NEWSLETTER
From where I stand, this is Justin Fields’ world and we’re just living in it.
As for what is happening around the rest of the NFL…
Jim Irsay and the Colts’ Bizarre Press Conference
While Monday Night Football was cooking, the Indianapolis Colts were putting a nightcap on one of the most bizarre days I can remember while following the NFL.
It began with the firing of Head Coach Frank Reich, which didn’t feel out of place. The Colts are 3-5-1, are in the midst of another year with major quarterback problems, their skill positions are whack, and the franchise appears to be reeling since Reich lost former OC Nick Sirianni (Eagles) and DC Matt Eberflus (Bears) to head coaching jobs elsewhere. But things started going off the wall when Indy announced Jeff Saturday would be their interim head coach. Saturday is a retired standout center who spent most of his career with the Colts, but has been at ESPN as an analyst for a while and wasn’t on anyone’s head coaching radar. Imagine grinding away as an assistant only to be bypassed by an overzealous owner hiring someone straight from a broadcasting studio.
But, hey, Jim Irsay is a wild card who plays by his own rules.
However, what could’ve been a coronation of a fan favorite coming home to right the ship was anything but. Instead, it was a trip to a bizarro world starring Irsay and a combative GM Chris Ballard:
I thought it was weird when the Bears held a town hall meeting to announce their plans to move out to Arlington Heights during Week 1’s Thursday night lid-lifter. But throwing an introductory presser during Monday Night Football in Week 9 *AND* behaving in such an outlandish manner takes the cake.
It isn’t often when Bears higher-ups look normal, but Irsay’s antics were on another level last night.
A Commanders Sale Could Come With $7 Billion Price Tag
Speaking of owners with out-sized egos, Daniel Snyder’s exploration of a sale of the Washington Commanders could net him a large wad of bills.
Sunday’s flurry of news from reporters emptying their notebooks saw NFL on FOX insider Jay Glazer and NFL Media top reporter Ian Rapoport sharing what they heard on the Washington sale front.
First from Glazer, who reports Snyder is planning on selling the team — and not just a percentage or minority stake to drum up some funds. He even notes a price tag and a timeline:
More from Rapoport, who also hears the same $7 billion price tag Glazer shares while also sharing that this is something that could be done by the March league meetings. Giddy up:
Even with this reporting, part of me feels as if I won’t actually believe it will happen until it does. Then again, I felt that way when Washington went through a name change — which ultimately came to fruition. Snyder once famously said he’d never change the name of Washington’s football team. And he’s also previously said he’d never sell the team. We’re 1-for-1 on the name-change front. Are we about to see Snyder go 2-for-2?
