Your “Let’s Turn Everyone Into RG III” Tuesday Evening Open Thread

NFL News:

• There is was talk about maybe having to either delay or move the Mexico City game, because the field is apparently complete ass.
  • Estadio Azteca switched to a hybrid turf of both synthetic and natural grass this year, and it has been unable to hold up for the stadium’s busy schedule of hosting concerts and soccer matches.
    • Paul McCartney played there October 28th, and something called Adexe y Nau were there November 7th.
  • A decision will be made sometime on Tuesday, in conjunction with the NFLPA. [UPDATED – see below]
    • This might take more care than cancelling the Hall of Fame game.
      • I doubt Toby Keith will play a concert in Mexico City.
  • The choices are were either to move it to LA, because it’s technically a Rams home date, or wait until Week 12 to see if it improves, and make this week the bye week for those teams.
    • The Rams are already pissed, because they are training in Colorado Springs, and Stan doesn’t want to have to pay for another week of hotel rooms.

• 6:00 PM ET Update – it’s been moved to LA.
  • “The decision is based on the determination — in consultation with the NFLPA and following a meeting and field inspection this afternoon by NFL and club field experts as well as local and independent outside experts — that the playing field at Estadio Azteca does not meet NFL standards for playability and consistency and will not meet those standards by next Monday,”

^{Fine                                                                                                                Not fine}

• Le’Veon Bell had until 4:00PM ET to return to the Steelers, or else he can’t play for the rest of the year.
  • The thinking about why he wouldn’t appear is because the amount of money he’ll get paid – about $6 million for the rest of the season – is tiny compared to what he’d earn guaranteed based on his projected free agency.
  • 4:00 PM ET update – he did not sign, and will either
    • become a free agent in 2019, or
    • the Steelers will have to tag him again at a QB rate, which in 2018 was roughly $23.2 million, up from the $14.5 million he was scheduled to make under the running back tag.

• In a “Would they be fired together?” scenario, Hue Jackson has returned to Marv Lewis’ teat.
  • He will be a “special assistant to the head coach”, which on the Bengals amounts to being a special assistance aide.
  • This is the second time Jackson has done this, after leaving in 2010 to coach the Raiders and then returning a year later.

Tonight’s Sports:

• NHL:
  • a whole bunch of games only available regionally in Canada
  • Lightning at Sabres – 7:30PM | NBCSN
  • Preds at Sharks – 10:30PM | Sportsnet
• NBA:
  • Rockets at Nuggets – 9:00PM | TSN
• NCAA:
  • Football:
    • Western Michigan at Ball State – 6:00PM | ESPN2
  • Basketball:
    • Wisconsin at Xavier – 6:30PM | FS1
    • Stephen F. Austin at Miami – 7:00PM | ESPNU
    • Georgetown at Illinois – 8:30PM | FS1
    • Georgia Tech at Tennessee – 9:00PM | ESPN2
• WWE:
  • Smackdown Live – 8:00PM | USA / Sportsnet360
    • Last night, a bloody Becky Lynch took Raw off the air, in what many are calling her “Stone Cold” moment. What will the response be?

https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE/status/1062231777253748736

Tragic update from Stroud over at the old place:

Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey should main-event Sunday’s Survivor Series event, the match isn’t happening at all. The champion vs. champion match has reportedly been removed from Sunday’s card due to injury…Fightful is reporting that the blood spilled during Raw’s closing segment came along with a broken nose and a concussion…During the brawl, Nia Jax stiffed Lynch, causing her to be cut open. It was originally reported that there was no heat on Jax for the incident, but with the new information, the sentiment has changed.

This is why we can’t have nice things. Still, Wakezilla had the right idea last night –

BOW TO YOUR NEW QUEEN!