NFL BID-ness
We are two weeks from the official start of the next NFL year.
If that seems strange, well, we understand that. March 14 does not exactly seem like New Year's Day in any measure. (Side note: The following day would have been my parents' 50th wedding anniversary.)
With that caveat - and with the knowledge that the Underwear Olympics are about to be in full swing (at the combine, being in full swing can mean multiple things, ask former Mississippi State defensive lineman Chris Jones) - there still is a lot of news swirling around the NFL.
First, there's the Jerry Jones stuff. The bitter NFL asking for $2 million in legal fees from Jones' tantrum about the Ezekiel Elliott stuff. Nothing screams petulant child like billionaires squabbling over millions, right?
Speaking of dough, the NFL has a new pizza provider. (See what we did there, Spy? Pretty classy, right?) Papa John is out. Pizza Hut is in.
Then there is discussion about a rule to prevent another Josh McDaniels-type situation. Here's more.
There will be much discussion and debate and attempts from Adam Schefter to scoop everyone about where Kirk Cousins goes. We like that. (Side note, II: We think Denver outbids the New York Jets in the end, but we like the thoughts of Minnesota getting in the mix. If you are Johnny Vikings Fan, would you rather have Cousins at $30 million or Case Keenum at $25-plus million or whatever the franchise tag will be? Exactly.)
Another quarterback story line came Tuesday when reports surfaced that Sam Darnold will not throw at the combine. Gang, why would anyone who has that type of film throw at the combine, when a) his biggest question marks are decision-making and turnovers, and neither of which can be helped by slinging it with no defenders, and b) why risk it with receivers you do not know?
Then there is the rule-change discussion, and the more interesting revelation has nothing to do with changes to the catch rule. (Side note, III: Yes there will be changes to the catch rule but we do not believe there will be a solution to the catch dilemma, if that makes sense.)
Apparently the NFL is reviewing its pass interference penalty, which sounds like a good thing. P.I. has passed holding as the most game-changing flag because a) it could be called on almost every snap, b) it has become such a part of game-planning that throwing it deep and hoping for contact is a legit option, and c) the gray areas between officials and games and situations is so vast and so undefined.
So if they can add clarity to P.I. that would help the game almost as much as clarifying the catch.
Sadly, though, the discussions of P.I. have not gone beyond the debate of whether it should remain a spot foul or be no more than a 15-yard penalty like the college version of the rule.
Man, we are never for a rule change that benefits purposefully breaking the rules like a 15-yard cap on that penalty.
Make the rule better or more clear or change it intentional P.I. vs. illegal contact, regardless of where the ball is. But changing the yardage simply makes it an easy decision for the beat defender to cheat and give up 15 yards rather the spot of the foul.
That's a fundamental mistake when it comes to rule changes in my view.
Tip of the visor
OK, for the regulars around these parts, you probably have a pretty good idea of the 5-at-10's preferences in terms of pop culture and sports and such.
We think the Masters is the best venue across all sports.
We know Nick Saban is the best college football coach we've ever seen.
We love the draft. You know this.
We enjoy a good contest, a cold Co-Cola and play Titliest everything. (We're loyal like that.) And we believe LeBron James is the best basketball player ever.
Michael Jordan may be the greatest/most accomplished, but LeBron is the best we've ever seen.
Last night, in his fourth triple-double in February, James reached a plateau all his own. He became the first player with 30,000 points, 8,000 assists and 8,000 rebounds.
It's a staggering stat line from a staggering career.
Yes, he almost assuredly will never catch Jordan's six rings. So be it.
James career arc has overlapped the Spurs, arguably the best extended dynasty the game has seen since the Russell-era Celtics, and the Warriors, the greatest assembly of talent since the early Showtime Lakers or the 1984 Celtics.
And we're willing to offer this concession. Jordan is Brady, and their championship accomplishments combined with their excellence make them the easy GOAT front-runner in every discussion. And we're OK with that.
James, however, is Aaron Rodgers, and while those dudes may never have a Jordan or Brady resume, when I think of the best ever, that's where my list starts.
Co-Colas for everyone.
Heckle and re-jeckled
OK, the header here is a stretch.
But there have been two interesting fan ejections in different sports over the last week or so.
We mentioned the Justin Thomas deal in which he had a fan booted after the fan said, "I hope you hit it in the water" and "Get in the bunker" as Thomas' tee shot was in the air.
Now comes this news that the Cavs have banned a fan for a year after heckling Spurs guard Patty Mills.
Here's the story on that.
Justin Thomas had a fan booted.
Here's what Mills' teammate Danny Green told ESPN.com Tuesday about the decision:
"I think it's great to see other teams, other organizations having each other's backs. It's still a fraternity. Still looking out for the players, regardless of what team they're playing against and who's on the floor. The organization's helping fans be accountable for what their actions are ... it's a great thing."
Yeah, we get that. But what can a fan say these days.
Golf heckling is way different because of the pomp and tradition. (We still Thomas over-reacted to be honest.)
But, according to the ESPN story, the Cavs fan got a year's ban for yelling "Hey Jamaica called, they want their bobsledder back. Hey Mills, Jamaica just called, they want their bobsledder back!" with Patty Mills at the foul line.
First, that's not that great of a heckle. Second, it seems pretty benign especially for a year ban.
Thoughts?
This and that
- Speaking of professional football - and yes, we had to delay our Mock Draft until Friday because let's face it, it makes a better mailbag item anyway with some of the questions you guys are asking - this is interesting. And college football better be aware of this and out front of it. Meet the Pacific Pro League, a professional football operation set to start in the summer of 2019. It is not designed to challenge the NFL. Rather it's an option for players who do not want to go to college and get paid right away. Think about that. Dudes who are legit and ready - Jadeveon Clowney, Leonard Fournette, et al. - to play right away get the chance and can make the jump to NFL dollars on their timetable rather than the timetable that benefits others. League was hatched by Don Yee, the NFL power agent who has Brady and Jimmy GQ as clients, so you have to believe it is very well financed.
- Speaking of being out there and sensitivity, here's a story about a family suing Steelers safety Sean Davis for his social media commentary and how they alleged it led to cyber-bullying for their teenager. Oh my. So there's that.
- Man, if we had a draft of former golfers almost assured of selling major championship swag, John Daly is the Jordan of that category, right? Well, to no one's surprise, Daly auctioned his 1995 British Open trophy. The winning bid was $66,000. Still Big John's social media says it's a replica Mini-Claret Jug, and if that's the case, that's someone having way more dollars than sense.
- The Winter Olympics hit an all-time low in TV numbers, down 16 percent in viewers and 17 percent in ratings share from the 2014 Games. The Games averaged an 11.3 rating and 19.8 million viewers across its primetime windows, the lowest ever. The previous lows were a 12.2 rating (in 2006 and 2014) and 20.2 million viewers (in 2006). And the comparisons to the Summer Games are staggering when you consider that the 2016 Games were down for NBC but still averaged around 27 million viewers in primetime windows.
- Speaking of bad TV numbers, NASCAR's tail spin continues. We'll start with the good news: The Atlanta race got a 3.3 rating and 5.6 million viewers to ranks as the most-watched non-Olympics sporting event of the weekend. But that's a silver lining of a very dark cloud over NASCAR. After a dismal Daytona, a soggy Sunday south of Atlanta was another dent in the quarter panel by comparison. Know this: The ratings were down 13 percent and the viewership down 15 percent from last year's Atlanta race and down 20 precent and 17 percent in those categories from 2016. This was the least-watched and lowest-rated second race of the Cup Series in at least the last 20 years, according to Sports Media Watch. The week after Daytona has exceeded an average of 10 million viewers as recently as 2011. A decade ago, the second race of the season got a 6.2 rating and 10.9 million viewers for a rain-delayed race that aired opposite the Academy Awards.
- Speaking of aging NBA superstars, did you see the story that Dwyane Wade wrote the name of the Parkland victim who was buried in a Wade jersey on his shoes last night? Wade hit a game-winning shot among his 27 points last night too. Cool.
- Another impressive NBA story: Houston is now the 10th team in league history to have multiple 13-game winning streaks in the same season. Fear the Beard.
- Dick's Sporting Goods made a major announcement Wednesday, as the CEO tells ABC News that the company will no longer sell assault-style rifles and will no longer sell any guns to anyone under 21.
Today's question
Wow, that This and That escalated in a hurry. Brick killed a guy.
Jason Aldean is 41 today.
Ali Larter is 42. Her whipped cream scene in "Varsity Blues" was severely underrated in the eyes of the Academy Awards.
On this day in 1854, the Republican Party was officially formed.
In 1991 on this day the Gulf War, in the eyes of history after Iraq accepted a cease fire. In a lot of people's view, the Gulf War is still going to this day.
Paul Harvey died on this day in 2009. What a stud duck Paul Harvey was, and if you have a moment, here's his glorious "God created a Farmer" riff. Gold.
Bugsy Siegel would have been 112 today, but hey, you embezzle from the Mob, you sleep with the fishes.
Rushmore of best gangster movies. Go.