Central conversation
It started Monday with Russell Wilson’s mega deal.
Strike that, it started this offseason with the Kyler Murray talk.
But look around the league and more than half the league has QB questions entering next week’s NFL draft.
OK, ‘questions’ may seem like a stretch for a good number of the NFL teams, but certainly there are conversations.
Forget the places that crave QBs. Arizona. Denver. Cincinnati. New York – Giants not Jets.
But as the draft looms and the talk turns to quarterbacks – as it always does – there are teams wondering about who they have and wondering at who they could get at the most important position in sports. (Side point: Remember when the first round of mock drafts came out and Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins were the only QBs projected in round one? Yeah, that was fun.)
So let’s look at few teams which could spend one of its picks in the three-day draft that were either in the playoffs or on the edge who have large QB questions before them.
> New England. Yes, the defending champs have to be asking questions about when they are going to draft Jimmy Garrapolo’s replacement as Tom Brady’s replacement. The Patriots have six picks in the first 101, so they have the draft capital to move up or spend a second-rounder on say Daniel Jones from Duke or even a third-day pick on someone like Gardner Minshew from Washington State.
> Dallas. Yes, Jerry Jones has said the Cowboys are going to pay Dak Prescott. But if Prescott wants Russell Wilson money, is Jerry, who has similar monster contract demands either met or looming from Zeke Elliott, Amari Cooper and Demarcus Lawrence as well as a very well-paid O-line. There’s only so much to go around, and Dak – who was not a first-rounder so the Cowboys do not have that fifth-year option – is a free agent after this season.
> Pittsburgh. Has the locker room turned on Big Ben? Hard to know, but losing superstar KIller B mates Bell and Brown is easily the worst look I can recall from a Steelers organization that has been the antithesis of that for decades. We do know that Father Time has not been kind to Ben Roethlisberger, who has been quick to discuss retirement.
> Tennessee. Yes, the Titans have picked up the fifth-year option of Marcus Mariota. But if the long-term plans do not include the former Heisman winner, then now is the time to pull the trigger. The Titans may have the most interesting quarterback questions in the league right since Mariota is solid, but if he gets $25-plus million, then the rest of a solid-to-pretty-good roster will be damaged. But, with a lot of young likable pieces, if Haskins falls or Luck
> Washington. The Redskins imploded after Alex Smith’s gruesome injury, and his return – if there is one – is uncertain. The thought that Haskins is falling – a lot of mock drafts have the Giants taking Haskins at 17 rather than 6 – makes the Washington pick at 15 even more valuable.
Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. watches his RBI single against the New York Mets during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 13, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Tami Chappell)New favorite
OK, we are in a strange TV spot right now.
The regular shows are breaking before May sweeps.
The Masters and March Madness are in the review, and they were mostly amazing, which is a blessing and a curse.
It was a blessing because the entire college basketball season in 2018-19 was more fun than I can recall in a long time. (UK’s chase for 40-0 a few years ago was great, don’t get me wrong, but the amazing storylines of Duke and Zion, UT’s historic season, UK and UNC being great in February, Auburn’s record-setting run.)
Now the NBA playoffs feel hollow. (Hey for me the lack of LeBron is huge. But I am certainly not alone. According to Sports Media Watch, seven of eight series openers were down double digits percentages in ratings and viewers from last year.)
So, here I am admitting that the best sports thing on TV right now on a regular basis – yes, Game of Thrones is amazing, but it’s once a week and while there is the word ‘Game’ in the title and the chase for the Iron Throne includes a lot of strategery and execution, it’s technically not a sport – is Ronald Acuna Jr.
I’m in on the Acuna Jr. era in the ATL gang.
And last night was a perfect example.
There was Acuna going complete Little League and sliding on the infield grass on a double-play grounder that he had no chance of breaking up so he – in an effort to get out of the way and, like so many of my 7- and 8-year-olds, slide to slide – takes a hook slide into the grass.
It’s joyous, and his teammates have a big laugh about it. And more importantly, so did Acuna, who handled it perfectly even though he’s a young superstar with an nine-figure contract.
He also handled it perfectly by homering later in the game, and he did it ironically, by also dropping to an untimely knee.
Hitting a baseball that far off-balance and on your back knee is an amazing testament to strength and his ability to square up almost any pitch.
Good times, and thanks Ronald. For now and the future.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft walks on the field before the AFC title game against the host Kansas City Chiefs in January. The illicit massage parlor sting in Florida that ensnared Kraft is a reminder of how challenging it has been to crackdown on underground prostitution operations.Turning perspective
OK, there was a lot of rightful consternation and concern about the allegations and charges against Robert Kraft.
Kraft of course, is the Patriots owner who was arrested in the solicitation charges at the Orchids of Asia day spa in Jupiter, Fla.
A large part of the original outrage was challenges and allegations that this was part of a larger sex trafficking circle, and if that was the case the outrage is understandable and deserved.
After offering Kraft a plea deal earlier this month – a deal that he declined – prosecutors have revealed they have found no evidence of sex trafficking.
Well, well. Here’s some more.
This and that
– The NBA playoffs have been forgettable for the most part. Wait strike that. People wold have to watch and not retain details to be forgettable. The playoffs have been ignorable. That said, Here’s the entirety of Gregg Popovich’s postgame news conference after his team allowed 38 points in the fourth quarter of a Game 2 loss at Denver. It’s less than a minute, and a good 15 seconds of it are Pop staring down the entire room.
– What a terrible story about the 20-year-old girl who fell to her death trying to be part of a group picture on the side of a cliff in Arkansas. Oh man.
– The Chargers are going full-time with the old-school. The powder blue uniforms are now the main home jersey color rather than the navy shirts. Also, the yellow facemasks are pretty sweet too. Take a look.
– Some interesting comments from Rick Barnes about the details of the UCLA offer and his return to Tennessee. Love Rick Barnes’ honesty gang. Love it.
Today’s questions
Which way Wednesday.
Which way do you lean, Marcus Mariota franchise QB or QB for a franchise right now?
Which NFL throwback uniform other than the Chargers’ light blues – which are now their full-time home unis – are the best?
Which way would you go if the charges against Kraft have nothing to do with sex trafficking?
Discuss.
As for today, it’s April 17.
It’s Bat Appreciation Day, Blah-Blah-Blah Wednesday, and National Bookmobile Day.
It also is National Kickball Day and International Ford Mustang Day.
On this day in 2011, Game of Thrones debuted.
Barbara Bush died on this day last year. Benjamin Franklin died on this day in 1790.
Jackie Robinson got his first hit on this day in 1947. It was a bunt single.
On this day 20 years ago, Tim Couch was the first overall pick of the NFL draft.
Not saying he’s on there, but who’s on the Rushmore of worst overall No. 1 NFL picks in the last 25 years.