Weekly Takes - Monday, September 25th
- RyanEakin
- Sep 25, 2023
- 3 min read
Weekly Takes - Monday, September 25th
In the aftermath of Mike Babcock all but being fired by the Blue Jackets, there has been a debate as to whether or not he is still a Hall of Fame head coach.
The answer to that question is… who cares? He has won at the Olympics, he has won in the NHL, he has won at the World Juniors, and he has made himself generational wealth. Yet none of that means anything if you are a bad person, as bad people get remembered for being bad people, not for their accomplishments.
And Mike Babcock is a smug, abusive, bad person.
That is his legacy, regardless if he ever gets into the Hall of Fame.
2. It is a worthy attempt to try William Nylander at centre.
If he shows he can play there, it addresses one of the few needs the Leafs have coming into training camp.
If he does not show that he can play there, then there is no harm, no foul.
3. Maybe the Lightning are simply bluffing in their negotiations with Steven Stamkos, but it sure seems as though they want him to go the Patrice Bergeron route when it comes to taking a massive hometown discount.
Based on Stamkos’ comments at the start of training camp, I would not hold my breath on that happening.
4. The Raptors should absolutely be all-in on Damian Lillard, because any time a middle-of-the-pack team can trade for a borderline MVP candidate who is under contract for two seasons, you do it.
Otherwise, the Raptors are just going to waste another season of Pascal Siakam’s prime as a middle-of-the-pack team.
The worst spot any team can be in is no man’s land.
5. Regardless of winning against the Browns, Monday night’s performance against the Browns should have been Matt Canada’s last game as the Steelers offensive coordinator.
The 3-and-1 quarterback draw play-call with the game on the line – instead of running the football with the player you spent a first-round pick on in 2021 – was varsity play-calling. The only reason that play-call did not lead every morning show in the States the next day was because the Steelers have a generational player playing defence for them in TJ Watt.
Canada should have been fired at the end of the 2022 season. He was brought back because for one last chance this season. He blew it.
6. The only storyline from Steelers-Browns that was bigger than Canada’s play-calling (sans the Nick Chubb injury) was the play of Deshaun Watson.
I was a believer in him coming into the season because the last time he played a full season, he was the very definition of a franchise quarterback.
But with every passing week, it is becoming obvious that he is not that guy anymore.
His downfall could not have happened to a worse guy.
7. And regardless of his poor performance, what made Watson’s prime-time performance even worse were his antics.
Two facemask-ending drives? Touching an official?
He is not a serious person.
You can not win in the NFL if your franchise quarterback is not a serious person.
8. I think the Jaguars will be just fine, given the division they play in, but we can all agree that they were always going to be a tier behind Kansas City, the Bills, and a healthy Bengals team in the AFC, right?
Their offensive line and defence does not make them a Super Bowl contender.
9. Josh McDaniels kicking a field goal with less than four minutes to go, while down eight points, sums up his coaching career perfectly.
Great offensive mind. Not a head coach.
10. My Week NFL picks, after going 5-9 in Week 3…
Lions (-1)
Jaguars (-3)
Broncos (-3)
Ravens (+2.5)
Bengals (+1.5)
Bills (-2.5)
Eagles (-7)
Bucs (+3)
Vikings (-2.5)
Rams (+1)
Steelers (-3)
Chargers (-4)
49ers (-14)
Patriots (+7)
Kansas City (-9)
Seahawks (-1)
On the season, I am now 21-24 on the season, with MNF still pending.
11. The disgraceful Doug Ford reversing his Greenbelt plan is a nice reminder of the value of a persistent press.
While resigning due to incompetence and corruption should be his next step, I guess we can settle for one more reversal of another billion-dollar sell-off: Ontario Place.
Comments