#he finds out august can his backup so now he’ll be free to give up his crown to be w simon

[catradoraism]

when edvin said wille was selfish this season and he couldn’t defend his actions i was expecting wille to do a lot worse??? there’s literally nothing he did this season that i wouldn’t call unjustifiable or selfish

[asher-west]

𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟓𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟓.

location: an alleyway in downtown tampa, florida.  date & time: august 15th, 2015, 3:21am.  trigger warnings: mentions of murder & violence, descriptions of blood and what could be construed as a panic attack.

         In the dim, tinted glow of the streetlamp at the edge of the alley, Asher’s hands and arms are flecked in black -- little specks that travel up most of his right arm and some sprayed onto his left. From where he’s hunched over, back against the brick wall of the alleyway that digs into his exposed skin where his shirt is riding up, one could easily mistake the flecks for paint.

      Asher couldn’t. In fact, he doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to erase the sight of crimson spraying across his arm and shirt -- he’s going to have to throw this shirt away, it’s a shame, he likes this shirt, he thinks numbly -- and then his stomach heaves again at the thought, and he scrambles up to empty his stomach behind the dumpster beside him. The rough concrete below him cuts into his palms, the pain grounding him in the present moment as he eases himself back to sit against the wall again.

      It’s a hot, muggy Floridian summer night, the air cloying and thick and sticking to his skin in beads of sweat, but he can’t stop shivering. Or is it shaking? Probably the latter, but if asked, he’ll just say he has a cold. His mom might ask. Willow definitely will. He can pretend he’s caught something. Maybe say someone else at the docks had the flu and gave it to him. 

      The docks. He has a shift starting at 8am. What time is it, now? He goes to check his watch, some shitty, tacky knock-off he got given for completing his first getaway job for the Trafficante family back in April. “A late birthday gift from the big guy”, Frankie had winked slyly as he’d handed him the item. His eyes fall on the watch and his stomach flips again at the sight of the shiny surface now covered in the same dark spray that coats his arms. 

      He gets an urge to chuck the awful item across the alley, to watch it shatter against the wall completely in a satisfying spray of glass and metal springs. The only thing stopping him is that the action will be taken as an insult. And last time he’d insulted them, even unintentionally... 

      Well, he still has the yellows and purples covering the grand expanse of his left side, and the awful ache left by broken ribs ribs when he breathes in too deeply. 

      And, of course, the cursed item on his wrist now serves as evidence. 

      God, evidence. He has to worry about the evidence. Evidence in a crime scene.

      His stomach flips again, breaths shallow and uneven as he squeezes his eyes shut tightly, trying to block out the events of the night that replay on a loop behind his eyelids. It was meant to be a normal job. He was just backup, there to add an extra figure to help make Frankie look more intimidating as he ‘dealt with a stray’.

      The next thing he knew, the man they were dealing with pulled out a pistol and shot Frankie’s bodyguard, turning it on Asher next with wild fury in his eyes. 

      He didn’t want to do it. 

      He never thought of himself as someone who could, let alone would.

      But it was Asher or the other guy -- the other guy, holding a gun to Asher’s head and screaming in his face about ‘dues being paid’ as his finger itched closer and closer to the trigger -- and in that moment, the choice was clear. He couldn’t leave his mom and sister behind. He couldn’t, they need him. Or do they? If this is who he is, should he even be around them? No, he shouldn’t. He’s a m-- 

      He can’t even think the word. 

      What a coward. 

      “You done bein’ a pussy?” Frankie’s rough bark breaks Asher out of his stupor, and he glances up skittishly to find the stocky older man standing over him, an unimpressed look plastered across his brutish face. Asher can only nod, and Frankie sighs, adjusting his suit jacket and smoothing over his already slicked back hair as he jerks his head towards the opening to the alley. “C’mon then. The boys will handle the mess.” He sneers the last word.

      The barely-eighteen year old forces himself to stand, clenching his jaw and ignoring the awful churning of his stomach at the mention of ‘the mess’. He nods once, jerkily, and allows Frankie to slap a meaty hand onto his shoulder and lead him out of the alley. “Gotta say, kid, that was impressive. That move you pulled where you got rid of his gun and --” He mimics his throat being cut with his thumb. “With his own knife?” He whistles lowly. “You’ve got potential.” 

      It makes Asher feel even more sick, but he says what he thinks he should. “Thank you, sir.” Judging by Frankie’s slimy smile, it was the right thing to say. 

      “Alright. Let’s get you cleaned up. We’ll need to burn your clothes, and you’re gonna have to wash yourself. A few times.” The older man’s critical eyes fall on the watch and he grimaces slightly, holding out a large palm. “And I’ll take that, too, I guess. We’ll get you a replacement.” 

      Asher hurriedly slides the thing off him, holding it out and dropping it into the other man’s grasp. Free of the metal cuff around his wrist, he feels almost liberated, until he spots the two shadowy figures stationed at the mouth of each exit to the alley, a third approaching from behind Frankie. 

      Hazel eyes dart between each figure, searching for weapons or minimal movements that show signs of an ensuing attack. Adrenaline rushes into him, again, as he considers the possibility that they’re done with him, they’re going to dispose of him, he’s a loose end, he’s going to have to fight his way out--

      Asher startles as Frankie says something, snapping his thick fingers in front of the teenager’s face. “...What?” He asks, to which the older man simply rolls his eyes.

      “Are ya injured, kid?” The man repeats himself, and Asher shakes his head jerkily, still staring at the henchmen blocking his way out. “You sure?” 

      Asher finally looks down at himself, and below the dark spray of speckles, he spots a growing patch of dark on his shirt. “Oh.” He comments numbly, and he hears Frankie snap his fingers. A henchman approaches, and Asher jerkily flinches backwards, causing his ‘handler’ to roll his eyes.

      “Calm it, kid.” He drawls, holding out a hand as the henchman places a bandage and small sewing kit into his open palm. “You need someone to stitch you up?”

      Asher shakes his head, having plenty of experience in treating his own wounds -- and even if he didn’t, he doesn’t trust any of the so called ‘medical professionals’ employed by the Trafficantes. 

      “A’ight.” Frankie hands him the bandage, then grabs a case from the shadowy figure behind him. “You did good. There’s extra in here for you, this time, for dealing with the loose ends for us.” He turns and mutters something lowly to the guard, who furrows his thick brow before nodding jerkily and retreating into the shadows. 

      “Donnie’s gonna bring you some fresh clothes and you’ll give us those to burn, then you can go home.” Frankie gives him a final once-over. “You know, if you put some work in, you might make quite a career for yourself, kid.” He narrows his eyes, a calculating expression on his face.

      Asher could almost take that as a compliment, if he didn’t know that the career being discussed was more of this. “Thank you, sir.” Asher utters again, and Frankie nods, turning and snapping for the men to follow him. The third one sneers as he glances over the teenager, before turning and following his boss.

      Donnie drops a pile of clothes on the ground in front of him, winking slyly and smirking at the discomfort that twists Asher’s expression as he retreats into the shadows.

      And then, the shaking eighteen year old is alone in an alley with his bloodstained clothes, a briefcase of money, a trauma that will last him a lifetime, and a car full of mafia henchmen waiting to drop him off near his hometown. 

      Asher empties his stomach once more behind the dumpster, wiping at the tears he doesn’t realize had started to fall and mingle with the sweat on his face, and shakily begins to unbutton his shirt and slip his shoes off. 

      He peels his shirt off his skin and takes a deep breath, scanning the gash to analyze the severity, before getting to work stitching it up with practiced movements and only the barest gritting of his teeth.

      Unbeknownst to him, by the time he is changed and back in the car, watching one of the henchmen douse his old clothes in gasoline and light them on fire from outside the window, Frankie has somehow already sent word to his connections at Blackthorne to let them know there might be a new recruit headed their way.

      During the car ride, he presents the academy to Asher -- with the promise of a career to take care of his family, and a vague, thinly-veiled threat that if he refuses and makes Frankie look bad, the grizzly details of the night’s events may come to light soon.

      He gives Asher one year. One year to finish up in Edgewater and make his decision ( as if it hadn’t already been made for him ), and tells the teenager that he’ll be hearing from Blackthorne in a few months. 

      “It’s a prestigious place, kid,” Frankie tells him, “You’re lucky to even be considered, but between the fightin’ and the drivin’ skills, I’d say you’ve earned it.” As if that means anything to Asher, who is slowly realizing that this is entirely out of his hands, and his life will never be the same.

      His stomach churns once more as they stop at the entrance of the dirt road that meanders towards the beach and, eventually, Asher’s house, where his mother and sister are probably sound asleep. 

      “Besides,” The heavyset man calls out to Asher as the boy exits the car with shaking hands and a newfound panic rising in his chest, the ‘handler’ leering through the open window with a sleazy smile and a menacing glint in his eyes. 

      “You’re already a KILLER. Why not make a career out of it?”

[julianxwood]

You saw GRANT GUSTIN in London recently? It was actually JULIAN WOOD, the two share a resemblance. Apparently HE is KNOWLEDGEABLE and RELIABLE but can also be CONDESCENDING and SNARKY. They are TWENTY-FIVE and were sorted into GRYFFINDOR. The PUREBLOOD works as a (RECENTLY RETIRED) CHASER FOR THE MONTROSE MAGPIES, lives in LONDON and is affiliated with NEITHER SIDE. (pat, 21+, pst, she/her).

open reference books, hastily drawn sketches, steaming mugs of Earl Grey, freshly carved wood, dim light of sunrise

Full Name: Julian Augustus Wood – It’s not that he doesn’t like his middle name. It’s good. It’s regal. It’s got that air of authority a Quidditch Captain should have. But he never uses his middle name really, unless it’s absolutely necessary on paperwork because he knows that his name is fucking July August

FC: Grant Gustin

Age: 24

School: Hogwarts

House: Gryffindor

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Current Place of Residence: Horizont Alley, London. He’s not far from Diagon Alley, but in a less busy neighborhood. He likes his quiet. As of right now, he lives alone—I do have a headcanon that he shares an apartment with his brothers (so this is definitely subject to change depending on if those wanted connections are filled and if the players are cool with this)

Please list any canon relatives: 

Father: Oliver Wood

Mother: Oliver’s relationship with Julian’s biological mother was complicated, and they had split after their second child. Oliver had a relationship with Daphne Greengrass, who gave birth to the third and youngest of the Wood trio; Julian considers her his mother and developed a close relationship with her while he was still a toddler.

Career: 

Current: Julian recently retired from his professional career. A rather severe Quidditch injury made it difficult to fly around crowds and loud noises, and despite his insistence on being perfectly fine—everyone deals with a bludger to the head every now and again—it was time to step down. He doesn’t like to admit that he retired from the Magpies because of a dumb injury. If you hear him tell the story, he’ll have some rehearsed lines on how Quidditch wasn’t for him. But Merlin does he miss the thrill of the chase(rs).

Next steps: A lot of his free time is spent flying; either by himself or helping his former teammates practice. The next part of his career will involve him spending a lot of time at Quality Quidditch Supplies and eventually working there. He’s got the Quidditch expertise to tell you which broom is best for playing, travelling, or just recreation—but certainly not the confidence to become an Assistant Coach for the Magpies. It was definitely about time Julian stepped away from Oliver’s meticulously laid out plans—and Julian feels himself becoming much less aggressive about the sport off the pitch.

Eventual: While Oliver didn’t particularly emphasize the importance of anything except Quidditch, Daphne was a much more reasonable voice as far as academics. Julian’s favorite subject was Transfiguration and he had gotten enough NEWTs to call himself a competent spellcaster, though he never thought he would need to ever have a backup plan should Quidditch go awry. Eventually, Julian would work as a broom developer for Ellerby & Spudmore, but he’s certainly not at that point where he’s even aware of this path—and who knows? Maybe something in the game will make him passionate about something else; the most I’m concerned with is that he’s got room to grow!

Affiliation: (subject to change after discussion with revelant players) Right now, Julian is neutral. However…

Possible DA plot: Julian probably played Quidditch with James Sirius, but he’s a bit older—two or three years—so I’m not sure if James would have invited him! However, if Julian did receive an invitation, Julian’s a bit of a overthinker and would need to consider the risks in joining—so I think this struggle would be fun to write! Even if he knows of the DA’s existence, he’s not about to go blabbing about it to other people, especially if he’s been told to keep it secret. And he will—so long as the DA continues to the work of keeping the peace.

Possible DE plot: Given enough motivation, there’s a chance Julian could even join the Death Eaters. While he does have a bit of bias being raised pureblood, he wouldn’t join to push the pureblood agenda—after all, his father fought in the Second Wizarding War! But are his brothers in danger? Is he being blackmailed or bribed? Have the Death Eaters offered him something that he won’t be able to get anywhere else? It’s possible but a little unlikely given that Julian doesn’t have any ties to any former Death Eater families (yet?).

Significant Other: None yet. Julian has a scattered dating history, and the relationships don’t last very long. He’s been so focused on Quidditch that he doesn’t realize that he’s not giving his partner the right attention and perhaps not giving as much effort as he should have. Now he’s off the pitch, he’s definitely much more emotionally available. I will say that I’m a sucker for reunion plots though—getting back together or hooking up and seeing something more or something new in this person he thought he knew.

Sexuality: He’s demisexual, though he wouldn’t know what the word means nor does he have the self-awareness to figure this out for himself even if he did know. He thinks having a slow burn relationship is just being a gentleman! I would say he’s mostly heteroromantic; Julian’s played around with both genders early out of Hogwarts but really prefers girls.

Any HC’s: l mean… here’s what I got… idk if these count and these will have to be updated as the game progresses!

Acceleration – the rate of change of velocity per unit of time. Oliver Wood expected his sons to have the same career trajectory he did. Therefore, Julian learned to ride a broomstick not long after he stopped crawling, learned how to handle a quaffle as soon as he could ride higher than five feet off the ground. Those skills did translate to the pitch at Hogwarts, becoming a chaser on the starting lineup as a second year, becoming Quidditch Captain by his seventh year, and recruited by the Montrose Magpies after finishing school. Oliver wasn’t happy with Julian’s choice—though not enough to abandon Puddlemere and coach with the Magpies instead.

Crest - the point on a wave with the maximum value of upward displacement within a cycle. Even in school, Julian was incredibly intense and competitive, only to be compounded by his success outside of Hogwarts--and clearly he didn’t give a damn who disliked him for it. The obsession--though any Wood will tell you that this is passion--was at its peak when Julian had gone professional. It was all he could think about and it’s all he wanted to do; he wore down the leather of his chaser’s gloves and smoothed down the handle of his broom.

Free fall – downward movement under the force of gravity only. His Quidditch career was short-lived: a particularly bad injury with a bludger during the season finals finally pulled Julian to the sidelines. Julian maintains that this was his choice; Quidditch wasn’t for him anymore! Part of it was the terrible press he received throughout the last few years, especially considering his father’s legacy that he had to carry. Still passionate about the sport, Julian stayed involved by supporting his brothers who are also still playing on professional teams.

Displacement - occurs when an object is largely immersed in a fluid, pushing it out of the way and taking its place. Julian has a few memories of his mother, but he was never at a loss for maternal affection; Daphne may have been inexperienced with children, but she certainly cared in the best way she could. She may not have seen eye to eye with Oliver on Quidditch--after all, she couldn’t tell the difference between a quaffle and a bludger when they first met! But she always supported her stepsons in soft but unexpected ways, even after she bore a Wood of her own--even if it meant what she had to say wasn’t about what the kids wanted to hear. She’s one of the few that Julian truly trusts and she was the one that had to advise him to walk away.

Friction - the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and material elements sliding against each other. Julian has a tendency to ignore his privilege. He has the advantages of being able to train for Quidditch before he’s even allowed a broom at school, and he’s been treated to the best equipment that the Greengrass family could buy. But he’s so certain that all it takes to get to the top is hard work. His fall from grace certainly challenges his perspective on this, and perhaps this is what drives him to say that he had chosen to walk away from his career. He didn’t want to be seen as weak--nor did he want anyone to think he didn’t try hard enough to stay there.

Equilibrium - a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced. Later, Julian will eventually start work as a shopkeep for Quality Quidditch Supplies; certainly he loved to help people find what a good fit was for them as far as flying. Not everyone played Quidditch and there were always variations of the sport that Julian loved to come up with. For someone who was such a stickler for the rules on the pitch, having a life off of it now made him much less aggressive about it.

Impulse - a force acting briefly on a body and producing a finite change of momentum. Julian was always destined, if not determined, to make a name for himself. At the very least, he was a competent spellcaster--Transfiguration in particular was one of his favorite subjects. He’s determined to make himself something more than just the Quidditch player.

Elasticity - the ability of an object or material to resume its normal shape after being stretched or compressed. Julian always has some sort of injury, usually bruises from falls—but he’s usually so quick to recover that it was actually such a surprise when he realized that the bludger incident really prevented him from playing to his potential. Once his brothers started playing Quidditch at school, he was already making sure he knew some basic mending charms—though it was probably more to Julian’s own benefit that anyone else’s!

Buoyancy - the ability or tendency to float in water or air or some other fluid. Julian doesn’t know when his coffee addiction started, but he certainly knew when it ended. A close friend of his kept calling him out on complaining about how disgusting coffee was and, as a joke, kept gifting him tea for any occasion she could think of--and it’s his morning, afternoon, and evening cups of Earl Grey keeping him afloat.

[moustacheimpossible-blog]

Peace of Mind

CIA Agent August Walker is in trouble with Solomon Lane after this last one grows suspicious of his activities with the CIA. Solomon Lane has asked Agent Walker to bring him Ethan Hunt alive, but as weeks passed without any news from Walker, Lane concludes that Walker is a traitor and goes as far as kidnapping Walker's sister in order to get what he wants from Agent Walker...

CHAPTER 1

The sun rays shined directly into her blue eyes, forcing the young woman to put on her sunglasses. She smiled, displaying her white teeth, content as the music coming out of her Bluetooth speakers pleased her. She grabbed her smartphone, and repeated the same song that had just ended, not getting enough of it. She stood up from the sunchair and entered her small house to retrieve something. She then came back outside on the patio and sat at the table, eating a plate of chicken and rice, taking off the sunglasses from her face.

The man took another picture of the young woman as her face appeared directly in the focus of his lens that he had adjusted in order to have a better view on her face. He narrowed one of his eyes and kept taking pictures of her face, while she seemed to be wondering about something... Her short pale blonde hair blown by the warm wind kept her face free from her bangs, allowing the man to capture her face over and over on his camera.

"I'd be worried too if I were you sweetheart!" He added while seizing other pictures of her. When he made sure he had taken enough pictures of the woman, he returned inside his Black SUV and headed to his motel room where he'd communicate with a man. Before calling the man that had hired him, he sent the series of pictures he had taken to a secure email address and then called the man to see what he thought of this.

"Good evening Mr. Lane, I've sent you pictures of the woman you were looking for..."

Lane listened to the man speaking on the phone while his blue eyes were glued to the screen of his laptop. He slowly brought his fingers to the screen and caressed it as if he was trying to caress the face of the young woman displayed on the pictures.

"Yes, that's her!" He nonchalantly said, his eyes still admiring the woman on the pictures. He wasn't finding her attractive or interesting, even though she was indeed a beautiful woman, Lane just wanted to get his hands on her because she would be of an use at some point. She was in a way a backup plan for him.

"Hmm!" He snorted as he zoomed in the picture.

"She's got a dimple in her chin just like him..."

The man that had taken the pictures asked Lane if he was done with his work and Lane revealed to him that he wasn't done yet. He'd need to keep an eye on the young woman, just in case Lane had the intention to execute his plan. Lane ended the conversation and saved the pictures on his smartphone in order to send them to a certain man he had lost faith in. He didn't know anymore if he could trust him, knowing well that he was now working with Erika Sloane. The last time he had heard from him was 3 months ago, and Lane was growing suspicious of his activities.

Sitting at his desk, Lane calmly typed on his keyboard via a secure email that couldn't be tracked down.

"Hope I'm not disturbing you, Mr. Walker... I'd like to remind you that you have forgotten to contact me over the past few weeks, which worries me about your activities with the CIA. I thought your mission was to push Ethan Hunt to me. So far you hadn't done any of what I asked you. Don't go thinking that I'm not aware of your surroundings. Perhaps these pictures attached to the email will eventually stir you up a bit... Isn't she lovely, so innocent and fragile... I'm pretty sure she's the only human being you do care about and that you only wish the best for her. If you don't trap Ethan Hunt, I will personally take care of your little sister Walker and you'll never see her again! You don't even want to imagine what they'd do to her Walker..."

Lane sent the email and lowered his eyes on his smartphone, knowing he'd receive a call in the few minutes to come. He didn't even have the time to turn away from his laptop that his smartphone's screen lighted up as he received a call from an Unknown ID Caller. He didn't need to know who it was, Lane was smart enough to realize that he had found Walker's fatal weakness, and she was called Kiley Walker...

When Lane accepted the call, he had to hold his smartphone away from his ear since Walker was obviously pissed with Lane.

"If you touch her, I'll kill you Lane. I swear to god, I will kill you and all of your men!!" Lane wasn't intimidated by Walker's useless threats.

"It will bring you nowhere August. We're in the same team, remember?! I've finally found your Achilles heel. I knew the more I'd keep searching about, the deeper it would affect you. You think I wouldn't find out about your sister? I'm surprised though, you never told me that you had a sister. "

Lane could hear August breathing loudly at the other end of the phone. He had finally retrieved what could hurt Walker. She wasn't just a girlfriend or a spouse, she was his younger sister. The only human being he had taken care of and had seen growing up since she was just a baby...

"If you approach her Lane, you can bet your ass that I'm not bringing you, Hunt! I will find you and take care of you personally!!! You'll regret it and mark my words about it!"

"Human Nature; My weapon of choice. From what I can see, you do feel her pain and you will do everything in your power to protect her. Bring me Hunt and I won't hurt her, simple as this! I'm far from you Walker, looking for me would be a waste of time. When I'll get my hands on your little sister, I will make sure to be the only one aware of her location, so if the thought of killing me would cross your mind, it would eventually be a fatal move for your sister... She's just 29, I'm pretty sure you would like her to live longer than this, right August?"

"I can't bring you, Hunt, right now! He's gone on a mission, he'll come back in a few days from what I heard from Sloane. I told you it would take me longer, or else they'll grow suspicious of me!"

Lane quickly interrupted Walker as he explained to him why he couldn't bring Hunt to him right away.

"Do you think I'm stupid Walker? You've been with the CIA for years now, don't you think it could already be over this Mission with Hunt? by the Way, Ethan Hunt has been spotted in Washington today, he's already back in town... Don't lie to me Walker, you're only asking for trouble. As for your sister, there's a man watching over her place, and once I'll give my man the order to kidnap her, you won't have the choice to bring Ethan Hunt with you in order to save her. So, bring me Hunt and I'll give you back your sister!"

Lane kept smirking as he had succeeded in angering Walker. He knew it wouldn't take long for the CIA Agent to bring him, Ethan Hunt. Lane was about to add his last word when he realized that Walker had already ended the conversation.

"Better run Walker!" Said Lane, as he dialed the phone number of the man who was parked near the house of Walker's sister.

"Bring me the girl, please." Lane didn't need to say more to his man. His Henchman knew what was the job, and didn't need further explanation from Lane. The man replied with a simple yes over the phone before Lane ended the call. Still sitting in his chair, Lane kept his cold regard glue on the screen of his laptop.

"That will be so easy!" He shook his head, almost ready to claim his victory over Walker.

Also Available at: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15697128

https://www.wattpad.com/618918688-peace-of-mind-august-walker-chapter-1

[singlemaltscott]

5 times the love - harry

SEND ‘5 TIMES THE LOVE’ FOR A DRABBLE ABOUT 5 TIMES MERLIN FELL IN LOVE WITH YOUR MUSE

     ONE: AUGUST 1996

He’s Merlin. 

His mentor has stepped down and retired to the countryside. He finds it ironic that the old goat has quite literally been led out to PASTURE but as amusing as that is he does hold a great respect for the man. He’s been training under his predecessor for almost two years now and it doesn’t matter whether or not he feels ready because he has been GIVEN the alias. Gone is Emrys. He’s Merlin now. And if he’d had any doubts, the title fits like a glove, like he was meant for it. It feels more comfortable than Hamish ever has.

It’s not his first mission handling Galahad. It is, however, his first time as primary handler, the only one on comms, and as Merlin. He’s ready. He’s trained. He knows his job well and he’s fully PREPARED. He’s had enough experience both from his time in the army, the SAS, and the past couple years with Kingsman. Still, there’s a part of him that’s anxious. But there has never been any room to entertain FEAR in his line of work, before or after he was recruited by Kingsman, and he’s neatly packed it away as usual.

They’re two weeks in, and he loses communication with Harry. It’s brief but any break in contact is worrying. The man has made contact with his mark again, the third time in the past two weeks. Bugs have been planted in the man’s OFFICE and now that they’ve recorded the information that they need to intercept the illegal shipment of arms, Harry only needs to retrieve the bugs and they’ll regroup. But he loses contact, video feed going to static and audio cutting out.

He doesn’t need to know what’s going on to know that Harry has likely been compromised. He opens a line of communication with Harry’s backup in the vicinity and orders them to the man’s location but to wait for his signal before breaching the building. The AUDIO feed has filtered back in and he makes a note to work on anti-interference measures in the glasses. Gunshots are the first things he hears and the next is Harry’s ragged breathing.

“Galahad, can ye hear me? I’ve lost visual. What’s going on?”

“Cover blown…Did you know that these suits don’t stop armor piercing rounds? Highly inconsiderate of Mr. Quinlan, really. This one was barely worn in and-”

“Galahad what is your medical status?”

“A mere flesh wound, old boy.”

The lump that forms quickly in his throat is inconvenient and highly inappropriate. Merlin swallows it down quickly, fingers flying across the keyboard as he works to hack into the security cameras of the building, FINALLY getting a decent visual on what’s happening. he brings up the blueprints on another screen. 

“Backup is en route, Galahad. Let’s get ye te yer extraction point. First door te yer left. Unlocking in 3…2…1…”

Harry comes away with some standard bumps and bruises and a bullet to the abdomen, highly undersold via comms. Merlin gives him a thorough tongue lashing once he’s in medical for skirting around the truth but when Harry gives him a wide GRIN and is promptly knocked out by the drugs he’s been given, the anger flushes right out of his system.

He stays a little bit longer, sitting at the man’s bedside, tablet out so he can send the feeds from the mission down to Vivienne. When he stands, Merlin takes another look down at the other man, brow furrowed slightly. He’s RELIEVED. Overwhelmingly so. They’ve grown close in the past couple years, through Harry’s sheer stubbornness more than anything else. But he’s come to care for the man who he can now call a friend.

And if he feels something more he won’t allow himself to consider it.

     TWO: JANUARY 1998

He’s fairly pissed.

They’re at Harry’s flat. It’s not an entirely uncommon occurrence though free time does seem to be a rarity where Kingsman is concerned. The drinks they share are more frequently taken in an office at central or the shop because going to the pub is a COMMITMENT involving a full night and time spent at home is used for rest and caring for the dogs. But they’re off assignment, another SUCCESSFUL mission, and somehow the both of them have mandatory leave at the same time. If Merlin wasn’t aware of Arthur’s badly concealed distaste for him he might’ve thought it was done purposefully.

He’s nowhere to be the next day, Nymue handling the one ongoing assignment. It’s nothing particularly difficult and he trusts his co-worker to be able to take care of it. It’s not often that Merlin ventures into the field but sometimes his particular skill set is needed on site, as was the case. He’s always paired with Harry. They work WELL together. Seamlessly. He trusts the other man with his life and Merlin is certain that trust is returned. He’s also well aware of how their closeness grates on Arthur’s nerves and while he’d never encourage it in front of the man, it does give him secret pleasure knowing that the prat can’t refuse to pair them because even he can’t deny that they’re a force to be reckoned with.

They’re each well into the shared alcohol. Merlin’s switched from beer to the scotch he brought because really, when does he even get the chance to relax and drink it? The football match is on. He made Harry put it on though he knows his friend isn’t much for sport. Not football at any rate. Harry always INDULGES him when the match is on and Merlin’s grateful. He does rarely get to watch them live. They talk throughout, his attention half on the match and half on his friend, occasionally letting out his disappointment in a string of curses aimed at the telly. During the commercials he turns his full attention to Harry.

By the time the match has ended it’s late. Not particularly late by his standards given he’s generally working all hours but late in the mere sense of time of day. Merlin is pleasantly buzzed, chuffed that his team has WON, and warm both internally from the alcohol and externally from Harry’s proximity at his side. It barely occurs to him how close the other man is until he turns his head and their noses almost brush.

Harry’s face is flushed from the alcohol, lips red and Merlin bites his own as the other man licks his to wet them. But it’s Harry’s eyes as their gazes meet, those soft deep brown eyes that betray not so much an innocence as a PURITY so befitting of a knight, that draw him in closer. Closer until his lips meet the other man’s and he closes his eyes, forgetting himself.

But they part and their gazes meet again and Merlin is suddenly reminded of who he’s with and the GRAVITY of what he’s done pulls him backwards. He’s pushing himself up off the couch and stammering, stumbling towards the door, barely remembering to grab his jacket and forgetting his scotch entirely.

“Sorry, I- I should go.”

“Merlin-”

“I’ll see ye at work, Galahad.”

“Hamish!”

He’s out the door and headed towards the street to hail a taxi before he can hear whatever Harry has to say. Because if he stays he isn’t certain what else he’ll do. But there is one thing he is certain of: he LOVES Harry Hart. 

And that’s utterly terrifying.

     THREE: MAY 2003

He’s fucked. 

Still, he’s been in worse situations before. The Falklands. Iraq. It’s not his first time facing down overwhelming odds but this time it’s Kingsman. And this time he’s on his own for the moment, against the DOZENS that have him surrounded in the warehouse. Merlin isn’t certain how his cover was blown but it doesn’t much matter now. What matters is getting out and getting the information on the hard drive to Arthur.

He’s got limited options and Merlin knows that in spite of his previous training, he’s a bit out of practice and Galahad certainly would’ve had a better fighting chance in his place. Harry is his backup and he certainly needs it now. But TIME, as always, is of the essence and the crate he’s taken cover behind is quickly disintegrating in the gunfire. The men are concentrated ahead of him, just over a stone’s throw away behind a bank of crates, which means he won’t be able to do what he needs to from where he is.

Merlin slips a lighter from his jacket pocket- a prototype, one he’s still working out the kinks for but there’s no time like the PRESENT for a field test really -and rushes out from his cover quickly, gun in the other hand. He vaults over a crate, tucking and rolling and placing two rounds into two hostiles before he’s activating the grenade, tossing it over the wall of crates with precision, ready to dive back again.

There’s a sharp pressure in his chest and he stumbles, falling backwards. The explosion of the grenade kicks up dust and splinters wood but Merlin barely registers it. There’s movement, he catches it out of the corner of his eye but can’t see. BLOOD is spreading over his chest, soaking into his shirt and jacket. The blazer he wears is bullet proof like the suits issued to agents but he’s not an agent. He doesn’t get to wear a suit. This is what he’s been afforded and while a few rounds have been caught by the fabric, one has managed to strike him right above where the two sides come to meet in the middle of his chest.

It’s a few more moments before Harry is knelt over him, putting pressure on his chest. Merlin sees the man’s mouth moving but all he barely hears him. The man probes his back for an exit wound, finding none, and tugs him close. One strong arm wraps around his shoulders and Harry’s other hand presses down HARD on the wound. Blood is bubbling up in his mouth, trickling over as he tries to speak, hushed quickly by Harry, who Merlin realizes must be speaking to central now, gaze torn away from him for a few moments before looking back down.

“You realize you’ve absolutely no leg to stand on now, chastising me about putting myself into dangerous situations, you tosser.”

Merlin isn’t certain how long they stay there. Not long before they’re moving. And as he’s being loaded up into medical, PALE from blood loss and quickly slipping under, the last thing he sees is Harry’s face, worry lines etched into his forehead. It’s a shame really. There’s a great deal he hasn’t done, hasn’t said. And he feels it more keenly with Harry’s hand gripping his tight. He opens his mouth one more time, words not coming. 

He wishes he could say it: I love you.

    FOUR: KENTUCKY

It’s chaos.

All hell has broken loose in the church and Merlin can barely keep track of what’s going on in Harry’s glasses feed. There are too many people in the building, there’s too much movement, and Harry isn’t RESPONDING to him, which is what worries him most. No, that’s a lie. What worries him most is that Harry’s shot an unarmed woman in the head. A bigoted arsehole, yes but it’s certainly not the Harry he knows.

This isn’t Harry at all. The man is slaughtering church-goers left and right and Merlin can hardly keep track of the bodies as Galahad cuts through them with near superhuman speed and a laser-like focus. He knows what Harry’s capable, knows how DANGEROUS the man can be when it’s necessary but this is something else entirely. Something’s come over the entire church and all that Merlin can do is watch and wait and hope- but he’s never been much for hope. He’s always been a realist.

“Galahad. Galahad, can you hear me?”

Nothing. Two more bodies tossed aside, more rushing towards the man.

“Harry! Harry, what the heck is goin’ on!?”

All pretense is dropped. It’s against protocol, using an agent’s name but the man isn’t answering him at all, his VITALS are all over the place and Merlin’s heart nearly stops as the grenade goes off with Harry still in the blast radius. It barely fazes the agent, who’s only down for a moment. It’s gruesome. More violent than necessary. Merlin is CONCERNED to say the least. He’s scared for Harry, scared of the uncertainty of it all. He has no idea what’s happening to the man, no idea if his friend will be able to make it out of the church alive with everyone in it going completely mental and there’s nothing that he can do from England with only a computer screen and keyboard.

It was supposed to be recon. They hadn’t sent backup with the man because he shouldn’t have needed it. Merlin feels dread festering in his stomach, that familiar hollow sickly feeling of something terrible approaching.

When it all settles down and Harry moves out of the church, the pieces begin to slot into place. They’re waiting for him. Valentine. His thugs. A TEST. It must have been. And when Valentine begins to talk, begins to explain, Merlin knows that this isn’t ending with a quick escape. He knows what Harry’s doing, knows that the man is trying to extract the information they’ll need to STOP what Valentine is planning, as much as he can before they decide to put him down. But there’s still a chance. Harry is injured but still moving, still upright. From Merlin’s count he’s taken at least a bullet and a knife to the back, plus the shock of the grenade. It’s likely he’s taken further damage as well but there’s only so much he could catch while watching and the man’s vitals don’t give him detailed information.

“Harry, ye need te-”

The gunshot is loud and Merlin’s breath hitches. Harry’s vitals drop off entirely, high pitched tone RINGING in his ears even after it stops. The feed from his glasses is turned upwards. Blue skies, not a cloud in them. There are dead pixels across the visual, spiderweb cracks running through- broken glass -and darker flecks. Blood.

Merlin turns off the feed with a quick keystroke, turning in his chair and removing his glasses. His chest is tight and he sucks in a deep breath, head hanging. There’s no TIME for this. Arthur was watching from the shop. They need to move on the new information. The SIM cards. He wants to VOMIT. Not because he’s squeamish. He’s seen war. He’s seen more violence and death that he can remember. He’s seen agents die, even spoken one through their last moments in an attempt to provide some kind of comfort. 

But this is Harry. His best friend, perhaps the only true dear friend he’s had in his life. The only family that he has, certainly. This is the man who bothered him incessantly after his recruitment and battered and banged at the walls he’d put up out of sheer stubbornness and some strange desire to get to know him, until Merlin had started to LOWER them. This is the man who had seen him at his best and worst and knew more about him than he allowed anyone to. This is the man that he loves- loved. And the thought is enough to turn his stomach again.

He wishes he’d said it: I love you.

But there’s no time for this, so he forces himself to swallow down the bitterness at the back of his throat along with any SENTIMENT, fingers rubbing over his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. He puts his glasses back on with a heavy sigh. Professionalism is paramount and his commanding officer is waiting.

“Arthur…are ye there?”

“Sadly, I am. Assemble the Kingsmen.”

     FIVE: POPPYLAND

He’s made his peace.

It’s a quick decision, shoving Eggsy off the mine and placing his own foot on the trigger mechanism in one fluid motion. He’s the weak link of the three of them. While he does keep up his training, he hasn’t been in a proper fight in the field in YEARS. Sparring is a completely different scenario and while he trusts himself to be there with the other two men, he certainly doesn’t think he’d do better than Eggsy or Harry in what’s sure to be tooth and nail sort of fight to get to Poppy Adams, judging by her security detail on the outskirts.

“Merlin, what the fuck have you done?”

“The spray only buys a split second. Even if we’d all got clear, it’d detonate. Poppy’s guards come running, none of us make it inside.”

“Then spray it again and let me back on! It was my fuck-up!”

“Did ye ever have balloon debates at school, Eggsy? …Ye pretend ye’re all on an overladen hot-air balloon. Everyone is doomed unless one person goes overboard. An’ ye debate who. Ye argue who’d contribute most te the world if they survived. There’s no debate te be had here, lad. The mission needs the two of ye. The world needs the two of ye.”

He knows he could still contribute, knows that the contributions he’s made thus far in his life are something to be PROUD of. But in this situation, on this mission, he’s already done his job. He’s performed his role. He’s lived a longer life than he thought he would already. And it’s been a good one, if a bit lonely. Harry was right about that, on the plane. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop but it wasn’t a huge aircraft.

“Besides, our journey together began many years ago when yer father did the same fer us.”

“Our journey began with a mistake I made. Give me the can. That’s an order.”

His gaze is finally drawn from the young man to Harry. Harry who’s expression is serious as a heart attack, damn near murderous. It’s an expression that he’s not unfamiliar with. One the man wears on rare occasions when he is truly ANGRY. Occasions when he can no longer hold on to his many masks and gives a glimpse of what’s hiding past the surface of the witty, suave picture of a PERFECT gentleman. Harry orders him. Orders him. The man never pulls rank. It’s the first time he’s heard Harry give him in order in years and perhaps that, more than anything else, is truly telling. But it doesn’t matter. It’s too late. And like hell he’s going to let either of them blow themselves to high heaven and bollocks up the mission.

“Can’s empty. Split second’s over. You two need te get going.”

“No, no, no there’s gotta be another way-”

“He’s right. Mission comes first.”

“Bollocks mission comes first, this is-”

“Eggsy. This is no time fer emotion. Remember yer training. Or we all die.”

It’s a bit difficult, treating the young man like this. But it’s necessary. They still have a mission to complete. The world needs saving again and they’re currently the only people in a position to do just that. Time is precious with the VIRUS killing people with each minute that passes. There’s no time to discuss other options, no time to regroup, no time for tearful goodbyes.

“Now get on with it.”

“Do as you’re told. Move it.”

The young agent is looking between them as though they’ve no hearts. Perhaps they don’t. The heart is a fickle thing and it certainly doesn’t serve them in the work they do. They’ve been doing it long enough to have left the useless organs far in their PASTS. But Eggsy does as he’s told and leaves them with just a glance back, moving to take up his position. Merlin’s gaze shifts back to Harry, watching silently as the man salutes him.

“It’s been an honor.”

It’s a simplification. All they have time for right now. Merlin knows that if they had more, more would be said. But there isn’t time and he’ll have to live with those regrets- well, he won’t have to. Harry will. The man’s hand is a COMFORTING weight on his arm and he wants to reach up and take his friend’s hand in his own but he can’t. He won’t distract him further. He’s made his peace with his decision but it’s difficult not to think back on others he wishes he’d made, regrets he can’t make peace with. 

He’d told himself a year earlier that if he’d had more time with Harry he would’ve made good use of it. Then they’d come to Kentucky and the man had been there. Alive. But he hadn’t remembered. None of it. And that had done him no good. Then they’d gotten the man back proper but there had been no time for anything but WORK, the golden circle keeping them plenty busy. And now here they are in Cambodia. It’s ironic, really. A mere week after he gets Harry back, he’s forced to leave him.

He wants to say I love you.

“Good luck.”

He watches Harry walk away through the brush.

@soulscatter

[junker-town]

Patrick Mahomes’ knee injury sucks for not only the Chiefs, but all NFL fans

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

If Mahomes misses extended time, the West could belong to the ... Raiders?

The NFL was without its reigning Most Valuable Player for a few weeks. Thankfully, that’s about to change.

Patrick Mahomes, one of the league’s most electric young stars and a frontrunner to defend last year’s MVP award, left a Week 7 win over the Denver Broncos with a knee injury. The third-year quarterback had to be helped off the field in the second quarter after a fourth-and-inches sneak gave the Chiefs a fresh set of downs — but cost them the heart of their offense in the process.

He’ll make his triumphant return in Week 10 against the Titans.

When the injury first occurred, Mahomes was quickly ruled out against the Broncos after walking to the locker room. Replays showed his team’s training staff working on his right knee before picking him up from the turf.

No good replay because the bodies were just piled on Pat Mahomes. But there was this. Yikes. #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/5l6bHFKkVt

— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) October 18, 2019

Fortunately, an MRI showed it was a dislocated kneecap, and there are no fractures or other significant damage in the afflicted leg.

The MRI has confirmed the #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes suffered a dislocated kneecap, but not significant additional damage, sources tell me and @JamesPalmerTV. He’ll seek additional opinions to be sure. The plan is for him to return this season after a brief absence.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 18, 2019

No official timetable emerged for Mahomes’ recovery, but he was already back at practice less than a week after suffering the injury. Still, he was ruled out of Weeks 8 and 9.

Mahomes was seen with a brace on his knee after the Broncos game, and NFL Network’s Jesse Palmer said there was some initial optimism about Mahomes’ diagnosis, as did Mahomes himself:

Awesome team win! Love my brothers! Thank you for all the prayers! Everything looking good so far! #GodisGood #ChiefsKingdom

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) October 18, 2019

Mahomes’s absence threatened to be a significant blow to the Chiefs, but Matt Moore led the team to a 1-1 record, including win over the Vikings. It’s undoubtedly a good thing that Mahomes is back, though.

Losing the MVP, no matter for how long, sucks for Kansas City. It also sucks for anyone who likes a unique brand of football that occasionally borders on superhuman.

[Draft Kings Nation: If you have Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football, read this]

No quarterback in the league can replace what Mahomes does

Mahomes’ big arm and penchant for highlight-reel plays made him a perfect fit in Reid’s freewheeling offense. Surrounded by lightning-quick wideouts and a do-everything tight end, the 2017 first-round pick was a revelation in his first season as a starter last fall.

Mahomes’ ability to scramble out of trouble and improvise put him on a God Tier among NFL quarterbacks in just one full year behind center. He could extend plays long enough for his receiving help to find gaps, then launch pinpoint rifle shots downfield as though he were standing still. He’d fake out defenses with no-look passes. He could convert third downs with his left, non-dominant hand.

That led to a 5,097-yard, 50-touchdown campaign in 2018 and a runaway MVP award. And somehow he was more prolific through the first six weeks of 2019. He’d set career highs in passing yards per game (350.7) and yards per pass (9.1) while on pace for a career low in interception rate (just one in 230 attempts, and it was kinda due to some nonsense). On Thursday, he became the first player to pass for 7,500 yards in his first 24 games — besting Kurt Warner’s old record of 27.

But there was one big concern in the middle of that big start. An ankle injury suffered in the opening week of the season resurfaced in each of his last three games, robbing him of some of his mobility and leading to his three worst starts of the year as the Chiefs went on a 1-2 skid. He was looking to snap a two-game losing streak — and had completed 10 of his 11 passes with a touchdown — when he was forced out of game in Denver.

That turned the offense over to Matt Moore, who is absolutely not Patrick Mahomes.

What can Matt Moore do in Mahomes’ stead?

Moore has traditionally been one of the league’s better backup quarterbacks. He’s only started more than five games in a season just once in a 12-year career, but he’s got a respectable 15-15 record in those games, split between the Panthers and Dolphins.

However, his last start came in 2017 — a season where he threw more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (four). He’s also 35 years old now, so it’s fair to expect a little bit of dropoff from an aging passer who had thrown only a single pass in his last 22 games before Thursday night. Moore didn’t even expect to play football this year; he’d spent much of the offseason as a member of Miami’s coaching staff and was only signed by Kansas City in August after Chad Henne went on injured reserve.

But Moore has also never played with a receiving corps as talented as the one he’ll sling passes to in western Missouri. He’ll have the chance to work with a pair of All-Pros in wideout Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce. Rookie Mecole Hardman is averaging 18 yards per catch and hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes before the QB left the game. Sammy Watkins hasn’t been able to match his Week 1 explosion (nine catches, 198 yards, three touchdowns), but should provide additional support once he’s back to full strength after missing the last two games. Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson are both depth options who are each capable of putting up 100+ yard games.

Moore played well in relief of Mahomes against the Broncos, albeit in more of a caretaker role. He finished 10 of 19 for 117 yards and threw this touchdown, on this nicely placed ball he dropped in to Hill:

MATT MOORE THROWS DIMES pic.twitter.com/WN23DQLMmZ

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) October 18, 2019

The Kansas City offense scored on two of Moore’s drives, while the defense dominated in a 30-6 win in Denver.

Going forward, the question with Moore is whether he can be the guy who outplayed Ryan Tannehill and had a 105.6 passer rating for the 2016 Dolphins, or if he’s the quarterback who threw more interceptions than touchdowns and averaged an Osweiler-ian 6.8 yards per attempt in the season after.

Who else can the Chiefs sign or promote to either back up Moore or replace him?

The current free agent quarterback market is thin, though the XFL Draft just dug up a bunch of names who’d likely jump at the chance to sling passes to Hill, Kelce, and Hardman. Former starters who aren’t signed heading into Week 7 include:

Cody Kessler

Tom Savage

Kevin Hogan

and Matt Cassel

There is another name who could give a contending Chiefs team a boost behind center. Colin Kaepernick hasn’t played a snap in the NFL since 2016, but has reportedly kept in game shape while waiting for a team willing to even give him a workout. He still wants to play football — but the question is whether Kansas City will be willing to reach out to the famously divisive former NFC champion.

For now, the club has decided to look in-house for its backup to Moore. Rookie Kyle Shurmur, an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt, was promoted from the practice squad before Week 8 in order to serve as the team’s understudy. The prospect had 50 touchdown passes his final two years with the Commodores, and while he underwhelmed in the preseason he’s a useful asset for an emergency role in Missouri.

What does this mean for the rest of the NFL?

The Chiefs are 5-2, but the longer Mahomes is out, the more the AFC West could be back up for grabs. That’s good news for the Chargers, Raiders, and Broncos. The Chiefs’ division rivals will have the chance to pull the defending champions of the group back to earth. Oakland, out to a surprising 3-3 start, could affirm Jon Gruden’s expansive rebuild by pushing its way to the top of the division. A Mahomes injury would likely give Los Angeles a much-needed break after the Chargers shot themselves in the foot repeatedly to start the season 2-5.

Denver, at 2-5, probably has too many flaws to overcome this year, but hey, maybe the Broncos will surprise us.

This injury, as bleak as it is for the Chiefs, could be beneficial for the NFC North. Their next two games are circled dates on the calendars of the Packers and Vikings, respectively. While this means the cruel indifference of the football gods has robbed us of the first (and possibly only) Patrick Mahomes-Aaron Rodgers shootout as well as a showcase against Minnesota’s solid defense, it also means the top of a stacked division may only get stronger.

And then there’s the rest of the AFC, which looked like a two-team race after Week 4 but now appears firmly in New England’s control. Any losses Kansas City takes under Moore’s guidance will dig a deeper hole in the battle for homefield advantage come playoff time. While a Week 14 trip to Foxborough will provide an opportunity to close that gap, the Patriots’ easy schedule and dominant defense may make Mahomes’ injury too big an obstacle to overcome in the race for the top spot in the conference.

Ultimately, the MRI showed a crisis was averted by the Chiefs. But even losing Mahomes for a couple weeks was a massive loss not only for Kansas City but also anyone who loves watching a borderline superhero throw footballs into orbit.

We’ll have more updates as they become available.

[auburnfamilynews]

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Ready to spend the entire month of November at Jordan-Hare?? We are! It starts here.

Yes, we’re all disappointed in how things went down in Baton Rouge, and the vast majority of the fanbase expressed some form of frustration with the way that things were handled in what very well could have been a huge road win.

Now, Auburn is back at home for the rest of the season. We’ve done all of our trips, and lost at the current #1 and #6 teams in the country. Not bad, but this team hasn’t come close to reaching its peak. With Ole Miss coming in before a bye week, this is the opportunity to start climbing the ladder. Will we do it? Find out below:

#11 Auburn (-19) vs Ole Miss (O/U 53)

(I will do this paragraph in the style of the Auburn offensive preparation)

TiGeR mOvE bAlL wElL. dOeS fOoTbAlL tHiNgS.

In all seriousness, Auburn should have no problems here, the defense will be the defense and the offense will look like they have ‘figured things out’ since the Rebels, while competent, don’t have the talent Auburn has. That normally adds up to Gus looking good. It’s just sad that the postgame will be, HEY! WE FIXED IT! No you didn’t and we will find that out in 2 weeks when we lose to Georgia by 3...ugh.

Tigers 44-17

-Drew Mac

Auburn has shown a willingness so far this season to lay the wood on bad teams despite struggles against better ones. Where Auburn has struggled in passing success rate (simply, staying ahead of the sticks), the Ole miss defense has been just as bad or worse in giving up those consistent plays. The difference is that Ole Miss also gives up a ton of explosive pass plays, while Auburn can at least do that. On the other side of the ball, the Ole Miss offense is hot garbage outside of kinda being able to run the ball, but I wouldn’t exactly say they’re good at it. Particularly, they can’t run between the tackles (95th in the country in running backs being stopped at or behind the LOS), so I fully expect the Auburn defense to beat down this Ole Miss offense. Maybe I’m missing something here, but I want a bloodletting. The Ole Miss offensive line probably isn’t good enough to hold Derrick Brown or Marlon Davidson, and I expect them to let out some frustration while running free. Also, give DJ Williams all the carries.

Auburn 41-6

-Ryan Sterritt

I think auburn is still a really good team in a league with two great teams. Ole miss is not one of those. Ole miss football is a corpse being drug around by a guy with two first names who is probably really nice and doesn’t deserve this at all.

I’m not sure what the Rebels do well, but I bet it isn’t “run the ball against incredible interior defensive lines” or “defend dynamic receivers and a quarterback who plays really well at home.” Bo Nix is all we have now. So he had better stay healthy. Looking at you offensive line.

Auburn 40, Ole Miss 12

-Son of Crow

Auburn finally returns to the friendly confines of Jordan-Hare Stadium and they ought to be pissed off about how things went last week and ready to take it out on somebody. That somebody is Ole Miss who continues to rotate QBs and has wins over Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Southeastern Louisiana this season. Auburn needs to take care of business early and give some other guys the opportunity to play. I think DJ Williams showed last week he’s a pretty capable running back and he needs all the carries to get some experience for Georgia and Bama. It appears a change on the offensive line is imminent and it’s way past time to try someone else at center and to shuffle the line up a bit. Defensively, you can’t ask for more from a unit that held LSU last week to half of their season average in points. As I said in Snap Judgments last week, after all the criticism of the offense, watch Auburn go out and score 40-45 this week.

Auburn 44, Ole Miss 17

-Will McLaughlin

Auburn returns to the Plains with another loss against another top 10 team in another hostile environment. And hoo boy people have some #takes on it. Bottom line on this Auburn team is that when they have needed to help a true freshman quarterback by effectively running the football, they have…honestly met my very low expectations. This is, after all, the same offensive line we saw collapse oh so often last season. They’re a year older, a year wiser, a year strong, and they’re still close to their ceiling in terms of ability. But hey, at least their decent at pass protection since we most definitely will have a newfound appreciation for Bo Nix if that falls apart down the stretch!

Now that I got that out of the way, let’s appreciate some things about this team. They have a championship caliber defense. Never forget them. They’ve won a lot of games for us that we aren’t competitive in without them. Y’all remember those punt coverage issues? Those got fixed. Pass coverage and tackling has been outstanding. And DJ Williams! The running back who probably is best suited to start regardless of Boobee’s health did nothing to make us doubt him in Baton Rouge. Another thing to remember about this team is that they win the games that are more about us than they are about the opponent or the environment. Which brings us to game 9, the 7th of which Auburn completely dictates victory or defeat.

Keys to victory

Pass to set up the run. Not a popular theory among football purists, but necessary with this offensive line. They simply can’t move the line of scrimmage straight up. So loosen a defense up early and often. Yards on the ground will suddenly appear!

Get Bo Nix the hell out of there if we’re up 17 points or more in the 4th quarter. We’ve got to have him healthy.

I’d like to see better play on the outside defensively at the line of scrimmage. Ole Miss is gonna want to run often. It would be nice to see our defensive ends/Buck play within themselves and not get lost in the shuffle.

We saw what DJ Williams did with 10 carries. Let’s give him closer to 20. Feed this kid and get him comfortable with the speed of the game. He’ll be a difference maker the rest of the way.

Give us something, anything in the way of creativity in the pass route progressions. Bo Nix is a freshman, but he’s been at his best when we run pace and just let him play ball. It’s clear he’s overthinking things and it’s not helping. Sometimes simplifying things for a player isn’t so much about the playbook, but more about attitude. Let him see the whole field (I do not believe he currently is being coached to read the entire field), and live with the decisions he makes. It may result in a turnover. It also may result in the maturation of a generational talent at quarterback who was thrust into this job too soon because Kelly Bryant ended up at Missouri.

Auburn is going to win the football game, convincingly. Auburn 52 Ole Miss 10

-Josh Black

At the beginning of the season, I said that Auburn could be a very good football team and go 6-6. Auburn could also be a very poor football team and still go 6-6. The schedule was that difficult. 6 easy wins, 6 difficult wins. Here we are, 8 games in, and Auburn is 2-2 in those toss-up games. Yes, in hindsight, A&M is not the juggernaut we believed they’d be in August. But Auburn played 4 tough opponents, all away from home, and won two of those games.

That being said, the current perception of this team is based on one important thing: Auburn beats the tar out of lesser opponents. Auburn scored 21 points in the first 6 minutes against Mississippi State (which I believe is the fastest Auburn has put up 21 points since at least 1995) on their way to a 56-23 rout. Auburn dominated Arkansas 51-10 in a brunch game. The perception of Auburn depends on Auburn running out of the tunnel Saturday night and absolutely obliterating Ole Miss. Auburn has to start fast and finish strong. We all know the defense will do their job. That’s not who I’m worried about: this offense has to have another game similar to Mississippi State. Bo Nix has to be great. Not to get the win; there’s a large enough talent game between the two schools that Auburn could beat Ole Miss playing their C+ game. No, Nix needs the confidence. 4 home games remain. No more hostile crowds, no more travel, no more new stadiums. Bo Nix has 4 more chances to become Auburn’s future star quarterback. That has to begin Saturday night. There’s a portion of this fan base that believes there is a large conspiracy about how a coaching staff, with all their jobs on the line, would deliberately start a quarterback that wasn’t as good as the backup. Unfortunately Bo needs to go out there and prove them all wrong.

Likewise, Gus Malzahn needs to call a great game. The fans need it, yes, but the team needs it more. Trust your guys - all of them! We have a great team with great players! Trust them. You trusted them against Mississippi State and Arkansas and Texas A&M and Oregon. Trust them again against Ole Miss. And then against against Georgia.

Everyone assumed Auburn would beat Ole Miss at the start of the year. When that happens, and you lose the way you lost against Florida and LSU, you need to beat the opponents you’re supposed to beat. And you need to win big.

Auburn 59, Ole Miss 14

-Josh Dub

This is Auburn’s true trap game of the year. Against Mississippi State, Auburn had the revenge angle to stay focused. Auburn will always be ready to play when facing Arkansas under Malzahn. However, Ole Miss is the exact type of opponent that could trip up the Tigers. Facing a not awful team following an emotional loss on the road, a very big game looming in the distance and some drama off the field with a well liked teammate leaving has all the makings of what could be a frustrating night in Jordan Hare....

But not against this defense. Derrick Brown, Marlon Davidson and this crew will show up ready to go. The Rebels strength is running the football something this defense takes pride in shutting down. I fully expect this senior laden unit to come out & set the tone early. It will be up to the offense to respond. I think they do, behind a big game from DJ Williams and a much better performance from Bo Nix, Auburn pulls away and wins comfortably to setup another possible top 10 matchup in two weeks. Auburn 48 Ole Miss 17

-AU Nerd

Ole Miss isn’t very good on defense outside of Benito Jones, and that should help Auburn get right on offense. Jones will definitely be a menace, especially against the weakness of Auburn’s OL. This needs to be a game for Shivers and Schwartz to attack the perimeter early to open things up for DJ Williams later in the game. Not to mention that we could really use another solid game from Jordan-Hare Bo Nix.

On defense, I worry about Ole Miss using the same philosophy. There were able to move the ball well early on Texas A&M by using their speed on the perimeter. Auburn must tackle well in space, something they’ve done well all season.

If Auburn starts fast, we should get a full helping of Jordan-Hare at Night in an absolute bludgeoning. If Auburn starts slow on offense, I don’t think it will take much for the crowd to get frustrated. Look for Auburn to defer if they win the toss, get an early stop, and try to take a shot at a big play down the field. Hit those checkboxes and covering shouldn’t be a problem.

Auburn 37, Ole Miss 13 (Auburn covers, under)

-James Jones

Time for some of the fans to calm down. Gatewood’s gone, we lost a really frustrating game to LSU, and the sky is falling even though about 2-3 teams might be undefeated with our schedule. Ole Miss is the perfect medicine for this situation. It’s been explored that Gus knows how to beat up on some bad SEC teams, and he’ll take the time to try and get Bo Nix right against the Rebels. We’re back at home, where Bo’s been good, and we’re going to get into rhythm before the bye week and Georgia. Auburn essentially has two games left in the season that really matter, and this one ain’t one of them unless we lose or win really close. We’re not going to do either of those. The LSU loss galvanized the team two years ago. I have no idea if it’s going to do that again in 2019, but it won’t matter this weekend against Ole Miss. D.J. Williams goes nuts with about 20 carries and a couple of scores, while Bo gets back on track a little bit and tosses three touchdown passes with no turnovers. Auburn gets to 7-2 and heads into the bye week to figure out the backup quarterback situation.

Tigers 48, Rebels 10.

-Jack Condon

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/11/1/20943228/staff-picks-11-auburn-vs-ole-miss

[kansascityhappenings]

Will they be worth it? The strategy behind draft picks in a new season of FOX4 fantasy football

“Did you do it?”

“Yes.”

“What did it cost?”

“Everything.”

Much like Thanos in “Avengers: Infinity War,” I too paid a great price. Mine came in fantasy football.

I’m the commissioner of the FOX4 fantasy football league, which held its draft last weekend. It’s always fun to compete against my coworkers, especially since we do an auction league.

For those unfamiliar, an auction league works with a set budget for players ($200 in our case.) You bid against the other owners for players to fill out your team.

The positive is literally everyone has a shot at the players they want. In most standard leagues, Saquon Barkley is going first overall. If you draft 8th, he’s long gone.

Here, you just have to be willing to pay the most. If you wanted, you could even outbid everyone for Barkley and Christian McCaffrey to have the top two projected players on your team.

The downside: That’s going to cost you. A lot. That means a lot of sitting and waiting as other quality players go off the board with other owners easily able to outbid you.

As you might’ve guessed by my lead-in, you can tell something about my strategy.

I’m sharing with you my draft results, along with the dollar amount I spent on each player. I’m hoping to provide some insight into my thinking.

It’s also my goal to track this team as the season goes along, including any free agent acquisitions and/or trades along the way.

So let’s do it.

Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants reacts after scoring during the fourth quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on December 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

RB Saquon Barkley ($73): What can I say?  There’s just something nice about having the likely best player in fantasy football on your squad.

Barkley is not only a strong runner but a good pass-catching back as well. That’s the single-most valuable asset in fantasy football.

The downside is obviously the cost. I spent more than 35% of my budget on a single player, and not surprisingly, this was the most anyone in the league spent to get someone.

WR Deandre Hopkins ($64): Not only did I get RB1, I’ve got WR1 too! That’s something that would never happen in a snake draft.

While wide receiver is suddenly the deepest position in the league, Hopkins is still the elite of the elite. His numbers have only grown since the Texans have given him Deshaun Watson at quarterback. But just like with Barkley, I had to go significantly over the Yahoo! dollar projections to make it happen.

It’s been my experience in these leagues that it’s better to err on the side of overly aggressive than too passive, particularly for top-flight players.

My team is probably sunk if these players get hurt, but I feel that’s the same for any team losing a first-round pick.

RB Dalvin Cook ($47): I wanted to get another bell cow running back to go with my team.

I honestly didn’t want Cook. It was at this point in the draft that my app acted up, so I closed it, and by the time I had it reopened, I had a new running back on my team. It’s still more than I wanted to spend for him, but was right in line with the Yahoo! spending.

If there’s one silver lining, it’s that Cook is no longer working in the offense of John Defilippo, who heavily skewed toward the pass for the Vikings. He should see an uptick in carries.

The downside: I’ve now spent 92% of my budget to fill 20% of my roster. Welp.

Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up prior to the preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lincoln Financial Field on August 22, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

QB Carson Wentz ($4): I feel fortunate to get such a high-upside QB here that didn’t kill me on cost.

By this point in the draft, I was mostly nominating players I had no interest in with the hopes my competitors would chew up some of their remaining budget. Quarterbacks are a good place to start.

Simply put, you can get very good production from the ones outside the elite tier at a small fraction of the cost. Wentz has top 5-upside when healthy, but that’s a big if. I still had to gamble on it here.

WR Corey Davis ($2): Woof. I know wide receiver is deep, but Davis as my second-best receiver is a long fall. The Titans haven’t exactly been lighting it up no matter whether it’s Marcus Mariota or Ryan Tannehill at the helm.

I have to hope Davis shows something here that explains why he was a top 5 draft pick long ago.

RB Austin Ekeler ($1): By far, this is the best value I have in this draft, and it probably came by chance.

Ekeler will slot in nicely into my flex position, especially since contract talks between the Chargers and Melvin Gordon seem to be going nowhere.

Ekeler will have to split duties with Justin Jackson, so it’s not like he has a firm grip on the job, but he’ll get enough carries that he’s more than worth the minimum. I’m lucky my competitors were either in a similar position as me and/or had already grabbed enough RBs.

TE Greg Olsen ($1): This is again gambling on health and upside. Olsen’s been extremely productive when he’s on the field, which hasn’t been much the last two seasons.

But once you get outside the tier of Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz and George Kittle, I don’t find it worth spending heavily on a position that really only provides a lot of value when they’re scoring touchdowns.

I’ll take a chance Olsen can stay healthy, and if he doesn’t, it’s not a lost cause.

Kicker Wil Lutz #3 of the New Orleans Saints kicks a field goal in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

K Wil Lutz ($1): He’s a steady kicker, which is really all I’m looking for.

One of my favorite strategies early in an auction league is to nominate a kicker you have rated somewhere around third to fifth. Early on, a lot of opponents will be reluctant to spend their budget on that position, and you get a reliable option for just a buck.

The alternative is probably even better—that someone uses more of their budget to take a kicker, which I can never justify. It worked for me when I nominated Harrison Butker, who ended up going for $5.

DEF Baltimore ($1): Similarly, I use this strategy with defenses as well, although the Ravens were probably closer to a mid-tier defense for me. I was hoping someone would bid me up here, but I can live with it.

They’ll take a step back in all likelihood, but I think are still worthy of weekly starts.

WR Michael Gallup ($1): All I can basically do at this point is to take a buckshot approach with wide receivers — draft plenty, hope one pans out.

Gallup will be the number two option in Dallas behind Amari Cooper. Dak Prescott isn’t a star quarterback, but he’s serviceable.

I’m hoping Gallup gets some chemistry here, though it’s also about at this point in the draft where I started questioning whether I should’ve nominated a second wide receiver earlier and hope someone with a bigger budget would be hesitant to spend.

WR Demaryius Thomas ($1): Every draft you find a guy or two that’s way down the Yahoo! rankings, hope no one else notices him, and you make a move. That was Thomas for me.

He’s coming off a lost season with Houston but played well in the preseason with New England. The Patriots initially cut him, but it appears to be a procedural move, and he’ll likely return to them.

I don’t think Thomas will see a lot of time at first, but I’m hoping he can build a rapport with Tom Brady and return to his status as a WR1. I’d even settle for anything resembling it.

TE Jimmy Graham ($1): Graham joins the ranks of my “what once was” tight end group with Olsen. He certainly wasn’t a superstar with Seattle like he was in New Orleans.

I’m hoping that there’s some magic he can find with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.  Most likely, I’ll be playing the matchup game week-to-week with my tight ends.

QB Kirk Cousins ($1): There’s no reason to ever spend more than this on a backup QB. They’re all pretty similar to one another, but Cousins gives me a viable option should Wentz get hurt. Throwing to Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs doesn’t hurt.

RB Justice Hill ($1): I feel this is a decent mid-upside pick for me. Hill will start the season behind Mark Ingram in the backfield in Baltimore, but he seemed to get rave reviews from the Ravens in the preseason (beware of falling for this too often.)

He’s also probably the better pass-catching/third down option as well.  This may be a draft and stash for me, provided I can afford it.

WR Courtland Sutton ($1): Just adding to my pile of receivers at this point. Emmanuel Sanders isn’t what he once was, the Broncos have a new QB with Joe Flacco, and Sutton has promise.

15 players, $200 spent. This is about as “studs and duds” as a roster gets.

The best-case scenario for me?

Barkley and Hopkins prove why they’re the best at their positions, Cook gets a chance to show off more in Minnesota, Olsen stays healthy and reasserts himself as a top-5 tight end, one of my receivers pulls away from the pack to be a viable WR2, and I’ve got a beast to deal with in the playoffs.

The worst case?

Either of my top picks misses significant time, Wentz’s injuries hamper his production, neither of my tight ends win the battle with health and Father Time, my wide receivers never step up and leave a gaping hole in my roster, and I’m consolation bracket fodder.

Unlike Thanos, I’m as perfectly imbalanced as can be.

You can build a team like that, but it also means more than ever, you have to be diligent in scouring the waiver wire, keeping an eye out for trade possibilities and making the right calls on who to start and sit every week.

I look forward to doing that for you all season.

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/2019/09/02/will-they-be-worth-it-the-strategy-behind-draft-picks-in-a-new-season-of-fox4-fantasy-football/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2019/09/03/will-they-be-worth-it-the-strategy-behind-draft-picks-in-a-new-season-of-fox4-fantasy-football/

[windweek5-blog]

Past, Present & Future: National League Closer Turnover

While a new breed of pitcher, one who can rack up holds, strikeouts and throw multiple innings, is beginning to emerge as an integral role on a baseball roster, becoming the “closer” is still the ultimate goal for a Major League relief pitcher. The closer gets the entrance music. The closer gets the congratulatory hug from the catcher after the third out, followed by handshakes from every teammate. Closers get paid! Most importantly, being the closer usually means that your manager trusts you above all other pitchers in that bullpen.

Give up a lead in the seventh or eighth inning and your team still has a chance to pick you up. The later in the game a players fails, the better chance that mistake will stand out to anyone watching. It will be in the headlines. Fantasy Baseball owners will want to know who is “next in line.”  And for a team that has fought tooth and nail to get to the ninth inning with a lead, it can be debilitating if the last pitcher standing can’t close things out. Managers don’t have much patience for blown saves, either. There is a lot of pressure and a lot of turnover, which is why most teams won’t have the same closer in September as they did on Opening Day.

Here’s a look back at each National League team’s closer situation on Opening Day versus where they are now and where they will be as they head into the offseason. (We ran through the American League earlier this week.)

[Related: MLB closer depth chart at Roster Resource] Arizona Diamondbacks | Diamondbacks Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Brad Boxberger September 2018: Committee — Yoshihisa Hirano, Archie Bradley, Boxberger

Future Outlook: The Diamondbacks opted to keep their best reliever, Bradley, in a setup role while plugging offseason acquisition Boxberger into the closer’s role. For the majority of the season, things went according to plan. That duo, along with Hirano and lefties Andrew Chafin and T.J. McFarland, were a strength on a team that led the NL West on September 1. But as the bullpen has fallen apart over the past few weeks, the team has quickly descended in the standings and fallen out of the playoff hunt.

As a result, the D-backs will head into the offseason with their closer situation somewhat up in the air. Overall, Boxberger, Bradley and Hirano have each been mostly effective and can still be counted on as valuable late-inning relievers. The D-backs will need to decide if they want add a better ninth inning option, though with numerous holes to fill as key players like A.J. Pollock and Patrick Corbin depart via free agency, the team could decide it has bigger needs.

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Atlanta Braves | Braves Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Arodys Vizcaino September 2018: Arodys Vizcaino Future Outlook: Vizcaino was entrenched as the Braves’ closer to start the season, and he’s seemingly back in as the Braves prepare for their first playoff series since 2013. A.J. Minter proved to be a capable fill-in during both of Vizcaino’s disabled list stints. For a time, he even appeared to be more of a co-closer with a healthy Vizcaino on the roster, presenting a very formidable righty-lefty combination in the late innings.

With a solid group of relievers, including Minter, Jesse Biddle, Shane Carle and Dan Winkler, all under contract for next season and the chance that one or two of their enticing young prospects could help out of the ’pen, the Braves appear to be in good shape in 2019. They could be tempted, however, to bring back free agent Craig Kimbrel, who had 186 saves, four All-Star appearances and won the NL Rookie of the Year award during a five-year stint with the team from 2010-2014.

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Chicago Cubs | Cubs Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Brandon Morrow September 2018: Committee — Jesse Chavez, Jorge De La Rosa, Steve Cishek, etc. Future Outlook: The offseason signing of Morrow came with significant risk due to his long history of injuries and a heavy postseason workload (14 appearances) with the Dodgers in 2017. And while the Cubs did their best not to overuse him—he made back-to-back appearances just six times and pitched on three consecutive days only once—his season ended in mid-July due to a bone bruise in his elbow and biceps inflammation.

Pedro Strop was up to the task as the fill-in closer—he had a 1.77 ERA and 11 saves in 13 chances after Morrow went on the disabled list—but a strained hamstring ended his regular season on September 13. He could return for the playoffs. In the meantime, the Cubs have been mixing and matching in the late innings, at times relying on journeymen like Chavez and De La Rosa as they try to hold off the Brewers in the NL Central race.

Morrow and Strop will be back in the picture in 2018—Strop’s $6.25MM club option will almost certainly be exercised—as will setup men Carl Edwards Jr. and Cishek. Finding a left-hander who can close, if necessary, might be on the team’s agenda. Zach Britton could be a target if that’s the case.

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Cincinnati Reds | Reds Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Raisel Iglesias September 2018: Raisel Iglesias Future Outlook: Iglesias has had three consecutive good seasons out of the bullpen with 63 saves in 71 opportunities. The Reds, however, have been in last place with less than 70 wins in each of those years, making Iglesias’ contributions less significant.

If the Reds are confident that they can be a much better team in 2019, it makes perfect sense to hold on to the 28-year-old right-hander—he’s under team control through 2021—and make him available via trade only if they fall out of contention during the season. Since he’s been able to stay healthy as a relief pitcher—not to mention that there is no clear “next in line” closer in the organization—they’re be better off leaving things as they are rather than experimenting with a move back to the rotation. The ninth inning should belong to Iglesias again come Opening Day 2019.

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Colorado Rockies | Rockies Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Wade Davis September 2018: Wade Davis Future Outlook: Despite a few rough patches along the way, the 33-year-old Davis has 42 saves for the first-place Rockies and has been on a roll when it counts the most. In his last 17 appearances, he’s 10-for-10 in save chances with 23 strikeouts in 17 innings and only one earned run allowed.

Davis is still guaranteed $36MM over the next two seasons—he’ll also get another $14MM in 2021 if he finishes 30 games in 2020—so his mid-season struggles and continued decrease in fastball velocity (95.9 MPH in ’15; 94.9 MPH in ’16, 94.3 MPH in ’17; 93.8 MPH in ’18) are a concern. He has done enough to hold on to the closing job for 2019, but it would be a good idea to have a backup plan in place. Adam Ottavino, the team’s most valuable reliever with a 2.47 ERA, six saves and 33 holds, will be a free agent after the season. Re-signing him or replacing him with a top free agent will be difficult considering that Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw, both disappointments thus far, signed $27MM contracts last offseason. They could rely heavily on Seunghwan Oh, who recently had his $2.5MM option vest for 2019 and has been very good since being acquired from Toronto in July.

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Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodgers Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Kenley Jansen September 2018: Kenley Jansen Future Outlook: Jansen allowed six earned runs with two blown saves and a loss in his first seven appearances of 2018. He missed 13 days in August due to an irregular heart beat that will likely require offseason surgery. Upon his return, he allowed seven earned runs with two losses and a blown save over four appearances. And yet, the 30-year-old right-hander has 37 saves and a sub-3.00 ERA for a Dodgers team that is fighting for a playoff spot as we head into the last weekend of the regular season.

Jansen’s occasional struggles on the mound and health concerns only magnified the team’s inability to replace Morrow, who was their primary setup man and bullpen workhorse last post-season. Setup relievers seem likely to be an area of focus this winter, and the Dodgers will be keeping their fingers crossed that Jansen comes back strong in what will be year three of a five-year, $80MM contract.

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Miami Marlins | Marlins Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Brad Ziegler September 2018: Co-Closers — Drew Steckenrider and Adam Conley Future Outlook: It’s not clear why the rebuilding Marlins stuck with the veteran Ziegler through a rocky two-month stint as the closer to begin the season. Even though he had just one blown save in 10 chances when he was removed from the role, he had an ERA near 8.00 and Kyle Barraclough, next in line, had a 1.48 ERA. If they had any reluctance to turn it over to Barraclough, he showed why that might’ve been the case by losing the job two months later.

After locking down all seven save chances while allowing just one hit over 12 scoreless innings in June, Barraclough fell apart in July. Over his next 13 appearances, he blew four saves and allowed 14 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings before the Marlins decided on a closer-by-committee approach in early August. Steckenrider and Conley lead the team with four and two saves, respectively, since Barraclough was removed from the closer’s role. Both pitchers have an ERA over 5.00 in the second half, however, so it’s very likely that the team will look to find a more reliable option during the offseason.

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Milwaukee Brewers | Brewers Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Corey Knebel September 2018: Committee — Knebel, Jeremy Jeffress, Josh Hader Future Outlook: Knebel suffered a hamstring injury during his third appearance of the season, forcing him to the disabled list for a month. By the time he returned, Hader and Jeffress had each established that they were more than capable of picking up the slack if Knebel could not return to his 2017 form. And this did prove to be the case. The 26-year-old Knebel, sharing the closer’s role with Hader and Jeffress, had a 5.08 ERA through August 31st. September has been a different story, however, as Knebel has allowed just four hits and three walks over 13 1/3 scoreless innings with 26 strikeouts. Regardless of how things go in the playoffs, the Brewers appear set with the same trio of late-inning relievers heading into 2019.

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New York Mets | Mets Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Jeurys Familia September 2018: Committee — Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo, Anthony Swarzak Future Outlook: The return of Familia, who missed time in 2017 due to a 15-game suspension and a three-and-a-half month-stint on the disabled list, was supposed to help propel the Mets back into playoff contention. While things have not gone swimmingly for the Mets, Familia’s comeback has actually gone quite well. He posted a 2.88 ERA with 17 saves for the Mets, was traded to Oakland in July and should be headed for a decent payday in free agency this offseason.

The Mets, coincidentally, will likely be in the market for a closer, although it’s not known whether they or Familia would be open to a reunion. Gsellman has held his own as the primary closer, saving eight of nine games since Familia’s departure, but probably isn’t the long-term answer. Lugo has been terrific out of the ’pen, although his best role could be as a multi-inning setup man for whoever the team’s next closer will be.

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Philadelphia Phillies | Phillies Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Hector Neris September 2018: Committee – Neris, Seranthony Dominguez, Tommy Hunter, etc. Future Outlook: Neris was 8-for-10 in save chances with three losses and an ERA over 5.00 in mid-May when manager Gabe Kapler declared that he would no longer have a set closer. It didn’t take long for rookie Seranthony Dominguez to emerge as the most significant part of the group, pitching 14 2/3 scoreless innings with only two hits allowed, no walks and 16 strikeouts to begin his MLB career. He would falter as the season progressed, though, leaving Kapler to rely more on veterans Hunter and Pat Neshek down the stretch.

Considering that Dominguez was a starting pitching prospect with no experience in the upper minors prior to the 2018 season, it wouldn’t be a stretch to think he can take a big leap forward and solidify the closer’s job for a full season. But with expectations for the Phillies likely to be in the high-to-extremely-high range, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Phillies pursue a more established free agent to close out games.

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Pittsburgh Pirates | Pirates Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Felipe Vazquez September 2018: Felipe Vazquez Future Outlook: Vazquez signed a $22MM contract extension in the offseason and changed his name in April. By the end of May, Vazquez had an ERA near 5.00 and four blown saves. There wasn’t the normal negative buzz that surrounds most closers after blowing a save or two, though. He had only allowed an earned run in four of 24 appearances and the Pirates were playing much better than expected. He was also dealing with forearm discomfort and, of course, was one of the most dominant relief pitchers in baseball in 2017. He earned that long leash. Over his last 44 appearances, the 27-year-old lefty has a 1.77 ERA and 26 saves in 27 chances. Yep– still one of the most dominant relievers in baseball.

With three games to go, Vazquez is two appearances shy of reaching at least 70 games for the third consecutive season. He pitched both ends of a double-header twice in 2018 and pitched three consecutive days on three occasions, including two days after experiencing the forearm pain. The acquisition of Keone Kela and the emergence of Kyle Crick and Richard Rodriguez as reliable setup men should help ease Vazquez’s workload in 2019.

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San Diego Padres | Padres Depth Chart 

Opening Day 2018: Brad Hand September 2018: Kirby Yates Future Outlook: While Hand’s offseason contract extension removed any sense of urgency that the Padres had to trade him, it also made him a much more valuable trade chip. After saving 24 games and posting a 3.05 ERA with 13.2 K/9 in 41 appearances, Hand was traded to the Indians for catcher Francisco Mejia, one of the top prospects in baseball. Yates stepped into the closer’s role, although there was a decent chance that it would be a short stint with 12 days to go until the non-waiver trade deadline and several contending teams potentially interested in acquiring him. The 31-year-old stayed put, though, giving him an extended opportunity to prove himself as an MLB closer. He’s passed the test with flying colors, saving 10 games in 11 chances—he has 12 saves overall—while continuing to strike out more than 12 batters per nine innings.

The Padres, who currently have 95 losses, aren’t likely to build a legitimate playoff contender during the offseason. However, they’re far enough into their rebuild that they’ll want to go into 2019 with a team that can at least be .500. In that case, holding on to Yates would be smart, although general manager A.J. Preller will surely be willing to pull the trigger on a deal if a team meets his asking price.

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San Francisco Giants | Giants Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Hunter Strickland September 2018: Will Smith Future Outlook: With Mark Melancon on the disabled list to begin the season, the Giants turned to Strickland as their closer. For the most part, he did a fine job, but his days as a closer swiftly came to an end, at least for the near future, on June 18th. Strickland entered the game with a two-run lead over the Marlins, an ERA just over 2.00 and 13 saves in 16 chances. After allowing three earned runs in the eventual 5-4 loss, he punched a door in frustration and fractured his hand. Upon returning in mid-August, Smith had 10 saves and a strong grasp on the closer’s gig.

Smith will likely be the front-runner to keep the job in ’19 with Melancon also firmly in the mix given his experience and his sizable contract (four years, $62MM). He’s not quite back to his pre-injury form, but Melancon has a 3.08 ERA in 40 appearances.

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St. Louis Cardinals | Cardinals Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Committee — Dominic Leone, Tyler Lyons, Bud Norris September 2018: Carlos Martinez Future Outlook: The committee was supposed to be temporary while Greg Holland, who signed a one-year contract in late March, worked his way back into shape with a Minor League stint. Holland, though, was brought to the Majors before he was ready and never looked right with the Cardinals. He walked four in his St. Louis debut and never quite recovered. Norris, as he did in 2017 with the Angels, quickly separated himself from the other closer options and proved to be a steady force in the ninth inning with 28 saves and a sub-3.00 ERA through August. The 33-year-old ran out of gas, though, forcing the team to use a temporary committee in early September. Martinez, who returned from a disabled list stint to pitch out of the bullpen in late August, has emerged as the team’s primary closer as they fight for a Wild Card spot.

It’s highly unlikely that Martinez, the Cardinals’ Opening Day starter, will remain in the bullpen beyond this season. Barring any injury concerns, he’s just too good as a starting pitcher. Rookie Jordan Hicks, who has dazzled with his 100+ MPH sinking fastball, is a good bet to be the team’s closer at some point. It’s just not certain that the Cardinals will trust him enough at the beginning of the 2019 campaign, which could put them in the market for a stop-gap closer this offseason.

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Washington Nationals | Nationals Depth Chart

Opening Day 2018: Sean Doolittle September 2018: Sean Doolittle Future Outlook: Doolittle was the Nationals’ closer on Opening Day, an NL All-Star selection in July, and he’s the Nationals’ closer as we enter the last weekend of the regular season. You’d figure things went pretty well for the Nats in 2018. But you’d be wrong.

A stress reaction in Doolittle’s foot forced him out of the All-Star game and out of action for a majority of the second half. When he returned in September, the Nats were out of the playoff chase. Five different relievers, including Kelvin Herrera, picked up saves while Doolittle was out. Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson and Shawn Kelley were all traded, and Herrera suffered a season-ending foot injury in late August.

Doolittle will be back in 2019—his $6MM club option will surely be exercised—and should jump right back into the ninth-inning role unless the Nats make a bold acquisition for another closer. In all likelihood, they’ll bring in another veteran setup man to help out a group that includes Koda Glover and Justin Miller. Greg Holland is one possibility. He has been a pleasant surprise since signing with the team in early August (0.89 ERA in 23 appearances) .

—

POTENTIAL FREE-AGENT CLOSER OPTIONS

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/09/past-present-future-national-league-closer-turnover.html

[thrashermaxey]

Dobber’s Offseason Fantasy Grades 2018: Edmonton Oilers

Dobber's offseason fantasy hockey grades – Edmonton Oilers

  For the last 15 years (12 with The Hockey News, last year’s via pinch-hitter Cam Robinson) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 16th annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey.

Enjoy!

  * * Buy the 13th annual DobberHockey Fantasy Guide here – always updated and you can download immediately * * 

  Gone – Yohann Auvitu, Iiro Pakarinen, Laurent Brossoit, Eric Gryba, Anton Slepyshev, Mike Cammalleri

  Incoming – Tobias Rieder, Kyle Brodziak, Kevin Gravel, Mikko Koskinen

  Impact of changes – It looks like just a simple dressing room upgrade this summer, along with what is probably going to be a huge upgrade in the backup goaltender. Brodziak is a strong dressing room presence, Gravel is a depth defenseman with a lot of size, and Rieder offers good two-way depth although his offensive upside can be overrated at times. Koskinen has been a top KHL goaltender for years and if Cam Talbot stumbles again this year and Koskinen could theoretically steal the top job if he dominates the NHL half as well. Talbot had a heavy workload the last two seasons, averaging 70 starts, and he also had twin babies that no doubt threw him off his schedule at times.

The message here is that the team plans to play with the hand they have. The main weakness – defense – can’t be fixed via free agency. And when they tried, well, you know how that story went. To try the trade route again would have other NHL GMs licking their chops. No thank you. With a better workload and mindset, Talbot will bounce back. And with Connor McDavid lighting it up with his newfound wingman Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the 7-6 wins will be fun to watch. McDavid had 61 points in his last 39 games, with RNH a big part of that over the final 20. Moving Ryan Strome to third-line center and making Nugent-Hopkins first-line left wing was a great move for all involved and completely changed Edmonton’s fortunes, albeit too late. Now GM Peter Chiarelli is gambling on that magic just continuing.

  Ready for full-time – Ethan Bear gave mixed results during his 18-game stint with the big club late last season. On one hand he showed some creativity and vision when it comes to the offense. But there was plenty of bad decision-making and with his lack of foot speed he often can’t recover from those bad decisions. But everything is a lesson for 21-year-olds and it’s all a part of the development curve. Bear is still the next guy in line for a recall when the team needs a defenseman (and if they don't find a replacement for Andrej Sekera that could be sooner than they should). Added AHL time will only help, and that is probably where he will be for at least the first half of the season. (Read Bear's scouting profile here)

Cooper Marody was acquired from the Flyers in the summer after a strong college campaign. The Oilers signed him shortly after as he forewent his senior year. The team will likely give him a look this season at some point. He had 51 points in 40 games for Michigan in 2017-18, and is a right-shooting centerman who could be an answer to their right wing problem if the other attempts (Ty Rattie, Pontus Aberg, Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto) fail to bear fruit right away. (Read Marody's scouting profile here)

Speaking of Rattie, he will finally get his shot. He signed his first one-way contract after closing out last season on the McDavid line. He’s 25 and most pundits believe that at that age his odds of making the jump so late and succeeding are slim. This is partially the product of him being such a highly regarded prospect when he was 18, 19, 20 and 21 – perhaps poolies feel jaded? He has his shortcomings, but did anyone care about Rob Brown’s shortcomings when he was putting the puck in the net alongside Mario Lemieux? Did anyone care about Matt Moulson’s shortcomings when he was doing the same alongside John Tavares? If Rattie is given 20 games alongside McDavid, I think he’ll make it work. If Coach Todd McLellan loses patience under fan pressure if things look terrible eight games in – then it won’t work. I’m going to put it at 30% that McDavid makes a Matt Moulson out of him. Bold? Well that’s my middle name. In fact, if you type DobBoldHockey.com in the URL bar up top it will forward you to this site. Not really. (Read Rattie's scouting profile here)

  Edmonton Oilers prospect depth chart and fantasy upsides can be found here (not yet ready for mobile viewing, desktop only right now)

  Fantasy Outlook – Anytime you have a forward who can potentially get 70 points, then you want that forward. Even if the odds are slim. Well, on the Oilers you can say that about most of the forwards that have one iota of offensive skill. Yes, this means you have a bunch of fantasy owners running around with a butterfly net trying to catch something and often looking foolish doing it, but it’s what makes fantasy hockey fun. The thrill of the catch! Can you imagine if Pontus Aberg clicks with McDavid and sticks all year? He did for a handful of games when he first arrived from Nashville. And Ty Rattie? What about wunderkind Kailer Yamamoto? Former third overall pick Jesse Puljujarvi? Enticing us further is that there is a consolation prize. If the winger doesn’t click with 110-point McDavid, then perhaps he settles for 75-point Leon Draisaitl. That would mean 60 or 65 for a skilled winger, which is also a great result.

The Oilers seem inept and it starts with management. But teams built around generational talent get it right eventually. Not most of the time – all of the time. You just saw a Cup won by one of them! So my faith in Edmonton remains unflagging, and I would love to own any fantasy relevant player on this team.

  Fantasy Grade: A- (last year was A)

    Pick up the 13th annual DobberHockey Fantasy Hockey Guide here (out on August 1)

OR

Get the Fantasy Guide and the Prospects Report as part of a package and save$8.00 – here!

    Other Fantasy Grades:

  Fantasy Outlook for the Anaheim Ducks

Fantasy Outlook for the Arizona Coyotes

Fantasy Outlook for the Boston Bruins

Fantasy Outlook for the Buffalo Sabres

Fantasy Outlook for the Calgary Flames

Fantasy Outlook for the Carolina Hurricanes

Fantasy Outlook for the Chicago Blackhawks

Fantasy Outlook for the Colorado Avalanche

Fantasy Outlook for the Columbus Blue Jackets

Fantasy Outlook for the Dallas Stars

Fantasy Outlook for the Detroit Red Wings

    from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-home/the-dobotomy/dobbers-offseason-fantasy-grades-2018-edmonton-oilers/

[flauntpage]

Blue Jays Mailbag: Which AL East Team Should Toronto Be Most Worried About?

This article originally appeared on VICE Sports Canada.

Andrew Stoeten answers your questions in our Blue Jays Mailbag, which runs weekly at VICE Sports. You can send him questions at stoeten@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter.

The Blue Jays continue to inch toward .500, and toward relevance in the American League. And although the trade deadline is still more than six weeks away, the thoughts of the fan base seem to have turned to reinforcements, and what the front office can do to make this roster better.

And while no realistic answer about the 2017 Jays' trade prospects is going to be satisfying to fans clamouring for better options in the bullpen, in left field, and at second base, as we open up this week's Blue Jays mailbag, we learn that such trivialities aren't going to stop fans from speculating! So let's dig in, with an especially transaction-heavy early-June edition!

If you have a Blue Jays question you'd like me to tackle for next week, be sure to send it to stoeten@gmail.com. As always, I have not read any of Griff's answers.

At the start of the season, you said the Red Sox were most likely to challenge the Jays for 1st in the AL East. In mid-June, the Yankees have a 3 1/2 game lead. Do you still think the Red Sox are the biggest obstacle in the Jays way to winning the division?

Jonathan

Yeah, I do.

Despite also leading their divisions, I don't think the Twins or the Brewers are real, either.

Which isn't to say that the Yankees aren't better than a lot of people gave them credit for, myself included. I expected that they'd be pesky, and that they wouldn't be pushovers in their games against the Jays, but after all the veterans they traded last July and over the winter, I certainly didn't expect this.

But I also don't expect this to continue. Aaron Judge looks legit, but he isn't Mike Trout. Nothing about Aaron Hicks has ever suggested he's anything close to one of the ten best hitters on the planet. Right now Didi Gregorius ranks just inside the top 60 in wRC+ among hitters with at least 150 plate appearances, and there are six Yankees regulars who rank ahead of him. Six!!! And stupid Jordan Montgomery is giving them productive starts, to boot! That shit is nuts!

These Yankees may not fall off to the point where they're still not really good, but they will fall off. They have 102 games still left to play. A lot can happen. The Yankees entered Monday with a four-game division lead on the second-place Red Sox, who are only 3.5 up on the last-place Blue Jays in the tight AL East.

And while the Red Sox have been a bit of a delicious mess so far, I still think that, top to bottom, they have the most talented roster in the American League, outside of Houston. That usually means they'll be the team to beat. Not always, but usually. And I don't think I've seen enough yet to bet against that. Even with the Yankees doing the best to make us all question everything we've ever believed in.

---

Jays badly need a good lefty in the pen, which LHRP would you like the Jays to target? My pick: Brad Hand.

Newfound Lanny

Yeah... I don't think the Jays badly need a good lefty in the 'pen.

They certainly could use one if a good one came along at the right price, but the acquisition of bullpen lefties seems to have become something of an obsession these last few years among Jays fans who haven't quite yet noticed that they've been doing just fine getting lefties out.

Obviously having Brett Cecil during the club's runs in 2015 and 2016 helped a lot in this regard. And obviously getting left-handed hitters out is important. But do we have to sweat so much about which hand someone throws with when they're doing so?

No. No, we don't.

Hand, as you mention, was the No. 2 lefty reliever on a list of possible deadline trade candidates posted at MLB Trade Rumors on May 19. The only name above his was the Pirates' Tony Watson, whose season has gone sideways since then (he's allowed 10 earned runs over his last 10.2 innings), meaning that you're probably not wrong in identifying Hand as as one of the best options out there.

But considering that, let's play a game…

Player A: .180/.319/.410, .320 wOBA, 47 batters faced Player B: .234/.333/.319, .288 wOBA, 54 batters faced Player C: .182/.333/.277, .278 wOBA, 57 batters faced Player D: .189/.211/.216, .189 wOBA, 38 batters faced Player E: .228/.276/.326, .264 wOBA, 98 batters faced

Player A? It's Brad Hand, and the numbers we're looking at are how opposing left-handed batters have fared against him so far this year.

Players B through E? Joe Smith, Ryan Tepera, Danny Barnes, and Joe Biagini.

The samples are small, yes, but for me it underlines the fact that it's more important to just have good pitchers. Handedness matters, but no so much that we need to use words like "need" or "badly need" about a problem that doesn't really exist.

---

Hi Stoeten With Devon Travis out potentially long term, will it take another injury for the blue jays to see what they have in Jason Leblebijian? Tough to watch Barney/Goins every night at 2B. Thanks! Joshua

I get where you're coming from on this, because it definitely has been tough to watch those two at the plate lately, but Goins and Barney have been good soldiers for this club. They seem to be well-liked and well-respected. And given that this a club that relies so much on a pair of injury-prone middle infielders, having backups that are as capable with the glove as those two makes a bit of sense.

The way Leblebijian has hit in Buffalo so far this season, he's earned himself a closer look, but I think the Jays will really have to be compelled to ditch one of Goins or Barney in order to bring him here. And "ditching" them is what would be necessary, because Goins is out of options and Barney can refuse the assignment and elect free agency.

Alternatively, they could DFA Chris Coghlan to clear a spot for Leblebijian and I don't think anybody would bat an eye. But Coghlan may well be the player who is due to lose his roster spot once Steve Pearce is ready. And with Pearce due back soon, and capable of playing a little bit of second base in his own right (especially when the Jays' more fly-ball-heavy pitchers are on the mound), I guess my question is, how badly do the Jays even need to force a move here?

Will the difference between Leblebijian and Goins or Barney for a few days be enough to justify losing a key piece of organizational depth just to bring him up? Or to justify shortening their bullpen? Do we believe enough in his defence and that his Triple-A numbers will translate?

I'm sure it's possible that there could come a point where the front office decides the pros outweigh the cons here, but I don't think the case is overwhelming just yet. Even though, like you, I'm curious to see what he might do, too.

---

With Pearce 0 for rehab and Zeke and Coghlan looking less than stellar what can be done with Left Field between now and trade deadline?

Scott

Not to be too glib, but... uh... Steve Pearce can get healthy and fans can start to recognize that Ezequiel Carrera has actually been pretty good?

Shit, he hasn't even just been "pretty good," he's been "good." Maybe even better than good!

Yes, yes, the defensive gaffes are tough to watch sometimes, but Carrera has wiped away all those sins with a legitimately impressive season at the plate so far. Zeke's Thunder has carried him to a .292/.363/.410 slash line, and a 111 wRC+. Part of the reason he's been able to be so good is that John Gibbons has shielded him from left-handed pitching—something that's helped because, despite having a strong reverse split over his three previous seasons, this year, in a tiny sample against lefties, the left-handed hitting Carrera has been abysmal. If Carrera was a true everyday player (like the guys I'm about to compare him to) his numbers almost certainly wouldn't be as good.

Toronto has been missing the versatile Pearce for the last month, but Carrera has held down the fort in left. Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Still, though, Mookie Betts has a 112 wRC+! Same for Josh Reddick. Miguel Cabrera ranks below Carrera at 110. Also behind Carrera: Chris Davis, Michael Brantley, Wil Myers, Jose Bautista, Dustin Pedroia, A.J. Pollock, and nearly 150 hitters with at least 150 plate appearances so far this season!

I can't imagine he'll keep this up for the whole year, and I do think that left field is a place where the Jays should and will look to upgrade, it's just... I don't know that they're going to have all that much incentive to do anything dramatic. To find a player who will give them more than Carerra is giving them right now—and more than what they'll presumably get from a platoon of Carrera and Pearce, once the latter returns (and no, his rehab stats don't matter)—currently looks like it would be an expensive proposition. That could change, of course—Carrera's production could fall off a cliff and Pearce could come back in as much of a funk as he was in April—but it's really not a problem until it's a problem.

---

Hey Stoeten, Big fan - keep it up. Two questions. First, if Smoak continues to be for real in July/August, do the Jays consider doubling-down and extending him again? How good does he have to be, for how long, before there's an extension conversation? (Not advocating for this, just wondering). Second, what's the deal with the Giants? Do they not mind the stench of human urine?

Cheers, Tim

Whoa! Holy hell, man! Let's maybe not rush too quickly into hoping the Jays become the team that signs Justin Smoak to his big post-breakout contract... when he's 32... with a track record that will still be overwhelmingly underwhelming. If, one year from today, this question still seems like a reasonable one—and not totally and utterly batshit, like it would have seemed as recently as April—fire up your barbecue, purchase some illegal fireworks, get liquored up and take a load of air horns up to the roof, because it's time for a goddamn celebration! At that point you can maybe start thinking about thinking about extending Smoak. Until then? Just enjoy the bloody ride and hope it doesn't end in carnage.

As for the Giants, to be perfectly honest, I'd have taken a roll of the dice on Sam Dyson, too.

Blue Jays Mailbag: Which AL East Team Should Toronto Be Most Worried About? published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

[junker-town]

Patrick Mahomes’ knee injury sucks for not only the Chiefs, but all NFL fans

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

If Mahomes misses extended time, the West could belong to the ... Raiders?

The NFL may be without its reigning Most Valuable Player for a while.

Patrick Mahomes, one of the league’s most electric young stars and a frontrunner to defend last year’s MVP award, left Week 7’s clash with the Denver Broncos with a knee injury. The third-year quarterback had to be helped off the field in the second quarter after a fourth-and-inches sneak gave the Chiefs a fresh set of downs — but cost them the heart of their offense in the process.

Mahomes was quickly ruled out for the game after walking to the locker room. Replays showed his team’s training staff working on his knee before picking him up from the turf.

No good replay because the bodies were just piled on Pat Mahomes. But there was this. Yikes. #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/5l6bHFKkVt

— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) October 18, 2019

Early reports said it was a dislocated kneecap, but that there were no fractures in the afflicted leg. While no timetable has emerged for Mahomes’ recovery, head coach Andy Reid told sideline reporter Erin Andrews he thought his star was “going to be OK,” and that the quarterback told him he was “going to be fine, Coach.” But the situation on the field and Kansas City’s willingness to rule him out for the game shortly after entering the locker room suggest this may be a malady that keeps him off the field for more than three quarters.

Even if he only misses a game or two, his absence will be a significant blow to the Chiefs, who have two big cross-conference matchups looming. Losing Mahomes, no matter for how long, sucks for Kansas City. It also sucks for anyone who likes a unique brand of football that occasionally borders on superhuman.

No quarterback in the league can replace what Mahomes does

Mahomes’ big arm and penchant for highlight-reel plays made him a perfect fit in Reid’s freewheeling offense. Surrounded by lightning-quick wideouts and a do-everything tight end, the 2017 first-round pick was a revelation in his first season as a starter last fall.

Mahomes’ ability to scramble out of trouble and improvise put him on a God Tier among NFL quarterbacks in just one full year behind center. He could extend plays long enough for his receiving help to find gaps, then launch pinpoint rifle shots downfield as though he were standing still. He’d fake out defenses with no-look passes. He could convert third downs with his left, non-dominant hand.

That led to a 5,097-yard, 50-touchdown campaign in 2018 and a runaway MVP award. And somehow he was more prolific through the first six weeks of 2019. He’d set career highs in passing yards per game (350.7) and yards per pass (9.1) while on pace for a career low in interception rate (just one in 230 attempts, and it was kinda due to some nonsense). On Thursday, he became the first player to pass for 7,500 yards in his first 24 games — besting Kurt Warner’s old record of 27.

But there was one big concern looming in the middle of that big start. An ankle injury suffered in the opening week of the season resurfaced in each of his last three games, robbing him of some of his mobility and leading to his three worst starts of the year as the Chiefs went on a 1-2 skid. He was looking to snap a two-game losing streak — and had completed 10 of his 11 passes — when he was forced out of game in Denver.

That turned the offense over to Matt Moore, who is absolutely not Patrick Mahomes.

What can Matt Moore do in Mahomes’ stead?

Moore has traditionally been one of the league’s better backup quarterbacks. He’s only started more than five games in a season just once in a 12-year career, but he’s got a respectable 15-15 record in those games, split between the Panthers and Dolphins.

However, his last start came in 2017 — a season where he threw more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (four). He’s also 35 years old now, so it’s fair to expect a little bit of dropoff from an aging passer who had thrown only a single pass in his last 22 games. He didn’t even expect to play football this year; he’d spent much of the offseason as a member of Miami’s coaching staff and was only signed by Kansas City in August after Chad Henne suffered a season-ending injury.

But Moore has also never played with a receiving corps as talented as the one he’ll sling passes to in western Missouri. He’ll have the chance to work with a pair of All-Pros in wideout Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce. Rookie Mecole Hardman is averaging more than 18 yards per catch and hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes before the QB left the game. Sammy Watkins hasn’t been able to match his Week 1 explosion (nine catches, 198 yards, three touchdowns), but should provide additional support once he’s back to full strength after missing the last two games. Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson are both depth options who are each capable of putting up 100+ yard games.

Reid and the Chiefs are going to give Moore a chance to shine while Mahomes recovers. The question is whether he can be the guy who outplayed Ryan Tannehill and had a 105.6 passer rating for the 2016 Dolphins, or if he’s the quarterback who’s thrown more interceptions than touchdowns and averaged an Osweiler-ian 6.7 yards per attempt in the two-plus years since.

Who else can the Chiefs sign or promote to either back up Moore or replace him?

The current free agent quarterback market is thin, though the XFL Draft just dug up a bunch of names who’d likely jump at the chance to sling passes to Hill, Kelce, and Hardman. Former starters who aren’t signed heading into Week 7 include:

Cody Kessler

Tom Savage

Kevin Hogan

and Matt Cassel

There is another name who could give a contending Chiefs team a boost behind center. Colin Kaepernick hasn’t played a snap in the NFL since 2016, but has reportedly kept in game shape while waiting for a team willing to even give him a workout. He still wants to play football — but the question is whether Kansas City will be willing to reach out to the famously divisive former NFC champion.

If Mahomes isn’t set to miss much time, the club could look in-house for its backup to Moore. Rookie Kyle Shurmur, an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt, would be an easy promotion from the practice squad should the club need a stopgap solution and want to plug a developmental prospect into a bigger role.

What does this mean for the rest of the NFL?

Should Mahomes miss extended time, this division is back up for grabs. That’s good news for the Chargers, Raiders, and Broncos. The Chiefs’ AFC West rivals will have the chance to pull the defending division champion back to earth, a process started by the club’s recent two-game losing streak. Oakland, out to a surprising 3-2 start, could affirm Jon Gruden’s expansive rebuild by pushing their way to the top of the division. A Mahomes injury would likely give Los Angeles a much-needed break after the franchise shot itself in the foot repeatedly to start the season 2-4.

Denver probably has too many flaws to overcome this year, but hey, maybe the Broncos will surprise us.

This injury, as bleak as it is for the Chiefs, is also great news for the NFC North. Their next two games are circled dates on the calendars of the Packers and Vikings, respectively. While this means the cruel indifference of the football gods has robbed us of the first (and possibly only) Patrick Mahomes-Aaron Rodgers shootout as well as a showcase against Minnesota’s solid defense, it also means the top of a stacked division may only get stronger.

And then there’s the rest of the AFC, which looked like a two-team race after Week 4 but now appears firmly in New England’s control. Any losses the club takes under Moore’s guidance will dig a deeper hole in the battle for homefield advantage come playoff time. While a Week 14 trip to Foxborough will provide an opportunity to close that gap, the Patriots’ easy schedule and dominant defense may make Thursday’s injury too big an obstacle to overcome in the race for the top spot in the conference.

The Chiefs will have to wait and see what the prognosis is for their MVP. Mahomes is due for an MRI Friday, at which point we’ll better know his recovery timetable. But even if he misses a week and Green Bay’s trip south, this is a massive loss not only for Kansas City but also anyone who loves watching a borderline superhero throw footballs into orbit.

We’ll have more updates as they become available.

[junker-town]

6 winners from the final week of the NFL preseason

Bears tight end Jesper Horsted had an impressive final game before the start of roster cuts.

Jesper Horsted and Demaryius Thomas are basically the same player.

Week 3 of the NFL preseason was supposed to be a dress rehearsal for most teams as they prepare for the speed and rigor of the regular season. Instead, we got a Cam Newton injury, two drives from Patrick Mahomes, an 80-yard field in Winnipeg, and Andrew Luck’s announcement that he’d had enough of all this football stuff.

Week 4 didn’t have the promise of seeing many 2019 starters; the vast majority of this year’s meaningful players never left the sideline. That gave way to the practice squad players of tomorrow and young hopefuls left aching for their spot as the 53rd man on the roster this fall. And while Thursday’s games were short on star power, there was still enough action to technically be considered football.

But hey, at this time next week we’ll have an actual, real-life game in the books! So, in advance of the Packers and Bears opening up the regular season next Thursday, let’s reflect on the winners of the final week of the 2019 preseason.

It wasn’t:

Not considered: the Miami Dolphins, who are threatening to fall right back into their old ways

It’s understandable to want a player like Jadeveon Clowney. The Texans’ defensive end/linebacker is one of the game’s most unstoppable pass rushers when he’s on, and he’s currently holding out of Houston’s training camp in order to get paid like one. The former No. 1 overall pick is potent against both the run and the pass, and can line up almost anywhere on the defensive line and wreak havoc.

That chaos comes at a price. Anyone trading for the 26-year-old will do so knowing he:

a) can’t sign a long-term contract extension until after he plays out his franchise tag season in 2019, and b) will require a potentially market-resetting contract to stick around.

That’s a worthy gamble for a team that can earnestly contend for a Super Bowl in 2019. The Dolphins, who are very much not in contention, have no interest in that logic. They recently met with Clowney to sell him on a potential trade to South Beach. If they pull it off, they’d get a player who could spend one season as the centerpiece of a teardown, then sign elsewhere rather than participate in a rebuild — leaving Miami with nothing but a 2021 compensatory draft pick in exchange.

This would be an extremely Dolphins move. The team’s residence in limbo the past decade has been predicated in giving entirely too much money to veteran players while ignoring needs elsewhere. It would also go against the plan owner Stephen Ross laid out while overseeing a regime change.

Now, on to the week’s winners.

6. Brock Osweiler, who is here to mop up your quarterback mess by spreading the stain around

The Colts got thrown for a loop last week when Andrew Luck decided to retire rather than spend another year rehabbing from injury. That promoted Jacoby Brissett back to the starting role he held in 2017 and turned Indianapolis’ depth chart from one of the league’s top backup situations into one of its grimmest. With one announcement, the team has gone from having a promising young passer playing understudy to some combination of Chad Kelly and Phillip Walker.

Kelly was once good enough to hold down Denver’s backup job, but his off-field exploits have earned him a two-game suspension to start the season and leave him as an unreliable option. Indianapolis needs an experienced backup to take snaps in case of emergency ... and may land on another former Bronco instead.

Enter Osweiler, the player Houston once gave up a second-round pick just to keep away from its roster. He was a useful addition to the Dolphins’ roster last season, playing cromulent football in relief of Ryan Tannehill. His 7.0 yards per attempt was the second-highest rate of his career. It was also 29th best among all QBs who threw at least 100 passes last year.

That was still good enough to earn a visit to Indianapolis, along with other journeymen like Matt Cassel and Brandon Weeden. General manager Chris Ballard hasn’t signed anyone yet — but in that pile of broken toys, Osweiler seems the most game-ready. Otherwise, he could take a long hard look at the Week 4 box scores and find a likely-to-be-released passer who could serve as a short-term backup after final cuts roll around this weekend.

5. The Bills, who are America’s team of destiny (question mark?)

Team of destiny? UDFA WR David Sills hauled in the game-winning TD catch in a come-from-behind victory to give the Buffalo Bills its first undefeated preseason in franchise history. Our analysts recognize Sills' need for development:https://t.co/9OjuDP4xN4 pic.twitter.com/XgnjX82vsb

— The Draft Network (@DraftNetworkLLC) August 30, 2019

I mean, probably not. The Ravens haven’t lost a preseason game since 2015. That’s resulted in exactly zero postseason victories in that time for Baltimore. Let’s pump the brakes at least a little.

But! Buffalo did look pretty good in its furious comeback win over the Vikings, making it the club’s second — but much less impressive — owning of Minnesota in the past 10 months. Tyree Jackson, who according to Madden 20 is a better quarterback than Daniel Jones, overcame a 23-6 deficit in the final four minutes. The former University of Buffalo star sandwiched a rushing touchdown and a game-winning pass to David Sills V around a punt return TD to shock the Vikings’ backups and give Bills fans a non-Fireball reason to be happy.

4. Dare Ogunbowale, who did not shine Thursday but could thrive in a hollowed-out Tampa backfield

Ogunbowale was, uh, bad on the ground during Tampa Bay’s preseason finale. The third-year veteran couldn’t find a seam behind an offensive line filled with backups and roster hopefuls, running for a total of 9 yards on eight carries.

But Ogunbowale still found a way to help the offense, hauling in a pair of catches on two targets for 17 yards. His ability to slide out of the backfield and move the chains could make him indispensable for a Buccaneers team in dire need of playmakers — and that would be a major leap forward in a challenging career.

The former University of Wisconsin walk-on has bounced from practices squads to futures contract signings since 2017, making a handful of main roster appearances along the way. He rarely seemed like a regular contributor, but that could end in 2019. Ogunbowale looks set to handle third-down duties for the Buccaneers this fall. Given the rest of the backfield rotation — Peyton Barber has a career 3.8 yards-per-carry average and prized second-round pick Ronald Jones ran for 44 yards on 23 carries as a rookie — he could be the first man up to earn carries by October.

For now, the Buccaneers are hoping he can be their Corey Clement — a fellow undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin who has developed into a weapon for the Eagles. Clement, the RB1 to Ogunbowale’s RB2 with the 2016 Badgers, has scored nine touchdowns (including one in Super Bowl 51) the past two seasons as a dynamic safety valve out of the Philadelphia backfield.

Tampa Bay would be thrilled to get similar production. Ogunbowale has been its workhorse in the preseason, and while that hasn’t resulted in big gains on the ground (2.6 YPC), he’s been an impact player as a receiver out of the backfield (10+ yards per target).

3. Jesper Horsted, our new Ivy League overlord

Horsted, the Bears tight end with the name of a Swedish dust bowl settler, was an absolute beast at Princeton. He was an FCS All-American and the Ivy’s offensive player of the year in 2018 after a 72-catch, 1,047-yard, 13-touchdown campaign in only 10 games. His junior year, where he put up a 92/1,226/14 line, was somehow significantly better.

If that weren’t enough, he spent his springtime on the diamond with Princeton too. He led his team in batting average in 2018 (.324!) as an All-Ivy League centerfielder.

That wasn’t enough to push his name into this year’s draft, but he did make his way into the Chicago training camp as a free agent. The first three weeks of the preseason came and went without many highlights from the two-sport star. Then he made one hell of a case to stick around an NFL roster with his Week 4 performance, even if it’s not ultimately with the Bears.

Jesper Horsted at the half: 4 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD. If he doesn't make the roster in Chicago, he'll have his share of practice squad offers pic.twitter.com/j8jbOmgaff

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) August 30, 2019

Horsted finished his night against the Titans’ backups with five catches for 82 yards and one touchdown on a gorgeous back shoulder throw from Tyler Bray. At 6’4 and 240ish pounds, has the frame to be a useful receiver from the tips of the offensive line. He’ll need a whole lot more seasoning before he can make an impact on an active roster, but his ability to overachieve against lower-level opponents — whether while barnstorming a bunch of nerds in college or showing out against other roster hopefuls in Week 4 — suggest he’s worth a spot in the league this season.

2. Bud Light, who turned Cleveland’s misery into the opportunity to sell refrigerators

Do you like beer, but can’t truly enjoy it unless one of the league’s saddest franchises wins a game? Then I have good news for you, you oddly specific weirdo!

For two days the September, you can buy one of the fridges that once rewarded the dwellers of the Dawg Pound for suffering through a year-plus of defeat. A pop-up store in downtown Cleveland will offer fans the chance to buy an extremely-branded refrigerator as costs ranging from $199 to $599. Anyone who shows up will also get $15 worth of free beer, too.

This is, somehow, a big enough deal to warrant an appearance from not only a former WWE champion and a brand mascot who supposedly died back in February, but also a smattering of Browns players and even the damn mayor of Cleveland himself. This all sets some extremely high expectations and optimism for the Browns this fall. History suggests this is a great idea.

1. Demaryius Thomas, who may not be cooked yet

Thomas finished the 2018 season — his ninth as a pro — on injured reserve after suffering a torn Achilles. He signed with the Patriots this offseason in an effort to rehabilitate his career, which came with its own caveats. That path failed to revive aging All-Pros like Reggie Wayne and Chad Ochocinco in the past. After missing the bulk of the preseason while getting healthy, he made a long-awaited debut for a needy position group in Week 4.

Thomas’ first game in a New England uniform made him part of a star-studded Patriots receiving corps who stood out like a sore thumb against a backdrop of reserves. He, Josh Gordon, and Julian Edelman have 24 seasons, six Pro Bowl appearances, and five Super Bowl rings between them. On Thursday night, they teamed up to face a Giants secondary led by players like Terrell Sinkfield, Henre’ Toliver, and Ronald Zamort in the first half.

Needless to say, they fared well as the Pats ran out to a 29-10 halftime lead. No one did more than Thomas, who hauled in seven of his eight targets from rookie Jarrett Stidham for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

That throw. That catch.@Jarrett_Stidham | @DemaryiusT pic.twitter.com/7Bp2NZHFtA

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 30, 2019

It came against many players who will likely fill practice squads, but it’s an encouraging sign for a veteran whose career was in question. Now we’ve got to see what he can do with Tom Brady ... and coverage from players who weren’t playing against FCS wideouts in 2018.

[junker-town]

Teddy Bridgewater vs. Taysom Hill is the NFL’s only good backup QB battle

Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Could either one of them be Drew Brees’ potential successor?

The Saints are set at starting quarterback for 2019. Drew Brees was his typical all-world self for most of his previous year. While the now 40-year-old’s level of play declined late in the season, he still managed to record a league- and career-high 115.7 passer rating and led his team within one blown pass interference call of the Super Bowl.

But if Brees goes down, New Orleans has the backup ballast it needs to stay afloat.

The quadragenarian quarterback sits atop a depth chart that features a former Pro Bowler in Teddy Bridgewater. This offseason, Bridgewater re-signed with the Saints on a one-year deal, allowing him to continue to rebuild his value following 2016’s catastrophic knee injury while keeping his name in the mix as Brees’ possible successor.

Those plans may not come to fruition if Taysom Hill can look as good as he did in preseason Week 2. The former BYU star has turned heads as an electric special teamer and gadget-play specialist in his first two seasons in the league, but his performance against a smattering of Chargers backups lends credibility to his passing game.

Taysom Hill's TOP plays from yesterday's win! #Saints @T_Hill4 pic.twitter.com/aVV9Sd1lYu

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 19, 2019

Hill completed 11 of his 15 passes for 136 yards and threw for each of the Saints’ two touchdowns. He added a game-high 53 rush yards. Despite not entering the game until the second quarter, the third-string passer was responsible for 58 percent of his team’s total offense.

That raises an important preseason question.

Is Taysom Hill the Saints’ best backup quarterback?

Hill, a player with zero career starts at quarterback and seven NFL pass attempts, is an intriguing unknown for New Orleans. His athleticism and ability to pick up new facets of the pro game have kept him on the Saints’ active roster in each of the past two seasons. He’s listed on the roster as a QB, but he’s made his impact felt everywhere from the backfield to special teams.

When Taysom Hill is in the game, you should know the zone read is coming and that he will likely keep it no matter what. And that he can run over defenders like Landon Collins. Like the arc block by the TE here. pic.twitter.com/f3kW4zxBHi

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) October 12, 2018

This preseason has shown how this versatile approach informs his play behind center. Hill’s big performance against the Chargers was a combination of exploiting their many defensive deficiencies and finding a way to spin sugar into cotton candy. His first touchdown strike was a pass to an inexplicably wide open Austin Carr, but his on-target placement allowed it to be a walk-in touchdown instead of a first-and-goal situation.

Hill’s second touchdown saw him use the mobility and speed to avoid an oncoming rush and connect with tailback Devine Ozigbo.

OZIGBO!@T_Hill4 marches it down the field for the score ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/Jg5i3rb3Wm

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 18, 2019

The biggest takeaway from that performance was Hill’s ability to find and hit open windows downfield. It’s only one game, however, and consistency hasn’t exactly been a calling card for the young passer.

Accuracy was a problem for the BYU product dating back to his college days, where he completed just 58 percent of his passes. He threw only 12 more touchdowns than interceptions in that span. While he made up for it with his legs — Hill scored 32 rushing touchdowns as a Cougar — those lapses appeared to create a low ceiling as an NFL passer.

Hill vacillated between good and bad performances in stretches at BYU. Hoping for him to put these issues in his rearview in 2019 may be unrealistic thanks to his advanced age. After two years on an LDS mission out of high school, five seasons at BYU, and two in the NFL, Hill will be 29 years old this season. That’s two years older than the man he’s battling for backup reps in New Orleans.

2019 Teddy Bridgewater is still capable of being 2015 Teddy Bridgewater

One good preseason game isn’t enough to call Hill a bonafide QB2. Especially when the man ahead of him on the depth chart was similarly effective just a week earlier. Bridgewater was hot garbage against the Chargers (5-of-12 passing with an interception), but he was steady in his preseason opener. He finished a two-quarter outing versus his former Vikings teammates with 134 yards and a touchdown, bolstering his case as one of the league’s most valuable backups.

That argument earned a major boost last August. Bridgewater’s knee injury led to his egress from Minnesota in 2019. He landed in the AFC East with the opportunity to take the reins as the Jets’ starting quarterback. Those plans were waylaid when the Jets took Sam Darnold with the third overall pick. Despite that, Bridgewater showed out enough in the preseason to convince the Saints to trade a third-round pick for his services.

Though that move failed to create the launchpad Bridgewater had been hoping for in his run-up to free agency in 2019, he impressed enough that New Orleans kept him around. The young veteran earned his first start since 2015 in a meaningless Week 17 game against the Panthers. It wasn’t a revelation from Bridgewater, though. He underwhelmed in a 22-pass, 118-yard performance — one in which Hill scored a 9-yard rushing touchdown as a wildcat-esque quarterback in the fourth quarter.

Despite the disappointing outing, Bridgewater has a higher NFL baseline than Hill, though it’s unclear if he’ll ever be able to reach it again. He was a Pro Bowl selection for Minnesota in his second season in the league, but though Bridgewater only threw 14 touchdown passes in 16 outings that year. Even so, he was a stable leader who was responsible for four game-winning drives in his first two seasons as a pro. His composition in the pocket portended future success.

Pre-injury Bridgewater was accurate but could also be unexciting in stretches. He overcame a steep learning curve — he’d started 28 of the Vikings first 32 games after being drafted in 2014 — and an understocked receiving corps (his top wideouts were an aging Greg Jennings and a not-yet-prime Stefon Diggs). There’s still reason to believe Bridgewater can be a starting-caliber quarterback even with the diminished mobility that followed years of rehabilitation for a devastated knee.

While Bridgewater could use his agility to avoid pressure in the pocket and spring for big plays before his injury, he wasn’t exactly a dual-threat passer. He was sacked on nearly nine percent of his dropbacks in Minnesota. He ran for just 0.8 yards per rush (after sacks) in three seasons at Louisville. Though he scored four touchdowns on the ground in his first two seasons in the NFL, his best and most sustainable work came while stepping up as pass rushers orbited around him.

Last year’s Week 17 loss to the Panthers gives us a little more background on what 2019 Teddy Bridgewater would look like as a starter in a meaningful game, but it’s still not an open and shut case. We know Bridgewater had the chops to be a starter on a playoff team four years ago. We also know he was the league’s hottest quarterback in the preseason of 2018 — and that led to a one-year, $7.25 million deal to remain on a Saints roster, where he had no chance to compete for a starting role.

This leaves New Orleans with a good problem to have

The Saints have two potential avenues for replacing an aging Hall of Fame quarterback without burning a Day 1 draft pick. Both roads are winding, bumpy, and may ultimately lead to dead ends. Bridgewater may never reach the slightly-above-average heights of his sophomore NFL season.

Hill’s ceiling is likely closer to that of Joe Webb — another converted quarterback who has done a little bit of everything in a nine-year NFL career — than as a worthy successor to Drew Brees. That’s not a bad thing! It’s just not as exciting as a low-yield backup developing into a starter four years after he was cleared to legally rent a car.

Head coach Sean Payton says he’s still evaluating each of his backup passers, but only Hill has been compared to a Hall of Famer this preseason.

“If you look back at Steve [Young]’s career, people don’t remember the time before he came to the NFL, you have a very athletic player that, I think, advanced when he got to San Francisco,” said Payton. “He always had great ability with his legs, so you’re trying to create visions for players, and that’s no different than how you’d evaluate how we see Teddy Bridgewater progressing and what we think he can be.”

That’s a lofty expectation for a third-string quarterback. Hill showed us all what that looks like on a good day, but that was only one game. Payton won’t have to look too far for a reminder that a stellar preseason doesn’t portend regular season success. That’s a lesson Bridgewater understands all too well.

The good news is New Orleans has all of 2019 to sort this out. If the second- and third-string quarterbacks have already hit their peaks, they still hold significant value. In the meantime, Bridgewater can settle into a traditional backup role while Hill takes the field for whatever high-impact gadgetry the Saints can think up.

They’re a first-rate insurance policy capable of staying in the race as potential Brees successors — even if a long shot.

If anything happens to Drew Brees, Payton will have some options. No matter who he chooses, it’ll be exciting.

[junker-town]

Who won Week 2 of the NFL preseason?

Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images

The Bears D-line, Warren Sapp, and Lamar Jackson all had very good weeks.

The first true week of the 2019 NFL preseason offered up an acceptable football substitute with a handful of uplifting stories. Patrick Mahomes was perfect over the course of seven plays before getting taken off the field and rolled in bubble wrap. The Patriots got their long-awaited revenge over the Lions. Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi lied his way onto the Browns roster and then returned a punt for a touchdown in his first game with the team.

This week was similarly uplifting as coaches broke out some of their good china and threw even more starters into the mix. Weeks 2 of the preseason saw a few more high-profile starters take the field as stars like Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson joined Week 1 veterans like Alvin Kamara and Kirk Cousins in the mix — for no more than a few series of playing time.

Of course, the real action during the preseason comes off the gridiron. With that in mind, who won Week 2 of the NFL preseason, barring a furious finish from the 49ers and Broncos on Monday night?

Not considered: The Arizona Cardinals, who looked baaaaaad

First-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive revolution has yet to take flight with his first-string quarterback. Kyler Murray, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and top pick in April’s NFL Draft, looked every bit an overwhelmed rookie Thursday night. Murray completed only one of his five pass attempts against the Raiders’ blitz and was sacked twice — one of which resulted in an entirely avoidable safety.

He finished his day with eight total pass attempts and a very un-air raid 12 passing yards. By the time Murray headed to the bench for the night — after four series — the Cardinals trailed 26-0.

That deficit wasn’t just Murray’s fault. Arizona will have to fix major holes in its passing defense, which will be without Patrick Peterson for the first six weeks of the season due to a PED suspension. Offseason addition Robert Alford, who signed the second-largest contract of the Kingsbury era in hopes of offsetting Peterson’s absence, will also miss a “significant” chunk of the regular season due to injury.

How is the unit holding up behind them? Let’s just see how they did against the Raideeeeauughgggh oh my god.

That’s two perfect passer ratings from Derek Carr and Mike Glennon, and a technically perfect performance from interception god Nathan Peterman — even though only three of Peterman’s completions traveled more than five yards downfield. Peterman’s career regular season passer rating, for reference, is a robust 32.5.

It’s only the preseason, but geez.

Now on to this week’s winners

Starting with:

10. Josh McCown’s jersey room, which just got 10 percent more decoration

McCown will soon find his picture listed under the Webster’s Dictionary entry for “journeyman,” (should my letter to the editor find its way to the right hands). The 40-year-old broke his brief retirement to join the Eagles as Carson Wentz’s backup, making Philadelphia the 11th stop in a 17-year NFL career.

The veteran has alternated good and bad seasons since 2013. Fortunately (?) for the Eagles, 2018 was decidedly “bad” for the former Jet — his 55.8 passer rating was his lowest ever in a season where he’s thrown at least 20 passes. He’ll supplement a quarterback room that’s been ravaged by injury this preseason, as both Nate Sudfeld (broken wrist) and Cody Kessler (possible concussion) are slated to cede snaps. If McCown snaps back to form, he could carve out a spot as the No. 1 option behind Wentz this season — which, if history is any indication, will lead to an eventual Super Bowl MVP award.

9. The Cowboys, who appear to have a decent Plan B if Ezekiel Elliott’s holdout persists

Tailback/receiver Tony Pollard was exceedingly versatile at Memphis. The 2019 fourth-round pick earned only 139 career carries, but he also made 104 catches in three active seasons with the Tigers. He made the most of his touches, too — the explosive runner averaged nearly seven yards per rush and more than 12 yards per reception for a program that went to the postseason every year he was on the roster.

On Saturday, the rookie proved he can translate those skills to the NFL, at least in the preseason.

The NFL really let the Dallas Cowboys draft Tony Pollard in the fourth round. (via @nflnetwork) pic.twitter.com/Hqkd6e4YuE

— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) August 18, 2019

Pollard isn’t going to replace a player who led the league in rushing in two of his first three pro seasons, but the rookie is capable of making life a lot easier if Elliott fails to report to Dallas before the regular season. He finished his night with 42 rushing yards on only five carries, all of which came in a 97-yard opening drive against a smattering of Rams starters.

8. The Bears defensive line

It’s been good enough to make veteran guard Kyle Long completely lose his shit in practice.

Quite a practice for Bears RG Kyle Long tonight. Got into a scrap with rookie DE Jalen Dalton. Took Dalton’s helmet and starting hitting him with it. Then chucked it down the field. Was pulled from practice. Oh, and then Long barfed a couple times on the sideline.

— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) August 15, 2019

7. Underdog WRs battling for Bill Belichick’s attention

The Patriots came into 2019 needing targets for Tom Brady. This got so bad Bill Belichick spent a first-round draft pick on a wide receiver for the first time in his 19-year tenure with the club.

That pick, Arizona State standout N’Keal Harry, returned to Foxborough to rehab an injury suffered in Week 1 of the preseason. The rest of his team spent its week in Nashville prepping for Saturday’s exhibition against the Titans.

He wasn’t the only New England wideout to swap the practice field with a spot on the trainer’s table. On Saturday, the Pats were without:

Julian Edelman (non-football injury list)

Josh Gordon (not eligible to return to the team until Sunday)

Phillip Dorsett (thumb injury)

Demaryius Thomas (placed on the physically unable to play list)

Cameron Meredith (also PUP), and

Maurice Harris (undisclosed injury)

That left Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham to sling passes at undrafted free agent Jakobi Meyers, 2018 sixth-round pick Braxton Berrios, 2018 undrafted free agent Damoun Patterson, and Bemidji State defensive back Gunner Olszewski. And that group shined.

Meyers continued his meteoric rise with a six-catch, 82-yard performance that likely cements his place on the regular season roster. Patterson, who spent last fall on the club’s practice squad, hauled in the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.

That throw though.@Jarrett_Stidham ➡️ @chasing_8#NEvsTEN | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/NtLD4iXFR6

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 18, 2019

Gordon’s return to the lineup will make it even tougher for these guys to make the roster in 2019, even if the timing of his eventual activation still raises questions. That aside, these wideouts got a solid chance to contribute Saturday night.

6. The Falcons, who finally have their answer to Taysom Hill

What’s that, New Orleans? You thought you’d be the only NFC South team to rely on trick play gadgetry from a former college-QB-turned-Swiss-Army-Knife-wideout? Nuh uh.

We have claimed QB Danny Etling off of waivers from New England. https://t.co/hvRhyuo1eB

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 14, 2019

And the rich get richer. Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley combined for 2,498 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. With Ridley in the mix, that aerial Cerberus could even go for 2,500 and 19. Dream big, Falcons.

Hill, on the other hand, spent his weekend proving he can push Teddy Bridgewater for the main understudy role with the Saints. The former BYU QB showed out against the Chargers second- and third-team defense, completing 11 of his 15 passes for 136 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also ran for 53 yards in a performance that should make the rest of the NFC South all the more uncomfortable.

5. Jamie Gillan, who got into this whole football thing sort of by accident

The Inverness, Scotland native only played in five total high school football games before earning a scholarship to Arkansas-Pine Bluff — an offer he accepted sight unseen thanks to a Facebook post, some fortutious luck, and the most laidback attitude in football. That crooked path brought him to the Browns as an undrafted rookie free agent. If he can keep uncorking kicks like this he very well may unseat Britton Colquitt for a spot on Cleveland’s roster.

A casual 74-yard punt from the @ScottishHammer7 pic.twitter.com/hXsnIVj18e

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 17, 2019

Like you needed more of a reason to root for a guy nicknamed the Scottish Hammer.

4. Warren Sapp, who is an ass about Gerald McCoy but is not wrong

Sapp cropped up in the news this week for calling out former Buccaneer Gerald McCoy in an appearance on the Pewter Nation Podcast. McCoy, he explained, doesn’t have the resume to qualify as a Tampa Bay legend. And that means McCoy shouldn’t be upset the team gave away his No. 93 jersey to Ndamukong Suh this offseason. Sapp even suggested McCoy owes back some of the $110 million he made in his nine years with the club.

As a headline, these comments seem like petty sniping from a player whose best days are behind him and whose post-football career has been turbulent. He was roasting a six-time Pro Bowler whose oversized salary made him a poor fit on a rebuilding team, but who still had plenty to offer as a player. Sapp also referred to himself in the third person so, eesh.

In context, however, Sapp makes a pretty good argument.

“The way I look at it, the thing that kind of threw me sideways was Gerald talking about now that this organization doesn’t have a right [to give away his 93 jersey]. And then he wanted to say that Sapp, [Derrick] Brooks, Lee Roy [Selmon], [John] Lynch, Ronde [Barber], nobody wore their numbers. Last time I checked, those were Hall of Famers and champions. We didn’t go to one playoff game with him (McCoy) and not one damn divisional title, so, I think he owes some of those hundred million dollars back in that sense.”

The Bucs’ Ring of Honor features nine players, five of which were on the team’s lone Super Bowl squad. All but one of those men, offensive lineman Paul Gruber, has won a playoff game for Tampa. Only three of the team’s jersey numbers have been retired — NFL Hall of Famers Sapp, Brooks, and Selmon. McCoy might wind up honored back in Florida sometime in the future, but Sapp’s right about the fact McCoy can’t quite match up with the rest of the Buccaneers’ hallowed brethren.

t-2. The Los Angeles Chargers, who play the Colts in Week 1

At this point, questions about Andrew Luck’s health are the familiar chorus to a depressing song for Colts fans. Unfortunately for Indianapolis, the second verse is coming to an end right as the preseason has kicked into gear.

Colts aren't ready to determine whether Andrew Luck will or won't be ready for a Week 1 start; plan right now is to calm the ankle pain down.

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) August 13, 2019

Luck’s “little bone” problem (team owner Jim Irsay’s words) will shut him down for the preseason, though he looked mobile in pregame warmups this weekend. There’s a chance this roaming lower leg affliction could keep him off the practice field and leave him at less than 100 percent to start the 2019 regular season.

This is welcome news for the Chargers, who face Indianapolis to start the year. If Luck sits out Week 1, Los Angeles would go from facing a quarterback who has led his team to the postseason in each of the four seasons he’s started 16 games to facing Jacoby Brissett, who went 4-11 in 2017.

Brissett is better than that record suggests. The presence of banshee offensive lineman Quenton Nelson and rock-solid young tackle Braden Smith mean he’s unlikely to get sacked on 10 percent of his dropbacks like he did in ‘17. Even so, he’s a significant step down from Luck. Los Angeles needs all the help it can get against a loaded schedule. Taking flight against a hobbled Indy team would an excellent start to the Chargers’ haggard quest to win Philip Rivers a title.

t-2. The Indianapolis Colts, who play the Chargers in Week 1

Here’s who Los Angeles could be without for the season opener:

Notable Chargers: * RB Melvin Gordon: holding out, willing to miss games * S Derwin James: fractured 5th metatarsal, no timetable to return * LT Russell Okung: on non-football illness list after a pulmonary embolism * WR Keenan Allen: ankle surgery, likely to miss preseason

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 16, 2019

Eep. James opted for surgery on his broken foot this week and will likely miss two to three months while he rehabs. Bad luck and injury problems are wrecking the Chargers.

That is an extremely Chargers sentence to write.

1. Lamar Jackson, who looks very much like Lamar Jackson

It’s fair to be worried about a running quarterback and the damage he takes over the course of a season. Jackson, who ran the ball 17 times per start, has mitigated that risk my making sure no one touches him, ever.

That touchdown run didn’t count thanks to an illegal blindside block, but it was still showcased the “why?” behind Baltimore’s furious finish in 2018. It wasn’t all running on Thursday, either. Drops prevented what should have been an 8-10 performance in a pair of Week 2 drives that ended in field goals for the Ravens.

The Browns have a great opportunity to climb up the AFC North this fall, but Jackson has the chops to make sure their division title-less streak reaches 30 years in 2019.