Thinking out loud…while wondering if refusing to go to the gym counts as resistance training…
• In case there was any doubt – the NFL is on pace to place a record number of its games this season in TV's Top 100 programs, thanks to ever-increasing ratings…combined with a further dilution of present-day TV entertainment options.
• How many times have you said lately, "there's nothing to watch on TV?"
• Half a hunnerd? That was Barry Switzer's term for his teams putting up a fifty-burger on the opposition. A rarity in today's NFL, unless you're facing the J-E-T-S. Just sayin'.
• Is it just me, or did the Patriots try to get a little too cutesy with the gadget plays and razzle-dazzle on the field last week? I mean, it was the Jets, amiright?
• But if they work? Well, razzle and dazzle me all you like, as long as the ball is getting into the end zone…something (before last week, anyway) the Patriots' offense was having trouble with.
• Hunter Henry is a keeper. Feed him. Especially this week against his former team…but the Chargers have to know it's coming, don't they?
• It was 45-0 last year against the Chargers. Big special teams' plays in the game, too. And this year's LAC team, it appears, may not be much better in this department.
• The Patriots' offensive line is improving. The linebacking corps is fossilizing before our eyes.
• And in case you haven't noticed, the secondary has become Eldred from North Carolina's 'suckondary' again. Jalen Mills is out on an island much of the time…with little hope of rescue.
• As bad as it may have been thus far, get back to .500 on the schedule and then check back with the standings. There's a lot of football left – for the healthy.
• Rookestradamus sez this season is likely to get wild and wooly in trying to determine the postseason tournament. The Patriots are only a game out of the mix.
• Trade partners for the deadline this next week? The Colts' Marlon Mack could help in the backfield, sure. But if it's draft capital you're after…would NE part with Jarrett Stidham? Or N'Keal Harry?
• No matter how bad you have it…this week's candidate for 'someone has it worse:' the 3-4 Kansas City Chiefs. Thought they were the next dynasty-in-the-making?
• Did you hear about the female fan who crawled into the Baltimore Ravens' radio broadcast booth from the stands? Yes, a female. She said she was not being critical of their work, or the team (losing 41-17 to Cincinnati); she was merely looking for something (else) to drink.
• Probably because the team was losing to the aforementioned Bungles.
• The Deshaun Watson derby, tentative as it might be, keeps circling back to Miami despite Brian Flores' protestations that "Tua is still our quarterback."
• When you're 1-6, sometimes you can protest too loudly.
• Don't look now, but the AFC is beginning to chew itself up. The Patriots, unbelievably as it might seem, stand to benefit. The NFC already has its' cream rising to the top.
• Tampa Bay, Dallas, Green Bay, the LA Rams? Is Arizona legit? Give it another month, at least.
• Hard to fathom that the NFL did its' due diligence on Dan Snyder and the WFT's improper workplace conduct story. Especially when you consider the thousands of trees destroyed creating the Wells Report on Deflategate…and the Patriots' rebuttal to that.
• I mean, over deflating footballs? As opposed to sexual harassment in the workplace, and no written report as a result?
• Sorry, oh imperial Grand Poobah Goodell. I don't believe you. I'll imagine few people do unless you're Jerry Jones. Raiders' owner Mark Davis, for one, would like to see a written report.
• Pssst. I'll let you in on a secret. Most NFL owners don't like to air out their laundry. They don't like to show how the sausage is made, either.
• Tweet of the Week, in response to a TB12 comment about playing defense on the MNF Manningcast from @TedyBruschi: "Playing defense is like a dog chasing a car? @TomBrady is not my friend anymore."
• This idea of possible Big East expansion, just because others are out in the college
stratosphere running around like chickens with their heads cut off, is kinda silly.
• We've said here previously that the only real team that makes any sense (and cents) for the Big East is Gonzaga…and that's if a couple of others (Saint Mary's, San Francisco, Loyola Marymount) come along for the ride. TV inventory could be spectacular, covering at least three of the four time zones in the continental US.
• But is that practical? Of course not. TV, however, drives this bus.
• And if Fox (provided it IS Fox when the time comes by 2025) sez each league school can add to their $5 million-ish check for broadcast rights, you can bet your last New York knish that AD's and coaches will open their doors, and their bank accounts.
• Not for nuthin', but the Big East coaches love the current basketball round-robin schedule. It would take something like the Zags' moving eastward to get them to budge from the current arrangement.
• Sorry, Saint Louis. Don't call the moving vans yet, Dayton.
• One issue that came up at Big East Media Day that few are talking about now…but may soon be – Name, Image and Likeness deals for student-athletes.
• Some coaches are basically ignoring it. Others are deferring to their athletic departments. Some are pointing their guys (and gals) to accountants and tax experts and now having talks with underclassmen about money management…instead of seniors.
• And they're almost all worried, deep down, about creating resentment on their own rosters and a "have vs. have not" situation with players.
• As Ed Cooley said on his coaches' show this week – this is adult territory. You want to be treated as an adult, you'll need to learn how to act like one.
• The Friars have a secret. It's a scrimmage on campus against Big Ten favorite Purdue this weekend. As news invariably makes its' way out of PC's cozy confines, don't get too carried away with the result.
• ICYMI from last weekend, PC super senior center Nate Watson is on the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Watch List (Top 20) for the nation's top interior player.
• Another super senior, Indiana transfer Al Durham, was a guest on Coach Cooley's radio show. It sez here – if he plays/shoots well, and he already may be the best passer on the team – the Friars will win their share.
• The Athletic.com reported this week a survey of players throughout the Big East indicated Ed Cooley was the coach they'd most like to play for, other than their own. By a narrow margin over Dan Hurley and Jay Wright.
• You know, once upon a time, a college kid driving a new Porsche was surely a headache for an athletic department's compliance officer. I remember when NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson was driving around in a new Trans Am (in the early '80's) he allegedly received from a school he never attended.
• But that's what Kentucky's TyTy Washington was asked about this week by Stadium's Jeff Goodman. How's that new car? And he was more than happy to talk about it.
• Yeah, things have changed.
• A 1-1 week puts PC soccer at 18th in the national polls this week, 9-2-3 overall (5-1-2 in Big East). The Friars host Villanova on Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium, where they are 6-0-1, Saturday night.
• Friar hockey had one of its' best comebacks, maybe ever, in a 6-5 win over previously eighth-ranked Denver last weekend. They erased a three-goal deficit in the final period to earn the 'W.'
• Sophomore forward Nick Poisson was named Hockey East Player of the Week with a hat trick and an assist. The team rose to #8 in both national polls this week.
• Is the fun already over at URI? The once unbeaten and nationally ranked Rams football team was blasted at fifth-ranked Villanova 44-0 last weekend. Now comes the hard part.
• Was it just a bad day at the office, or was the first half of the season a fluke? Harsh, maybe. But a fair question, considering the program track record of coming up short.
• URI hoop was preseason picked for 7th (out of 14) in the Atlantic-10 preseason coaches' and media poll. Jeremy Sheppard is URI's leading returning scorer and made the preseason 3rd team, while Makhel Mitchell was named to the preseason all-defensive squad.
• St. Bonaventure was the unanimous preseason pick to take the conference crown, with UMass picked 9th. Rhody has an exhibition against Johnson & Wales on Nov. 4th and opens for keeps Nov. 9th against Boston University.
• Rhody women? 2nd in the A-10 preseason poll, behind defending champ Dayton.
• Brown scored 21 4th quarter points at Cornell, with the winning touchdown coming with 29 seconds left to beat the Big Red 49-45 last weekend. The Bears will test that magic at perennial Ivy power Penn this weekend.
• QB E.J. Perry, the coaches' nephew, leads the Ivy and is 4th nationally in completions per game and total offense.
• Bryant freshman QB Zevi Eckhaus was this week named to the national Jerry Rice Award Watch List, presented to the national freshman of the year in the FCS. He's 5-2 as a starter after the Bulldogs beat Wagner 31-10.
• Bryant hoops were preseason slotted for 2nd in the NEC, just behind last year's regular season champ Wagner. Senior Peter Kiss was named to the preseason all-NEC team.
• The Sun Belt Conference announced they'll be adding Southern Miss to their league, following Old Dominion and ahead of potential additions Marshall and James Madison. It may sufficiently wreck Conference USA after six schools announced last week they'll be joining the American.
• Here's one way to get butts into seats when your team stinks: Kansas opened its' stadium gates to fans without tickets during the second half of their game against third-ranked Oklahoma. And they were leading the game when they did it.
• KU hadn't beaten OU since '97. Whoa. Still haven't, either…the Jayhawks dropped it, 35-23. More people did watch it happen, filling in many of the empty seats. But no refunds.
• Mama, let your babies grow up to be College Football Coaches. The six at the Division I FBS level already fired this year – are owed a collective $40 million in buyouts.
• An update on the proposed new NCAA constitution governing college athletics: the constitution committee is expected to provide some initial concepts of a new deal to member schools and conferences by next weekend. A special convention will be held in two weeks (Nov. 15th) to provide an opportunity for feedback.
• My buddy "Big E" sez his boss wanted him to be more complimentary of his coworkers. So, he told the cocky, young guy in the office next to his: "I like you. You remind me of when I was young and stupid."
• Back-to-back-to-back Atlantic Division crowns might be a stretch for this years' version of the Providence Bruins. It's way early yet, but they've scored just seven goals in their first four games (1-2-1)…and given up almost four goals per game.
• It's great the Revolution claimed the Supporters Shield, for best overall record during the MLS regular season. They also set the record for most points accumulated (for wins and ties) by any team in MLS regular season history.
• But these Revs, through no fault of their own, now need to overcome a Buffalo Bills-like reputation of coming up short in the postseason…0-5 in MLS Cup games. It's the Cup-or-Bust.
• The numerous thoughts and prayers that rained down from social media after ex-Hartford Whalers/Bruins' voice, WBZ, WEEI and NBC Sports reporter and host Bob Neumeier's passing last weekend were all heart-warming. I mean, when someone we know passes away, many feel compelled to say something. Anything to fill the obviously painful void.
• In Neumy's case, many said so many nice things about a guy they only knew from TV or radio…and it should say something about the individual themselves. Funny, charming, witty, creative – a great writer, yes. But also a good person too, by all accounts. Best wishes to his family and close friends.
• It's gonna be that kind of a year, isn't it? First two games out of the chute – the Celtics were horrible and we're yelling at the TV. Next two games? They're winning with some extraordinary performances. Then, they stink again.
• Hope Ime Udoka has his tight-rope walking shoes on.
• Get this – after mentioning last week that Enes Kanter criticized China and Celtics' games were removed from the Tencent app, Kanter doubled down on that criticism…tweeting concerns about how China and Nike (yikes!) were treating minority employees in their factories.
• How's Kyrie doing? Still not playing, huh? Haven't missed him for one, bleeping second.
• But you'll be missing baseball before you know it. Is a work stoppage coming? The first such incident in 26 years appears all but imminent once the current CBA expires Dec. 1st. The last one, you might recall, cancelled a World Series.
• Glad to hear the WooSox are continuing a tradition started in Pawtucket, by sending two kids from the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club and their fathers to the World Series. It's the 31st year the franchise has done this for two lucky locals.
• It's the Red Sox version of the emperor not wearing any clothes – but Alex Cora's stretch run wasn't, um, his best effort. He's a great manager of his talent, and just what this organization needs. But the ALCS wasn't "baseball smart."
• Next years' Sox need to be smahtah. Bettah defendahs, if they're playin' at all. Yes to Renfroe and Schwahbah coming back. No to most of the bullpen, save for Whitlock, Robles and Taylor. Houck to the rotation…again, if there's a season.
• What about a qualifying offer to keep E Rod around? Sure. But don't cry crocodile tears if you lose him.
• Free agent pickups, if they'll consider them? It starts with Carlos Correa. It might end there, too.
• The (unrelated) Marcus brothers, Semien and Stroman, would be solid signings and fill needed voids.
• While I'd like to see Astros' manager Dusty Baker finally win a World Series…it's tough to not root for a guy like Braves' pitcher Charlie Morton – who threw 16 pitches and struck out two guys this week AFTER fracturing his right fibula.
• Definition of irony: MLB pulling the all-star game this summer from the very city now part of hosting a World Series for the first time in 22 years – Atlanta.
• Facebook and Instagram changing its' parent name to "Meta" – wouldn't that be kinda like changing your name to "human?"
• Feeling good about your financial situation? Consider Elon Musk's reported worth of $284 billion, tops on the planet. The combined value of all MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL teams comes to about $260 billion.
• Warren Buffett and Bill Gates got nothin' on ol' Elon. Hey buddy, could you spare a mil?
Interested in having your questions on local Rhode Island sports (and yes, that includes the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? It's your chance to "think out loud," so send your questions, comments and local stories to jrooke@weei.com. We'll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Would appreciate the follow on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and join in on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
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