Deshaun Watson is 40 percent through his five-year, $230 million contract with the Browns. He has played eleven games. And he won’t play any more in 2023 after doctors determined he needs immediate season-ending surgery to repair a displaced fracture in his throwing shoulder. Bad karma. So the Browns, with their Super Bowl caliber defense, now throw their quarterbacking keys to rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson. That engine ain’t gonna turn over. The 6-3 Browns play the also offensively punchless—but also 6-3–Steelers on Sunday. Whatever the under is, bet the under.
The 5-4 Bengals’ season could be on the line tonight when they visit the 7-3 Ravens. Both teams are coming off a crushing loss. Lotsa drama and storylines. Who’s going to win this Thursday night game? Al Michaels, finally.
Rodgers continues to insist he will play again this season. And Jets coach Robert Saleh says if Aaron wants to play, he’ll let him. I’m having a difficult time unpacking all of this. How about you?
But I do know this. Justin Herbert and Josh Allen are astoundingly talented quarterbacks. And neither one of them is getting the job done. Allen says he’s sorry Bills O.C. Ken Dorsey lost his job Monday. Josh says he feels responsible. I can understand that.
Are you getting the feeling the Bills’ Super Bowl window is closing? It’s getting pretty stuffy in that room.
As for the Chargers, their act is getting stale (or more accurately “Staley”) too. That guy shoulda lost his job LAST year.
The Texans, meanwhile, are a breath of fresh air. But they need to watch their backsides Sunday against the Cardinals. Yes, I said the Cardinals. Just ask the Cowboys about this.
BTW, there’s no reason why the Texans can’t win the AFC Souff. They have the best quarterback in the division, the most refreshing and dynamic young coach in the league, and they’ve found both a running game and a defense. And don’t forget they have already beaten the Jags once.
The Cowboys losing LB Leighton Vander Esch to a serious neck condition for at least this season—or possibly forever—is a big deal. LVE has been the team’s best run-stopping linebacker and was the huddle’s “green dot” until he went down.
College football coach of the year? It’s gotta be Northwestern’s David Braun in my book. After the Wildcats’ former D.C. was promoted to head coach following the hazing scandal that led to the firing of Pat Fitzgerald, he has led NU to five wins, more than the Cats had in the previous two seasons combined. Remarkable, given the mess he inherited.
That headlock Draymond Green clamped on Rudy Gobert will cost Green five games and right at $770,000. The NBA openly admits the severity of the punishment is all about Draymond’s “priors.” He earned it.
The “in-season tournament”? All that’s missing from this tricked-up gimmick is a windmill hole. What do you get if you win it? A stuffed animal?
No, I still haven’t watched a full NBA game this season. But I saw a highlight clip. Pretty much accidentally. The Celtics’ new uniforms are an abomination.
The Yankees’ Gerrit Cole got all 30 first-place votes to win his first Cy Young. Padres lefty Blake Snell took the NL hardware to become just the seventh pitcher to claim the Cy Young in both leagues. Snell also won the award in 2018 when he was with the Rays.
