Because this has been such a great week, we're going to try something different. The first question will be a couple of thoughts from your host allowing you some chances to respond.
Deal? Deal. (And yes, if you do not see your question here this week, we'll get to it at a later date, especially you folks asking about the Super Bowl.) With that, here are a couple things that we pondered this week:
Is there a two-word phrase that is worse than 'roach infestation" in a headline with a restaurant, like the TFP story on Big River?
Seventeen years ago today, the Patriots officially hired Bill Belichick, and were forced to give the New York Jets a first-round pick for compensation. Is it fair to say that is the greatest trade in NFL history? Rushmore of NFL trades have to start there and Herschel Walker and include what?
Finally, is there a bigger, more clear sign of a gambling problem than wagering on the Pro Bowl? (Lay the points. Regardless of who is laying them.)
From JP
I am stunned right now. Stunned My wife and I were listening to Press Row when you started talking about the Tostitos bag and the breathalyzer.
We were laughing so hard I almost had to pull the car over. Who in the world came up with that idea?
Thanks for the show, you guys are awesome.
JP -
We all had to be stunned, right.
We are in a place where we can have a bag of corn chips loaded with a chip that can detect alcohol on your breath, yet we can't cure the common cold.
Yes, that first part is correct. According to this story, Tostitos has partnered with Uber and Mothers Against Drunk Driving to offer special bags of its chips with an electron device on the front that can detect alcohol on someone's breath. This is not a breathalyzer, giving readings or percentages, but we feel pretty confident that if you are looking for an opinion from a back of snacks ion whether you are good to get behind the wheel, well, we should all know that answer.
When the light goes, signaling the presence of alcohol, a $10 Uber coupon code flashes on the bag. And to make this bag even more swag, you can wave your SmartPhone over the sensor and it will contact Uber for you. Now that's a powerful chip.
Who needs a wing man on Super Bowl Sunday when you have a Bag, man.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger leaves the field after the AFC championship NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots won 36-17 to advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) From Stewwie
For the bag, should the NFL consider using flex scheduling for opponents for at least a couple of games each year? The Pats just played one of easiest schedules possible and cruised to the Super Bowl. Flex scheduling would help balance SOS and also create extra must-see matchups in the regular season. Nate Silver proposed something similar for the college game to help better determine conference champions. Thoughts?
Stewwie -
I love this idea in the grand scheme of things, for a couple of reasons.
First, the fairness factor. NFL schedules are already weighted, meaning that teams with better records from previous years are designed to have harder schedules, at least in theory. But that accounts for the previous season's record for each team, and to be fair tp the Pats, no one saw the implosion of the Cardinals or the Panthers, two teams that were Super Bowl picks before the season before falling off the radar by midseason.
The flex part of the schedule could address that.
It could also address some dreadful prime time games - especially on Monday night - that producers and programmers may think are good to go before the season but become dreck because of injury, defection,turmoil or what have you. You would also think that would add some extra value to the Monday night package, which has taken a consistent beating in the ratings.
That said, the logistics of this seem quite difficult. Here's one thought - and this addresses another problem plaguing a prime time platform too. Create the schedule using these keys:
First, Every Thursday night game has to be between teams that had a bye the previous Sunday. Will that take some smart folks using some smart math, yep. But you know what, the NFL makes $10 billion in revenue every year, they can afford the scheduling version of Neil deGrasse Tyson for a couple days.
Second, the final week - week 17 - of the season is reserved for only division games, and No. 1 from last year plays the runner-up from the previous season.
Three, leave weeks 15 and 16 open with no byes. All of the divisional games and all of the cross-divisional games (each year for some form of fairness all of the teams from one division play all the teams from another division) must be scheduled in other weeks. At the midway point of the season, from the current standings, align the 1s against the 1s and the 4s against the 4s for weeks 15 and 16. Let MNF have the first pick on week 15 and SNF have the first pick on week 16.
Not sure if it could work, but the NFL needs to examine this idea for multiple reasons.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates after winning an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. The Packers won 34-31. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins) From James
I normally agree with most of what you write and appreciate your opinion pieces on a variety of subjects on A2.
But how in the world do you think Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback ever? How?
It's Peyton followed by Brady, Montana and those guys. Rodgers is probably not in most people's top-five.
James -
Then most people are wrong.
First lets back up for just a second. We said Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback we've ever seen.
Let's focus on the swing word in that claim. Rodgers is the best. We did not say greatest.
Let's examine the difference. Best, in our view is the quarterback with the best collection of skills and acumen at the position. Greatest in our view is a combination of attributes and accomplishments that transcend beyond just an physical skill set.
In that scope, Rodgers is the best we've ever seen. Better than Manning and Brady and even Marino in his heyday. Elway had an amazing combination of talent and success, and we know some folks who, believe it or not, say Steve Young has a better spot in this conversation than even the great Joe Montana. Put simply, Rodgers is Mike Tyson - the best we've ever seen - but we're not saying that Tyson was greater than Ali.
Does that make sense?
But in the discussion of greatest QBs, more than any in sports, the ring-factor can not be ignored. With that, we believe that Brady is the greatest QB ever. But Rodgers is still the best we've ever seen.
UTC's Casey Jones (24) pulls down a rebound between Samford's Alex Peters (55) and Christen Cunningham (00). The Samford Bulldogs visited the Chattanooga Mocs at McKenzie Arena in Southern Conference basketball action on January 20, 2017. From Nathan
Jay what will it take to get students out to utc basketball and football games? I understand the football stadium being off campus but this run Russ started, and I hope Arth continues, has been poorly attended by students for 6 years. The last few years with wade and McCall have been some of the best basketball the roundhouse has seen in a while ( Keith Nelson - Johnny Taylor years). Student section usually very underwhelming.
Nathan -
If anyone had that answer, the UTC athletic department, as strapped as they are, would pay handsomely for it.
And that includes me.
For a long time we heard, "If they win, they'll show," and in a lot of ways that has been somewhat true for the casual Chattanooga fan in town. (The playoff game was less than stellar, but those numbers across the FCS landscape were less than stellar across the board.)
We've heard the Thursday night solution for football, but that's not a slam dunk. Last Saturday's crowd was pretty strong even without the students, and it gets bigger and louder for some of the better nonconference foes.
But Wednesday night's crowd looked pretty sparse, so there's that.
We're at a loss for words on this one when it comes to the current hoops crew - which is a very talented roster that will speed past 20 wins again this year - and that is telling. Because as those who know us will attest, when we're at a loss for words, well, good luck.
Enjoy the weekend.