Preseason football headlines the week of sports, and it couldn’t come at a better time. We are all desperate to just have a crumble of football back in our lives that we watch and see guys that will be cut in a few short weeks play on the field. A review of a few preseason moments highlights The Thing We Learned in Sports.
7) Rookies make their season debuts
Top two pick in the 2015 NFL draft Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota were in action over the week. As expected both players struggled in the opening of their NFL careers. Maroita had two turnovers, one which was returned for a touchdown, and Winston threw an interception. However both players were able to rebound and lead their teams on touchdown drives. It’s the preseason so not too much can be read into both players’ performances; however, their coaches must love their ability to bounce back from rough starts. Watch the top QB’s in the videos below
6) Trent Richardson can’t seem to find the hole
You remember Trent Richardson right; he’s the guy that people draft in fantasy football only to have him do nothing all season. Well if this clip isn’t enough to prove that he isn’t a player that should be high on any draft boards. Now with the Oakland Raiders, Richardson doesn’t seem to have the ideas to be an elite NFL running back. It just looks really bad for Richardson on this play.
https://youtu.be/zbWnO2cItBk
5) LeBron is giving back
We tend to always mock athletes who just seem to have all this money, but don’t seem willing to do anything meaningful with it. LeBron James is attempting to buck that trend. James, the four-time NBA MVP and two-time NBA champion, is ready to give thousands of children a college education. According to Forbes, The LeBron James Family Foundation and the University of Akron will fund full scholarships for students who complete the foundation’s academic program, which James has been sponsoring for five years. James’ foundation will cover tuition starting in 2021 when this year’s crop of seventh graders graduate high school.
4) Philip Rivers and Chargers get contract done.
The Chargers and quarterback Philip Rivers inked a new deal late Saturday night. The 5-time pro bowler will likely end his career in San Diego, or Los Angeles if the team moves. The deal is for 4 years, $84 million with $65 million in guaranteed money, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Philip Rivers makes everyone around him better. That’s not hyperbole. It’s a fact.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) August 16, 2015
Reports were that if a deal was not completed that the Chargers were going to place the franchise tag on Rivers, according to NFL network’s Ian Rapoport (via NFL Media PR).
The Philadelphia Eagles played the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Eagles won the game 36-10, but the real story was able about Tim Tebow. Tebow scored a rushing touchdown when he keep the ball on a read-option play, and ran in from the 7-yard line. Tebow has been out of the NFL for 2 seasons and is desperately trying to make the Eagles’ squad. A play like this might be able to keep him on the roster for a few more weeks.
https://youtu.be/BKgKoZqj_PY
2) Met’s Center Fielder has a cannon
For one night, baseball was cool. New York Mets’ CF Yoenis Cespedes made it happen on Saturday night. Cespedes was acquired from the Tigers at the trading deadline, and has changed life for his new team. On Saturday night, the National League found out that you don’t test this man. Watch as Cespedes guns down the base runner.
1) Mama said knock you out.
It seems like no matter what they do their will be a way for the Jets to screw something up. Starting QB Geno Smith had his jaw broken earlier this week by former teammate LB Ik Enemkpali, now on the Buffalo Bills. Smith will miss 6-10 weeks with the injury and may not reclaim his starting job once he is fully healed. According to Bleacher Report’s Tyler Conway, Smith returned to throwing over the weekend—just not yet with his teammates. Smith was seen tossing a football in the parking lot of his apartment complex in New Jersey, two days after undergoing surgery for a broken jaw. It is sad to believe that this situation all started from a 600 dollars.
