There’s always plenty to talk about every week during an NFL season, but last week the best story happened Thursday.
It was likely forgotten after the weekend games.
Baker Mayfield, the top player chosen in the 2018 draft, has been a deservedly maligned quarterback after underperforming for both the Browns and the Panthers.
He was destined to become one of those bad number one draft picks. But his story may not be over.
He asked and received his release from Carolina a week ago Monday, was picked up by the Rams who have struggled all year. Losing their starter Matthew Stafford and getting little from his backup, the Rams took a chance on Mayfield.
He couldn’t possibly help the team scheduled for a Thursday nightcontest at home against the Raiders.
The Rams sent him a condensed version of their game plan and Mayfield planned to study it on the flight. But the plane’s wi-fi was inoperative and a frustrated Mayfield couldn’t really dive into things until his arrival at 9pm Tuesday.
To make a long story short, Mayfield, who has to be the quickest study in football, soaked it up, came into the game early, and after an uneventful three quarters plus, engineered the winning touchdown in the waning minutes.
The Rams have been a huge disappointment this season, but Mayfield may have finally found a home.
At least for the moment, he is, as Al Michaels said, the “new leading man in Hollywood”.
I can hear you all crying, “wait a minute”.
What about Brock Purdy?
Purdy, the last man drafted last April (they call that pick, Mr. Irrelevent, led the 49ers to a bashing of the Bucs, and Tom Brady, who was coming home to the Bay Area where he grew up.
Purdy has shown guts, poise, and accuracy, as a third stringer, to bring the Niners closer to an NFC West crown.
But the real story for San Francisco is their defense.
There is none better.
They’ve lost a key offensive weapon in Deebo Samuel, and if they can still put up points, the Brock Purdy story will go down in pro football annals, when all is said and done.
Now, you’re really shouting, “hold on”.
What about Jalen Hurts?
Hurts has developed in amazing fashion as an MVP candidate, growing steadily in three seasons.
This year, he’s been brilliant. In a similar story to the one in San Fran, the Philadelphia Eagles have put together an outstanding roster.
If Brock Purdy is boosted by a top-of-the-line defense, which takes much of the pressure off the rookie, Hurts has been blessed with the best offensive line in the league.
As Tom Brady what it’s like to have all-the-time-in-the-world to find a receiver. I know he remembers those days.
Recently I claimed the Kansas City Chiefs as the best football team.
At this point I would have to admit I was wrong.
The Eagles, with only one loss, have to be rated at the top.
The Bills and the Chiefs would be clawing right behind for number 2.
I realize it’s folly to look ahead to mid-February and the Super Bowl, with so much football to be played and the spectre of injuries always looming.
But suppose it’s the Eagles and the Chiefs in the Big Game.
My thoughts would immediately go to Andy Reid.
He was a successful head coach in Philly, but never won it all.
He moved on to KC, and two years ago, finally won the big one.
How about Andy Reid, a future Hall of Fame coach trying to win a second Super Bowl against his former team?
Not a bad scenario.
Deion Sanders was a remarkable two-sport star in two major league sports.
He played for 14 seasons for five NFL teams, winning two Super Bowls.
He was an outfielder for nine years in the big leagues with four clubs, getting to the World Series once.
He is the other athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
He is a member of the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He has never been the most popular guy in the room.
It always seemed to be about “him”.
His nickname was “Prime Time”.
And he lived up to it.
He was a TV analyst, had a career in the music business, and later turned to coaching.
You can say what you want about “Prime Time”, but there is no denying Deion Sanders was a success in virtually everything he touched.
He discovered faith, and his attention turned to coaching, teaching, and helping others.
For the last three years he’s been a head coach at Jackson State a small Division I school, and compiled a record of 27-5.
Now, Sanders has moved on and is now the head coach of the University of Colorado, working out of the Pac-12 Conference after switching from the Big 12.
The Buffaloes last won the National Championship in 1990.
Deion Sanders is back in “Prime Time”, this time, as a college football coach.
He’s been sharply criticized by social media (what else is new), and television sports talk shows for leaving his recruits for greener pastures.
Does this sound familiar?
It’s become the way of the world for coaches to pick up and leave after obviously promising recruits they would be around for their entire college careers.
Actually, the one group that endorsed Sanders move, was his players at Jackson State. They understood.
I say Deion Sanders has the right to upgrade his career.
I believe those he left behind at Jackson State learned considerable lessons from their former coach.
In his first gathering of Colorado’s football team, Sanders was recorded issuing a harsh reality of what was coming.
He challenged them to leave the program and transfer elsewhere, because he was coming in with better players to take their place.
In other words, if you have any chance of earning a spot on the roster, you better sacrifice to work hard to be better.
Unfortunately, in todays world, being on the receiving end of that kind of challenge, seems to reduce youngsters to tears, not determination.
I applaud “Prime Time”, for his desire to make Colorado football, prime time.
Finally, a note on the World Cup, concluding this coming Sunday in Qatar.
Several readers have expressed dismay at this major event being held, for the first time, in the Arab world and Muslim world.
They cite, human rights violations, particularly the report of deaths of scores of laborers at World Cup stadium construction sites.
In line with the host of the 2022 Winter Olympics, China, with the backdrop of government crimes against humanity, two of the most prominent world sporting events, the host counties have been far from ideal.
The choice to watch on television is always the viewer’s to make.
But the competition in this World Cup has been riveting.
There have been upsets, even shockers, galore.
To find Morocco and Croatia in the semi-finals has been pure theatre.
Would there be another stunner or two before the new champion is crowned?
Or would Argentina or France emerge, making it more of a conventional final.
Either you’re about to find out, depending on when you read this, or you already know the conclusion.
In any event, its been a spectacular tournament.
In four years, when the whole shebang is held in North America, can’t come soon enough.