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NFL power poll
Man, the NFL is something right. Calls. Non-calls. Injured QB1s.
Like fencemender trying to finish his chores on a Friday, let's get to the polls.
Powerful
1. San Francisco (9-3). Yes, I still believe in Bill Parcells' famous "You are what your record says you are," but Al Michaels, I also believe what I just saw. And that was the 49ers destroying Philly in Philly with a complete performance that felt like it has the sentiment Coach Yoast told Coach Herman Boone, "Leave no doubt." Side note: Kyle Shanahan is the best play caller in all of football. Period. That was a master class on Sunday.
2. Philadelphia (10-2). The steam train that was the 49ers notwithstanding, the Eagles still hold the top seed in the NFC. And in truth, that will be critical this year in that conference as much for homefield as it will be for having two and three of the three-team chase of S.F., Philly and Dallas play in the other semifinal. Question for the group: Seven of Philly's 10 wins were by one possession. Is winning that many close games a skill or good fortune? Discuss.
3. Dallas (9-3). Trivia: Which NFL team has the largest scoring margin this season? Yep, America's team, the Dallas Cowboys. Side question: Which team truly is America's team? Because I think you can make an argument over the past 40-plus years, if it's not the Cowboys, it could be the Braves mainly because of Ted Turner and TBS? Go.
4. Miami (9-3). Tua Tagovailoa joined the Manning Megacast last night. (Side note: Last night's MM was not as entertaining as normal, and I hope they go back to being themselves rather than trying to be actors acting like what they used to be. And they need a producer who can keep them from talking all over each other, especially when they have a guest on. Anyhoo, where were we?) Yeah, Tua, well he was asked if he's ever overthrown Tyreek Hill, and he said nope. And I believe him. Man, what a game wrecker. Hill's numbers are gross: 93 catches for 1,481 yards and 12 TDs; a success rate — percentage of balls thrown his way that are completed — is close to 60%. And know this, at 123.4 he's on pace to have the highest average of receiving yards per game in more than 40 years.
5. Baltimore (9-3). Yes, the Ravens over the Chiefs, and yes, I know the Chiefs still have Patty Mahomes and the rest of the crew of the StateFarm commercials. "Explain it to me again, but this time with those nuggies." The Ravens are more complete, and if the Chiefs can't go to Green Bay in the regular season and protect Mahomes from that pass rush and contain Jordan Love better than they did Sunday night, well, the Ravens are licking their beaks to get the defending Super Bowl champs in Baltimore come January.
Powerless (HC questions division)
28. Tennessee (4-8). Is Mike Vrabel in trouble? Could he want — would they want him — the Pats gig? If the Titans are looking for someone, I will go help Arthur Smith pack. Cool? Cool.
29. Washington (4-9). OK, they fire their DC and hand the defensive keys to HC Ron Rivera, and they give up 45 to Miami. Uh, guys, when you trade two elite pass-rushers because you don't want to pay their second contract, this could be about the Jimmys and Joes more than the DC's Xs and Os.
30. Arizona (3-10). You know the Cardinals have a first-year coach, even if you don't know his name. And that's OK, because the Cardinals have been playing QB roulette. They have been sliding skill guys around and front seven names like shuffleboard discs. (Side question: Did you know a shuffleboard disk is commonly known as a puck but is frequently called a weight or a shuckle? Merry Christmas.) Still, the Cards play hard, and that's a tribute to their coach — and their feeling about said coach.
31. New England (2-10). Coach Hoodie continues to make history, as the Pats became the first team in professional football since 1938 to lose three straight surrendering 10 points or fewer in each setback. If the Pats and Bill Belichick split — let's be honest, they may only be staying together at this point for the kids, and I'm not sure that's fair for anyone — a lot of the conjecture will be if Belichick coaches again and where. My question is: Who would want to be the guy that followed THE guy?
32. Carolina (1-11). Yes, the coach has been fired. Yes, the QB1 drafted No. 1 overall looks like a bust while the QB1 — the one reportedly coveted by the now-former HC — looks like a future All-Pro. Yes, the team's best offensive player for the last three years is part of the Bears. Yes, they dealt next spring's top pick — likely No. 1 overall — to get their current QB1. And yes, they have been eliminated from the playoffs — in a division that the Falcons lead at 6-6 — with five (count them FIVE) games still to play. Who could win in this job?
Open for business
More than 1,000 college football players entered the transfer portal on Monday's opening day.
A thousand.
Wow.
And it's not back-up dudes unhappy with playing time.
And it's not just about the HC or even a position coach leaving or getting fired, either.
Those above examples are why I am in favor of the one do-over rule, where a player can transfer anywhere for a better spot once without sitting out.
That makes sense.
But the intersection of portal and NIL has a much stronger stench than any of the other massive changes to college sports in recent years.
Because the flood of star-studded names among those 1,000 are easily recognizable.
Former five-stars like Texas A&M Walter Nolan, who is in the portal after the Aggies cleared the staff.
(Side note: Man, before administrators had to worry about buyouts and funds when firing coaches who underwhelmed like Jimbo Fisher. Now, they could be in violation of NIL contracts with former star recruits and, if not, could lose a vast majority of their starters. A different scene.)
As for Monday, there are a host of notable QB1s who were Power Five all-conference performers. There were a slew of familiar SEC playmakers there, too.
Man, the best recruits in the country for the Dec. 20 early signing period are guys you already know.
Business decisions
Sometimes Deion Sanders is the voice we need to hear. Here's Deion on the Dan Le Batard Show discussing his alma mater getting left out for Alabama in the playoff field.
So it's bowl season, which means a handful of things.
It means we will have a bowl contest. Before I post the entry sheet, wanted to ask if anyone wanted to make some suggestions for ways to make it better. Fire away.
It means we will have bowl predictions. Let's hope we do better than last year's blah-tastic 18-17-1.
It also means time for business decisions for a lot of players heading to games not involving the three-bowl chase for a national title.
Caleb Williams, the still-reigning Heisman holder and possible No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, has already opted out of USC's Holiday Bowl trip. That makes sense.
Hard to see all of the UGA roster headed to Miami, even for a game as prestigious as the Orange. And in truth, hard not to figure a lot of the FSU defensive studs also opting out.
So I have three questions about opting out in scenarios like this:
— One, if your son was an all-conference player who had a second-day draft grade would you tell him to opt out of, say the Peach Bowl, to get ready for the combine?
— Two, if you were an NFL scout would you hold it against a player for opting out?
— Finally, should Joe Milton — who is going to test off the charts in Indy — opt out for UT?
Discuss.
This and that
— Yep, Jay's Plays eases north of 90 units and drops a bagel-for-2. It feels like clockwork, no? Like 90 is the line where the gambling Gods say, "Hey what? Wait just one second."
— Your five nominees for PGA Player of the Year are Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler. If I had a ballot — the voting is done by PGA Tour members who played in at least 15 events — I'd vote for Keith Mitchell, but I'm biased. I would not bet against Rory here since it is voted on by the players and no one on that list took more shots and delivered more shots for the membership as a whole than he did.
— The Heisman finalists were also announced. Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Michael Penix and Marvin Harrison Jr. "Let's go Jayden, let's go." Clap-Clap.
— You know the rules. Here's Hargis with a wrap on the BlueCross state football championships at Finley, which set a record for attendance at Finley. Hmmmmm, wonder why that was?
— More rules, here's Paschall on the Punt Bowl, er, the Citrus Bowl that pits Iowa and UT come Jan. 1. As we referenced above, it will be interesting to see how many dudes play for each side in that one.
Today's questions
True or false, it's Tuesday. Morning, Ern.
True or false, if this Alabama team was coached by anyone not named Nick Saban, the Tide does not make the playoff.
True or false, you take Alabama over the field in the college football playoff.
True or false, there were shenanigans in that committee room.
True or false, you have entered the transfer portal.
True or false, you remember the odds when I told you to put money on Jayden Daniels to win the Heisman. (I'm hoping true, because I'm fuzzy when I put that in Jays Plays.)
As for today, Dec. 5, let's review.
Walt Disney would have been 122 today.
On this day in 2001, "Ocean's Eleven" was released.
Rushmore of movies with a number in the title. Go.