Author: Dave Ettinger

Dave is a Trending News Sports Writer for Athlon Sports, covering breaking and trending news across major sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, college football and basketball. With over 10 years of experience in sports media, Dave’s versatility extends to television, radio, and journalism. In addition to his role at Athlon Sports, Dave works in TV Production at ESPN, where he manages the production, editing, and processing of shows and events that re-air across ESPN's network of channels. Prior to joining ESPN, Dave served as an Executive Producer at WFAN and CBS Sports Radio, further solidifying his expertise in sports media. Dave earned his bachelor’s degree in Media Communications from SUNY College at Old Westbury, bringing both his education and extensive industry experience to his roles across various platforms.

IT’S BRACKET TIME!!!!

March 12, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

It’s here. It’s finally here!!

No, not Christmas, March Madness!!

It’s like Christmas, minus the awkward, social obligation to buy people you barely know (or like) gifts.

Anyway, this is, ‘I collectively watched 12 minutes of college basketball this season, but I’m suddenly an expert’ week. Others fill out brackets based on their favorite mascots or jersey colors. Either way, filling my bracket(s) with check marks and x’s fills my soul with happiness. Before we get to my predictions, let’s analyze the field of “68”.

#1 Seeds

Virginia, Villanova, Kansas, and Xavier. They got these right this year. While watching the #1 overall seed, Virginia, play basketball is like watching paint dry, their defensive style is effective. They finished the year 31-2, their only losses coming to West Virginia and Virginia Tech. Villanova, the #2 overall seed, overshadowed by Virginia, will look to sneak their way through the weakest bracket in the tournament (East).

To see the entire bracket, click here.

Bubble Teams

No matter how many teams are in the tournament, 64, 68, there will always be an odd man out. This year, it’s Notre Dame. According to the NCAA Tournament Committee, Notre Dame was team 69, so Davidson upsetting Rhode Island Sunday afternoon was the final nail in the Notre Dame coffin.

The last team in, Syracuse. In year’s past, I would have thrown my arms in the air, stomped my feet like a child, and screamed about tournament snubs. Honestly, I don’t have the time or energy for that anymore. Every team straddling the “bubble” has an argument one way or the other. Syracuse, Louisville, UCLA, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, USC, St. Marys, and Oklahoma State all fall into the same category; mediocre basketball teams.

The crazy part is, one of the last teams in, usually makes a deep run in the tournament, “justifying” their entrance. Even though Oklahoma has only won two games since February 1st, Trae Young’s Oklahoma Sooners can beat anyone on any given day. Arizona State has also shown the ability to beat anyone, with wins against not one, but two #1 seeds; Kansas and Xavier.

Under Appreciated and Under Seeded

While I’m not going to throw my hands in the air, I do have an issue with some of the seeding in this tournament. Arizona and Auburn deserve better than #4 seeds. Arizona won the Pac-12 regular season title, the Pac-12 conference championship, and they have presumably the #1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft on their roster (DeAndre Ayton). They should have been swapped with Texas Tech (a #3 seed), losers of 5 of their last 7 games.

Auburn should also feel slighted. They finished with a better record then Tennessee, AND they beat Tennessee, IN TENNESSEE!! How are they a #4 seed, while Tennessee is inexplicably a #3 seed??

As for my predictions, they’re coming….

on Thursday.

Check back with DaveTalksSports.com on Thursday morning to find my upsets, locks, and most importantly, my National Champion.

What do you think of the bracket?? Who were the biggest snubs?? Who was under seeded or over seeded?? Answer my questions in the comment section below!!

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

All Trilogies Are Not Made The Same

March 9, 2018March 9, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Some movie trilogies are awesome, like Batman (The Dark Knight).

Others, like I Know What You Did Last Summer, are so unbelievably bad, self-inflicted injury becomes a viable option. I know. I couldn’t believe they made three of those movies either!!

There’s one trilogy, Duke VS. UNC, that never disappoints. After splitting their regular season matchups (each holding serve at home), they’ll meet tonight in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament. A #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament potentially hangs in the balance….

“It’s a big-time game,” North Carolina senior Theo Pinson said. “Everyone and their mama gonna be watching the game tomorrow. I’m going to be ready. My teammates are going to be ready.”

Both teams advanced last night. UNC is fresh off of their 82-65 victory over Miami, while Duke took down Notre Dame 88-70.

UNC wasn’t as dominant as the score would dictate. With 3:50 to play, UNC led by just 4 points, however, Theo Pinson would add 5 of his 25 points, helping the Tar Heels pull away.

Duke, on the other hand, only trailed for 36 seconds in the entire game (when they were down 3-2).

If Marvin Bagley III plays like he did last night (33 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal), and everyone’s least favorite player in the world, Grayson Allen, makes five 3-pointers, Duke will be tough to handle.

UNC faithful will hope for a bounce back performance by Luke Maye. DON’T COUNT ON IT!! Maye scored just 2 points on 1 of 15 shooting from the field last night. While he did lead the game in rebounds (13), he was effectively useless all night. If you’ve watched a healthy amount of UNC basketball this season, you know Luke Maye disappears against top-25 teams. Every single game he’s played against top-25 teams, he’s posted points and rebounds FAR below his season average.

UNC will have to be on their offensive game, as Duke’s zone-defense has befuddled the opposition all season. Expect Marvin Bagley III to show the nation, once again, why he’s the National Player of the Year. You can catch all the action tonight on ESPN @ 9:00 P.M. EST.

Score Prediction: Duke 76, UNC 74

Who’s going to win tonight?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.

NFL — The Sport That Never Sleeps!!

March 8, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Off-season?? What’s an off-season?!

The NFL knows no such word.

Just 32 days since the end of the 2017 season, the NFL is in full swing. The NFL Combine entertained the world from February 27th through March 5th. And the official “start” of the NFL season is just 6 days away. On March 14th, the free agency market will officially open for business, and numerous players will find new homes. Can’t wait that long???? Have no fear, random trades in March are here….

Alec Ogletree

The New York Giants, in what many would call a surprise move, have traded for Alec Ogletree. Ogletree, formerly of the Los Angles Rams, plays a position of need for the Giants; linebacker. Here’s a recap of the full trade:

New York Giants Receive:

Alec Ogletree and a 2019 7th-round pick

Los Angeles Rams Receive:

A 2018 4th-round pick and a 2018 6th-round pick

I LIKE this trade for the Giants. At 26-years old, Ogletree is a talented linebacker entering his prime. He doesn’t come with a tremendous financial burden, as the Giants will owe him just $38 million over the next 4 years ($10 million guaranteed). Most importantly, Ogletree fills a need for the G-Men.

The only downside to this trade for the Giants is giving away draft picks. No, 4th and 6th-round picks aren’t wildly valuable, but a team in the midst of a rebuild is better served receiving picks rather than giving them away (ahem..New York..cough cough..Knicks..ahem).

This was strictly business for the Rams. Just 4 days after trading DE Robert Quinn to the Miami Dolphins, the Rams shed a combined $60 million by moving Ogletree as well.

Michael Bennett

The Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks are heading in opposite directions. The Eagles, fresh off of their 1st ever Super Bowl victory, are looking to make it back-to-back. The Seahawks, on the other hand, hardly resemble the ‘Legion of Boom’ that hoisted the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl XLVIII.

Philadelphia Eagles Receive:

Michael Bennett and a 7th-round pick

Seattle Seahawks Receive:

WR Marcus Johnson and a 5th-round pick

This move is simple. Beefing up their defensive line gives the Eagles a great chance of dominating the world again next season. Tearing it down is the route the Seahawks are taking. Don’t be surprised if Kam Chancellor, Cliff Avril, Richard Sherman, and Bobby Wagner are wearing different jerseys next season.

What do you think of these trades?? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

There Are Two Sides To Every Coin

March 7, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

Everyone cheats.

But Dave, not everyone is dishone….

Yeah, they are.

See, a “competitive advantage” can mean a million different things. Is it the tug of an opponent’s jersey when the referee isn’t looking?? Is it pumping artificial crowd noise into your stadium when your opponent has the ball?? Or is it a government-run, doping scheme an entire country takes part in??

Now, I’m not saying performance enhancing drugs are being handed out on every street corner like free samples, but it’s like anything illegal….if you want it, you can get it.

Canelo Alvarez got it. News broke Monday evening that Canelo tested positive for two banned substances according to the VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association). These results found the presence of Clenbuterol and Adverse in Canelo’s system from his February 17th drug test. Levels of 0.06-0.08 ng/ml (nanogram per milliliter) were found in each urine sample.

Canelo proclaims these positive tests were a result of consuming contaminated meat. Hey Canelo, you have something hanging off your lip. No, not there. THERE IT IS!! Ahhh, it was bull****.

Here’s the thing….

This story sounds like a big deal. “Boxing fans” will be disappointed. Moral perfectionists will sling judgments around like a football. And the pundits will question every Canelo victory.

In reality, this story is not a big deal. Canelo will still fight Gennady Golovkin, aka GGG, on May 5th. CINCO DE MAYO!! Canelo will still make millions of dollars for 36 minutes, or less, of work. And the “fake outrage” regarding performance enhancing drugs will continue, as no one really cares if athletes use them.

_______________________________________________________________________________

On the lighter side of things, Shaquem Griffin can not go unnoticed. Shaquem Griffin is a linebacker from the University of Central Florida. This past weekend, Griffin stole the show at the NFL Combine. He was born with a congenital condition, and his left hand had to be amputated at the age of four. That has never stopped Griffin from achieving his goals, and his performance at the combine is a testament to that attitude. Griffin posted the fastest 40-yard dash for a linebacker since 2003 (4.38 seconds). And with the use of a prosthetic arm, Griffin was able to post 20-reps on the bench press (225 lbs.).

Check out his 40-yard dash here, and his bench press here.

Following the bench press, Griffin said, “I was aiming for about 6 reps, and my personal best is 11, but I could feel the energy of everybody in the room. My adrenaline went through the roof, and when I heard 16, I said, oh yeah, I’m goin’ for 20.”

Griffin should be an inspiration to us all. People tend to complain, feel sorry for themselves, and make excuses for why they haven’t accomplished certain things. Griffin should serve as a reminder that anything is possible, no matter the circumstances. Griffin is projected to be drafted in the 4th round of this year’s NFL Draft.

Do you care about Canelo Alvarez’s positive drug test?? Also, post an inspirational story in the comment section below.

It’s Time To Start Punching Tickets!!

March 5, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s March.

And that means more than ‘Spring is coming’. It means the Madness is upon us. This past Sunday (aka yesterday), four teams officially stamped their names in the bracket of 68:

Radford

Lipscomb

Loyola-Chicago

Michigan

One of these things is not like the other. Michigan, representing the Big Ten, is the first major conference to send their conference champion to the big dance. Now, they wait….

Radford

Unless you were overly concerned with the outcome of the Big South Conference Championship, you’ve probably never heard of Radford University. Radford is a small school located in Radford, Virginia. This will be their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2009, when they promptly got their butts kicked by UNC (101-58).

To advance to the dance, Radford took down Liberty University. Man, was this game ugly!! But then the television tells you this game ended in “thrilling” fashion. Yes, Carlik Jones hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. The result of play, exciting. The execution of the play, awful.

Watch the play here. Because nothing screams preparation like dribbling around, 30-feet from the basket, and hoisting an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer. Did I mention the game was tied, with 13 seconds to play, and they were coming out of a timeout?!

Lipscomb

The Lipscomb Bisons scored 108 points on Sunday. Insanity!! After scoring 60 points in the first half, and leading by as many as 32 points over FGCU, Lipscomb nearly choked this game away. With 7:05 to play, Lipscomb led by just 5 points. FGCU was able to storm back thanks to a 24-point half by senior guard, Brandon Goodwin. However, it was too little too late, as Lipscomb held on 108-96. Lipscomb will represent the Atlantic Sun Conference in their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

Loyola-Chicago

The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers are headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1964. They earned their tournament birth by beating up the Illinois State Redbirds Sunday, 65-49. This game was never close, so I don’t have to much to say here….

Michigan

After losing by a combined five points to Purdue (over two losses) during the regular season, Michigan was seeking revenge Sunday evening. Thanks to big-time performances from Moritz Wagner and Jon Teske, Michigan defeated Purdue 75-66. Wagner dropped 17, and Teske dropped 14. For those (degenerates) who bet the over of 141.5, all I have to say is; OUCH!!

And now, Michigan and company will have to wait an extra week for the REAL tournament. Hooray scheduling!!

By the way, Purdue will NOT go far in the NCAA Tournament. They rely on one player, Isaac Haas. Granted that player is 7’2″ and virtually unstoppable, but it’s a hard tournament to win playing one-on-five.

**Murray State also clinched a birth to the NCAA Tournament, defeating Belmont 68-51 on Saturday.

Did you watch any of these games?? If so, please post your thoughts, comments, questions, and concerns in the comment section below.

What’s Your Name Again??

March 2, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Who are you??

I’m sorry, I’ve never heard of you before. Can I see some identification please??

In the wide world of sports, many athletes fly under the radar. Some ride the bench, so they go unnoticed for good reason. Others, however, are “unknown superstars”. Today, we’ve comprised a list of the best athletes most people didn’t know existed.

Justin Thomas

justin thomas

Casual golf fans, if such a group exists, have heard of Tiger Woods. They’ve also probably heard of Phil Mickelson. But that’s about it. They probably haven’t heard of Justin Thomas. Thomas is currently the 3rd ranked golfer in the world. He’s already won two PGA Tour events this year, after winning five last year (including a Major). Oh, and he’s currently in 1st place in the FedEx Cup Standings. Not bad for a 5’10”, 145 pound, 24-year old man who could blend into a crowd easier than Where’s Waldo.

Whit Merrifield

whit

If you know who Whit Merrifield is, I’ll be impressed. Merrifield currently plays second base for the Kansas City Royals. At 29 years old, he’s looking to duplicate his success from last season. Merrifield was one of only two players to hit at least 15 home runs and steal at least 30 bases. The other; Jose Altuve. Colliding in the same sentence with the reigning AL MVP isn’t what I’d call a bad thing.

Nikita Kucherov

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning

I’ll give you a hint. His team has the best record in his sport. Give up?? Nikita Kucherov plays in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning. They currently hold the best record in the league at 44-17 (92 points). Kucherov, despite never having entered a conversation in your living room, is leading the NHL in points (82). Yeah, the 24-year old is that good.

Megan Rapinoe

megan-rapinoe-1024

How is that you’ve never heard of one of the best soccer players in this country?! Megan Rapinoe is an international superstar. Rapinoe plays for the Seattle Reign FC in the National Women’s Soccer League and is part of the U.S. Women’s National Team. Rapinoe was a crucial part of their gold medals at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics. And she scored the lone goal in the U.S.’ victory over Germany yesterday. Shame on you for not knowing Megan Rapinoe!!

David Goffin

david goffin

If you were ranked 7th in the world, in an individual sport, you’d think people would know your name, no?! Well I’m betting most of you wouldn’t recognize David Goffin if you bumped into him on the street. Goffin won 2 single’s titles last year, and has been in the top-25 in the world tennis rankings since October of 2014.

Mario Addison

mario addison

I will be shocked if you know this next one. Who is Mario Addison?? Don’t go to the Google, that’s cheating. Okay, time’s up. Mario Addison is a defensive end the NFL. Addison has spent the past six seasons with the Carolina Panthers and may be the most overshadowed defensive player in the NFL. Addison is one of just seven players to average 10 or more sacks over the past two seasons.

Khris Middleton

khris-middleton

This one you may know, but his talent doesn’t match his name (or face) recognition. His celebrity status if you will. Khris Middleton is an extremely talented small forward for the Milwaukee Bucks. Middleton is one of only nine NBA players averaging at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists this season.

Had you heard of any of these athletes prior to today?? Don’t lie in my comment section!!

Spring Cleaning In February!!

March 1, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

It’s time for some Spring cleaning!!

Yes, I know it’s not Spring yet, but it’s time to organize that mess and take out the garbage. Some NFL teams couldn’t wait until March to throw away their unwanted trash, so they started cleanin’ house yesterday.

New York Jets

You have to know when to move on. We all make mistakes, but not everyone has the courage to put the past behind them. The New York Jets did that on Wednesday. By cutting Muhammad Wilkerson prior to March 16th, the Jets will save $11 million in salary cap space and $16.75 million overall.

After signing Wilkerson to a 5-year, $86 million deal in 2015 ($37 million guaranteed), the Jets thought they’d solidified one of the most important positions on the field. They thought wrong. VERY WRONG!!

It’s funny how some players’ stats rapidly decline the instant they sign on the dotted line. Wilkerson earned his $86 million contract with a career-high 12 sacks in 2015. But over the past 2 years, Wilkerson missed 4 games while only totaling 8 sacks. He showed up late 4 times (that we know about), and he genuinely looked like he lacked interest in playing football. Thanks for absolutely nothing Muhammad!! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!!

Chicago Bears

Speaking of wasting money, the Chicago Bears know what we’re talking about. After signing Mike Glennon to an unbelievably bad 3-year, $45 million contract, the Bears have released Glennon. He was paid $18.5 million for his “services” this past season while only appearing in 4 games. That’s $4.625 million per game. That’s a lot of moola.

By cutting Glennon, the Bears will save $9 million in salary cap space and $12.5 million overall. This was clearly a smart move, as Glennon is fit to be a 3rd-string quarterback for the rest of his career.

Matt Forte

In combined Jets and Bears news, Matt Forte is hangin’ em up. Forte is calling it quits after 10 years in the NFL (8 with the Bears, 2 with the Jets). In his prime, Forte was one of the best dual-threat running backs in the game. In 2014, he rushed for 1,038 yards while also catching 102 passes for 808 yards. Even though, as a Jets’ fan, I didn’t receive his prime, I always liked Matt Forte. He played the game the right way.

Carolina Panthers

It’s absolutely amazing Jonathan Stewart lasted this long in the NFL. Who knew you could get paid millions to be bad at something (insert Blake Bortles joke here)?? Stewart has played his entire 10-year career with the Carolina Panthers and is their all-time leading rusher. That’s sad. Stewart’s release will save $3.7 million in salary cap space and $5.2 million overall.

I can’t believe it took this long to cut Stewart. This doesn’t need to turn into a Jonathan Stewart bash session, but WOW. One. Jonathan Stewart had one thousand-yard season in 10 years. I’ll be shocked if he’s working in the NFL next season.

As the “start” of the NFL season approaches (March 14th), stay tuned for ALL of the Spring cleaning moves that are going to be put out to the curb.

Do you agree with these moves?? If you don’t, I’m not sure I can help you….

The Times They Are A-Changin’

February 28, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

It’s time to make some changes around here.

Everything evolves. People evolve (I’m not trying to start the debate to end all debates). The world evolves. And most importantly; sports evolve. Major organizations, such as the NFL and NCAA must evolve alongside their respective sport, or they’ll be left in the dust.

NFL

With the 2018 NFL Combine under way, the NFL competition committee figured it was an appropriate time to discuss potential rule changes. The most highly debated, controversial topic in the NFL has been the ‘catch rule’. No one watching, playing, coaching, or refereeing can define a catch. That has to change. And it looks like it will.

New York Giants’ owner, John Mara, who’s a committee member, had this to say, “It’s easy to say the rule has got to be changed, but coming up with the right language is a challenge.” Mara went on to say the committee unanimously agreed controversial incompletions like Dez Bryant’s in the 2014 playoffs and Calvin Johnson’s from the 2010 season would both be ruled completions moving forward. Finally, all those Dez Caught It! fantasy football team names will be accurate!!

The committee is also discussing modifying the defensive pass interference rule. Rather than being a spot foul, it would be a 15-yard penalty. In theory this makes sense, because the current rule assumes a completion, however, the proposed rule doesn’t account for a defender intentionally tackling a receiver by his feet, who’s wide open 50 yards down field. I don’t envy the committee, but at least they’re trying to evolve alongside the game of football.

NCAA

The NCAA, apparently, didn’t want to get left out of the rule changing fun. They’ll temporarily implement four rule changes during this year’s NIT (National Invitation Tournament):

The 3-point line will be moved back 20 inches. It’ll now be the same distance as used by FIBA in international play.
The free throw lane, aka “the key”, will be extended from 12 to 16 feet (the same size as the NBA).
Two 20-minute halves will be broken down to four 10-minute quarters.
Following an offensive rebound, the shot clock will reset to 20 seconds rather than 30.

While I’m not a fan of rule changes mid-season, 3 out of 4 of these are long overdue. The only one I disagree with is resetting the shot clock to 20 seconds. What’s the purpose of this rule?? Why shouldn’t the team, who earned another possession, receive another 30 seconds to attempt to score??

Even though most people are afraid of change, it’s a good thing. Embrace it, or the (sports) world may pass you by.

What do you think of these proposed rule changes?? If you have a rule change idea, post it in the comment section below.

Virginia Tech Adds Duke To Their Résumé

February 27, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Can you feel it?? It’s almost here!!

With March rapidly approaching, the “Madness” is nearly upon us. It’s the month of buzzer beaters, crumpled brackets, and watching college basketball while “working”.

Luckily, the world didn’t have to wait for the calendar to turn to enjoy a major upset. Monday night, #5 Duke fell to unranked Virginia Tech, 64-63. Despite leading by as many as 15 points, and 6 points at halftime, Duke faltered late. They scored just 3 points in the final 5:50 of the game. In the final two minutes, as the game hung in the balance, it wasn’t Virginia Tech’s best players to the rescue, it was Chris Clarke. Clarke, a bench player who averages just 8.1 points per game, scored the game’s final 6 points while also grabbing an offensive rebound and a steal.

Duke didn’t lose just because they struggled down the stretch. They lost for a multitude of reasons:

1.) Duke averages 85.5 points per game (6th in the nation). They scored just 63 Monday night.

2.) Grayson Allen attempted 15 3-point shots.

3.) Wendell Carter Jr. scored just 5 points (he averages 14.3 points per game).

4.) Marvin Bagley III scored just 12 points (he averages 20.7 points per game).

5.) Gary Trent Jr. went 1 for 7 from the field (all from 3-point range). He’s averaging 42.9% from 3-point range this season.

For what it’s worth, I, like everyone in the world who doesn’t reside in Durham, North Carolina, enjoyed watching Duke lose.

______________________________________________________________________________

March Madness usually kicks off in March (duh!). This year, it starts in February. That’s what happens when you want to host a tournament in the World’s Most Famous Arena; Madison Square Garden.

The Big Ten Conference Tournament starts on Wednesday, February 28th. It’ll conclude on Sunday, March 4th, one week prior to ‘Selection Sunday’. This means Big Ten teams that qualify for the NCAA Tournament will have an extra week off. Which begs the age old question:

Can too much time off kill momentum??

We’ll find out when Michigan State, Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan, and possibly Nebraska enter the NCAA Tournament.

Click here to see a schedule of every NCAA Men’s Basketball Conference Tournament.

Anyone else have GOOSEBUMPS?!?!

Will Duke compete for a National Championship this year?? Will an extra week off have a negative effect on Big Ten teams?? Tell me in the comment section below.

Apparently, They’re Just Giving NFL Contracts Away

February 26, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

I’m confused!!

Evidently, so are the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Saturday, the Jaguars extended the contract of Blake Bortles through the 2020 season. The deal is for 3-years, $54 million, including $26.5 million of guaranteed money. I literally fell off my couch when this story broke.

This decision by Tom Coughlin, Vice President of Football Operations, makes no sense, for a multitude of reasons:

1.) Bortles’ contract didn’t need extending. The Jaguars already picked up his option (in May) for 2019 for $19.053 million.

2.) Bortles had wrist surgery this off season, creating doubt that he’ll be healthy for the start of the 2019 season.

3.) Bortles SUCKS at quarterback!!

This decision, guarantees the Jaguars will not win a Super Bowl. After reaching the AFC Championship last season, the Jaguars should have realized what the rest of the world did; they’re just 1 player away from being a Super Bowl contender. With a top-3 defense, a great running game, and a good offensive line, the only missing piece to the puzzle is a competent gunslinger. Blake Bortles is not the answer.

____________________________________________________________________________

It’s never too early for the hits to start coming for the New York Mets. No, not hits on a baseball field; “hits” as in injuries. Dominic Smith, the pudgy wonder, will undergo an MRI for a strained right quad today. After showing up late to his first Spring Training game, Smith isn’t exactly having the ‘best week ever’.

In other Mets’ injury news, Tim Tebow sprained his ankle running over a sprinkler head. I’m embarrassed to even be writing his name, but this kind of comedy is too good to pass up….

____________________________________________________________________________

LeBron James lost to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, 110-94. Despite posting 33 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists in 40 minutes, LeBron and “new look” company got outclassed on their own court. Rather than discuss ways his team can improve, LeBron felt it necessary to complain about the referees:

“There’s no reason I should be going to the line four times in a game when I drive 100 times to the paint and I’m getting hit and slapped and grabbed and whatever and whatnot. We protect the shooter. That’s what it’s turned into. ‘Chicks dig the long ball,’ and that’s what it’s about.”

Listen, Little LeBron, while chicks definitely dig the long ball, quit your crying and complaining. It’s not a good look for the “face” of the NBA….

Like, Love, or Hate Blake Bortles’ contract extension?? I’ll give you a hint, there’s only one right answer….

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: