Hi Folks,
We do a ton of insightful, thoughtful and serious features here at Footballguys with smart people thinking deeply for you.
This is not one of those features.
This is Random Shots and it's a few pages of me downloading my goofy and dysfunctional mental hard drive that gets stuffed with way too many random items from too many hours watching, reading about and listening to football every weekend and throughout the week. It's the only way I manage. Here's hoping it has some value for you.
We'll see. Now let's get to it.
J
I told you last week about the Flyers new mascot.
As expected, the Internet ran with it...
If you can't sleep tonight, you have Footballguy Daniel Simpkins to thank for this one.
Going to the UK for the Music Note this week. Royal Blood is best enjoyed at maximum volume.
But they're more than just loud. Here's a sweet acoustic version of the same song.
I'm going to leave this one right here...
Thanks to NFL Memes for that one.
The Cardinals can save $312,500 for every game they declare Sam Bradford Inactive.
Arizona Management: "Yeah, I think we're gonna wanna go ahead and do that..."
This Baker Mayfield is salty.
Thanks to Footballguy Keith Overton for that one.
In shocking news, it actually is possible to sack the quarterback without landing on top of him with full bodyweight.
This didn't seem to be a popular take.
Oh Brandon...
You're invited over to sit on the tailgate of my Dodge 3500 Diesel truck and eat BBQ ribs with me. For real.
I think it's safe to stop wondering if Calvin Ridley's for real.
Plus routes like this.
Here's another guy that's showing last week was no fluke. Vance McDonald is tough to bring down.
Last week it was Baker Mayfield.
Now Mitchell Trubisky...
Green Bay with a flag.
Naturally, the Internet went wild. As the Internet is won't to do.
Aaron Popkey, Packers Director of Public Affairs, came back with this: "We've used such displays from time to time in the past when other pregame elements take up a significant portion of the field. To avoid causing confusion, we will not be using such displays in the future.”
With all due respect Mr. Popkey, I don't think the size of the flag was the issue. Fortunately for the Packers, the news cycle these days turns over every fifteen minutes so this was quickly forgotten. Plus the Packers won. And Clay Matthews played a game without a Roughing the Passer penalty.
We've seen some sketchy field goal kicking this year. We've also been privileged to watch one of the greatest of all time. Congratulations Adam Vinatieri.
Thanks to Footballguy Clayton Gray for that one.
The answer, of course, is to keep them out of the end zone if you don't like it but this kind of stuff always seemed lame to me.
Great news as it looks like Le'Veon Bell will end his holdout and report to his team in Week 7. Just in time to earn a check for the bye week.
This commercial was fun while it lasted...
NFL games are hard enough to win already. Seems crazy for Buffalo to spot Green Bay three points like that...
Thanks to Footballguy Mark Stay for that one.
Cleveland's David Njoku and Darren Fells won the day with this Fusion celebration.
Matt Ryan has to be wondering what he has to do.
The Chargers are basically playing 16 road games this year.
The best thing Tampa coach Dirk Koetter did Sunday was describe how terrible they were Sunday.
Let's be fair though. Matt Nagy and Mitchell Trubisky deserve a ton of credit. Nagy was scheming guys ridiculously open and Trubisky delivered.
I loved seeing Josh Gordon in the post-game presser. I'm hoping this can be an environment where he finds stability and success.
Everything takes practice.
Funny how Tom Brady looks way less washed up when he has more weapons around him...
I'm with Frank Reich here. Especially for this team and this offense. He risked a loss for a tie to make a statement. And it's not like they don't have a decent kicker. Good for him. It's one thing for guys like Bill Belichick to do the right thing even when it goes against conventional wisdom. I love to see a new coach with the guts to do the right thing.
So much goodness packed into this one. Odell Beckham Jr leapfrogging over a standing Alvin Kamara with a smiling Teddy Bridgewater behind the camera.
With 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter and a 19 point lead, Doug Marrone and the Jaguars decided to go for the two-point conversion after their touchdown. Marrone said, "The chart said go for two".
Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles on his coach's decision: "I just work here"
I think one of the things I love most about Football is the team aspect. You can have the greatest players in one area but they often can fill the void if you're lacking in other areas. Oakland was the latest example.
The key players on the game-winning kick for the Raiders Sunday were not exactly a veteran group:
Rookie Snapper playing his 3rd NFL game.
Rookie Holder playing his 4th NFL game.
Kicker playing his first NFL game.
Whoever is running the Cleveland Police Twitter account deserves a raise.
Thanks to Footballguy Jeff Tefertiller for that one.
Joey Porter was all of Steelers Nation Sunday Night.
I understand the safety angle of the forward progress whistle and I'm not generally in favor of treating some players differently than others. With that said, give Marshawn Lynch a little more time there...
Welcome back, Alshon Jeffery.
Interesting philosophical question.
The NBA and NFL obviously have no problem with players with tattoos. It's mainstream culture today.
Both the NBA and NFL clearly don't allow players to advertise for brands outside of the officially licensed companies. It's why Odell Beckham Jr can wear a Supreme sleeve in warm-ups but not in the game.
All good.
But NBA player J.R. Smith's thrown an interesting question into the mix.
What about a tattoo that's an advertisement for a non-licensed company?
I guess this is why the Commissioners make the big money...
I love the throwback uniforms. And Green Bay has some of the best.
Mitchell Trubisky was 19 of 26 with 6 TD's Sunday. That means he threw a touchdown for every 4.3 pass attempts.
If Andrew Luck could have matched Trubisky's TD efficiency, Luck would have thrown for 14 touchdowns...
This one-handed business is getting ridiculous. Now defensive backs are snagging no look one handed interceptions? Rock on, Eric Murray
Soccer (kind of) Note for the week.
Harrison Butker practicing the Corner Kick. That's one way to know they're going straight.
Travis Kelce with a sweet response to a wannabe tough guy fan.
Unfortunately, that was topped by these Pee Wee coaches.
Thanks to Footballguy Isaac Cohen for that one.
The Bills goofed in Week 3 with their travel post on Twitter.
They rebounded nicely in Week 4.
For as long as I can remember, the "Kobe Don't Flinch" GIF has been the epitome of cool.
Now this.
I feel like my whole life's been a lie.
Thanks, Sports Illustrated...
He made it.
RYAN FITZPATRICK'S (jersey is) IN THE HALL OF FAME
But sadly for Random Shots and Fitzmagic Fans, we're back to one of the less good parts of the cycle.
Time is a flat circle.
To be fair, the Khabib fight's a pretty big deal. I can see why he was distracted...
I'm with Matt Chatham, Zero just doesn't mean what it used to...
Summary of the Dallas game...
Thanks to Footballguy David Dodds for that one.
Is there anything Patrick Mahomes can't do?
Patrick Mahomes and John Elway run into each other after the game in Denver...
Ok, that's too much. I tire of the fans ready to put a Gold Jacket on guys after four games.
But here's a serious question. If you're a real NFL General Manager with Mahomes under his real contract, is there another quarterback in the league you'd swap him for and take on the other quarterback's contract?
Royce Freeman with this week's Glitch In The Matrix.
This is a pretty good week in a tough Scott's Fish Bowl SuperFlex league...
How lots of us feel each week...
Thanks to Footballguys David Dodds and Clayton Gray for those.
Alvin Kamara went full Forrest Gump on this score all the way into the tunnel.
I often say of these quarterback hits: "These guys make a lot of money. These guys earn a lot of money".
This guy's in college so presumably, he's not making money (It is Baylor though...). Anyway, you get the idea.
Wrapping with this one.
And a reminder of one of my favorite lines paraphrased from Ram Dass: "At the end of the day, we're all just walking each other home at night."
Simple. And Small. And Huge. For me, it means giving a damn about the person next to you. And taking a second to stop thinking only of yourself and have some self-awareness.
Here's the picture of that this week.
I have no idea who these gentlemen are and I don't know anything about them. I don't need to. I just know the Saints fan took three seconds to do a good thing. And in times when it's easy to lose a bit of faith in humanity, I'm going to continue seeking out and talking about this kind of stuff. But most of all, I want to be doing this kind of stuff. And if I may be so bold, I'd like to encourage you to do the same.
Off the Soapbox.
Thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Clayton Gray, Daniel Simpkins, Mark Stay, Jeff Tefertiller, Isaac Cohen and David Dodds for the help on this one. If you've got a Random Shot of your own, shoot me an e-mail at bryant@footballguys.com.
Thanks for playing along. I hope you make the most of whatever you're doing in your life. Love your neighbor and stick together.
Peace and Grace to you.
J