NFL News:

• Someone finally paid for the Seahawks missing the playoffs, and it’s………Darrell Bevell, offensive coordinator since 2011.
  • Or, as Deadspin put it,

• Well, it’s also now looking like Tom Cable (fired!) and Kris Richard (“pursuing other opportunities“!) are done with the Hawks as well.
  • To reference a tweet WCS made me aware of:

https://twitter.com/drewmagary/status/951206833498226688

Now seems a good opportunity to reflect on the good times the Seahawks have provided DFO. You will be missed, Rage Monster Tom Cable.

•  Hirings!:
  • The hot coaching rumour of the day is Matt Patricia to the Giants.
    • Hopefully as early as this weekend, if don_t can get Mariota to play ball on the matter.
  • The flattest coaching rumour of the day is Mike Pettine to the Packers, to replace Dom Capers.
    • Apparently, a 10-22 record in Cleveland gets you fired.
  • The PFT-iest rumour of the day is Mike Shula to the Seahawks.
    • Given the rebuild he did on Cam Newton, Florio suspects that Pete Carroll will be looking for someone who can cater to Russell Wilson’s strengths. Mike Shula might fit that plan.

• Given all the regime change in Cleveland – they added Ron Wolf’s son Eliot this morning – Joe Haden has words about his departure for the Steelers.
  • “They were going to pay Brock Osweiler $16 million and he’s not even on the team [after being signed and cut this summer],” Haden told Sports Illustrated, “and they wanted to cut money from me!”

• The League announced that Baker Mayfield will not be excluded from the combine due to his arrest & conviction on charges from February 2017.
  • The distinction between him & Joe Mixon is that Mayfield’s incident didn’t involve violence, just intoxication.

Facts about Pugsley Addams: (I’ll leave the Wednesday gifs for the comments)

• Original name: Pubert (changed due to 1964 sensibilities)
  • Given to the baby in Addams Family Values in tribute to Charles Addams.
• Played by:
  • TV:
    • 1964 series: Ken Weatherwax
    • 1970s animated series: voiced by Jodie Foster
    • 1998 series: Brody Smith
  • Film:
    • Jimmy Workman (Addams Family, Addams Family Values)
    • Jerry Messing (Addams Family Reunion)
      • he played “Gordon Crisp” on Freaks & Geeks

Because I’ve got nothing else to add into the middle of this post, I thought I’d look ahead to key 2018 dates on the NFL calendar:

• January 31:
  • Deadline for NFL clubs to try out and negotiate with CFL players whose 2017 contracts are due to expire at 12 noon, New York time, on February 13.
• February 13:
  • Beginning at 12 noon, New York time, NFL clubs may begin to sign players whose 2017 CFL contracts have expired. Players under contract to a CFL club for the 2018 season or who have an option for the 2018 season are not eligible to be signed.
• February 20:
  • First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
    • Deadline: March 6, 4:00PM ET
• March 12-14: Beginning of unrestricted free agency contact & contract negotiations.
• March 14:
  • The 2018 league year and free agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
    • Open Thread!
• April 20:
  • Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign offer sheets.
• April 26-28:
  • 2018 NFL Draft, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX.

That should get us through the majority of the offseason. Otherwise, pitchers & catchers report in 33 days, on February 13.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhN1ExFCXNA

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Senators at Leafs – 7:30PM | Sportsnet
  • Wild at Blackhawks – 8:00PM | NBCSN
• NBA:
  • Thunder at Timberwolves – 8:00PM | ESPN / TSN
  • Clippers at Warriors – 10:30PM | ESPN / TSN
• NCAA:
  • Duke at Pittsburgh – 7:00PM | ESPN2
  • Notre Dame at Georgia Tech – 7:00PM | ESPNU
  • Xavier at Villanova – 8:00PM | FS1
  • Georgia at Missouri – 9:00PM | ESPN2
  • TCU at Texas – 9:00PM | ESPNU
  • Colorado at Southern California – 10:00PM | FS1

It’s never too soon to conceive an off-season writing project for yourself. THERE IS ALWAYS CONTENT TO BE MINED!