This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Good morning, Winners! Thanks for reading the Morning Win today. We appreciate you. Hope you’re having a fantastic week so far.
I’m assuming that you’ve probably seen the Draymond Green chokehold by now. If you haven’t, here’s the gist: The Timberwolves and Warriors got in a scuffle on Tuesday night that ended with Green putting Rudy Gobert in a chokehold.
When I say chokehold, I don’t mean one of those halfhearted ones where someone just got yoked up for a few seconds. This was a headlock and it lasted for a while.
The Warriors and Timberwolves got chippy just two minutes into their in-season tournament game 😳
Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels were all ejected. pic.twitter.com/m7UvULewa2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 15, 2023
Naturally, Green was ejected for the remainder of the game. You can’t just put someone in a chokehold. This isn’t an MMA match, big dog. Hit the showers.
The only thing I could ask after this was what in the world has gotten into Green? Sure, he’s always been a habitual line-stepper. But he was also really good at it. He could get physical with players without going over the edge. He could push the refs to the edge with technicals while still pleading his case. It was annoying, sure. But that’s who he is. Or, well, who he was.
That’s why when Green told us a few days ago that nobody is better at being Draymond Green, I believed him. Nobody walked that line better. Sure, it would boil over at times. But it never amounted to this. An unwarranted chokehold? If this didn’t happen on a basketball court, it’d be considered assault.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that this was becoming a pattern for Green. Green being himself was a problem. Because this is the new Draymond Green.
It’s not about his game anymore. He’s a great defender — even elite at times. But he’s not the player he used to be. He’s older. He’s fallible. Players aren’t intimidated by him anymore.
We saw that over the weekend when Donovan Mitchell challenged him. We also saw that when Anthony Edwards brushed him off. This chokehold feels like a reaction to that. He can’t get them like he used to so he lashes out with tactics like this. On the surface, what seems like him being the team’s enforcer feels more like a veiled attempt at Green trying to find purpose on the court again. It feels like he’s been searching for a year and destroyed his team’s chemistry in the process. Now you have to worry if that might happen again.
Today, it’s clear that Draymond lacks composure. His teammates can’t trust that he’ll be there for them in the biggest moments. And, when he is there, who knows what he’ll do?
This is such a shame because he’s so much better than this. At least I thought he was. Now? I’m not sure. Deep down his teammates probably are, too.
READ MORE: Draymond Green’s chokehold deserves a multi-game suspension
Deion Sanders is TOTALLY never leaving Colorado *wink*
Since Texas A&M paid Jimbo Fischer $76 million to go away rumors have been spreading like wildfire on who should take that job. Stephen A. Smith (hilariously) suggested Sanders for the gig on First Take. Sanders was also asked about it during a press conference, which prompted this response that Colorado turned into a quasi-statement via Twitter?
Yeah, it’s weird.
We here. #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/dfZWIBJkCA
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) November 15, 2023
“I am here. I am here. My mother is here. My sister is here. My dog is here. My daughter is here. Three of my sons are here. And my other daughter comes out for the home games. I get mail here. I pay taxes here. I’m here.”
Look, folks. Maybe I’m being a little too cynical here, but not a single one of those words is “no.” This man evoked his taxes, his dog and his mail instead of just giving us a simple one-word answer to shut it all down. Deion Sanders is a media mastermind. That’s intentional.
Colorado fans, I warned you before and I’ll warn you again. Please don’t trust this.
Chances are slim because the Buffaloes aren’t good. But if A&M calls? Do not be shocked if he pulls a Jackson State on Colorado.
Deshaun Watson is done
The Browns have a big need at quarterback — again. Deshaun Watson is apparently out for the season with a fracture in his throwing shoulder, per ESPN’s Jim Trotter.
The Browns’ defense is good enough to survive such a blow. But Watson’s rotten contract is treading in “worst contract in NFL history” territory.
“Even before Deshaun Watson’s 2023 season ended prematurely due to — as we learned on Wednesday morning — shoulder surgery, there were already questions about whether his contract with the Cleveland Browns was the all-time worst in the NFL.
Besides the fact that he’s struggled this season when on the field, Watson got all that money — $230 million, ALL GUARANTEED! — following, as our Christian D’Andrea reminds us, “20 accusations of sexual misconduct and what the NFL would later describe as ‘predatory behavior.’”
On the field, he’s played 12 games in two years for the franchise, thrown 14 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. The rushing numbers in Houston have not been there in Cleveland.”
This is disastrous. There’s no other way to put it. But, also, the Browns kind of set themselves up for this. I don’t feel bad about it. Neither should you.
READ MORE: Fans react to news of Deshaun Watson’s season-ending surgery
Quick hits: Making college basketball better … Rudy Gobert knew Draymond would do this … and more
— Here’s Andrew Joseph on five rule changes that would make men’s college basketball so much better. Please ban charges. I’m begging.
— Rudy Gobert absolutely torched Draymond Green after he put him in a chokehold. Bryan Kalbrosky has more.
— LeBron James joking with Jaren Jackson Jr. about a flop is hilarious. Here’s Meghan Hall with more.
— Charles Curtis has 4 revelations from Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s Argentina trip. Spicy business.
— Tom Brady is just using Super Bowl rings as collateral now? That’s wild. C.J. Stroud is about to get a ring … maybe. Prince Grimes has more.
— Christian D’Andrea has you covered with the quarterback hot seat this week. It’s still over for Mac Jones.
That’s a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for reading. We appreciate you. Hope you have a fantastic Wednesday. Til next time. Peace.
-Sykes ✌️