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The Eagles shouldn’t even think about playing Jalen Hurts in Saturday’s now meaningless game against the Cowboys. Hurts sprained his throwing shoulder in last Sunday’s very physical victory over the Bears. He’ll be fine in a week or two, but there is nothing to be gained by playing through that injury now.  The Eagles are going to be the top seed in the NFC, period. The Cowboys are going to be the five seed, period. What had been ballyhooed as the NFL’s most anticipated regular season game is now essentially an exhibition, thanks to the Cowboys losing to the Jags last Sunday. Hello, Gardner Minshew.

Aaron Rodgers says he thinks the Packers can still make the playoffs. That’s a tall order. Yes, Green Bay has looked better of late, as evidenced by Monday night’s 24-12 home win over the Rams that upped the Pack’s record to 6-8. But their three remaining games are against the Dolphins, Vikings and Lions.  Running that table is more than unlikely.

The Rams have been officially eliminated from playoff contention. They are paying a helluva price for last year’s Super Bowl win. They’ve traded away all of their draft choices for the next 437 years. Looks to me like their future is all behind them.

Sunday’s game between those Rams and the Broncos is going to be televised on Nickelodeon. Apropos. That is a Slime Bowl, indeed.

Very disappointed to learn that Willie McGinest has been arrested on an assault charge involving a gun. I admired him as a player and have enjoyed his television work on the NFL Network. I will wait to learn all the facts, but this is depressing.

Hey, look, I’m an old school, rah-rah guy. But Bijan Robinson is absolutely making the right decision in bowing out of the Alamo Bowl and passing up his final year of eligibility at Texas to enter the NFL Draft. Go do it, Bijan!

Until very recently, Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman was the toast of the league. Now he is toast. Baltimore has averaged 13.8 points over the last five games.

I’ve been extremely impressed by Jets coach Robert Saleh, not just for the way he has his team playing, but because of the way he has handled his players. Yes, he recently had to bust and demote second-year quarterback Zach Wilson. But now he’s building Wilson back up. That’s what good coaches do.

Maybe I shouldn’t disclose this. But I’m 68 years old. And I admit to being a little disoriented by the sudden end to the UIW football season. That team and those guys had become such a large and meaningful part of my daily routine.

Congrats to Damian Lillard, who has now passed the great Clyde Drexler as the Trail Blazers’ all-time scorer. That is quite an accomplishment.

Let’s all pray for Ohio State freshman offensive lineman Avery Henry, who has been diagnosed with the form of bone cancer known as osteosarcoma. Beat it, young man. I know you will.

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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.