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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
Halloween's always fun with the costumes. But we're all chasing Jimmy Graham this year.
You may have seen the picture of Aaron Judge and Jose Altuve from the American League Championship Series.
Jimmy Graham and Packers Trainer Nate Weir with their version...
Well played, Men.
If Patrick Mahomes II had thrown this pass, Cris Collinsworth would have passed out.
I told you last year Zay Jones is a Wizard.
In case you were wondering...
Still a Wizard.
Phillip Lindsay's not far behind...
I don't know how Miles Sanders didn't score 10 touchdowns.
Music note this week is a throwback to the Black Keys.
Way back in 2003, before they were megastars and when they seemed more interested in music than spats, Thickfreakness caught my attention.
Still so good.
They are cleaning house in Miami.
Thanks to Memes Of The NFL for that one.
Odell Beckham is on pace to have career-low numbers in 2019.
After having Eli Manning throw to him for five years...
Hang on though. That early schedule was tough.
Two unfortunate things about Sam Darnold's "seeing ghosts" comment the week before last.
1. He was mic'd up.
2. The Jaguars and Jaxson De Ville were next...
Thanks to Footballguys Devin Knotts and Michael Dice for the help with that one.
My favorite part of Mohamed Sanu to New England was him saying Tom Brady offered up his #12.
Sanu, said, "Nah. I'm good. You got that."
Austin Ekeler with goals. Physical and Mental.
James Washington with the disrespect.
It's sometimes fun when worlds collide. This is my cousin, Ted Wilson. He's a regular on TV at Steelers games AND this week made a fun First Half / Second Half illustration for Benstonium. Rock on, Ted.
That first half was rough though.
Texans linebackers before the game.
I'm surprised the Raiders gained a yard.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is an ageless wonder. You know what you're getting with him which means you know a play like this will be followed by something ugly. But the good plays are fun.
The Genesis half time show has been canceled for the rest of the year. Do your best to get through this tough time as well as you can.
Ladies and Gentleman, the Cincinnati Bengals...
God Bless you fans.
File this under things I'm not sure I get...
For things I do get, but don't talk enough about: Special Teams are vastly underrated by too many fans. I think it may be Red Zone Attention Deficit or something.
This is a sweet punt.
Deshaun Watson, you're ridiculous.
Even more ridiculous in slow motion.
This will make you feel better about your own poor decisions.
Unless you're a Bears fan.
"Siri. Show me 'How not to tackle.'"
Look out for her in about 15 years...
DeAndre Hopkins with an illustration of someone who gets it. The audience laughed but Hopkins wasn't laughing at all. While the armchair warriors yuck it up, Hopkins knows how tough it is to be an NFL player. He knows Osweiler isn't Deshaun Watson. But he still appreciates him. He gets it.
Steeler Nation responding to the "news" the Jets were looking to trade Le'Veon Bell.
Looks like the story started with Manish Mehta's tweet here.
Other reporters saw the story very differently.
It's an interesting look at spin. Teams calling the Jets to inquire about Bell is totally expected and reasonable. But if you're in the business of clicks, making a team out to be a laughing stock and looking to backtrack on a big acquisition just a couple of months into the season is a lot more profitable.
Just one more reason to be careful about how you read the "news".
Grandpa Carter walked to school every day uphill both ways in the snow too...
They're pretty dang good.
Kenny Stills is on fire.
This Nationals fan was fun.
But let's be real. He had $40 dollars worth of beer in his hands there. He's not dropping those.
And of course, Bud Light was all over it.
I'm just going to leave this right here.
Odell Beckham thought it would be cool to make and give Tom Brady a pair of custom G.O.A.T. cleats after losing to the Patriots.
I fully admit I'm too old school and too much about the team and I know I'm not representative of the masses. But that's one of the lamest things I've seen in a long time.
If you've read more than one of these columns, you know I'm far from a Baker Mayfield defender but that's unreal.
I wonder if he did the "Tom-eeeeee I made you these! Do you like them? OMG OMG OMG, I hope you like them!"
Unbelievable.
Turns out that wasn't the only questionable decision Beckham made Sunday.
Brady's response to the cleats...
Luke Willson buying into Seattle...
Saquon Barkley is a beast.
Nick Bosa, you're kind of ridiculous too.
Nailed it.
George Kittle is one of those guys that gets MORE fired up after taking a football to the face.
There's a special place in Heaven reserved for Browns fans.
You don't need to be a lip reader for this one...
NBA Note. James Harden hit himself in the face.
And Josh Hart was SHOOK.
Stefon Diggs with proof you can't get lazy.
Brobible with a recap of how this went down:
Mr. Diggs’ Personal Assistant:
“Uh, yes, hi. I’ll take sweater a foot too short and with sleeves that would’ve been baggy even on Andre the Giant. And I’m willing to pay through the nose for it.”
Raf Simons VIP Customer Service:
“Consider it done, Mr. Diggs’ assistant!”
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs James Conner in the Beard Competition:
Thanks to Footballguy Jake Bryant for that one.
And
Because I know you guys need to know that kind of thing.
Thanks to Footballguy Adam Harstad for the help with that one.
So satisfying...
Thanks to Footballguy David Dodds for the help with that one.
Wrapping with this one.
I posted this on my Twitter feed this week.
As you'd expect, the feedback was interesting. Some good, some unhinged (it is Twitter). Interestingly to me, much of it missed the point.
This wasn't about Kaepernick for me. This wasn't really about Hong Kong or China.
This was about Nike and this was about doing what you believe in.
More to the point, it's about not putting yourself in a spot where you're beholden to a group or force where you can't do what you want or know you should.
Now I don't pretend to know what Nike believes in. I do know Lebron James bending the knee for China in the Hong Kong/Daryl Morey/NBA tweet thing was pathetic to watch. But the Hong Kong situation is not simple. If you're interested, The Ringer has an exceptional look into the issue. The amazing photography is an unexpected bonus.
I'm way more interested in how this bigger picture affects me and you.
For us, I think it's a question I often ask: "At what cost?". It's a simple question. But not always easy. "If we do this deal / choose that relationship / make this decision, what's the cost?" And by "cost", I mean the real cost beyond what the ad space would sell for or the cost to create the content. What's the real "cost" in terms of opportunity lost or freedom that could be hindered? Because those are real costs. Nike and the NBA are feeling those today.
It's a long term way to view the world, and your business and more importantly, your life. But I think it's worth considering.
Thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Clayton Gray, David Dodds, Devin Knotts, Jake Bryant, Adam Harstad and Michael Dice 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