Random odds and ends

-- Chad Ochocinco was fined $5,000 for wearing an orange chinstrap against the Rams on Thursday.

-- A sports bar owner has purchased the item Onterrio Smith has made famous, "The Original Whizzinator." Apparently he won it at an auction for $750.

-- Tedy Bruschi has retired today.

Steve Saslow, creator of www.billsdaily.com

We have our first interview here on Sports with Rich!!!! Let us welcome Steve Saslow, creator of www.billsdaily.com, to the blog world. Steve gives us all the latest news on the Buffalo Bills and he is here today to update us on the team's training camp, rookies, Terrell Owens, and much more.

Rich: What are your thoughts on Buffalo's training camp and preseason so far?

Steve: They have worked exclusively in the no huddle offense for every snap of training camp and the preseason. The main reason for this is to hide the deficiencies of the offensive line. It remains to be seen if they will use it exclusively throughout the season. Probably not. The offense has struggled and the defense has not looked much better. There isn't much optimism based on what has happened this summer.

Rich: If that's the case, what are your expectations for the Bills this year?

Steve: It will likely be a very tough year because of the division they are in. With a totally rebuilt offensive line making things more difficult for the offense. It could be tough to match their 7-9 record in each of the past three seasons.

Rich: Your feelings on the rookies?

Steve: The rookies have a lot of promise. The two first day rookie guards, Eric Wood and Adam Levitre, could solidify the middle of the offensive line for years to come. They will start on opening day and this year may be tough as they experience growing pains.

4th round pick TE Shawn Nelson looks like a steal as he plays more like a wide receiver and is blocking is better than expected.

7th round pick Ellis Lankster has had a huge offseason making play after play including 2 picks in one preseason game. He likely will make the team.

Top pick Aaron Maybin should be able to help as a pass rushing specialist despite the long holdout. 2nd round pick Jairus Byrd has been slowed by a sports hernia which may keep him out of the starting lineup opening day.

Rich: What's your take on T.O.?

Steve: They have nothing to lose. His $6.5 million salary is a bargain b/c of all the jersey sales and increased ticket sales that happened based on excitement of his arrival. He is a legitimate national figure in Buffalo for the first time since Jim Kelly.

On the field he has to open things up for Lee Evans and could make the passing game potent if Trent Edwards continues his development. If he self-destructs and starts ridiculing Edwards, well, that means they weren't good enough to win anyway. I dont think that will happen since it's a one-year deal. He needs to perform and be good to get one more big payday.

Rich: Any specific things to watch out for this year?

Steve: Need to see if the no huddle works or is scrapped.

Can the defense sustain a pass rush to keep pressure off a talented secondary?

Can they stop the running game?

I hope that quenched your Buffalo Bills thirst for now! You can catch Steve at the Bills home opener against Tampa Bay. I want to thank Steve Saslow for taking the time out to answer a few questions for me and remember visit http://www.billsdaily.com/

Sanchez named starter

Just a note, Mark Sanchez was named starting QB for the Jets this morning. No surprise on this end. The guy has $28 million guaranteed coming his way, let him earn it. I've liked what I've seen so far, hopefully it can translate into the regular season.

He struggled a bit against Baltimore but finished up strong, of course with rookies there will be plenty of ups and downs. Congratulations Mark.

FoxSports first reported this story a little while ago.

QB Battles

Today we'll talk about some teams that are up in the air with their QB decisions......

Cleveland Browns

Brady Quinn vs. Derek Anderson

I understand The Browns are in a tough spot here, but I think it may be time just to hand the job over to Quinn. He has been held in such high praise, it's about time you let him earn it. If I'm not mistaken the Browns rebuffed a very tantalizing offer from the Vikings for Quinn (2 first round picks I believe). Do you leave someone with supposedly all that potential sitting on the bench? It's not like he is a rookie anymore. I need to start seeing some Brady Quinn football highlights rather than Brady Quinn wedding photos.





Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford vs. Daunte Culpepper

I think this is an easy call, Stafford all the way. The Lions are coming off a winless season - it cannot get any worse than that! Give the ball to the rook and let him have his ups and downs. Worse comes to worse he can throw it as far as he can and let Calvin Johnson go after it. It's sad to say, but a 1-win season still beats last year!




New York Jets

Mark Sanchez vs. Kellen Clemens

Once again I am siding with the rookie here. This time for different reasons. I just think Sanchez is better than Clemens right now. No, it's not because of his first career pass - it's because I just don't think Clemens is all that good. Can you honestly say Clemens can deliver more wins for the Jets? No, and if you do, you were probably an Oregon teammate of his or a fellow cattle rancher!

Introduction

First off, welcome to Sports with Rich! I'm here to touch on all the happenings in sports today whether it be controversial or your run of the mill news and updates.

As you can see, up top are three logos. The Hornets, Mets, and Falcons are my teams - we can expect a little extra coverage on them. Hopefully I can provide insight and give you a few laughs along the way. I am also looking to be able to have some interviews and video as I dive a little deeper into this blog.

A little bit about me - I am a Marist College graduate with a deep passion for sports. I became interested in the idea of a blog because I would love to be able to express my opinions on sports and just see what others think.