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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
Ndamukong Suh with a different take on how to tackle the quarterback...
Another Sunday. Another Cam Newton outfit.
At this point, it's starting to look like he's just playing Mad Libs with his closet.
If I'm Newton's agent, I'm getting on the phone with the people who make these Dress Up Playsets with the magnetic interchangeable outfit pieces. Here's one for Elvis.
Money in the bank.
Hockey Note - Hats off to Bud Light for the Pit of Misery sponsorship on the Penalty Box in Dallas.
Thanks to Footballguy Clayton Gray for that one.
I don't want to dismiss technology, but do I really need IBM's Supercomputer Watson to tell me Falcons - Steelers is expected to be a high score? Every book in Las Vegas told me that last Monday.
I'm just going to leave this one right here...
Football's a weird game sometimes...
Carolina's Graham Gano didn't just kick a 63-yarder to win the game Sunday.
He kicked a 63-yarder into the net to win the game Sunday.
As usual, it's even better when called by Jaime Moreno and Luis Moreno, Jr. for the Panthers Spanish radio broadcast.
Thanks to Mike McGough and Brian Sumner for the help with that one.
Sweet insight from SI.com's Albert Breer:
"Rivera and Gano have this unspoken thing—if Gano’s good with the distance, he starts jogging toward the field from the kicking net without being prompted. Rivera saw Gano moving, and then Gano saw Rivera raise his hands up, giving the signal for the field goal team.
"You know the rest."
This likely falls under the category of "Things Joe Doesn't Need To Tell Me" but I'll say it anyway. If you're picking teams for Kickball, pick Graham Gano first.
Four teams are averaging 30 points per game or more.
Chiefs.
Rams.
Saints.
...Bengals.
Thanks to SI.com for that one.
For some reason, teams kicking 60-Yarders to beat the Giants is a thing: Gano on Sunday, Jake Elliott a year ago.
Michael Bennett's shoulder pads never get old.
I wonder what Dick Butkus thinks.
In this age of the Salary Cap, even the best teams have holes.
And I'm good with that. I love the parity in the league.
Adam Thielen is good at Football.
I think the biggest challenge in Fantasy Football is balancing the need to react quickly on one hand against the reality of "It's a long season" on the other hand.
On the "It's a long season" side, a good reminder that Bob McAdoo's job was safe this time a year ago.
I'm not sure how talented Curtis Samuel is. I have no doubt what kind of determination he has.
It took a few games, but Odell Beckham finally helped a team score.
Big Man Touchdowns are my favorite touchdowns.
Mostly for the sideline shot afterward.
Advil and Sunglasses and Oxygen. You go, Linval Joseph.
Thanks to Footballguy Devin Knotts for that one.
This is what the end of a honeymoon looks like.
On a serious note, what exactly is happening here?
This tweet was supposed to be about Tyreek Hill lighting up Jalen Ramsey. Hill did beat his man and make the catch. But I'm more impressed with Ramsey here. To be able to run backward with a guy like Hill and stay this close is kind of amazing.
There's that Blake Bortles we know and love.
Current mood in Kansas City:
This week was all about Drew Brees and rightly so. But while nobody was looking, Tom Brady threw his 500th touchdown Thursday. To some guy named Josh Gordon.
My wish for you: May you be as happy as Von Miller here.
Thanks to Footballguy Clayton Gray for that one.
I don't know about the "#6pack", but this is a fun picture from the University of New Mexico Football team after a delay in Las Vegas.
If you're not a Browns fan and find yourself criticizing your team, check yourself. The winningest quarterback in Cleveland since 2008 is... Joe Flacco.
Thanks to Footballguy (and Browns fan) Devin Knotts for that one.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has the kicking problem figured out...
The Browns are 2-0 in their solid brown uniforms without CLEVELAND pasted across their chest. They're 0-2-1 in their other uniforms.
Just one more of many reasons why an NFL team doesn't need the name of the city on the uniform. This is the National Football League, not the Sun-Belt Conference. Does any fan really need to have the city spelled out for them?
Thanks to WTSP.com for the help with that one.
All I know is someone had better make sure that possum stays around.
Green Bay rolling with not one but two wide receivers on the Black Eyed Joe's All-Name Team with Equanimeous St. Brown and Marquez Valdes-Scantling,
This picture may look normal with a mass of Raider fans "saluting" the Charger players. Until you realize it's a home game for Los Angeles.
Eagles fans are understandably a little sensitive right now.
In Monday's News Email Update, I mentioned something about the Giants scoring 31 points.
A reader sent me this email:
"You do know the giants lost right?
"How about a little respect for the World Champs and not so much praise
for the 1 and 4 giants and the cowgirls."
Me reading my email some days.
I seriously should do a Random Shots one week with just my email inbox.
Kirk Cousins is fired up.
Soccer Note Of The Week comes from Russia. Never let it be said I don't search the globe far and wide to bring you guys good soccer stuff.
I think Mina Kimes has it right here.
On the other hand, the laws of physics still apply to Deshaun Watson.
More weirdness from Detroit.
DeAndre Hopkins, you're kind of ridiculous.
Devonta Freeman returned to action in a Falcons - Steelers game with a Las Vegas Under / Over predicted score in the mid 50's.
And we got this:
Yes, Freeman and Tevin Coleman GMs, Dan Quinn and Steve Sarkisian hate you.
Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard with a moment on the sidelines Sunday.
Odell Beckham is the perfect guy to help.
Clay Matthews with a perfect response to the penalty flags.
One of many reasons Drew Brees is the all-time Passing Leader? He's more accurate than an Olympic Archer. Check out this Sports Science episode from a few years back for more.
Hockey Note. I like the way this guy thinks.
@youngpharro_ is a guy on Instagram with a haircut and look similar to Odell Beckham.
Fun moment when he went to the game Sunday and Beckham spotted him in the crowd.
Music Note Of The Week is a band I've talked about before. Trampled By Turtles takes traditional Folk / Bluegrass / Appalachian music and adds an energy and edge. "Wait So Long" is almost a punk song at times where you can feel the emotion. "Nothing happens in this burned-out town anymore" is a timeless sentiment expressed in music over the years. I love how these guys do it.
Summary of Texans - Cowboys.
Rough Weekend.
Pete Carroll's got nothing on Danny Smith. Dude was working it.
This had to be sweet for Graham Gano. The football he kicked for the 63-yard game winner sitting on the tee Tom Dempsey gave him.
Thanks to Footballguy Jeff Haseley for that one.
Alvin Kamara GMs watching Mark Ingram Monday Night...
Peyton Manning with nothing to look forward to now...
Thanks to Footballguy David Dodds and Andrew Lee for the help with that one.
Josh Norman with a rough night. His team lost, he was benched for a bit, his defense gave up the all-time passing record, and then this.
Thanks to Footballguy Daniel Simpkins for the help with this one.
My favorite Drew Brees commercial.
Wrapping with this one. Drew Brees says it here. Work hard. Make cool stuff happen.
And one more last thing. Get out and vote. Voter registration ends soon for many states so don't miss it. This handy link has info for your area. I couldn't care less who you vote for. I just urge folks to let your voice be heard.
Thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Clayton Gray, Devin Knotts, Mike McGough, Jeff Haseley David Dodds, Daniel Simpkins, Andrew Lee, and Brian Sumner for the help on this one. If you've got a Random Shot of your own, shoot me an e-mail at bryant@footballguys.com.
Thanks for playing along. 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