Richard Nixon, after learning the Bengals had acquired Mike Gesicki.
*
FreeForAll Wednesday. Today, all free subscribers get what they pay for.
I could make up some baloney excuse about why TML ain’t happenin’ today. I’m in Hour 4.5 of the 12-hour flu, wolverines ate my typing fingertip, the dog mistook my laptop for a T-bone. It happens.
Truth is, I don’t feel like working and beyond the mind-numbing exercise known as NFL free agency, there is nothing much going on. I’ll toss a few hand grenades into the hopper, just because I can. Talk quietly amongst yourselves and I’ll see youse tomorrow.
ONLY THE NEW YORK JETS could lose a future Hall of Fame QB to a presidential election campaign. America’s New Fun Couple: Aaron Rodgers and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Forbes magazine:
That interest has reportedly taken the form of Kennedy speaking "pretty continuously" with Rodgers over the past month. The domain name "kennedyrodgers.com" was also reportedly registered via a GoDaddy host last week.’’
They’ll be running on the anti-vax platform. Also, the “Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people” agenda, as proposed by RFK Jr. his ownself.
Four of Junior’s 10 siblings called his independent run “dangerous.’’ Maybe so, but not half as dangerous as Rodgers spending several days in total darkness to ponder his future, as he did last year. That’s just kinda creepy.
Rodgers at the moment is a New York Jet for two more years. Maybe he can do both football and veep-ing. Vice presidents don’t do anything, anyway.
WOOHOO, THE MEN SIGNED “a one-dimensional, pass-catching tight end’’ in the words of The Athletic. That’d be Mike Gesicki, fresh from New England, where last year he had 29 catches for 244 yards. Which was pretty good considering the Patriots operated the whole year in the Wing-T.
Joan Benoit, faster than Derrick Henry
*
Any Bengals fans nervous? Ravens signed Derrick Henry who will pair with Lamar Jackson to form the best running tandem since Jim Ryun and Joanie Benoit. (Lookemup, kids.) Steelers signed Russ Wilson and Patrick Queen.
Browns signed nobody of note, but we know they’ll screw things up regardless, so we’re not really worried about them.
I try hard to take NFL free agency seriously but, you know, I just can’t. The best players are almost never free agents. Every owner can plunder his money-making machine for the requisite hundreds of millions to keep a star quarterback. The top free agents are very good players, but not generally big difference-makers. It’s not exactly like Shohei to the Dodgers.
And if all these team execs and personnel gurus are so smart, how come Kirk Cousins just signed for 4-and-180 and Russell Wilson went for 1-and-1.4?
What has Cousins ever won? Wilson actually had a credible year last year. But it’s hard to work with a coach who doesn’t like you, or whose ego won’t allow you to be you. It’s a gamble for the Steelers, but there’s not a half-bad chance it’ll pay off spectacularly. Even if it flops, the Steelers aren’t in for much.
Free agency is an excellent way to redistribute wealth. After that, its significance is highly overrated. Which gives it a little in common with the NFL itself.
Oh, yeah. The Men also added safety Geno Stone (Free agent No. 101, sez The Athletic) and Zack Moss (Mr. 146). Stone led the AFC with 7 picks in 11 starts for the Ravens.
THANKS, BLUEGRASS KAT, aka Kathy Bryan, for recommending the novel, The Gods of Howl Mountain. Great writing, fine storytelling. Now get on over here and do the Friday Hemingway thing. It’s your destiny.
BECAUSE I’M NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE, I’ve started “Blood Memory: The Tragic Decline and Improbable Resurrection of the American Buffalo’’, which is way more compelling than its title suggests. It’s a collaboration between author Dayton Duncan and documentarist extraordinaire, Ken Burns.
At one time, 30 million buffalo roamed in this country, everywhere from Florida to Wyoming. Our young country’s wanton haste to settle itself nearly resulted in the buffalo’s extinction. A fascinating collection of conservation-minded Americans saved them.
*
TUNE O’ THE DAY. Yesterday was a glorious reminder of why we should love being alive. Ditto, today. It’s the sun, stupid. I committed some heinous golf Tuesday, plan on doing likewise today.
In that spirit, a Southern Beach Music tune I’d guess most of youse haven’t heard. Maximus excepted.
I'm so happy you got to hit the links! I noticed the golf club in blue ash was rocking too! Tune of the day was right on target👏👏
I hadn't heard the Carolinas till today. Great song. Thanks for sharing.