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It didn’t lack for drama or intrigue. There were a record 43 trades over the three-day course of the NFL Draft. I read that as further evidence that there really is no “tomorrow” in today’s NFL. It’s about right now.

Heck, the Jets are thinking Super Bowl. So are the Lions. And they have every reason to set such a lofty goal. Neither is being unrealistic.

The Texans ought to be feeling great right about now. They had nine picks, which they turned into a franchise quarterback, a bell cow edge rusher, a starting offensive lineman, a nifty slot receiver/kick returner and some key depth on both sides of the ball.

And don’t forget that Houston has another dazzler coming into the fold, since 2022 second-rounder WR John Metchie III appears ready to go after missing all of last season to undergo cancer treatment. The former Alabama dragster can, as they say, “take the top off of a defense.”

The Cowboys are set. That is a good-looking roster. And that was a solid draft. Yeah, the Bills outmaneuvered Dallas to get slick Utah receiving TE Dalton Kincaid, but I’m fine with the Cowboys’ first-round selection of Michigan run-plugger Mazi Smith. Round two did produce a TE, this one a stout blocker in another Wolverine, Luke Schoonmaker. Ex-Longhorn linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is a little bit of a third-round project, in my view, but he’ll be an immediate special teams contributor.

You can never have enough good corners, and I’ve been impressed with Southern Miss product Eric Scott Jr., whom Dallas picked with their first of two sixth-round choices. Big. Strong. Physical.

And if you didn’t get a little misty hearing Dallas assistant director of college scouting Chris Vaughn calling his 5’-5” son to tell him the Cowboys had taken him with their remaining sixth-round pick, you may need a heart check. But understand this, that was no charity or novelty pick. Deuce Vaughn was a flat-out stud at Kansas State, and he can fill a variety of roles in Dallas.

So Dallas got better over the weekend. But so did the Eagles, Giants and Commanders.

There were 14 quarterbacks drafted, way up over the nine selected a year ago. I was happy and relieved that one of them was  former TCU QB Max Duggan, whom the Chargers tabbed in the seventh round. I expect Duggan will largely be an NFL back-up. But I also expect he’ll play ten years, make a wheelbarrow full of money and come off the bench to win a bunch of key games.

Duggan was one of THREE former Horned Frogs drafted by the Texans. Max will be reuniting with receivers Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis.

I really don’t care for this whole “Mr. Irrelevant” thing. Anybody who got drafted by an NFL team has achieved an extremely relevant accomplishment. I’m not into it.

That’s four straight wins for the Phillies. That’s two straight losses for the Astros. Sucks. Let’s close out April strong Sunday at Minute Maid.

I have always suffered from Quadramensophobia. Fear of the fourth month. Fear of April. I just have to stay out of harm’s way for another 18 hours.

A Game Seven between the Warriors and Kings? I believe I 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.