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
One of the biggest and most interesting questions this summer was: "How will Tom Brady work in Tampa and how will Cam Newton fare in New England?"
Brady and Bruce Arians have been a mixed bag of production. Newton and Bill Belichick haven't exactly been all roses either.
Peter King noted this week:
"In the first 14 weeks of the NFL season, playing 12 games, New England quarterback Cam Newton has thrown five touchdown passes.
In Newton’s MVP season, 2015, playing for Carolina:
• On Nov. 22, Newton threw five touchdown passes in the span of 27 minutes against Washington.
• On Dec. 6, Newton threw five touchdown passes in the span of 45 minutes against New Orleans.
• On Dec. 20, Newton threw five touchdown passes in the span of 30 minutes against the Giants."
Dang.
I miss Chad Johnson so much.
Chad Johnson used to call Marvin Lewis and Hue Jackson up at 2am, tell 'em that he was open and then hang up. 😂 pic.twitter.com/bmLT3tsSX7
— Kip Smithers ðŸ (@Chughes612) December 8, 2020
I wrote last week about Bill Belichick turning Gunner Olszewski from a Bass Pro Shops cashier into a valuable NFL player. The tweet I shared said Olszewski had never played football and that was an error.
The truth of course is Olszewski played college football for that renowned NFL Player Production Factory, the Division II Bemidji State Beavers of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. That's even better.
I should have seen this coming back in the summer when Olszewski stole the show in the Cam Newton / Julian Edelman workout tweet rocking a Def Leppard shirt and Bass Pro Shops hat.
#Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman "punches clock" and is ready to go. Pictured here from left to right: Jakobi Meyers, Edelman, Cam Newton, Damiere Byrd, N'Keal Harry, Gunner Olszewski (via @Edelman11 on IG). pic.twitter.com/sNVqcFIvsB
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) July 31, 2020
Gunner Olszewski at an NFL workout with Cam Newton is an aspirational look. Few -- if any -- have ever showed to work out with Cam Newton and fellow NFL wide receivers looking like this. pic.twitter.com/lO1kiIpva8
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) July 31, 2020
From TheAthletic: "Newly anointed starter Jalen Hurts is the third-highest-paid Jalen on the roster, behind safety Jalen Mills and receiver Jalen Reagor."
Because I know you folks need to know that kind of thing.
Hat Tip: Maurile Tremblay
Football can be wild sometimes.
I missed the end of the Ball State and Western Michigan game earlier and it is *insanity* pic.twitter.com/D9EW3aoxmL
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 12, 2020
Colin Cowherd has been talking about this and I'm starting to think he's right. The Buccaneers have an incredibly talented roster. Tom Brady's gone from throwing to Julian Edelman and deck chairs to now working with one of the best receiving corps in the league. This feels like a great example of a team vs a collection of great players.
Tom Brady has 4 TD, 4 Int and completed 60% of his passes with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown all on the field this season.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 13, 2020
The Buccaneers are 1-3 when all 4 play. pic.twitter.com/RIQNrXcQw3
Hat Tip: Clayton Gray.
Ferris Bueller's "Life Moves Pretty Fast" moment this week goes to this cornerback, who maybe should have been quiet.
Life came at this DB fast 💀
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 13, 2020
Talked all that trash then got beat for a TD on the next play pic.twitter.com/vryI6altu5
I like Joe Judge but the notification alerts from my buddy Matthew Berry's Fantasy Life app (which you should totally have) coming across my phone saying "Judge said no decision on Daniel Jones..." made me do a double-take thinking Jones was arrested.
This is the glamorous life of a Fantasy Football Writer...
With guys like DK Metcalf walking around looking to be offended by comparisons to other players, I love to see players like A.J. Brown respecting the veterans.
Titans WR A.J. Brown shows respect to Julio Jones with awesome gesture ahead of game vs Falcons. https://t.co/b5KYDHznCo
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) December 13, 2020
Adam Thielen with another example of why playing cornerback is so difficult.
Thielen is too smooth 😳
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 13, 2020
(via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/zdmGs8rJUi
Patrick Mahomes II played college football in Texas. Maybe that's why he does everything big. Even taking a sack.
Jerome Baker sacked Patrick Mahomes II for a 30-yard loss 🤯
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 13, 2020
The Chiefs were faced with 4th and 42.
(via @MiamiDolphins)pic.twitter.com/nSNVTpwfFj
Apparently, Xavien Howard missed the day in football school where they told all the receivers who couldn't catch they had to be defensive backs.
XAVIEN HOWARD IS UNREAL
— ESPN (@espn) December 13, 2020
FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME WITH A PICK 💪
(via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/aBbP6nzpqm
One of the many remarkable things about Patrick Mahomes II is Kansas City can fall behind double digits and nobody seems to mind.
Patrick Mahomes II seeing a 10-point deficit in Miami 😠pic.twitter.com/VEVoOSLujF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 13, 2020
Oh that Larry Fitzgerald...
Larry Fitzgerald's smelling salt prank on Pam Oliver is always funny 😂
— ESPN (@espn) December 16, 2020
(via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/Piqp7LsqG1
I don't know much about the NBA. But lots of us can identify with James Harden apparently having lived his best Quarantine Life.
James Harden in action tonight. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IUoZuRgRRI
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 16, 2020
Cut us some slack, 2020 was tough. We'll be back and ready next month.
Music Note This Week is Brent Cobb. His "Black Crow" is one of my favorites from him. It's soulful and comfortable but has an edge I love. I hope you like it too.
The Weekly "Peanut Tillman Is Smiling" note goes to Byron Jones.
Byron Jones punched it out 👊 @Byron31Jump @MiamiDolphins
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 13, 2020
📺 #KCvsMIA on CBS pic.twitter.com/hpgEYDP5Or
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs caused a stir Sunday morning when he posted on his Instagram story he wasn't playing.
Josh Jacobs is active, but he says on his Instagram story he's not playing. pic.twitter.com/Rc1FUeDhsc
— ESPN Fantasy Sports (@ESPNFantasy) December 13, 2020
Then he told us what we could do with our Fantasy Football teams with "OWELL 🖕YO FANTASY." I think The Dude had the right response.
Before Sunday's game, Josh Jacobs said on Instagram he wasn't playing and then added "OWELL 🖕YO FANTASY."
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 15, 2020
Ok then. pic.twitter.com/tBsR4cS4ZK
This of course sent everyone scrambling before lineups locked. Turns out, Jacobs was just trolling.
Looking at his stat line after the game, we probably should have believed him when he said he wasn't playing...
Steve Kornacki was back on Sunday Night Football and he crushed it again. Even with tech difficulties.
The outcome of #PITvsBUF has big playoff implications in the AFC. @NBCNews' @SteveKornacki gets us all caught up on the playoff picture at the big board! pic.twitter.com/xGVgQktyYv
— Sunday Night Football (@SNFonNBC) December 14, 2020
Bill Belichick. Still a National Treasure.
Are you going to stick with Cam Newton next week?
— Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) December 11, 2020
Bill Belichick: "Great question. Really glad you asked that. Cam's our quarterback."
Why not go to Jarrett Stidham? What has Cam showed you to stick by him?
Belichick: "He's our quarterback. I think I just answered that one."
The video is even better.
Lamar Jackson left the game with "cramps". I know that run. You probably do too. That's not cramps.
Because that’s how everyone runs with “cramps”. pic.twitter.com/GpUchE3LjE
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 15, 2020
Robert Griffin III III knows what's up.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/JFatUvzlsh
— Robert Griffin III III (@RGIII) December 15, 2020
The Florida Shoe has yet to land.
The shoe Marco Wilson threw has yet to actually land
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) December 13, 2020
(Video via @kennthdavid) #LSUvsUF pic.twitter.com/JptAlDFuaI
I loved the referee specifically announcing, "Throwing the LSU player’s shoe 20 yards down the field."
If you thought it couldn't get any better, you were wrong.
Florida coach Dan Mullen doubled down calling the shoe-throwing "part of the football move".
"He made the tackle", Mullen said during a teleconference with reporters to preview Saturday’s SEC title game against No. 1 Alabama. "Part of the football move, the kid’s shoe is in his hand. He kind of threw it and jumped and celebrated with his teammates.
"It’s pretty unfortunate in that situation. I don’t think there was any intent to taunt, and there wasn’t — it’s not like he was throwing it at their sideline or doing any of that."
Unfortunately for Mullen, the games are televised. Meaning other people saw what happened.
I don't know the details of how they coach at Florida, but I've never seen a "football move" like that.
Sometimes this thing writes itself.
Nickelodeon Meets The NFL.
Can. Not. Wait.
SpongeBob, Slime, and Googly Eyes, @NFLonCBS and @Nickelodeon will present the NFL like you’ve NEVER seen it before on Wild Card Weekend.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 15, 2020
Details on the January 10 broadcast here: https://t.co/NK00FW2vsN pic.twitter.com/x3wf1dqaIk
Here's the final play from the Baltimore-Cleveland Game:
(:02) (Shotgun) B.Mayfield pass short middle to K.Hunt to CLV 27 for 2 yards. FUMBLES, recovered by CLV-R.Higgins at CLV 27. R.Higgins to CLV 21 for -6 yards. Lateral to B.Mayfield to CLV 15 for -6 yards. FUMBLES, recovered by CLV-J.Landry at CLV 12. J.Landry to CLV 19 for 7 yards. Lateral to R.Higgins to CLV 19 for no gain (P.Queen). FUMBLES (P.Queen), recovered by CLV-K.Hunt at CLV 18. K.Hunt to CLV 16 for -2 yards. Lateral to R.Higgins to CLV 0 for -16 yards. FUMBLES, recovered by CLV-J.Landry at CLV 0. J.Landry pushed ob in End Zone, SAFETY (M.Humphrey).
Dang.
If you've been following Random Shots you know Baker Mayfield's been killing the post-game interviews.
Last week, he gave us the Dwight Schrute quote.
Baker Mayfield, asked what's different with him vs. last year: "Whenever I'm about to do something, I think, 'Would an idiot do that?' And if they would, then I don't do that." #Browns @rainnwilson @theofficetv pic.twitter.com/pHepwAivzW
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 6, 2020
God Bless The Office.
Case solved. From USA Today:
"Was it one of those Jimmy Fallon “throw in some funny lines” segments? Mayfield just trying to have some fun after a victory?
Not quite. It turns out it has something to do with the Browns’ quarterbacks room. Mayfield spoke to ESPN’s Keyshawn Johnson earlier in the week and got the answer: “There’s a thing going on in the QB room that I have to slide in a certain quote or there’s a fine I have to pay.”
I love the Bills and this young team is clearly a Super Bowl contender.
But I'm with Mary Kay Cabot on the all-red uniforms.
The #Bills look so nice in their Christmas morning onesies.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 14, 2020
2020.
So Jonathan Taylor went from being a dynasty stud in August....to being slow hot trash w/TRich vision in weeks 8, 9 & 10 and a complete bust as a top 3 rookie pick....to being the greatest rookie RB to ever play the game.
— Leo P (@Ciga_FF) December 14, 2020
Fantasy twitter swings like a barnyard fence in a tornado
The more I see people talk about the College Football Playoff, the more I appreciate the NFL.
The Playoff Committee trying to rationalize putting 3 two loss teams in front of Cincinnati and only dropping Florida one spot @CincyProblems #CFBPlayoff #Bearcats pic.twitter.com/zUsj6ZQNXH
— Sam Campbell (@js_camp36) December 16, 2020
Wrapping with this one as I think this is an interesting situation. If you know me, you know I preach forgiveness and grace.
With that said, Myles Garrett is the Browns nominee for the Walter Payton Man Of The Year award. Twelve months after the helmet swinging incident.
I preach forgiveness and grace. Where does that balance with consequences? Myles Garrett is nominated for Walter Payton Man Of The Year. 12 months after this. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/yq7v19dLmH
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 16, 2020
I'm torn on this. On one hand, Garrett seems like he does a ton of excellent work off the field. The kind of stuff you expect to see from someone nominated for the award. Secondly and more importantly, Garrett paid a hefty price. He lost over a million dollars in game checks when he was suspended without pay.
On the other hand, people are saying it's one thing to be allowed back to play but they're asking how soon is too soon to be put on a pedestal for Man Of The Year?
I truly don't know where I am on this. I'm wrestling with it and thought I'd share with you as you may wrestle with it too. Feel free to email me how you see it.
For how it applies to you and me, we may not have situations this dramatic in our real lives where we're asked to weigh forgiveness and grace. But we have opportunities all the time with likely smaller offenses.
I'll say this, in the situations that do come up, I'd humbly ask you to consider leaning towards extending more grace and forgiveness, not less.
I'll also say this - Freely extending grace and forgiveness often isn't my natural inclination. (And yes, by "often isn't", I mean "usually isn't"...) If someone wrongs me, my natural first thought isn't letting them off the hook. It's "How can I be even". It's making sure they "get theirs" so they can know they didn't get anything over on me. It's like there's some cosmic scorecard checking the balance. Or we get into the "bargain" thing where I'll give grace here as long as the other person gives me grace where I need it.
Let's be honest. That's exhausting.
Grace isn't conditional. If it were, it wouldn't be grace.
I've got news for you. The universe won't break if you let someone off the hook. I'm also going to guess you'll find freedom in worrying about your own business and forgetting about keeping score.
Off the soapbox there.
Rock on.
Thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Clayton Gray, David Dodds, and Maurile Tremblay for the help on this one. If you've got a Random Shot of your own, send me an e-mail 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