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Random Shots From Week 5

Joe Bryant's Random Shots From Week 5
By Joe Bryant, October 11, 2023

Random Shots From Week 5
Photo: USA Today Sports

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 brain 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 more reason to always be leery of statistics...

Jameis Winston continues to be my favorite player. Got that W.

Impressive.

Denver coach Sean Payton lit a fire under the Jets back in July when he talked so poorly of last year's Broncos coach, Paul Hackett.

"It might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL," Payton said of Hackett in July.

Hackett was fired and joined Aaron Rodgers and the Jets as their offensive coordinator.

This game between the Broncos and Jets had been circled for some time. And clearly seemed personal for the Jets.

Payton also spoke about the Jets being "offseason champs" with their time on HBO's Hard Knocks.

Naturally, the Jets had thoughts after the game.

Jets Social Media team went the extra mile, removing all the letters from the "MOTOROLA" headset and leaving just the "L".

It's the details that matter.

Thanks to Dave Kluge for that one.

Ready for the NBA.

Like most people, I'm a little concerned about where Artificial Intelligence will go. But I feel better now.

The Bijan Robinson touchdown was wild enough from the regular angle, but from above, it's filthy.

It's a weird time when Sean Payton and Bill Belichick have arguably the two worst teams in the league.

But this is just mean.

Thanks to Clayton Gray for that one.

Jaylen Warren is one of those guys that can run through people but also over people. He's so fun to watch play.

If games were won or lost on how a team takes the field, Virginia Tech would never lose a game in Blacksburg.

Listen at max volume.

No wonder the Lions are rolling.

Joe Burrow GMs last Sunday Morning...

The England games hit different.

Iowa tight end touchdown Glitch In The Matrix.

Thanks to Matt Carey for that one.

Proof that Math skills don't necessarily translate to Football skills...

Thanks to Bob Henry for that one.

27 was, "Nah".

I know these NASCAR drivers have to stay calm while doing pretty wild things. But Ricky Stenhouse took chill to the next level here.

Just about everything is better with dancing dinosaurs.

The Good News.

The Less Good News. At least for Etienne.

From the Ravens game Sunday.

We all know the internet is for blaming other people. Lamar Jackson apologists spent much of Sunday piecing together video clips of Baltimore receiver drops. And to be fair, there were a lot. Of course the Vikings had a ton of drops too if anyone cares but most people don't.

The reason I posted the Agholor drop was I never pass up a chance to post this classic clip from several years ago where the news interviewed a Philadelphia man who helped rescue kids from a burning building.

I'm starting to think in-game win probability is probably overrated...

Happier times in Pittsburgh.

Sunday night sky in Foxborough...

I tried to think of something funny on this one and can't do any better than Tim Ryan here.

I love the Chiefs. But not going to lie; I get the frustrations from Vikings fans.

In Minneapolis last week...

Miami's Mike McDaniel is the official Random Shots Head Coach.

He was asked about the Dolphins' incredible statistical output, and had this reply:

I so hope my friend Warren Sharp is right and this play is called "Hot Potato".

Adam Rank won't be paying for his drinks in Pittsburgh anytime soon.

And 10 of 10 to the Steelers Social Media Team for the perfect picture.

I'm just going to drop this one right here.

If you didn't see the game, story here.

Ja'Marr Chase told us last week.

And reminded us after the game Sunday.

This one hurt.

Kyle Pitts GMs know this is true...

Shannon Sharpe went on a rant about how good players don't have or need incentives in their contracts because they're expected to be top performers.

Pat McAfee replied, "Aw Buddy, they had incentives all over my contract".

Music Note this week. Going with something recently released for a change. If you have any young people in your life, you know of Boy Genius. They're an "Indie Supergroup" with Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. I had the good fortune to see them perform together way back at the Ryman in Nashville when Julien Baker headlined and Bridgers and Dacus were the opening acts. They're super popular and wildly talented. I love the popular single from the new album, "Not Strong Enough."

Favorite Son Peyton Manning with a shot at my Vols.

I'm no defensive coordinator. But I'm pretty confident in saying you never want a guy wearing #91 in man coverage on Davante Adams.

Falcons fans with a heart stopper Sunday.

Closing with this one.

And this is one of those where I'm talking more to me than to you. The thought I have this week is: "Perspective." Specifically, on keeping the game we love of Fantasy Football and the NFL in perspective.

My grandson was excited last week because his preschool class was scheduled to have a visit from a police officer. Like many little kids, he loves fire trucks and police cars and anything with a siren.

A few days before the visit, the officer was killed while on duty investigating a domestic violence call. The officer was 29 years old and left behind a wife and a 5-year-old son. And that's just one situation in my hometown. Obviously, there are tragic things in lots of places. This week, of course, we've seen international events like the awfulness happening in the Middle East where massive numbers of people are dramatically impacted. Lord have mercy for this broken world.

So I have that on one hand, while in other parts of my life, we're belaboring the "tragedy" of players who'll miss work this year with an injury while drawing a full salary. I'm not making light of football injuries. But for some, me included, a reality check and perspective is needed.

And please let me be super clear: It's okay to be passionate about Football. I love that people are passionate about Football. I have a job because people are passionate about Football.

I just don't want us to lose sight of Perspective and Balance.

With that said, don't dismiss the value of something like Football. And especially Fantasy Football. It provides community and connection and relief and (sometimes) joy in a world that can be heavy. I hope it continues to bring that for and to you. And I promise I'll be more fun next week.

Most of all, thank you for being part of this goofy journey with us.

And thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Jake Bryant and Clayton Gray for the help. If you've got a Random Shot of your own, email me 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

Photos provided by USA TODAY Sports
Tags Fun Timeless Davante Adams Nelson Agholor Tom Brady Joe Burrow Ja'Marr Chase Travis Etienne Jr. Lamar Jackson Van Jefferson Benito Jones Drake London Patrick Mahomes II Kyle Pitts Bijan Robinson Aaron Rodgers Preston Smith Jaylen Warren Jameis Winston

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