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
Ryan Fitzpatrick is a National Treasure.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was wearing his shorts extra short at practice today as a tribute to recently traded WR Isaiah Ford, who wore his pants like that in practice.
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 4, 2020
(via @ruthiepolinsky) pic.twitter.com/X34l63jKDk
I could probably end this one right there.
Lots of people wish for the "good old days". I get it. They're nostalgic.
I like the old stuff too but I think I have the opposite of nostalgia as I usually think whatever I'm into right now is the best. It's a fun way to look at the world. I'm pretty self-aware and I know I lean this way so I have to check myself. On that angle, I think we're experiencing the best quarterback play in the history of the league. Especially young quarterbacks. I remember when Peyton Manning was able to play as a rookie and we thought it was incredible. Now it's just expected. I asked a poll here on Twitter and you can still vote. Let me know what you think.
Franchise QB Talk. Which Quarterback would you rather have for the next 10 years on your team?
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) November 4, 2020
And just for fun, I asked the same question but with a five-year window.
5-year window franchise QB Talk. Which Quarterback would you rather have for the next 5 years on your team?
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) November 4, 2020
And here's a bonus take. I like Justin Herbert more than Trevor Lawrence. I know he's the next "generational" talent and all that. Justin Herbert looks like a thicker Lawrence to me. I love this guy.
Everyone got an extra hour of sleep Saturday night, right?
“We get an extra hour of sleep tonight!!!”
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) November 1, 2020
Kids wake up at 5am instead of 6am... pic.twitter.com/OIg2DfR82e
I have no idea how the Rams held Miami to just 28 points after this...
Dolphins by a 100 today... https://t.co/zYfNQHK7Sm
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) November 1, 2020
Seriously, he played ok. Not great. But it was a fine first start.
Hitting the Griddy after his first touchdown was nice.
Tua hits the Griddy after scoring his first career TD 😂
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 1, 2020
(via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/vHbyTmWKhQ
And this was before the Sunday games...
Rob Gronkowski has many receiving touchdowns in the last 2 weeks (2) as all Patriots tight ends have combined in 2 seasons since his departure.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) November 1, 2020
Tangent: If you like sportsbooks, The Dynasty by Jeff Benedict is fantastic. It's about the Patriots and I've found it fascinating. I "think" I know what the Patriots are doing now as they reboot for the future but I'd love to have the kind of behind the scenes access today that Benedict brings in the book for the past years. I'm just about two-thirds of the way through right now and it's great. And you don't have to be a Patriots fan to enjoy it.
Not that you need a reminder, but these guys are not normal.
Get Nyheim Hines in the Olympics 😂 @TheNyNy7 @Colts
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 1, 2020
📺 #INDvsDET on CBS pic.twitter.com/bI3Nx2HpEf
Colts Fans:
All of Colts Nation rates this a 10/10 #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/UQ8pR0JA7s
— NYHIEM HINES STAN ACCT (5-2) (@AlcatrazHero) November 1, 2020
It was windy for the Raiders Brown game.
The wind for the Raider - Browns game was wild 💨
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 1, 2020
📺 #LVvsCLE on FOX pic.twitter.com/6gzV5pG3FU
Let's not kid ourselves. That was just a cheap intro into the NFL Films classic clip narrated by John Facenda. If you're like me, you fell in love with the NFL during this period.
The Autumn Wind is a pirate
Blustering in from sea,
With a rollicking song, he sweeps along,
Swaggering boisterously.
His face is weather beaten.
He wears a hooded sash,
With a silver hat about his head,
And a bristling black mustache.
He growls as he storms the country,
A villain big and bold.
And the trees all shake and quiver and quake,
As he robs them of their gold.
The Autumn Wind is a raider,
Pillaging just for fun.
He'll knock you 'round and upside down,
And laugh when he's conquered and won.
Minnesota cornerback Mark Fields II suffered a punctured lung from another player's cleats on Sunday.
You read that right.
From Twincities.com
The cornerback’s father, former two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Mark Fields, wrote in a text message that the injury should keep his son out until around late November.
“The wide receiver’s shoes punctured Mark’s lung,” he wrote in the message, referring to Packers wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown. “Looks like two-to-three weeks to heal, could not fly back with team. Has to stay in (Green Bay) until (Monday). Someone from the organization will be driving him back (Monday).”
Dang.
Fun moment from Saturday. ESPN's Joe Tessitore called the Boston College at Clemson game and his son, John Tessitore ran a fake field goal play to draw Clemson offside.
An amazing moment â¤ï¸@JoeTessESPN got to call his son, John, drawing Clemson offside. pic.twitter.com/GJvqxpNrC4
— ESPN (@espn) October 31, 2020
If Patrick Mahomes II made this throw, we'd still be talking about it. When Ben DiNucci throws it and the WR runs out of bounds, it's "garbage". Nobody said this would be fair.
this is amazing garbage pic.twitter.com/F3fECA4ECd
— nick pants (@stnap_kcin) November 2, 2020
What. Just. Happened. My favorite was 71 doing the Strong Man Keg Toss to whoever.
laksjdflkasdjflksdfkl
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 31, 2020
What. Just. Happened. 😱 pic.twitter.com/4SjoykoCPT
Music Note for the Week.
Last week's ZZ Top shot seemed to resonate. I love the "Here's a less popular old cut from a Mega Band." Especially when it's bluesy. The Rolling Stones naturally came to mind.
The Rolling Stones cover of Willie Dixon's and Howlin' Wolf's "Little Red Rooster" is a classic. This was from the Ed Sullivan Show in 1965.
Four years later, they released "Let It Bleed", easily one of my all-time favorite albums.
Here's Robert Johnson's "Love in Vain" from 1937.
And the Rolling Stones from 1969. Granted, they had the luxury and benefit of much better instruments and recording technology than Robert Johnson three decades earlier, but this is gorgeous.
I love how they were always clear to point to the originals.
The Stones’ 45 is the only blues single ever to have topped the British charts. Said Mick Jagger: “The reason we recorded Little Red Rooster isn’t because we want to bring blues to the masses. We’ve been going on and on about blues, so we thought it was about time we stopped talking and did something about it.”
I'll never shed a tear for the teasips at texas university, but I can see why Oklahoma State with the vertical yellow posts on the jumbotron behind the goalposts was busted. That's a genius move though. Blatant. But genius.
Oklahoma State tried to get Texas to miss a field goal by putting up yellow lines on the video board pic.twitter.com/2Kkb7vZs1F
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) October 31, 2020
Major League Baseball announced their Gold Glove winners Tuesday night at 8:00 PM Eastern. Who makes that decision? I mean, seriously?
Tampa Bay TE Rob Gronkowski was asked about what made the back shoulder fade connection with Brady special.
He said,
“It’s like a saying my mom used to say: It must be maple syrup because butter don’t drizzle like that,” Gronkowski said. “You don’t got much time to react and syrup drizzles. You gotta make that play. A stick of butter, it’s a block. You gotta put it in the microwave to melt it. That just takes too long. You gotta make that play right away, baby, and that’s why I’m like the maple syrup. That’s why she always used to say that, because I’m quick with it. I just drizzle all over the place.”
.@RobGronkowski was asked about back-shoulder fades with Tom Brady.
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 28, 2020
So naturally, he started talking about his mom, butter and maple syrup 🥞😂 @JennaLaineESPN pic.twitter.com/iuKVfm2XmM
100% chance Gronkowski's getting drug tested this week.
D.J. Chark with the feel-good story of the week.
God blessed me to be able to marry my first true love! You met a 17 year old freshman in desperate need of braces, with no swag, and a childish mentality and stuck by him no matter what! pic.twitter.com/hbYdwjEOQX
— DJ Chark (@DJChark82) October 28, 2020
Hat Tip: Clayton Gray.
Football isn't complicated. Protect your quarterback and put pressure on their QB. Here's an illustration of how bad the NFC East has been.
Highest Team Pressure Rate Allowed (this season)
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 28, 2020
32) Giants - 43.4%
31) Cowboys - 35.0%
30) Vikings - 33.9%
29) Jets - 33.3%
28) Eagles - 31.9%
Three of the five teams are in the NFC East.
Another huge point is to protect the football. Turnovers kill. Daniel Jones with an illustration.
Daniel Jones now has 12 games since the start of last season with multiple turnovers, 3 more than any other player in that span. pic.twitter.com/fHqyQ8raVg
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 3, 2020
At least we know it wasn't Philip Rivers' fault all these years...
The Chargers' blown leads in the past four games:
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 2, 2020
17 points - L
17 points - L
16 points - W
21 points - L pic.twitter.com/VAeqLz970T
These guys make a lot of money.
These guys earn a lot of money.
Aaron Rodgers with the latest example.
When they build the D.J. Wonnum statue someday, here’s the image pic.twitter.com/x9dnYLUr3y
— Zack Pierce (@ZPathletic) November 1, 2020
Dalvin Cook is BACK.
I'm not sure what's more impressive from Dalvin Cook. That he's averaging 102 yards per carry. Or that he's scored 7 TDs on 5 rushes. HT: Adam Sayre pic.twitter.com/g5Sp7CyLJN
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) November 2, 2020
Here's why great cornerbacks are worth the money.
Helluva route from Brandon Aiyuk on the goal-line.
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) November 2, 2020
Juked Quinton Dunbar out of his shoes....he’s turning into WR1 on this squad. pic.twitter.com/1nmE7X54H2
Wrapping with this one.
His dad died last year and was a huge Dodgers fan.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 1, 2020
With his dad’s hat and shirt in his hand, he watched them win the World Series and was immediately brought to tears ðŸ™
(via mayrak85/TikTok) pic.twitter.com/0jrnhCIhKJ
I get that sports are just a game. But sports are a connection. And that's important. I could write a bunch more words but I'm not sure they're necessary. This video clip isn't about the Dodgers. It's not about baseball really. It's about connection. And that's a good thing. Rock on.
That'll do it for today. Thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Clayton Gray, Adam Sayre, 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