Your “At Least They Got To Enjoy The Holiday” Tuesday Evening Open Thread

NFL News:

• Possibly with an eye towards the Rooney Rule, the Texans, an NFL franchise according to League documents, have hired an outside firm to help them find a new GM.
  • Rick Smith has taken a leave of absence while his wife is dealing with cancer.

• Jimmy Graham is amongst the first Seahawks to drop hints he’s leaving the team.
  • Also a hint: his 4-year, $40 million contract has expired.
  • Also being hinted at: Kam Chancellor & Cliff Avril.
    • It doesn’t help when Pete Carroll says they’re “going to have a hard time playing football again”.

• Coaching carousel:
  • No new today (so far)
    • Marv Lewis’ fate is expected sometime this week.
      • probably once someone explains to Mike Brown that “promoting from within” means Pascal his gardener cannot be the new coach.
      • HOLY SHIT – two more fucking years!
    • Jim Harbaugh says he’s not leaving Michigan.
      • Good thing he said that before someone actually considered asking.
    • Talking asshat Jon Gruden is delighted to “be considered” for the Raiders coaching vacancy.

• The criteria contenders for Hard Knocks 2018 have been decided.
  • Baltimore, Cleveland, Denver, the L.A. Chargers, San Francisco and Washington.

Finally, in a moment that actually warms the heart, Bills fans have turned their excitement into their playoff berth into a charitable cause.

• starting last night, Bills fans started making $17 donations to Andy Dalton’s charitable foundation, the Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation, which provides financial aid to families with medical expenses.
  • The $17 dollars represent the 17 seasons between playoff berths for the Bills.
• as of 12:30 PM DFO time today, some 4500 donors have added over $100,000 to the foundation’s coffers.

Tonight’s sports:

• Hockey:
  •  NHL:
    • Penguins at Flyers – 7:00PM | NBCSN
    • Bruins at Islanders – 7:0PM | Sportsnet
    • Kings at Oilers – 9:30PM | NBCSN
    • Ducks at Canucks – 10:00PM | Sportsnet
  • World Juniors:
    • Slovakia vs. Sweden – 6:00PM | TSN3 / NHLN
    • Russia vs. USA – 8:00PM | TSN / NHLN
• Basketball:
  • NBA:
    • Blazers at Cavs – 7:00PM  | Sportsnet1
    • Grizzlies at Clippers – 10:30PM | Sportsnet1
  • NCAA: of note
    • Butler at Xavier – 7:00PM | FS1
    • Indiana at Wisconsin – 7:00PM | ESPN
    • Michigan at Iowa – 7:00PM | ESPN2
    • Georgetown at DePaul – 9:00PM | FS1
    • Texas Tech at Kansas – 9:00PM | ESPN
    • Pittsburgh at Louisville – 9:00PM | ESPNU

School’s out until the 8th, so I’m making these up as I go. DON’T JUDGE ME!