I didn’t see anything that made me skittish about C.J. Stroud in the Texans’ preseason opener. Yes, he retreated in the pocket instead of climbing it, resulting in a 15-yard sack. And two plays later he threw a pick after holding the ball too long and staring down his intended receiver. But he seemed in command of the huddle and is certainly physically impressive. And that was a nice effort by the Houston defense in posting that 20-9 road win over the Patriots.
I had forgotten what a big arm Seahawks backup QB Drew Lock has. I got reminded Thursday night in Seattle’s 24-13 victory over the Vikings. Dang!
While I found the outcome less than pleasing, that was nevertheless a fabulous baseball game in Baltimore as the Orioles edged the Astros 5-4 to avoid a three-game series sweep. The O’s have not been swept this season. In fact, they haven’t been swept in 76 series dating back to mid-May of 2022. That’s remarkable. The loss dropped Houston two and a half games back of Texas in the AL West. The ‘Stros are back home Friday to open a weekend series against the Angels as Justin Verlander gets his first Minute Maid start since returning to H-Town.
Marquee names aplenty atop the leader board after the first round of the Fed Ex St. Jude in Memphis. Spieth. Scheffler. McIlroy. That’ll play!
Rory hit some great shots Thursday in carding a three-under-par 67. But his best “shot” was a verbal one he aimed at Phil Mickelson. A new book claims Lefty attempted to place a $400,000 bet on the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team, of which he was a member. Uhhh…you’re not supposed to do that. When asked about that allegation, McIlroy just smiled and said, “At least he’ll (Mickelson) will be able to bet on the Ryder Cup this year, since he won’t be a part of it.” It’s in the hole!
Niners QB Brock Purdy says he’s almost 100 percent as he recovers from his elbow surgery. Remember when SF ran out of quarterbacks in the NFC Championship Game against the Eagles? Niners coach Kyle Shanahan revealed Thursday that if his team had somehow made it to the Super Bowl, the plan was to bring 41-year-old Philip Rivers out of retirement.
Who’da ever thunk that the Mountain West Conference would be a power broker? But the MWC is in great position to acquire any or all of the four remaining Pac-12 teams—including Cal, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State.
I wonder why the football gambling scandal at Iowa and Iowa State isn’t getting more attention. This is beyond alarming. Four more Cyclones and three more Hawkeyes are now implicated.
Brett Favre still faces civil litigation for his alleged role in syphoning off welfare funds in Mississippi. That state’s Supreme Court Thursday refused to remove Favre as a defendant.
Finally, everyone in the Texas football community is crushed to learn of the death of Central Catholic High School head coach Mike Santiago following a bout with cancer. Mike also was the first head coach of the football program at University of the Incarnate Word. Forever First. I and many others will sorely miss our good friend.
