Four Down Territory: NFL Week 13
Intro
Just when I was getting warmed up the Giants show McAdoo the door. It’s the right move and it should’ve been done earlier this season but, selfishly, I enjoyed watching Bob doing his hybrid Al Pacino/Pat Riley gig. Oh well.
Let’s start the drive.
1st Down
Last week the NFL, after negotiating with the players coalition, agreed to commit $89 million over seven years to African-American communities and social justice causes.
On its face it sounds fantastic. Kaepernick starting kneeling a year ago to voice displeasure against police brutality and to make a significant change. I’m sure if you’d ask him 365 days ago if he thought a $89 million donation from the league to problems that plague the African-American community he’d think it was a major win.
Let’s be clear, this is a significant moment. That is a lot of money. The fact the the players were able to get the owners to not only acknowledge what they’re gripe is but to put money towards it is huge.
The problem is what appears to be the unspoken agreement that comes with the money.
The players coalition is made of 40 NFL players led by Malcolm Jenkins and Anquan Boldin. They came together with the goal of being a unified voice for the players and to discuss the issues with owners. After the deal was announced Eric Reid, Russell Okung, Kenny Stills, and Michael Thomas were the main people to distance themselves from the coalition. Their complaints were that Jenkins and Boldin went behind their back to make this deal with the NFL and it’s essentially hush money. The owners give this money and players stop protesting; that’s the unwritten deal.
I agree with @E_Reid35’s assessment & also withdrew my involvement with the Players Coalition, effective earlier today. pic.twitter.com/A3zpQ4BN5N
— OKUNG (@RussellOkung) November 30, 2017
This deal came with more backlash from fans. Some called Jenkins a sellout (which is foolish) since he agreed to stop raising his fist during the anthem since the owners agreed to donate the funds. It was also revealed that Jenkins owns five Papa John restaurants. Here’s a quick reminder on how trash the papa really is. Reports have also surfaced that the owners aren’t really donating anything new. They’re just shuffling money from other causes like breast cancer awareness and military appreciation (the irony is hilarious) to cover the agreement.
Jenkins penned an open letter to the media defending his position.
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This situation is complicated, layered, and hard to dissect. The most important fact in all of this, though, is that both parties can be correct in their position. There is more than one way to achieve the same goal.That’s hard to remember in these times.
2nd Down
The Patriots had an interesting Sunday.
They beat the Bills 23-3 but the big stories involve their two biggest stars.
America’s favorite frat boy Gronk thought he was at Wrestlemania again and elbow dropped Tre’Davious White. The cheap shot gave White a concussion and will obviously miss some time.
Hey @NFL make sure you fine Gronk all the money for this late hit pic.twitter.com/96UaCAMiKu
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) December 3, 2017
Gronk got a one game suspension for the cheap shot but other than that a little backlash he’s still the lovable meat head that just likes to party.
Meanwhile, Brady decided to unload on his offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels.
Tom Brady is yelling at Josh McDaniels on the sidelines pic.twitter.com/HIETtpFaPy
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) December 3, 2017
I could get into how Brady and Gronk get passes that other players like Cam and Von could only dream of. Instead of writing some long paragraph I’ll give a simple equation.
Brady angry = fiery and passionate
Newton angry = immature and locker room problem.
Easy, right?
OBJ, please help me out.
Or ….immmaturity , or “needs to grow up” or “selfish” or… umm what else is it exactly that ‘they’ say…. or “umcomposed” no bro , I’ve watched that man do that exact same thing for years. Beat every time I cheered for in the super bowls… https://t.co/WiTVSL31ar
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) December 4, 2017
3rd Down
Speaking of the Beckham. How happy is he that the Giants didn’t give him an extension this offseason? How dumb do the Giants feel about not giving a top 5 receiver max money the moment they were allowed to?
Now they’re 2-10, Eli has been benched and on his way out, McAdoo and Reese have been shown the door, and Odell can leave after next year. They’ll be in prime position to draft a quarterback next spring and it sure would be nice for him to have 13 as a weapon for the first few years.
The Giants didn’t give Beckham an extension because he wanted to be the highest paid person in the NFL and they weren’t ready to do that.
Now the only price they’re going to pay is watching a potential HOF receiver walk away to greener pastures.
I mean, who lets this even get close to free agency?
4th Down
This is supposed to be a recap of the best stories from the NFL week that passed but I can’t bite my tongue on this one.
The college football committee screwed up, again.
Alabama does not deserve to be in the playoff spot. Yes I said it.
The committee “suggested” that the Big 12 get a championship game because they value clear cut champions. Not only did Alabama not win the SEC but they didn’t even get to their championship game. I know “any SEC win is a good win” but Alabama has 0 good wins. The one challenge they did have to face ended with an L.
I’m not championing for Ohio State, I don’t have a horse in this race but the Big 10 should be livid. A 30+ point loss to Iowa is ugly, no one is saying it isn’t. The Buckeyes did go into Happy Valley and beat, a then, second ranked Penn State. Has Alabama done anything even close to that?
If we get a Georgia/Bama national title game I’m going to break something and it won’t be bread.
The committee has made this clear, they aren’t letting any two loss team into their playoff anytime soon.
Extra Points
Eli to the Broncos is the John Elway special, no? We see you Josh Gordon. Shazier‘s injury reminds us just how brutal this gamer is Russell Wilson is a magician and you can’t tell me otherwise. I have no problem with Geno ripping Rex; he didn’t bring enough heat if you ask me. I hope the NFL blackballs Jeff Fisher like they did Kap because I have no desire to watch him waste talent by going 8-8.
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As always, thanks for reading.
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