data-mm-id=”_jldhwg4go”>The NFL is considering a new rule allowing teams to elect to try and convert a fourth-and-15 play from their own 25-yard-line instead of kicking off. It's an interesting idea that, in theory, could keep trailing teams in the game for a longer period of time, allowing them to score and then try and retain possession with a higher probability of success than an onside kick. The only issue is, it could also be used against those trailing teams. This rule was previously discussed and included a clause that only trailing teams could utilize this opportunity. However, the new rule doesn't have that language in it. Here’s the updated language of the proposed rule change on an alternative to the onside kick – and it *doesn’t* specify that a team must be trailing to attempt it. Limit of two tries per game, but this would open up strategic options. NFL teams will discuss next Thursday. pic.twitter.com/VsLm0NI7XJ— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 22, 2020Because the play is timed, the issue with that is if a team is leading and there's only a few seconds left on the clock, they could elect to keep the ball and run around and kill the clock, thus avoiding the possibility of a kickoff return for a touchdown. It doesn't happen often, but the possibility does exist. A team can only use this rule twice per game and there's obviously a big risk starting at your own 25. But with only five seconds left on the clock, a quarterback could run around for three seconds and then throw the ball as high and far out of bounds as they can and kill the clock. There's the possibility of things going awry on that play too, but teams will practice it enough to limit their exposure. Think of it as the new victory formation. The rule still needs to be voted on and there's a lot of good reasons for it to be passed. But this one element would change the end of some games, which would be fun and weird at the same time.
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data-mm-id=”_je5btgjnv”>Major League Baseball's hot stove is still simmering. Here are all the latest MLB rumors, including a few big-name guys who could be traded. Indians want final Francisco Lindor trade proposalsKen Rosenthal is reporting the Cleveland Indians want to bring the Francisco Lindor trade saga to a quick end. The Indians have asked for every team's best and final offer, and they will "make an assessment over the weekend." The Reds, Dodgers and Padres are all known to be in pursuit of the All-Star shortstop. The Indians are likely just assessing if they'll get enough to move Lindor this winter. If they don't like the offers presented, then can then just move forward planning to have him around in 2020. They clearly want to get this sorted ou…
data-mm-id=”_1c2g7fz5t”>Tom Brady told the world Tuesday morning that he would not be returning to the New England Patriots. By the time dinner rolled around, word had gotten out that the 43-year-old would be moving south for the next stage of his career and planned to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That same evening, NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson said that a source had told him Brady had dinner in Tampa over the weekend with Derek Jeter, Bill Gates, and Jeff Vinik, owner of the Tampa Bay Lightening, in a since-deleted tweet. After reporting it, Hanson had two other sources deny that it happened, but his original source stood by the story. Two sources have now *denied* that Brady was @bernssteakhouse Sunday night. My original source stands by his story. Have reached out to som…
data-mm-id=”_7923kx1ec”>Ding Dong, the witch is dead, sang the AFC East as the clock hit 00:00 in Miami on Sunday. The New England Patriots, after falling to the Dolphins by the score of 22-12, are officially eliminated from the playoffs. It will be the first NFL postseason without Bill Belichick and his team since 2008. New England will finish with a .500 record or worse for the first time in 19 years. And for the first time since Belichick decided Tom Brady would start for the team, the Patriots are rudderless and have no clear path forward to winning again. The Patriots badly need to replenish their talent level at just about every position. They're currently slated to pick No. 15 in the 2021 NFL Draft, which will likely be just out of reach for any high-level QB prospect barri…
data-mm-id=”_4rxxf766f”>The Dallas Cowboys had quite an adventure on Sunday, fumbling four times in the opening frame of their early-afternoon matchup against the Atlanta Falcons and going down 20 points before mounting a truly wild comeback. On the legs and tattoo choices of Ezekiel Elliott and a drive by Dak Prescott (aided by one of the worst onside kick blunders in recent memory), Dallas managed to squeak out a 40-39 victory in a game they had no business winning. It was, if anything, quite an exciting game. Such games lead to strong emotions after the fact, as demonstrated below by Dan Orlovsky stating he believes the Cowboys saved their season through their comeback against Atlanta. Let us suppose, in an alternate universe, that Dallas lost this game. That Atlanta became the 441s…
data-mm-id=”_p8dr9wcl5″>Rob Manfred made some news on Friday during an interview on The Dan Patrick Show. Major League Baseball's commissioner talked about potential rule changes in the game during the segment. One section that stood out was Manfred's discussion on shifts, saying they could be limited in the future. Here's the pull quote that stood out:Rob Manfred says on the @dpshow that shifts could be limited in future: "A lot of people feel that the extreme shifting that you’re talking about has changed the game in ways that are not positive and it remains a really hot topic in terms of conversation within that committee.”— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 23, 2020The full interview with Dan Patrick below:While I may not love shifts, they should be …
data-mm-id=”_5cvwskfzu”>If you follow college basketball or made a bracket this year, odds are you've heard of Ken Pom Dot Com. It's a popular site that ranks college basketball teams based on a bunch of advanced metrics I won't try to explain because, well, I'm no advanced metrics expert here. What I am an expert at is seeing something spicy on social media and turning it into a blog. This one is about Ken Pomeroy, the creator, owner, facilitator, etc., of the famous kenpom.com, calling out CBS/Turner on Twitter for not mentioning his website by name despite referencing his stats throughout the tournament. And don't just take Pomeroy's word for it. I also noticed this too. If you listened to the broadcasts and think back on the times announcers said thing…
data-mm-id=”_4rwogy0kk”>Three days ago, The Big Lead published an op-ed proclaiming that Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers had completely fallen apart. In the time since he has been to the plate nine times and hit four home runs and drove in 11 runs. He is now second in the National League with five round-trippers and tied for first with 14 RBIs. We are carefully monitoring the situation. For two reasons. One, it is important that we be accountable for our takes. Two, each and every bomb is an opportunity to bring up the post in our internal Slack and have a laugh about the helplessness that comes with publishing something about someone who is underachieving only to have them turn into someone from a Matt Christoper chapter book overnight and make it age like spoiled milk. Now, to b…
data-mm-id=”_nw8bckksk”>Clemson lost to Duke by 21 points last night, which is something that happens with some regularity in basketball but certainly not in football. At least for a long, long time. The Tigers were looking to get off on the right foot after a surprisingly pedestrian campaign last year and instead invited all types of questions about a crumbling dynasty. There are fewer plays in the college game now with the running clock and yet most teams have been able to muster more than a single scoring drive. Quarterback Cade Klubnik did not have a game to write home about, completing 27 of 43 passes for 209 yards, the single touchdown and an interception. He also had a bit of an odd exchange with Dabo Swinney while coming off the field after yet another unproductive drive in the…
data-mm-id=”_qyrporz16″>Deshaun Watson has been benched after less than a half against the Indianapolis Colts. Watson completed 1-of-5 passes for five yards and threw an interception. He left the game after taking a hard fall, got checked out in the concussion tent and was cleared to return, but he never did. Instead, PJ Walker entered and remained in the game as the Browns somehow closed out the half with a 24-21 lead.#Browns P.J. Walker coming back out with 3:51 left in the half even tho Deshaun Watson cleared of a concussion— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 22, 2023The prevailing theory right now is that his shoulder is bothering him. Apparently it was good enough to start, but not good enough to withstand actual football. And the numbers backed that up before he hit his h…
data-mm-id=”_0r8x4h75y”>Donald Trump won the Iowa Caucus on Monday, ending a six-month period where Republicans invaded the state and refused to leave until a small fraction of the population picked a presidential candidate. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis finished second, edging out Nikki Haley by about 2,000 votes and two percentage points, but it apparently felt like a big win for DeSantis who insisted he got his "ticket punched out of Iowa." And people found it funny.Newsmax hosts are literally laughing at DeSantis pic.twitter.com/3ySGFVKdM7— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 16, 2024Newsmax carried DeSantis' non-concession speech and were literally laughing by the end. This was funny to them. Ron DeSantis spent millions of dollars to beat Nikki Haley by two points and …