pettiness unbecoming of what is one of the league’s more loveable franchises.

None of this matters. Buffalo is still a great job anchored by Josh Allen, a new stadium, and a rabid fan base. Jesse Minter is going to fit in great here. Yes, the press conference was a poor look, but no, the best potential coaching candidates won’t be hesitant to take this role. And if you think your owner could do any better speaking to the press, I got news for you buddy, he/she can’t. Just read the Lakers piece from ESPN tagged below.

The Mets have a wonderful broadcast booth of Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez. Citi Field is laughably better than Yankee Stadium. When you transplant to NY, be a Mets fan. So it brings me no joy in tearing down their offseason.

Makes me even more upset when they swing a trade for Freddy Peralta in the middle of me writing this! Nice move (maybe), David Stearns. But, David, you can’t stymie a KMARK Hard In The Paint once it’s been marinating for an afternoon. And you’re infield work this winter was a joke.

Of all the analysis about the Mets epic 2025 collapse, the one most frequently sold to the masses was that the defense needed improving. Stearns kicked off the rebuild by shipping Brandon Nimmo’s peg legs to Texas in exchange for Marcus Semien (2B). I liked this move. I think NY gets the best version of Semien and they’ve since replaced Nimmo with buy-low deluxe CF Luis Roberts, Jr. Major defensive upgrade. Where lies my beef? Well, Pete Alonso is an Oriole. In his place, NY brought in Jorge Polanco for 2yrs/$40m. He’ll man first base while fellow newbie Bo Bichette takes over 3B. The Mets corner infielders will cost a combined $59m in cash for 2025. Meanwhile, Alonso will earn $31m in Baltimore. Had the Mets prioritized the Polar Bear, they’d still likely have around $30m to spend at 3B (about equal to one Alex Bregman). With Brett Baty in the fold already, that $30m might have went to Dylan Cease. It’s fungible. The cash could’ve sat in owner Steve Cohen’s hedge fund. You get the point.

Stearns did well to swing a trade for the best available starting pitcher, but Peralta is a free agent after next season. NY will have to pony up. Bichette has a series of player options, one after every season of his 3yr deal. NY will have to pony up. Polanco’s hardly a long term answer. He’s 32 and only signed for two seasons. When he’s gone, say it with me, NY will have to pony up. Whether you’re worried about his aging curve or not, Baltimore locked up Alonso for 5 seasons. In sum, Stearns moved a ton of pieces and dollars around but for what? For the chance to do it all over again next winter? For similar production from two new guys instead of one franchise icon? I’m not convinced a collection of 3-4 sharp moves absolves Stearns of his Original Sin: letting Alonso walk without even an offer.