Sabres' front office blundered in its contract negotiations...

...as if we expected anything different.

Just so you know, Briere would have jumped on the $25 million offer had it been sent across the table on Jan. 1, the day the Sabres could officially negotiate with him, rather than 72 hours before today's deadline. Reports had Drury being offered some $30 million over five years, yet another lowball effort that would have looked better months ago.

Even now, Drury could stomach making less than full market value if it meant keeping Briere because keeping Briere meant making the Sabres better. It's all Drury wanted since he cleaned out his locker, a better team. And now, it appears, he'll get his wish somewhere else while the Sabres head back to sixth or seventh place in the conference.

	And the Sabres piss away their past into the winds of the future	firsty	Fri Jun 29	4
	Sabres Edge: Drury agreed to deal in October	buffalonews.typepad.com	Tue Jul 3	2
	Report: C Briere turns down offer from Sabres	Yahoo! Sports	Fri Jun 29	0
	Briere breaks off talks with Sabres	rochesterdandc.com	Fri Jun 29	1
	Rangers Sign Free Agents Gomez, Drury	Associated Press	Sun Jul 1	1