Papa John's Kicked Out of the NFL

The NFL has finally said good riddance to Papa John's.

On Wednesday, the NFL announced that it will no longer partner with Papa Johns as the official pizza and will partner with Pizza Hut instead. It was reported that the Pizza Hut was worth more than what Papa John's did for their sponsorship. NFL's deal with Pizza Hut lasts through 2021, and assuming that their owner or CEO doesn't berate the NFL for its political stances, it could be a great partnership.

The story, however, is not Pizza Hut signing on. It's that the NFL kicked Papa John's to the door, mostly because of what its founder and face of the company, "Papa" John Schnatter, said about the anthem protests and made political comments that damaged the company.

It all started when Schnatter blamed the NFL and the anthem protests for its falling sales, saying this back in November, "The NFL has hurt us by not resolving the current debacle to the players' and owners' satisfaction...Leadership starts at the top, and this is an example of poor leadership. NFL leadership has hurt Papa John's shareholders."

Many considered the comments shameful and an attempt to put the blame on falling sales somewhere else. Not only that, but it looked like Schnatter was hoping that the NFL would take notice to his comments and get rid of Roger Goodell. It didn't happen, as Goodell was signed to a contract extension.

These comments by Schnatter resulted in many saying they were done getting pizza from Papa John's, allowing other competitors to step in and take the business, which is the right way to do things when a company's leadership tarnishes the brand like this.

Although the decision to leave was mutual on both sides, like the NFL and Papa John's, it had been a very messy four months for Papa John's and it looked like the NFL just had enough of the image that Papa John's was trying to put on the NFL, which failed miserably.

I'm glad Papa John's is gone. I'm glad I don't get pizza from Papa John's, because at the time, I said that this was not going to hurt the NFL, but that Papa John's would be hurt most by this. I remember talking to some friends and writers a couple of months ago, saying that Papa John's should fire or get rid of Schnatter after these comments because it was very damaging. I don't know if that has happened yet, but if so, it's clear that Papa John's has no accountability to get rid of people who damage the brand, even if it's their founder and face. Papa John's has not kicked out because of a mutual termination or falling sales, they were kicked out because Schnatter made comments that made it terrible for people to get pizza from his brand. As a result of that, I say to Papa John's, as I said in the beginning: Good riddance?

Hopefully, Pizza Hut has better management than Papa John's, because I believe they will take accountability and have people who understand the customers they are selling to. Political stances hurt Papa John's. It better not hurt Pizza Hut, and I think this partnership will work out much better than the last one.

Is LeBron Right About the NCAA?

LeBron James is not holding back his punches now that he has given his views on the current NCAA investigation.

In recent days, even weeks, college basketball has fallen under scrutiny due to an FBI investigation that is alleging a massive corruption scandal involving many college basketball schools. This grew so big enough that LeBron James decided to weigh in on the scandal with his thoughts, saying, "The NCAA is corrupt, we know that. Sorry, it's going to make headlines, but it's corrupt."

The Cavaliers star has been very outspoken on issues far-ranging and most of the times, he's saying stuff that whether or not it's true, he needs to be listened to. He has said that the NBA should continue to develop its G-League and that it should be considered an alternative to college basketball. Before many players play professionally, they usually spend a couple years developing skills at that level, and I believe that the NBA, for far too long, has not been able to develop much like other leagues should.

James went further about the NCAA investigation, believing that the system won't be fixed and didn't see how it can be fixed, considering that the corruption, as he puts it, has gone on for years.

For a while, we have had debates about whether or not players should go straight from high school to the big leagues, much like LeBron and Kobe Bryant did when they came out of high school, and I think this particular investigation is one of many reasons why LeBron chose not to go to college in the first place. Not only what happened to these schools, but players can't benefit financially, which means if they earn a little bit of money off their likeness, it gives schools a reason to investigate them or even the coach, and that's not right.

LeBron's comments, right or wrong, is nothing new, because many of us felt for a while that the NCAA was corrupt and wasn't allowing players to have any sort of benefit whatsoever, whether it's money or something else. I think this investigation is going to have high school players revisit their options to enter college. Many may actually head straight to the pros out of high school, because they need to make money and if they can't get that in college, they'll go straight to the league. It also may be one of the reasons why LaVar Ball pulled his son LiAngelo out of UCLA, though it's definitely not the main reason. However, the NCAA definitely has a problem and I think they need to allow players to make money off their likeness, because at this point, they're not allowing people to benefit from playing basketball. Some of them are going to be professional players, and they need to help their own family benefit as well. Money is the only way you can do that.

LeBron did the smart thing at the time, going straight from high school to the pros. He was the best basketball player and didn't need to go to college, but he also understood the cloud that hovers over the NCAA on stuff like this. He didn't want to be in the middle of it, and that's a very smart move. Kobe probably didn't want to either. These are very smart people who understand that playing college basketball means you could be at risk for investigations like these. His comments may or may not be right, but either way, it's worth listening to and it's worth understanding that college basketball has a problem and LeBron knows that.

Impact of Tomas Tatar on Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights made a few moves on Trade Deadline day, but there was one that many thought was the signal that this team was going to try to not only make the playoffs, but possibly make it to the Finals.

That impact trade seemed to happen with the Detroit Red Wings, who gave the Golden Knights forward Tomas Tatar in exchange for a first-round pick in 2018, a second-rounder in 2019, and a third-rounder in 2021. The Red Wings basically got three picks for a 27-year-old forward who still has three years left on his contract.

So far in 62 games this season, he has 16 goals and 12 assists, who is still pretty good even for a lousy team like Detroit.

The Golden Knights made many trades on the day, but the reason why I believe Tatar is the best acquisition for this deadline is not only is he joining a team that is currently best in the West at 86 points but he is also a goal-scorer and a dynamic playmaker. He opens up the ice in a way most players can't, and finds a way to beat goalies. During the time frame from 2013 to 2017, he had 94 goals. Yes, his production did drop this season, but he's also on a rebuilding Detroit team. It looks like a change of venue could help his production.

The impact of Tatar on this team is whether or not he can regain the form he had from that timeframe. If not, the Golden Knights could be in trouble come playoff time, because you need all the players you get in the deadline and now scoring in bunches. Look at the Penguins, the Kings, and the Bruins from years ago. When they score, they score often and in the playoffs, and Tatar's going to have to do that as well. There's only going to be an impact if he gets back to the form he had from 2013-17.

I'm never going to question GM George McPhee's ability to make good trades. I think this is probably the best trade of the deadline and it also means that he's willing to sacrifice the future to try to win a championship now. You have to do that. These fans deserve to have a chance. Hopefully, Tatar is the answer they are looking for to not only finish this season, but make it far in the playoffs.

Should The Knicks Keep Porzingis After The Season?

For the New York Knicks, the future began long ago when they traded away Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a lot of people, many are assumed to be helping the future of the Knicks. Now, the guy at the center of the rebuild, Kristaps Porzingis, might leave assuming the Knicks don't keep him, which would also put their future on ice.

Porzingis has an ACL tear, which means he's out for the season, and the Knicks are no longer looking to go after a playoff spot, but after the future. It's understandable, considering that the Knicks would've been a playoff team had Porzingis not gotten hurt. It also means younger players are getting minutes and experience thanks to his absence. But now, the Knicks have a bigger priority for Porzingis: Getting him signed long-term.

Porzingis is eligible for a contract extension after this season and the Knicks would like nothing more than to keep him on. The extension we're talking about is the designated rookie extension, which Porzingis falls under. It's only available to former first-round picks when they enter their fourth season in the league, and it can only be used to one player per team. The extension would add five years to a contract and keep him on the team for six more seasons. It would also come with a salary worth 25 percent of the team's salary cap, with raises possible along the way.

What does this mean? Well, it means Porzingis would make $157 million over five years and keep him in New York through the 2024 season. It sounds like a no-brainer considering that he is now the star of that team. However, there's no guarantee. His brother, Janis, serves as his agent, and has said that Porzingis puts winning over money. That statement could mean he's out of New York after this season.

The Knicks must be very careful, though, because the winning aspect is the one thing that will need to be addressed before Porzingis signs his extension. They have to know if this team will be able to win in a couple of years and if not, then Porzingis will leave after the season. GM Scott Perry will have to sell him on the future and sell him on the ability that he'll be the superstar of this team that can save them when needed, much like LeBron James does with the Cavaliers.

So will the Knicks keep Porzingis or let him walk? It's still too early to tell, as this question would be better suited for March and April, but I think if the Knicks want to be relevant in the league again, they will have to keep Porzingis under wraps for the coming future. We also have to realize, though, that he did end his season with an ACL injury, which puts his ability to play well into question. It isn't great to give him a long-term extension when he's coming off this type of injury, so the Knicks might need time to figure it out and figure out the path forward. Either way, injuries are injuries and lots of players come back from it and play well. Porzingis could very well do that as well.

It's clear that Porzingis is now the Knicks' superstar, and if they want any chance to compete in the league at a high level again, they're going to need Porzingis, injury-prone or not. He's a good scorer and a guy who can count on to bail you out of situations. The Knicks realize that, and they really need to analyze whether or not this deal will work out for their plans for success. The Knicks have made many stupid moves in the past. They better not make another one with Porzingis.

The Impact of the New York Rangers Now

The New York Rangers are winning lately, despite the fact that management has lately been trying to throw in the towel. Is it possible that the players are trying to stick it to management based off of the comments?

Earlier this month, Rangers management and personnel sent out a letter to fans, saying that the team would be going in a new direction. Instead of trying to compete for a player spot, the team will be focused on getting younger and adding more skill, speed, and character to their lineup, something they believe they need to do in order to compete in the long term.

One word I have found very disturbing in the last couple of days is the word tanking. You could very well apply that to the New York Rangers, just based on the letter alone. Tanking cost Mavericks owner Mark Cuban $600k. It might not be surprising if the NHL actually chooses to go that same route there, even though the word tanking wasn't used.

It seems very strange that the New York Rangers would send a letter to fans, telling them about what they are doing for the future, as NHL teams have been on the down-low regarding future plans and all that.

Since then, some of the Rangers players have come out and voiced their feelings about this letter and the whole direction of the Rangers locker room: You can read some of the comments on the link here:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/rangers-react-management-throwing-towel-161510658.html

Based on the statements, some of the player didn't like it that management was throwing in the towel, considering that the Rangers were close to a playoff spot and you would think they would be buyers in this case. I'm guessing management has finally decided that getting to that goal in the short-term is not reasonable, and I do understand that management feels that way.

It's also clear that they're trying to make trades to get some cap relief. They already traded away Michael Grabner to the New Jersey Devils and it looks like they're close to shipping Rick Nash out of town too. They were held out of the game against the Canadiens and didn't play well at all.

Unfortunately for the players, I can understand their frustrations with the management trying to go in a different direction, but management will dictate how this team plays, and if they don't like it, then the Rangers will ship them out too. The Rangers do look like they need to go in a different direction. They hadn't played well for a while, in fact, since the Stanley Cup Final against the LA Kings a couple of years ago, it seems like they'd had been going in reverse, and I think it's time for them to trade all the veterans out and try to rebuild. Management holds the cards here and they will have the final say on what this team does. If they have to trade players to accomplish a long-term goal, they'll do it. Just look at the LA Clippers. They traded away a fan favorite, Blake Griffin, because they understood that a short-term playoff run is not in the cards. The Rangers understand that here too.

This team has played well since that letter came out, but my guess is it won't last, and I doubt they'll be able to make the playoffs this season. It's frustrating that Rangers fans might not be able to see this team try to make the playoffs, but the long-term answers are the ones that need to be addressed, and I think Rangers management knows that. I'll be honest: Short-term answers don't work in sports. A bigger goal requires a long-term plan and I think the Rangers, if they want to get back to the Stanley Cup and win it, need to think long-term.

I'm sorry, Rangers fans and Rangers players, management knows best where this team is headed, and as much as you don't like it, the future of this Rangers teams needs to be priority number one. It is painful, but it is also a necessary truth, and I think it will work out for the Rangers. It may be slow, but there's no quick fixes.

Will Sheldon Richardson Stay or Go?

Sheldon Richardson's name is likely to pop up on a lot of teams' radars this coming offseason, assuming that the latest coming out of Seattle is true.

A report by Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network says that the team is not likely to place the franchise tag on defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, meaning that he will likely become a free agent when the free agency window opens. However, it's still possible that the Seahawks could sign him to a long-term deal before then.

The non-franchise tag makes sense, as the Seahawks have not used the franchise tag on any player since 2010. Many have speculated that they would've broken the trend for Richardson, since the Seahawks would like to keep him for next year.

Richardson came over in the trade from the New York Jets before the season began. That trade involved sending wide receiver and fan favorite Jermaine Kearse and a second-round pick back to the Jets.

Meanwhile, the two sides will continue working on a deal. Hopefully, this'll be a deal that pleases both sides, as opposed to the Washington Redskins, who don't want to franchise-tag Kirk Cousins and pay him all the money they don't believe he deserves.

For the Seahawks, paying Richardson $14.5 million or even more for next season is not something they want to deal, hence why they probably don't want to franchise tag him and pay him that much.

The Seahawks are usually good with money and they know the players that deserve that type of money. Russell Wilson, Doug Baldwin, and Richard Sherman are a couple of names that are worth a lot of money. Sheldon Richardson, however, is not worth it, at least not yet.

If the Seahawks actually try to sign Richardson to a deal for more money than what other current players are making, it will probably create a precedent that forces other players on the teams to ask for more money. The Seahawks definitely don't want to create that trend, which means Richardson may have to make less than some of the current players on the team. It's understandable as well.

It's anticipated that the Seahawks could create more cap room to sign Richardson with the pending releases of Jeremy Lane and Cliff Avril. Both players have not done well this season and the Seahawks are most likely afraid they're starting to recede.

The bigger question: Are the Seahawks willing to part ways with Richardson if a deal doesn't work out? Yes. They don't need to rely on Richardson anyway anymore. He was brought in at the beginning of the season in hopes to resurrect what is still a great defensive line. However, they failed to make the playoffs and Richardson's play this season has played a part in it. They don't want to pay him the money he asks for because they'll most likely believe he doesn't deserve it. Good teams like the Seahawks understand what players are worth nowadays.

It's more likely that the Seahawks just decide to part ways with Richardson. It didn't necessarily work out with the Seahawks. They didn't make the playoffs, despite injuries to their defensive starters, and it's more than likely they can find somebody to replace that through the draft. They could pay that person a lot less too.

I think Richardson is a terrific player and a great defensive presence. It doesn't mean that he's going to be the difference-maker in one place. He wasn't that either with the Jets or the Seahawks. Maybe somewhere else, like Atlanta. If Richardson wants to stay with Seattle, he's going to have to take money they think he's worth and not the other way around. I would like to see him stay with Seattle, but I think it's highly more probable he goes elsewhere. Who knows? Maybe he can get more money in other places, because the Seahawks know how to work with money and they can replace people who can take a lot less money.

Should The Golden Knights Risk The Future and Go For It?

The Vegas Golden Knights are continuing to rewrite history in more ways than one, and it has led many to believe that GM George McPhee might actually risk the future and go for the Stanley Cup now? Question is: Will it be wise and will it impact the way they look at the trade deadline?

Last night in Vegas, the Golden Knights set a record for points by a team in its inaugural season by torching the Calgary Flames 7-3. They currently sit at 40-16-4 with 84 points, meaning they've passed the 1993-94 Florida Panthers. They had 83 points in 84 games. They're on top of the Western Conference and many have speculated that this could be the chance that George McPhee was hoping for and that he could get the Stanley Cup ring he could never get in Washington.

The Golden Knights are a bigger story than anything else in the NHL right now. Nobody expected this team to come out and play well in their first season, but they're doing that, and they're providing a city with the kind of excitement and flair that they had been waiting years for.

With the NHL Trade Deadline coming up, though, many are asking whether or not this team will actually risk going for it this year or will they sit back and watch? If there's one thing that I know about George McPhee, he is by far the smartest person in hockey today. He knows exactly how to build a team for the now and for the future, and he's definitely got a tough test for the trade deadline.

If I understand one thing about McPhee that I did notice in Washington, he's very smart with going out and getting players that he believes will help them both now and in the long run. I can expect the same thing more with the Golden Knights. There's a couple of players on this team that I believe will get traded before the deadline. Couple of those names may include Brad Hunt and Cody Eakins, because I doubt that they're the future of the Golden Knights beyond this season and I don't think McPhee will want to let them go, unless they get either good players with longer contracts or prospects they can build on for the future.

There's also the question of whether or not James Neal will stay beyond this season. I have said earlier this season that teams around this league have not given James Neal their due. I thought he would get a long-term extension with the Predators when they went to the Stanley Cup Final, but instead, GM Ryan Poile decided to let the Knights draft him in the Expansion Draft. It was a really stupid move then, despite the Predators being good now. I hope George McPhee doesn't ship him, because I think he deserves a long-term contract with a good team and that's the Golden Knights. He has earned the right to play there, and honestly, he's going to wear the C next season, because he's earned it. I doubt he'll be on the market and I doubt he'll want to leave after this season, but for him to stay long-term, McPhee has to please him and that means perhaps signing him a long-term deal, and I think it would be best.

There's no risking the future but you also have to go for it while it's still hot. That may mean trading off some pieces, including some prospects. I can see why the Golden Knights are in this position to go for it, and I think they should. The Diamondbacks actually took three years before they won a World Series, but afterwards had a bad slump of a couple of years of not making the playoffs. However, fans there are grateful and appreciative that that team won a World Series in its first few seasons of being in the league. The Golden Knights have to go that same route there. Even if you're bad a few years after that, those fans in Vegas will love you regardless because you won a Stanley Cup in your first year or even a year after that.

You have to go for it, no matter what, even if it means risking the future. I don't think McPhee will do it. Like I said, he's the smartest guy in the league and he knows how to build for the here and now. However, you make those fans happy when they're at their high and if it means trying to get a Stanley Cup now, you have no choice. I think Vegas deserved a team and you have to build on it when they're on a high. It's now or never for this particular team and you have to get to the Final. Even if they don't win it this year, you go for it and see if it can lead to a Stanley Cup. That's the ultimate goal of every team, even if this city and this team.

Time For Mark Cuban to Step Down?

Mark Cuban has been one of the most important people in America recently. He's been the owner of the Dallas Mavericks for about a decade, he's currently on Shark Tank, and he's invested money in many different businesses, many that have either gained a profit or have failed miserably. The latest, however, with the Dallas Mavericks and its workplace culture might be the doom that not only gets him out of sports, but might get him out of other jobs as well.

With the Sports Illustrated report that came out just days ago, many have called for him to step down or to sell the Mavericks team. So far, it has worked on other teams. Remember Donald Sterling? When the tape came out that he was saying racist things, the NBA commissioner Adam Silver forced him to sell the team and then banned him for life from attending NBA games. It was an easy decision for Silver, considering that around 80% of the NBA is African-American. Although the punishment at that time was considered harsh, it was also necessary to send a message to other owners and people around the time: That type of behavior won't be tolerated and it's an offense that won't be condoned.

This one, however, is going to be even trickier for Silver. Whether or not you believe Mark Cuban's comments that he didn't know about the culture going on inside the Mavericks' culture, being the CEO requires you to be in the know about what goes on inside your workplace. That means Mark Cuban, at most, had to know what was going on inside the Mavericks organization, from top to bottom. That's why I believe he will step down before Silver imposes any kind of punishment on him.

We're seeing this nowadays in other workplaces: People are getting fired because of accusations of sexual harassment, and it has put people heading those organizations in very difficult positions to either fire the people accused of it or face the wrath of liberals everywhere, demanding why action has not been taken against them. In this case, the action is being fired from the position.

A few weeks ago, I came out and wrote an article for my Calling The Shots blog about why Matt Lauer was being fired about something that happened years ago and there had been no other incidents since. I felt that NBC was pulling the quick trigger on a guy that, despite these accusations in the past, there had not been any more incidents since. But as I continued to watch this and as the days moved on, I began to understand it even more because there's two reasons: It would be a PR nightmare, especially with liberals mostly controlling the media nowadays, and that women, especially those who are still there, would be very uncomfortable around men who have had this type of behavior in the past. Matt Lauer, despite the feeling of being innocent until guilty, was guilty anyway, whether or not this was true.

Now, I'm not saying Mark Cuban himself falls into that category, but he also has to take the full blame for what happened in this culture in the organization. He allowed this behavior to go on, and allowed for a person accused of sexual harassment to stay in this job. He did later fire the guy for a separate incident, but the fact that this report came on now, it's easy to say that he didn't take enough action to prevent the behavior again.

Mark Cuban, despite being a respectable guy and a great investor and good CEO at times, this is where the lines blur the most. He allowed the culture of harassment to go on, whether directly or indirectly, and I think for women in this world to be more inclusive in this environment, it means kicking out who directly or indirectly were involved in allowing this behavior to happen. That means Cuban himself has to step down. He may not have been aware of what was going happen, considering he's a busy man, but it all remains the same: The behavior can't be tolerated now and it's definitely a fireable offense. I mean, look at the men nowadays who are being fired for accusations. It's clear in this case, you're guilty no matter what. Cuban is guilty of allowing this to happen.

Choruses grow loud for people to step down, and I think in the case of Mark Cuban, he has to step down, especially since this behavior was allowed to go on for years unnoticed. Women should be allowed nowadays to say whatever they want, and they shouldn't have to be the ones that face the consequences. Mark Cuban did not make women in this organization feel comfortable, and that's a bad mark on him.

If Mark Cuban doesn't step down, Adam Silver will force him to sell and get rid of him for life. The NBA, at the height of its popularity, is now facing another big scandal and it will lead to a PR nightmare. It's best for them to cut those involved in this, and try to build a culture that's more inclusive.

Mark Cuban will now become toxic, and many other places will look to dump him because of what happened in Dallas. It will be hard for him to find work anytime soon, but when you allow this to happen and do nothing about it, that's the price you have to pay. Time for him to face the music, step down, and learn his lesson: This behavior isn't tolerated anymore, and it's now fireable.

Did Capitals Get A Good Deal Today?

The Washington Capitals are looking for an upgrade on the defense stance, while the Chicago Blackhawks are looking for a major rebuild. Yesterday, it looks like both things became accomplished.

On Monday, the Blackhawks traded defenseman Michal Kempny to the Capitals in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in this year's draft.

Kempny had been signed to a one-year contract back in May of 2016 and currently has three goals and twelve assists in 81 games so far, while piling up seven points this season, including one goal and a six assists. Assists are something that the Capitals are looking for these days, especially in a tough Metropolitan Division.

Capitals coach Barry Trotz said about Kempny, "He's a real good skater and he's a little bit more of a veteran player."

This was a no-brainer for both sides, just because the Capitals are in this dogfight in the Metropolitan Division, where they're going to need a bunch of defenseman and good, young players going forward. They're a point ahead of the Penguins for first in the Metropolitan, and the Flyers just went out and made a deal today for Petr Mrazek. It's basically an arms race there.

I have not heard of Michael Kempny until today, really, because I thought he was one of these players you usually don't hear of, but they're good players on teams they currently are. He's not good on the Blackhawks right now, not that the Blackhawks are already bad. However, I think based on his numbers over the past two seasons, he's a young player with an ability to get people the puck and that's what you want on a good team. I think him going to Washington will help that aspect of the game, but also give the team an ability to give some young defensive player an ability to play with a team that has Alex Ovechkin.

So did the Capitals win the trade today? In a way, yes. They get help on defense, they get an assist guy, and they get somebody who's tough out there. I think this move allows the Capitals to keep pace in the Metropolitan Division and perhaps put some distance between them and the rest of the Metro. We know this, though, it's a tough division. Every player they get is going to be a valuable piece and I think having Kempny on this team is just another example of how they're preparing for this race to get the top spot in the Metro.

Will Mrazek Help The Flyers?

The Flyers are in a mess with their goalie situation. With Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth currently out due to injury, they decided to get ahead of the trade deadline and go out to get a goalie they can count until they get back.

On Monday, the injured-goalie-tandem Flyers went out and got goalie Petr Mrazek from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in the upcoming 2018 draft and a conditional third-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.

According to GM Ron Hextall, he's proud to have Mrazek on the team and that he's hoping that he can hold the fort until Elliott gets back from injury. According to the latest injury report out of Philadelphia, Elliott is scheduled to be back within four weeks. Currently, the Flyers sit at third in the Metropolitan Division and questions have always been asked as to whether Philly should go for it or continue building their team.

Hextall has said all along that he's all about the future and he's not about sacrificing to get into the playoffs now, which is basically the same thing I can say about GM George McPhee of the Vegas Golden Knights. In this case, however, Philly should not have to sacrifice a lot to get into the playoffs and to get people they believe can get them there.

Right now, Mrazek is 8-7-3 with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in 22 games games this season. He made 18 starts out of those 22 games.

Mrazek is no doubt going to be the starter going forward, at least until one of their current two goalies gets back. Neuvirth is out 4-6 weeks after sustaining a lower-body injury in a game against the Rangers on Sunday. Elliott, meanwhile, had surgery to repair a muscle and will continue to be out another couple of weeks. It's all on Mrazek now and I'm skeptical about whether or not he can pull this team over the top.

Alex Lyon, who replaced Neuvirth on Sunday, is not ready. Yes, he did have a nice win and you would've expected him to get the starts in their perhaps for the next couple of weeks. He's not ready, and Hextall knew he wasn't ready and Mrazek is a better goalie right now than Lyon. That's just the facts here. I don't know if Mrazek is as good as both of the tandem goalies they had, but he was on the market and the Flyers are looking for help that's at a bargain price.

Mrazek should feel good about going to a team that he can help get into the playoffs. With Jimmy Howard solidifying that position in Detroit, it was best for Mrazek to go to a team that he can help now. That's Philadelphia. They're looking for goalie help, Mrazek can be the guy, and I think it'll pay dividends until Elliott gets back.

Currently, the Flyers are trying to make it in, and it's also clear that they're not going to sacrifice the future to get into the playoffs. But any small player that can make a difference, you should go after it.

We'll see if Mrazek can hold down the fort. He's got a tall order ahead of them, and he's going to be the guy that's going to have to rally this Philly team to stay in it.

Will Kirk Cousins End Up In Denver?

The Kirk Cousins drama won’t end until the free agency period hits, but according to one Redskins teammates, he believes that there’s a clear target for Kirk Cousins to go to: The Denver Broncos.

On Monday, the Redskins defensive back D.J. Swearinger said to the NFL Network’s Andrew Siciliano that he believes Cousins will sign with the Denver Broncos when the free agency period hits.

The Denver Broncos are one of the many answers that could lie for Kirk Cousins to go to, as they probably have the biggest need at quarterback right now. The three that they currently have on their roster are not long-term fits, while Kirk Cousins might be.

We do know that Kirk Cousins is not going to return to Washington after they went out and traded for quarterback Alex Smith and signed him to a four-year deal. They weren’t willing to give Cousins that much money anyway, while they were more than willing to give Smith that.

Swearinger isn’t the only one who believes that Cousins may end up in Denver. Current Broncos pass-rusher and superstar Von Miller has been recruiting Cousins over social media and believes that Cousins is the guy that can get who can give this team up a leg on the competition.

Many are regarding the Broncos as the favorites to land Cousins, and I think he would excel in that system if he were to land there. Let’s face it, now with Alex Smith gone from Kansas City and Philip Rivers on his way out of the league, it would seem fair that Kirk Cousins would land somewhere, where he would have the edge in a good division. The AFC West is wide open at this point.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, they’re going to have a lot of competition to get him. The Jets are reported as being one of the teams that could go after him, and they are willing to pay whatever the number is to get him aboard. The Broncos, if they were to go get him, would probably need to give him a lot more in order for him to come aboard.

The Browns, Jaguars, and Cardinals are also possible options as well, though I would say as long as Blaine Gabbert is still playing in Jacksonville, you keep him and hold on to him. The Cardinals are also very attractive, but they are going to be playing in a tough division with a lot of good quarterbacks. The Browns? Well…no star quarterback should go there. Their record says it all.

I think Kirk Cousins would be very happy in Denver and I believe he can make a big impact on this team, and possibly lead them to the Super Bowl at one point. The Redskins defensive back seems to know what he’s talking about, and I believe when all is said and done, that’s going to be the place that Kirk Cousins ends up. I believe it will work out in the end and Cousins could have a chance to lead this team to greatness again.

Did French Skier Deserve To Be Booted?

In the Olympics, it seems that word can harm you, and in the case of French alpine skier Mathieu Faivre, words can cost him dearly.

Many of you probably don't know who Mathieu Faivre is, but you might know him as the boyfriend of Mikaela Shiffrin, the American skier who has been generating buzz for the way she has performed so far in these Olympics. Faivre is also a skier with the French ski team for these Olympics, and came in seventh in Sunday's men's giant slalom race. This race featured four of the top seven finishers being French.

Faivre was asked about that after the race and rather than congratulating the team for winning a bronze medal, he said, "If you only knew what I think about the group collective...I'm here to race for myself only." Uh-oh. Not words you want to say, especially if you're part of a group dynamic, which he is.

It was obvious Faivre was not happy with finishing seventh in the race, saying he was "disgusted with the result...it was like a slap on the face." But this last quotes went too far, and now he'll be on a plane back to France and he will be replaced on the French team for Saturday's competition.

A French ski director called the remarks, "Not in the spirit of the team." They clearly were not, since this event was a team dynamic rather than an individual dynamic.

These comments, however, come on the heels of Mike Milbury's comments about Slava Voynov's domestic violence case just the other day. However, in this case, Milbury has yet to face punishment, if there ever will be, while Faivre is being sent packing for his comments about the individual factor in all of this.

Faivre has since apologized for his comments, but it wasn't enough to save him from the face of scorn, especially from the French ski team.

Look, the French team obviously is embarrassed by this and they feel like they had no choice but to send him home for those comments. I get that. The French team obviously takes into accounts PR matters when it comes to their players. The Olympics, especially this event, was about team first, individual second. Faivre needed to face the consequences of that, but I will say this: I don't think comments are a reason for somebody to get jetted from the Olympics. Yes, I can understand the ramifications behind it and yes I can understand that the French team feels they need to take a big punishment when it comes to their athletes' comments, but I feel like Faivre could've at least apologized to the team and be allowed to stay. I didn't think being forced out off the team was reason enough. It's very weird about France's system when it comes to free speech and all that. It's definitely not the U.S.'s version, which is more lenient than Frances. At the very least, though, he should've just apologized and stayed on the team. However, I do understand that France feels this punishment was just enough. I can't knock it because their free speech is much different from ours. In our case, we would've at least apologized and go about our business.

Faivre learned a valuable lesson here. In France, your comments can harm you and your teammates. Now, he'll have to sit on the sidelines for the rest of the competition. I feel bad for him, but in France, it's much different than in the United States. At least he can still root for Shiffrin.

Was Milbury's Comments About Voynov Out of Line?

Looks like a former LA King who's currently playing on the Olympic team for the Olympic Athletes from Russia is making some headlines, thanks in part to noted controversial analyst and former player Mike Tilbury.

Let's set this up. Before Slava Voynov went to the Olympics this year for that team, he was actually a member of the Los Angeles Kings before a 2014 arrest for domestic violence left him indefinitely suspended and then was released by the Kings. A judge had sentenced him to 90 days in jail, and based on what we know, it seemed he served it.

In the contest between Team USA and the Olympic Athletes from Russia, Milbury called the incident "unfortunate." This was while he was providing commentary for that game, alongside play-by-play guy Kenny Albert.

Now this may raise some eyebrows, considering Milbury's past comments, including one about Corey Perry that pissed me off. At the time, Corey Perry was having a great season and was leading the Ducks far into the playoffs. Milbury, at one point during that run, noted that somebody from another should hit Perry in the head, cause a concussion, and take him out of the game. I found it to be rather inexcusable and a complete blatant disregard for the current rules today. He has also gone after Capitals great Alex Ovechkin a couple times for acting like a baby, as well as other players, especially tough guys, for their current play in the times where hitting people in the head deems a suspension.

Now, for this particular one, it seemed Milbury just seemed to disregard the accusations, just based on his comments alone, but we know Slava Voynov pleaded guilty to this and was sentenced to jail, which means it's no laughing matter, and it's not something that we can just set aside as something unfortunate. This is a big deal.

Now my question in the title was: Was it out of line? Absolutely. Everything nowadays, especially with domestic violence and the #MeToo movement, is always out of line. You can't say this stuff while we're going through what we're going through. Yes, it may seem unfortunate, and yes, it did leave the LA Kings in the tough spot to release him following that, but the Kings had no choice. Now, Milbury did say that the Kings could've won more titles with him had he stayed on the Kings, but I wasn't so sure that would've happened, plus I didn't think the Kings took the long-term future with Voynov's latest accusations in mind. They had to do what they had to do, and yes it did leave a void.

Voynov is understandably getting heat himself for actually being in the Olympics after all this, though many of his Olympic athletes have defended him and said that he should be there, though many have said in these times, he shouldn't have taken the offer.

Unfortunately in all of this, what Milbury did was not necessary, despite the fact that he might have been telling the truth. Look, in the #MeToo movement that we're in, we can't call anything of this sort an 'unfortunate incident.' Everything of this sort is above that range now, and we have to make sure that getting through this period, we be more careful with our words and actions. Milbury may have tried to say the right thing, but we're not in the period where we're allowed to do it, no matter if it's truthful or not.

D-Wade Goes After Fox News Anchor

Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham tried to go after LeBron on Thursday and on Friday, it prompted two big stars, one in the NFL and one in the NBA to take aim at her.

On Twitter today, D-Wade posted, "They use to try and hide it.. now the president has given everyone the courage to live their truths."

D-Wade wasn't the only one backing up LeBron. Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long responded by posting a bunch of screenshots of entertainers who had been brought on by Fox News to discuss politics with the Fox News anchors.

Long also posted, "The point is, what's the prerequisite for who can talk politics? So, Fox News folks who agree with Laura...you okay with these segments?

They use to try and hide it.. now the president has given everyone the courage to live their truths. https://t.co/OwLSMHIG0m

— DWade (@DwyaneWade) February 16, 2018

Clearly, the Fox News folks will find their posts offensive and unacceptable, despite the fact that they actually speak truth to the matter. In terms of the LeBron side of things, all of this came into view because LeBron made an appearance on Uninterrupted and discussed a variety of topics, including Trump. He appeared in that video with Kevin Durant, the Warriors star.

LeBron said at the time about the times we live in, "The climate is hot...The No. 1 job in America, the appointed person is someone who doesn't understand the people. And really don't give a f--k about the people." He further went on to describe three jobs he looked up to. One of them was the President of the United States.

Ingraham further fueled this by saying that James (including Durant) should stick to sports, aka "stick to dribbling," which was why D-Wade and Chris Long took to Twitter to vent their grievances about Ingraham.

Let me say something about Laura Ingraham and I hope this gets under her skin: She doesn't know jack about anything on politics, nor does she know what free speech is and how it works. She's only on Fox News because they needed a new face on that program to further enflame their viewers to go after Democrats and people who tell the truth.

With that said, I'm glad D-Wade went after her and he is the bigger name in this story than Chris Long just because of the connection that both D-Wade and LeBron have. When LeBron says something important, it carries weight, more so than any other player in the NBA right now. When LeBron speaks, people listen and people understand, because LeBron has been through the tough times too as a child, growing up in Akron, Ohio. So yes, he understands the situation we live in today and what leaders need to do to be better people. Trump is not one of those, in my mind. Laura Ingraham can say whatever she wants to say, but it's the wrong thing to say, especially to a superstar of this magnitude. So yes, D-Wade took the right path and he understood that LeBron is an important person in today's world, not just the NBA itself.

The free speech is being victimized all the time by those, like the President and like Fox News, who feel that their way of thinking is a lot better than the Democratics' way and that's why they hate the free speech idea, especially the First Amendment, and Trump would like nothing more than to turn it into a dictatorship and get rid of it entirely and make everything about him. But LeBron speaks more than just Trump and is more important right now in these times than Trump is. I'm glad that D-Wade did what he did because Laura Ingraham just got absolutely crushed by his comments, and maybe next time she should think about what she says before she starts blurting them out. Her words do carry big consequences, and she just made enemies today of D-Wade and Chris Long.

End of Sebastian Janikowski's NFL Career?

It looks like the long-time marriage between the Raiders and Sebastian Janikowski is coming to an end, and it could be the break that could also mean the end of the kicker's career. So we think, anyway.

The Raiders informed Janikowski on Thursday that he will not be resigned for the 2018 season and thus will become a free agent.

Team owner Mark Davis said about Janikowski, "The Raider Nation salutes Sebastian Janikowski as the sun sets on his illustrious career with the Oakland Raiders...'Once a Raider, Always a Raider' has never been more true as his 18-year career makes him the longest-tenured player in Raiders history."

Janikowski spent an astounding 18-year career with the Raiders and he is the longest tenured Raider in their history. He was the 17th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. Oh, by the way, Tom Brady was part of that same draft and has more rings than Janikowski.

This move was not surprising to me and to many others as well. Janikowski did spend most of the season on injured reserve, having dealt with a back issue. It now looks like his 27-year-old replacement Giorgio Tavecchio nailed 16 of 21 field goals this season and 33 of 34 extra points during his tenure in Oakland so far.

If indeed Janikowski doesn't retire, and he has said through his agent he doesn't want to, it's going to be hard to see him in another uniform, as will most Raider fans. Look, Janikowski understandably wants to play, and he wants to show that he still has some kick left in him. Thing is, he's 39 years old. That's pretty sneaky old for a kicker. Second thing is, he is coming back from a back injury. Back injuries, especially at that age, are usually the endgame for kickers, and it won't surprise me if it happens to Jano as well. Another team may take a shot at it and see what he can do, but I think it's time for him to realize that this is probably the end of the road for him and that he should be thinking about his future and what he wants to do with his life after football.

I feel bad for Raiders fans, especially my friend and colleague at Sports Al Dente Danny Rendon, for losing such a majestic player and a great Oakland Raider. We knew, however, it was probably going to be the end for him in the black and silver after this season. To that end I say, farewell Sebastian Janikowski and thanks for giving Raider Nation some of the best kicks ever. Good luck in your future endeavors, wherever that may be!

Can Donovan Mitchell Be An MVP Favorite?

Donovan Mitchell has been turning a lot of heads this season, thanks in part to his spectacular play with the Utah Jazz. With that, many have said he could turn out for Rookie of the Year. But there are many others, especially those associated with the Jazz, could very well see him as the MVP candidate, even with the large field that's currently in that race.

So why do I bring this up? Well, I was at the Jazz game against the Spurs on Monday night and during most of the fourth quarter, Donovan Mitchell went up, helping his team come back from a 13-point deficit to win a close game. During most of that quarter, shouts of 'MVP, MVP' rained down on Mitchell. That got me to thinking: Does he have a shot, even with this big field?

Now, look. Donovan Mitchell is a truly fantastic player and he deserves, probably more than Sixers player Ben Simmons, to win that award. Right now, Mitchell is averaging 19 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game this season. He's the leading score on a Utah team that needed that kind of firepower that Gordon Hayward ditched that team to join his old coach in Boston.

Mitchell also has a great big man in Rudy Gobert who can get him the ball and make wonders happen. In fact, his play this season has garnered him the support of many other players around the league, most notably DeMar DeRozan of the Raptors and even DeMarcus Cousins of the Pelicans, who is out for the season with an tear in his ACL.

Now, to go back to the original question: Is his support going to be enough to earn him possibly an underdog candidacy to be MVP? Perhaps, but it's highly doubtful that he's going to be MVP. First of all, he is indeed the MVP so far on that Jazz team that is still in it, despite being only ninth in the West and winning ten in a row. The West is a hard place to get into the playoff picture in, and he could very well lead them there. However, there are fourth other MVP candidates that are ahead of him in that race: Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and even LeBron James, who are still making wonders despite their sluggish winter.

In my opinion, I don't think Donovan Mitchell will even get close to that. I actually don't think Kawhi will either because of his injuries. If I had to pick a candidate to win this, it would be James Harden because of the impact he has had this season both offensively and defensively and he's helping this Rockets team stay ahead of the pact in the tough Western Conference. Donovan Mitchell is not James Harden. He's on that level yet, but that doesn't mean he won't get there. He can, he has to work on his game, and he has to have that ability to win games for this team when they count on him. He's doing that this season, but not in the same way the other All-Stars are. They're still outside the playoff picture and right now, they're hanging out with all they got, and Mitchell has been a big part of that.

With that said, this season, he's the Jazz' MVP, but he's not the league's MVP and most likely won't be this season, not with the field that's in front of him. However, he's an exciting player and he's one of the biggest stars for the Jazz this season. Again, he'll probably get Rookie of the Year nods for his numbers, but it's rare to see a player win both Rookie of the Year and the MVP award, and I don't see Mitchell winning both this season, not with the way Harden has been playing in that category.

Mitchell will probably have to wait a little bit longer to potentially get those nods for MVP. However, he's doing what he can to keep this team in it, and he's a big part of the Jazz success this season. I'm looking forward to seeing him continue his great play this season and turning more heads in the league. Right now, he's earned a ROTY vote, but not an MVP vote. There's just too many names in the MVP field for him to get that nod.

What To Expect In Jazz-Suns Tonight

The Utah Jazz have currently won 10 in a row and they are one of the best teams in the league during that stretch. Despite their current streak, though, they still sit in the 10th spot, just below the Clippers and Pelicans for the final spot in the playoff picture. Tonight, though, they could move closer to that.

Tonight, the Jazz host the Phoenix Suns, in what will be their final game before the All-Star break in Los Angeles.

On Monday, the Jazz came back from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to knock off the San Antonio Spurs in unbelievable fashion and with a loud and roaring crowd behind them. Not only was this a big win, but it showed how resilient the Jazz are when they face pressure situations like the one they had on Monday.

They are highly expected to get 11 in a row tonight against a Phoenix Suns team that his second to last in the Western Conference at just 18-40. Not only that, but they are only 9-19 on the road and have currently lost six in a row after getting blown out by Golden State by 46 on Monday in Oakland. The last time both the Jazz and Suns faced off, the Jazz pulled off a 32-point win and dominated the Suns in every single aspect of that. Oh, and Donovan Mitchell, perhaps the Rookie of the Year, had 40 in that game.

The Suns' defense has been horrible this season. They're last in the league in opponent points per game and defensive rating. The offense hasn't been great, as they've shot poorly from the field at 41.4 percent and have shot 27.3 percent from deep. It ain't good, and that's why Warriors coach Steve Kerr let the players handle the coaching for most of that game Monday, because he knew it was against the Suns and that the Suns couldn't defend anything, no matter what scheme was brought up.

Another bad sign for the Suns is that both Devin Booker and Tyler Ulis, perhaps two of their best players, are out on Wednesday night, which means Tyson Chandler will get the most of the ball on the night, and he's not the same player he was when he was younger. Yes, he's helped the Suns the most, but with the Suns, their ineffectiveness on both ends of the floor has been their doom.

But it's not all glory for Utah, though. Monday was an emotional win and they could easily have a let-down game. It has happened before, not just with Utah. Golden State a couple of nights ago against Boston had a big emotional win and then got defeated easily by Utah. So Utah could very well face the same kind of test.

The one thing about Utah that I find that's different from most teams is that they feel locked in and focused. It's very vital that Utah continues that pace tonight, by shooting well, allowing Mitchell to do his thing, and allowing Rudy Gobert to contribute as well. The Jazz also have a lock-down defender in Royce O'Neale and he may be the key to the win. He's been great since Ricky Rubio was sidelined with an injury, and Rubio will probably not get much playing time against the Suns.

Look, either way, even if the Jazz are shorthanded or have a poorer game tonight than they did on Monday, it might still be enough to beat this Suns team. They don't have what the Jazz has in terms of offensive firepower or the defensive skills. Plus, the addition of Jae Crowder to this Jazz team has simply been a big boost. They've played better, they've built their offense better, and Crowder has been able to be the power he simply couldn't do in Cleveland for most of the season. Now, that doesn't mean he could revert back to that, but right now, he's been the biggest help for the Jazz, and I see him continuing that trend.

Tonight should be an easy game, assuming the Jazz know that they can't get cocky with this. Every game is tough and with the Jazz, overlooking some teams could be their doom, even the Suns. However, I still see the Jazz coming out with a big win on this night and moving to 11 wins in a row.

Shaun White's Apology

Shaun White was tearful after winning a gold medal on Tuesday night in snowboarding. On Wednesday, though, he's had to change his tune and address the allegations that were brought against him back in 2016, as well as having to apologize for a word that many find unacceptable.

On Wednesday night on an appearance of Today, White apologized for using the word 'gossip' to describe the allegations that were brought against him two years ago. He told Savannah Guthrie, "I'm truly sorry that I chose the word...It was a poor choice of words to describe such a sensitive subject in the world today...I'm just truly sorry. I was so overwhelmed with just wanting to talk about how amazing today was and share my experience, but yeah."

White went further to say that he has "grown as a person over the years," which means he probably understood the situation he was in then and where he has gone to now, but it doesn't mean he's still off the hook for using the word and apologizing for it.

Now, what happened a few years ago that involved Shaun White? So here's the story: A 2016 civil lawsuit was filed in San Diego when a drummer in White's band (yes, he's part of a music band too) claimed that White sexually harassed her and set her images that were graphic and sexual. He has denied those allegations, however, he did admit to sending the text messages, which is bad enough for him, especially with what we live in now. They later reached a settlement in the case, though now they may have to look back into it after White's comments after winning a medal.

We knew White was going to get pressed on this after he won. That's why a reporter asked him about it. The reported baited him, and he took the bait, whether or not he was aware of it. Look, I can understand where he's trying to come from. He's trying to put this to rest and move on. I would try to do the same thing, too, especially if the case was over and done with. Still, in this day in age, you really can't say those words. You can say them privately to a couple of times, but not to a worldwide audience that's looking to see if you slip up or something like that. Looks like he did, and he's catching a lot of heat because of it.

I can accept his apology, because like all of us we make mistakes, and it's hard to see that he's getting bashed for making mistakes or saying stuff we all find to be unacceptable. White is a good person in all of this, but unfortunately now, where we live in, it's always the guilty until proven innocent, at least under sexual misconduct. Now, he did prove his guilt in those text messages and he's faced the consequences as a result, and it's good to see he came out and apologized for his using gossip, but now that means he's under more scrutiny the next time he comes out there to snowboard and win another medal.

The last thing Shaun White needs is more scrutiny following him, and apologizing about him definitely won't help. The thing he's got to do now is bite his tongue and just win. The next time he opens his mouth and says stuff like this, there's going to be more heat on him than ever before. Just keep winning, Shaun, you're a great snowboarder. We don't need you in any more hot water than you're already in.

Charles Haley Rips The Cowboys

If you're a non-Cowboys fan, it's easily understandable to be booing the Cowboys at every turn. For one of the former players, however, it might seem a little odd.

That is exactly what happened on Tuesday when Hall of Famer and former Cowboy Charles Haley went after the Cowboys, essentially ripping them to shreds.

During an appearance on an ESPN station in Dallas, Haley referred to the Cowboys as "losers" and that he dared the franchise to live up to the hype that they had been getting throughout their entire history.

He told the station and the Dallas Morning News, "I don't think they understand what it takes to win a game...If that was Coach [Jimmy] Johnson, we would've worked harder than we did last year just to repeat that part of it. I don't see that maturity where guys are doing their own thing out there. When the coach says run 10, you run 15, or you grab your teammates and go run. They took 13-3 for granted."

Haley didn't stop there. He further goes on to say that he blames everybody for the Cowboys' failures in recent years, particularly owner Jerry Jones for creating a culture that embodies losers and that they need to work harder and change the culture in that locker room in order to foster an atmosphere that can win them a championship.

While many are saying that there's some sort of 'old man' feelings at work here, the fact of the matter is Haley has a bunch of Super Bowl rings and he's a Hall of Famer. He's also passionate and dedicated to the Cowboys and what they stand for. As much as I hate to rip my generation, I'm actually going to do it here, because I do agree with Haley in this aspect: They need to make a big change and I have a feeling that means Jason Garrett is going to be one sooner rather than later. It's not going to be next season because I'm guessing Jones will take another shot with them. If they don't win the Super Bowl next year, then I think you do make changes. I do know, though, that Charles Haley, a Hall of Famer, is right, because the Cowboys, despite their successes, have been the ultimate losers in the end. They haven't made it back to the Super Bowl in many years, and since then the Giants have won two and the Eagles just won the last one. If you're a Cowboys fan, that should be unacceptable, and Haley realizes that.

I don't see an 'old man" feeling within Charles Haley. He knows exactly what he's talking about, and he knows exactly what this man needs to do to come out and win. It's not going to happen with Jason Garrett. I believe that is gone at this point. Plus, a new culture change and a new voice in that locker room might possibly help the Cowboys change their fortunes. Haley, however, just sent Garrett and Jones on a quicker hike out of Dallas. Question is, when will Haley's truth finally come to fruition on this team? We'll find out.

Johnny Manziel Getting Back Into Football?

It's been a while since we heard from Johnny Manziel. In fact, the last time he suited up for an NFL team was the Cleveland Browns back in 2015. Well, now he's back in the news, hoping to gain a little sympathy from the masses and possibly a return to football.

Manziel spoke with Good Morning America on Monday morning and revealed that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about a year ago. He revealed that since he got that news, he has stopped drinking.

He said about his diagnosis, "I am taking medication for bipolar, and I am working to try to make sure I don't fall back into any type of depression, because I know where that leads me and I know how slippery a slope that is for me."

Johnny Manziel's revelations might put him at odds with him returning to football. Currently, he received an offer to play in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but both sides have yet to agree to a contract, and it's unclear if the Tiger-Cats knew about this before Manziel went public with it.

Manziel further told GMA, "I am coming back from a huge downfall...I don't know what kind of comeback it will be, but I know I want to get back on a football field, to what brought me so much joy in my life."

Manziel posted this after the interview on Twitter:

At the end of the day Athletes are Human beings too. You can get caught up in the fame, the life, but when it’s all said and done we’re the exact same...FAR FROM PERFECT. God bless you all and thank you for hearing my story.

— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) February 12, 2018

Manziel is indeed right about his quote. We are not all perfect beings, and I'm glad to see that Manziel is trying to get his life together. But in terms of his football prospects, especially those in the NFL, I will refer to something that Tony Kornheiser made on PTI today in the Big Finish. He basically said that it doesn't look like Johnny Manziel will get an offer to play in the NFL again because there's too much water under the bridge. That basically means that Manziel has already done the damage and hurt his chances and that it is pointless to change the past.

I tend to agree with Tony on this matter. Look, I loved Johnny Manziel when he came onto the big stage at college. He was one of the best, young quarterbacks that we had at that time. But when you look at all the off-field troubles he had as well, it made me question whether or not he would actually fare well in the NFL once he got there. To no surprise, he burned up well before he could become a big factor on the big stage.

It's unfortunate what has happened, but Johnny Manziel's best bet at this point is the contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He's got to prove he can handle stuff there and keep himself under control, and even if he does that, an NFL team might not even come after him because of his past. It can take you one wrong turn and you're right back to where you started, and I'm not sure any NFL team is willing to risk it. Manziel has had struggles and he's definitely not perfect, much like the rest of us, but the NFL is a public image league, and anything that can hurt their image, they're not going to take on, and I think going after Manziel is definitely not in their mindset going forward. Hell, even JaMarcus Russell's not getting signed and he didn't have the troubles like Manziel had.

Manziel is trying. We all understand that. But, like many other analysts and sportswriters, we feel the comeback of Manziel in the NFL is slim. All we want for him is to be healthy and to have a happy life, and I think he understands that too. The CFL is the only option he has and I think that will be his career. It's over in the NFL. Too much water has put Johnny Manziel out of NFL business and most likely for good.

My Thoughts On Isaiah Thomas Going To The Lakers

Current NBA player Isaiah Thomas just can't find a way to stay with one team. His first team was the Sacramento Kings, then the Phoenix Suns, then the Boston Celtics, whom he found success with before being traded to Cleveland just this past offseason, and now he's been dealt again.

The Isaiah Thomas-Cavs relationship is officially over after Thomas was traded to the Lakers in a deal along with Channing Frye that saw both Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. head East to Cleveland.

While this deal may come as a surprise to many, there were lingering questions surrounding Thomas's health and whether or not his size will really matter much on any NBA team. At this point, Thomas might just become a guy any team can pick up and put right into their rotation. I know he doesn't believe that, but ever since that Boston playoff run last year, it seems like Thomas is not the same old self.

This trade obviously was all about the Cavaliers, since LeBron James had been making enough noise for GM Koby Altman to go out there and try to get some players to help James get back to the NBA Finals. So far, the results have either been mixed or is still questionable.

But here's the thing about Isaiah Thomas: He's going to have to realize that he's not the player that everyone expected him to be, and GM Danny Ainge of the Celtics understood this more than most. He looked at this injury he had over the summer and said to himself, 'I don't believe he can be the same player for us the way he was in the playoffs.' Now, while I understand Thomas's anger over this issue, let's understand that Danny Ainge is probably one of the smartest GMs in sports, much like GM George McPhee of the Vegas Golden Knights, so he understands who is going to be an impact player and who may be at the end of the road or who is injured and may not be the same player. Ainge understood that, he understood that Thomas was not going to be his old self again and shipped him off for a talented guy and one who can be a leader and a difference-maker on that team. Oh, and by the way, Irving is very young and still very talented.

I hope Isaiah Thomas can find some measure of success with the Los Angeles Lakers, but they are much farther behind than the Celtics and Cavaliers were with him. This will probably take years, and by then, Isaiah Thomas may want out of Los Angeles. Who knows? But right now, I think Isaiah Thomas may have to realize that his impact on an NBA team will not be the same as what it was with the Celtics all those years with them. It's unfortunate and I wish him well with the Lakers, but injuries can take down a player and in the case of Isaiah Thomas, that may be where it's heading.