Quick Six NFL thoughts
Can you believe we are through six weeks of the NFL season (and halfway home in college football)?
Nuts, right?
OK, through six weeks, let's do a quick six (can call it a six-pack or big six or heck, even a Kick Six - "Auburn's gonna win the football game") reactions about the NFL before we get to the power poll. Deal? Deal.
First down: There are four NFL quarterbacks, in my opinion, worth the maximum salary. Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes. Those dudes are so good at the most important position in team sports that they can take up 20 percent of a hard salary cap. They make your team competitive and successful - those teams are a combined 18-6 - with those dudes throwing TDs to guys you've never heard of and doing it while under pressure because of subpar O-Lines. They are worth the money in a sport where you are forever seeking value.
Second down: The Patriots are so much better than everyone else, and yes, Spy, Tom Brady is certainly on the list of all-timers, but his role right now - with a defense that is scoring more than it's allowing - is understandably dialed back.
Third down: Speaking of QBs and the importance of being able to understand who is truly worth the investment, look at the struggles of lofty picks - Baker Mayfield, Cam Newton, Mitchell Trubisky, Jared Goff, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota - and then realize that guys like Duck Hodges, Kyle Allen and Teddy Bridgewater are undefeated as starters right now.
Fourth down: Meaning? I believe the change is afoot at quarterback that has processed at running back, and the growing numbers of somewhat interchangeable QBs with similar skill sets are divided by value. If you can pay Kyle Allen peanuts so you can afford Luke Kuechly, re-signing Christian McCaffrey and plugging in difference makers rather than breaking the bank for Matt Ryan or Andy Dalton or Philip Rivers or whomever the next guy to sign the next market-resetting QB deal is, do it. (Hey Dallas, caveat emptor in terms of Dak Prescott, Mr. Jones.)
Fifth down: That said, let's not pretend that you can win with bad QB play. Ask the Titans. There are four teams in the NFL who have not allowed an opponent to score more than 20 points in a game this season. The 2-4 Titans are one of them. The other three - Bills, 49ers, Patriots - are a combined 15-1.
Sixth down: The buzz around the NFL world right now is the officiating. We discussed this with all the hubbub about the change and expansion of instant replay after the NFC title game last January. (And gang, the refs are clearly not interested in overturning on-field decisions of PI.) Now there are talks of "eye in the sky" super refs and expanding replay even more. Please say it's not so, Roger. Please. The dragging pace of the game is already an issue, please do not make it worse.
Power poll
It's a shame that the officials are getting all the play right now because there are some excellent teams in the league.
And some terrible ones, too.
Powerful
1. New England (6-0). This feels surreal, right? How can this organization continue to be this dominant for this long? This is more than Brady, and in truth, it's more than Bill Belichick, too. It has become an expectation that has covered and motivated everyone. And it's pretty doggone impressive.
2. San Francisco (5-0). Yes, we are a believer in a defense that has been constructed perfectly for the current-day NFL. Four first-round picks across the defensive line are creating havoc without having to send extra blitzers. That, and if we voted right now, wouldn't Kyle Shanahan be the front-runner not named Bill for coach of the year? I know Falcons fans sure miss Kyle. Ah, Kyle.
3. New Orleans (5-1). Speaking of coach of the year candidates, Sean Payton is doing a bang-up job considering that this bunch is unblemished since losing a future Hall of Fame QB. That's doing work. And how about this: The Saints are delivering in close games and are 5-1 with a plus-6 point differential, which is the same the 2-4 Titans have. Side note: Did you know that Teddy Bridgewater is undefeated as a starting quarterback against the spread when his team is an underdog? So there's that.
4. Green Bay (5-1). How well is Aaron Rodgers playing? Well, how many of alma maters of the guys who caught passes from Rodgers last night can you name? Allen Lazard, Mercedes Lewis, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Geronimo Allison, Jamaal Williams, Jimmy Graham, Jake Kumerow, Aaron Jones and Darrius Sheperd. We'll wait.
5. Seattle. Run first. Let Russell work. Sounds like a plan, huh?
Powerless
28. New York Jets (1-4). Yes, Sunday's win was a definite positive and a big welcome back to Sam Darnold, the Mono Man. But this is still a flawed roster, and there is no team in the league that covets Alabama super receiver Jerry Juedy more than these Jets, who have not had a go-to wide out since Al Toon, maybe.
29. Atlanta (1-5). Wow, the near-miss in the Super Bowl seems like a lifetime ago, right? OK, we'll ask: Should the Falcons tank? Is the window closed? Here's my thought? Stockpile picks for the 2021 draft and Tank for Trevor (Lawrence). Thoughts?
30. Washington (1-5). OK, tanking is part of the modern era of team sports. But if you are the Redskins and you land No. 1 overall, where do you go without knowing what Dwayne Haskins can do?
31. Cincinnati (0-6). Am I the only one hoping that A.J. Green gets dealt to a contender so that when he returns to the field he can have a chance to make a run in a postseason? (That said, I also have AJ stashed on my fantasy football bench, so there's that.)
32. Miami (0-5). As good as the Pats are - New England has a staggering margin of victory average of 23.7 per game - that's how bad the Dolphins are. Miami's average margin of defeat is a staggering 27.6 per game.
Say what?
The NBA season starts in a week. Crazy right?
The NBA storyline of the preseason has been the controversy of China-Hong Kong-Daryl Morey's tweets and the fallout accordingly.
It is the one thing that has forced Gregg Popovich to be quiet. It has backed Steve Kerr into a few corners. It has left the NBA in a place that its desire to be a successful capitalist institution is more important than supporting democracy.
Now, LeBron James has spoken about it and, well, it was puzzling.
A couple of caveats. One, I am a LeBron James homer. This is well-known. Two, I am a couple of days removed from seeing the backlash a poorly worded message can generate.
But LeBron's statements on Morey's tweets were pretty bad, especially considering the time - and almost assuredly assistance from his PR team - he had to get ready for these questions.
Here's the story.
LeBron said that Morey was "misinformed" in a series of statements that were at best confusing.
LeBron issued a statement after the statement - and friends, the statement after the statement is a tell-tale sign that the original statement was flawed, trust me on this one - that was more understandable and covered the point that Morey's timing with the Lakers and other NBA teams and interests in China at that moment was unfortunate.
That makes sense. The rest? Well, it's clear the NBA has been caught with its pants down on this one across the board.
And that includes the face of the league and the greatest player of his generation.
This and that
- OK, Jamaal Williams broke a lot of gamblers' hearts (or made their day if they had Detroit plus-3.5) last night. Packers down two with 1:36 left, Williams ran at left guard and the Lions were prepared to allow him to score. Williams took a knee at the 2, the Packers milked the clock because the Lions were without any timeouts and kicked a last-play field goal for a 23-22 win. Packers did not cover, and no one was happier about Mason Crosby making that kick than Williams.
- LCS doubleheader tonight with the Yankees-Astros at 4 today in Game 3 in a tied ALCS, and the Nats looking to close out the Cardinals in Game 4 tonight around 8.
- The XFL draft is today. I love the draft. You know this. Cardale Jones and Landry Jones - two familiar names who were college stars at THE Ohio State and Oklahoma not that long ago - have been assigned to teams. The rest of the league will be keeping up with the Joneses, I guess.
- Here's TFP ace sports columnist Mark Wiedmer sharing the misery of an awful sports week for the teams in Georgia. Good stuff, as always.
- Democratic debate part whatever is tonight. Predictions?
Today's questions
True or false Tuesday. Let's get to work.
Yet again, true or false, you take the Patriots over the field to win the Super Bowl.
True or false, more replay would help the NFL more than hurt it.
True or false, the Falcons should tank.
True or false, the NBA-China controversy will hurt the league's ratings.
As for today, it's Oct. 15.
Two years ago, Alyssa Milano posted a tweet that included the phrase that started the "MeToo" movement.
On this day 30 years ago Wayne Gretzky passed Gordie Howe as the NHL all-time scoring leader.
Roscoe Tanner is 68 today.
The first episode of "I Love Lucy" debuted on this day in 1951. Wow. That's a powerhouse right there.
Rushmore of Lucy. Go.