Your “Dull Men With Dull Minds” Wednesday Evening Open Thread

NFL News:

• The big rule change announced yesterday is that Pass Interference – calls & non-calls – will be reviewable.  
  • Coaches can challenge during the first 28 minutes of each half, and the booth will get the last two minutes.
    • The coaches pushing hardest for the rule were Sean Payton, Jason Garrett, Andy Reid and (of course) Bill Belichick.
  • It’s only a one-year trial, and the efficacy of the rule will be measured next offseason.

• The next round of threatened moves will come from Buffalo as they begin the process of looking at renovating, or building a new stadium.
  • Either way they go, it looks like the added cost of a roof won’t be factored in, as they prefer the advantage of the elements.

• Jordy Nelson has chosen to retire.
  • He leaves after 10 seasons, with 613 catches for 8,587 yards and 72 touchdowns, plus a Super Bowl XLV ring.

Finally, the Raiders are doing all they can to avoid being on “Hard Knocks”.

• Including Mark Davis ‘jokingly’ saying he’d rather fire Jon Gruden than have to appear on the show.
  • But the league wants them, because of:
    • Antonio Brown,
    • Vontaze Burfict,
    • Chucky
    • the last (possible) season in Oakland.
• So, here are the qualification for an organization being considered eligible for “Hard Knocks”:
  • if they have a first-year coach,
  • have played in the postseason the past two years,
  • or have been on “Hard Knocks” in the previous 10 years.
• Under those guidelines, that makes the Raiders, Lions, 49ers, Giants, and  the [Redacteds] eligible for selection.

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Leafs at Flyers – 7:00PM | Sportsnet
  • Rangers at Bruins – 7:30PM | NBCSN
  • Stars at Flames – 9:30PM | Sportsnet1
  • Golden Knights at Avalanche – 10:00PM | NBCSN

• NBA:
  • Pacers at Thunder – 8:00PM | ESPN
  • Warriors at Grizzlies – 8:30PM | TSN
  • Lakers at Jazz – 10:30PM | ESPN / TSN

• NCAA:
  • NIT Basketball Tournament:
    • Quarterfinal: Lipscomb vs. NC State – 9:00PM | ESPN2
    • Quarterfinal: Colorado vs. Texas – 9:00PM | ESPNU

• other basketball:
  • 2019 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game – 7:00PM | ESPN2
  • G-League Playoff: Windy City Bulls at Westchester Knicks – 7:00PM | ESPNU

• Wrasslin’:
  • Omega Man: A Wrestling Love Story – 7:30PM | TSN

The Tournament resumes tomorrow, so there will be guest authors for the open threads. LET’S SEE IF I CAN CRAWL OUT OF LAST PLACE!