NFL injuries mount, should we be concerned?
NFL injuries mount, should we be concerned?
Elton John trolls the Mets
Good morning, all. I hope your week is off to a terrific start.
Is it me or are the injuries more than usual in the NFL, especially among quarterbacks? Four games through the 17-game season and the New York Giants, off to a surprising 3-1 start, are looking for a signalcaller for Sunday’s game against Green Bay. The Patriots, down their starter Mac Jones, lost their second string QB Sunday in an OT loss at Green Bay. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami QB, sparked a deserved controversy over the league’s concussion protocol, when he returned last Thursday, following a blow to the head in a win over Buffalo, only to be knocked out again, in the Dolphins loss to defending AFC champ Cincinnati. On Monday he tweeted he would not be available for Miami’s next game. On and on it goes.
One wonders if the shortened preseason, including the elimination of two-per-day workouts, is having an impact on a players well being. Or are today’s defensive players so strong, weened on big-time college football programs, that quarterbacks just don’t stand a chance?
Of course, this debate is not new. Going back to the 1960s, when the NFL took off as the nation’s most popular sport, CBS produced a documentary that received critical acclaim: “The Violent World of Sam Huff.” In today’s media-drenched world of sports channels, social media and websites, expect more speculation, as the injuries mount. The politicians are already sniffing around. A congressional hearing may not be far behind.
Amazon numbers staggering
Meanwhile, the NFL continues to be a major hit on television. For the first time, commiting one of its signature packages to streaming only, the NFL is witnessing huge numbers for Thursday Night Football. The latest game on Amazon Prime between the Dolphins and Bengals on Sep. 29 averaged 13.4 million viewers. These are staggering numbers that outpace most sporting events on cable or OTA television.
At the risk of repeating myself, there is the NFL and then there is everybody else.
Maybe the Braves are that good
New York Mets fans are in mourning, as their club was swept a three-game series by the Atlanta Braves all but eliminating them from winning the National League East. The Mets had a 10.5 game lead on June 1 and most of their loyal fans had already cracked open the champagne bottles.
Among those happy with the Braves weekend was Sir Elton John, who interupted his concert in Nashville to congratulate the Braves on their sweep. According to the NY Post, John is a big Braves fan, who owns a home in Atlanta. During Bobby Cox’s historic tenure as Braves manager, he used to visit with the ballclub on a regular basis.
Back to the Mets. It’s not as if they crumbled, as they played 19 games over .500 since June 1. Meanwhile, the Braves, defending World Champions, started playing like World Champs. They are the better club.
Yes, the Mets folded over the weekend, dropping all three games, even though they had their best three starters on the mound, but Atlanta might be the elite club everyone tries to make the Dodgers out to be. As for the Mets loyal fan base, they are left to their post season, rooting for a wild card team, wishing that down the yellow brick road, the Braves don’t go breakin’ their hearts again.
That is it for this week’s newsletter. As always, thank you for subscribing and have a spectacular week.
SPORTSCASTER DAN