There were a couple interesting events in the world of sports this week, NFL football to be specific, that caught my attention and led to extensive Twitter commentary by myself and others. The first was a brawl that took place towards the end of an otherwise boring game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers. Due in large part to the out of control behavior of one participant in particular, it may go down as the most memorable sports brawl since the legendary Malice in the Palace. I don't know if an equally catchy nickname has been decided on for this latest athletic brouhaha.
The second occurrence was a surprising and oddly rushed decision by the NFL to give Colin Kaepernick a tryout before all 32 NFL teams, after having snubbed him for the better part of the past three years, to possibly make a return to the league. I'm sure you know all about how and why he ended up out of the league to begin with.
Below you'll find a recap of both sporty happenings and various contrary reactions from those in my Twitter feed.
— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 15, 2019
I'd think this would result in an exceptionally long suspension but with the #NFL you just never know.https://t.co/3s8S0A0sAn https://t.co/80a220PcAe— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 15, 2019
Damn! First time seeing it from this angle. This is basically attempted murder. https://t.co/mIBA86Y21t— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 15, 2019
If I'm the commish Garrett is gone for the rest of season. Pouncey's reaction was understandable to me but once he started kicking Garrett in the head he earned a suspension of a game or two minimum for himself as well. https://t.co/ZVCmKkDiZP— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 15, 2019
Idiotically Garrett's punishment will pale in comparison to Kaepernick's. https://t.co/wUGKm3dhjE— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 15, 2019
It's quite bizarre. https://t.co/6aYh6IMp41— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 15, 2019
Master of understatement https://t.co/BmloSxvvVO— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 15, 2019
Browns’ DE Myles Garrett suspended indefinitely, with a minimum of at least this regular season and playoffs.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 15, 2019
Awkward: The Browns held a sweepstakes to give away a Myles Garrett signed mini helmet just one week ago. Winner is set to be chosen by 3:00pm tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/bL2h9QpPMQ— Yoni (@OriginalYoni) November 15, 2019
Myles Garrett’s teammates in the locker room when being asked to defend his actions pic.twitter.com/LsgZ6va769— KFC Radio (@KFCradio) November 15, 2019
Maybe he'll get a game or something like that but I didn't see him attempting to murder anyone so don't expect a suspension comparable to what Garrett got. https://t.co/5mOeJLnRwq— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 15, 2019
#Steelers OL Maurkice Pouncey, suspended 3 games by the NFL and fined, is expected to appeal, source said. This suspension, if it stands, would keep him from playing the #Browns again.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 15, 2019
I expected something like this due to the kicks to Garrett's head when he was on the ground. If Pouncey had stopped with the bare fist punches to helmet, maybe just 1 game or even no games. But once you're seen as trying to give a guy brain damage, expect to be suspended.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 15, 2019
Mason Rudolph may be an a-hole. I don't know enough about him to form opinion one way or the other. He also may have instigated or escalated matters leading to an unnecessary brawl. But what he is not is a guy stupid enough to use a helmet as a weapon against an unprotected skull— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 16, 2019
It doesn't matter who started a fight or who ended it. It only matters how you conducted yourself during the fight. Even in the most heated of moments there are lines you should be able to refrain yourself from crossing— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 16, 2019
Colin Kaepernick is in Atlanta, preparing for Saturday’s workout that will go on as scheduled, per source.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 15, 2019
NFL has not provided names of WRs it plans to have at workout, so Kaepernick is taking up the former NFL WRs who volunteered to fly in on their own to help him at workout.
Per usual NFL standards, Kaepernick will be blindfolded for the workout. Earplugs will be used as well just in case receivers shout out where they're at.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 15, 2019
Here is part two of my report on the Kaepernick workout from GameDay morning @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/9Bp1VtZwRo— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) November 17, 2019
— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 16, 2019
Is Kaep getting a real opportunity today or is it strictly a PR move by the #NFL to rehab its image? Who knows. Bottom line is that if he looks good and a team has legitimate need for a QB, you'd think he would get an offer. You'd also think that would've happened long b4 now.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 16, 2019
NFL knows many ppl are supportive of Kaep even if not strongly enough to actually follow through on boycott threats. By many NFL is seen as the bad guys in dispute, on the Trump style faux patriotism side rather than the hip woke side. Letting Kaep back in is a win win for NFL.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 16, 2019
Murica https://t.co/ryhbztOeCW— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 16, 2019
“Reputational bullet”..... man gtfo my face https://t.co/BWzYfdOvuV— Cat Daddy Clyde (@mumbles_j) November 16, 2019
A Line A Day: Jay Z and NFL join forces https://t.co/r9yvOwRjpw What can go wrong?— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
I'm curious to see where this Kaepernick situation goes. After today are his odds of being signed by a #NFL team higher, lower or unchanged. Will teams retain their opinion that his potential to cause them headaches is greater than his potential to be a franchise QB?
Stephen A makes some solid points here. I don't understand why Kaepernick insisted on last minute change of venue that caused him to be playing in front of 8 or 9 team officials rather than 25. The Kunta Kinte shirt was unnecessarily provocative imho. Unsound decision making. https://t.co/IfuvffrF9Z— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
I do understand wanting to throw to WR's you have some familiarity with over strangers. But the rest of it, squabbling about a boiler plate waiver, moving from pro stadium to a HS, the media component. All of that had nothing to do with wanting to shine and possibly get a call.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
I do think that Kaepernick is good enough to play in the NFL, could be a starter for several teams and #2 for several others. He said he wanted a shot. He kept in game shape and looked decent today from what I've heard. But some of his decision making was suspect for sure.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
I'm not following logic of the whole Kaepernick refused to sign a waiver saying he wouldn't sue the NFL again thing. What would a 2nd lawsuit be based on, being that he already settled the 1st? What was NFL's concern & why would Kaep be reluctant to sign if he's done suing them?— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
Bottom line IMO is if Kaepernick believed he was being given a legitimate opportunity and does long to return to the NFL, he should have just literally played ball. If he believed it was a PR stunt he should have just rejected it. In between scenario seems like waste of time.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
Stephen A is being yelled at and as usual he did state his opinions in over the top fashion with little application of nuance (which is what he gets paid to do), but the fact is that he did raise some legitimate points. You don't have to like the truth to acknowledge its presence— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
What matters is whether NFL teams in need of a QB were giving his work out a serious look with intent to make an offer if they liked what they saw and heard. I didn't care who filmed it or if it was filmed at all. He wants a QB job, not an Oscar nomination. I wish him luck.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
It's not. I just think he made some curious choices if he really wants back into the NFL and believed he was being given a legitimate audition opportunity. So it's a reasonable guess that either he doesn't really want to come back or didn't trust the legitimacy of the work out.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
RT if you ever applied for a job and got called for an interview. But you insisted they come to Starbucks around corner from your apartment rather than going to them. And you showed up in your most woke PJ's instead of suit & tie. And you only answered questions you liked best— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
You can be supportive of the issues that Kaepernick kneeled for (as I am even though I feel he could have drawn attn to them in an alternate manner) and also feel that he didn't act yesterday like he truly wanted to ace a job interview. It's not an oxymoron. Both can be true.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
“Ball’s in their court. We’re ready to go.” - @Kaepernick7 being a whole grown black man with no fear and no foolishness. pic.twitter.com/oWa7HXk9ON— Ava DuVernay (@ava) November 17, 2019
Clearly much attention to detail went into t-shirt messaging https://t.co/2El3aLPHkT— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 17, 2019
It’s difficult to overstate just how bizarre the NFL’s actions have been regarding this Kaepernick throwing session. https://t.co/GZtcG9vQcD— Slate (@Slate) November 17, 2019
Source: JAY-Z believes Colin Kaepernick turned workout into publicity stunt. https://t.co/X19cHSjbZ3 pic.twitter.com/J5rMYWpKGz— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) November 17, 2019
Per Eric Reid, the NFL demanded that Colin Kaepernick sign a unique waiver that "relinquished his employment rights" instead of a standard waiver. If Reid's accurate, suggests NFL wanted Kaepernick to give up legal rights to pursue grievances or lawsuits that other players enjoy. https://t.co/YGespg46IJ— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) November 18, 2019
Here is the full video of what Dungy had to say about Kaepernick and how he doesn’t know how badly Kap wants to play. It’s an odd comment because any team in last 2 1/2 years could have talked to Kap about this if they wanted to pic.twitter.com/Djx89qsjWH— Robert Littal (@BSO) November 18, 2019
Kaep is already on the record as saying he wants to play in the NFL again. Why show up to the work out yesterday if he doesn't want a shot? Then again, why not be a bit more cooperative if he truly wants a 2nd chance? He's not out of NFL b/c of performance but perceived attitude.— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 18, 2019
Oh, there was one other bit of sports news this week.
Woj tweeting this added 40 mins to my haircut https://t.co/HeZXORjBhQ— Tyler R. Tynes (@TylerRickyTynes) November 15, 2019
I guess Kaepernick is not the only one who kept himself ready and in game shape for whenever THE CALL came. https://t.co/rymktnHfLy— Roy L. Pickering Jr. (@AuthorofPatches) November 22, 2019
Also...OUCH and good night.
Deontae Wilder really hit Ortiz so hard his sweat shot like some damn febreze pic.twitter.com/DEMBrlRqQJ
— Boogie Johnson (@B00GIEJOHNSON) November 24, 2019
That's all I got for you sports fans. As for the avid book readers among you, here's one of my videos at Roy's Book Reviews.
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