Miss Football Already? Well the XFL Kicks Off This Weekend!

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Two long years since its announcement, Vince McMahon is finally set to unveil yet another football league to compete with complement the NFL. Unlike the AAF, which flamed out in spectacular fashion, the XFL at least has the benefit of not competing directly with the NFL by kicking off after the Super Bowl.

The first XFL commercial I’ve seen has been *extremely* generous in it’s description of the talent playing in the league. With a roster led by the likes of former Ohio State QB Cardale “We didn’t come here to play school” Jones

and Connor Cook, who’s best known for unceremoniously snatching the Big Ten Championship game MVP trophy.

Not exactly the stuff of fantasy football dreams so expectations need to be tempered.

I will say however, I am pretty excited for some of the rule tweaks the XFL will utilize. Most of the rulebook is the same just with a focus on speeding up the game. There are a few minor tweaks like moving back the kickoffs and eliminating extra point attempts, but the biggest rule tweak I’m most excited for is the double forward pass.

Yup, something that is not legal in any level of football and would even get you flagged in a pickup football game is about to, hopefully, become a staple in XFL playbooks. Just think of the possibilities if you’re a team running the RPO with the ability to then throw a double forward pass. My mouth is watering just thinking of the ridiculous plays we’ll see on SportsCenter Twitter.

I think the biggest selling point for the league is actually this: what the hell else are you doing on Saturday afternoon? The XFL schedule will play two games each on Saturday and Sunday for the next 10 weeks until the playoffs start, assuming the league has not gone out of business by that point. If nothing else this makes for great day drinking background noise at worst and an entertaining 90 minutes at best.

I’ll give it a shot.

It’s Official: Truck Day Got Here Before the New Red Sox Manager Did

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It’s official! Truck Day has come and gone and we are now eight days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training without anyone in charge. The Red Sox were in a tough spot with the sign stealing hysteria when they decided they needed to fire Alex Cora. That was nearly three weeks ago and we still are no closer to learning if the Sox are going to get hammered by MLB or escape with a slap on the wrist. It seems like John Henry and co. are wary of promoting from within in case MLB does throw the book at the Sox and suspend more coaches than just Cora. Firing more than one manager in a single offseason would be an unmitigated PR disaster.

The team has been pretty tight lipped about who they’re looking at to take over, but it did come out the other day they were interviewing Luis Urueta, who’s been a coach in the Diamondbacks system for the past 10+ years. Oakland A’s “quality control coach” and former Sox first baseman Mark Kotsay has also been a rumored candidate. At this point I don’t even care who they hire, but you absolutely cannot show up to Fort Myers in a week without anyone in charge.

I feel like Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross. Have you made your decision?

Ian Rapoport: Patriots Willing to Pay Tom Brady More Than $30 Million per Year

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NFL.com – The Patriots are intent on keeping Brady, obviously, believing he has one or two good years left. They are willing, sources say, to pay him in excess of $30 million per year to keep him in New England — a significant commitment that would bring his salary more in line with other elite QBs.

That would help, but it may not be all. If Brady is going to return, he wants to see the team spend on some weapons…Another potential factor for Brady is his TB12 workout facility. Brady wants to continue the routine that has kept him upright and agile throughout the years, and a new team being willing to incorporate TB12 into their footprint would help. The Chargers — who will share a stadium with the Rams — would have that capability.

The Patriots wanting to keep Tom Brady is not Earth shattering news, but Ian Rapoport reporting they’re willing to pay “in excess of $30 Million a year” to keep him certainly is. As more rumored landing spots continue to pop up, I started to mentally prepare myself for Brady getting an offer of 3 years for $90M from another team only for the Pats to counter with 1 year for $25M and that being the end of it. I just cannot see Belichick and the Patriots being reluctant to pay Brady top of the market money for years, only to relent now as he heads into his age 43 season.

Since 2007 when Brady won his first MVP award, he has been paid anywhere from $8 Million – $23 Million per year while only topping $20M once, which came last year. Meanwhile, here are the guys who made more than Brady in AAV last year alone:

  • Seahawks QB Russell Wilson: $35 million
  • Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger: $34 million
  • Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: $33.5 million
  • Eagles QB Carson Wentz: $32 million
  • Falcons QB Matt Ryan: $30 million
  • Vikings QB Kirk Cousins: $28 million
  • 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo: $27.5 million
  • Lions QB Matthew Stafford: $27 million
  • Raiders QB Derek Carr: $25 million
  • Saints QB Drew Brees: $25 million
  • Colts QB Andrew Luck: $24.6 million
  • Redskins QB Alex Smith: $23.5 million

This is kind of murky because Brady’s actual salary last year was just $1.75M while he had a signing bonus of $20,250,000 and a roster bonus of $1M, but you get the point. The man is dramatically underpaid. While Brady has always been willing to take less than market value, which fans loved him for, he seems to be looking to make up for some of those lost wages and it’s hard to fault him.

I’m no capologist so I have little idea what paying Brady $30M x 3 would do to the Pats cap, but I don’t think this team is anywhere close to being ready for the post-Brady era. Jarret Stidham may be the guy, but he’s only got one year under his belt and the last time we saw him he was throwing a pick 6 to blow the cover against the Jets.

Paying Brady $30M a year at this point is the definition of paying for past performance, which is not a position you ever want to be in. The reality is it’s a spot the Patriots put themselves in by not offering him a real extension at any point in the last two years.

The most interesting part of Rap Sheet’s report though is the nugget about TB12. Obviously this is Brady’s post-career business and passion project; it’s something he truly believes in and credits for saving his career after blowing out his knee in 2008. So what would be better for a franchise that wants to go national than planting another flagship location in Los Angeles?? That truly concerns me because sure Brady could wait until he retires and then open an LA location, but TB12 is a much easier sell when it’s a 43-year-old playing in the NFL than when it’s a 45-year-old “former” athlete pitching it. If the money is equal then I think it would be hard for Brady to turn his back on all of New England, but if a team like LA blows him away with an offer then I think the TB12 piece is the tipping point for him leaving.

I am not ready for Tom Brady to leave us and this pic of him from the NFL 100 last night has me getting a little dusty.

The grey beard just reminds me just how long Tommy boy’s been in our lives and how close we are to the end. This is why I admittedly could never be a GM because I’m ready to pay the man and take one more run at it. So enjoy the next 6 weeks of wild speculation until free agency starts!

The Fast and Furious 9 Trailer is Here and It. Is. Glorious.

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The Fast and Furious 9, or F9 if you want to be official, trailer is here and it. is. glorious. I’m what some may call a bit of a hipster Fast fan as I was an un-ironic diehard of the original. Seriously, I made the mecca to LA to visit Dom Toretto’s house.

2 Fast 2 Furious was fine, but then I also loved watching Tokyo Drift, especially drunk after the bar since Spike TV aired it at 2 am routinely.

A lot of people jumped on the bandwagon with the release of 4 and 5, but I cannot state how excited, albeit skeptical, I was when Vin Diesel revealed the plan to have TEN movies in the Fast-verse. Now No. 9 is up along with another nonsensical title which I have to believe is being done intentionally at this point. Seriously just look at this:

The Fast and the Furious
2 Fast 2 Furious
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Fast & Furious
Fast Five
Fast & Furious 6
Furious 7
The Fate of the Furious
F9

Now lets break down some of the highlights of this Oscar bait.

Dom apparently has a son now?

John Cena Toretto

Charlize Theron has my 6th grade haircut now so there’s that.

Potentially the most absurd stunt to date and thats saying a lot in this franchise.

A Pontiac Fiero with a rocket strapped to it that is apparently faster than a jet.

Also, it seems we are seeking Justice this time around so someone’s been killed, but I can’t imagine they killed off Paul Walker’s character? Then again his wife Jordana Brewster is prominently featured so maybe?

Not to mention the shocking reveal at the end of the trailer. I’ll admit, I gasped. I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t watched the trailer yet but it’s a trip.

This bad boy hits theaters on May 22nd and I will be there with bells on.

Jayson Tatum Has Officially Made His First NBA All-Star Team

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Boston.com – Celtics forward Jayson Tatum will join teammate Kemba Walker in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game next month in Chicago.

“I am extremely blessed and grateful,” Tatum said in a statement released by the team. “Third year to make the All-Star team it is a surreal feeling. I’m just very excited and it is a dream come true.” Tatum will be one of seven reserves representing the Eastern Conference, joining Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler also of the Heat, Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors, Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers, Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks, and Domantas Sabonis of the Indiana Pacers.

I have been sky high on Jayson Tatum for a long time, which is not exactly a hot take for a No. 3 overall pick, but I do expect big things for the young man. If you were able to take a look at the most frequently used words on my twitter account, “Tatum” has to be up there.

For the last two and a half years I’ve been predicting that one day Tatum will be First Team All-NBA so being named to the All-Star team in year 3 is a great first step.

Some people are saying that Jaylen Brown should have made the team over Tatum as he has a better FG% and 3 point %. Although Tatum has a higher efficiency rating and is averaging more points, rebounds, and assists per game than Brown. So both were deserving, but I think Tatum should get the nod.

Tatum is the youngest All-Star the C’s have had since Antoine Walker and while he might not have a signature dance move (yet), Tatum has the potential to be the best homegrown player since Paul Pierce.

Now on to my favorite Tatum content on the internet.

Tom Brady’s Latest Post Has Me Uneasy

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Well this makes me uncomfortable.

It’s more about what he didn’t say than what he did say. Tom Brady is set to become a free agent on March 18th for the first time in the last 20 years. Brady specifically negotiated out the franchise tag so the Patriots couldn’t make the decision of where he plays next year for him. Now we have rumors all across the country that Brady allegedly was looking at real estate in Vegas, which came out just a few days after this.

Then the Los Angeles Chargers, who are moving into a brand new stadium next season, announced that they’re moving on from longtime franchise QB Philip Rivers. So there’s a cushy landing spot in LA now too if Brady is interested.

THEN came the rumors yesterday that Gisele and the Brady family were looking at schools for the kids in Nashville. Well, I have to admit that I don’t think a lot of Massachusetts residents are looking at schools in Nashville for their kids. The Titans had a nice run to the AFC Championship Game after benching my boy Marcus Mariota, who is also a free agent. And Ryan Tannehill very well may win Comeback Player of the Year, but if TB12 is available don’t think old friend Mike Vrabel wouldn’t be interested.

So in saying literally nothing, Tom Brady has said everything and thrown me into full blown crisis mode.

Justin Thomas and Max Homa Golf in Kobe Jerseys at the Waste Management Phoenix Open

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Such a cool move especially because golf is usually so stuffy that you wouldn’t expect to see guys rocking a basketball jersey on the course.

Not much else I can really add to this as we see the Kobe tributes and old stories continue to pour in. Rest in Peace Mamba.

49ers Coach Wes Welker Tells the Story of Belichick Suspending Him for Rex Ryan Foot Jokes in 2011

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Man, I miss Wes Welker. It’s easy to kind of forget when you don’t see someone all that often. He’s not a huge social media users and he’s not a media personality so the only time I ever really hear from Wes is on those Dr. Leonard hair commercials. (Lettuce looks great by the way, Wes) So to hear him tell this story from his perspective 9 years later is hilariously awkward. Not to mention, a bit of shade thrown at Belichick there! And in case you forgot the bizarre yet legendary Rex Ryan foot joke press conference, here it is in all it’s glory.

#RushHourRap – Eminem – Darkness

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Em dropped his new album “Music to Be Murdered By” in the middle of the night a couple weeks back and it definitely shows that Shady’ still got the juice as it hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts. There aren’t any instant classic singles here nor are there many radio friendly tracks, but there is a ton of elite rapping. Eminem shows off his unmatched lyrical dexterity while recruiting some big names to fill out the album’s 20 songs. Ed Sheeran returns for his second Eminem collab on “Those Kinda Nights,” he brings out old friend Royce Da 5’9″ for a few songs, as well as the likes of Skylar Gray, Anderson .Paak, Q-Tip, Joell Ortiz and more. The song everyone is going to remember from this album though is the incredibly morbid track “Darkness” where Em raps from the perspective of the Las Vegas mass shooter. The song is more “Encore” than “The Eminem Show” and whether it’s profound or tasteless is up for debate, but it’s definitely an engrossing track that samples Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sounds of Silence.”

Mike Bloomberg is a Confirmed Robot for Trying to Shake a Dog’s Mouth

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I cannot stop laughing at this this video. I’ve watched it probably 20 times because it is peak robot behavior. Why is every politician such a goddamn weirdo? I mean this has to be worse than Trump putting the Halloween candy on the kid’s head right?

Guys just be normal for me one time. All politics aside, the reason George W. Bush won two terms was because he was the president everyone wanted to have a beer with. Bloomberg has me worried here that he might short circuit if I gave him a frosty one.