Your “How Do I Do This Again?” Tuesday Evening Open Thread

Okay, let’s see if I can go a week without something bad happening. Can it be 2021 already?

NFL Nuggets:

• Trade rumours in advance of the Combine:
  • Le’Veon Bell  
  • Darius Slay
  • Cam Newton
    • Today’s non-Bears landing spots: Chargers, Colt, Bucs.
  • Andy Dalton.

• Impending free agents:
  • Tom Brady is going to make teams come to him.
  • Teddy Bridgewater is going to hit the market.
    • Because Drew Brees announced he’s returning for 2020.

• Cut for cap space:
  • The Browns cut four players Monday, freeing up $13 million in cap room.
    • The four were cornerback T.J. Carrie, tight end Demetrius Harris, guard Eric Kush and linebacker Adarius Taylor.
  • Because none of them had any guaranteed money heading into 2020, the Browns didn’t face any penalties.

• Making noise:
  • Joe Burrow is sounding like 2004 Eli Manning, in that he’s discussing the “leverage” he has in advance of the Draft.

    

    • Although he is from Ohio, and has said he’d look forward to playing “for whichever team picked him”, the rookie salary cap means that he can’t max out money, so he might try to influence who picks him.
      • The best he can do is a four-year, fully-guaranteed contract worth more than $36 million.
    • But, after meeting with Carson Palmer, he also said, “You want to go No. 1. But you also want to go to a great organization that is committed to winning. Committed to winning Super Bowls.”

• Pardoned:
  • Eddie DeBartolo, by President Cheeto earlier today.
    • Invited guests were NFL greats Jerry Rice, Jim Brown, Ronnie Lott.  
      • “You know what, we all make mistakes and today the president cleared that mistake from him,” said Haley.
  • I’m all for it if he’s able to get Jed York the fuck out of Santa Clara.
  • Also given free passes today: former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and ex-New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik.

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Leafs at Penguins – 7:00PM | NBCSN / Sportsnet
• NBA:
  • no games scheduled – last night of the all-star break
• NCAA:
  • Illinois at Penn State – 6:30PM | FS1
  • Purdue at Wisconsin – 7:00PM | ESPN
  • Oklahoma State at West By God Virginia – 7:00PM | ESPN2
  • Creighton at Marquette – 8:30PM | FS1
  • Kentucky at LSU – 9:00PM | ESPN
  • Baylor at Oklahoma – 9:00PM | ESPN2
  • Nevada at New Mexico – 9:00PM | ESPNU

I seem to be saying this a lot lately, but thanks to everyone who has been covering my unfortunate behind the last month or so. I will try to avoid missing more dates in future.