Four Down Territory: NFL Week 2

September 18, 2019
235

Kickoff 

Greg Williams, come on down.

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Friday the Jets defensive coordinator scoffed when it was suggested that Odell Beckham was a dynamic player.

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Imagine fixing your lips to say that Beckham isn’t a dynamic player.

You know you’ve touched rock bottom when Cleveland is out here getting these jokes off at your expense.

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Hate to see it.

First Down

There’s a new trend happening in the NFL and it must be discussed. No, I’m not  talking about people getting head coaching jobs because they’ve touched the hem of Sean McVay’s playbook (*cough looking at the guy who was fired from Texas Tech after going 35-40 at Texas Tech and now is the head coach of the Cardinals cough*.)

I’m talking about great players forcing themselves off their current team.

We just got through the Antonio Brown saga (the part before the sexual assault allegations surfaced) and now two other prominent players have expressed the need for a change of scenery.

Late last week Dolphins corner Minkah Fitzpatrick requested a trade.

He probably realized that the Dolphins are taking and wanted out, which is understandable. Sure, NFL players get paid good money but there’s no bag big enough to justify being the laughing stock of the league.

Four days later he got his wish and left town to join the Steelers.

Sidebar: The Steelers have lost Big Ben for the season and that probably means he’s going to retire. Why trade a potential top-10 pick for a corner? I expect that from the Dolphins or Bills but the Steelers?! Strange times ahead.

Anyway.

Another dominant defensive back demanded a trade Monday.

As of now Ramsey is still a Jaguar but that’ll probably change soon.

So, what’s going on? Why are players demanding trades?

The answer is simple, because they can.

Something that’s said a lot in the NBA but not around sports in general. LeBron James changed the power dynamic between athletes and organizations the moment he took his talents to South Beach. Yes, athletes have been demanding trades and holding organizations hostage long before LeBron hit the scene. The difference now? Players aren’t afraid to use the media and other outlets as tools to apply pressure. They don’t care what the public thinks so long as they get what they want.

Don’t look at me like I’m Skip Bayless. This isn’t some hot take.

Steve Young, for one, is not pleased at all.

Funny you mention that, Steve. There’s a tweet for that.

https://twitter.com/RobertZeglinski/status/1173978961107398656

I’m biased; I’m pro player 99% of the time and that’s not changing here. Since its genesis the NFL has had the power to cut players at a moments notice. Contracts aren’t fully guaranteed and the moment your play starts slipping you can get a pink slip. If there’s an opportunity to leverage your star power to get what you want then fine. If the owners don’t have to respect the contract then why should the player?

Second Down

Cam Newton hasn’t been himself recently.

Last Thursday he re-sprained the same foot that sidelined him during the preseason. There’s no timetable for his return.

Since 2014 Cam has had surgery to “tighten” ligaments in his ankle, broken ribs, a fractured back, a concussion, torn rotator cuff, knee strain, another major shoulder surgery that ended his 2018 campaign early, and other sprains.

This shouldn’t need to be said but this isn’t health for ones body.

When Cam first came in the league he was sensational. In 2015 he won the MVP and led the Panthers to the Super Bowl. Since that game Cam has declined; which is understandable because his body has taken all it can.

My guess? Cam is going to be the next quarterback to retire out of the blue a-la Andrew Luck. His unique ability of being bigger and stronger than everyone else has faded. He’s breaking down in front of us and hopefully he has the wherewithal to call it quits before it’s too late.

Since we’re here, let’s get these jokes off about his outfit last week. Cool?

Get well soon, Cam.

Third Down

Lamar Jackson is still out here roasting those of us who slept on him. On Sunday Jackson threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns. For the year Jackson’s has a completion % of 71.9, 7 TDs, and a passer rating of 145.2. He’s the leader in the MVP race as of now.

Seriously, look at these throws.

The only other passer that can be mentioned in the same sentence? Pat Mahomes.

They play each other on Sunday.

Fourth Down 

It’s an end of an era in New York. Eli Manning has been replaced with first round pick Daniel Jones.

If this is the end then this is how Eli’s resume would read.

Seriously, who could forget this gem?

With all of those things in mind Eli isn’t a hall of famer.

Thank you for attending my Ted Talk.

Extra Points

Give whoever made this a raise.

Kyler Murray looks like a kid who dressed up like Kyler Murray and snuck on the field during warm-ups for charity.

I don’t know if Philadelphia can ever forgive Nelson for this one.

Just a reminder: Colin Kaepernick is still a being blackballed by the NFL for speaking out against police brutality and racial inequality in this country.

@madads14

As always, thanks for reading.

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September 18, 2019
235