The business side of the National Football League sucks. I know revenue and growth are important so there are always going to be price increases and contentious stadium talks and labor/management issues. I hate those parts and they tend to make me angry when I think about them too much. The release of declining players makes me sad, though. The release this week of two such players, Ladainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook, reminds me of what us Saints fans went through last year when the Saints had to part ways with Deuce McAllister. They're all fan favorites. ALL fantasy football players know these guys. They've been fantasy stars for years. I had Tomlinson as a rookie on one of my teams. I think both players will have difficulty finding a team this season and I don't think either has much left to give. The NFL took most of it.
One sports pundit wondered if the release of Tomlinson signaled the end of the era of the workhorse running back. I think that transition has been well underway for a while. I think only Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson qualify as workhorses that can last a whole season now but even they have quality backups that give them a spell. At their current pace, Johnson will be the last of the breed. Johnson uses his speed and cutting ability to weave through the defense. Peterson is a contact junkie like Earl Campbell was. It's a blast to watch but it's not conducive to longevity.
Kinda strange that running backs are now considered less durable than in the past even though tough, hard tackling hardly exists in the league these days.
- You're A Heathen Of Love - Marian Bradfield - Celtic Woman
- Who's Behind The Door? - Zebra - Zebra
- Hard Cases - A Shot At Glory Soundtrack/Mark Knopfler - A Shot At Glory: A Mark Knopfler Soundtrack
- Two Hearts - Phil Collins - Hits
- The River Is Wide - The Grass Roots - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Grass Roots
About today's QOTD: I ate a $19 cheeseburger once but someone else picked up the check. I think the most I've ever paid was $14 but that came with fries and a drink. I love cheeseburgers but $250 is way out of my range. I think a good gourmet burger should cost $8-$12 tops.
Quote of the Day
You don't think of paying $250 a person when it comes to trying different forms of cheeseburgers. That's a pretty damn expensive cheeseburger.
Adam Rosenfeld, Financial adviser
Blog of the day is here.
Quote from said blog: "It is rumoured that my son can, or rather has, travelled in time."
In the context of a charity event, maybe that cheeseburger and the party would be plausible. Though I'm pretty sure that some university's school of hospitality isn't going to make my list of needy causes.
Mine, either, Dave. Unfortunately, right now, there is no benefit to being on my list of needy causes.
Yeah, ditto.