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It’s a quarterback-driven sport.  So this is gonna be a quarterback-driven blog post.

I’m a little surprised, but pleasantly so, that the Broncos are going with Teddy. Understand, it makes all the sense in the world. Denver has a monster defense and a solid running game. Teddy ain’t gonna mess that up. I’m surprised only because the Broncos have so much money tied up in Drew Lock.

No more contrived uncertainty in Jacksonville. Urban is going with Goldilocks. Duh.

Kyle Shanahan says he has a pretty good idea who his starter will be. He’s just not telling us yet.  Just a hunch. It will be Trey Lance, even though Jimmy G. has done nothing that would disqualify him.  ‘Niners are in good shape at the position.

The Hoodie?  It’s gonna be Mac Jones. From the jump.  There is no reason to wait, and Cam’s COVID protocol “misunderstanding” just clears the way to throw the keys to the rookie.

Yes, Dwayne Haskins was a knucklehead in Washington. But, yes, there’s no denying that he has an intriguing skill set and enormous “upside.” He seems to be doing well in his bid to back-up Big Ben in Pittsburgh. Haskins gets the start in the Steelers’ final preseason game against the Panthers.  I’m pulling for him.

After what seems like 17 seasons (actually it’s only been four), someone other than Kellen Mond is going to start at QB for the Aggies. It will be the Pride of Longview, Haynes King. I’ll say this. King looks pretty royal in a football uni.

Need a job? Start working on your swat-and-swim and rip moves. The Jets are pretty much fresh out of pass rushers after losing Vinny Curry for the year because of a blood disorder. That was disclosed just days after Carl Lawson went down with a torn Achilles. Tough break for the Jets and rookie head coach Robert Saleh.

Bruce don’t play. The Beret says no Buccaneer can leave the hotel or have family visit on road trips. That means no Buccaneer, even vaccinated ones. Tampa Bay kicker Ryan Succop, who is fully vaxxed, nevertheless tested positive after having dinner with some Tennessee Titan friends. Bruce don’t play.

A tip of the cap and a big smile for veteran TE Luke Willson, who retired from the NFL yesterday, one day after signing with the Seahawks. Luke’s 31. He disclosed that he spent time in the hospital this offseason with pericardial effusion, which is excess fluid around the heart. Shut it down, Lukie. Pretty much everybody in North America loves your little Canadian heart, as do all of us Rice Owl fans. Well done.

Yoo hoo!  Bregman’s back. Alex went 2-5 and scored the winning run in the tenth inning of yesterday’s 6-5 ‘Stros’ win over the Royals. Bregs had been out of the lineup since June 16 with a left quad strain.  Be afraid, American League. Be very afraid.

Finally, tv networks have a right to run their business, and it’s often a nasty one. But I don’t think I’m cool with ESPN’s decision to remove Rachel Nichols from all NBA coverage, and cancel her show. Rachel has a year remaining on her contract. Don’t feel too badly for her. She’ll get paid to do nothing, because we will never see her on ESPN again. This is all about the flap that ended with Maria Taylor leaving The Four Letter. I think Nichols has been unfairly scapegoated. She did not criticize Taylor. She criticized ESPN management, and she did so in what she thought was a private conversation. She is hardly the first person to do so over the past four decades.

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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.