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
Move over Gardner Minshew. Mason Rudolph is the new Random Shots QB1.
Winking at Jadeveon Clowney before taking the first snap is our kind of move.
During Thursday night's game, Tom Brady tweeted: "I'm turning off this game I can't watch these ridiculous penalties anymore #TENvsJAC"
I responded with what all you guys were thinking...
Oh, Philly.
Never change.
Nelson Agholor handled this with class and invited the man to their next game. But don't let that get in the way of the moment.
Thanks to Footballguy David Dodds for that one.
Sometimes the game is bigger than the game. Rock on, Ezra Castro aka Pancho Billa.
And props to his son for continuing the tradition.
It's an interesting time in the NFL for quarterbacks. Especially young quarterbacks.
This led to a discussion this week where my long time (and super smart) buddy Chase Stuart said he felt it's never been easier to play QB in the NFL than it is today. I don't think I agree.
I asked Twitter here and you can see the results:
But I'm way more interested in your take. What do you think?
Thoughts and Prayers for Miami Fans still.
And same for Washington fans.
Although Miami fans have to deal with this reality.
Not sure which is worse.
I understand the fun with Gardner Minshew and all. But this is how you like to see your QB go to work.
Stefon Diggs with major points for the Chucky cleats as the Vikings faced Jon Gruden.
Unfortunately, my league doesn't award points for cool cleats.
In my league, Diggs is the 66th ranked WR thus far...
According to our friends at Helmet Addict, the Bills stadium is the only NFL Stadium with a cemetery on site.
Because I know you need to know these types of things.
If you want to know even more, here's an interesting article with more detail.
Futbolguys Note Of The Week.
This goalie was working.
I know lots of teams do things off the field for the community. But it seems the Texans are consistently going above and beyond. Well done.
If you've read this column before, you've likely seen me call out a fun moment from a Bill Belichick press conference. He often is impatient with dumb or out of line questions.
This question wasn't dumb.
This question wasn't out of line.
And this wasn't very fun.
Boston.com reports a potential explanation:
On a recent episode of his podcast, “The GM Shuffle,” former NFL general manager (and ex-Patriots assistant) Michael Lombardi guessed as to the circumstances that made Belichick upset.
“He doesn’t have to do a pregame interview,” Lombardi theorized. “He grants that, right? So I’m sure he probably said to CBS — he did a favor for them — [he said] ‘I’ll do it, as long as we don’t talk about Antonio Brown.’ This is just Michael Lombardi guessing, and I’m not shilling for Bill Belichick because he’s my friend, but I’ve seen that look before, and that look was, ‘I thought we covered this.'”
“That look was, “‘I thought we went over this,'” Lombardi reiterated. “And we didn’t. And then that question came up.”
Lombardi questioned the logic behind Belichick even doing the interview in the first place, concurring with Jacobson about the line of questioning.
“I don’t know why he agreed to do it. Dana Jacobson, if she has him, she has to ask the question,” Lombardi said.
“But, there had to be a reason, because I’ve seen that stare before and I think he was crossed up, and I think that stare was, ‘You said one thing, and this happened.’ Again, this is just my opinion based on what I saw.”
Check out the arm on Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
This was a live look in on quarterback Kirk Cousins watching Diggs from the sidelines...
Look out Patrick Mahomes II. My buddy Adam Schefter is on your heels...
Here's a nice story. After a wild journey, Ryan Leaf's made a fantastic comeback working, among other things, as a game analyst. Rock on, Ryan Leaf.
Thanks to Footballguy Clayton Gray for that one.
What do you know. The people who work as professionals picking players for the Giants might actually not be idiots. Even wilder, they might even know more than the keyboard warriors ripping their character to shreds the last six months.
Amazing.
Did McCaffrey actually wave goodbye here? Please tell me yes. If no, I don't want to hear it.
I say we go back to the old Tear-Aways.
Kyle Juszczyk is tough to tackle.
He's also some 30 plus pounds heavier than those defensive backs. So let's not get too carried away.
It's the same thing with Lamar Jackson.
Kansas City's Alex Okafor found himself Sunday in the unfortunate position of trying to tackle Jackson in the wide-open field sprinting toward the sideline.
Alex Okafor is a 6'4" 261-pound defensive end.
As you'd expect, the much smaller and more nimble Jackson made him look silly. But the hot take is "Jackson out here stealing souls".
Thankfully, scientists have finally discovered the spot.
Study Finds Only Safe Place To Tackle Football Players Is 4-Inch Area On Right Thigh
PALO ALTO, CA—In light of a troubling number of major injuries in the NFL this season, a new study published Monday by the Stanford University Sports Medicine Center revealed that the only safe part of the body to tackle a football player is a 4-inch portion of the right thigh. “Our findings showed players have a substantially higher risk of incurring critical, sometimes permanent damage when receiving a hit anywhere outside this 10-centimeter-square area of the upper right leg,” said lead researcher Dr. Mark Domianci, explaining that regardless of age or level, all football players should avoid direct contact to the head, neck, chest, back, shoulders, arms, abdomen, hips, knees, shins, and ankles. “Given how much bigger, faster, and stronger today’s athletes are becoming, the only way to prevent serious head trauma, high-grade muscle tears, bone fractures, or spinal injuries is by ensuring players target this small region of the right thigh when delivering a hit. Tackling anywhere else on the body—even just a few inches from this area—is extremely dangerous for both players involved.” Domianci went on to recommend that as a general rule, no one should ever play the sport of football under any circumstances.
UPDATE:
When reached for comment, an NFL spokesperson assured reporters that the league would take this new study into account while implementing an 18-game regular season.
I know Daniel Jones is good. But seriously Tampa Bay, make him work a little harder.
This has to be the most bittersweet image for Giants Fans.
Yeah, this is all pretty much how we saw things going this year...
Aaron Donald is a problem.
And I'm not sure there are many answers.
Who knew the kid in the old Cam Newton Play 60 commercials was Kyle Allen...
This is some way to start a career.
What in the world was happening with the Aaron Rodgers' conehead helmet Sunday?
Still not as good as this one though.
Hat Tip: Green Bay Packers Facebook
It's easy to become numb to the incredible athleticism on display every game. Some of the things they do on relatively routine plays are mind-boggling.
We have GPS monitoring on players to tell how many miles an hour they're running at top speed. But this is still how we spot the football.
On the flip side, he got it right which is what matters when it's all said and done.
I know I may not be in the majority, but I like the current system we have. The blend of human decision with replay technology feels just about right.
Maybe less Phil Collins and more seeing the wide-open Jarvis Landry?
Just a thought.
Tom Brady out there throwing blocks with a 23 point lead.
Patrick Mahomes II is a little more than half his age and he's going a different route.
This is what's known as a "business decision".
From the "How To Be A Supportive Co-Worker" Department.
Be more like George Kittle:
And less like Jabril Peppers...
To be fair, Alec Ogletree had slowed because he strained a hamstring.
Speaking of George Kittle, he's making a strong push for Random Shots Player Of The Week.
I'd hate to be the player busting my coach's nose open with a football.
I mentioned earlier how Stefon Diggs' cool shoes didn't earn me any fantasy points and he was the 66th ranked WR after a few weeks.
He can be the 166th ranked WR and he's still my guy.
Rock on, Stefon Diggs.
Seriously, how can you not love Frank Gore?
Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey wants to be traded. He called in sick Monday with the "flu".
The Internet reacted...
The Athletic tweeted out this stat comparing Troy Aikman to Patrick Mahomes II.
A salty Troy Aikman replied:
Probably better to just let that go Troy...
But I understand the sentiment. I love Patrick Mahomes II. Everyone loves Patrick Mahomes II. But I'll be honest, I'm a little over guys like Ryan Clark putting him in Canton already.
Clark lost me when he put Zion Williams and Michael Jordan in the same group.
Which is exactly my point.
Live look in on Case Keenum Monday Night...
This is what it's like to be a Washington fan in one video:
And one picture:
Hat Tip: dj_johnny_dangerous
Music note this week is a familiar band if you're a Random Shots regular.
The Avett Brothers have been my guys for a long time. And Salvation Song is one of my favorite songs from them and this is one of my favorite versions.
And I would give up everything
And if you were to come up clean
And see you shine so bright in a world of woe
And they may pay us off in fame
But that is not why we came
And if it compromises truth then we will go
We came for salvation
We came for family
We came for all that's good that's how we'll walk away
We came to break the bad
We came to cheer the sad
We came to leave behind the world a better way
Yeah. I'm down with that.
Few stars go out with a Championship like John Elway or Peyton Manning. Most go out on the path it appears Eli Manning is now on.
There's still a ways to go but it looks like he's handling it with the class you'd expect from him.
Fan: "You know, you could probably call holding on every play."
Refs: "Ok".
Nothing to see here. Just Vontaze Burfict randomly punching dudes.
I'm shocked by this.
More Lamar Jackson reaction I just don't get.
He threw up a prayer with a terrible play that should have been easily intercepted.
Yet the reaction is:
I understand bias and homers and all that. But this seems wild to me.
Another play where the world seemed stunned a 255-pound guy ran over a 200-pound guy.
Jake Fromm State Farm.
Well played, Internet. Well played.
Thanks to Footballguys David Dodds, Bob Henry and Michael Scott for that one.
I love it when a plan comes together...
Thanks to Footballguy Jason Wood for that one.
Wrapping with this one. Our friend Clue Heywood asked a good question on Twitter Monday afternoon:
If you know me, you know I answered with one of my favorite stories. And one I tell here often.
Heading into the last day, a doubleheader, of the 1941 baseball season, 23-year-old Ted Williams' batting average was .39955. He could have sat out the meaningless last two games of the last day and his average would have rounded to the hallowed .400 mark.
From the sabr.org article: "In his autobiography, My Turn At Bat, Williams recalls Joe Cronin telling him, 'You don’t have to be put in if you don’t want to. You’re officially .400.' Ted reports his reaction: 'Well, God, that hit me like a ***damn lightning bolt! What do you mean I don’t have to play today?'"
But you probably know the story. Williams put his .400 mark at risk and played. Both games. And went 6 for 8 finishing the year at .406.
That's badass.
How that applies to you and me is simple. I feel pretty safe in saying we're not going to hit .400 in the majors. But we all get to walk to the plate every day and take some swings. Take yours.
Thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Clayton Gray, David Dodds, Bob Henry, Jason Wood and Michael Scott 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
