That Scattered Thursday Night Open Thread

It’s all the news that’s fit to, uh, stick in your craw, I guess.

The Big Turk: I wanted to throw an over-sized pic of that chocolate bar as the banner image but I figured some folks might get triggered. I remember way back when reading a story by that title in Sports Illustrated by I believe Peter Gent who was the author of North Dallas Forty and who played for the Cowboys. It was the name given to Cutdown Day, when you were asked to gather your playbook and have a visit with your position coach.

These (salary cap) days things are different. Now it’s called something along the lines of “30 Is The New Get The Fuck Out Of Here, We Bungled The Cap Badly And You’re Paying The Price”. Folks like Poyer, White, Simmons, Byard and Diggs heard their names called and now get to play at or close to veteran minimums because G.M’s can’t see two years out or went all-in because they thought their window was open. Or maybe their QB’s cap number ballooned from 18 mil to 46 mil. [Josh Allen hears the sounds of “Baby Elephant” playing in his head] Something like that.

Kadarius Takes Notes: Ben Simmons is done for the year because of a dicey back.

-The Falcons 2nd-best tight end cashed in. Jonnu Smith, he of the career highs in catches and yards-because the illustrious Arthur Smith chose to use Kyle Pitts as a decoy-cashed in to the tune of 10 mil over two years with the Fins. Speaking again of guys and strange tight end deployment, what’s up with Mike McDaniels? He chased cromulent Mike Gesicki out of town and made Durham Smythe catch 35 balls. But he cut his teeth in Baby Shanny’s offense that made Kittle go gangbusters? I don’t get it.

-Lower Tier Basketball Aficionados, it’s time to celebrate! Teams like Utah Tech, North Alabama (geographically, the worst place of all the Bamas), Rider, Tarleton State, Green Bay and Cal Poly have all burrowed out of the basements of their respective conferences and are on display for perhaps one night only! (tonight) (Also, I’ve not a clue how well these teams did, I wasn’t going to look up their records)

-Free Agents Headed to the Giants?: All of them, or hear me out, none of them. I’m tired of listening to the hot takes. Saquon’s gone, Waller hasn’t a clue and no one knows if Dimes will be ready for the start of his last season. Oy vey!

It’s all you but just a little bit of me.