While I still believe strongly that Deshaun Watson should have received at least a season-long suspension, I was gratified by the way the NFL and the NFLPA worked their way through this debacle. Settlement was better than arbitration or possible litigation.
An eleven-game unpaid suspension is significant, and that five million dollar fine is more than just a traffic ticket. Plus, the expansion of Watson’s suspension from six games to eleven significantly changes the way the Browns must now manage their season. With Watson out for only six games, Cleveland could have started 3-3 or even 2-4 without falling into an abyss. But if they go 4-7 over the first eleven, they’re done, especially in that division.
For now, the load is on Jacoby Brissett. Let’s see if the Browns chase Jimmy G.
This Brady thing is getting a little weird. He was expected to return from his team-approved leave of absence this coming Monday. Now that looks uncertain. The problem is not that Brady will be rusty when he comes back. He won’t. The issue is the impact that his lengthy absence could have on the rest of that offense, particularly with respect to new receivers like Julio Jones and Kyle Rudolph.
The Jets are delighted that Zach Wilson’s knee injury could be patched with arthroscopic surgery, and are not ruling him out for the season opener against the Ravens. I’d be very careful and very cautious. If Flacco has to go up against his old team, so be it. The Jets have made a series of really smart moves of late. Now is not the time to revert to their usual cluelessness.
The Seahawks are a mess. Drew Lock reportedly is really sick with COVID, and Geno Smith appeared to be sick of lack of support in Thursday night’s blowout preseason loss to the Bears. You know who looked pretty good in that game? Justin Fields. Really. I’m not kidding.
Yeah, I’ll check out the Texans against the Rams tonight. I’m on the Davis Mills bandwagon. He’d probably be surprised to find out he has a bandwagon.
That’s a 2021 World Series rematch tonight in Atlanta as the ‘Stros open a three-game set against the Braves. Let’s see how Lance McCullers Jr. does in his second start after missing the first four months of the season with arm trouble.
Too bad Houston couldn’t have put some of those runs in the bank in Thursday’s 21-5 annihilation of the White Sox. Alex Bregman did ok, I guess, hitting two homers and two doubles while driving in a career-high six runs. Nice rally by the Astros, who left Chicago with a four-game split after dropping the first two.
