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
Thanksgiving Dinner advice and the Music Note. Family Gatherings can be tough sometimes as everyone has different opinions and beliefs. Just remember, one thing Unites Us All...
God Bless Adele.
A live look in on the Jaguars defense trying to stop Tennessee...
Houston's linebackers were not playing around.
I know it was cold and rainy in New England. But does Ezekiel Elliott really need a beach towel here?
Moms are the best.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn't pull any punches with Mason Rudolph.
When asked why the team's going to Devlin Hodges, Tomlin firmly said, "He has not killed us."
This seems funny (unless you're Mason Rudolph) but I don't think Tomlin is trying to be funny here. Every team asks their quarterback to do certain things. Some teams like Kansas City or Baltimore ask their quarterback to dazzle and carry the team. Other teams simply need a quarterback to execute the game plan and not hurt them. That's what the Steelers are asking here and we'll see if Hodges can do what Rudolph could not.
Tom Brady: "Everyone who says Patriots get the advantages. I don’t know about that."
Everyone:
And...
I'm no defensive coordinator. But you might want to put a guy on DeAndre Hopkins.
Just saying.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is a National Treasure.
Truth.
DeAndre Hopkins. Still kind of ridiculous.
Want to know what great coaching (and a Hall of Fame QB) look like?
This:
Bill Belichick is living out the old Bear Bryant line: "He can take his and beat yours. And he can take yours and beat his".
At 6'4" and 347 pounds, Vita Vea qualifies as a "Big Target".
Oh, Cleveland...
Thanks to Footballguy Clayton Gray for that one.
Just like they drew it up...
Thanks to Footballguy David Dodds for that one.
Ref out there killing it with the Al Bundy.
Ryan Tannehill continues to be exhibit A for "Let's try that backup QB".
Kalif Raymond approves.
And do not underestimate this kind of effort.
With some bonus class by Marcus Mariota.
Rob Gronkowski put a serious dent in turtleneck sales everywhere this season.
Derrick Henry wins this week's "Things Change Fast" award.
We shouldn't be surprised though.
Henry when he sees Jacksonville on the schedule...
Here's one thing that hasn't changed...
Josh Norman out there bringing his A-Game...
Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins missed the kneel down because he was celebrating with fans taking selfies.
To the surprise of no one, Joe Theismann was unhappy. He tweeted: "How do miss the last snap of a game because ur taking selfies. That’s unprofessional & wrong." (There's totally a joke to be made on the "ur unprofessional" but I'll leave it be.)
I'm pretty generous with young players after their first big win. Of course, he should've been more aware. He said he thought the game was over.
Clearly, Haskins was emotional after the win.
I'd say chalk it up to being excited. And don't let it happen again.
And keep winning. Winning solves a lot of things.
The Eagles were trailing by 14 points in the fourth quarter with 9:38 left in the game when they were gifted with an unforced fumble.
After which they proceeded to run to the endzone for pictures.
Sometimes this thing just writes itself.
Gardner Minshew feeling like most of the Jacksonville fanbase...
New England. You're kind of ridiculous too.
Frank Gore with some nice words after passing Barry Sanders on the all-time rushing list.
Gerald McCoy is a Christian McCaffrey believer.
I have no idea if undrafted rookie quarterback Devlin Hodges will be anything more than a stop-gap answer for the Steelers. But he fits right in.
Plus, he's fun.
And fun guys make writing Random Shots easier. Which I'm all for.
Not all heroes wear capes.
Someone call Doug Pederson...
I know I go back and forth on this. But here's DK Metcalf with the latest vote in favor of hurdling.
One more for the "tons of people were doing "The Dak" before Dak.
In uncertain times, it's nice to know there's something you can count on.
49ers have their swag back.
I think Deebo Samuel's always had it.
I know Emmanuel Sanders has.
Family Tree.
Tom Herman is AMPED.
Amped to go 6-5...
Stephon Gilmore is pretty good...
Oh, Julian...
Tom Brady after the Cowboys game:
Like many of you, I've been watching football a long time.
I'm not one of those "Back in my day..." grumpy old guys. But I do love the old pictures. Footballguys Tech Guru Keith Overton does too and he sent me this one.
Thank you, Keith.
I don't want to be pessimistic, and I'm all about things like this breaking a streak. But the practical side of me says I hope this guy has a pretty open calendar...
Thanks to Footballguy Clayton Gray for that one.
Richard Sherman for some reason felt the need to defend his quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from imaginary criticism:
“You hear some of the noise and things said about him, and it’s frustrating, because we see him every day. We see what kind of work ethic he puts in, the hours he puts in preparing — the first one in, the last one out. The guy looks for no credit. All he does is encourage his teammates and put more work in.
“And then you have people nit-picking. We run for 300 yards, and they’re like, ‘Well, he didn’t throw a lot.’ We ran for 300 yards! You know, then he throws for 400, and they’re like, ‘Well, I think he got out-played by Kyler Murray.’ And Kyler Murray barely had 100 yards passing. And you start to laugh at these things, but you’re like, the goalposts keep moving with him.
“And the one thing you can appreciate — and I’ve said this before — you can appreciate being good enough that people got to make excuses for why you’re good. He’s a good enough quarterback that people have to make excuses, they have to move the bar.
“…What else can the guy do? He’s helping his team win.”
Everyone responded:
Garoppolo had a rough preseason and a terrible game against Seattle. But he's been mostly good to very good this season. A couple of weeks ago, some people were excited enough to try and force him into the MVP conversation. He's a good quarterback on a great team.
I understand trying to fabricate the "Us against the world" thing. But this is kind of comical.
This year has been a sweet one for the Big Man Touchdowns.
Nick Bosa is a problem
Wrapping with a thought on the value of food.
We have Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas dinner at our house. We do pot luck style with my Dad and Step-Mom bringing most of the food. She's a great cook. My Mom and Step-Father (I call him Pop) also always join us. My Mom and Dad divorced almost 50 years ago. It's not weird.
My Mom always made a Sweet Potato Casserole. It wasn't particularly special or unique. Like a million other Better Homes and Gardens type recipes. Sweet Potatoes, Half and Half, Sugar and Vanilla with a Marshmallow topping.
The last few holidays, as my Mom's health declined, bringing that Sweet Potato Casserole was about all she could contribute. And that was of course great. It wasn't about the food.
This will be the first Thanksgiving I believe in my 55 years that she won't be with me for dinner.
I'm going to try and make her Sweet Potato Casserole.
It's a big deal.
I love how food is so much more than just fuel for our bodies. It's a zillion times bigger. So in some ways, it sort of is about the food. Because sometimes food and memories are all we have left.
And I don't want that to sound sad. I'm thankful.
Rock on, Mom.
My hope and prayer for you today is you have reason to be thankful too.
Thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Clayton Gray, David Dodds, and Daniel Simpkins 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
