Deep thoughts, cheap shots & bon mots ...

You can bet Las Vegas will put up lines and odds on NBA and NFL player protests. How many players will kneel, what stars will protest.

Though Drew Brees and Roger Goodell have had stunning changes of heart on the protest issue, don’t think for a second that every player, coach and exec in the league is now down with the protests. When the kneeling starts, in all sports, there will be awkward divisions.

Startling stuff from the Raiders on Twitter, posts that say “BLACK LIVES MATTER” and “8:46.” Something’s happened to Mark Davis, who back in the day was only reluctantly OK with Raiders kneeling.

Hey, MLB players, here’s a thought: If you can’t work out an agreement with team owners, bring back barnstorming. It was hugely popular in the old days, with traveling allstar teams fronted by stars like Bob Feller and Satchel Paige. Create your own eightteam allstar barnstorming league, no team owners needed.

Most surprising sight in the protests: Jim Harbaugh, marching in Michigan. I don’t think Harbaugh’s spiritual mentor Bo Schembechler would have approved, but Harbaugh’s philosophical mentor, Ralph Waldo Emerson, is smiling. And in these times of radical change, good to see Harbaugh still rocking the pleated khakis.

Nice idea from Bonta Hill of 95.7 The Game: “Drew Brees can start his process of redeeming himself by sitting down with Colin Kaepernick and educating himself on what (Kaepernick) was protesting for.” Although Brees has already started the process.

Teams might leave Oakland in the dust, but the players don’t forget their roots. Significant that Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and other Warriors chose to march in Oakland. And the bond between Marshawn Lynch and Oakland will never be broken.

The list of heroes grows every day. Can’t name ’em all, but here’s one: Darren Baker, Dusty’s kid, is donating to hunger relief in Sacramento, and costarting a GoFundMe to help local businesses rebuild. Kid with a heart. Zero people surprised.

What do I know? I recently wrote that it would be great if Joe Burrow lent his support to the protests, but it was unlikely because of all the pressure he’s already under as the No. 1 draftee. Burrow: “The black community needs our help. They have been unheard for far too long. Open your ears, listen and speak. This isn’t about politics, this is human rights.” It’s going to be hard for Bengals’ vets to haze this rookie.

Quote of the week, from Jaylen Brown, Cal alum now with the Boston Celtics: “There are no more cheeks to turn.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is still garnering headlines and making his presence felt from his den.