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Random Shots From Week 1

Joe Bryant's Random Shots From Week 1
By Joe Bryant, September 11, 2024

A look at the fun and sometimes humorous events from last week's action.

Random Shots From Week 1
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

It's On.

Me (and probably you) Sunday Morning.

Another year. Another draft in my beloved local league, THE LEAGUE. 

[Stepping on the Soapbox...]

I love the big fantasy football contests. I love the NFFC leagues, with their killer Primetime High Stakes leagues and the $350 entry mid-level leagues. Nigel Eccles, co-founder of FanDuel is a good friend, and I'm an early investor in Underdog. I love all that.

But the regular local Home League has always been and will always be the backbone and foundation of fantasy football for me.

And therefore, it'll be the foundation and focus of Footballguys.

The smack talk, community, and camaraderie are the heart and soul of this industry, and it'll always be at the forefront of how I think of Fantasy Football. All the other ways to play are great. But they're all in addition to the Home League.

Friends enjoying each other and enjoying football always has been what I love about Fantasy Sports. And yeah, this is what I said last year. My guess is I'll say it next year too. The big stuff is fun. But the Home Leagues are where my heart's at. And where Footballguys will be.

And yes, you need a Draft Local shirt. It's where I'm steering Footballguys.

[Off the Soapbox]

If a fantasy football season were 9 seconds like this video, we're about half a second in.

But so far, this feels pretty accurate.

Make sure to have the sound on.

In case you've forgotten during the "offseason", my friend Adam with a reminder on how to play Fantasy Football:

The Notre Dame inclusion got me...

Caleb Williams Sunday.

When linemen dream...

And talk about pressure on that receiver. He'd never live it down if he didn't pull that one in.

First, Brock Purdy.

Now Jordan Mason.

I feel like Kyle Shanahan is just showing off now.

 

Bills fans are built different.

One thing I love about Football is just when you think you've seen it all...

Dan Campbell is a National Treasure.

Baseball Note. 

Ludacris with the BIG ARMS throwing out the first pitch.

Tough night for Baltimore.

Although the Isaiah Likely hesi at the goal line was COLD.

Which led to this. 

And this.

Send this to your favorite Kansas City hater...

True words right here.

You take those edges wherever you can find them.

My buddy Jagger May should get rich off the naming rights here...

Not a fan of the Friday Night game.

The league exploited a loophole in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 that let them broadcast on a Friday. A night that has always been for High School Football.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. 

Raiders rookie Dylan Laube with an early lead for Random Shots Player Of The Year.

Thanks to Bob Henry for that one.

There is nothing like combining Bat-Man and Football.

Unfortunately for the Giants, this was the best part of their day.

Thanks to Clayton Gray for that one.

This one slayed me.

I love this so much.

Hope Springs Eternal.

Unless you're the Giants or Panthers. You guys are on the clock. 

Here's a question:

How long until the majority of players on Sundays are wearing a Guardian helmet?

Jabrill Peppers already is. My guess is many more will soon follow. 

Derek Carr and Rashid Shaheed were on fire Sunday.

Which is a thin excuse for me to post one of my favorite videos from last season.

"Listen to me Sheed. Freaking run" is one of my favorite play calls.

But my favorite is Carr suggesting a go route for Shaheed to the offensive coordinator and Jameis Winston emphatically approving with "Yes".

Aaron Jones keeping the streak alive. No wonder the Vikings won.

Same with Dallas.

This is sports.

And one thing especially fun about College Football.

We have upsets on Sundays, of course. But nothing like this with the overlooked scrappy underdogs taking on the Kings of the Hill with zillion-dollar budgets and all the advantages. 

Thanks to Bob Henry for that one.

The radio call for Northern Illinois says it all.

Music Note This Week.

If you know me, you know the Rolling Stones are my favorite band. 

I especially love their older stuff. 

Here's the Gospel according to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. So good. 

The song was on the Beggar's Banquet LP released in 1968 and a cover of the original by Reverend Robert Wilkins.

 

If you were wondering why the NFL changed the kickoff rule...

Things will be different this year for Bryce Yo...

That didn't take long.

God Bless you, Browns fans.

In a world where things change fast, it's comforting to know one can count on Steelers Football.

Week 2 seems a little early in the year for the can't-miss #1 NFL Pick who will pick his team to be making business decisions at the goal line. 

Jason Kelce's shirt button was doing work.

Random Example of why Women Live Longer Than Men.

Zero chance this happens, but just a thought: Maybe Deion Sanders might consider talking less? 

Want to feel old?

I thought DeSean Jackson was modern day.

This explains some things.

Go Vols.

 

Wrapping with this one. 

I think lots of people vastly underestimate two closely related and intertwined things:

  1. The positive effect an encouraging word can have on other people.
  2. Their ability to impact other people with encouragement. 

My friend and Footballguys Staffer Devin Knotts posted this and illustrated a sweet point. 

And let me be totally clear. This isn't about me. I didn't do anything special at all. Which is the point. All I did was encourage a young and talented content creator. All I did was tell him what I already knew: That predicting the game is hard, that one week doesn't make a season, and that I believed in him.

The "cost" of that to me was nothing. But the impact of a short conversation was significant. 

Who can you encourage this week? My guess is they need it more than you know. And it'll make a bigger impact than you think.

Thank you for being part of this goofy journey with us.

And thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Bob Henry, 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
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