5-at-10: Soccer soundoff: Did you go to the U.S. match and how was it?, Maurice Clarett and USA Today power poll hates UT


              New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady sets to pass during NFL football training camp in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady sets to pass during NFL football training camp in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
photo New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady sets to pass during NFL football training camp in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

DeflateGate

And still more posturing with little-to-no results in the matter of Tom Brady's underinflated balls.

So here's where we are:

Brady reportedly is willing to accept some suspension for not cooperating in the investigation but refuses to admit any wrongdoing in the DeflateGate mess.

The NFL and Roger Goodell are standing firm in the four-game penalty.

The judge has lobbed some tough questions at Goodell and the league, including asking for proof about how the league figured that DeflateGate should be on par with PED use.

photo NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks to reporters during the NFL's spring meetings in San Francisco, Wednesday, May 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

It's kind of staggering that we are still here and still mired in this.

That said, the perspective is easily skewed.

First, there's this with Massachusetts Gov. wearing a "Free Brady" T-shirt. Way to pander to the populace.

Then there is this from outspoken Seattle corner Richard Sherman. Sherman's position is interesting that Brady will lose more money - $1.88 million in pay - than the Patriots were fined.

Yes, he is ignoring the fact that the Patriots lost a first-round pick, which is a way steeper price than anything Brady will have to pay.

But it was interesting that he mentioned Colts owner Jim Irsay, who was fined all of $500,000 for his myriad of legal woes last year that led to a six-game suspension.

---

Soccer

U-S-A. U-S-A.

What a great environment it was for our city and for the U.S. Women's National Team.

Here's Weeds' column from the event.

photo USA's Carli Lloyd (10) looks for a call after being upended by Costa Rica's Mariana Benavides during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team's match against Costa Rica at Finley Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The team is playing in Chattanooga as part of its Women's World Cup victory tour.

If you went, please feel free to share your experiences in the comments or email us at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.

We're interested in your experience.

Other than the rain, it looked like a great event, and as people poured into Finley, the size of the crowd was clear.

And Paul Smith was right when he said it was going to have the feel of an NFL or major-college sporting event.

The flow of people down Carter Street by the radio station Wednesday afternoon was steady and impressive.

---

College football viewpoints

Couple of things caught our eye this morning doing some college football recon.

First, this was very interesting.

Maurice Clarett, the former Ohio State star who appeared destined for NFL stardom before becoming his own worst enemy, spoke to the Florida State football team. His message was clear: develop other interests beyond football so that if football gets taken away you're not left empty.

It also was a good one at a proper time and the proper place. We had former FSU quarterback Danny Kanell on Press Row, and among the many college football topics he touched on was that the Seminoles have had the worst offseason imaginable.

Here's saying Clarett and several other former stars should be regular speakers to college teams and deliver messages of similar ilk.

The other item of interest was this USA Today power poll.

Two things jumped out to us: First, that Boise State was No. 5 on the list. Secondly, that UT was No. 33.

Interesting.

(Side note: We are two weeks from kickoff in earnest. Thank goodness.)

---

This and that

- High school football kicks off tonight as Baylor visits Rhea County.

- Tonight's Buffalo-Cleveland preseason game could be a statement for former first-round quarterback picks Johnny Manziel and E.J. Manuel. Funny the things that interest you in the preseason, you know?

photo FILE - In this June 28, 2015 file photo, Nicki Minaj appears at the BET Awards in Los Angeles. Taylor Swift apologized to Minaj Thursday, July 23, on Twitter after the pair traded words Tuesday after MTV announced the nominees for the VMAs, where Swift is the leader with nine. Minaj was upset she didn't earn a nomination for video of the year for “Anaconda” and launched a series of tweets about how slim women earn top nominations. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

- Chase Utley, who reportedly was traded to Los Angeles from Philadelphia, was elected to the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame. So there's that. Who knew there was an Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame?

- Apparently the wax figure of Nicki Minaj has been the subject of sexual exploitation.

- The creepy house from Silence of the Lambs - the one where Jame Gumm lives and cuts off his victims' skin - is up for sale. Good luck with that.

- Michael Waltrip Racing may be done. MWR is letting Clint Bowyer out of his deal and will not run a full-time schedule next season. This will not be the last story like this in the months ahead.

---

Today's question

Have you sent in a mailbag question?

As for other questions, well, does anyone remember what the sun looks like?

The USA Today power rankings has Tennessee No. 33. Is that too high or about right? That would likely peg them around that 7-5 number we have tossed around.

Whatcha' think?

Upcoming Events