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Weekend winners
The Baltimore Ravens. They are 11-3. They are in firm control of the AFC, and they are good in each phase. So I ask you this: Are we in a place where the Harbaugh family raised the best college football coach and the best NFL coach in the same house? OK, that's a stretch since Kirby and the Dark Lord are still coaching in college, but would an NCAA title and a Super Bowl title in six-or-so-weeks span the greatest brothers in sports accomplishment ever?
Josh Allen. Dak Who? Josh Allen ranks where in the QB hierarchy in the current NFL climate? Other than maybe Patty Mahomes — and that is both tied to the talent and the tandem with him and the city — is there a single team in the NFL that would not trade their QB1 for Allen this morning?
Aaron Rodgers. Yes, that guy, who has been pledging to return if needed at an absurdly quick pace from a season-opening Achilles tear. He was on pace to be cleared to play next week, but since the Jets got boatraced by Miami and eliminated from the playoffs, Rodgers gets credit for being willing to sacrifice legs and ligaments to get back to help his new team, but clearly won't need to now. Kudos.
Joe "Mother Bleepin'" Flacco. Seriously, with all the blah-tastic QB play around the dial on Sunday, no one knew Flacco was still able to do this? Dude has three starts with Cleveland and is averaging more than 310 yards per game and has 7 TD passes. Side note: Desmond Ridder has 10 TD passes in 13 games. Hmmmmmmmmm.
Scole023. We have a lot of contest regulars, and we will post the scores from the Bowling for Bowls of Bowl Game Success (Bowler Optional) Tuesday. But scole023 posted a perfect Saturday start. Yes, it was a slew of 1-point games, but still. Here's hoping you parlayed that entry form dear reader.
Weekend losers
Arthur Smith. More on this in a moment. So let's add Desmond Ridder here. Dude, protect the football and your team wins. Period. Read that again.
Dallas. So the Cowboys are great if they play in the greater Dallas area, but when they go on the road, we get that? Yikes.
Taylor Swift haters. Why people? Why? And in truth, it points to a problem that really should be addressed sooner rather than later: The growing animosity and aggressiveness from fans in the stands of these events — and their alcohol levels — is teetering on the brink of being out of control. Here's more, and no, I do not tune into any NFL game for 412 Taylor Swift cameo shots, but if there's one pop culture monolith the NFL does not want to pick a fight with it's the social media collection of Swifties.
Our political options. Yikes. Everywhere you look, Donald Trump is crushing the other GOP candidates, which points us toward another wasted cycle. Forget the partisan parts of this for just one second if you can, but how we in America in this day and age of so many advancements are going to be left picking between Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton for close to a decade is nightmarish.
Dirtiest of Dirty Birds
I am not a fan of the sports columnist calling for someone's job.
I did not like being fired. Yes, I have been fired — from a sales job before I got into sports media and from the local ESPN radio station a few years ago — and it stinks.
In a perfect world, I don't want anyone to be fired. Everyone has their dream gig and we all work and play and be happy and ride unicorns to the office and slide home on rainbows.
Yay us.
But this is far from a perfect world, but if Arthur Blank can't see that Arthur Smith is a perfectly imperfect fit as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, then Blank is more than his last name.
It's also his mental state. And the slate from which he draws his football conclusions.
Arthur Smith's time has come and gone, especially in the modern football world in which coaches age in dog years.
Sure, bemoan the climate of Frank Reich being fired roughly a dozen games into his tenure in Carolina. That seems quick and the new regime in Charlotte is far from the model franchise since their current interim coach is the team's sixth HC in the last three seasons.
Yikes.
But, come close, and let me tell you a secret.
That interim crew of misfits and the worst roster in the league just sent Arthur Smith back to the 770 with a devastating loss that was inexplicable on so many fronts, starting with a wasted defensive effort when the Falcons took the L despite not allowing a TD.
In truth, Arthur Blank needs to clear the deck from Smith on up.
Look around, and ask yourself who you trust among Smith and his cohorts within the leadership of the Falcons.
When you spend a top-10 pick on an RB1 — especially when the likely rookie of the year in Jalen Carter was still on the board at a position of need — who a week before Christmas is no better than your RB3, well, that's a failure in the draft process.
That's a failure in the development.
That's a failure in the utilization.
That's a failure in the play-calling.
That's a failure in leadership.
That's an organizational failure that really should have the entire deck cleared.
And not to fall into the, "Win now, win yesterday" mentality too much, let's ponder how much patience Coach Smith deserves at this point.
Smith is 20-28 and likely headed to his third straight losing season in three years in the A-T-L.
Is the pink slip quick? Is it harsh? Is it stinky? Who am I to say, but I will offer this.
Rumors abound that a coach in the NFL is on an ever-increasing hot seat — heck some reports have him already out of his job — for going 21-17 since 2021.
That guy's name is Bill Belichick, and you think he has a little more street cred than Arthur Smith?
This and that
— Yes, it is a pay site, but The Athletic has a very well done story on Bronny James walking into the madhouse that was Auburn's Arena on Sunday evening. Well done Kyle Tucker.
— You know the rules. Here's Paschall with some portal updates for the UT footballers. It is worth noting that Ole Miss could be on the shortlist of SEC favorites next fall with all the portal progress Lane's Train is generating.
— Nice hoops wins for the Mocs and the Mocs over the weekend. Side question: Does anyone else still correct themselves when saying "Lady Mocs" these days? Discuss.
— Bowl picks got off to a slow start. Could have been worse though. Also could be worse I suppose.
Today's questions
Weekend winners and losers. Go.
As for multiple choice Monday, we have a few:
Which group of sports brothers is the best at their chosen craft?
— Mannings at QBing.
— Harbaughs at football coaching.
— Alomars at baseballing.
— Other and specify.
Also, which NFL coach will be fired next?
— Arthur Smith.
— Bill Belichick.
— Mike Vrabel.
— Other and again specify.
As for today, Dec. 18, let's review.
"Avatar" was released on this day in 2009. "Avatar," friend or foe?
Ty Cobb would have been 137 today. True or false on a Monday: Ty Cobb makes the all-time MLB outfield?
Discuss.
As for a Rushmore, Steven Speilberg is 77 today. And this is tough. What's his Rushmore of best films?