Sports

The Grind

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

It actually started Monday.  Do you know what it is?  It’s the grind.  It’s the sports grind.  What is it?  It’s the time basically known as the month of February for sports fans.

Sure, there is the NBA and the NHL.  Both leagues are going full regular season throttle right now.  The NBA is already through 50 plus games per team in its schedule.  So is the NHL.  But, both leagues qualify so many teams for the playoffs that the regular season’s importance is significantly lessened.

Since October we’ve had MLB baseball playoffs, World Series, NCAA conference championships, bowls, CFP playoffs, the CFP Championship Game, NFL playoffs, and the grand finale-the Super Bowl.

Now what?  Did you watch the Toronto Maple Leafs skate against the Arizona Coyotes last night?  You didn’t for two reasons.  First, a midseason hockey game has nowhere near the interest of a Thursday Night NFL game as an example.  Second, the Coyotes and the Leafs didn’t drop the puck against each other last night.  Gotcha!  How about the Denver Nuggets v. Utah Jazz?  Well, at least they really did play last night.  NBA All-Star Game anyone?

But, for some cities this season is one that they cannot wait for.  Who are those cities?  What cities in North America have only the NBA as one of the four major sports?

  1. Orlando, of all places, is one.  It’s surprising given its population.  Though Tampa is a stone’s throw and a half away with the Bucs (if you call them major) and the Rays.
  2. Salt Lake City (Utah Jazz) is another.  New Orleans, you messed up.  Utah, change your damn nickname.
  3. Oklahoma City makes three.  How did they get a major sports franchise?
  4. Memphis sings the major sports blues save for the Grizzlies.  Formerly Vancouver, the nickname fits the midsouth city.
  5. Portland only has the Trailblazers, but they’ve strongly supported them since the franchise’s inaugural 1970 season.  It’s a woke town.
  6. San Antonio loves the multiple time NBA Champions Spurs.  But for all of the other months, it’s “remember the beautiful, beautiful Alamo.”
  7. And Sacramento only has the Kings.  And, that’s not much to brag about.

In the NHL nine cities have only a hockey team to call their own.  Though in fairness, there is the Canadian Football League.  That would reduce the list significantly.  Six of these NHL teams call Canada home.  They are Winnipeg, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, and Ottawa.  The three US teams follow.

  1. Las Vegas is one, but that ends this year as the Raiders of Oakland make the move to Sin City.
  2. San Jose has the Sharks and a Greyhound Bus stop as far as we know.
  3. Columbus(OH) has only the Blue Jackets.  Some would argue that THE Ohio St. University is a professional football team given how well they play and how well they are paid.

February has 29 days this leap year, not 28.  So, there is a need to grind out an extra day before Spring pops, NBA and NHL playoffs begin, and other sports (the Masters, MLB, etc.) bloom all over again.

March 1st is 24 long days away.

Ten Piece Nuggets-Super Bowl and More

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

You had way, way too much chip, dip, and beer.  It’s time to get back to your routine.  Here’s a serving of Ten Piece Nuggets.  Chew them slowly and drink lots of water to rehydrate.

  1.  Jay Z and Beyonce’ had seats on the 50-yard line.  They sat in them all game including during Demi Lovato’s swift 1:50 rendition of the National Anthem.  It’s hard to say what they were protesting.  Jay Z signed a deal with the NFL recently to promote “social justice.”  Are they dissatisfied with the capitalistic society that they wisely profited from to afford such expensive seats?  Maybe they’re still mad at the NFL’s hands-off attitude towards malcontent Colin Kaepernick?  Wouldn’t it be something if the seats were comped by the big, bad, ugly NFL?
  2. If San Francisco had Kaepernick this season they surely could have done better.  Wait.  It would be hard to have done better upon further review.  They were the number one seeded NFC representative in the Super Bowl after all.
  3.  Maybe a good SF offense and a really good San Fran defense just ran into a better team when all 60 minutes were played.  After all, Patrick Mahomes is the first under 25 years of age QB to win the league’s MVP Award and win a Super Bowl.  The future seems quite bright for the young lad flourishing in an Andy Reid offense tailored to play to his strengths, of which there are many.
  4. Mahomes came to Miami without a title and left with one.  Maybe he’ll be like LeBron.  When the King arrived in Miami a while back he promised not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not even seven titles.  Quarterbacks, given today’s rules that so favor their health and production, can easily play into their forties.  LeBron has changed addresses twice since then and has three rings and counting.  How many will Mahomes, the best QB in the league, be able to garner?
  5. Another great QB arrived in Miami once.  It was 1983, and a man named Daniel Constantine Marino, Jr. was drafted late in the first round by the Dolphins.  He led the Dolphins to the Super Bowl in only his second year, 1984.  And after 9 Pro Bowl Appearances, one league MVP, and 18 playoff games he never went back to another Super Bowl in his 17 year Hall of Fame career.  Fame wasn’t fleeting for him, Super Bowl wins were.
  6.  Did you bet the J Lo will or won’t flash a little butt cleavage novelty proposition?  If you bet the “will” BBR thinks you lost.  But, or should we say butt, that was some of the only skin covered in the high energy, fast-moving halftime extravaganza.  Shakira and J Lo shook, rattled, and rolled and even used a stripper pole.  Wasn’t it just yesterday that the NFL apologized for the outrageous behavior of Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson?
  7. Turning the page, but speaking of having skin in the game, Donald Trump congratulated the Kansas City Chiefs and the great state of Kansas last night after the SB victory in a tweet.  Not too long thereafter, he corrected his tweet to read the great state of Missouri.  That’s the problem with screen grabs though.  It’s out there now, forever.  Of course, the NFL seemed to not have a problem with what Shakira and J Lo grabbed on screen.  But we digress.  Trump is forever impeached anyway.  So said none other than a not so somber and prayerful Nancy Pelosi early last week.
  8. The Donald will deliver his State of the Union Address to Congress Tuesday PM.  Like Jay Z and Beyonce’, roughly half of the members of Congress will likely sit for the entire proceedings in protest of the President and all that he actually stands for.  And, as of now, the plan is that the Senate will acquit him Wednesday of both charged articles of impeachment.  Put a tent over the circus that currently is under the rotunda, please.
  9. The football season ended last evening.  But the primary season begins today.  The Democratic hopefuls will watch with interest usually reserved for Super Bowl viewing at the results in Iowa, the first whistle stop.  Polls (not the one J Lo abused) show Crazy Bernie Sanders with about a five-point lead 25-20 over Joe Biden going into today.  Bernie can make it rain at the Democratic Party’s party.
  10. Joe might not really want to win though after he takes a look at how Republican Senator Joni Ernst rained on his parade this past weekend. “Joe Biden should be very careful what he’s asking for because, you know, we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden, that immediately, people right the day after he would be elected would be saying, ‘Well, we’re going to impeach him,’” Ernst said.  Ernst explained that an impeachment case against Biden could be made “for being assigned to take on Ukrainian corruption yet turning a blind eye to Burisma because his son was on the board making over a million dollars a year” during his time as vice president under Obama.

It’s only seven months till football starts up again.  And, it’s only nine months till the general election.   The butt cleavage exposure never ends so to speak.

Trivia(l) Pursuit

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

If you were in pursuit of Super Bowl LIV trivia your internet explorer linked you to the right site.  Just like the ’80s Trivial Pursuit board game below are all of the pie pieces (and more) needed to be the smart one at your Super Bowl Party.

  1.  Jack Buck called Super Bowl IV with Pat Summerall.  The Kansas City Chiefs upset the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings for their first and only win.  Fifty years later Kansas City finally returns to the biggest game of all.  Joe Buck, son of Jack, is on the golden mic with Troy Aikman.
  2. KC and SF are the only two teams in the league whose primary colors are red and gold (though the gold is a bit different for each).  Wear red and accessorize with gold and you’ll be cheering for the winning team regardless.
  3.  Twenty plus years ago Mike Shanahan won back to back Super Bowls as head coach of the Denver Broncos.  His son Kyle Shanahan attempts to join his dad as a Super Bowl-winning coach Sunday with the 49ers.  If he does it will be the first father-son duo to do so.
  4. If the game comes down to a San Fran kick start putting the potato salad back in the fridge.  Veteran San Francisco place kicker Robbie Gould is in his 15th NFL season.  Good in the regular season, he has ice in his playoff veins.  In the playoffs he’s connected on all 27 extra points and 13 field goals he has attempted.
  5. The HD 4G screen that you will watch the game on was expensive.  But it’s a lot cheaper than the cheapest ticket currently available to the game.  That price, as of yesterday, was available online for just over $2600.  Super Bowl IV, previously mentioned, was not a sellout and tickets had a face value between $8 and $16 dollars.
  6. Who will win?  The quarterbacks don’t lose much.  Pick one.  Their career records as starters stand at 28–8 for Patrick Mahomes and 23–5 for Jimmy Garoppolo.
  7.  Expect some “trickeration” from KC coach Andy Reid.  You never know when he might punt, pass, or kick.  Don’t believe it?  Take a 30 second look at him at the tender age of 13 doing just that.  Take a look at #22 right behind him if you can see him.  Andy was born big-boned.

And if you really want to be the smart one in the room take San Fran straight up to win the game.

Pass the chips.

Sixty Minutes From Deity

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Patrick Mahomes is just 60 NFL minutes away from attaching his name to NFL greatness in a much bigger way than here to fore.  And here to fore is only three years and counting for him.  But if you’re counting it’s been an impressive assent.

It’s been 50 years and counting since Kansas City won Super Bowl IV in 1970.  The KC fans have already elevated Mahomes to near Sainthood status.

Speaking of Sainthood, today we have attached a link to an article an eager BBR staff member wrote on October 3rd of 2018.  We think it’s a good read all over again and provides a little insight and backdrop into what was, could be, and what might be for the then even younger Mahomes.

Of course, the Gold Rush of the San Francisco 49ers might be able to slow his inevitable run (and pass) to greatness.  But, we should never doubt a man of the cloth.

Hit the link and enjoy the two-minute read.

Why the Connection?

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Yesterday morning in unusually foggy conditions for the greater Los Angeles area nine people perished in a violent helicopter crash in Calabasas.  Two of the victims were a 41 year old father of four and his 13 year old daughter.

It’s always tragic when a death or deaths are so sudden.  It’s even worse when life is cut shorter than the average life expectancy age.  And, it’s down right awful when it’s a child with so, so much life to live in front of her.

But, based on the global outpouring of emotions ranging from shock to sadness to anger to grief, this was no ordinary 41 year old and his daughter.  This was a beloved figure.  Of course this was Kobe Bryant.  His list of accomplishments on the highest stage of the most accomplished basketball league, the NBA, places him on a short list of the all time greatest.

The BBR staff frankly was a bit surprised by the outpouring of emotion from those near and far.   Everyone has a right to speak, feel, and react as they darn well please.  But, the outcry made us wonder aloud, “why are so many so affected by the death of someone we don’t know?”  Our best answer is “because apparently so many were so affected by the life of someone we don’t know.”

And then we wondered why would one’s life be so affected by someone you don’t know.  And the answer of course is because one feels a connection to that person.  Isn’t it fascinating, for whatever reason that connection is felt, that one could be so moved?

Did you know Kobe personally?  Did you shake his hand?  Are the Lakers your favorite team?  Did Kobe do something off of the court for a cause that moved you?  Did you grow up idolizing him for his on court wizardry?  Did you dream in your backyard to dribble, drive, shoot and score like him?

If the answer to any of the above is yes, then you have that connection in you mind.

But BBR submits that there has to be more to it even than that.  Does his sudden death make you stop and realize how fragile life is?  Does it make you look a bit deeper into the “passage of time mirror?”  Does it, dare we say it, make you think about “what if it was you  or your daughter and you on that helicopter?

And if it really is more about you and your realization of human frailty, then so be it.  There is nothing wrong with it, but maybe it helps explain some of it.

Sometimes we just wonder, and wonder.  Seven others died in the same crash.  Do you know their names?  Do you care?  Maybe so.  But do you really, really care?  Maybe not.  Maybe there is no connection to them.  And, there is nothing wrong with that either, but maybe it helps explain some more of it.

Kobe connected, apparently, with millions in many thousands of ways.

Sports, the will to win, the excellence, the drive, the passion, and the fear of losing drove him.  And, maybe through him it drove you.

His passing might be a reason for you to examine why you had the connection.  And, whatever that reason is mystifies us on one level.  But if it drives us on another level to another level that is a good thing we suppose.  But, understanding the connection’s origin might be a healthy exercise as well.

May all nine victims rest in peace.  And, may ESPN give it a rest as well.

Dear Mr. Crane,

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Dear Mr. Crane,

It’s been a week since MLB confirmed the terrible rumors, handed out the punishment, and you canned Manager A.J. Hinch and General Manager Jeff Luhnow.  They say time heals all wounds.  This writer might need more time however as this wound feels like the proverbial “1000 paper cuts.”

Your ownership in 2012 began with the Houston Astros franchise at a low point and it continued for your first few years.  No local TV contract (good Lord) and 100 loss seasons is no way to endear yourself to a city that loves baseball.  But, by 2015 you started turning things around.  Now on TV again (thank the good Lord) you introduced us to Jose Altuve and a manager that look the part, talked the part, and knew how to manage the game and endeared himself to his players.

Soon your GM’s talent evaluations and trades gave us guys named Springer, Correa, Beltran, Bregman, McCullers, and Morton.  Playoffs in 2015, and a near miss in 2016, and a guy named Justin Verlander paved the way for a World Series win in 2017.  Holy Cow the late Harry Caray would have said!

But whispers that your club denied about electronically stealing signs, aka cheating, grew louder.  And, at the end of 2019 they were exposed by a whistleblower willing to be named- Mike Fiers.  Everyone, not just Adam Schiff, knew the name of this whistleblower.  And, a week ago it all came crashing down, and down.

In the late 90’s baseball was rocked by the steroid era.  This writer had an up and coming offspring baseball player who idolized guys named McGuire, Bonds, and Sosa.  “How can they hit so many home runs daddy?”  Little did we know.

It took years and a leap of faith to buy in again.  But, the passion, strategy, and professionalism exhibited by your Astros, our Astros, Houston’s Astros won us over.  They had “it.”

And, now they don’t.  The fall is so much steeper than the climb.

The Astros won it all in 2017, and went deep into the playoffs in 2018.  Your marketing department had a catchy slogan for 2019.  “Take it Back!”  And, it came so close to doing so, losing in game seven of the World Series.  Perhaps the slogan should have been “Steal It Back!,” instead.

For 2020 and beyond the fans might have their own slogan.  “Win us Back!” This time you have local TV, but will we turn it on?  For the climb back is so much steeper than the fall.

Sincerely,

A Disillusioned Fan All Over Again.

 

 

 

 

The World Championship Game Revisited

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

And then there were four.  And after Sunday there will be two.  San Francisco, Green Bay, Kansas City, and Tennessee remain in the chase for the Vince Lombardi Trophy for winning Super Bowl LIV (54). Who might be those two?

SF is a 7 1/2 point pick over GB while KC is favored by 7 over Tenn.  If GB and KC were to advance it would be a rematch of Super Bowl I way, way back in 1967.

Did you know that the first Super Bowl wasn’t called a Super Bowl?  It was known as The AFL-NFL World Championship Game.  It carried that moniker because two bitterly rival leagues had not yet merged to form the NFL.

It was played in the LA Coliseum and the Packers rode a strong second half to win going away 35-10.  The game was awarded to the LA market a mere seven weeks prior to kickoff.  The date of the game was only agreed to three weeks prior to kickoff.

Hank Stram coached the Chiefs.  The man who has the trophy named after him coached the Packers.  That would be one Vince Lombardi.

It remains the only Super Bowl to have been simulcast in the United States by two networks. NBC had the rights to nationally televise AFL games, while CBS held the rights to broadcast NFL games.  Both were allowed to televise the game accordingly.

The players’ shares were $15,000 each for the winning team(GB) and $7,500 each for the losing team (KC).  Many playing in the game had regular season salaries that paled by comparison.

The Packers were led by veteran quarterback Bart Starr who was the top-rated quarterback in the NFL for 1966, and won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award.  He completed156 of 251 (62.2%) passes for 2257 yards, 14 touchdowns, and only three interceptions.  A good QB in today’s game has double those pass attempts, completions, yards, TD’s, and interceptions.

This is also the only Super Bowl where the numeric yard markers were five yards apart, rather than 10 as is customary today.

Super Bowl I was the only Super Bowl that was not a sellout, despite the TV blackout in Los Angeles. Of the 94,000-seat capacity in the Coliseum, 33,000 went unsold.  Tickets were a whopping $12 ($92.18 in 2019 money) for the average seat.

So much for the adage the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Although one does.   Fifty four years later LA still doesn’t support the NFL.

 

 

 

Deal the Wild Cards

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Abby’s been playing some serious Texas Hold Em with her college football bet winnings these last few weeks.  She’s feeling good (maybe too good) about her picking prowess.  In between hands of poker last evening she decided to try her paw at the NFL Wild Card Games this weekend.  She gnawed on and pawed her way to the following.

Buffalo Bills v. Houston Texans (-2 1/2) – The Bills have had a fine year defensively and have a developing quarterback in Josh Allen.  They are a very live underdog this weekend.  However, the Texans have a developing quarterback that is more developed and can make game breaking plays with his feet.  Abby expects this one to be close for three quarters, but likes the Texans to cover.

Tennessee Titans v. New England Patriots (-5 1/2) – What’s wrong with New England?  What’s wrong with Tom Brady?  Is this the beginning of the end?  The media’s rampant “what’s wrong with” story line is just the fuel to fire up Mister Belichick and Mister Brady.  Tennessee comes in as the 6th seed and likely will play loose.  They are a trendy pick.  Abby likes a to zig when others zag.  The Patriots cover and it’s not really close.

Minnesota (+8) v. New Orleans – This looks to Abby as the toughest game to handicap this weekend.  Her contract with BBR insists that she make a pick, but she wouldn’t bet much doggone money on it.  New Orleans has been scoring points at a prodigious pace recently.  But, Minnie has been their kryptonite.  New Orleans gets it done at home, but eight points and a healthy Dalvin Cook provide enough to cover.

Seattle (-1 1/2) v. Philadelphia – Seattle is the lower seed as Philly is the division champion.  Philly hasn’t looked much like a champion in the weak NFC East.  Seattle has played significantly better against significantly better teams all year.  This one seems almost too obvious.  Seattle wins outright.

Abby’s got two jacks for hold cards.  Like the Wild Card weekend that’s a dangerous bet.

 

Black Monday in the NFL

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Yesterday was Black Monday in the NFL.  As the NFL Network sat round table discussing the firings of some head coaches the conversation turned naturally to the hiring of some new head coaches.  Over time the conversation morphed into the state of minority hiring at the key NFL franchise management positions of General Manager and Head Coach.

On the four man (no women) desk were host Steve Wyche, analyst Marc Ross, former GM and contributor Charley Casserly and a fourth whose name we couldn’t discern.  Time and again the refrain was that the NFL needed to do a better job of identifying, training, and interviewing potential minority candidates.  Time and again the refrain was that too few African Americans occupied these important positions.  Ross stated that only 3 or 4 head coaches were black.  It was flat out stated and repeated that the NFL needed to do a better job in creating diversity in the workplace.

Casserly once participated on the committee that created the Rooney Rule.  Adopted in 2003, the Rooney Rule is a National Football League policy that requires league teams to interview ethnic-minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation jobs. It is sometimes cited as an example of affirmative action, as there is no quota or preference given to minorities in the hiring of candidates.  Yesterday he expanded on it’s intent and the progress that has been made.  The panel listened and was unimpressed.

Yesterday’s news in and out of the NFL as well as their well intentioned discussion made us wonder.

One, in the ultra competitive NFL would owners choose GM’s and coaches based on race? Or is it always about qualifications and perceived future success?  Either you win or you walk.

Two, how many black coaches or GM’s would make the NFL “truly diverse?”  Would it be a percentage equal to the population in the U.S.?  That percentage is somewhere less than 15% per the last census.  If so 15% of 32 teams would mean 5 black head coaches.  If you have 3 or 4 pending comings and goings right now are you that far off?  Or, to be diverse, should it be more?

Three, so does it mean more than that? The data collected by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES), shows that 70% of NFL players were African Americans at the start of the 2018 season.  Should 70% of the GM’s and head coaches be black?

Four, what about other minorities, or women, being included in this diversity shortcoming.  Nearly 52% of America is female.  Shouldn’t 52% of the above mentioned positions go to females?  NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, in his state of the league address last year said, “there is no reason why 50% of our coaches shouldn’t be women.”  Apparently the NBA is progressive.  The NFL is not.

Once upon a time all NFL place kickers were “straight on” kickers.  Hell, they even employed the disabled.  One kicker only had half of a foot.  Now 100% are “soccer style” kickers.  It seems like the league is predisposed, dare we say prejudiced, to one type of kicker.  That isn’t very diverse.  Ah, but the difference in the kicking style is the “how,” not the “who” you say.  In other words anyone can kick as long as they are successful and are “sidewinders.”

Maybe anyone can man the running back position too as long as they are successful?  Sure.  Christian McCaffery, the only white running back of note in the entire league, has had such a great season that he might be a top MVP vote getter this year.  See.  Diversity indeed.

U Haul, the trucking company, announced yesterday that they were going to a “no nicotine” hiring policy beginning in 2020 and beyond.  So much for diversity.  If you can kick the habit come work for us.

The NFL says if you can kick a football come work for us.  But, it’s time to stop kicking this can down the road when it comes to hiring head coaches.  The NFL needs more diversity in certain positions of employ.  In others it’s doing just fine.  No need to take a knee after all.

 

 

 

Ten Piece Nuggets-NCAA, NFL, and Potluck

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

You’ve got to be tired of leftovers.  Have some info and protein rich Ten Piece Nuggets below.  They’re randomly served.  Get all of your food groups in early.  Variety is good for you.

  1. The NFL is down to 12 teams while the NCAA is down to two.  Let the playoffs begin for the NCAA this coming weekend, while the NCAA’s playoff will crown a champion on January 13. There are still some good bowl games to be played (Alabama v. Michigan, Baylor v. Georgia, Wisconsin v. Oregon), but the last of one of all in NOLA is the biggest.  LSU was installed as a 3 point overnight favorite over Clemson but by dawn that rose to 5.5 on Sunday.
  2.  Did you listen to Dabo Swinney after his team’s thrilling comeback over THE?  His shtick is already tired and we get to hear from him for two more weeks.  “We’ll need to win 30 in a row to be champion.”  Hmm.  Is last year’s record relevant this year?  If so, yes you will need to win 30 in a row since 29 are done.  ” They’re ranked 1st and we’re only ranked 3rd.”  So?  “Nobody in the media believes in us.”  Clemson was never ranked lower than fourth all year long.  Lastly, why is Swinney pronounced sween nee?  William Christopher “Dabo” Swinney’s Clemson Tigers are 10-1 in their last 11 games v. the SEC.  If he wants “r-e-s-p-e-c-t” he’ll need to make it 11-1 according to him.  Poor Dabo.
  3. Today is Black Monday in the NFL.  It’s the day players clean out their lockers till fall and fired head coaches clean out their offices permanently.  Jay Gruden lasted only 6 games in Washington while Ron Rivera (more on him later) got booted a month ago in Carolina.  Freddie Kitchens is out as of this AM in Cleveland.  Doug Marrone is as good as gone in Jacksonville.  They’ll be others.
  4. Is Jason Garrett out in Dallas?  Jerry Jones was quiet after yesterday’s final regular season game when asked.  Jerry Jones is never quiet.  Garrett owns an 85-67 record in 10 seasons in Dallas. He took the Cowboys to the playoffs three times, each ending in the divisional round.  Garrett’s contract wasn’t renewed last off season.  It expires on 1/14/2020.  He’ll be gone before that.  Sometimes it’s just time.
  5. Let the Urban Meyer and Lincoln Riley rumors fly.  Urban has never coached a single down in the NFL.  Ask Nick Saban if the transition from the NCAA always works out.  Riley looks the part.  He’s young and offensive minded.  The NFL is a copycat league.  Sean McVay paved the way for Kliff Kingsbury.   Is Riley next?  If he is, he needs to hire a DC and stay the hell away from the D.  His Oklahoma teams stop nobody and the Big 12 isn’t very good.  They have been worked over in their CFP playoff appearances.  LSU had 49 in the first half and throttled way down to a 63 point total Saturday afternoon.  Riley said afterwards, “they went on a little bit of a run.”  Little bit?
  6. Did you want a weird and mostly worthless trivial stat this AM?  We thought so.  Alvin Kamara has caught exactly 81 passes in the regular season each season in his first three years in the NFL.  It’s a ton for a RB especially when Michael Thomas is playing WR on the same team.
  7.  What’s wrong with New England?  Yesterday they tripped all over themselves losing as a 16 point favorite at home to Miami.  It cost them a first week bye  They’ll need to dispatch of the Tennessee Titans this weekend then hit the road twice to get to the big show.  NE, under Belichick, has never advanced to the Super Bowl from lower than the #2 seed.  He had timeouts and time when they forced a Miami punt with 1:45 left in the second quarter.  He let the clock run down on the punt, then had Tom Brady hand the ball off twice to go into the locker room tied at 10.  Hmm.  Brady was seen on the sidelines working to loosen his right arm all afternoon.  Hmm.  It’s going to be very hard for them to derail the team that has “it” this year-the Baltimore Ravens.  The Ravens will spend the week getting healthy while NE clashes with the Titans.
  8.  Ron Rivera will very likely be introduced as the next Washington Redskins head coach today or tomorrow.  Be careful what you wish for.  That organization has been a mess for two decades and running.  They over pay for free agents, miss on draft picks, and cannot evaluate QB talent.  Bruce Allen is out as president there as well.  The one constant in the last twenty years there?  The owner.  Daniel Snyder makes Jerry Jones look like a smart owner.
  9.  Two live wild cards are Minnesota and Seattle.  Minnesota travels to N.O.  Seattle goes across the country to face Philly.  Two teams getting no respect are Green Bay and Kansas City.  Both are two seeds, both get the week off, and both are very tough outs at home.
  10.  This BBR staff writer goes to a movie in a theater about as often as the Cleveland Browns go to the playoffs.  However, we took in Richard Jewell yesterday.  It’s good work done by Clint Eastwood.  If Abby were a movie critic she would give it four bones out of five.  Quick question, Jewell was accused of the 1996 pipe bombing in Centennial Olympic Park during the Olympics held in Atlanta, but was he ever arrested?  Convicted?  Who did place the backpack filled with three bombs? The FBI stunk this one up almost as bad as they behaved in the “Russia collusion” investigation.  Go see it.    A bag of popcorn is seven dollars these days.  Who knew?  Sneak some nuggets in instead.