Washington can trust legendary ODU QB
Had Ron Rivera not waited until the fourth quarter to wave in Taylor Heinicke, the Washington Football Team might very well be preparing to prepare for a playoff game. If given another chance, Heinicke won’t be shy.
WFT rookie Chase Young told The Washington Post that he ran up to the former Old Dominion quarterback last Sunday to shout encouragement, only for Heinicke to say, “I got you, bruh. This is what I do.” Said Young, “I was like, ‘OK, he got some swag.’ “ODU fans know.
Confounded: Each mention of how Dwayne Haskins was stripped of his team captaincy before being released made me wonder what planet I was living on. Who makes a guy with a 10-cent head and the work ethic of a trust-fund baby a captain in the first place?
In retrospect: There’s still no telling whether Daniel Jones will become a franchise quarterback, but remember when Giants management was pilloried for drafting him before Haskins. How’s that looking now?
Last word: Former coach and current NFL Network analyst Brian Billick, on the Haskins debacle: “Shows what happens when your owner is doing the drafting.”
Tough luck: Going into the final week of the NFL regular season, one of these 10-5 teams — Browns, Colts, Dolphins, Ravens or Titans — will not make the playoffs. As for teams in the NFC Least, well, never mind.
Lone Star logic: In lieu of Tuesday’s one-day record of 11,775 Texans hospitalized for COVID-19, how has Cowboys owner Jerry Jones been given authorization to invite more than 30,000 fans into his stadium? There’s only one plausibly implausible explanation: It’s Texas.
Meanwhile: In a more cautious approach, New York State is permitting the Bills to welcome 6,772 fans for their first playoff game, with patrons required to pay $63 for their COVID testing in the parking lot. Hmm, Buffalo in January. On the way out, will fans be tested for
A fling: Johnny Manziel says he’s joining a start-up 7-on-7 football league because he thinks it will be fun. Great for him, but of no interest to most of us. The window on media coverage of Manziel should have closed long ago. And been painted shut.
Machine-like: After being tardy for camp, absorbing a $50,000 fine for visiting a strip club in violation of COVID19 protocols — and while still hoping to be traded — James Harden apparently remains focused on what he does best (other than frequenting strip clubs). In the Rockets’ first two games, he averaged 39 points and 12.5 assists.
Less is more: The NBA’s decision to shorten its regular schedule to 72 games means each team plays 10 fewer games that nobody will miss.
TV timeout: After testing positive for COVID, ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit is feeling well enough to call the Clemson-Ohio State game from his home. If it’s like other remote feeds — by Dick Vitale, for instance — viewers won’t be able to tell the difference. Makes you wonder why, even in the best of times, more games aren’t handled this way.
A wrinkle: With its offensive coordinator and play-caller sidelined by a positive COVID test, Clemson is not entering the CFP semifinal at full strength.
Marketplace: In trading for Rays World Series pitching star Blake Snell and Cubs Cy Young runner-up Yu Darvish, the
Padres landed two giant pieces
in exchange for prospects. One of the great benefits of building a deep farm system.
Hardware: Aaron Rodgers is the NFL’s MVP; Buffalo’s Sean McDermott is Coach of the Year. No arguments will be entertained.
Big inventory: Some jewelry stores would be jealous of the late K.C. Jones’ bling collection. Jones, who died this week at 88, was the owner of 12 NBA championship rings, an Olympic gold medal and whatever bauble he received for two NCAA titles with the University of San Francisco. His was a full trophy case — and an even fuller career.
C’mon now: You know what makes me laugh? People who think LeBron James, who turned 36 on Wednesday and is in his 18th NBA season, still has something to prove.