Not so much
Yeah, I bemoaned the end of the NFL season on Tuesday.
But in truth, does the NFL ever end? Wait, don’t answer that.
Of course not.
The Underwear Olympics (aka the scouting combine) is in two weeks.
Free agency follows that. Then comes the NFL draft. I love the draft. You know this.
Which leads us to today’s NFL talking point.
I wonder how many teams will emulate the Rams’ M.O. of dealing draft capital – something that was considered an (Arizona) cardinal sin not three years ago – for a win-now push.
Sure, it depends on the team and the cap, but it makes a ton of sense now that a franchise has won it all by doing it.
And it even provides a safety net for front office folks, considering that no matter how many mock drafts, simulations, scouting combines or interviews teams and players go through, even first-rounders are scratch-off tickets.
Joe Burrow looks the part as a No. 1 overall pick, but is Baker Mayfield one?
Heck, Cooper Kupp was the MVP and he was barely noticed coming out of high school and was picked 69th overall in 2017 – a year when three WRs (Corey Davis, Mike Williams and John Ross) went in the top 10 – and that turned out pretty well.
Even the best player on the field Sunday – and likely in the NFL – was only the 13th overall pick in 2014.
(Side question: Is Aaron Donald the best defensive player in NFL history? Discuss. I say no – that list starts with Reggie, followed by LT and Deion, but I think Donald is the best DT to every put on pads.)
Where were we? Oh, yeah, dealing picks for players, winning in season rather than winning the offseason.
Sadly, in a game that demands courage and rewards risk, far too many front offices will almost assuredly not follow the Rams’ path.
And the reason is fear. Because making those trades demands guts, and the risk is measured with your jobs as NFL front office folks.
You make those deals – multiple first-round picks for Jalen Ramsey and Matt Stafford as well as picks for Von Miller and others – and you fall anywhere short of the Super Bowl, you get a pink slip.
You miss on multiple draft pinks, you still get time for development and could even blame the failures of those picks on the coaching malfeasance.
But fortune favors the brave, and the Rams followed their own NFL yellow brick road.
And their reward was the kingdom.
Vols huge news
No, this is not about the Vols rolling the Wildcats in a game that was not as close as the 76-63 final score. (Here’s more on that from TFP college football crazy man David Paschall.)
The Athletic posted a story Tuesday on how a group called Spyre Sports is working in Knoxville to raise $25 million annually for a college NIL fund for UT athletes.
“If this is how the game is played, then game on,” is how Spyre Sports president and co-founder Hunter Baddour described the plan to David Ubben of The Athletic. (More here, but it’s a pay site so remember that.)
And while Spyre is only in the beginning stages of its plan – and still a ways from its $25 million a year goal – the proof is clearly in the NIL pudding.
Seven of the nine recruits Spyre had serious discussions with during the last recruiting cycle signed with – wait for it – the Vols.
Game changed.
And game on, as Baddour rightly stated.
Forget friends of the program, gang, and the complete overhaul of college sports is happening at incredible speeds.
Because if UT can find a side operation that can raise that kind of capital, what in the world will the Alabamas, Texases (and A&Ms) and Georgias be willing to pony up right about now?
Oversized star in an Outpost
Giannis Antetokounmpo is way more than the best player in the NBA.
He’s the best major sports player who gets the least amount of publicity on the planet.
Only Mike Trout comes close, to be honest.
Giannis is filthy. He scored 50 last night on 21 shots. It’s the fourth-fewest attempts in a 50-burger in NBA history.
And it’s just the latest example of this dude’s incredible skills.
Skills that, to be honest, go mostly unnoticed because he plays in Milwaukee.
He’s there with Kevin Durant in the most unstoppable forces in the game, and is likely the best player since LeBron was in Miami.
This and that
– Some college hoops bigwigs had some health news. First Coach K did not return for the second half of Duke’s home win vs. Wake Forest on Tuesday night. He looked woozy and out of it in some of the clips ESPN showed. Second, Dickie V had another surgery on Tuesday. May they both be OK sooner rather than later.
– The Russian cheater, errrr figure skater, is in the lead after the short performance round Tuesday night. Seriously, is there a good storyline in these Olympics? Maybe that speed skater who gave her spot to the other female skater who fell in the trials and went on to win. Still, these Games stink.
– Speaking of the Games and stinking, the U.S. Hockey team got bounced before the medal round. Do you believe in mediocrity? YES!
– Speaking of recruiting, Class of 2023 super QB prospect Arch Manning – Peyton’s nephew – is reportedly down to two schools. Those schools are Alabama and Texas, according to this report. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have two root canals during an IRS audit while waiting for an insurance seminar than watch Arch Manning play for Alabama.
– Buckets of buzzer-beating buckets, but South Carolina ripped Ole Miss’ heart out last night. Egad.
Today’s question
Which way Wednesday starts this way.
Which all-time great player – other than Giannis of course – that is currently active is the least heralded?
Which round will Duke get to in the Coach K farewell tour, brought to you by Enterprise rental cars and every referee to ever blow a whistle?
Which team(s) should follow the Rams path and make a monster deal to win now? (I’d love to see a Miami push chips and get one of these legit top-10 QBs – Rodgers, Russell, Watson, et al. – to go with all that young talent.)
As for today, Feb. 16, let’s review.
On this day in the year 600, Pope Gregory the Great decided that “God bless you” is the correct response to a sneeze.
Rushmore of best things to say when someone sneezes. Go.
And God bless you.