Your “I Hear Vinny Testaverde Ain’t Busy” Wednesday Evening Open Thread

NFL News:

• Well, let’s look at the Green Bay rumour mill:
  • Bruce Arians – not interested.
    • A disappointment to those in rural Wisconsin looking forward to possible Arian supremacy.
  • Josh McDaniels – flattered to be considered, but not interested.
    • According to Robert Kraft, who’s not going through that again.
  • Jim Harbaugh – PFT speculates he’s tired on working the college scene.
    • Especially now that his nemesis, Urban Meyer, has retired.
  • Joe Philbin – interested, but has to “prove himself”
    • Getting rid of competitors on staff is a good first start, like…
  • Associate coach Winston Moss – fired after posting an inflammatory tweet.
    • He was a “McCarthy guy”, so this was either venting or a way to get out of his contract.

Ponder this… what Championship teams have are great leadership! Period! It’s not the offensive guru trend, it’s not the safe trend. Find somebody that is going to hold #12 and everybody in this building to a #LombardiStandard! Period! #losingsucks!

— Winston Moss (@CoachMossXFL) December 4, 2018

• The NFL on Tuesday placed umpire Roy Ellison on administrative leave while it investigates whether he called Bills DE Jerry Hughes a “bitch”.
  • Ellison, in his 16th year as an NFL official, was previously suspended one game without pay in 2013 for allegedly making a profane and derogatory statement to Washington Redskins offensive lineman Trent Williams.
    • He called him a “garbage-ass, disrespectful m—–f—–.”
  • Ellison worked last year’s Super Bowl, and is one of the full-time paid officials, so the league is in a bind because they can’t blame his behaviour on the stress of managing two jobs.

• Some more details of the Rams-PSL settlement were disclosed today.
  • The licence sales were based on paying for a 30-year lease, but only receiving 21 years of St. Louis football by the Rams organization.
    • The settlement will reflect refunding the nine outstanding years, plus costs.
      • Said attorney Ryan Bruning, “The PSL holders paid for 30 years of NFL football in St. Louis, but got just 21 years. They should get their money back for the years of football they paid for but never received. Under this agreement, they will.”

• Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the Ryan Shazier hit.
  • He posted a long Instagram tribute to all those who’ve helped him during the course of that year.

• Pour one out for the Donks – Emmanuel Sanders has torn his Achilles.
  • He ripped it during passing drills in practice.

• They named the XFL cities today.  
  • Eight teams in total, to start, and where they’ll play:
    • New York/New Jersey: MetLife Stadium
    • Dallas: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas
    • Houston: TDECU Stadium in Houston
    • Los Angeles: StubHub Center in Carson, California
    • St. Louis: The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis
    • Seattle: CenturyLink Field in Seattle
    • Tampa Bay: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
    • Washington, D.C.: Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
  • The first XFL games will be played on February 8 and 9, 2020, one week after Super Bowl LIV.

• Collusion talk is accelerating after Washington signed first-overall protected pick in the Alliance of American Football draft Josh Johnson.
  • Johnson, who did play in Tampa under Jay Gruden, hasn’t thrown an NFL in-game pass since 2011.
  • But they’re apparently fine signing a serial woman beater, which also isn’t a good look.
  • Counterpoint:

Meanwhile down the road the Ravens have adjusted to a completely different style QB for 3 games and they're 3-0. https://t.co/BIoEhThUzD

— Melissa Jacobs 💙 (@thefootballgirl) December 4, 2018

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Oilers at Blues – 8:00PM | NBCSN / Sportsnet
  • Blackhawks at Ducks – 10:30PM | NBCSN
• NBA:
  • Warriors at Cavs – 7:00PM | TSN
  • 76ers at Raptors – 8:00PM | ESPN / Sportsnet1
  • Spurs at Lakers – 10:30PM | ESPN / Sportsnet1
• NCAA:
  • Hartford at Duke – 7:00PM | ESPN2 / TSN.ca
  • VCU at Texas – 8:00PM | ESPNU
  • Temple at Villanova – 8:30PM | FS1
  • North Carolina (Wilmington) at *North Carolina – 9:00PM | ESPN2
  • TCU at SMU – 10:00PM | ESPNU

I really hope Dan Snyder gets all this sorted out soon. It’s not that I particularly like him or his team, but I don’t need the Cowboys & their fans having hope. FUCK ‘EM ALL!