Self Or Selflessness

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Kyrie Irving got me thinking.

Sports has always been a place of comfort to me. It’s what I run to when times are tough. It’s where I go to when I am stressed. I’ve cried for it. It’s a place to hide from the reality of the world. Which I thought was always a good thing.

Until I realized it wasn’t.

2020 has been a year of awakening. The internal struggle of self or selflessness. It started with the pandemic. When the world stopped. All the attention went to the virus and how we would react to it.

In my mind, it was simple.

Be selfless and protect everyone. We’re all vulnerable. Wear a mask. Keep your distance.

But from the start, the selfishness came in.

People calling the pandemic a hoax. People taking the “If it’s not happening to me, I don’t care,” approach. 

Privileged and selfish people stormed the government in Michigan to protest a “stay at home order.”

Millions of people around the world were getting sick. Dying. 

A full lack of cares to give from our government, forced us back to work. A survival of the fittest.

Then another act of police brutality happened, resulting in the tragic murder of George Floyd.

People inspiredly stormed the streets supporting the biggest fight this country has: the age long fight of black liberation.

This generation’s civil right’s movement is in full force.

For the first time ever, people are listening. The smallest of changes are starting to happen. This is arguably the most important time in our country’s history.

During all this time, I did think sports could come back and be a comfort, but it shouldn’t. We can’t hide behind sports for the time being. We need to keep the fight. There’s high profiled athletes of all races who have a bigger purpose right now.

The NBA forcing players inside a bubble in Orlando during a global pandemic and a civil rights movement, just doesn’t seem like the best idea.

We can’t just force them to entertain us so we can go back to the reality of racism and police brutality. The ignoring of the systemic racism this country has been founded upon. Enough is enough.

And yes, there is the other side. Players can use their platforms to speak on a big stage, which I hope happens.

However I, and hopefully for all of us, have to realize that we can’t hide behind the comfort level sports gives us. We can’t achieve the goal of what people who are risking their lives protesting for without being uncomfortable.

I would love to be covering my first ever NHL playoffs as a credentialed media member, but at this moment it’s not in the front of my mind right now.

To all my fellow white media members, listen to Kyrie Irving. He’s making a lot of good points.

Black Lives Matter.

Miami Heat one of teams that could surprise

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If 2020 taught us anything at all within the first six months, it would be:

  • Nothing is surprising and…
  • Not much is certain.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended play, the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks were on a collision course to the Finals. Teams such as the Clippers and Raptors were solid contenders, while the Rockets and Celtics had a ‘puncher’s chance’. Now, a Lakers/Bucks match up isn’t necessarily a given and those other contenders aren’t a sure thing either.

As the NBA season resumes in Orlando, the conditions are right for an upset. A three-month layoff with no access to gyms and courts and re-energized bodies are idea conditions for a dark horse team to come out of nowhere and out of Disney holding the Larry in October (that sounds weird, right?)

There are four teams that have the potential to catch fire, build good habits and tendencies, and build a ton of momentum en-route to the title.

 

DALLAS MAVERICKS

 

    Luka Doncic’s emergence this season was not only fun to watch, it spearheaded the Mavs to a 40-27 record after missing the playoffs the year before. Currently they are within striking distance of the fifth seed-trailing Houston and Oklahoma City by 1 ½ games. They are also third in the NBA in scoring (116.4 points per game) and lead the league in offensive rating (115.8). Most of it is due to Doncic. However, Kristaps Porzingis becoming more acclimated in the Mavs’ system plays a part as well. When Dwight Powell ruptured his Achilles in January, it was Porzingis that stepped his game up-stringing together a 17 game stretch where he scored 20 points or more with 10 plus rebounds.

 

What to watch 

Having a prolific offense is great but when it comes to the playoffs, you have to be able to defend consistently. At season’s intermission, Dallas had a 106 defensive rating. Their biggest issue of concern? Defending the paint. Powell was ineffective in the lineup at protecting the paint. Since Powell is injured, it would be interesting to see if Mavs’ coach Rick Carlisle will move Porzingis to center for the playoffs. Before his injury, Porzingis’ defensive rating was 106.7 this year, it’s 109.4. Powell does the right things defensively as it pertains to form, but he just can’t defend the paint as well. There are good defenders on the team, and maybe the source of their problems on that end of the floor has everything to do with how these players are used.

Also, watch how they manage their depth. Two years ago, Dallas had a solid lineup off the bench, and what made it work was recognizing which combination of players played the best and capitalizing off of it. For example, Seth Curry played well off of JJ Barea. Maxi Kleber and Barea were solid defensively-and it worked. In fact, the Mavs’ ‘MOB’ squad, with the role players off the bench was their best line.  They will have to find a way to maximize these players. Curry is back. Barea and Kleber are still there. So it will be worth noticing what kind of combinations Carlisle will put on the floor.

 

MIAMI HEAT

 

It’s crazy how the Heat has been slept on this season. At 41-24, Miami owns the fourth best record in the East. Currently, they trail the third place Celtics by 2.5 games and two games ahead of Indiana. After playing the eight regular season games, the Heat is likely to finish no higher than the third seed since the Raptors are 5.5 games ahead in second.

When play stopped, the Heat featured a near immaculate 27-5 home record, the third best mark in the league. They were also forth in the East in terms of point differential (112.2 points per game on offence, 108.9 defense).  The duo of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo has paid off nicely. Not to mention the emergence of Kendrick Nunn, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson also made the Heat an intriguing wild card team.

 

What to watch

 

    The Heat has the mettle to pull off an upset. That was very evident when the Heat beat Milwaukee at home a month before league suspension. In that game, the Heat was hell defensively. They held the Bucks to 40.7  percent from the field and 20.6 percent from three. Not only did they  trapped Giannis Antetokounmpo on the blocks, they put Adebayo on him as well. That’s significant because Adebayo is one of the few guys in the NBA that could effectively match up with Antetokounmpo in terms of speed and size. He also has the length to contest.

When a big and difficult defender like Adebayo is out of the paint, it is tempting to shoot threes and long jumpers because you can’t attack the paint. Remember, Antetokounmpo’s most glaring weakness is his outside shot.

If the Heat and Bucks meet up in the playoffs, notice how Erick Spoeletra will throw different schemes featuring Adebayo at Antetokoumpo.   Miami also has an X-Factor for the run in Andre Iguodala. Added at the trade deadline, Iguodala brings playoff-savvy and experience to a relatively young team. He’s also another solid defender and a playmaker that will help stabilize a second unit.

 

 

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

 

    Portland has had an interesting year to say the least.  Coming off of a Western Conference finals appearance a season ago, it seemed as if the Blazers were projected to remain a contender this season. However, injuries to key players happened and the Blazers spent this season languishing and hustling to make the playoffs.

At 29-37, the Blazers are ninth in the West and are among the teams invited to Orlando in hopes of a play-in for the eighth seed. Damian Lilliard has done all he could do to keep the Blazers’ playoff hopes alive in the midst of injuries. Don’t bet against him and CJ McCollum carrying the team in to the playoffs and even beyond.

What to watch

 

Before the season was suspended, the Blazers were on the verge of getting Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins back from injury.  A year ago, Nurkic injured his left leg, and was out for most of the season. In Nurkic, the Blazers lost a third scoring option and a solid interior defender. He was very close to a return before the shutdown-going to Santa Cruz to rehab. Now, with an additional three months of rest and rehab on his own, watch how the Blazers bring him back.  Since he hasn’t played all season, it is possible that Nurkic will be on minutes restriction for the final eight games. If he makes strides, look for coach Terry Stotts to gradually increase minutes.

In addition to how they will use Nurkic post injury, look for how the younger players such as Nassir Little, Anfernee Simons respond to games where the stakes are considerably higher. Those guys were thrust into playing more minutes in the season due to injuries to not only Nurkic and Collins but also Rodney Hood.  They will need to contribute to take the pressure off of Lillard and McCollum, in order to make a run.

 

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

 

    Remember, this is the team that pushed the Raptors to the brink of elimination in last year’s playoffs. So, it’s not surprising that the Sixers have 8-1 odds of winning the East and a 25-1 overall odds to win the championship.

Philadelphia, at 39-26 is sixth in the East, and was 13 games above .500 before suspension. They posted a league’s best 29-2 at home, but on the road, they were 10-24. In Orlando, there are no home court advantages and road records don’t matter. What matters is whether or not the Sixers have enough of talent to not to dwell on the laurels of home success and the agony of failures on the road.

Luckily for the Sixers, Ben Simmons is expected to be healthy after a back injury he sustained in February. Judging from his latest pictures floating around social media, it appears that he added some bulk as well. They also have a playoff battle tested vet in Al Hortford, to compliment the team. They have the potential to put it together for a deep run.

 

What to watch

 

Last month, Sixers coach Brett Brown said that he wants Joel Embiid to play about 38 minutes per game in the playoffs. His usage rate, post ups per game and three attempts have been similar to last season. Embiid’s production will need to increase during those minutes.

Simmons is already a tough defending point guard. In the playoffs, the question is if he can be effective offensively against a set half court defense. Is facilitating from the elbow, setting picks and rolling to the basket enough?  That depends of whether Simmons is comfortable and confident in his shot. If he isn’t he should be able to drive, create contact and hit free throws down the stretch.

 

****

Jannelle Moore (@Jannelle12)  is a new contributor to Five Reasons Sports Network. She has written for USA Today and SB Nation, among other outlets.

Dolphins coach Brian Flores says will be in for a long season in 2019 with young, inexperienced Dolphins team.

Houtz special: NFL should have followed Brian Flores

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These last few months have been like something out of a horror movie.

A global pandemic—that could’ve been prevented—forced all of us who reside in ‘tHe GrEaTeSt CoUntRy In ThE wOrlD’ to seize life as we know it. Going to the grocery store felt eerily similar to an episode of The Walking Dead. And then came the horrific murder of George Floyd, which was the tip of the iceberg, in a long, unfortunate list of victims wrongfully murdered for the color of their skin.

We all saw the video.

We are ALL enraged and pissed off by the video.

And many have decided to take matters into their own hands.

Over the last two weeks, protestors have marched day and night throughout some of the largest cities in America, demanding change to the social justice system. Change, that four years prior was front and center of every paper in America thanks to the peaceful protest of Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players.

The truth is, I’m a white male, who although faced with different hurdles in life, NEVER had to deal with the same racial oppression as others. I NEVER had to fear for my life while stopped by a cop. Or murdered while jogging around the block. I never have to worry about being viewed differently because of my skin tone. I could go on all day with how fucked up society is. How inconsiderate others are to human life. But whether you admit it or not, we are all aware.

We are all created equally.

But for far too long, people have been overrun with hate.

And whether we want to sit here and admit it or not, cops have been a massive part of that problem.

No, not all cops are corrupt.

But a majority of them are corrupt and ignorant. A majority of them do believe they are above the law, and it’s time for a change.

Colin Kaepernick knew this, and the entire world turned their collective heads.

The players who protest were referred to by the president of the United States as, and I quote, ‘Sons of bitches.’

Roger Goodell admitted his wrongdoing in a statement made Thursday Night. A comment which came 24 hours after several prolific football players made one of their own. On the surface, it was a step in the right direction. But after seamlessly blackballing Kaepernick for years, the apology seemed hollow at its roots.

One speech that did effectively address everything wrong in this world was the one issued by Miami Dolphins’ head coach Brian Flores.

Flores is one of only four black head coaches in the NFL. He is of Honduran descent and has spoken out before about his upbringing. And how he was affected by racial profiling.

And yet, when the entire NFL was waiting patiently to figure out the right things to say or do.

Brian Flores, the Miami Dolphins’ head coach, spoke out.

The way a leader should.

Here was Brian Flores’s message from May 29th.

“I’ve had the privilege of being a part of many different circles that have included some very powerful and influential people of all different races and genders. The events of the last few weeks have brought some of the memories of those conversations back to light. I vividly remember the Colin Kaepernick conversations. ‘Don’t ever disrespect the flag’ was the phrase that I heard over and over again. This idea that players were kneeling in support of social justice was something some people couldn’t wrap their head around. The outrage that I saw in the media and the anger I felt in some of my own private conversations caused me to sever a few long-standing friendships.

“Most recently, I’ve had conversations about incentivizing teams for hiring minorities. Again, there was some outrage in the media and talks that this would cause division amongst coaches, executives and ownership. I bring these situations up because I haven’t seen the same OUTRAGE from people of influence when the conversation turns to Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and most recently George Floyd. Many people who broadcast their opinions on kneeling or on the hiring of minorities don’t seem to have an opinion on the recent murders of these young black men and women. I think many of them QUIETLY say that watching George Floyd plead for help is one of the more horrible things they have seen, but it’s said amongst themselves where no one can hear. Broadcasting THAT opinion clearly is not important enough.

“I lead a group of young men who have the potential to make a real impact in this world. My message to them and anyone else who wants to listen is that honesty, transparency, and empathy go a long way in bringing people together and making change. I hope that the tragedies of the last few weeks will open our hearts and minds to a better way of communicating and hopefully create that change.”

On Thursday, Flores once again met with the media.

No, he didn’t have to, nor was he scheduled to. But he felt it was something he should do.

There were lots of takeaways from the 20-minute conversation with Flores, which can be found HERE. But the thing that stood out most in my eyes was this.

I’ll tell you, it’s a long road. I think it’s about each individual’s heart and where is that? And making sure people’s hearts are in the right places and there is a respect and – I won’t say admiration but just an overall respect for your fellow man or woman. I think we have a long way to go and hopefully we use this tragedy as a starting point to get to the place where you’re talking about.”

In the end, Goodell’s apology was a step in the right direction for a league that spent four years trying to brush things under the rug. But until players, fans, and the rest of America see change, the words are as empty as the stadiums will surely be this fall. The time is now for America to change. And as we’ve seen over the last several days, change is imminent. Cops need to be accountable for their actions. And we need to abide by the golden rule, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

We are all equal.

Brian Flores said what the national football league should’ve said, immediately. But instead, they waited and waited and waited.

The speech was fine, but until Roger Goodell and the rest of the world live up to their end of the bargain, the same issues will remain.

And that is unacceptable.

#BlackLivesMatter

Want to support the cause? Buy this official LSO t-shirt and all proceeds will be donated to Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp.

 

This article was written by Josh Houtz. You can unfollow me on Twitter (@Houtz)

Jaillet’s Journal: In a changing sports world, MLB still doesn’t get it

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The MLB needs to get it together.

I am not hopeful for baseball the season. just Saturday, it was reported that a July 4 start for the 2020 MLB season is a near impossibility. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted that preparation time would make starting the season by July 4 difficult.

If negotiations were to resume and a deal was to be reached, players would need 10 days to prepare their facilities according to medical protocol. Players would also need time to report for spring training, especially those from foreign countries.

To me, this sounds like baseball is not returning anytime soon. That may be a tough pill to swallow for some people. Especially for concession workers and people who work at the ballpark, I feel terribly sorry for them. However, I do not feel sorry for the owners or the players.

The optics for the MLB don’t look good here. You could definitely pick a side. You could blame the owners for being greedy, and side with the players from wanting to get their money’s worth. I don’t blame you for feeling that way.

You could side with the owners for wanting their money, and the players for being greedy. Again, I don’t blame you for feeling that way either.

Nevertheless, the fact that millionaires and billionaires are quarreling about money, especially right now makes for poor optics. There are so many people struggling to just make ends meet right now. In a sport that has already struggled due to length of games and the cost of attending one, they are not doing themselves any favors.

I said it as soon as reports of tension between the players and owners came out. Major League Baseball is shooting themselves in the foot. They have an opportunity to capture the fans thirst for sports once again, and they are blowing it.

It’s not like Major League Baseball has an opportunity to redeem themselves while other sports are in the offseason. Football is going to be coming back, and basketball will follow soon.

The NBA calendar in particular has it so there will be basketball year-round. June 30 is when training camps will begin. July 31 is when the 2019-20 season will restart. Game seven of the NBA finals, if necessary, will be October 12. In between October 12 and December 1 the NBA draft in the start of free agency will take place.

There are basically going to be sports year-round. I’m a fan of all three of the sports that are coming back. There will be ways that I can occupy my time sports-wise. Baseball can take a backseat.

Between the prices of games, the length of games, and the fact that baseball has stayed the same in an ever-changing sports world, none of these things work in their favor.

Cue the Pat Fitzgerald rant of how kids are buried in their phones nowadays and don’t care about sports. If I sound like that, so be it. Baseball hasn’t changed, and it’s killing the game.

Baseball will be buried in the proverbial sports calendar. That’s not a good thing for the sport or the fans that it has. Then again, I don’t feel bad for the league.

I’m all set with baseball for now. Baseball is my favorite sport as a kid, so it saddens me to say that.

Unlike Major League Baseball, my tastes have changed.

What of Sports in the Wake of George Floyd?

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I have a confession:  I am struggling to see a path forward from this as protests and clashes of violence enter—what day is it? And by this I mean the outrage over the death of George Floyd. And that of Ahmaud Arbery. And Breonna Taylor. Oh, and Tamir Rice. Wait, also Philando Castile.

 

You get it.

 

If you are not devastated, outraged, or feeling some combination of the two then you’ve got something else coursing through your veins and it’s equal parts Clorox and Hydroxychloroquine.

 

I am not here to draw a correlation between those who vote for a certain orange-tinged president and those whose stance on how athletes should behave is synopsized by “Shut up and dribble”.

 

Folks, that line draws itself.

 

I’m writing because I have to wonder, “What is the role of sports in this?”

 

I’m not even talking about games as a means of escapism. I’m saying this after watching countless Food Network and HGTV shows and feeling as if I’ve exhausted everything remotely interesting on Netflix. This wasn’t just to fill time during the COVID pandemic, but it was a holding pattern until sports would begin again.

 

And then Ahmaud Arbery happened. And Breonna Taylor. And lastly George Floyd.

 

I am proud that Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores stepped up to make his feelings known on the deaths of George, Taylor, and Arbery. That is great. Just about every league, team, and numerous players have issued some kind of statement. But what else is there but words? Words carry so far. There’s been action. But action has only taken things so far. What’s left?

 

 

Is this the contribution of sports? Athletes have used their fame to call attention to injustices.

 

There was the Jesse Owens fist raise. The Jackie Robinson breaking of the color barrier. The Bill Russell and Boston—well, Boston. Fast forward to today with the likes of LeBron James and Kenny Stills. They have been activists in their own way by parlaying their fame to draw attention to social causes. They are simultaneously modeling the way and clearing a path.

 

Athletes like LeBron have maneuvered themselves to not just be in a position to make contributions to their communities but to be role models for all kids. He’s been a model for carrying one’s self off the court and parlaying his talents to create something of significance. LeBron is an industry. But that still doesn’t make him immune.

 

Then there’s the retort, “Well they’re millionaires”. As if the money that they make is enough to shield them from the pain of seeing someone who looks like them, killed in a cruel and apathetic manner. Like us, they probably watched in shock as a man pleaded for his life while an officer pressed his entire body weight down through his knee and onto the man’s neck. The light in the man fades slightly with each passing second until it is finally snuffed out. The officer does this all while wearing an emotionless expression on his face. Somehow money might not have saved George Floyd at that moment. Or maybe it would have. Who knows?

 

Money isn’t everything though many believe that it is a means of influence. Perhaps it doesn’t. It brings me back to a spot on point by the great Chris Rock regarding rich and wealthy, back in 2004.

 

“Shaq is rich. The white man who signs his checks, is wealthy.”

 

So much for money.

 

What is the solution? I don’t know. But each advancement is followed by an even greater retreat.

 

 

The sad truth is that despite their notoriety and money, very little has advanced in terms of race relations. My feeling is that with every significant step forward there has been a couple steps back.

 

Colin Kaepernick used his fame and took a knee in protest over police brutality and racism. He gained attention and started a conversation and movement that inspired other players, like Kenny Stills, to do the same. One step forward. Outraged NFL fans lost their minds and threatened to boycott NFL games resulting in the league mandating that players stand during the national anthem or risk a fine. Two steps back. Kaepernick continues to donate his money and his time to various charities and causes, extending the life of his activism and thus impacting various groups and communities. One step forward. In the past few seasons there were teams with varying degrees of need for an experienced quarterback either because their incumbent is suspect or simply as an insurance policy. Despite holding workouts to prove that he still has skills, Kaepernick has still not caught onto a pro team. Two steps back.

 

It was 12 years ago—though it might feel like four lifetimes ago—that we had the first black president. One major step forward. It also gave rise to a number of right wing extremists and militias as a result of his election. Two steps back. It was eight years ago that Obama won re-election. One step forward. Then the current occupant of the White House was elected president and gave rise to even more extremist groups. Two steps back.

 

 

This painful choreography is going to continue and it’s going to take time. Despite such gains, they did nothing to quell the racism and hate.

 

The sad reality of the two examples above is that as more time goes by, Kaepernck’s window will slowly close simply because he’ll be older and his physical tools will diminish. Perhaps teams are just hoping for time to naturally close the door on him and are then bailed out of having to dodge questions about whether he is worthy of a look.  As time goes by there will be more rhetoric criticizing and falsifying details about Barack Obama and these will be taken as “truths” despite facts pointing to the contrary. The sad reality is that this will only breed a new generation of believers as well as reinforcing a devoted base that will consume these “alternative [gulp] facts”. There will be more who take these “truth tellers” seriously (because they align with their own biases), if not literally (rather than look closely to truths because they will debunk their biases).

 

Ultimately, to put this into sports parlance: This is a long rebuild. It’s a rebuild on top of what has already been a long rebuild. This is a long game that will feature tiny victories over many administrations, Democrat or Republican. It is long because it is having to undo many long held prejudices that are perpetuated by passing them on to their subsequent generations. I can’t even come up with an analogy creative enough to describe how entangled these hateful beliefs are within the lineage of many families. I can only assume that it is embedded in their DNA and impossible to extricate. Or is it? Insert shrug emoji here.

 

There is no overnight build that accelerates success.

 

These latest events have robbed me of the love and excitement of watching sports again. The Heat are on the cusp of something great. The Dolphins are relevant again with a player we can all be excited for. And yet I cannot take any satisfaction from any of it. As a father I have to feign enthusiasm as my son wants to discuss the potential of Bam and the promise of Tua. In the back of my mind, I wonder what of his future.

 

Perhaps when sports, in whatever new normal it manifests itself in, resumes it will not just be an escape but a platform. I’m talking about a platform that will allow athletes of all races, races, and sexual orientations to speak up more and more. It will be to continually speak up, tell the stories, and vocalize truths. It’s like Ricky Williams, wearing down a defense through the first three quarters until the fourth quarter the line is exhausted and yields. Then finally there’s a run that breaks for a long touchdown. There comes the breakthrough. The road to that breakthrough will be a long one.

 

Hoop History: Ralph Sampson, 1982, & The NBA Draft

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You’re probably wondering who that random dude in the crowd is. That’s normal. I’ll spare you the detective work—his name is Ralph Sampson. Who is Ralph Sampson? I’ll spare you the reading time:

Here’s a terrifying prospect—in 1982, Ralph Sampson, who was in attendance for Game 1 of that year’s NBA Finals between the Sixers and Lakers, had the option of declaring for the NBA Draft through what was known at the time as the Hardship Exception.

After winning the NBA title over Philly in six games, the Lakers—shockingly—had the #1 pick that summer. They took James Worthy. Imagine a league today where the recently-crowned champion has a Top 2 pick in the NBA Draft.

The closest we’ve come to that has been the 2002-03 Détroit Pistons, who had the #2 pick in the ’03 Draft—as we already know, they went on to win the 2004 NBA Finals. Darko Miličić does. Suppose the Lakers take Ralph Sampson #1 overall?

Dominique Wilkins’ career numbers.

Or even Dominique Wilkins, as I mentioned earlier? Could you imagine Magic running the floor with Byron Scott and Nique for the next decade, especially considering the latter’s scoring output didn’t dip under 17 PPG until he turned 38 years old?

As a reference, James Worthy’s career would last only 11 years, forcing him into retirement in 1994 after a series of knee injuries ended his career at only 32 years of age. Injuries don’t care who you are, and we’ve seen how they’ve changed NBA History.

As we would eventually find out, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had already turned 34 years old prior to the 1982 NBA Finals, would go on to play another seven full seasons in the NBA before retiring at the ripe old age of 42 at the end of the 1989 NBA Finals.

How much more could the Lakers have won with a dynamic duo of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Ralph Sampson up front? This means that Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon never form the Twin Towers in Houston. This means that there’s no Rockets upset of the Lakers in the 1986 Western Conference Semifinals.

Could this mean that a younger Sampson, not burdened with the fortunes of a franchise desperately in need of a new center with Moses Malone traded to Philadelphia, has a healthier career? Maybe. Do the Lakers, now equipped with Kareem and Sampson inside, still struggle with a dominant Malone inside the following season?

This is the fun part about these what-if scenarios. We might never truly know. Who knows, maybe the draft order, due to shifting talent in Houston and elsewhere, changes in the summer of 1984, meaning someone other than the Chicago Bulls is awarded the #3 pick. You know where this is going.

This means that Michael Jordan takes flight elsewhere—like Portland [they had the #2 pick here on Earth-1], Dallas [#4], or even—amazingly enough—in Philadelphia [5th] alongside his idol Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Mo Cheeks, and Bobby Jones (instead of Charles Barkley).

As a reference, the Sixers went 58-24 in 1984-85, and that was with Charles Barkley not starting for 22 games. Replace him with a young and superior Michael Jordan in that lineup, just two years removed from a dominant 1982-83 campaign. How do you count them out, even against a dominant Lakers team that season? With Sir Charles, they split the season series with L.A. (122-116, W on 12/07/1984; 104-109, L on 01/25/1985). Don’t they win with MJ instead?

And what does that mean for the rest of the decade? Imagine that if you must.

And it all starts with Ralph Sampson coming early out of college.

This is fun.

—

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Boca Raton, Ricky J. Marc, J.D., M.S. is an alumnus of the Obama White House and Cornell Paris Institute, a former Legislative Aide with both the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate, and a graduate of St. Thomas University with a Juris Doctor and Master of Science in Sports Administration.

Ricky currently resides in Paris, France, is the host of the The RJM Experience (available everywhere podcasts are found), and is the host of the upcoming STICK TO SPORTS: A Sports Podcast (That Isn’t) series.

Follow him on Twitter @RickyJMarc. His life matters.

THE EXTRA YARD: 2020 NFL QB RANKINGS

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It must be that part of the offseason when analysts come up with Top 40 lists where a hot take is built in to generally piss off an entire fan base, or better yet, very dumb lists that inexplicably go viral.

So I’ll come up with my own.

This is a top 40 list of NFL Quarterbacks, but I am doing it a bit differently. I’m classifying them in several (weighted) groups: The Elite, The Franchise Guys, The best of the rest, and Just Guys.

NOTE: If a guy projects for a longer career with his current team, he is classified as a “Franchise Guy”, and therefore, is going to have a natural edge over established 1-2 year band aids. (Ranks higher)

 

THE ELITE

1. Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs)

The Defending champ. Huge numbers, immense physical talent, he has it all. Now, he has a ring, and more could be coming.

2. Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Accurate, exciting, and a ring holder. Russ needs a concerted effort to build a juggernaut skill group (that’s happening) to challenge Pat Mahomes for NFL supremacy.

3. Drew Brees (Saints)
This old dog still has a few tricks up his sleeve. it was heard in 2019 that Brees is “finally showing signs of slowing down.” Those signs? nearly 3,000 yards in 11 games with 27 TD’s against 4 INT’s, with a 116.3 Qb rating. Yep. Slowing down.

4. Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
His third consecutive sub 10 QB rating and the lowest rating of the last 5 years, has Rodgers dropping from the top of “the elite” to merely just “elite”. Big year coming for the aging “G.O.A.T” candidate.

 

THE FRANCHISE GUYS

5. Deshaun Watson (Texans)

The lack of playoff success gave Watson a knock, but that’s over now as he won his first playoff game in 2019, in comeback fashion. He followed that up with a great effort int he divisional round versus #1 on this list. Arrow up, although his coach might slow some of that growth. Big pay day on the horizon.

6. Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
Polarizing to say the least. What is not polarizing is his accomplishments. A league MVP, and record setter already in just 2 years. Needs improvement throwing outside the hashes, as it’s now TWO teams that have successfully game planned for him in the playoffs.

7. Carson Wentz (Eagles)
Had a brief MVP run already, stopped by injury. Availability is a big thing for a franchise guy, so Wentz has plenty to prove in 2020. Nothing wrong with him when he actually does play. Eagles have not afforded him a ton of talent to build on, however. Another top QB with a lot to prove.

8. Kyler Murray (Cardinals)
Reigning rookie of the year. Cardinals stockpiling talent too. Great candidate for a HUGE leap forward in 2020.

9. Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers)
Super Bowl participant as a 3 year starter. He also has a 21-5 record as a starter. This guy wins. He is also a steady if not spectacular passer. Showed some promise as a prolific passer in 2019 as he hugged 4,000 yards. Won a couple of shootouts vs. Murray (#8) and Brees (#3).

10. Dak Prescott (Cowboys)
Did you know that Dak nearly threw for an efficient 5,000 yards in 2019? Probably not, seeing how some talk about him. He has to agree to a contract soon so he can build upon his big 2019 (did lose a big one vs. Wentz (#7)). Dak has some more firepower this coming year as well (CeeDee Lamb).

11. Jared Goff (Rams)
The big numbers for Goff came to a halt in 2019, as some roster mismanagement is starting to seep in for one of the NFC’s biggest winners in recent memory.

12. Matt Ryan (Falcons)
This might be the quietest hall of fame career we have ever seen at QB. Age is becoming a factor and you can see the finish line from here.

13. Josh Allen (Bills)
Josh has critics. The accuracy issues. The occasional brain dead moment. But we can allow for further growth as his team improves around him.

14. Matthew Stafford (Lions)
Was headed for a career year when last seen (injured). 2020 is an all important year for many QB’s, and I am not sure there is any more important than Stafford’s.

15. Baker Mayfield (Browns)
Former rookie of the year (2018), and total disaster in 2019. Big bounce back year upcoming as some issues along the Offensive line have been addressed.

16. Sam Darnold (Jets)
Darnold has it all, save for the occasional break down. Has consistent;ly improved throughout his first 2 years, and a big jump could be on it’s way.

17. Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins)
The best QB prospect this writer has seen since Andrew Luck (Kyler murray is close), and had it not been for his Hip injury, could have been the 1st overall pick in the 2020 Draft.

17A. Joe Burrow (Bengals)
The 1st overall pick, tied with Tua Tagovailoa, even though, this writer believes Tua to be the superior prospect.

18. Drew Lock (Broncos)
4-1 to finish 2019 and had his moments throwing it late in games. Broncos might have hit big on the polarizing 2018 prospect.

18A. Daniel Jones (Giants)
Some moments in 2019, and an improved offensive line in 2020 could lead to a strong upward trajectory.

THE BEST OF THE REST

19. Tom Brady (Buccaneers)

Evans, Gronk, Godwin, Howard. Brady moved on to greener pastures as the Patriots cupboard was bare. Big year for the 43 year old in 2020?

20. Kirk Cousins (Vikings)
Talk about polarizing. Kirk has been talked about as anything from “near elite” to complete festering trash. The facts are clear however, Kirk Cousins produces, big.

21. Ryan Tannehill (Titans)
Escaped Miami, had a career year (elite numbers) that led the Titans to the AFC title game. If he does it again, maybe Miami had the right guy all along and were just unlucky as they screwed him up.

22. Cam Newton (Free Agent)
Does not have a team, and was fading badly when he went away with injury. Cam swears he is healthy for 2020, and is the first to watch if any top starter goes down this season.

23. Philip Rivers (Colts)
25 million for 1 year to play behind one of the best OL’s in football, and a decent set of skill players. Rivers has no excuses to not be effective in 2020. Top performer, on the way out.

24. Gardner Minshew (Jaguars)
Minshew-mania was real? We will find out as he has every opportunity to earn this job and possibly move up a category into “the franchise guys.”

25. Derek Carr (Raiders)
His numbers have always been strong, but the results weak. There always seems to be something missing with Carr, and all the Brady noise, and the eventual Mariota signing confirms that Gruden is starting to think the same thing.

26. Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Age, weakness in surrounding talent, and a return from a serious injury (elbow) casts doubt on Big Ben’s 2020.

 

JUST GUYS

27. Nick Foles (Bears)
In town to rescue a team stacked with talent that feels as if their QB has held them back. The former Super Bowl champ has yet to prove he can stick on a team outside of Philly.

28. Ryan Fitzpatrick (Dolphins)
Fitz-Magic rides again, this time as a mentor to 5th overall pick Tua Tagovailoa. If this is a legitimate competition, Fitzy could transition to a top backup in short order.

29. Andy Dalton (Cowboys)
Speaking of top back ups…This could be Andy Dalton’s future. Not a bad gig.

30. Mitch Trubisky (Bears)
“Bust” has been said. Trubisky has had moments for a young QB, but the arrow is pointing down, and that’s always a bad sign for a 3rd year guy.

31. Matt Moore (Chiefs)
Matt Moore and Ryan Fitzpatrick are the same guy. Both capable of magic, and disaster. You could do a lot worse than Matt Moore for a 2 game stretch where your MVP goes down.

32. Jarrett Stidham (Patriots)
Who knows? truth be told, this ranking is so high just because it seems as if Belichick is vouching for him. Was an unspectacular prospect in college that consistently faded since his first start at Auburn.

33. Jacoby Brissett (Colts)
The Colts finally see Brissett for what he is. Just a guy. Could have a very long career as a top backup.

34. Marcus Mariota (Raiders)
Does Mariota have a second act in his career? Got unseated by Tannehill, now seeks to unseat Carr.

35. Dwayne Haskins (Redskins)
Top draft pick, so why isn’t he a “franchise guy”? Well, becasue he was pretty damn bad and it’s hard to see the improvement as the talent around him has improved only slightly.

36. Jameis Winston (Saints)
Massive counting numbers, massive INT totals. He is with the right guy in Sean Payton, and has a real shot to be the heir apparent as Brees is in the twilight of his career.

37. Case Keenum (Browns)
Career “maybe” guy. Maybe he can put together another stretch like he did in Minnesota. Maybe, they gave up on him too quick in Denver. Maybe he’s just a journeyman backup at this point.

38. Brian Hoyer (Patriots)
Smart, top performer in relief, his whole career. Belongs in that Fitzy, Matt Moore category. You want this guy around if your top QB goes down. All three are very good QB room influences.

39. Kyle Allen (Redskins)
For a while there it looked as if the Panthers might have found their QB of the future. Then reality set in. He is young enough to have another shot at a starters job.

40. Josh Rosen (Dolphins)
Is it over? Could be. Drafted to be the future. Dumped in favor of a top prospect in Kyler Murray (#8). Traded to Miami with a shot to restart his career, and Miami has moved on in short order after taking Tua Tagovailoa (#17) in the 2020 NFL Draft

Missed the cut: Joe Flacco (Jets), Tyrod Taylor (Chargers), Mason Rudolph (Steelers), Brandon Allen (Broncos)

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

Jaillet’s Journal: In Boston, LeBron’s 2012 masterclass will always resonate

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Let me set the scene for you here a little bit from my perspective. Game Six, 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. The Boston Celtics had defeated the Miami Heat in three straight games. Things did not look good for Boston early on, as LeBron and Miami had won the first two games of the series.

Heading into the sixth game, I felt pretty confident about the Celtics chances that night. I knew LeBron James was going to be a problem. He always seemed to show out against the Celtics in the playoffs. My Dad was also feeling pretty confident that night as well. He was a huge Celtics fan, and had grown up in the days of the Larry Bird era.

He would always tell me “Pierce, Allen, and Garnett are good, but not like the original Big Three. “ I always took that comment as an old man “Get off my lawn!” type of statement. Looking back now, he was right.

I had enjoyed this particular Celtics group. I knew that the days of the KG, Pierce and Allen era were numbered. Nevertheless hope seemed very much alive. This was their chance to close out the series instead of having to go back to Miami.

Lebron begins his “lesson”

Ray Allen begin the game with a layup, and from there it was a see-saw battle. Lebron’s first basket came at the 9:01 mark in the first quarter. He soared in for a dunk to extend the Miami lead to 8-4 at the time.  That one basket was part of a 14-point quarter for James. Right away, it was clear that Boston needed to stop Lebron right away. They never were able to.

The second quarter was more of the same. Lebron had his entire bag of tricks empty for this one. He drove in the lane, he shot the three-pointer, he got to the line. By halftime, Lebron had 30. Miami lead at this point by a 55-42 margin. The Celtics had some catching up to do.

Dwayne Wade free throws at the end of the second quarter were the last points for both teams as they hit the showers.

The third and fourth quarters were more of the same. Lebron got every single shot that he wanted. James shot the three, he stopped on a dime and shot fadeaways. He single-handedly controlled the pace of the game and kept the Celtics off-balance. He was a man on a mission that night, and played in a way I haven’t really seen before or since. It was like he was part of the old NBA Jam games of the early 2000s. Once he caught fire, he was impossible to stop.

This was Lebron’s finest hour

Lebron has had many great games over the years. This game out of all of them stands out to me. James undoubtedly wanted to win this one, and help Miami get another shot at the title. At the time, the TD Garden had not been kind to the King, especially during the Cleveland days.

The efficiency at which he scored, combined with his attributes and ability to control  both teams were unlike anything I had seen in quite a while. He kept the Celtics guessing, and on their toes. He put Miami on his back and said “I’ve got you guys.”

It was mesmerizing to watch, and thankfully, it worked in Miami’s favor.

Each player has a signature game that fans remember. For me, it was this one.

Dad, who was usually very vocal during the course of Celtics games was quiet for most of the night. It was almost weird to see. He knew as well as I knew that there was no stopping Lebron on this night. He knew as well as I knew that going back to Miami for a seventh game would not be easy.

Indeed, James could not be stopped. He would finish the game going 19-of-26 from the field and two-of-four from beyond the arc. With 45 points in total, he carried Miami on this night.

As a Celtics fan, I was sad to see Boston lose this one. As a basketball fan, I had to appreciate greatness.

Even my dad, a huge Celtics fan, appreciated what Lebron brought to the table that night. It was Lebron at his finest, and perhaps the best performance of his career. That’s certainly saying something.

Miami Dolphins

THE EXTRA YARD: 5 Ways to Fix “The Rooney Rule”

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Sometimes, you need to look at something twice.

Or more.

I must admit that when I initially read the tweet below, that broke news that the NFL would be voting on a resolution that would improve a team’s draft position if they hired a person of color to be Head Coach or General Manager, I thought five things, almost in order: A) This is kinda clever and funny as a protest of the Rooney Rule. B) This is racially insensitive as a protest of the Rooney rule. C) This is tone deaf if real. D) It’s borderline racist. E) Wait…THIS IS REAL?

This ridiculous, condescending, tone deaf resolution has since been “tabled”, presumably to be improved upon in the future. In it’s place, the following was approved:

On the face of it, it’s fine as an add-on, although I am sure we can all agree it won’t make much of a difference, but at the very least it will draw some attention to minority hiring practices in the NFL. So, how do we attempt to “fix” this problem? Well, first of all, you must agree that there is a problem. There are 2 Black GM’s and 4 Head Coach’s of color in the NFL, making for a 17 year low. People of color are underrepresented. That’s a problem. So what’s the issue? Racism? Can’t fix that. You can’t legislate tolerance. Especially when racial bias will be denied. In the end, the problem is not rampant racism among the owner’s ranks in the NFL. It’s the good ole boy network, or the simple fact that people tend to hire people that they more readily identify with.

What people of color need is an opportunity that for whatever reason, is harder to come by. So how do we increase opportunity? I have five ideas that can create an environment for minority candidates, where they will have a better chance at landing top NFL Jobs as Head Coach’s and General Managers.

 

1. Expand the Rooney Rule for Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Jobs.

Pretty straight forward. If you have a vacancy at OC/DC, you must comply with the Rooney rule and grant an interview to a minority candidate. This way, you are exposing minority candidates to the Jobs that are most likely to be in line for the top gigs.

The Web site fivethirtyeight wrote about this and had an instructive graph:

a
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/a-5-part-plan-to-fix-the-nfls-coaching-diversity-problem/

 

2. Only College Head Coaches, NFL Coordinators, and former NFL Coaches are eligible to interview for a Head Coach’ job.

Wait, this seems counter productive to the goal? No. As you create opportunities for minorities to become coordinators, they will populate the hiring pool and thereby fill coaching vacancies at a higher rate. It’s Math.

 

3. If you are fired as a Off./Def. Coordinator in the NFL, you are removed from the HC candidate and coordinator pool for one league year.

“This works as a scarlet letter and will hurt, more than help.” Disagree. This will break up the retread market that stifles the upward mobility of younger candidates. You are not preventing them from getting other jobs either, it’s just the titles that are not available to them for one league year. they can be hired as play callers, consultants, but cannot hold the title that includes them into the Head Coach pool.

 

 


4. Expand Internships for High School/College athletes.

Will the NCAA allow this? They better. They have no leverage to deny unpaid internships during the college offseason/ High School summer. The simple rule to use to avoid the inevitable hanky panky that will go on, is that these “interns” must not do their internship during a draft eligible year. Simple and easy as that. By exposing young minority athletes to the coaching ranks at an earlier age, it may plant the seeds to continue on this path if/when their football life doesn’t blossom into playing careers.

 

5. Expand post-retirement player coaching assistant participation by incentivizing/enhancing their pensions.

This is the foot in the door. These are not highly paid jobs, and in fact, will likely pay rather poorly, but this is the easiest of starts for a coaching career, available to all football retirees. These players can also be incentivized to participate by enhancing their pensions (when eligible). Sound weird? State governments and the federal government already do that for those that work past their retirement eligibility. This will seed the lowest rung of coaching staffs, and thereby create a feeder system for minority candidates.

These are simple fixes that don’t engage in mandates, but do increase opportunity for minority candidates by merely offering opportunity where none existed before. Football, like no other sport, enjoys using phrases such as “football family”, and “football life”. With these proposals, you are not merely creating a big tent, but encouraging your “football family” and football lifers” to fill it.

 

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

Tua TagovailoaUniversity of Alabama Athletics

Fresh Perspective: Why Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa needs to redshirt 2020

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Now that the Miami Dolphins have drafted Tua Tagovailoa, the former Alabama superstar has the entire Dolphins fanbase reeling with either anticipation, or impatience. Given the circumstances, that’s an entirely understandable feeling. Miami hasn’t had hope for a true franchise quarterback since Ryan Tannehill was initially drafted back in 2012. The seven years he spent with the Dolphins made it clear that he’s good, but he will never be that elite level player fans want.

So now here comes Tua Tagovailoa. Perhaps the most talented quarterback to come out of college in recent memory. Many evaluators equate his skill set to Drew Brees. How could fans not want to see a left-handed Drew Brees come in as soon as possible? However, there are a few problems with that. While the temptation to play Tagovailoa right away is incredibly strong, is it really in the best interest of the franchise?

One can easily make the argument that patience is still a virtue. Here’s why.

Health Concerns

One thing that cannot be dismissed or ignored is that Tagovailoa’s health is a huge question mark. His college career at Alabama is riddled with injuries that slowed him down, including the hip injury that officially ended his final season there. It’s because of that injury the Dolphins were able to draft Tagovailoa fifth overall in the 2020 NFL draft. It’s also because of that injury that caution is strongly advised. At the very least, head coach Brian Flores doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to throw him to the wolves.

“Look, we haven’t even seen him. Obviously with the pandemic and all that’s going on, our doctors haven’t seen him.” Flores said back in late April. “We have a long way to go before we can say who’s doing what … We have to just get him and have a meeting first. I think it’s way too early to speculate on this year and how this is going to go. You guys know we like to take a one day at a time approach anyway. That’s going to be the approach I’m going to have him take as well.”

Videos emerged before the draft of Tagovailoa going through the motions for a virtual Pro Day. He threw well, showed off strong footwork and revealed that his hip was progressing nicely. Doctors have come out and said that Tagovailoa’s hip is ahead of recovery schedule. All of these things are excellent signs. However, ahead of schedule does not mean fully healed, and we’ve seen what happens when Tagovailoa gets rushed out onto the field before he’s ready.

Uncertain Offensive Line

Take a look at the offensive line the Dolphins project to field in 2020.

  • LT – Austin Jackson
  • LG – Ereck Flowers
  • C – Ted Karras
  • RG – Solomon Kindley
  • RT – Robert Hunt

This is merely an assumption based on what Miami seems intent on doing. Unless they sign veteran guard Larry Warford to play right guard, it’s obvious development is the goal for the upcoming season, one way or another. Kindley is a monster of a guard, Hunt loves pancaking defenders, and Jackson has all the tools necessary to be an elite left tackle. There are other young players who will get a chance as well.

But they’re raw. Every single one of them has some part of their game that needs serious fixing before they can truly be deemed ready to start in the NFL. Jackson’s hands and footwork needs to be fine-tuned. Hunt needs to move faster if he plans to play right tackle. Is it really wise to throw Tagovailoa out there when the offensive line is going to be using this season as a trial run? The obvious answer is no.

Again, temptation is very strong. It’s understandable that fans want to see Tagovailoa play as soon as possible. He represents the end of a long two decades of mediocrity. But without an offensive line worth touting, Miami runs the risk of ruining Tagovailoa the same way Tannehill was. No run game and no pass protection is a recipe for disaster for Tagovailoa’s career. Thankfully, there is a simple solution.

Let Ryan Fitzpatrick take those hits.

If Tagovailoa was going to start right away, why bother keeping Fitzpatrick around? Why bother investing in Josh Rosen and not seeking some sort of trade option to try and recoup the second round draft pick they gave up for him? The smart thing to do is to let Fitzpatrick be the crash test dummy so to speak. While the offensive linemen learn and grow through trial by fire, Tagovailoa can sit and watch Fitzpatrick, getting his reps through practice where the risk of re-injury is minimal. If something happens to Fitzpatrick, then Rosen can play instead, maybe even increasing his trade value.

Pattern of History

Everyone knows Aaron Rodgers. He will go down in history as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. But he didn’t play right away. He sat behind another Hall of Fame QB in Brett Favre for a while before he got to take over in Green Bay. Now, the Packers are following the same formula with extremely raw but talented Utah State QB Jordan Love.

Everyone knows Patrick Mahomes. He’s the best QB in the NFL. Some are already even crowning him the greatest of all time. But in his rookie season, he sat behind veteran Alex Smith. Granted, Smith was in the running for an MVP award that year. But as special as Mahomes obviously is, why did he not immediately take over?

Everyone knows Dan Marino. There’s no QB in Dolphins history who has accomplished more. There are many who consider him the greatest passer to ever play football. But even in his rookie season, Marino sat behind David Woodley for some time while he acclimated to the NFL. What came after that was more than a decade and a half of incredible play that leaves Dolphins fans constantly searching for that one player who can truly carry the baton for Marino.

The list of QBs who found success waiting their turn goes on and on. Think of Carson Palmer sitting behind Jon Kitna for some time in Cincinnati. Eli Manning waited for his chance when Kurt Warner was a New York Giant. Philip Rivers didn’t make a name for himself in San Diego until after the departure of Drew Brees. Jimmy Garoppolo got traded to the 49ers while learning from Tom Brady in New England.

To be fair, there’s an argument in the opposite direction that can be made just as easily. Cam Newton started right away, as did Andrew Luck. Ben Roethlisberger only sat for one week before taking over for an injured Tommy Maddox. Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson, Carson Wentz, Deshaun Watson, the list goes on and on.

But there are extenuating circumstances when it comes to the case of Tua Tagovailoa.

Conclusion: Future over Present

The points made in this column are fairly easy to understand. So much is at stake with Tua Tagovailoa. As stated earlier, he represents the end of a long stretch of mediocrity. Miami has not been relevant since the days of Dan Marino, in spite of several tries to find his true successor. No one shows more promise in that regard than Tua Tagovailoa. But for this unique case, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Tagovailoa may not be fully healthy. His offensive line may not be reliable. His acclimation to the NFL may be hindered by factors beyond his control.

As tempting as it is to make him start now, that only satisfies the base urge to see the Dolphins be successful as soon as possible. It’s understandable, it’s relatable, but it’s not recommended at this time.

2021 is the year to truly get excited. Miami has two more first round picks that season. They have two more second round picks as well. Another strong free agency will only bolster the roster Tagovailoa comes in to play with. Add to that the draft picks the Dolphins select, and all systems are go from that moment on.

The future is indeed bright, the light is shining at the end of the tunnel. But they aren’t out just yet. One more season, Miami fans. The offensive line needs time to learn and gel, Tua Tagovailoa needs time to learn and heal. And the Dolphins have not one, but two quarterbacks who can easily step in while that process takes place. They have time to give. The wise thing to do is not risk the future for the sake of the present.

The NFL is a marathon, not a sprint.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung