Sports Blog: 08/24/21 – Radically Rational

Sports Blog: 08/24/21

It’s Jameis in New Orleans. And it should be. It’s the right decision for the Saints. But just consider this briefly. If Marquez Callaway doesn’t make those two first quarter circus catches (damn! and damn!), is it still an open competition between Jameis and Taysom Hill?

My guess is no. Jameis has a more complete set of QB skills than does Hill. Yes, Jameis had that “30 for 30” season with the Bucs, but Sean Payton will not let that happen in New Orleans. Plus, Taysom is in many ways a victim of his own versatility. That Swiss Army Knife can do anything, and taking him out of that hybrid role would be a net loser for the Saints.

You mean the Bills aren’t really coming to Austin?

We keep naively thinking this is gonna be a return to a “normal” football season. It’s not going to be. All it will take is one SuperSpreader event at one big game, and we’ll be right back to empty stadiums. And the chances of that happening are very near 100 percent.

CeeDee is one of three Cowboy players added to the COVID-reserve list, along with safeties Malik Hooker and Israel Mukuamu. Oh, and new DC Dan Quinn had to go home, too. He is fully vaccinated.

The Cowboys report their players are 93% vaccinated. That means 80 of 86 players currently on the roster. NFL teams have to get down to 80 today. But since five of the Cowboys’ 86 are on the COVID list, Dallas will only have to part with one player today.

J.J. back out there flying around with the Cardinals yesterday. That just makes me feel better about…Earth.

Josh Rosen gets another chance, this time with the Falcons. He’ll fight with Feleipe Franks for the Birds’ backup qb job behind Matt Ryan. That spot opened up when A.J. McCarron went down with a non-contact ACL detonation over the weekend.

Now that Drew is finally in, who should be the next Cowboy in the HOF? I’d say Harvey Martin. The Beautiful One was unquestionably the NFL’s top pass rusher for a stretch of about a half dozen years. Carl Eller is in (and should be). Jack Youngblood is in (and should be). Dan Hampton is in (and should be). Harvey should be, too.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Paul's Bio

I clearly have the attention span of your median fruit fly.Look! Airplane!

Sorry. I’m back.

It’s both a curse and a blessing. I’ve never bought this stuff about, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But I do think that a wide range of life experiences helps us grow as people, and helps us better relate to other people. I’ve been fortunate. And I am beyond grateful.

I show up on time. I go like hell. I’m a good listener. I hold myself accountable. I own my mistakes. And I have a natural and an insatiable curiosity. I’m never afraid to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t. But then I try to find out.

The flip side is I’m a lousy ballroom dancer and my clothes sometimes fit me funny.

Stuff matters to me. I care. But while I take that stuff seriously, I try hard to never take myself seriously. As a result, I have sometimes been told, “Paul, it’s hard to tell when you’re serious and when you’re just having some fun. Which is it? Serious or fun?”

My answer is “yes.” But I think that is a legitimate criticism. I promise I’m going to work on that.

This has been the quickest and strangest half-century I’ve ever experienced. During that period, I’ve been afforded amazing opportunities in news and sports journalism across all platforms. I have taught wonderful students at the high school and collegiate level. Always, I learned more from them than they did from me. I’ve been a high school administrator. I spent ten seasons as a high school varsity football coach. I’ve been an advertising executive. I’ve hosted nationally syndicated television entertainment shows. In maybe the biggest honor I ever received, I was selected by NASA to be “Chet The Astronaut” for the “Land The Shuttle” simulator at Space Center Houston. (All I can say there, is “Do as I say, not as I do.” I put that thing in the Everglades more often than not.) Most recently, I just wrapped up a decade as a television news director, during which time our teams distinguished themselves in holding the powerful accountable, achieving both critical and ratings success.

What does all that mean? It means I am profoundly grateful. It also means I’m ready for “next.” So here we are. Radically Rational. It’s an idea I woke up with in 2017. I scribbled “Radically Rational” on a piece of notebook paper and used a magnet to stick it on our refrigerator. I saw it every day, and it just would not leave me alone.

I am second in charge at Radically Rational, LLC. My wife, Jo (also known as BB), is the president. Clearly, I have failed in my attempt to sleep my way to the top of this organization.

I hope you will learn that I’m loyal as a Labrador. But I will admit that this doggie can bite every now and then. My promise to you? I will show up on time. I will go like hell. I will listen to you earnestly and attentively. I will hold myself accountable. I will never be the least bit hesitant to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t.

But then I’ll try to find out. Let’s do it.