NFL Natterings:

• Well, Deshaun Watson’s lawyer is making friends at the NFL head office.
  • He said “some of the women did not feel like they were being respected” during their first three meetings with the league’s lead investigator, Lisa Friel.
    • Friel had a career as the chief of the sex crimes unit in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and has been the NFL’s special counsel for investigations for the last six years.
  • The League’s response was that “Lisa has earned a stellar reputation as a consummate professional who conducts investigations and interviews with compassion and fairness in an effort to determine the truth.”
    • “The investigation includes gathering information, monitoring law enforcement developments and conducting interviews with relevant people willing to participate with counsel present.”

• The Packers have solved their QB problem by signing check-down master Blake Bortles to a one-year deal.
  • He hasn’t played since 2019 when he was a Rams backup.

Schedule Release Day took most of the steam out of the NFL’s engine. But it built in some marketable drama:

• Brady returns to Boston in Week Four to play the Patriots, and that could also be the week he passes Drew Brees on the all-time yardage list.
  • And the Patriots are delighted to find out that they will face three opponents coming off a bye week, and on net the Patriots will have 15 fewer rest days than their opponents.
• The Lions visit the Rams in Week Seven, so Jared Goff gets to go home again.
• While Jags-Bengals has all the natural appeal of watching dogs eat grass, it does allow for a 2019 BCS rematch between Joe Burrow & Trevor Lawrence.

I was bored trying to pep up tonight’s thread, but the title – which I came up with long before I had to conceive more words – helped me out once that wall had my faceprint on it.

There are always three stills that can explain every Star Trek Original Series episode:

1. The Enterprise at a planet that has an old guy living with a much younger wife/daughter

2. Kirk eventually does his thing.

3. Conflict!

The rest usually sorts itself out. Usually, that involves Scotty drinking.

You magnificent bastard.

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Canucks at Flames – 9:00pm | Sportsnet
• NBA:
  • Bucks vs Pacers – 7:00pm | Spoprtsnet360
  • 76ers vs Heat – 7:30pm | TNT
  • Raptors vs. Bulls – 8:00pm | TSN
  • Trail Blazers vs Suns – 10:00pm | TNT
• MLB:
  • Yankees at Rays – 7:00pm | Sportsnet1
  • Indians vs. Mariners – 10:00pm | TSN2
  • Ken Burns’ “Baseball” – 9:00pm & 1:00am – PBS
    • Inning 8 – “A Whole New Ball Game” – the 1960s.
• Fútbol:
  • Liga MX:
    • Pachuca Vs. Club América – 7:30pm | Univision
    • Santos Laguna Vs. Monterrey – 10:00pm | FS1
• For Joliet Jake – Impact Wrestling – 8:00pm | AXS / Fight Network Canada
  • “Before six of the most dangerous men in IMPACT Wrestling compete for an IMPACT World Title opportunity at Under Siege, they will first collide in six-man tag team action on IMPACT! Buckle up as Moose, Sami Callihan and Chris Bey take on Matt Cardona, Trey Miguel and Chris Sabin! Who will gain momentum heading into Under Siege?”