Colin Kaepernick's name was in a lot of places this week.
He was reportedly approached by the Alliance of American Football, a new professional league that has every player under a three-year, $250,000 contract that is not guaranteed. (That the University of Tennessee, which has not made a bowl game since before Trump was inaugurated, has two assistant coaches making more than $1 million per year should tell you where that ranks on the football pay scale.)
Kaepernick requested $20 million from the new league, according to those reports. At first the thought was, "Hey, Kaepernick would bring a lot of pub, so ask for the moon."
The league declined, and we learned Friday something that may offer a clue on why Kaepernick can afford to ask for anything under the moon, considering he and the NFL settled on his collusion lawsuit.
And considering that the NFL settled - and requested a confidentiality agreement - here's betting that Kaepernick got north of $50 million for ending his collusion lawsuit.
That's a whole lot of cash for taking a knee, and makes you wonder if the end game of the entire protest started with change and ended with cash.
State of confusion
OK, there are times when I would love to call for a state of emergency.
Too hungry. State of emergency.
Too hot. State of emergency.
Too tired. You guessed it. State of emergency.
Well, The Donald apparently feels the same.
Here's hoping he doesn't lose the remote this weekend and call in the National Guard for that, too.
Uh, may want to rethink those statements
From the files of, "They said what?" come the following head-scratchers.
First there's Colton Underwood, who is the hunky champion of the most recent run of the TV show "The Bachelor."
After some unexpected and questionable contact, Underwood left a charity event, saying plainly, "I did not sign up to be a piece of meat." Uh, Colton, that's exactly what you signed up for. Did you think "The Bachelor" was going to be a springboard to playing MacBeth on Broadway or reprising Bogart's role in "Casablanca?"
Then there was the social media sensation that came from one of those anti-vaccine crackpots who, despite ignoring science, asked her social media realm, "Does anyone have any ideas on how I can prevent my child from getting the measles?"
Yes ma'am, we do. In fact, we'd all like to give your kid a shot, if you know what I mean.
Obit observations
Gang, the number of you offering suggestions and feedback on the TFP obits has been amazing.
Thanks for the input, and the e-mail volume clearly shows how many of us read the announcements of the deaths in and around our communities.
This week, there was a near miracle in my mailbox. We had a nearly unanimous opinion on something, and in the opinion business that is as rare as a dragon riding a unicorn into Hamilton Place.
But Monday's passing of David Edward Little caught everyone's eye, apparently. The announcement of the former Huntsville, Ala., resident, who previously lived in Chattanooga, had several telling lines that make you realize that he may have pulled off the spiritual highway to wet his whistle before meeting his maker.
From the obituary: "He enjoyed baseball, cooking, billiards and socializing with his friends and family, not necessarily in that order. He liked to spend his time on booze, women and gambling, the rest he wasted."
Also there was this: He was survived by "three children, who acquired their good looks and sassy attitudes from their father."
And of course, the kicker: "He will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, please write your goodbyes on a can of Bud Light and turn one up for David!"
Saturday's stars
To the folks running the Moon River Festival, I offer a big thank you.
Jason Isbell and Brandi Carlile are headliner's headliners, and back-to-back sell-outs in this town is nothing to sneeze at, friends.
I am impressed. And I am attending.
See you there.
Until next week.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6343.