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No, I DON’T think Cam and the Panthers getting back together (temporarily) is a publicity stunt or hopelessly naïve nostalgia.

I think it makes pretty good sense. Rhule is looking for a way to win a few football games. After getting off to a 3-0 start, the Panthers have largely been a mess, especially after losing McCaffrey for a chuck of games following his hamstring explosion against the Texans. Carolina has to run the ball to be effective. Cam will help in that department. Darnold is going to be out for a while. That’s good for everybody, including Darnold. Neither the Panthers nor Cam is delusional. This is a month-long fling with your ex. But at least both parties know where the bathroom is and whose feet are ugly. No surprises.

The Panthers had to bring in a veteran QB. Cam makes more sense for them than taking Philip Rivers out of mothballs.

Rivers might actually be a pretty good band-aid for the Saints.

The Rams are making quite a gamble. OBJ could be the final piece in a Super Bowl puzzle. He could also destroy that locker room. Or his daddy could. (OBS?)  But we know one thing. Between this move and acquiring Von Miller, the Rams are “all in.” I will never disrespect that.

Yes, I’ve been saying since early September that the Cowboys just look different this year, in a good way. I’m sticking with that despite that Chernobyl meltdown against the Broncos. For now. But this game against the Falcons has my attention. Atlanta actually has an above-average NFL roster. And Ryan can get white-hot.  And, yeah, losing Randy Gregory is a bitch. Dang, I hope Lucy isn’t gonna jerk the football away from Cowboys fans yet again.

How can the Ravens lose to the Dolphins? I guess the same way the Titans and Bengals each found a way to lose to the Jets. Kudos to Tua for his toughness, as he found a way to give the broken middle finger to Baltimore. That’s a costly loss for the Ravens, especially since the Steelers have a layup coming Sunday against the Lions.

Happy that A.J. Green is recovered from COVID and back with the Cardinals. That guy has been a total pro for a decade. The Cards look more than just “shiny” to me. They look solid. And resourceful. And resilient.

Fun college game last night in the ACC. After coming from 18 down last week to upset Wake, North Carolina erased an early 17-point deficit to take Pitt to OT, before falling 30-23.  Pitt’s Kenny Pickett and the Tarheels’ Sam Howell are my two favorite QBs in college football. They are both wonderful leaders.

Because I know you, and I know that you know me, and you know that I know that you know me, you’re expecting me to go cold off on Aaron Rodgers. I’m going to. Saturday.

For now, let me just defer to Dallas receiver Ceedee Lamb. “Man, this NFL fine system is weird.”

It’s not just weird. It is scandalous in this case. And dangerous.

I ain’t forgetting about your ridiculous, pompous, ill-informed ass, Rodgers. But I’ll do my own research, on my timetable, under my rules. Tell your “own drummer” to get that paradiddle down cold.

And this from someone who heretofore has been a huge Rodgers fan. He remains the most talented NFL quarterback I’ve seen. But I have lost considerable respect for him.

And I’m not lying.

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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.