Not cool, Vikings. Rookie QB Kellen Mond tests positive. Starting QB Kirk Cousins now quarantined as a “high risk” close contact. Backup QB Nate Stanley in Q for the same reason. Here’s what “high risk” close contact means. It means your dumb ass is not fully vaccinated. Jake Browning, who is fully vaccinated, is the Vikings’ only available quarterback for at least the next five days.
Not cool. And Vikings Coach Mike Zimmer is pissed. And he has every right to be. Cousins, in particular, has to be smarter than that and exhibit more leadership than that. Not cool.
At least one Vike is displaying some IQ. Congrats to RB Dalvin Cook, who just received his B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies and Public Policy from Florida State.
I’ll tell you who is cool. Trevor Lawrence. I saw a post-practice interview with him last night on the NFL Network. That kid gets it.
Lawrence, of course, was the first player taken in the draft. Saints rookie Ian Book was selected in the fourth round. No, Book is not going to compete with Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill for the Saints’ starting job right now. But the Saints may get impressive ROI in him later. Throughout his career at Notre Dame, Book competed like a rabid badger. There’s a lot to like.
New Orleans is loaded at running back. Saints just added former Falcon star Devonta Freeman to their RB Room, joining Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray. Freeman joins a Saints offense that includes his former Florida State teammate, Jameis Winston.
Speaking of running backs, the Browns’ Nick Chubb has a new three-year deal worth $33.6 mill, with 20 million guaranteed. Most impressive stat? Chubb averaged more than ten yards per carry in the fourth quarter of all games last year. Did you hear that? That’s “closing”!
Looks like the Dolphins and All-Pro CB Xavien Howard are going to work things out after all. That’s good if you’re a Dolphin. That dude had ten picks last year.
The NFL is a tough workplace. Cards’ inside linebacker Jordan Hicks hasn’t missed a start in his two years with the team. Rock solid. But Arizona drafted LB Zaven Collins with the 16th pick. Cards’ G.M. Steve Keim has told Hicks that he will not be allowed to compete with the rook for the starting job.
Seby Zavala of the White Sox has three career home runs. He hit all three of them last night. First major leaguer to hit his first three HRs in the same game.
Three homers. That’s two less than the Giants hit in their 8-6 win over the ‘Stros. Four of the five were off Zack Greinke. That ain’t good…
U.S. swimmer Caeleb Dressel is going home with five gold medals. He’s only the fifth Olympic swimmer to get one for the thumb in the same Games. Last one in the men’s 4 X 100 medley relay. You do not mess with America in that race. We’ve never lost.
Let’s lean into August.
