^{Continued use of Wednesday Addams was getting creepy.}

NFL Notes:

• The fact that he’s voicing concern is concerning: Arthur Blank hopes the Falcons can sign Julio Jones to a new deal by Opening Day.
  • “The negotiations continue to move along in a positive way. It’s a big contract and it’s complex and what have you. It takes a little more time than we’d like. Probably a little more time than he would like, but I know we are in a good place.”

• On another new contract front, Marshall Faulk is working with Ezekiel Elliott down in Cabo to keep him in game shape.
  • “His fitness is great, but playing in games is different,” Faulk told ESPN in a text message. “My job is to close that gap with putting him in active game situations. The only thing we can’t simulate is the contact.”
    • Also a connection – Faulk & Elliott are represented by the same agent.
  • ESPN notes that the Cowboys have made an offer to Elliott that ranks between the $13.125 million average salary the New York Jets have given Le’Veon Bell and the $14.375 million average salary the Los Angeles Rams are paying Todd Gurley.

• Patriots center David Andrews has been diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs, and may miss the entire season.
  • Because it’s a condition many NFL Twitter users also have, Andrews gets a free pass.
    • Most of his supporters still think Andrew Luck is soft.
      • No matter how disgusting Aaron Rodgers thinks that dichotomy is.

• Speaking of Andrew Luck, his retirement is having an impact on the CBA negotiations.
  • His walking away at 29 is leaving many players with an increased reticence for an expanded regular season.
    • Where this could go is an expansion of the playoffs and in the players’ revenue for participating in said playoffs.

Finally,

Carli Lloyd is weighing offers to kick for a team on Thursday in the final preseason game of the year. You’ve all seen the evidence as to why:

For all you NFL teams looking for a kicker😉(via @CarliLloyd) pic.twitter.com/AJOgDeKwBT

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 21, 2019

• Standing in the way is the fact the USWNT plays a friendly against Portugal (The Women) earlier in the day.
  • If she is scratched from the lineup, it would make her available.
• Were she to dress for the game, she would become the first woman to actively participate in an NFL game.
  • There have been women on rosters before, but none have ever dressed.
• Early candidates are the Bears and the Panthers – who lost Graham Gano to a leg injury early on in camp.

Tonight’s sports:

• MLB:
  • Atlanta at Toronto – 7:00PM | Sportsnet
  • Rangers at Angels – 10:00PM | FS1
• WNBA Basketball:
  • Los Angeles Sparks at Washington Mystics – 7:00PM | ESPN2
  • Phoenix at New York – 7:00PM | Sportsnet1
• U.S. Open Tennis:
  • First Round – 7:00PM | ESPN / TSN
• WWE:
  • Smackdown Live! – 8:00PM | USA / Sportsnet360

It all seems easy. Too easy…