Your “All This Talk About Black Balls Is Going To Summon Either Nat Turner or Buddy Cole” Thursday Evening Open Thread

NFL News:

• Josh Gordon has been denied in an attempt to be reinstated.
  • No reason has been given. Gordon last played for the Browns in 2014.
  • He can reapply in the fall.
  • FYI: his CFL rights are owned by the Calgary Stampeders.
• In reinstated player news, Daryl Washington was cut by the Cardinals, 16 days after his reinstatement & 11 days since the Draft.
  • Mostly because they have younger, cheaper players on-hand.
• Victor Cruz will be visiting the Jags on May 23rd.
  • Maybe Shahid Khan wants to learn how to salsa?
• Much like the Seahawks aren’t trading Richard Sherman, the 49ers aren’t trading NaVorro Bowman.

Finally, Blaine Gabbert signed a one-year, $900K deal with the Cardinals.

• While this would normally be reason enough to proclaim the Cards are “going with the Flow”, we now live in an alt-facts world.

• Most reaction to, again – a Blaine Gabbert signing, has been, “KAEP’S BEING BLACKBALLED!” or “Kaep’s just not a good QB anymore.”

Even better if I type it correctly: Gabbert getting a job ahead of Kaepernick was my "black ball" line of demarcation. Just crossed.

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 10, 2017

The No. 1 reason Colin Kaepernick is unsigned: He's not considered a starting-caliber player by any NFL evaluator anymore. Work from there.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 9, 2017

Several men who have been accused of physical or sexual assault have been signed while Colin Kaepernick has not. https://t.co/SbXdI4Lygr

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 3, 2017

https://twitter.com/mikefreemanNFL/status/862711583889338368

• It’s getting to the conspiracy point where reporters are creating theories & questioning who is creating & disseminating disinformation.
  • Even Florio, who is smaller than Peter King and thus able to better fondle Roger Goodell’s balls, has started examining the facts and finds evidence to suggest a coordinated attempt to have no one consider Kaepernick for a vacant position.
• Other notable players who accuse the League of blackballing them in recent history include Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, and Johnny Manziel – although all three were pretty much self-induced.

Tonight’s sports:

Nationally, it’s pretty thin…

• NBA: Game 6: Spurs at Rockets – 8:00PM | ESPN / Sportsnet1
• MLB: Mariners at Blue Jays – 7:00PM | Sportsnet

Hopefully, you can something more enjoyable on local TV.

The NHL starts the third round on Friday – Preds at Ducks.

I’m seeing U2 tomorrow night – The Joshua Tree Tour 2017.

I saw the last Joshua Tree tour in 1987; that t-shirt sure don’t fit anymore. I’m scared that if I drink enough I’ll wake up in the desert, with Balls & Low-Commander poking me with sticks. At least, I HOPE THEY’RE STICKS!.