03/03/22 – Radically Rational

03/03/22

We talkin’ quarterbacks!

We still don’t know where Deshaun Watson is heading, except maybe to jail. But his football destination apparently will not be Miami. Dolphins’ G.M. Chris Greer says they’re sticking with Tua, and that the “door is shut” on a trade for Watson, who is facing 22 civil lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints filed by women accusing him of sexual assault or harassment.

I must admit I like the Zen approach of Texans’ Head Coach Lovie Smith, who said Wednesday that, “Time kind of takes care of itself.” As for the Dolphins, I would not feel particularly serene about sticking with Tua. I did hear new Miami Coach Mike McDaniel on the radio Wednesday. Impressive.

Add an “s” and you get McDaniels, as in Josh, who is the new guy with the Raiders. Smooth. He’s trying to figure out whether to move forward with Derek Carr, who is heading into the final year of his deal. My guess is yes. I think they will both be good for each other.

Man, this quarterback courtship thing can be dicey. Matt LeFleur to Aaron Rodgers. “Yoo hoo. I’m here. I love you. We love you. But I don’t want to be overbearing.” In the words of the late Leon Russell, “I’m up on a tight wire. One side’s ice and one is fire…” Make up your mind, Aaron.

Yes, I know R. Tannehill threw three picks in the Tennessee’s playoff loss to the Bengals. But don’t’ overthink this, Titans. RT is still your boy. I’d feel very comfortable moving forward with him.

Now, Washington Commanders, YOU got some tough decisions to make. Stick with Taylor Heineke, who is a tough guy and a good leader? Seek a blockbuster trade? (See Watson, D., or Garoppolo, J.) Sign a big free agent? Or draft a dude. The problem with the final option is that all of the quarterbacks in this year’s draft are just “dudes,” in my opinion. That franchise has had a rough go with quarterbacks. Since the franchise’s last SB win following the 1991 season, 32 guys have started at quarterback, including eight in the past three seasons. The heck of it is they now have a very good roster that could make a run if they get this QB-1 thing settled. History says they won’t.

Yesterday, I gently suggested that teams might want to take another look at Mitchell Trubisky. Ditto for Marcus Mariota. He has matured.

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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.