Closing Stretch

Josh Segal

The Tush Push Causes More Controversy

Here we go… I didn’t think it would come this early but the entire NFL, media and fans have started to come together again and start back up the “banning the tush push” campaign. This all restored again in the Chiefs Eagles game on Sunday where there were multiple tush pushes that should have been called false starts:

NFL analysts across the football landscape are saying that it’s one of the hardest plays to officiate. People are acting like this is the first year that officials have officiated the play, meanwhile the Eagles have been running the tush push for about four seasons now. I am sorry that the officials aren’t doing their job and didn’t call the false starts, because then people wouldn’t be up and arms about it. 

The other argument that has continued to be stated is the fact that the play isn’t good for television entertainment purposes, thus people don’t want to watch the Eagles anymore. I don’t buy that for a second, and it’s just another excuse for people to try and get the play abolished. 

I have a feeling that this might be the icing on the cake for the tush push, and it will likely get banned in the offseason. There’s still no evidence for increased injury risk when running the tush push. Not everyone can run the tush push like the Eagles, every week teams continue to fail at it.

All in all, people can keep complaining about the tush push online, but it’s not going to get you far. Go Birds!

Buy, Sell, and Hold: NFL Teams

Buy: Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers look like the best team in the NFL right now so their stock price is pretty high, but I don’t care. Coming into the year, Jordan Love was a popular sleeper MVP pick. After two weeks, Love is 4th in passer rating and 8th in QBR. He looks very confident right now with his talented cast of playmakers of running back Josh Jacobs and emerging star tight end Tucker Kraft. 

The addition of Micah Parsons is already paying dividends on the field, as the defense as a whole has produced 8 sacks through its first two games, good for the 2nd most in the NFL. Over the next seven weeks, they have a very favorable schedule with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and a Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals. 

I believe Matt LaFleur is one of the most underrated head coaches and offensive minds in the NFL. I am buying stock in this exciting Green Bay Packers team.

Sell : Tampa Bay Buccaneers

As much as I love Baker Mayfield and he is an absolute DAWG after his performance on Monday Night, I am selling high on the Buccaneers stock. They just lost one of their best defensive players in defensive tackle Calijah Kancey to a torn pec, who is the motor that makes the engine run on the defensive line, especially against the run. The offense has looked disjointed at times but I believe that’s because of the new play caller with Liam Coen heading over Jacksonville. 

This team since Baker has entered the building has relied on his late game magic to win football games. At some point, it’s going to come back and bite them. With a lot of chatter in the media about the Bucs being legit, I am selling high on their stock.

Hold: Jacksonville Jaguars

I have liked what I have seen from the Jags offense with new head coach and play caller Liam Coen. The Jags have a legit one-two punch in the backfield with Travis Etienne, one of my favorite players in the league, and rookie Bhayshul Tuten. They had put up at least 25 points in their first two games and that’s without figuring out how to fully utilize Brian Thomas Jr in the offense.

I am holding their stock because they have played two of the worst defenses in the NFL in the Carolina Panthers and the Cincinnati Bengals. They have a tough five game stretch with the Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, and LA Rams. All of them have some pretty stout defenses. I believe this stretch is where we will learn who the Jags really are.

I usually don’t place a bet this early for these team events like the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup. I would rather wait to see the practice round pairings and get a sense who might play with who. However, while scrolling through the sportsbook during my lunch break the other day, I placed a wager that I couldn’t pass up…

Russell Henley to score more points than Matt Fitzpatrick -122 (FanDuel)

I’m fairly confident that Keegan Bradley will pair Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley together in foursomes. They both were paired together at the Presidents Cup in foursomes and had great success. Even if Henley doesn’t get paired with Scheffler in foursomes, he is one of the best players on the team and should play in four matches.

On the other hand, Matt Fitzpatrick has been abysmal in Ryder Cups. His all time record in three appearances is a whomping 1-7.

Draftkings has Russell Henley as a heavier favorite at -160 over Fitzpatrick. I love Henley to be one of the stars of this Ryder Cup.