2019 NFL: Week 11

Colin Kaepernick has an NFL tryout on Saturday. I repeat, Colin Kaepernick has an NFL tryout on Saturday.

The news hit on Tuesday and it was met with surprise at first. People honestly didn’t know what to say at first. Kaepernick’s name hadn’t exactly been in the news recently. Sure, people would make snide remarks whenever some stiff quarterback threw a bunch of picks, asking why that buffoon was being allowed to lay waste to the game of football while Kaep was still without a job. But other than that, things were quiet.

Why would the NFL start a fire out of nowhere? The theories and suppositions started flying. Maybe a team really wants to sign him, but they don’t want a visit with Kaepernick to get out, just in case his long layoff from the game has killed his ability. Maybe the league is just covering their butts so nobody can say it didn’t make an effort to get Kaepernick back in the game.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Many people were very cynical. Why wasn’t Colin Kaepernick given a list of which NFL personnel would attend the tryout? Why did the league HAVE to hold it on Saturday? Couldn’t they give him more time?

In fact, just check out some headlines from very reputable media sources.

Colin Kaepernick tryout nothing but NFL PR move — Sports Illustrated.

NFL courage takes a bye week with bizarre Colin Kaepernick tryout — S.F. Chronicle.

This sham tryout (if it happens) won’t hurt the NFL or Colin Kaepernick — Forbes.

Colin Kaepernick’s tryout sounds more like a setup — Denver Post

I’m not sure what’s going to happen. I have no sources with knowledge of the situation and I have no ax to grind here. Whether or not Colin Kaepernick plays in the NFL ever again won’t keep me up at night. He’s grown into a cultural icon without the sport and appears to be able to support himself quite well financially. He’s not going to go hungry. He’s not going to be exiled from society.

That being said, I’m rooting for him. I want him to show up at that tryout on Saturday and kill it. I want him to throw 80 yards while standing on one foot and take the wings off a fly. I want the scouts there to ask him their stupid questions and have Kaep show them what they’ve been missing.

Maybe he won’t walk away from the tryout with an NFL contract. Maybe it will come in a matter of days. Maybe it will come during the offseason. Whenever it can happen, I hope it does. I’d like to see him play again. The league has adjusted to where quarterbacks who can also make plays with their legs like Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson. Kyler Murray and Deshaun Watson can flourish. Statues like Jared Goff are out. Kaepernick is in.

Let’s hope he can actually get back in. I’m rooting for him.

NFL’S TOP 10

1) Patriots — They’re coming off their bye week. In the past, I would make a stupid decision and pick them to lose to the Eagles on Sunday. I’m not making that mistake again. Good news for Bill Belichick is that he’s not facing Lamar Jackson, the one quarterback who can make the monsters he has on his defensive front look slow. New England should get back to its winning ways fast.

2) 49ers — I thought Booger McFarland was a little harsh on Jimmy Garoppolo during that Monday night loss. Yes, he might have looked a tad flustered, but who can blame him? That tends to happen when Jadeveon Clowney is wearing you like a suit. I tend to look down on defenses that rely on forcing turnovers, but their front seven is so vicious the turnovers seem like a symptom of their success instead of the cause.

3) Ravens — I like to single out players who are appointment television. Lamar Jackson might be the apotheosis (great word, look it up. I got it from a Dan Brown book, don’t judge) of appointment television. However, I’ve been really impressed with how they’ve done defensively, as they’ve held their last four opponents to 20 or fewer points.

4) Seahawks — When Russell Wilson did what Lamar Jackson was doing, nobody cared. It’s men like him who blaze the trail for others like Jackson to follow. He got bailed out for throwing that bad pick in overtime though. What a classic Seahawks win that was. Beware any team flying high with a perfect or near-perfect record. Slaying them is what Seattle under Pete Carroll does.

5) Packers — Man, who else loved seeing the end of that win against the Panthers? Snow coming down at Lambeau Field in November. That’s football weather, people! Now they get a bye week to rest up before facing the 49ers in a game that has been flexed to Sunday night.

6) Saints — You don’t let the garbage Falcons come into your house and spank you by 17 points. Not when you’re the Saints with Drew Brees and riding a six-game winning streak. Seriously, what in god’s name was that? As a result, I had no choice but to put them on punishment. No way they’re getting ranked above any of their fellow two-loss teams.

7) Vikings — What’s the secret of their success? Is it the emergence of Dalvin Cook? The saving of Kirk Cousins? The steadfastness of their defense. Does it matter? No, they’re winning games and are in solid shape for a playoff spot. That’s all that matters.

8) Texans — They get the benefit of coming off a bye week. Their absence has made my heart grow fonder and I’m loathe to point out their flaws at the moment.

9) Chiefs — Speaking of flaws … this defense. Disgusting. Almost enough to make a man barf. At least Patrick Mahomes looked like his usual self in his return, but man, the stench coming from the other side of the ball is overwhelming.

10) Raiders — I’m a Gruden guy. I’ve liked him ever since his Chucky days. But we’ve seen a different Gruden since his NFL return. A more mature model. Anyone else want to bash that Khalil Mack trade now? Go ahead, I’ll wait.

WHAT’S THE CHATTER?

You’re done: I’ve been watching football for as long as I can remember. I’ve never seen a player rip off a quarterback’s helmet and hit him on the head with it. That streak ended on Thursday night when Browns defensive end Myles Garrett did just that after taking Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph to the ground. The replay showed that Rudolph had his hands on Garrett’s head as they wrestled a bit, but it was Garrett who got control and wrenched Rudolph’s helmet as he stood up. After a couple Steelers linemen pushed Garrett back several yards, Rudolph came running up and that’s when Garrett swung the helmet and made contact with the QB’s head with an ear flap. If Garrett had hit him with the top side of the helmet, Rudolph could have been seriously hurt. Expect the NFL to hit him with a very long suspension. Unbelievable.

You suck: I said that to the Browns last week. I’m saying that to the Rams this week. The season is over for them. With the offensive line issues they’ve had and the complete absence of a running game, they’ll be lucky to reach 8-8. Bummer they gave all that money to Goff and then didn’t do a thing to make his life easier.

Sigh, fine: Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has filed a trademark request for “Danny Dimes,” the nickname that was bestowed upon him, perhaps jokingly at first. This is where I could go into stuffy sportswriter mode and criticize him for being too consumed with off-the-field matters when he should be studying film and working with his receivers, dadgummit. But who has the energy anymore? Go get that money, if you can. Life is too short.

NFC North: Steelers hosted the Rams a few days ago and made Sean McVay’s offense look inept. So, it makes perfect sense that they would go into Cleveland on Thursday night and make the Browns’ D look like the ‘85 Bears. Meanwhile, the Browns are 4-6 and are, sigh, still in the mix. The prognosticators pointed to the second half of their schedule as their chance to make their move. They still have a chance, but right now, I can’t find a reason to care. That mess at the end of the game sucked out all the fun.

Dream job: I’ve often wondered who I’d want to be as a pro athlete. Tom Brady? Nope. Magic Johnson? Nah. Wayne Gretzky? I can’t skate. I want to be Sam Koch, the Ravens punter. In case you didn’t hear, Baltimore is on pace for 37 punts in 16 games, which would be the fewest since 1990. That would be a little more than two punts per game. Man, what a life. You don’t really have to practice much. Nobody cares about your 40 time or how many reps you can do with 225 pounds on the bench press. You chill on the sideline, go out for a few plays and call it a day. And you get a nice paycheck for your troubles. Sign me up.

He’s just a kid: Sam Darnold said it was “awesome” that Jets CEO Christopher Johnson backed head coach Adam Gase, despite the team’s 2-7. First of all, the fact that he used the word “awesome” means he’s definitely from Southern California. Second, is it awesome, Sam? Really? I have my doubts, bro. See? I’m from Southern California, too.

APPOINTMENT VIEWING FOR WEEK 11

Cowboys at Lions: If Detroit has any hope of a postseason berth, this is a must-win. And boy, would I love to see Skip Bayless’ and Will Cain’s face if Matt Patricia pulls off the upset here.

Jaguars at Colts: Jacoby Brissett should be back under center for Indianapolis, barring a setback. The Colts need him. They’re sitting at 5-4, but they can’t afford a slip-up.

Texans at Ravens: A delicious matchup. I love both of these quarterbacks, but Baltimore will do enough defensively to get the win.

Cardinals at 49ers: Arizona has been in pretty much every game this season. And despite their 3-6-1 record, the Cardinals have been an entertaining watch. Let’s see how Kyler Murray does against the 49ers team coming off a loss.

Patriots at Eagles: Like I said before, I’ve been watching the Patriots too long to bet against them coming off a bye. However, this won’t be easy on the road. Expect a tight game.

Bears at Rams: I’ll be watching … and likely throwing things at the television. Why don’t you pull up a chair and join me?

Chiefs at Chargers: It’s Monday night, what else are you going to do?