By Ron Johnson
With only a few weeks remaining until the start of the NFL season, the final week of preseason is upon us. If the preseason has taught us anything, there are those who are pumped for the new season, and there are those who are slightly more concerned than others. But there are also those who are just excited for the return of the NFL and a new chapter in their team’s quest for relevance and a championship.
So where do we begin? How about from West to East this time?
49ers’ Bosa Still No-Show and Still Awaiting Contract Extension
I think we have found out why Niners fans were fighting each other a few nights ago during their preseason matchup with the Broncos: It is because All-Pro edge rusher Nick Bosa is MIA from training camp. Bosa is patiently waiting for a very lucrative contract extension from the Niners which would make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. His absence does leave the Niners with a conundrum of whether to fine him or not.
GM John Lynch has been oddly quiet about the ongoing talks with the team’s defensive anchor, but what is known is that Bosa not being in the lineup could have a massive impact on the team’s quest to exorcise its NFC Championship demons after losing the last two to the Rams and Eagles respectively.
And here I thought that my marriage was complicated. This relationship between the Niners and Bosa seems to make my relationship seem less complicated than becoming Facebook Official. The talks have not shown any progression, and the chances of Bosa not being in the starting lineup in Week One against the Steelers. The contract talks are just that, and with no true end in sight, this would explain why Niners fans were spending their weekend beating the tar out of each other.
Ravens Suffer the Brock Lesnar WrestleMania Treatment
A few years ago, former UFC and WWE Champion Brock Lesnar shocked the world in New Orleans when he broke the Undertaker’s Infamous Undefeated WrestleMania Streak. Almost 24 hours ago, the role of Lesnar was now played by the most unlikely of teams. The Washington Commanders, led by Jake Fromm of all quarterbacks, handed the Baltimore Ravens their first defeat of the preseason in 25 games. To sum it up, the Commanders ARE the one in 24-1.
Now while this is preseason, the streak itself is hardly anything to balk at. Fans didn’t think so, and neither did the NFL. But as we watched the final stretch of last night’s preseason matchup, we saw a very different Commanders team. Looking at it from afar, one can see the formula of new OC Eric Bienemy come out the screen. But as I said before, Fromm was not the only unlikely hero of last night.
A kicker who was cast off to the Shadow Realm (look up Chiseled Adonis on YouTube for reference), Joey Slye had his Big Hero 6 moment. After the Commanders failed to score on a two-point conversion, their defense gave them a chance to pull off the upset.
After a fourth down penalty of pass interference by Baltimore renewed the drive for the Commanders, Fromm went to work moving the team downfield while keeping the clock running. With 18 seconds left in the game, it came down to the foot of Joey Slye, who has been in this position in the past (why you think he got clowned by Adonis a few seasons ago).
Following a timeout from Washington HC Ron Rivera, Slye got to get his focus, didn’t look up until the kick was away and proceeded to point to the heavens as the Commanders celebrated as if they won the Super Bowl.
However, they left 10 seconds on the clock. If it was Lamar Jackson, I would be worried.
But this was Anthony Brown. Brown had time to make a play and launched the ball deep to the right side. While it looked promising, it was rookie safety Kendall Smith who was able to snag the interception and seal the win for not just the Commanders Fans but also their new owners who were on the sideline for the final stretch of the game. It was a good moment for the Commanders, considering all the turbulent drama left by the dark cloud known as Dan Snyder.
Tragedy Strikes North Carolina and Tennessee
While we are all enjoy a morning of good news, not all of us received any good news. One such person is Titans cornerback Caleb Farley.
News broke via the Associated Press and NFL this morning about the death of Farley’s father in an explosion that destroyed the player’s home in Lake Norman, North Carolina. In the debris of the explosion, 61-year-old Robert M Farley’s body was discovered. According to reports, first responders arrived at the residence around midnight to find one victim exiting the collapsed home. While it was confirmed that the younger Farley was not at the residence, the cause of the explosion has yet to be released.
Farley was highly sought athlete prior to his 2020 college season. The Virginia Tech product was the first high-profile player to opt out of that season due to the COVID pandemic not only because of his mother’s death in 2018 but also not feeling the desire to put other loved ones at risk. Despite sitting out the 2020 season, Farley was drafted 22nd overall in the 2021 draft, but a back issue in November of last year limited his playing time last year. He is currently listed on the Titans’ PUP List as training camp wraps up.
We here at Bleacher Brothers as well as our affiliates would like to offer our thoughts, prayers and condolences to Caleb Farley and the Farley Family in this tragic time of need. If more information becomes available, we will make sure to share it as soon as we are able to.
What is wrong with Cardinals Fans???
While the question may seem loaded and may pertain to multiple Cardinal teams, this one is calling out one team in particular: Arizona. And if they are mad about being called out, they can only blame themselves and thank Brittany Mahomes for bringing this to everyone’s attention.
Mrs. Mahomes’ last trip to the desert was in February to watch her husband and the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in epic fashion. Six months after her last visit, to say she was disappointed is putting it mildly. Now I can understand that this is preseason, and we should not take stock in the words of Brittany Mahomes.
But this literally looks like a USFL game, not a NFL preseason game:
Now while Patrick Mahomes was not slated to be seeing any playing time (he like most of the starters on every team are not dressing for the last set of preseason games), Brittany did find the time to go cheer on her husband’s team regardless of whether it is preseason or not. For some, this is an important thing. There are players still trying to earn roster spots with the final preseason week looming, so this is just as important for them as the regular season is for everyone else.
So can someone explain to me why the fanbase of the Arizona Cardinals can’t even show up to a preseason game at least????
