Matt Ryan is displaying a wonderful serenity, combined with hungry opportunism. It had to hurt to leave Atlanta after 14 seasons. But Ryan is still healthy and in great shape. He can play another three years if he wants to. The Colts will finally get some stability at the QB position, and I think Ryan and Reich are a perfect QB/Head Coach combination. They’ll make each other better. And the rest of that Indy team is ready to win. Now.
Is anyone else getting a kick out of Liberty University QB Malik Willis, who reportedly tore it up at his pro day on Tuesday? Freaky and quirky, but with a wry humor and insight. Mike Tomlin was at that pro day, as was Matt Rhule. Willis had dinner with Tomlin Monday night. Tomlin impressed Willis with his menu selection. “I’m like, ‘that’s Mike Tomlin eating chicken wings?’ That’s what you want. I mean, he’s a normal dude.”
Speaking of quirky, while Draymond Green can make me crazy, he’s also wise and direct. The Warriors have lost three straight after Steph Curry went down with that foot injury. Green’s assessment? “We’re playing stupid. We’re just not playing good basketball and we’re getting punked. It’s hard to win a game getting punked. You can go to the park and be outmatched, but you don’t get punked. That’s what we’re doing.” To me, that is genuine veteran leadership.
It had already been a rough day in New Orleans. The loss of Saints’ offensive tackle Terron Armstead to the Dolphins in free agency is crippling, and certainly is not good news for Jameis Winston. Many NFL g.m.’s considered Armstead the league’s top available free agent at any position. He’ll shore up a Dolphins offensive line that was a sieve in 2021. Yeah. Tua likes this way better than Jameis does.
It won’t get the attention that Brady’s unretirement did, but Leonard Fournette’s decision to stay in Tampa Bay is huge for the Bucs. For a guy that got so much attention coming out of LSU, Fournette has been underappreciated in the NFL. He’s a big time power runner with some jets, and his receiving skills—never really utilized in college—are top-tier among NFL running backs.
The Rams are trying to do anything they can to hang onto Aaron Donald and OBJ. Von Miller’s departure to Buffalo muddies the waters for Donald. I’m pulling for OBJ as he rehabs that surgically repaired ACL. I’ve never thought he was a bad guy, and his Ram teammates say he was golden after coming to the team last November.
A runner on second base to start extra innings? Why don’t we put a keg right behind the rosin bag, too?
That five-second video of Zion Williamson throwing a ball off the backboard, then going between his legs and finishing with a left-handed jam was entertaining. Unless you a part of New Orleans Pelicans management. They were probably unamused, given that Williamson has not played a minute this season as he rehabs a fractured foot. I’m guessing that slam was “stressful.”
Sincere best wishes to number-one ranked tennis star Ash Barty, who announced her retirement on Tuesday at the age of 25. To thine own self be true.
