Giddy-up. From the "Talks too much" studios, pass the hot sauce.
College football playoff committee
Krystal hamburgerThe first rankings are out, and that and $4 will get you a trio of Krystals.
Clemson, LSU, Ohio State and Alabama are the top four. LSU and Alabama play Saturday, so there's that.
Here are the rankings and the biggest thing here is Memphis cracked the top 15, and with some help the Tigers could be in the discuss.
The lion's share of that help would be Ole Miss running the table and winning the SEC.
This will be moot in another six days, and little more than a footnote a month from now when the field is set, of course.
Still, that Alabama and Notre Dame are so highly regarded even with a loss is eye-catching.
What did you think of the first college football playoff ranking?
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Whisenhunt out
The Titans fired coach Ken Whisenhunt on Tuesday.
Here's a recap and the info that Mike Mularkey is now the interim guy.
Tennessee Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt watches the action against the Green Bay Packers during his first game as the Titans' head coach in the fourth quarter of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) Whisenhunt was 3-20 (yes, that's accurate, we double-checked it) and even with strong early returns for banged-up rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, the product did not look improved.
The defense overachieved at times, and to be fair, Whisenhunt likely was coaching the worst roster 1-to-53 in the league. (Which begs the question about some personnel department changes, as well.)
Now, the question become,s who's next?
It's an interesting one, and with Mariota on board, one that will draw some interest and some high-profile names.
(Has anyone checked to see of Jon Gruden's wife was every a Titans cheerleader or worked as an usher at the Grand Ol' Opry?)
Here's a crazy candidate for you: Gus Malzahn. With Mariota in the fold, and with the rookie's diverse skill set, why wouldn't a high-powered offensive spread guy be interested?
Thoughts?
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Field narrowing
OK, according to this story, there is one common denominator for every NFL team that starts the season 7-0.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates his touchdown pass to wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) Each, since 1968, as made the playoffs.
Every single time.
So, with a record four teams sitting at 7-0 in the same season, that means we have to start looking hard at the remaining eight playoff spots.
The Patriots, Broncos, Bengals and Panthers are 7-0, which means the four of the eight divisions are pretty much settled. The once-beaten Packers have a firm grip on the NFC North.
The AFC South and the NFC East will be survival of the least-stinky.
That leaves the NFC West, with the Cardinals and the Seahawks fighting it out, and some position for wildcards.
Good thing for fantasy football down the stretch. We may know all the playoff seeds Thanksgiving weekend.
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This and that
- Washington names Dusty Baker as its new manager. The interesting part of this is that Washington drew a hard line in the sand in negotiations with Bud Black. The role of manager in today's baseball may be at its lowest value ever.
- Johnny Football will reportedly get the football this week.
- Crazy gambling stories like this one always make us shake our head. Vegas Dave won more than $2.4 million betting on the Royals to win it all in April.
- No surprise that legendary coach and renowned Tiger hater Hank Haney sides with Stevie Williams and the former caddie's tell-all book. You stay classy Hank.
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Today's question
With the closing of Mom's Italian Villa, we'll make this simple:
Rushmore of local restaurants.
Whatcha got, and remember the mailbag.