So why did this take so long? Zack Martin is back in the Cowboys’ corral after signing a re-adjusted contract that will guarantee him more than $18 million dollars in each of the next two seasons. Martin, a six-time first team All-Pro, is worth every penny. But, again, why did this take so long?
We pretty well had it figured out that former Vikings RB Dalvin Cook was going to wind up in the AFC East. But Miami looked like his most likely landing spot to many, since he played college ball at Florida State. Many were wrong, me included. The 28-year-old Cook Monday signed a one-year, $8.6 million deal with the Jets. Cook is still a home run hitter, both as a runner and a receiver. If he’s fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, and if second year star Breece Hall makes it all the way back from his torn ACL, the Jets will have a one-two backfield punch that is at least the equal of any in the league. Yeah, I know, those are big “ifs.” Here’s what’s not iffy. The Jets are a legit threat in the AFC.
The Patriots are not, in my estimation. But they can muck it up for other teams. New England’s acquisition of Zeke Elliott makes total sense. He can still be a goal-line and short yardage hammer, and he remains the best pass protector of any RB in the NFL. He’ll be a good friend to second year quarterback Mac Jones, and The Hoodie and Pats offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien will know exactly how to use him.
Astros starter Framber Valdez was cruising Monday night in Miami. He had given up just four hits and two runs—one of them earned—through seven and two-thirds innings. But that cruise then became a crash. Valdez had to exit after giving up back-to-back homers to the Marlins’ Jorge Soler and Luis Arraez. Enter reliever Hector Neris, who promptly got touched up for another dinger by birthday boy Josh Bell. Yep. Three straight Miami homers in a 5-1 Marlins victory.
No such problems for the Rangers’ Max Scherzer, who allowed just an infield hit and a walk while striking out eleven. Texas laughs its way to a 12-0 blowout, marking the fifth time the Angels have been shut out this season. The Rangers upped their lead over the Astros to three and a half games in the AL West.
We don’t know all the details about why Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been placed on the restricted list. That’s OK with me. I don’t need or want to know. But it has something to do with a young girl and social media posts. Yuk.
Lots of things have changed in college football. NIL. Transfer portal. Conference realignments. But the “board room” remains the same. Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama and LSU comprise the preseason top five. Meet the new bosses…same as the old bosses…
Now they’ve gone ahead and ruined “The Blind Side” for me? Next you’ll try to tell me that rasslin’ is fake.
