NFL owners won’t flex TNF games, teams can play more than 1

It is by no means a very good signal when John Mara, the reply to the query of what would occur if George Will ate pasta, is the voice of motive. However that is the place the NFL and Roger Goodell met at house owners conferences yesterday. By some means, the house owners have been ready to withstand the urge to make Thursday evening video games extra versatile, however not increase the cap on the quantity. of brief week video games a group can play from one to 2. That does not embody a group that performs on consecutive Thursdays, say Thanksgiving and the Thursday earlier than or after. Which suggests some groups (taking a look at you, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs) may find yourself with three Thursday video games this season. This is how they really feel about it:

Mara actually sounded like he had some concern for each gamers and followers, although perhaps he was simply leaking fuel:

“Sooner or later, can we contemplate the individuals who come to our video games?” Maria mentioned. “Individuals make plans to go to those video games weeks and months prematurely. And 15 days too quickly to say, ‘Sorry people, that sport you have been planning to take your youngsters to on Sunday at 1, is it Thursday evening now?’ What are we considering?

Mara even talked about {that a} proposal just like the Thursday evening flex plan ought to have gone to the league’s Well being and Security Committee, which is a minimum of half a step away from worrying concerning the well-being of the gamers, i.e. those that the followers need. see.

That did not cease Goodell from dumping his physique on the stay grenade, which is something that would harm the house owners’ pursuits.

“There is no such thing as a one in our group that does not put our followers first,” he mentioned. saying.

uh huh. Whereas Mara cared for the followers who really attend the video games, and it is hardly refreshing that it a minimum of has a while for the 80,000 Aqua Teen Starvation Drive Carls paying for his or her seat licenses: Goodell could not have made it extra clear that the league does not give a rattling about anybody who pays for a ticket. They made it clear that they stopped caring concerning the stay fan once they stopped the sport to indicate commercials to everybody who wasn’t there when the temperature was 1°.. Or once they constructed stadiums that had seating licenses that required a second mortgage for seats which can be a zipper code away of the sector.

Whereas Goodell could declare that enjoyable Thursday evening video games is a fan service, he ignores that almost all Thursday video games suck as a result of three days ain’t. sufficient time for the gamers to recuperate and put together from the work of the earlier Sunday. If the video games have been actually good, followers could be much less more likely to care if it is at all times Jets vs. Texans.

There was additionally this commish nugget:

“We appeared on the information concerning accidents and the impression on gamers. … I believe we now have information that may be very clear, it doesn’t present a better damage charge.”

Watch out for Goodell bearing research.

Everyone knows what is that this actually: amazon has purchaser’s regret for shelling out billions on improbable video games involving a minimum of one mediocre group, if not two, who’re crushed, drained and incapable of the beautiful execution required to play good soccer. And it is extra possible two, as a result of the NFL is stuffed with mediocre groups. Each season there much less and fewer groups everybody needs to see and extra swamp. What number of actually good groups have been there final yr? 4? They cannot play one another each week.

Goodell can repeat the speaking factors he is been programmed with all he needs, we all know the deal. The followers truthfully would not care if Thursday evening video games went away. For the followers in attendance it is a bitch to comprehend after work with one other day of labor on the opposite facet. The followers of the groups that play do not care a lot anymore. Followers who simply wish to watch soccer may do with out the crap product. The gamers hate it. It is simply one other river of money for owners who’re attempting to maintain it flowing.

welcome again stranger

The USWNT introduced their roster for 2 friendlies in April in opposition to Eire, the final earlier than the group meets for the World Cup. and there was sufficient Stunning identify on that group sheet, one Julie Ertz.

Ertz hasn’t performed a aggressive sport in practically two years and at the moment does not have a membership. She can also be seven months away from giving beginning to her first little one. She’s been coaching, however it’s an indication of the desperation coach Vlatko Andonovski should really feel about her midfield proper now that Ertz can return to the group with out, you understand, enjoying.

And he is proper to assume that the USWNT wants Ertz badly. The 2 areas of best concern have been his potential to play beneath heavy strain and his potential to interrupt up counterattacks that come his approach. Ertz in his prime solved each issues, due to his metronomic passes and impenetrable management of him whereas beneath strain, to associate with anticipation and imaginative and prescient to interrupt oncoming assaults.

However this isn’t going to be a primary Ertz. Even when he indicators with a membership tomorrow, he will not be enjoying video games for a minimum of just a few weeks. She might need 10-12 video games within the NWSL earlier than the event, however that is after 600 days of not enjoying anyplace as a consequence of damage or being pregnant and maternity go away.

Nonetheless, nobody has been capable of step into their position and do anyplace close to the extent required for the US to proceed enjoying the attack-minded 4-3-3 they like. Andi Sullivan has been overwhelmed more often than not as No. 6. Taylor Kornieck was one thing of a catastrophe there in a single fell swoop. Lindsey Horan and Kristie Mewis simply aren’t constructed for that containment position. Ertz is that distinctive and irreplaceable.

It is a gamble, however the US has spent two years exhibiting that it should take it.

Barnum and Bailey on ice

As documented yesterday, the Oilers have been Barnum and Bailey on Ice for the previous month or so. This is Leon Draisaitl giving one other instance final evening in opposition to the Knights:

Some chump enjoying blackjack at The Mirage remains to be questioning why Alec Martinez’s jock fell on him final evening.