Archive for the ‘NFL’ Category

Obit watch: February 26, 2024.

Monday, February 26th, 2024

I was running pretty much flat out from mid-Friday afternoon until late Sunday night, so this is the first chance I’ve had to post anything. But: the NYT finally ran an obit for Chuck Mawhinney. (Previously.)

After graduating from high school in 1967, Chuck wanted to become a Navy pilot. But a Marine Corps recruiter won him over by promising that he could delay his enlistment by four months, until the end of deer season.
The Marines had not had dedicated snipers since World War II, but by 1967 the corps had changed its mind. Mr. Mawhinney was among the first to complete the new Scout Sniper School at Camp Pendleton, a Marine Corps installation in Southern California. He graduated at the top of his class.

Lawrence sent over an obit for Golden Richards, former Dallas Cowboy receiver.

Richards helped the Cowboys reach Super Bowl X and XII. Against the Broncos in Super Bowl XII, Richards caught a touchdown pass from running back Robert Newhouse (the first touchdown pass thrown in a Super Bowl by a non-quarterback) as Dallas recorded a 27-10 win.

José DeLeón, pitcher.

DeLeón was 86-119 with a 3.76 ERA in 264 starts and 151 relief appearances for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1983-86), Chicago White Sox (1986-87, 1993-95), St. Louis (1988-92), Philadelphia Phillies (1992-93) and Montreal Expos (1995). The right-hander struck out 1,594 in 1,897⅓ innings.

Jackie Loughery, actress (and Jack Webb’s third wife). Other credits include OG “Perry Mason”, “Surfside 6”, and “Marcus Welby, M.D.”.

Charles Dierkop, actor.

Other credits include “Matt Houston”, “Bearcats!” and…two episodes of “Mannix” (“A Penny for the Peep Show”, season 3, episode 6. “Desert Run”, season 7, episode 6).

Eddie Driscoll, actor. IMDB.

Chris Gauthier, actor. Fair number of genre credits, including “Supernatural”, “Watchmen”, and the “Earthsea” mini series.

Kenneth Mitchell, actor. Other credits include “NCIS”, “CSI: Cyber”, and “Detroit 1-8-7”.

TMQ Watch: February 13, 2024.

Tuesday, February 13th, 2024

So. It has come to this. The last TMQ of the 2023 season, and the last TMQ Watch.

After the jump, this week’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback (which you won’t be able to read in its entirety unless you subscribe to “All Predictions Wrong”, which is the actual title of Gregg Easterbrook’s Substack)…

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TMQ Watch: February 6, 2024.

Tuesday, February 6th, 2024

The Tuesday Morning Quarterback Non-Quarterback Non-Running Back NFL MVP is Creed Humphrey, center for Kansas City.

In other news, welcome to the penultimate TMQ, and the penultimate TMQ Watch. Also, welcome to the most boring week in sports.

After the jump, this week’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback (which you won’t be able to read in its entirety unless you subscribe to “All Predictions Wrong”, which is the actual title of Gregg Easterbrook’s Substack)…

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Well. Well well well. Well.

Thursday, February 1st, 2024

I’ve said before that I have a high bar for linking to ESPN. This clears that bar, especially since I think the story is kind of buried.

“How fears over CTE and football outpaced what researchers know”.

Nut graph:

But the narrative about CTE has outpaced the science. Fueled by the publicizing of several high-profile cases and data that even the BU researchers acknowledge is limited, the result is a heightened level of fear in players and families, from the pros down to pee wee. That fear has led some NFL players, teenagers and weekend warriors to conclude — fatalistically — that whatever cognitive or emotional troubles they’re enduring must be rooted in CTE; and it has created tensions within the research community that the story has become far too simplified.

Beginning of a CTE backlash? Or ESPN positioning themselves for a possible partial buyout from the NFL?

TMQ Watch: January 30, 2024.

Tuesday, January 30th, 2024

So, it has come to this. Kansas City and San Francisco. Again.

We’re a little bit disappointed, but honestly, Detroit has nothing to be ashamed of this season. They played well, and we hope this continues next year.

In other news, it’s Baltimore, gentlemen. The football gods will not save you.

After the jump, this week’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback (which you won’t be able to read in its entirety unless you subscribe to “All Predictions Wrong”, which is the actual title of Gregg Easterbrook’s Substack)…

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TMQ Watch: January 23, 2024.

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024

Last week, we quoted TMQ:

The Lions won a playoff game for the first time in 32 years, and are now on a pace to win another playoff game in 2056.

Final score: Detroit 31, Tampa Bay 23. What’s the pace now, Gregg?

(To be honest, we don’t have a lot of faith in Detroit beating San Francisco. But, as FotB pigpen51 notes, “On any given Sunday…“. Stranger things have happened. And we’d love to see Detroit in the Superb Owl.)

After the jump, this week’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback (which you won’t be able to read in its entirety unless you subscribe to “All Predictions Wrong”, which is the actual title of Gregg Easterbrook’s Substack)…

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Quick firings watch.

Wednesday, January 17th, 2024

The NFL firings will continue until morale improves. But none of the rumored really big firings have happened yet.

Alex Van Pelt out as offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns. Also out: running backs coach Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney.

Despite starting five different quarterbacks this season, the Browns finished 11-6 during the regular season and made the playoffs.

Yeah, I’m not sure Van Pelt was the issue here…

Pete Carmichael Jr. out as offensive coordinator in New Orleans. Also out: “Senior offensive assistant” Bob Bicknell and wide receivers coach Kodi Burns.

TMQ Watch: January 16, 2024.

Tuesday, January 16th, 2024

Last week, we observed that we hadn’t noticed a lot of “cold coach = victory!” this season.

What’s this week’s TMQ headline?

TMQ: Cold Coach = Victory!

Sigh.

After the jump, this week’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback (which you won’t be able to read in its entirety unless you subscribe to “All Predictions Wrong”, which is the actual title of Gregg Easterbrook’s Substack)…

(more…)

Firings watch.

Thursday, January 11th, 2024

One sort-of firing, one not a firing but noteworthy.

Bill Belichick out as head coach in New England. Everyone was expecting this, but it seems more like a firingnation:

Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft spent a good part of this week periodically meeting and discussing how each side wanted to proceed. From sources familiar with those conversations, there was said to be no conflict, no disagreement, and in the end, productive talks resulted in a mutual decision that left both sides comfortable and at ease.

Belichick, 71, leaves New England with 333 career victories (including playoffs), ranking second all time behind Don Shula and his 347. Belichick, George Halas and Curly Lambeau are the only NFL coaches with six championships since the league began postseason play in 1933.

As I’ve said before, the man has nothing left to prove. Does he try to go someplace else and pick up the 15 wins he needs to pass Shula? That’s the speculation, but I figure it will take two to three years at least to get 15 wins. It isn’t like he’s going to another team that’s as good as the Patriots were: I’d expect five win seasons at best to start with.

And Nick Saban out in Alabama in what seems like a genuine retirement.

Milk for the Khorne flakes!

Wednesday, January 10th, 2024

More from the NFL firings front:

Contrary to reports the other day, “Wink” Martindale is officially not out as defensive coordinator for the New York Football Giants.

Yet.

Current reports are saying he’s furious with the organization, and (as noted above) “cursed out” head coach Brian Daboll after his people were fired. But he hasn’t officially resigned or been fired at this point.

The Giants could prevent Martindale from joining another team if he resigns. If that were the case, this could get even uglier.

He’s got one year left on his contract. If he’s fired, the Football Giants would owe him $3 million. If he resigns (and there’s apparently interest in his services from the Rams and Eagles) they don’t owe him anything. So I’m not sure why they would block him from joining another team, unless it is just pure spite.

Edited to add: “sources” are reporting that da Bears are firing offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, but keeping Matt Eberflus. Given the situation with the Winkster, I’m looking at “sources say” with a bit of skepticism.

Also “out” according to “sources”: quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert, running backs coach Omar Young and assistant tight ends coach Tim Zetts.

Edited to add 2: both the NYPost and ESPN are reporting that the Winkster is officially out, by “mutual decision”. Which apparently translates to: they don’t have to pay him, and he’s free to sign with some other team.

Meanwhile, Pete Carroll is out as coach of the Teattle Teahawks…I mean, Seattle Seahawks. This sounds like one of those firingnations:

“After thoughtful meetings and careful consideration for the best interest of the franchise, we have amicably agreed with Pete Carroll that his role will evolve from Head Coach to remain with the organization as an advisor.”

He had been saying that he planned to coach in 2024 as late as Monday. ESPN. 137-89-1 overall, 10 playoff wins. But they were 9-8 and missed the playoffs this year.

TMQ Watch: January 9, 2024.

Tuesday, January 9th, 2024

After the jump, this week’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback (which you won’t be able to read in its entirety unless you subscribe to “All Predictions Wrong”, which is the actual title of Gregg Easterbrook’s Substack)…

(more…)

Skulls for the skull throne!

Tuesday, January 9th, 2024

Continuing with the NFL firings theme: Mike Vrabel out as coach of the Tennessee Titans.

The Titans fired Vrabel after six seasons, ending a run that featured three playoff appearances, two AFC South titles, an AFC Championship Game appearance and the 2021 NFL Coach of the Year award. The Titans were 54-45 in the regular season under Vrabel, making him the third-winningest coach in franchise history, including the Houston Oilers era.

But they missed the playoffs in 2022 and 2023, and it is being reported that their was friction between Vrabel and team owner Amy Adams Strunk.

ESPN.