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The NFL has fined Dak 25-large. “Credit to them then.” Dak had it coming. To his “credit,” he has owned his unacceptable post-game remarks and apologized for them.

No tv announcers going to the Beijing Olympics. I’ll promise you those announcers are elated.

OK, Paul. Quit stalling…

Bengals at Titans, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Being a top seed and getting that bye is a big deal. The Bengals are about to find out how big a deal it is. Tennessee is rested, and King Henry is back on his throne. Nashville is one of the absolute best homefield, game day environments in the league, and Titan fans will be ready to rock. I’m a huge fan of The Babyface Assassin, Joe Burrow. But the day will belong to Tannehill, who will hit some vertical shots to Julio Jones and A.J. Brown. Cincy is a nice team, with a bright future. But Burrow is the most-sacked QB in the league, and he’ll spend some time tomorrow looking up at the Nashville sky. No Music City Miracle required.  

           Titans 34 Bengals 21

49ers at Packers, Saturday, 7:15 p.m.

The Packers and their fans have every reason to be nervous. Rodgers is 0-3 against the Niners in the playoffs, and the Packers have been physically abused in those games. (Green Bay did win the regular season game over the 49ers 30-28 back in September.) SF is fully capable of postseason punking GB again. Just ask the Cowboys. There is no guesswork required to predict the Niners’ game plan. They will run the rock, brutally. They will stay ahead of the chains, burn clock, keep A. Rod on the sideline and try not to let Jimmy G. give the game away. After starting the season strong, the Packers’ defense has really declined over the back half of the schedule. Defensively, the Niners can get pressure with their front four, without big blitzes. That will allow them to play a lot of zone on the back end and protect their shaky secondary. San Francisco allowed more “explosive” pass plays of at least 20 yards than any other defense in the league. The Cowboys should have been able to take advantage of that last week, but failed. Rodgers will need to hit some vertical shots when he has the opportunity. Unlike Dak, he will. This is a shaky pick, but….

Packers 27 Niners 24

Rams at Bucs, Sunday, 2:00 p.m.

The Rams are gonna get ’em. Total seat of the pants pick on my part, and I admit it. Too many injuries and too many distractions for the defending SB Champs. Yes, nobody gets the ball out his hands quicker than Brady does, but Aaron Donald and Von Miller are going to hit him. Cam Akers is healthy. OBJ appears to have his head on straight. Matthew (don’t call me Matt!) Stafford finally got the playoff monkey off his back.

Rams 31 Bucs 28

Bills at Chiefs, Sunday, 5:30 p.m.

The Main Event, from where I sit. Holy moly! Can you imagine a better divisional pairing? A better venue? Two more exciting teams? Two more exciting QBs? A better coaching chess match? This will be a game of “runs,” like a fast-breaking NBA matchup. The Bills’ offense literally played the most flawless game in NFL playoff history last week, scoring TDs on its first seven possessions before kneeling down to end the game and the Patriots’ season. The Chiefs’ O got off to a slow start against the Steelers, but then floored it like a top-fuel dragster. Both defenses will make big plays. There will be turnovers. The Bills will commit the last one. If this game were in Buffalo I would see it differently. But it’s not.

Chiefs 31 Bills 30

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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.