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
Oh, David...
This season, David Njoku has 5 catches and 2 trade demands
— Aaron Goldhammer (@HammerNation19) October 19, 2020
God Bless College Football...
there’s a life-size lane kiffin bobblehead at the oxford exxon and this is now the cover of my mississippi gas-station food book
— Alex McDaniel (@AlexMcDaniel) October 8, 2020
(📸 @paris_buchanan) pic.twitter.com/TDytqLpSdh
It's time.
<p">pic.twitter.com/kjc4BXHl7L — Master (@MasterTes) October 20, 2020
Ok, then.
I'm no defensive coordinator, but I don't think this is what they mean when they say "Cover 2". pic.twitter.com/wWqo0kLSbR
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) October 6, 2020
Sweet moment for Dolphins rookie (and now starting) QB Tua Tagovailoa after Sunday's game. His collegiate career ended about a year ago with a serious hip injury and last Sunday he made his NFL debut. He sat on the grass after the game and talked to his parents. I'm stoked for this young man.
“I think it was a very special moment for me because my parents weren’t here, so I couldn’t really remember where we ended our drive at, so I tried to sit close to where we ended our drive at, and I ended up FaceTiming my parents because they couldn’t be here,” Tagovailoa said after the game. “That’s usually how it goes. I usually talk to my parents after the game, and my parents usually never miss my game. That’s what I did, I went out there, and I talked to them. But yeah, that’s what that moment was about.”
.@Tua stayed on the field after his NFL debut to FaceTime his parents
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) October 19, 2020
He always talks to them after the game and wanted them to be a part of his first 🙠pic.twitter.com/3GBRs6Jub9
Hat Tip to Drew Davenport.
Just sayin'...
When Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell left Pittsburgh, they were arguably the best players in the league at their positions... pic.twitter.com/cYCdEvBaw5
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) October 20, 2020
It's World Series Time. I don't follow baseball closely anymore. But it was my gateway into Fantasy Sports. If I hadn't fallen in love with Baseball and Bill James' books 30 years ago, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be doing what I'm blessed to do at Footballguys. So I'm all in on the World Series.
I'm pulling for Tampa Bay though. Mostly because Kershaw and Betts for the Dodgers make almost as much money as the entire Tampa Bay team. When the playing field is so tilted toward the rich teams, I have a harder time paying attention. But I love the Series.
<p">🤑 😅 pic.twitter.com/lXAdGbB75x — ESPN (@espn) October 19, 2020
And because I know you folks need to know this kind of stuff, here's a rad video about how baseballs are made. I had no idea there was this much hands-on work still involved.
I've seen enough. Ryan Tannehill should be in the MVP conversation. At least as much as one can have an MVP conversation in late October. I believe a lot of the doubt for him is he started poorly in Miami. We tend to think as NFL Fans / Talent Scouts that "guys don't change much". That's usually true but Tannehill is proving everyone wrong. This team is excellent and getting better. Watch out.
These guys make a lot of money.
These guys earn a lot of money.
Jim Nantz: “Mayfield’s rib injury is on his right side.”
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) October 18, 2020
Tony Romo: “That hurts everywhere, Jim.” pic.twitter.com/zN5Ihpt1aD
New England Mood:
The Patriots are now under .500 at least five games into a season for the first time since 2002. pic.twitter.com/bAZAUpUppU
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 18, 2020
Meanwhile, Jets fans are like, "Cry me a river."
My God pic.twitter.com/G1v2KwmsqC
— Tyler R. Tynes (@TylerRickyTynes) October 18, 2020
I don't really get some of the TV graphics. I mean, how do you think this conversation went down with the artists?
"Give me Rodgers and Brady as comic book superheroes."
"Superheroes?"
"Yeah, like with shoulder pads but also pectoral muscles."
"Ok".
Ummm did Rodgers and Brady take steroids before this game?
— Paige Dimakos (@The_SportsPaige) October 18, 2020
This graphic 😂 pic.twitter.com/l5x5YVQAao
Adam Thielen with some sweet Van Halen tribute cleats.
Custom cleats for @athielen19 honoring rock legend Eddie Van Halen.
— UNISWAG (@UNISWAG) October 18, 2020
🎨: @MACHE275 #uniswag pic.twitter.com/YeHoT3C2P5
A.J. Terrell using all the body parts to make this interception.
AJ Terrell wasn't going to drop this PICK 🤯 @ajterrell_8 @AtlantaFalcons
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) October 18, 2020
📺 #ATLvsMIN on FOX pic.twitter.com/ojIbAJmEKV
Side Note: I understand as someone who writes about football on the Internet that I'm required to hate Dan Snyder, but can we acknowledge he handled the Kirk Cousins contract with franchising tags appropriately?
Rodgers with the McCringleberry jinx getting cute in the first quarter.
Rodgers really brought the McCringleberry back 😂 @AaronRodgers12 @packers @KeeganMKey @JordanPeele pic.twitter.com/KihzdpwAWE
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) October 18, 2020
.@AaronRodgers12 busting out the Hingle McCringleberry ... but 2 pumps? pic.twitter.com/QUUqeBk6NT
— Neeta Sreekanth (@NeetaSreekanth) October 18, 2020
He's one of my favorite players. But that just seems dumb.
That Tampa Bay defense is a problem.
Mike Vrabel getting lots of "genius" love after this move Sunday.
Here is the sequence. It’s 2nd and 1. Odds of Houston converting either on this down or the next is astronomical. Joseph is confused looking to the sideline and Vrabel is telling him “it’s ok” and then does a sales job to make sure the ref sees it. https://t.co/ZFJzQJC5II pic.twitter.com/EWuOhk5J4U
— Mike Herndon (@MikeMiracles) October 18, 2020
Taking the penalty here killed the clock and saved the Titans likely some 40 seconds of game clock.
I like Vrabel and think he's one of the best young coaches in the game. But I'll go against the grain here and say this is lame. I get it, he exploited a loophole in the rules and used it to his advantage. Good for him. But it's absolutely against the spirit of the rules and the league will most certainly close the loophole for next year. Line up and outcoach and outplay the other team. They've got the talent and intelligence to do that without this kind of fakery.
Vrabel was asked about it directly and gave the lame standard politician non-answer you'd expect. We get enough of that in the real world. I'd love to see the football field be a place where performance determines the outcome.
<p">😂 😂 😂 pic.twitter.com/eM62rylRp8 — Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) October 19, 2020
I'm starting to see talk that Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence should pull an Eli Manning and refuse to play for the Jets if they draft him. It's a fascinating question and I absolutely believe where a player lands matters. A ton. Does anyone think Sam Darnold wouldn't have been more successful in Kansas City or Philadelphia or San Francisco? But it's a risky power move that carries serious baggage. What do you think?
Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger dislocated his shoulder celebrating a home run in the last series.
Did Cody Bellinger dislocate his shoulder? pic.twitter.com/3lH08W7Onq
— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) October 19, 2020
“I hit Kiké’s shoulder a little too hard and my shoulder popped out, so I had to go back in the training room,” Bellinger said on MLB Network. “They popped it back in and I was ready to play some defense. It kinda hurt.
“I’m going to maybe use my left arm [in the future]. I’ve never dislocated that one.”
He's a quick learner though. He hit another home run in Game 1 of the World Series Tuesday night and changed up the celebration.
No shoulder injury this time! 😂
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 21, 2020
Cody Bellinger now using the "foot celebration" after home runs. pic.twitter.com/MIuvRLbaNL
I cannot believe Juju Smith-Schuster doesn't care about your fantasy team...
Juju really had the AUDACITY to get me 3 fantasy points and then post this... pic.twitter.com/CwfzG2hu3e
— broccoli rob (@rmarino22) October 18, 2020
It's almost like he's focused on the Steelers winning or something. Crazy.
Not great, Bob.
<p">pic.twitter.com/O6dYdzKZB5 — Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) October 20, 2020
The Falcons' Social Media Person deserves a raise.
Arizona went up 28-3 in the third quarter Monday night over Dallas.
No need to @ us. We already know... 🙄
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 20, 2020
Coupled with this one.
mood pic.twitter.com/tcOqe94kWA
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 18, 2020
On a serious note, I'm cheering for interim head coach Raheem Morris.
From Sports Illustrated:
“It’s awful for the whole organization, because they lost such a great man in Dan Quinn,” Morris said. “And I lost like a great figure for me, in coaching and everything that I’ve been a part of, in his life and my life. You talk about a guy who coached me in college and did all the things necessary to go out and get wins, and show you how to do it, and absolutely take this team to the highest level. When he got fired, I felt as if I failed him.
“And I let him know that, and he said, ‘No way.’”
And even after the firing, Quinn actually helped Morris behind the scenes. When the team had a second positive COVID-19 test, the two talked through the procedures. As Morris’s first game drew closer, the two had an open dialogue.
“It’s really hard for me to be selfish at this moment because of how many people helped me get to this point, including Dan Quinn. Including Arthur Blank. Including all the coaching staff and all the people that’s involved,” Morris said. “So it’s really hard to think of things personally. But I know it felt so damn good to get a win, man. It’s just an awesome feeling in general.”
Good luck, Coach.
Oh, Daniel Jones...
And to round things out Daniel Jones is STILL trapped inside a J. Crew photoshoot. #TogetherBlue pic.twitter.com/fAzGcJCETr
— Tim Ryan (@TheSportsHernia) October 20, 2020
315-pound guys should not be able to jump like this.
Christian Wilkins clearing dudes at 315 lbs 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/S53oZo3W9P
— Footballism™ (@FootbaIIism) October 19, 2020
And somebody check on Brandon Jones' neck...
I like Stephen A. Smith. And I understand the annoying shtick thing is part of his angle. But this is beyond old.
Was there a game tonight???? pic.twitter.com/iFK1mgQAHl
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) October 20, 2020
But this is a thing...
Cowboys: 2-4
— ESPN (@espn) October 20, 2020
Eagles: 1-4-1
Washington: 1-5
Giants: 1-5
The NFC East has a collective record of 5-18-1 through Week 6 😬 pic.twitter.com/A3HODbOPce
Which means this is a thing...
The Cowboys are still in position to host a playoff game pic.twitter.com/CK6vAIocs9
— Stephen A. Smith Burner (@SASBurnerAcct) October 20, 2020
Can we pump the brakes just a bit on Tua Tagovailoa?
Tua Tagovailoa will create the type of excitement in South Florida that Dan Marino, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade did. He transcends sport. He is a potential megastar. And it’s almost time. It’s happening.
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) October 20, 2020
Before we get to Dan Marino level and "transcend sports", how about we start with being as good as Ryan Fitzpatrick has been. Which is a pretty tall order.
Ryan Fitzpatrick appreciation post. Through six games:
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 20, 2020
🬠1,535 pass yards
🬠12 Total TDs
🬠Dolphins 2nd place in AFC East pic.twitter.com/PopK6nK8Ns
The Rams will be the first team Tagovailoa faces and Aaron Donald had advice for the rookie:
"Hold the ball, don't do too much running, and take them sacks."
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 20, 2020
Aaron Donald had some advice for Tua in his first start against him and the Rams 😂 pic.twitter.com/8PqEznRNcZ
Carson Wentz is way better than he's given credit for. The Eagles gave Baltimore all they wanted Sunday. And they're dealing with this.
The Eagles’ offensive depth chart heading into the season and who was left by the end of Sunday’s game.
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) October 19, 2020
I missed an injury to Jack Driscoll the first time I posted this - they’re even more banged up than I thought pic.twitter.com/zNS1HYRQx6
Music note of the week. Fall puts me in a mood for Blind Pilot. They're not the deepest or the most talented. They just work. This Gillian Welch cover I think is my favorite as it's stripped down enough to showcase them but also just feels comfortable. I hope you like it.
When Patrick Mahomes II or Lamar Jackson do this, we lose our minds.
MATT STAFFORD DROPPING SIDE ARM DARTS 😤 @Lions
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) October 18, 2020
📺 #DETvsJAX on FOX pic.twitter.com/QhAzYYYVH0
Ok then...
The Jaguars will have their fifth kicker of the season today.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) October 18, 2020
The Packers have had a grand total of five kickers attempt a field goal for them since 1989.
Hat Tip to Clayton Gray.
If you needed a visual representation of how much the game has changed...
Single greatest WTF stat I’ve seen today pic.twitter.com/eTZD1q8Zbe
— Todd Fuhrman (@ToddFuhrman) October 18, 2020
Wrapping with this one. I saw this a couple of weeks ago.
Only @russwest44 would be able to truly confirm this, and I doubt he will, but I'm told that he left a $8,000 tip for the Grand Floridian housekeepers when the @HoustonRockets left the NBA bubble.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) October 6, 2020
Moreover, I'm told, he left the room virtually spotless.
I'll be honest. I can't tell you much about Russell Westbrook. I just know he's a famous basketball player. He's a rock star in the sports world. And I'm sure makes a ton of money. But when his stay was up at the hotel, he did something nice for the folks that had been taking care of him and his room.
That's rad.
I don't have the kind of money to drop an $8,000 tip. But I can do other stuff. I can maybe tip the server or Lyft driver a little more than "normal". I can be more patient with the person at the grocery store not moving as quickly as I'd like. I can show the tiniest bit of empathy to the guy who cuts me off in traffic. It's not as dramatic as an $8,000 tip but I can actually do quite a lot.
We all can do a lot. Rock on.
That'll do it for today. Thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Clayton Gray, Drew Davenport, and David Dodds for the help on this one. If you've got a Random Shot of your own, send me an email at bryant@footballguys.com.
Thanks for playing along and 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