Bobref

You would think they would only entertain that idea if they felt that, after giving up the assets they have to give up, they would still be in a position to compete for a championship with Wilson at QB. But alas, you have to keep in mind that Pace and Nagy need to improve that record right now, or they won’t be around for whatever the Bears are like in 3 years. So, there’s a very real risk that they sacrifice the long term good of the team in order to win 10 games next year.

As a fan, sure. But do the competitors feel differently? I know I would.

The Chicago case (McDonald), which was actually decided in 2010, was arguably more important than the DC case (Heller) since it extended the reach of Heller to the states. Since Heller arose in a federal jurisdiction, it’s ruling did not specifically affect state or local government attempts at gun control. Both held that the Constitution confers a right upon individuals to possess and own firearms for traditionally legal purposes, such as home and personal defense.

I think that if a game is tied at the close of regulation, the Referee should be able to award the W to the team that displayed the best sportsmanship during the game. Change my mind.

Another example of the compulsion to regulate as much as possible.

Eddie LeBaron, at 5’7”, was the shortest NFL QB I ever saw. He was a good player for Washington, and then the expansion Dallas Cowboys. DLs were not quite so big in those days, but among the biggest was 6’6” 284# Eugene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb. One day, after being frustrated by chasing LeBaron around all afternoon, Big Daddy yelled at him, “when I catch you, I’m going to bite your head off and swallow it.” LeBaron replied, “If you do, you’ll have a lot more brains in your stomach then you ever had in your head!”

Not surprisingly, Drew Brees is hanging it up after 20 seasons. In 5 years, he walks into Canton on the first ballot. At the time of his retirement he was the NFL’s career leader in passing yds., completions, completion % (among QBs with at least 5 seasons), and is 2nd in TDS. Among the more remarkable accomplishments were his 5 seasons of 5,000+ yds. (no one else has more than one) and his place in the top 10 in QBR for 15 straight years (no one else has more than 9). https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31065863/new-orleans-saints-qb-drew-brees-retires-nfl-20-seasons New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons One of the most prolific careers in NFL history has come to an end, as New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees announced Sunday on Instagram he has decided to retire after 20 seasons. Brees' four children, Baylen, Bowen, Callen and Rylen, announced in a video: "After 15 years with the Saints and 20 years in the NFL, our dad is finally gonna retire. So he can spend more time with us! Yeah!!" Brees added a message to the post that read: "After 20 years as a player in the NFL and 15 years as a Saint, it is time I retire from the game of football. Each day, I poured my heart & soul into being your Quarterback. Til the very end, I exhausted myself to give everything I had to the Saints organization, my team, and the great city of New Orleans. We shared some amazing moments together, many of which are emblazoned in our hearts and minds and will forever be a part of us. "You have molded me, strengthened me, inspired me, and given me a lifetime of memories. My goal for the last 15 years was striving to give to you everything you had given to me and more. I am only retiring from playing football, I am not retiring from New Orleans. This is not goodbye, rather a new beginning. Now my real life's work begins!" Brees, 42, retires as the NFL's all-time leader in career passing yards (80,358) and ranks second all time in touchdown passes (571) and completion percentage (67.7%). More than that, though, Brees will always be revered for helping to revive the Saints franchise and the city of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina when he and coach Sean Payton arrived together in 2006. They led the Saints to the NFC Championship Game in that first year and won the only Super Bowl in franchise history three years later, with Brees being named the game's MVP. "When I was hired by the Saints as head coach in 2006, the very first goal was to establish a functional and winning culture," Payton said in a statement. "In doing so, it was vital to know what we were looking for in a player, talent, work ethic, makeup, intelligence and leadership are all qualities we found in Drew Brees. ... I am forever grateful for what he has done for our team, our community and for me personally." Brees never got back to a second Super Bowl despite leading the Saints to four straight NFC South titles over the past four years. His final game was a disappointing 30-20 loss to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneersin the divisional round of the playoffs -- the first time Brees ever threw three interceptions in a playoff game. Drew Brees' Notable Records • All-time leader in passing yards and completions (2nd in passing TDs) • Owns three best single-season completion percentage marks • Owns best single-game completion percentage mark (96.7%) • Only player with multiple 5,000-yard seasons (5) • Most seasons leading NFL in passing yards (7) • Most consecutive games with a passing TD (54) • Most career games with 300+ passing yards (123) • Matched single-game record with 7 passing TDs His decision to retire leaves an enormous void for the Saints to fill with either Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston or a quarterback to be named later. Brees' legacy has long been secured as one of the game's all-time greats. On top of all the gaudy numbers and historic accomplishments, Brees also will be remembered as a great underdog story. At just 6 feet tall, Brees was recruited by only two colleges before a record-breaking career at Purdue. He fell to the second round of the draft in 2001, where he began his career with the San Diego Chargers. In his final game with the Chargers in 2005, Brees suffered a devastating shoulder injury -- a 360-degree labrum tear and some rotator cuff damage, which required 12 anchors to repair. Renowned surgeon James Andrews later said Brees' recovery was the most remarkable of any athlete he ever treated, and Brees was back on the field with the Saints in Week 1 of that unforgettable 2006 season. "Drew is so much more valuable than all the records, awards and accolades that he amassed through a 15-year career with the New Orleans Saints and 20-year NFL playing career, one of the greatest in our league's history," Saints owner Gayle Benson said in a statement. "When Drew first joined the Saints in 2006, my late husband Tom was determined to deliver a team to New Orleans that would win a championship on the field and become a leader in the community following the setbacks that Hurricane Katrina dealt our region. Over and above his outstanding performance, Drew came to represent the resolve, passion and drive that resonates not only with Saints fans and football fans, but our entire community." Brees finished his career with a record of 172-114 as a starting quarterback in the regular season and 9-9 in the postseason. He was 142-86 and 9-8 in 15 years with the Saints, with whom his partnership with Payton produced some of the most spectacular offensive teams the game has ever seen. Brees threw for more than 5,000 yards in a season five different times; no other quarterback has done it more than once. He holds the top three single-season completion percentages in NFL history and six of the top nine. Brees has ranked among the NFL's top 10 passers in ESPN's Total QBR metric in all 15 seasons since it was created in 2006; it's a streak six years longer than that of any other quarterback during that span. Though he never won a regular-season MVP award, Brees finished second a record four times. Brees has long said he believed he could play at a high level until the age of 45 -- as long as he wanted to keep playing. But starting in 2017, he also said he started taking each season one year at a time -- treating each like it could be his last -- and that he would take some time after each season to reflect with wife, Brittany, and their kids about whether he wanted to keep playing. Brees had already lined up his "next chapter" last year, when he agreed to become an analyst for NBC after his playing days were over. After missing just one game due to injury in his first 18 seasons, Brees dealt with some significant injuries late in his career. In 2019, he missed five games after tearing a ligament in his thumb. In 2020, he missed four games after suffering a punctured lung and 11 broken ribs. By retiring now, Brees is clearing the path for fellow 40-something Brady to finish ahead of him in their two most prominent races in the NFL record book. Brady has 10 more career TD passes than Brees and needs 1,155 passing yards to surpass Brees. Brees also leaves behind a sizable salary-cap hit of $22.65 million that the Saints must account for over the next two years because of the way they chose to structure his past contracts. However, they already reduced his salary from $25 million to the veterans minimum of $1.075 million this year so that they can wait until after June 1 to officially process his retirement. As a result, they can push $11.5 million of his remaining cap costs into 2022. Brees will count $12.225 million against this year's cap through June 1. Then his 2021 cap charge will drop to $11.15 million after his retirement becomes official. That's a big deal for the Saints, who were more affected by the NFL's reduced salary cap than maybe any team in the NFL this year. They began the offseason nearly $100 million over the cap, before reducing Brees' salary and releasing veterans Emmanuel Sanders, Janoris Jenkins, Kwon Alexander and Thomas Morstead, among others. The Saints also restructured Hill's contract to create cap room. Hill received a four-year, $140 million contract extension -- but all years are voidable, and it's a mechanism to free up cap space this year, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. It saves the Saints more than $7.5 million against the cap this year, and his contract numbers this year include a $9.686 million signing bonus, a $1.439 million guaranteed roster bonus and a $1.034 million guaranteed base salary plus incentives. Contract restructures that include voided years are common, but the salaries on voided years aren't usually reported -- and sometimes they're heavily inflated. If those voided salaries are too low, it can affect the rule on renegotiating deals within 12 months. On a positive note, Brees is leaving the Saints in decent shape as far as backup options. Hill, who is under contract through 2021, remains unproven as a 30-year-old dual-threat quarterback with limited experience. However, he did go 3-1 as a starter in place of Brees this season with four TD passes, four TD runs, two interceptions and three lost fumbles in that four-game stretch. Winston, meanwhile, is an unsigned free agent. But he chose to come to New Orleans last summer on a minimal contract so that he would have the chance to learn under Payton and Brees and possibly revive his career as Brees' successor. And Payton recently made it clear that the Saints want to re-sign Winston, 27, and allow him to compete for the starting job. Although Payton chose Hill as Brees' replacement in the short term in 2020, the coach has insisted that the team is high on Winston's potential. And Payton has repeatedly insisted he believes "our next quarterback's in the building" -- whether that be Hill or Winston.

This report says the Bears have decided that it’s the end of the Mitchell Trubisky era in Chicago.https://heavy.com/sports/chicago-bears/reach-final-decision-future-mitch-trubisly/ Bears Reach Final Decision About QB Mitch Trubisky: Report Mitch Trubisky’s days as quarterback of the Chicago Bears appear to be over. In a roundup of free agency notes and rumors released Sunday morning, ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler revealed that Chicago has big plans to address the position this offseason — they just apparently don’t involve Trubisky. With the Bears set to take a “big swing” at acquiring Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason according to Fowler, it’s becoming increasingly clear that their plans at quarterback no longer include the former second overall pick out of North Carolina. “I think I can definitely see myself back here next year,” Trubisky told the media after Chicago’s NFC Wild Card loss in January. “Obviously a lot of that is out of my control but it feels like home and it feels like we have unfinished business. Right now I’m just bummed about this season being over and how the game went so a lot of emotions going on right now but I can see that. We’ll see. There are a lot of things that have to happen and a lot of decisions that have to be made and that’s out of my control but and I can see that.” Now, it appears Trubisky will be looking for a new team and an opportunity to compete elsewhere. Graziano & Fowler: Trubisky Is a Goner While noting Chicago still has its sights set on Wilson, Graziano and Fowler asserted Trubisky is headed out of town, suggesting a possible reunion with former Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, now with the Denver Broncos. Bears May Be Forced to Pursue Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andy Dalton Instead As Graziano and Fowler noted, the Bears may not be able to pry Wilson from the firm grip of Pete Carroll and the Seahawks. If they can’t convince Seattle to part ways with the eight-time Pro Bowler, a veteran like Ryan Fitzpatrick or Andy Dalton — perhaps even Marcus Mariota or Gardner Minshew — will likely be headed to fill Trubisky’s cleats. Right now for the Bears, it’s do-or-die time, and they seem to be readying themselves to upgrade at the most important position in sports. It’s also apparent that they’ve gotten as much as they can out of Trubisky, who would likely appreciate a fresh start and a new coach to work with. But if Chicago can’t nab an established star such as Wilson or Deshaun Watson or a top-three quarterback in April’s NFL Draft, it will surely be more of the same for the Bears, who have finished 8-8 each of the last two seasons. For what it’s worth, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk contradicted Graziano and Fowler’s report on Sunday, saying the Bears haven’t yet closed the door on Trubisky, but have more likely decided to move on privately without making the news official — yet.

Since intentional grounding is a Point of Emphasis this year, it seems unlikely there’s a rule change in the offing anytime soon.

I’ve no doubt you are aware, Coach. But on-field officials still occasionally hear calls to enforce the “5 yd. ‘chuck’ rule.” So, I wanted to make it clear to all reading this. Did not intend for it to come across otherwise.

You really don't want to go year by year, do you?

The 5 yd. contact rule is only in the NFL. In NF, a DB can freely contact a receiver anywhere on the field, as long as two conditions are met: 1. The ball is not yet in the air. 2. The receiver is in front of or even with the DB, so he's a potential blocker.

The rule is generally officiated this way already, and has been for a long time. Or, perhaps I should say “should be officiated this way.” We just don’t use the “uncatchable” signal.

You are welcome to take the test and give it a try yourself. Failing that, perhaps you could enlighten us all as to the “right” way to call - or not call - pass interference

I’m a big fan of irony ... and the irony in Cuomo’s situations is so thick you can cut it with a knife.

He stole that from the late Jerry Granville. https://www.quotetab.com/quote/by-jerry-glanville/if-youre-a-pro-coach-nfl-stands-for-not-for-long

I cannot imagine why. I would like to see fouls by the offense occurring behind the LOS enforced the way they are in NCAA, from the previous spot, rather than the spot of the foul.

One of my favorites. To put it in context, it was the 1968 OSU - Michigan game, and the Buckeyes were leading 50-14 in the final minutes of the 4th period. 😂🤣😆

And now, the AD who hired him without doing the necessary due diligence gets the axe. https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/31040149/jeff-long-kansas-athletic-director-sources-say

I guess, given the very serious nature of the conduct alleged (multiple felonies by multiple people), they were trying to give as little in the way of identifying information as possible, waiting for the cops to make an announcement.

Voice Dictation ... the new auto-correct.

Whatever you heard, the truth is probably worse. Although the story doesn’t say so, the former coach involved was a football assistant. This is going to be a really sordid bombshell when the details are made public. Since CPS was notified, I assume at least one of the students involved was a minor. Somebody’s going to jail. Former Hobart coach accused of misconduct with one or more student-athletes, police say HOBART — A former Hobart coach has been accused of inappropriate communications with one or more student-athletes, police said. On Wednesday the Hobart Police Department released limited information on the ongoing investigation and the identity of the former coach has not been released. If Hobart authorities determine something criminal occurred, criminal charges will be announced at the end of the investigation, said Hobart police Capt. James Gonzales. Details of the alleged inappropriate communications remain unknown at this time. “Due to the sensitivity and the integrity of the ongoing investigation, no more specific details are available at this time,” Gonzales said. “We want to assure our community that the School City of Hobart and the Hobart Police Department have taken all appropriate measures to protect our students.” School City of Hobart Superintendent Peggy Buffington issued a statement, saying that safety and security of the students is at the forefront of the school system. Hobart Athletic Director Mike Black also issued the same statement to The Times. “In doing so, all employees, including instructional staff, extracurricular staff and non-instructional staff must submit to a criminal background check and reference checks,” the statement said. “Despite these precautions, the School City of Hobart has recently learned that a former athletic coach allegedly engaged in misconduct involving high school athletes.” School officials said once the alleged conduct was discovered by the school administration, the School City of Hobart notified Hobart police and Lake County Child Protective Services, as required by Indiana Code. “The School City of Hobart notified parents and continues to follow up with students,” the statement said. “The Hobart Police Department has taken over the investigation of this matter since it does not involve a current employed coach. The School City of Hobart will continue to cooperate with the police department to ensure student safety, as well as to provide students necessary confidentiality.” Neither school officials or police have released yet when the coach was last employed with School City Hobart and when the allegations came to light.

Some bad stuff going down at Hobart involving the football program. Stay tuned.

Not at all. Just enjoy stirring the pot a bit. I do have a Bloomington sheepskin though, you know?

😂🤣😆 That’s a pretty big “except.”