Weekend winners
Roster development. The Eagles and the 49ers are the most complete teams — on each side and across each line — in the league. And for 49ers GM John Lynch to have this kind of performance with a QB pulling the strings that likely was no more in their plans than Joe Montana before the season is a testament to the completeness of the 49ers. Plus, both the front offices in Philly and San Fran seized the window of opportunity that was before them. Philly added AJ Brown to form a dynamic collection of skill players. The 49ers added arguably the biggest trading-deadline addition with Christian McCaffrey in recent NFL memory. Kudos.
SEC hoops heavyweights. Yes, to a question earlier around these parts, Texas A&M kinda sneaked up on all of us with a hot SEC start. But that résumé is as true and long-run dependable as Otis Campbell’s liver. The Aggies were toppled by UK, which is more SEC heavyweight in name than game so far this season. But UK, UT, Auburn and Alabama rolled — and the final three of those rolled on the road — Saturday. (And if you are counting at home, all covered, too. Which is nice.)
Plays of the Day NFL picks. Yes, we missed one of Friday’s offerings because the Grizzlies got sidetracked and sideswiped late by the Lakers in L.A. But our three NFL picks — Eagles over-13.5 in the first half, Bengals plus-5.5 and 49ers minus-4 — were as true George Washington.
Greg Olson. No, not the former Braves catcher. No, not the former Auburn and MLB relief pitcher. The former Panthers and University of Miami tight end. In a quick-turn vortex of finicky fans that find fault with announcers like mad mommas scanning a teenager’s room, Olson was great on Cowboys-49ers. Conversely, former star of the spin-off “Everyone Loves Romo” Tony Romo was flailing and falling into the worst of the analyst traps — trying to hard and speaking after play. Plus, as Olson ascends, we need to recall that he is soaring in the seat that Troy Aikman used to fill with above average.