Moar WEEKEND DISAMBIGUATION-ESK Content
(Inspired by @BigSpiderBack )
Overdraft: From The Bypass Boyz [9/4/21]
Wisconsin -5.5
Maryland +3
Abilene Christian +31
Cal / Nevada Over 52.5
Georgia / Clemson Over 52.5
Illinois -5
Syracuse -1
Miami (FL) +19.5
Texas Tech +1.5
Texas / Louisiana-Lafayette Over 58
Rutgers -14.5
Good luck, and remember: Take the points, leave the cannoli.
[The Bypass Boyz are currently 6-2-1]
*This advice was generated at great expense by using a complicated proprietary algorithm that studied mountains of data which came to the determination that the most consistent way to beat Vegas is to bet against the plays of Dan Lifshatz.
For more gambling content, follow Lifshatz watchdog @stever324 on Twitter.
Will The Patriots Regret Releasing Cam Newton?
On a Tuesday (obviously this past Tuesday), earth shattering, internet-breaking news occurred when Cam Newton was released by the New England Patriots. Just when most folks thought Bill Belichick was going to start Cam Week One, he shocks us once again. I’m not sure we’ll ever know the real reason why Cam Newton was cut but is this decision going to come back to bite the Patriots in the ass? Will this be regrettable for years to come or will it only be regrettable for four weeks?
For starters, regret is a strong word and I think this may be the type of thing the Patriots “regret” for four weeks. I wanted the Pats to start Newton Week One but Belichick went a different direction. Rookie Mac Jones is now our starter and while I’m a little disappointed in Belichick, I am not really that upset.
Belichick has his reasons but he may have ultimately realized that if Mac Jones was going to start eventually why not just start him Week One. For the football team that was the main reason but I also believe Newton’s ego was a factor. Cam was never going to sit behind Jones and mentor him. It’s just not in Cam’s DNA at the moment to be a mentor- he always wants to be big man on campus.
Mac Jones seems to have the mental capabilities to be a starting NFL quarterback but some are worried if he is physically ready. The only physical problem with Cam is that his football throwing ability has severely diminished but I thought Belichick should have given Cam the chance to start the season. In a now 17 game season, the quarterback room looks less formidable.
Don’t get me wrong now- I know Mac Jones is going to thrive in this offense and under these coaches. I just think the decision to pull the plug on Cam came too soon.
Obviously time will tell whether the Patriots will “regret” cutting Cam Newton and we wish him well in the future. Cam fell in line with the Patriots philosophy and that will never be forgotten. Now it’s Mac Jones time to shine and ultimately we all can’t be too upset about that.
Follow me on Twitter @jmarion34
Also check out the “Entitled Town” Podcast which can be found on Twitter @EntitledTown
inaugural ‘overdraft’: gambling advice from The bypass boyz
These are the prime Glengarry leads and leans from our world famous gout gang.
Bowling Green +33
Boise State Under 67.5
New Hampshire Over 38
Coastal Carolina Over 56.5
Florida International Over 49
Tennesse Tech +12
Houston Baptist +24.5
Ohio State -14
North Carolina -5.5
Good luck, and remember to avoid bad ‘betes!
*This advice was generated at great expense by using a complicated proprietary algorithm that studied mountains of data which came to the determination that the most consistent way to beat Vegas is to bet against the plays of Dan Lifshatz.
For more gambling content, follow Lifshatz watchdog @stever324 on Twitter.
09/02/2021 Cleaning Out the Sports Junk Drawer
Man, what lousy luck for the Red Sox to get hit with all these breakthrough COVID cases.
Gasper raises a good point: When have we ever seen accurate passers who spread the ball around be successful in this offense? Not for at least 1 years!
I’m sure the next Minifan live event will get the show back into the red! Or the black, whichever the good one is.
That was a well-timed loss, NE Revolution. Michael Gee would approve.
Can Scott Zolak wear a standard issue Klan hood, or does he need to go custom for the wonky eye?
Source: CLNS is laundering hot takes through Greg Bedard and the BSJ.
Cakes are cooking for Keanu Reeves, Lennox Lewis, Salma Hayek, Tommy Maddox, and Katarina Studenikova.
And a happy 90th birthday soon to the Springfield Newspaper’s Garry Brown!
ISIS-K, the New Coke of terrorist organizations.
From Cris, to Jac, the next Collinsworth’s Christian name will be just two CONSONANTS.
Schwarbsy. Owning.
Masking fatigue may be real, but at it’s worst doesn’t require getting hooked up to a ventilator.
Asante Samuel should do a podcast with Ted Johnson.
Carles Gil seemed to be grievously injured, but now is back? That never happens in soccer!
At this rate Zo is going to suggest it may be a good idea for Mac to have season ending knee surgery.
Allston Christmas is too commercialized nowadays.
Man, it has been so hot out, I’m hearing Andy Hart has been dating Nancy Quill just for the shade!
Bon Voyage, Jonah Keri! Ne fait pas tomber le savon.
The market for wildly inaccurate Montreal Expos articles dried up, I guess.
Heyyy besties, this week’s Phrase that Pays is”Considering talking about football is my job, I think I know.”
“Arm Talent?” Not actually a thing. Sorrey!
‘Antivaxxer Conservative Radio Talk Show Host’ just passed ‘Aspiring Rapper’ on the mortality rate charts.
Orange Line Update: Service is suspended between Ruggles and Jackson due to water in the track area. Customers can use Route 22 service between stations. Customers can also use Route 39 service between Forest Hills and Back Bay.
John Havlicek, who was the best all/around player in the NBA for four years.
Jed Hoyer > Brian Hoyer.
Bill is having the Pats training staff treat the team with horse paste and aquarium cleaner, caller!
Sometimes I swear they raise the gas prices just before holiday weekends.
Power lines!
Schedule more cupcake non-conference opponents, UConn Basketball. You can’t!
Florio’s take is something your dumbest acquaintance at work wouldn’t even say. “Imagine if the Bucs signed Newton?” would be met around the cubicles by the biggest “so the fuck what?” in the history of Earth.
Who do you think the vaccinated Red Sox player is? Tell us your best guess in the comments!
Jungle Cruise in on Dale Arnold’s Top Ten list of films based on amusement park rides.
Did it rain last night?
It was pleasure to cover Cameron Newton. He was funny, accountable and personable despite sucking shit. I enjoyed our weekly chats about how his day was going during media sessions. Best of luck to him.
So Carles Gil has his own Alex Guerrero? Interesting.
Bishop Sycamore, 2nd Century saint & martyr, whose impromptu sermons brought peace to those Christians about to be attacked by beasts in the Roman Colusseum; patron saint of athletic mismatches.
Pro tip: Vermouth? Not shelf stable. Refrigerate after opening.
Carson Green is now headed back to the #Texans practice squad, source said.
Honk if you remember “Ellis the Rim Man.”
News Item: Western Massachusetts residents preparing to close their pools for the season.
Cam was just turning his life around.
Your computer is like an umpire. When you have an argument with your computer, the computer always wins.
I have waited with a glacier’s patience
Smashed every transformer with every trailer
‘Till nothing was standing
65 miles wide..
Everything breaks their way, UMass football could go 6-6. Here’s hoping.
Apple cinnamon is significantly tastier than Pumpkin spice.
Can’t straight think? Slunk jeep.
Bedard wants a parade for the guy who threw 8 TDs. SMDH.
How can there be no blotchy Irishman in the running to be Mayor of Boston?
The practice squad is for stashing.
Kinda getting sick of grilling. There: I said it.
Best bet for the weekend: Trumping an All-Pro NFL player in football knowledge using your Fisher-Price credentials.
Material from interviews, wire services, Twitter, Facebook, other writers, league and team sources, Bill James, BSMW poster Kingasaurus and #the15 were used in this column. Looks like a pump, feels like a sneaker.
Cleaning Out the Sports Junk Drawer: Emergency Cam Newton Edition
Bill is Bill again and all is right in the world.
Cam Newton released, Spulpits, coffee girls hardest hit.
It’s a good thing Cam is so genuinely nice, otherwise that means the self-described tough & cynical Boston Sports media all got fooled.
Interesting. Belichick admitting his draft mistake of not trading up for Mac Jones, even if his arrogance won’t allow him to just come out admit it.
If anything Newton is a system quarterback. That system is Tecmo Bowl.
Fits. Cam wore them, and also gave New England fans them.
Next media move will be how Bill fucked over all the free-agents who came to Foxboro for Cam.
I think Bill said to himself: “Would Greg Bedard just give Mac the keys already? Yes, he would, and that is the only way forward.”
Can’t wait for Jac Colinsworth’s in depth analysis of the Cam Newton release.
Another miss for Fake Spike King.
No designed run plays for Cam in presason was a tell, in retrospect.
Prior to the news I felt like that striped shirt-wearing Jets fan trying to rationalalize selecting Ken O’Brien over Dan Marino. “Obviously Bill knows something the people up here don’t.” Everybody wuz sayin McCorkle.
I wonder is Stidhsy jumped out of the pedicure chair when he read the Cam news today.
The best thing about losing Cam Newton is losing his Tebow-like fanbase who, like a cult, follow him wherever he goes and blames everyone but him for every mistake he makes. Good riddance.
Props to TEC, who was on an island among the media saying it was still a competition.
Does Belichick leave for his dream job with the Giants now and grab Cam again on the cheap?
An unvaccinated, shotputting quarterback is a competitive disadvantage.
And this had to happen with the pandemic-related additional uneployment benefits ending in Massachusetts this weekend.
I guess Bill thinks Mac Jones is better than Ryan Mallett.
by̾e̺ ̣b̖ͧy̅e̝ ̰C̈́am̠̆
( Compiled from the15 and various BSMW board alumni accounts. )
MAC and puhlease
Whatup my peeps!! Back from a mucho necessito mental health break. Before I get into why it is absolutely clear that Cam should be QBone, I just want to thank everyone for the messages, calls and letters checking in on me. It is hard to be a woman in this world, and even harder to be a woman in the world of sports.
Anyway, after a 3 and 0 preseason, the Patties and the Hoody are looking to dominate the NFL once again. The NFL these days is all about analytics. No more George Lombardi waving his fedora around screaming about lifting weights. It’s the Nine’s and the O’s not the Jimmies and Pros. So in a completely dispassionate and meticulous way, I have come to the irrefutable conclusion that Cam Newton needs to be Qbe1.
It’s not my opinion, it’s just facts. Let’s start with the Giants game. See below as Exhibit A.
Later in the game, maybe the 3rd or 2nd quarter, Cam did this.
That is what the NFL is all about. Also, show me one time Mac Jones ever looked this cool.
You can debate this until the cows come home, but we’ve seen enough. It’s like in The November Man when Devereaux has to choose if he will kill Ulanova. There’s no choice. Mac may be a better passer, decision maker, more vaccinated, protector of the football, communicator of pass protections, know the playbook better, with a quicker release and greater accuracy, but Cam owns up to his mistakes, something Mac has never had to do.
It’s a no brainer. Lets’ go dollar Bill. As a famous sports fan once said: Do the Right Thing – Spike Lee.
Anita Thrust is the lead writer for Competent Ladies Against Mansplaining section of The15net dot com. She lives in the Greater Boston Area with her rescue doggo Yodel, and her cats, Alice B. Toklas and Lil Wobey.
15 Things To Look For In The Final Patriots Preseason Game
The New England Patriots play their final preseason game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium at 6pm Sunday night. There are many things to look for in both teams final tune-up before the regular season. Here’s just 15 things you should be looking for:
- Does Cam Newton start this game?
All signs point to Cam Newton starting this game. After missing most of practice this week due to COVID-19 protocols, Newton slid right back into place getting 1st team reps once he came back. Bill Belichick put his full faith in Cam last year and it seems he is being loyal to him this season as well. I want to see Newton start as well because I believe he totally earned it after his last preseason start.
2. How mobile will Mac Jones be in this game?
Not much worry has been put into Mac Jones putting a knee brace on recently. He said it was for precautionary reasons and I’ll take his word for it. However, let’s see how active Jones is in moving around in the pocket. We all know he has a decent arm, but I want to see if he can move accurately and efficiently.
3. Who is the Patriots “lead” running back following the Sony Michel trade?
The player who should assume lead running back role is Damien Harris. With only 137 rushing attempts last season, 691 yards, and 2 touchdowns, Harris was exceptional in his limited opportunity. He’s done nothing to lose faith in him this preseason and look for Harris to get the majority of carries in the game. The Patriots do have a deep running back room but hopefully the team has as much faith in Harris as I do.
4. Does Matthew Judon play in this game?
Matthew Judon has already done enough to be able to take this game off. I wouldn’t risk injury by playing him this game. The Patriots need Judon fresh and available for all 17 regular season games this year. Not just because he is currently our highest paid player but also he could make the biggest non-QB impact on the team.
5. How does Shaun Wade play in this game?
The Patriots acquired cornerback Shaun Wade this week from the Baltimore Ravens. At 6’1, Wade has good size for a cornerback but was not going to make the Ravens 53 man roster by all accounts. Wade was drafted in the 5th round in 2021 and gives the Patriots depth at the position (if Stephon Gilmore gets traded.)
6. How does Jalen Mills’ coverage look?
With Stephon Gilmore sitting out, Mills has bumped up as the number two cornerback behind JC Jackson. His coverage has been shaky in both games this preseason and I don’t think Mills is ready for this role. Keep a special eye on Mills against the Giants to make sure he is not getting burned up and down the field. This would not bode well after picking him up in the offseason on a 4 year, 24 million dollar deal.
7. What is Chase Winovich’s impact?
For a player with a very high ceiling, Winovich seems to be buried behind all the current Patriots front seven talent. From what I’ve seen in both preseason games, he’s played well and is probably worthy of more snaps going forward. Some people think all he cares about is his hair and weird conspiracy theories but I think this kid can play.
8. Which Patriots tight ends play against the Giants?
Top Tight end Hunter Henry has been battling injuries and Jonnu Smith has been getting limited action. Ideally, both of these guys get significant time in this game but that remains to be seen. The Patriots are going to need a significant impact from both Henry and Smith if they plan to make the playoffs this season.
9. How is the defensive coverage on Saquon Barkley?
If you know football, you know Saquon is a beast when healthy. Barkley has been battling a knee injury lately and has apparently taken a step back. If he plays, the Patriots will need to make him a marked man because he is the best Giants player on the roster. Team defense is necessary against a man like that.
(Editor’s note: Barkley has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. That information was unavailable at press time. Probably. )
10. Will any Giants wide receiver threaten JC Jackson?
It’s official- Giants top wide receiver Kenny Golladay will not play this Sunday. This means the Giants will be down to 2nd and 3rd stringers against JC Jackson which isn’t gonna cut it. Look for Jackson to shut down any man who crosses his path.
11. How early do both teams starters come out?
Now that there’s no longer a 4th preseason game, will this game be treated as most 3rd preseason games do? Most 3rd preseason games the starters play the longest time because they knew the scrubs would be in the 4th game. Things have changed with 17 games now in the regular season but I think the coaches will still play this game very hard. Look for the starters to be in at least until the 2nd half is over.
12. How does the Giants offense look?
With Golladay out and an injured Barkley, the rest of the Giants offense doesn’t have much to write home about. I don’t expect them to perform well against the Patriots on Sunday night. We’ll get to their quarterback later on but look for the Pats to absolutely smother this Giants offense.
13. Will JJ Taylor shine in all facets of the game?
A lot of folks are high on JJ Taylor as am I, but can he shine in this game as well? Taylor should get a great opportunity in the backfield and special teams which allows him to show his speed and grit. As much as the Giants offense sucks, so too does their defense so expect Taylor to go off in this game.
14. Does Gunner Olszewski shine in an upgraded role?
Gunner Olszewski is a player who needs to have a big impact in this game. I’m not sure if he’s going to be a part of the roster but he needs a good game to solidify his role. Gunner can play WR and play a role on special teams so look for him early and often.
15. Who has the better Jones?
At some point New England Patriot Mac Jones should square off against lackluster New York Giants starter Daniel Jones. Daniel Jones has been with the Giants for two seasons and had a decent first season but took a step back in 2020. I think time will tell that the better Jones is in New England even though Mac has never played a regular season snap yet.
Follow me on Twitter: @jmarion34
Check out the “Entitled Town” Podcast on Twitter as well: @EntitledTown
Recurring Comic Feature Binge
The Saints Make Jameis Winston Starter for week one
According to Adam Schefter and other sources, the New Orleans Saints plan to make Jameis Winston Week One starter against the Green Bay Packers. At only 27 years old, it feels like Winston has been in the league a lot longer and this is his first starting job since being with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. Of course the Saints had to name a starter this year after having Drew Brees for many seasons.
With the Saints being my second favorite team I felt it necessary to comment on this decision and I believe it is the wrong one for the team. Sure, at 6’4, 231 lbs. Winston absolutely has the body to be a starting NFL QB but does he have the mind?
Winston has always been known as an interception machine and I’m not a big fan of quarterbacks who turn the ball over constantly. In his last full season in 2019, he threw 30 interceptions compared to 33 touchdowns- not a good ratio. I must mention he did also throw for 5,109 yards which is his most in a single season.
Despite the lofty accrual of yardage, Winston is not the guy that I wanted to be starting QB. That man would’ve been Taysom Hill. Hill is less reliable (at the moment) in his accuracy with the football but I believe his style of play is much more the way the league is going and the Saints should go.
Most of the league has moved on from the prototypical “pocket passer” and this would’ve been a wise move for the Saints as well. This decision may cost them early in the season but I believe after seeing Winston chuck the ball up for grabs enough that the move to Hill will be made.
Follow me on Twitter: @jmarion34
Also check out the “Entitled Town” Podcast which is accessible on Twitter @EntitledTown
The 15 