Alabama lands their quarterback of the future, Saquon Barkley needs an ankle transplant, Danny Dimes breakout and Antonio Brown goes back to school.
Why doesn’t everyone just go to Alabama?
I say this with zero sarcasm. Why doesn’t every high school recruit go to Alabama if they can? If you go to Alabama, you’ll play for the best coach to ever do it, you’ll win a national championship or two and you’ll likely be drafted highly as a result when your college career is over. I have to think that played into the decision-making process for four-star quarterback recruit, Bryce Young, who flipped his commitment from USC to Alabama over the weekend.
Young attends Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California which is a pipeline to USC. Former Mater Dei alums that went to USC include Matt Leinart, Matt Barkley and JT Daniels, who started the season as the Trojans starter before suffering a season-ending knee injury. So it was no surprise he committed to USC. But at the same time, it’s no surprise to see him flip his commitment to play for Saban and Alabama because it’s a program where everyone wants to play.
Saquon Barkley can have my ankle!
Injuries happen in football but it doesn’t make it any easier when star players get injured and have to miss extensive action. So, naturally, I was totally bummed when Saquon Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss as much as eight weeks. That had Giants fans googling how to donate an ankle. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. But it didn’t stop Giants fans and fantasy football owners from offering their ankle up for the Giants star running back.
I love Giants fans for this. Maybe we can find a doctor on the black market willing to do some experimental surgery. I hear Dr. Nick Riviera is available.
Media does an about-face on Daniel Jones
Speaking of Giants fans, I hope they’re calling out every media member, talking head on TV and anyone else they can find on Twitter who bashed the team’s pick of Daniel Jones. I’m 100 percent positive the outlet I work for bashed the pick, called for Dave Gettleman to be fired and we weren’t alone. It was almost universally panned. You can find as many positive reports about the Giants taking Jones at No. 6 as you can find positive reports about the last season of Game of Thrones. Jones led a comeback win vs. the Buccaneers in his first career start, throwing for 336 yards on 23-of-36 passing with 336 yards and a pair of scores. He also doubled up Eli Manning’s career rushing touchdown total with two scores, including the game-winner.
No, one game does not a career make as Yahoo’s Eric Edholm cautions. After all, remember how good Brock Osweiler looked in his debut? How about the immortal Todd Bouman? Yikes. But the debut was encouraging and Giants fans should be thrilled they have a young quarterback they can rally around after two offseasons where everyone and their brother ripped the organization from top to bottom. Barkley was the only bright spot on the team but it seemed like every time his name was mentioned it was followed by him being the No. 2 pick in the draft and running backs should never ever in a million years ever be taken that high.
And I hope they’re reveling in seeing the praise for Jones coming from the same people who ripped the pick to shreds like it went through the wood chipper in Fargo.
Enjoy this, Giants fans.
Antonio Brown goes back to school
No, this should not be a remake of the classic Rodney Dangerfield movie. No, he can’t declare for the NFL Draft after this. No, he can’t play for Central Michigan. What he needs to do is get some help. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus has failed him in epic fashion in search of a new team and new guaranteed money as his client burns bridges with leftover wildfire stolen from Westeros. Brown is responsible for himself and his actions to be sure, but where are his friends and family to check him? Are they just along for the ride and enjoying the spoils of his NFL fortune?
And one more thing, Bill Belichick is a great football coach who won the ultimate lottery ticket with Tom Brady, but he’s a bully and that was proven again with his confrontation with CBS’ Dana Jacobsen who had the audacity to do her job and ask the football coach about his former football player he brought in despite the circus that follows.
I didn’t expect Belichick to give a complete and honest answer but I wanted to see some accountability. And then he has the nerve to stare her down and try to intimidate her? Get outta here with that garbage. I mean, a simple “thank you” goes a long way.
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