NFL Notes:

• Stephen Tulloch was cut by the Lions Tuesday. He was kept on the active roster until he passed a physical, at which point he was released. (This move cost $500K towards Detroit’s 2016 cap.) If nothing else, it proves that you can’t discount the effect of the double-check.
• Boston College announced it will retire the jerseys of Matt Ryan and Luke Kuechly at separate games during the 2016 season.
  • They will join the ranks of Art Donovan & Doug Flutie in BC lore.
• Randall Cunningham’s daughter qualified for the Rio Olympics in the high jump, somehow also putting her third on the Eagles WR depth chart.
• Maybe rap beefs have changed since I was a kid, but Ciara suing Future for defamation over parenting skills has unearthed a supposed threat to Russell Wilson’s life? That’s DangeRuss!

Finally, Ricardo Lockette has told his story about the hit that ended his career. Read the full version at The Player’s tribune. I was watching that game, and it was a frightening moment. I’m just happy dude can still walk.

The next two days have Euro semi-final matches. Portugal – Wales on Wednesday; Germany – France on Thursday. In an ideal world, Portugal – France is the final FIFA wants, because it allows a marquee player and the host nation to line up against each other. As we have learned, I’m the worst at predictions, so there’s no guessing from me about this. I just hope neither game goes to penalties, because that’s just the worst.

The best, however, was Iceland returning home to a hero’s welcome and leading the gathered throng in one more round of the “viking clap”, something that has surpassed Fred Smoot in google searches about VD in Minnesota.

https://youtu.be/R-oggCxvj4E

If you want to watch the whole ceremony, and understand Icelandic, here’s a link.

Tonight’s Sports:

• MLB: national (on ESPN)
  • 7:00 – All-Star Game selection show
  • 8:00 – Pirates @ Cardinals 

Alternative programming:

• Showtime – 60 Minutes Sports – 9:00
  • among the topics covered, hurling.
• FXX – The Simpsons 4-hour block. Highlights:
  • 9:00 – “24 Minutes”
  • 11:00 – “Poppa’s Got a Brand New Badge”
• E! – Botched – 9:00
  • “Short Changed at the Nipple Bank”

Twenty days to go until training camps open. WE CAN MAKE IT!