NFL News:

• Jay Cutler has been placed in concussion protocol.
  • They weren’t sure if anything was wrong until the doctor asked where he was and Cutty replied, “at your office, to get my kids vaccinated”.
  • Might as well just give the Pats the division at this point.
• The rumours are coming down, via Sporting News, that the upcoming ESPN layoffs could add up to between 80-100 people.
  • “ESPN is dealing with three simple math problems. They have fewer subscribers than they planned for. They have higher costs than they planned for. They lower ratings than they hoped for,” said one source.
• The Bears have cut Connor Barth and signed Cairo Santos.
  • That’ll show anyone else who questions Foxy’s leadership that 10-32 is a serious record to a serious man.
• EVERYTHING’S FINE! – Broncos edition:
  • Mike McCoy is the first one to pay for the losing streak.
    • Because the offensive coordinator was clearly responsible for signing Brock Osweiler & Trevor Siemian.
  • John Elway says the Broncos have gotten “a little bit soft”.
    • Some players are perturbed

A devastated CJ Anderson on his fumble in the fourth:

"This shit hurts man"#Broncos #BroncosCountry@@CBSDenver pic.twitter.com/qgcIMhNAvM

— RG 📷 (@RyanGreeneDNVR) November 20, 2017

• Stealing from Crimebeat! – Packers edition
  • Only coming out now because of the court date last week, injured Packers RB Aaron Jones was stopped on October 1 for a litany of charges.
    • According to records obtained by ESPN, operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in his system, speeding (24 mph over the posted speed limit of 55) and operating a vehicle without a valid license.
      • “controlled substance” = the Mary Jane
  • The League will step in once the legal process has concluded.

Finally, the Georgia Dome was imploded today.

It was adjacent to the new stadium, also has a roof that didn’t open, and has Donald Trump wondering why the building to the south of it in this picture wasn’t also taken down as “collateral damage”.

#FAKENEWS

Didja miss me?

Before you shatter my ego, let me just say this. I was supposed to be away two weeks because of:

• Vacation; and really just my wife’s need to take a trip to keep her airline status; and
• Because I was supposed to be away this week due to another colonoscopy.

But, after the trip got wrapped up, the procedure was cancelled late last week. So, I asked the DFO executrixes if I could resume my duties until I’m rebooked & have to go back into the hospital. They gave me a resounding “ehh…sure?”, so here I am.

There will be a “Boots on the Ground” from the trip, hopefully tomorrow. I’ve been rebooked for December 8th, so I’ll be here up until the 6th. Mazel Tov!

Game preview: Falcons at Seahawks

Had everything gone right with my procedure, I would have had today & tomorrow off “sick” so I could have attended this game in person. However, given the crappy weather & snow above 1500 feet, I’m actually glad I’m not driving south today to go watch this thing.

I guess it’s good they imploded the Georgia Dome while Atlanta is in Seattle, so Pete Carroll can forgo any defensive game planning to instead grill Arthur Blank & Dan Quinn about who else was involved in bringing down the dome.

The point spread is still three points & favours the Seahawks, but that seems kind of flexible. The Hawks are down to backups & recent signees at most of the defensive positions, and still have no running game to speak of. There’s going to be more Legion of Boom members in streets on the sidelines than playing in the game. Dwight Freeney might’ve preferred to have stayed retired. Seattle’s game preview on their website reads like a cult leader trying to deny anything’s wrong. If the Charmslinger survives the game upright, that might be the sole victory Pete Carroll takes from the contest.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta defense is coming off beating the Cowboys hard; it’s never good when the broadcast compares the number of sacks Dak takes to rookie Troy Aikman, although I’m sure he’s glad for the refresher since he doesn’t remember that year. The Falcons offense is alright at best, and Julio Jones should be able to exploit whatever converted lacrosse players the Seahawks will have playing safety. If the Falcons O-line can keep Matt Ryan from being beat into becoming the checkdown-king, he should get over 300 yards. The key tonight will be Devonta Freeman; if he has over 30 yards by the end of the first quarter, it’s going to be a long night for the 12s because having to focus on stopping the run will expose Seattle’s zone defence to Atlanta’s air attack.

I’ve got pulled pork marinating in the fridge, which is going into the oven the second I get home from school, so I predict the only true winner tonight will be my taste buds.

Tonight’s sports:

• Monday Night Football:
  • Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks – 8:15PM | ESPN / TSN
• NHL:
  • Columbus at Buffalo – 7:00PM | Sportsnet
  • Ducks at Sharks – 10:30PM | Sportsnet
•  NBA:
  • Thunder at Pelicans – 8:00PM | TSN2
• NCAA:
  • Men’s Basketball:
    • Texas A&M at Oklahoma State – 7:00PM | ESPN2
    • Hampton at Xavier – 8:30PM | FS1
    • Baylor at Wisconsin – 9:30PM | ESPN2
    • Michigan at LSU – 11:00PM | ESPNU
    • U*NC at Stanford – 11:30PM | ESPN2
• WWE:
  • Monday Night Raw – 8:00PM | USA / Sportsnet360
    • the post-Survivor Series show – getting things set up for the Rumble

It’s good to be back in the saddle. AT LEAST I CAN STILL SIT! FOR NOW!!