Your “Talk Amongst Yourselves, Again” Thursday Evening Open Thread

NFL News:

It’s very quiet. So what is available is more pronounced because of the silence elsewhere.

• Urban Meyer is having the expected difficulties adjusting to life in the pros, and specifically around the fact that these players have “contracts” with “stipulations” that “limits” their exploitation.
  • The Jags & he already got busted once for violating OTA regulations.
    • Players aren’t forced to spend time with him, and can skip voluntary workouts, which weren’t “voluntary” in college.
  • he’s frustrated that he has to work within what the law considers “employment guidelines” that have been negotiated & not imposed.

• Today was franchise-tag deadline day.
  • That means guys like Bears receiver Allen Robinson, Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin, Jaguars tackle Cam Robinson, Washington guard Brandon Scherff, Jets safety Marcus Maye, and Panthers tackle Taylor Moton will be widely available after the season.
    • So long as the gamble they won’t get injured pays off.
  • Because they didn’t sign deals before the deadline, they are playing on their one-year tag amount this season.
    • It makes sense, since the salary cap will rise next year, so any deal they signed now would be worth less money cumulatively versus signing next year.

• Oof – this Richard Sherman thing. 
  • Initial headlines were all about the “burglary – domestic violence” charge.
    • Following the “If it bleeds, it leads” maxim for highlighting a lede.
      • There are also charges of suspicion of resisting arrest and malicious mischief on the table.
    • And it’s a “domestic violence” charge because of his relationship to the people whose home he tried to break into – “attempting to force entry into a family member’s home.”
      • It’s why, under Washington state law, he was remanded until a bail hearing.
  • A new day has brought some unfortunate nuance to the situation.
    • It all started with a 911 call from his wife.
      • He was intoxicated and threatening to kill himself.
        • She asked for help, but also pleaded that the responding officers “please don’t shoot,” and said Sherman told her he would fight police if they arrived.
      • Soon after she hung up because police were on route, she called again to say he was driving to her parents’ house in Redmond.
        • This is what apparently leads to an alleged hit-and-run and DUI while driving through a closed construction zone that preceded the incident at his in-laws’ house.
          • He drove into a closed construction site, then allegedly drove away with popped tires before abandoning the vehicle in a nearby parking lot.
    • When he arrived at their house, he allegedly tried to break into his in-laws’ home and then fought with officers, who used a police dog to apprehend him.
      • Sherman suffered minor cuts to his lower leg that were caused by the dog and was treated at a hospital before being taken to jail.
        • The police also got a warrant for a blood draw, since there was an investigation into his behaviour on the highway, so charges of DUI and hit & run are likely pending.
  • The 49ers have said they will support Sherman with appropriate resources during this time.
    • Despite the fact he is officially not with the team anymore.

Tonight’s sports: oh man, it’s bleak

• MLB:
  • Red Sox vs. Yankees – 7:00pm | ESPN / TSN3
• Futbol:
  • Gold Cup:
    • Haiti vs. Canada – 7:30pm
    • Martinique vs. USA – 9:30pm
• Wrestling for Jake:
  • IMPACT – 8:00pm | AXS / FiteNetwork Canada

Tomorrow is Sexy, so I’ll see you on the weekend. I expect it’ll be quiet in the clubhouse tonight.