Category: BetFTW

Two games into his Steelers career, it’s already time to pull the plug on Mitchell Trubisky

Two games are plenty to write off the former top pick.

Now and then, it’s suggested a change of scenery could do a struggling veteran NFL player well. They might even thrive in escaping a situation that probably fed into their inconsistencies. It can be heartening, speaks to relatable stories of redemption, and does not apply to Mitchell Trubisky and the Steelers wholeheartedly.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Question marks surround Trubisky and an inept offense as he and his team are set to take on Insert Team in a primetime game. You could substitute in “Packers” from Trubisky’s old Bears days or the Browns on Thursday Night Football, and it’d be indistinguishable.

What was true from 2017-2020 in Chicago remains entirely correct: Trubisky isn’t a viable long-term starter in the NFL. And probably never will be.

Now, you might say it’s still too early to write off Trubisky and to let first-round rookie Kenny Pickett give it the old college try. Two games aren’t nearly enough to understand what a player brings to the table. I get it. A short leash does no one under center any favors. Unfortunately, that would only be true if Trubisky wasn’t:

  1. 28 years old (decidedly NOT a young quarterback)
  2. If this wasn’t the very same Trubisky we saw struggle to read defenses for almost half a decade along Lake Michigan.

Such a deficiency doesn’t simply go away because the closest body of water to his new team is now the Allegheny River.

Through just eight quarters of football, Trubisky has been so ineffective as the Steelers’ passer that it bears wondering how anyone believed this experiment would work out in the first place. Right now, the veteran QB is 29th in the NFL in passing yards (362). Some of the players notably ahead of him include:

  • Perennial journeyman Jacoby Brissett (the Browns’ current starter)
  • Daniel “I Will Make The Most Out of Chance No. 4” Jones in New York.
  • Geno Smith. Really

While some of the players just behind Trubisky include the 49ers’ Trey Lance (now injured; played one game in a driving rainstorm) and his replacement in Chicago, Justin Fields (also played one game in a driving rainstorm; has a historic 28 total passing attempts thus far).

Trubisky’s average yards per attempt is 5.1, and his total air yards — a measure of big chunk plays a quarterback creates rather than their receiver getting yards after the catch — is 25th in the NFL with 231 total. This is a far cry from the last instance Trubisky was a starter in 2020 in Chicago when, in 10 games, he managed to finish … 32nd in air yards. It’s wild how Trubisky didn’t magically learn how to challenge defenses downfield in the one year he spent trying to absorb ability by osmosis as Josh Allen’s backup in Buffalo. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I understand the Steelers’ have a gifted receiving corps capable of making huge plays at any moment. But with that kind of non-threatening output, you might as well just hand off to the running back every play. The quarterback becomes redundant — an offensive conduit no defense is afraid of or has to game-plan for. And you’re wasting that receiving talent, to boot.

As my pal and colleague Christian D’Andrea wrote after Trubisky’s listless 168-yard, one touchdown, one interception performance against the Patriots last Sunday — the Steelers should know better about their quarterbacks, too:

The Steelers are well aware of the damage a passer who can’t throw downfield creates; that pretty much sums up the final two years of Roethlisberger’s career.

Pittsburgh and Mike Tomlin might have a good reason for waiting to throw Pickett in. We’ve seen many young quarterbacks struggle before they were “ready.” But if the Steelers’ best recourse is to let Trubisky take live reps and keep the seat warm for The Future while their offense coughs up dust every week, that noble plan won’t last long.

The pick: Browns 17, Steelers 10

Neither of these teams boast very explosive offenses, but the Browns have one of the NFL’s premier offensive lines and Nick Chubb. They’ll bowl over their rivals in a decisive and clinical low-scoring affair.

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The Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown first torched the Commanders, then another WR drafted before him

These are some SPICY comments from St. Brown!

Amon-Ra St. Brown might be one of the NFL’s best young receivers now, but there was a time when it felt like the league didn’t believe in his ability. In the 2021 draft, 16 different receivers — of which St. Brown can recite all from memory — were drafted before the playmaker found a home with the Lions.

After absolutely scorching the Commanders to the tune of a nine-catch, 116-yard, two-touchdown performance on Sunday, St. Brown recalled the performance of one of those fateful receivers drafted ahead of him — unprompted. This time it was Washington’s Dyami Brown, who St. Brown apparently couldn’t even remember playing in the game:

Oh my goodness. I don’t know which part of St. Brown’s quote sticks out to me the most. I’m torn between St. Brown specifically seeing Brown on the other sideline and being motivated by his presence and the Lions’ receiver taking at his Washington contemporary, noting he “didn’t see him in the game much.” (Note: Brown has zero catches and just four offensive snaps through two games for the Commanders.)

The next unfortunate soul on St. Brown’s potential “revenge tour”? Seattle’s D’Wayne Eskridge, who has one catch in six yards through two games of his own sophomore campaign. Detroit will face the Seahawks in Week 4. It’s not an absolute certainty, but rest assured that St. Brown might already be earnestly marking his calendar to outperform his higher-drafted peer.

If you happened to be drafted ahead of the bright Lions’ wideout — watch out. 

Mics caught Bills’ Jordan Poyer confidently calling his shot right before making an interception

Confidence goes a long way.

Early in this NFL season, it seems like the Bills are pro football’s unquestioned juggernaut. Buffalo took the Titans to task in their most recent performance by putting on a show in a 41-7 shellacking on Monday Night Football. The Bills were so dominant that they made Derrick Henry look pedestrian, while Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel simply couldn’t stomach the beatdown.

A recent video from NFL Films shows that the Bills — especially their defense led by All-Pro Jordan Poyer — might be as confident as they play. Just before Titans’ QB Ryan Tannehill threw the first of two interceptions on the night, a mic’d up Poyer was captured calling his own shot on “making a play.”

Given the ensuing result — a sliding Poyer pick — it’s enough to give you goosebumps:

Yes, Poyer (four tackles, one tackle-for-loss, one interception) did indeed tell us what would happen. The excitement is understandable. The star safety’s proclamation felt pretty prophetic on a night when he and the Bills defense flexed their muscles all over the hapless Titans.

Bill Belichick’s praise of Lamar Jackson had NFL fans thinking he wants him on the Patriots

Is Belichick being slick or just complimenting a great player?

When it comes to helping (and planning against) great quarterbacks, few people might have a better understanding of the position than Belichick. From coaching Tom Brady for two decades to trying to defend greats like Peyton Manning, Belichick has certainly been around the block.

With the Patriots facing the Ravens (-2.5) this Sunday, Belichick’s praise toward Jackson’s direction on Wednesday was noteworthy. One of the greatest coaches of all time knows what Jackson is capable of. As anonymous people in the league continue to lob what feels like unwarranted criticisms at the Ravens’ superstar, Belichick isn’t buying it.

For someone who usually keeps tight-lipped about most situations in public, Belichick didn’t mince his words in complimenting the Baltimore talisman:

“… He’s the type of player that’s an MVP candidate.”

It doesn’t get any more succinct or salient than that. (Note: After winning the award in 2019, Jackson became one of only two unanimous MVPs in NFL history after Tom Brady in 2010).

Belichick also knows firsthand how the multifaceted Jackson can tear apart his own defensive scheme. In two career games against Belichick’s Patriots, Jackson is a combined 41-of-57 for 412 passing yards and three touchdowns and has gashed New England for 116 rushing yards (on 4.3 yards per carry) and two scores on the ground. The Ravens went 1-1 in both affairs.

As Jackson plays this season without the mega (fully guaranteed) contract he was seeking, acclaim like this from one of the best to ever roam a sideline holds more weight. And hey, perhaps Belichick will end up being right: Jackson’s next deal, wherever it happens, will very likely reflect his status as a superstar signal caller.

Who knows? It might even happen in New England.

Eagles returner Britain Covey told a hilarious story about getting rejected from the player parking lot

How could you not root for this guy?!

The Eagles, particularly Jalen Hurts, looked absolutely terrific in a 24-7 dismantling of the Vikings and Kirk Cousins on Monday Night Football. But with Philadelphia settling in as one of the NFL’s heavyweights this season, not every Eagles player has become a household name yet.

On Wednesday, Eagles rookie returner Britain Covey explained a minor hiccup he faced getting to Lincoln Financial Field on Monday night. You see, when Covey (three punt returns, 14 yards) tried to enter the private and more exclusive player’s parking lot, the attendants didn’t know who he was.

Even as Covey tried to explain himself, the workers didn’t buy his explanation. As a result, Covey had to park with the “grinders” — meaning the tailgaters in the Eagles’ main parking lot.

With a big grin on his face, Covey seemed to relish in the experience:

Oh wow. Talk about having to “prove yourself.” He even had to ask for directions!

Covey and the new-look Eagles seem to be just getting started in their journey as potential contenders. Call it a hunch, but by the end of the year, everyone who follows the Eagles in Philadelphia will be able to recognize their punt returner.

Robert Sarver agreeing to sell the Suns does the NBA’s other 29 owners a favor

Voting Sarver out would have set the stage for how other owners could be removed.

Welcome to Layup Lines, our daily NBA newsletter where we’ll prep you for a tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon.

What’s good y’all. It’s Prince here with another Layup Lines, and I want to talk about Robert Sarver for a minute. The Phoenix Suns owner released a statement Wednesday saying he’s beginning the process of seeking buyers for both the Suns and Phoenix Mercury, bringing closer the end to a saga I was sure would drag out longer.

Rather than digging in and making the situation much more difficult, Sarver seems willing to bow out (read: cash out) a lot quieter than Donald Sterling — besides the disingenuous words in his statement.

There was certainly pressure for him to step away — from a Suns minority owner, a corporate sponsor and several NBA players — but he didn’t have to. Entitled billionaires typically require a little more than a few words to make them go away. So was there pressure behind the scenes to expedite his decision?

Players were the most vocal about their displeasure with the lenient one-year ban Sarver received from the league. That includes LeBron James, the Suns’ Chris Paul and most recently Draymond Green, who on Tuesday called for a vote of the other 29 owners to have Sarver removed.

A public ousting would have been much more embarrassing for Sarver, and it also would have furthered a precedent for how the other owners could be removed themselves. So, naturally, a vote is the last thing they would have wanted. Voting also would have required three-fourths of the owners to agree on Sarver’s removal, and whether or not it passed, anyone who voted against it would have had to answer why.

The heat Sarver brought on himself was starting to get a little too hot for the league, and by extension, the other owners. So his decision to sell just a week after the NBA announced findings of its investigation — and a week before teams host media days — saves them a lot of trouble. That’s not to say the other owners definitely played a quiet role in his decision to step away, but they absolutely benefit in it going away like this.

The Tip-Off

Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

When Robert Sarver sells the Phoenix Suns, the other 29 NBA team owners won’t be the only ones benefitting from it. Nope, Sarver himself, will be a big winner too.

That’s right, the “punishment” for his disgusting behavior as a person charged with running an NBA franchise is having to sell that franchise for almost $2 billion. Poor him.

My guy Sykes put the proper context around Sarver’s eventual sale. It’s not a punishment, it’s a privilege.

“He blames an ‘unforgiving climate’ as the reason he must sell the franchise he owns currently valued at $1.8 billion, according to Forbes. Clearly, there’s no such thing as accountability in the world of Robert Sarver. There’s no mention of the derogatory, offensive and straight-up hateful behavior and language he’s used to harm people. Instead, he finds time to cite the ‘good’ he’s done ‘or could still do’ — as if it weren’t a decades-long track record that got him here in the first place.

He makes it seem as if he’s just a boy who the world has chosen to punish for past misdeeds. Woe is him. He’s just another victim of the heinous cancel culture that eventually comes for us all.

But don’t get it twisted. Sarver is no victim here. What sort of victim leaves a situation where they’ve spent decades doing damage only to become $2 billion richer than they were in the first place?

Make no mistake — Sarver having to sell his team isn’t a punishment. If anything, it’s a privilege. One that only the richest of the rich could ever afford to have in our society.”

Shootaround

— Ranking NBA teams by future first-round draft picks, from least to most

— Is this photo of bald LeBron James fake?

— 15 photos from the Aces’ championship parade, Las Vegas’ first ever title parade.

— Are the Nets headed towards contention? Check out HoopsHype’s Nets season preview.

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What are the odds Aaron Judge hits home run No. 61. against Pittsburgh on Wednesday?

Will Aaron Judge make history tonight?

ICYMI: New York Yankees’ stud outfield Aaron Judge cracked his 60th home run of the season last night when the Yankees fought back to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Judge’s 60th, a thing of beauty, tied Babe Ruth’s 1927 total and simultaneously put Judge in territory that fewer than 10 others have reached. And with each bomb that leaves the yard, he is inching closer and closer to reaching the likes of Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire in the 70-home-run club.

Homer No. 61 is next in line, though, which would tie Roger Maris’ American League record with the 1961 Yankees. And you can bet on whether or not Judge will go yard once again on Wednesday against the Pirates.

Specifically, those odds are +195 at BetMGM. And if you’re feeling like Judge will surpass Maris on Wednesday, you might want to look at his +1500 odds to hit two home runs.

However you play it, just know that it’s rarely ever a bad idea to wager on Judge hitting one out of the park. He’s on a roll this season and there’s no telling when he’ll slow down.

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Fantasy Football: 3 Buccaneers WRs worth picking up while Mike Evans is suspended in Week 3

Time to unleash Russell Gage?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of six NFL teams without a loss this season. Yet, their start to the season has been a bit of an eye-sore for fantasy managers (unless you like old-school, low-scoring defensive battles fresh from the 1970s).

Tampa’s usual start-studded offense of the Tom Brady era is struggling largely due to the underwhelming passing attack.

But there’s a reason. First, Tampa dealt with offensive line injuries throughout training camp, which they are still working through. But more importantly, the Bucs have struggled with player availability in the wide receiver room — injuries to Chris Godwin, Julio Jones and Russell Gage, in particular.

Now, Brady will be without the suspended Mike Evans for Week 3, and the pass-catching options will be…interesting.

Tom Brady’s got to throw the ball to someone, though, and we’re here to help you fantasy football managers determine who it’ll be. Here are three Bucs receivers to consider playing in Week 3 amidst all the injury woes.

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DraftKings to reportedly ‘halt’ early win NFL promotion after paying out $75 million in two weeks

Some promos are just too good to pass up. Others are too good to keep up.

Updated: September 21, 2022 7:40 pm ET

The start of football season is generally one of the biggest months of the year for sportsbooks—particularly when it comes to marketing those books.

From deposit matches to boosted odds and risk-free bets, all sorts of free money is set aside for potential gamblers so long as they continue logging into apps.

To begin the NFL year, the DraftKings launched an “Early Win Up 10” promotion on select games. The concept was simple: if the team you bet on goes up by 10 points at any moment during the game, your bet automatically cashes.

According to Action Network’s Avery Yang, that led to the company paying out $75 million bets on early wins over the first two weeks of the season. And that may be it for the promo for awhile.

A company spokesman told BetFTW via email after this report was published no decision has been made moving forward either way. DraftKings runs a similar “Up 7 Early Win” promotion for Thursday Night Football that will continue for Week 3 between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Per Yang, a $100 bettor using the promo would be up a profit of as much as $1,150 for $2,900 total risked. That’s an ROI of 39 percent based on the first two weeks of the promotion:

The $75 million figure for how much the sportsbook paid out as a result of the promotions only factors in teams that went up seven or 10 points.

It does not count, for instance, bets on the Dolphins or Cardinals, who overcame 21- and 16-point fourth quarter deficits to win on Sunday.

While neither team led by 10 — meaning the promotion didn’t apply — more bettors put wagers on the two teams because of the early win assurance.

In other words, the true value of the amount paid out by DraftKings on those games may be significantly higher since both sides were declared winners at various points due to the promotion. Similarly, without knowing the full handle, it’s unclear if DraftKings profited overall from the amount wagered on those games.

Considering DraftKings is one of the major sportsbooks in the United States, it remains to be seen what impact this will have on promotions offered by competitors. PointsBet, for example, has made discretionary decisions to already grade some season-long NFL futures.

In any case, this is just another reminder to shop around for promotions before you place a bet.

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Orioles’ Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson somehow corralled easy pop-up after wild bobble

Even accidental teamwork makes the dream work!

In a surprising 76-71 season in Baltimore, the Orioles might have the makings of a bright future if they stay patient. Should Baltimore evolve into a bona fide contender in the coming years, it might happen thanks to the efforts of young players like baseball’s former No. 1 prospect Adley Rutschman and burger-loving Gunnar Henderson.

On Tuesday night against the Tigers (-1.5), the pair “teamed up” on a wild bobble that almost became a complete disaster for Baltimore. When Detroit’s Willi Castro sent a ball up into the air for what should have been an easy pop-up out for the Orioles, Rutschman and Henderson both found themselves in a position to make a play.

The bad news is that the miscommunication led to a bobble from Rutschman when Henderson’s glove and arm weren’t quite out of his way. The good news is that Rutschman showed impeccable concentration to somehow keep this ball from hitting the ground:

Wow. How Rutschman manages to stay with the ball after that bobble, I don’t know. Credit to him for salvaging the accident and keeping the easy out in the Orioles’ back pocket. For his own efforts, Henderson would later hit his first-ever home run at Camden Yards:

While Baltimore would eventually lose 3-2, it certainly wasn’t because two of their bright young players didn’t come to play.