Category: Opinion

Opinion: Derek Carr’s latest comments come off arrogant and delusional

Derek Carr essentially says to look at the tape for why he wouldn’t take a pay cut. It makes you wonder what tape is he talking about:

Derek Carr recently told ESPN’s Katherine Terrell wasn’t willing to play ball with the New Orleans Saints by taking a pay cut, and that is fine. Players are owed the guaranteed money in their contracts. It’s his rationale that is the issue.

Carr said he doesn’t feel he should take a pay cut, “Especially with what I put on tape,” referring to his level of play this year and last.

That statement comes off extremely full of himself and delusional. This isn’t to call him a terrible quarterback, but that’s a statement that should be reserved for a few elite players at a position. He’s not one of them.

Spencer Rattler had his struggles, but the season didn’t start going down when the rookie backup became the starter. Carr started in the first three games of the seven-game losing streak. Three of his wins came against teams picking top-10 in this year’s NFL draft, and one of them (the Carolina Panthers) beat him in a rematch.

The offense stagnated with Carr conducting them. You saw times where he would begin to panic after the pressure got there early in the game. You saw struggles with ball placement. And these issues go back to last year.

When Carr essentially tells you to check his tape, you’d think he was in the MVP race. He did some good things in Klint Kubiak’s system, but those faults are present and prominent as well. The first two weeks were best when he just needed to be an efficient complement to a dominant running attack. He only completed 30 passes in those first two games, both wins, but the Saints went 1-3 when he was asked to attempt 30 or more passes this season (not counting a primetime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs where he threw 28 times).

Undeniable isn’t an accurate description of Carr, but the veteran is acting as if a pay cut is beneath him. He could’ve made his point without putting a target on his back, but his poor choice of words paints a less-than-flattering picture of him.

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Was Texans DE Danielle Hunter snubbed a Pro Bowl nod?

Even in a year where the Texans underachieved, Danielle Hunter lived up to expectations and played like a Pro Bowler.

Four Houston Texans players were named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster on Thursday morning.

Danielle Hunter, who’s closing in on a breakout first season down off NRG Stadium, wasn’t one of them.

Take nothing away from Derek Stingley Jr., who made history with his dominant month of December in coverage to break a Texans’ record.

Give credit where credit is due to Nico Collins, who was on pace to lead the NFL in receiving yards before suffering a hamstring string injury in Week 5 that sidelined him for a month.

Even Joe Mixon and Laremy Tunsil deserve their flowers. The veteran running back is seven yards away from being the first player since 2019 to rush for 1,000 yards in a Texans’ uniform.

Tunsil has been a staple in pass protection on a broken and beaten offensive line protecting C.J. Stroud.

But Hunter’s coronation as the ‘Houstonian Herculean Hulk’ shouldn’t go unnoticed. He enters Week 18’s regular-season finale ranked third in sacks and fifth in tackles for loss.

Only teammate Will Anderson Jr. has given him a run for the money in terms of top newcomer in the AFC over two seasons. He too must wait for someone to bow out before being called to Orlando after notching 11 sacks and 58 pressures.

The pass-rushing duo didn’t get the call like their teammates. Instead, Cleveland’s Myles Garrett, Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson and Las Vegas’s Maxx Crosby will represent the AFC defensive ends down in Orlando next month.

The voting isn’t entirely wrong since Garrett and Hendrickson have a case.

The AFC North duo are tied for the league lead in sacks with 14 apiece. Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, also ranks first in tackles for loss and third in QB hits with 28.

But Crosby over Hunter? Signs of “name over production” ring true for the All-Pro pass rusher, who likely won’t even play after undergoing season-ending ankle surgery.

Even going off name alone, Hunter’s been a stalwart in the league since his breakout season in 2017. He’s a sack away from becoming the 46th player in NFL history to hit the triple digits and the first Texan to accomplish the feat since three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt.

Crosby finished with 7.5 sacks in 12 games. Hunter had eight QB takedowns by Halloween.

Crosby was better against the run, totaling 16 tackles for loss in a dozen games. Hunter needed two more games, but his 17 trumps Crosby’s by a lone stat.

And the four-time Pro Bowler from Minnesota also had 23 QB hits and a league-leading 90 pressures, according to NFL’s Next Gen stats. Crosby? He finished with 20 and 59, respectively.

Hunter will likely get the call because of opt-outs. He’s the first in line to replace one of the trio as an alternate entering the postseason. Given Crobsy’s injury status, that call should arrive before the Texans welcome the No. 5 seed to NRG Stadium next week.

Crosby’s persona as one of the league’s top defenders is well-documented. The same goes for Hunter and even a rising star like Anderson.

Sometimes, giving the nod to a player who intends to play tends to make the most sense.

Given Hunter’s numbers, it should have been a no-brainer.

Seriously, what the hell happened, Oregon?

This kind of College Football Playoff collapse from the undisputed No. 1 team was shocking.

PASADENA, Calif. — The final seconds were so anticlimactic it almost didn’t feel like a proper Rose Bowl. Ohio State fans roared through a stadium-wide cheer of “O-H-I-O” as Oregon fans trickled out in a deflated exodus.

“Go back to Eugene!” Buckeyes cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. shouted at no one in particular as the clock counted down to No. 8 seed Ohio State’s commanding 41-21 victory Wednesday in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals game against the top-seeded Ducks.

A forceful victory and a mind-boggling collapse.

Of all the College Football Playoff teams that could have been upset, dominated or straight-up embarrassed off the field, absolutely no one predicted Oregon would be in the running for the most stunning collapse of the season. No one.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DETsfniOk6B/

Yet the Ducks hobbled out of the Rose Bowl dripping in disappointment and irony. No one figured this Oregon team would ever be on the losing end of a blowout. Except maybe Ohio State.

College football fans love a good debate. Buttressed by logic and facts or complete meritless nonsense, they’ll materialize a debate out of thin air if they have to. And especially if it’s about the playoff.

But one playoff detail that never seemed up for debate for much of the regular season was Oregon’s ranking and high esteem, further enhanced by a Big Ten championship in the school’s first season in the 18-team conference.

No one debated the Ducks as the No. 1 team this year, especially as every other national title contender had blunders and at least one loss. No one questioned whether they’d get the playoff committee’s top seed, and no one tried to mitigate their perfect 13-0 record going into the postseason. Oregon was so clearly the best and most complete team from August to December, with an offense led by a Heisman Trophy contender and one of the most formidable defenses in the country.

So when Ohio State absolutely boat-raced the Ducks off the field in the playoff quarterfinals, after the shock waned, you’ve got to wonder: What the hell happened, Oregon?

“They clicked tonight and we didn’t,” Ducks coach Dan Lanning said. “When you play a great team like Ohio State, you can’t not be clicking on all cylinders, and they were.”

Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, CA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end JT Tuimoloau (44) reacts in the first half against the Oregon Ducks in the 2025 Rose Bowl college football quarterfinal game at Rose Bowl Stadium. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Arizona State unexpectedly took Texas to two overtimes before falling Wednesday. Group of Five rep Boise State put up a fight before losing to Penn State on New Year’s Eve. Both squads should be proud.

But barely a week after fans, coaches and ESPN personalities lamented the top seeds blowing out the lower seeds at home, here was Oregon, the undisputed No. 1 seed, falling at a neutral site in the same time zone as Eugene.

The Ducks didn’t have the easiest draw in the playoff bracket or path to the national championship, and everyone knew there was a good chance for an all-Big Ten Rose Bowl and a rematch from earlier this season.

I suspect most people anticipated a heated contest more closely resembling October’s one-point Oregon home win. Maybe it wouldn’t be *that* close, maybe it wouldn’t come down to the final drive. But you’re lying if you thought the Buckeyes would outscore Oregon, 34-8, in the first half on their way to a convincing victory.

To be fair, Ohio State bounced back from its unfathomable regular-season finale loss to Michigan and crushed Tennessee in the first round of the CFP. Things were clicking again, as its offense began to spread the ball around its $20 million roster and actually throw to its NFL-bound receiving corps.

But Lanning’s Ducks should have been ready. They had weeks to build a general game plan, 11 days to prepare for a team they already beat this season and plenty of weapons on both sides of the ball.

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 01: Noah Whittington #6 of the Oregon Ducks is hit by JT Tuimoloau #44 and Jack Sawyer #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second quarter during the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

“I just don’t think we had a good enough plan as coaches tonight, and we have to find ways to prepare ourselves for these moments better,” Lanning said.

“We’ve got to be able to adjust a little bit faster,” he added. “We didn’t adjust fast enough.”

But this kind of collapse from the undisputed No. 1 team in the regular season was shocking. Inexplicable. Oregon didn’t wilt and instead fought back in the second half, but overcoming a 34-point deficit is unsurmountable for most teams.

Maybe the Ducks resent not getting an on-campus game, a decidedly awesome feature of the expanded playoff. Maybe the rest hurt them more than it helped, or they looked too far ahead. Maybe they really did have the worst draw in the bracket and earned the right to have a big gripe against the playoff committee. Maybe Ohio State was simply better or learned from October mistakes.

Any validity to Oregon’s complaints about its draw and the reward for being No. 1 evaporated after the Rose Bowl’s first 30 minutes. The games are the ultimate deciders, and as sports continually remind us, sometimes the best regular-season team doesn’t win it all.

“We believe that when we’re executing at a high level that we can play with anybody in the country,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “We knew we had to be at our best today.”

Ohio State looked better than it has all season, especially against an inarguably strong opponent, and freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith had a record-breaking night. The Buckeyes were playing at a different elevation than the Ducks. They jumped out to a huge lead and only relinquished a touch of it.

College football is weird, the playoff amplifies that and top-seeded Oregon was the latest to fall.

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Best Christmas music: The 10 best songs of all time, ranked

Does your favorite Christmas song make the cut?

EDITOR’S NOTE: We wrote this back in 2021, but with the holiday season back once again we felt like it was the perfect time to update it.

There’s nothing that brings the world together more than sharing opinions about Christmas music.

And why not? Christmas is a very special time of year for many — myself included! — and music is one of the most fundamental joys of life. So it only makes sense that people hold holiday music in such high regard, as it often formulates a major part of our lives growing up and sticks with us throughout adulthood.

Previously, I touched on the worst Christmas songs ever written, so why not try my hand at the best? The earworms, the nostalgia bringers, the tear jerkers, this list has them all, and then some! So sit back and relax as I list off the top 10 best Christmas songs of all time.

Opinion: Saints should follow Falcons’ example and cut ties with Derek Carr

The Atlanta Falcons are expected to move on from Kirk Cousins, and the New Orleans Saints should consider following suit with Derek Carr:

The Atlanta Falcons are expected to release quarterback Kirk Cousins sometime between now and March after less than one full season starting on the team. This is because of a string of poor starts for the veteran quarterback, and ultimately a lack of true upside, which could hinder the team long-term if they were to retain his contract.

Many of the reasons the Falcons are moving on from Cousins sound like the same issues the New Orleans Saints are facing with Derek Carr. Large contracts with multiple years remaining that could hinder further team development, both have a .500 winning percentage this season when under center, both have a low upside compared to other options on the team, and both have been barely skating by in performances this season.

While the Saints do not have a first-round pick quarterback from the most recent draft class to turn to, they do have a high upside option in Spencer Rattler, as well as what could end up being a top ten draft pick in the 2025 NFL draft. To be clear, I am not a huge proponent of this quarterback draft class, but there are a few strong options that could develop into above average starters. The Saints have been stuck in their ways of trying to compete with an older roster for awhile now, and extending their veteran talents on enormous contracts. Now, most of those contracts look poor in hindsight outside Alvin Kamara and Demario Davis, and the Saints are still well below .500 on the season.

My belief is the Saints need to use their 2025 offseason to get Derek Carr off the roster, considering there is a potential out in his contract where the Saints would only be dealing with the one season of dead cap hit worth approximately $50 million, and build for the future instead. However, there is the option of making Derek Carr one of their June 1st designations where they would only go $10 million into the red instead of $50 million, which would be a significantly preferrable option. Odds are you are going to be dealing with a dead cap hit from other players anyways, including Ryan Ramczyk who is likely to retire at the current juncture.

Drafting a quarterback in 2025 and having them compete for the starting role with Spencer Rattler would likely be a good way to see what you have, and then build around one or the other for the future as the cap hits of the veterans clear up over time. This isn’t even a matter of “kicking the can down the road” anymore, it’s about finding financial flexibility to add youth to your roster and start finding ways to phase out some of the veterans who may want to leave or retire in the coming two to three seasons. Who knows what road the Saints will actually take, but if they are looking for a new head coach in 2025, giving them the chance to build from nearly scratch seems like a better offer than the current roster provides.

USMNT star Christian Pulisic had a weak explanation for his Donald Trump dance goal celebration

If you’re going to make a political statement, stand by it.

In the wake of Donald Trump’s election for a second presidential term, we’ve seen several athletes signal their support for Trump by copying a dance the president-elect has been known to do at his rallies. But when it came time to explain the dance, they all had similar answers.

U.S. men’s national team star Christian Pulisic was no different.

Pulisic — who is enjoying a career-best season at AC Milan — scored the opening goal in the USMNT’s CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal win against Jamaica on Monday. And when Pulisic made his celebratory trot to the corner flag, many were surprised to see Pulisic break out that same Donald Trump dance we’ve already witnessed from Brock Bowers and Jon Jones.

Now, Pulisic is entitled to his political opinions — no matter how divisive they may be. And it’s no secret where he stands in that regard. But what was odd was how he brushed off the dance as simply something he saw as “funny.”

Pulisic said after the match via The Athletic:

“Well obviously that’s the Trump dance,” Pulisic said when asked whether he intentionally celebrated with viral moves. “It was just a dance that everyone’s doing. He’s the one who created it. I just thought it was funny.”

He continued:

“I saw everyone doing it yesterday in the NFL, I saw Jon Jones do it,” Pulisic said after the game. “We’re just having a bit of fun, so I thought it was a pretty fun dance.”

…

“No, not at all,” Pulisic said. “It’s not a political dance. It was just for fun. I saw a bunch of people do it and I thought it was funny, so I enjoyed it. I hope some people did, at least.”

And while teammates Weston McKennie (a vocal Trump critic) and Ricardo Pepi joined Pulisic on the dance, it’s awfully disingenuous for Pulisic to dismiss a clearly political dance as something he happened to see in the NFL and UFC. It’s an inherently political statement, and if you’re going to make one, at least have the courage to stand by it and explain it.

When Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality, he didn’t shy away from questions. When USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe did the same, she was also able to answer for it. She wrote an entire piece about it.

If Pulisic wants to use his platform as the face of the USMNT to do that dance, he should be brave enough to give an honest explanation. He wasn’t willing to do that on Monday.

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Deion Sanders is done campaigning for Travis Hunter’s Heisman, and he’s right

There’s a clear reason why Travis Hunter is the Heisman Trophy favorite in Week 12.

Selecting the most outstanding college football player each season isn’t always easy, and there isn’t always a clear-cut favorite.

The 2024 Heisman Trophy race has been fascinating to watch all season with preseason favorite Dillon Gabriel, Ashton Jeanty and Cam Ward making some truly standout plays and quintessential Heisman moments on the field.

But, as talented as they are, no one really compares with two-way player Travis Hunter, who entered Week 12 as the consensus Heisman favorite. And Saturday in Colorado’s 49-24 win over Utah, the Buffaloes wide receiver/defensive back reminded everyone why.

Against Utah, Hunter finished with 60 total offensive yards, which is actually a bit low for him. He earned his first rushing touchdown of the season, and on defense, he returned an interception for 21 yards and added three solo tackles and a pass breakup. On the season, he has 10 total touchdowns, 911 receiving yards, three interceptions, eight passes defended and one forced fumble, as Fox Sports noted.

Hunter’s talent and skills are undeniable. Not only does he play almost every snap on both sides of the ball when he’s healthy, but he also often makes standout play after standout play, like this one:

And this one:

With less than a month to go before Heisman voters make their selections, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and the Buffs have been stumping hard for Hunter’s Heisman campaign. They’re right to support their player, of course, but they’re also right about no college player in the country being comparable to Hunter, a coveted future NFL Draft pick.

Buffs quarterback Shedeur Sanders praised Hunter after the game, calling him the best player in the country:

“He’s the best player in the country, hands down, no doubt. There’s not a lot of guys that can do what he do on offense and defense, so it’s really tough to compare him to anybody else because I feel like if he was at a different program — they don’t like us so much. They hate on us too. So it’s real hard, and it makes me sad that they don’t give a guy like him his credit because that’s generational. It ain’t gonna happen again for a long time.”

After the Buffs’ win against Utah, Deion was asked what his message to undecided Heisman voters would be. He echoed his quarterback son’s sentiments but implied he’s done stumping and said:

“I ain’t gonna sit up here and give no message to no Heisman voters who is undecided. If they can’t see, they can’t see. It is what it is. Travis is who he is. It’s supposed to go to the best college football player; I think that’s been a wrap since, what? Week 2?

“So, we ain’t petitioning for nobody. We ain’t doing that. We’ve got a wonderful display of cameras here, and I think we’re on national television every week. If they can’t see it, something is a problem. Don’t allow their hatred for me to interfere with our kids’ success. … Give the kids what they deserve.”

Sanders may claim he’s not arguing for Hunter’s Heisman campaign, but he’s still making an argument that the two-way player is the best in college football this season. And he’s right, but at this point, the Sanders family and the rest of Colorado shouldn’t have to be convincing anyone of Hunter’s exceptionalism.

For Oregon, Gabriel makes his dominance look easy. With Miami, Ward is so poised making big plays it’s almost worrisome. And Boise State has the best running back in the country with Jeanty.

But Hunter is an extraordinary two-way player who’s on the field for the majority of games and is having an incredible season. Barring a catastrophic game for him or a couple truly elevated performances from his fellow contenders, the Heisman should be his come December.

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Opinion: It’s time for Texans to wave goodbye to OC Bobby Slowik

Should the Houston Texans consider pivoting from OC Bobby Slowik to QB coach Jerrod Johnson as play caller as their offense sputters?

Change might be needed in Houston.

One year after Bobby Slowik was anointed as the next great offensive coordinator and rising head coaching candidate, the Houston Texans’ second-year play-caller stands firmly in the crossfire.

Tensions have been building among fans for weeks, but it erupted to a point of no return following Sunday’s meltdown against the Detroit Lions. Houston failed to score in the second half, squandering a 23-7 lead in an eventual 26-23 loss.

In was expected to be a juggernaut, Houston’s offense looks like one of the league’s most disappointing units.

Following Sunday, the Texans rank 16th in EPA per pass at -0.04 and 23rd in passing efficiency at 41.1% despite being headlined by 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud.

They rank 28th in EPA per carry at -0.31 and 31st in rushing success rate at a measly 34.2% despite the surge of Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon as the leading rusher.

Stroud’s sophomore season is approaching ‘slump’ territory under Slowik’s watch. The Ohio State product has regressed in completion percentage, passer rating, EPA per drop back and success rating.

Not only has Stroud struggled, he’s been sacked 34 times this season, only four fewer than reigning No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.

The offensive line has factored into the failure — including regression from highly-paid members such as Laremy Tunsil and Shaq Mason —but Slowik sits core responsible for the unit he is in charge of coaching and coordinating on game day.

There’s no doubt that Slowik had a phenomenal debut in 2023. The former San Francisco 49ers assistant brought the core principles of the Kyle Shanahan scheme alongside detail-oriented, focused gameplans built around protecting and insulating his rookie quarterback.

The team flourished with game plans built around low-efficiency runs and max protection passes with long-developing route concepts. Texans Wire even named Slowik one of the 15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023.

Houston was able to find both explosive gains and play to the strength of their gritty defense as needed in 2023 with this formula. Stroud had firm guardrails to perform within and, combined with his talent, the team saw immediate explosive output and it was a huge part of their success last season.

It’s a factor as to why the Texans swung big in trades to land Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs and Mixon to accelerate an offense that already had the proverbial ‘engine’ needed for greatness.

Slowik’s second act in 2024 was expected to be one of evolution. Initially, the concept was built for a budding franchise star to facilitate as a point guard-esque distributor for a stacked supporting cast.

Instead, everything has sputtered.

Houston’s offense hasn’t evolved beyond the primary tenants many expected from San Francisco. What’s even worse is that it hasn’t established any unique identity of its own despite these unique talents available on offense.

The Texans remain a run-first offense that’s willing to accept an inefficient running game and, in that inefficiency, have become rather dependent on heroics from Stroud to bail them out.

These conservative tendencies have played a factor in the persona that is Houston’s happy being in games with top competitors rather than one that expects to win.

Confusing finishes against the Green Bay Packers and even electing for a long field goal against Detroit highlights a game plan built like a franchise without a premier quarterback.

What happens when a team is unable to pivot away from their structural inefficiencies?

What occurs when it’s unable to highlight its unique offensive talents or retain a large portion of its former identity?

Unfortunately, regression.

A year of film study has allowed teams to target their game plans toward Slowik’s tendencies and how Houston wants to win games. Whether that is predicting early-down runs or exploiting bad protection rules across a weak offensive line, teams have had far more success against the Texans offense and Stroud in 2024.

Slowik’s inability to evolve any of these components against the better-prepared competition is even further testimony to a unit that is struggling to adapt.

The Texans now feature an offense unable to structurally sound off on any singular thing worth merit. Their running game is inefficient. They’re unable to protect Stroud. The passing game often finds themselves in grossly unfavorable positions.

All of this is seemingly fueled by an offensive coordinator who doesn’t appear to have a direction for what this offense’s second act should be.

That doesn’t mean the situation is hopeless. The Texans should improve with the return of receiver Nico Collins, who led the NFL in receiving yards when placed on injured reserve last month. He provides an easy answer in the quick game, explosive plays vertically and consistency on screens functions as an extension of the run.

Still, it won’t fix the core issue that Slowik’s offense has encountered at this juncture: A lack of identity with minimal schematic diversity.

It’s for that reason that it’s time for Houston to consider a change at the top of their offensive coaching staff.

Quarterback coach Jerrod Johnson interviewed with several NFL teams for their offensive coordinator openings before ultimately electing to return to Houston. Coveted around the league, it was assumed that Johnson preferred to take the mantle in Houston following the 2024 season once Slowik departed for a potential head coaching position.

Johnson, a former quarterback, has experience under Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich. He’s also worked with Stroud since he was in high school and has served as his position coach in team meetings ever since he arrived in the building.

Coordinator changes are almost always driven by desperation. Unfair or not, Houston is in a desperate position now sitting at 6-4 with an apparent inability to compete with top contenders dwindling.

However, few teams have such a well-regarded and well-prepared candidate in-house.

In a season with Super Bowl aspirations, it’s time for the Texans to take their chances with their once-considered heir apparent at offensive coordinator. Johnson’s background and quarterback-centric approach could not only galvanize the locker room but stimulate more aggressive and more talent-friendly game plans for Houston’s offense.

Across the sidelines, Detroit once faced an uphill climb at offensive coordinator early in Dan Campbell’s tenure. He eventually elected to promote tight ends coach Ben Johnson as the new play-caller after the in-season demotion of offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn.

The rest has been history as Johnson remains the most sought-after candidate to take over a franchise for the second consecutive offseason.

It’s not ideal, but the Texans’ offense is approaching a point of desperation. Texans coach Demeco Ryans should consider whether he’s willing to endure another loss when his defense forces five interceptions.

The front office needs to consider if they’re willing to let an expensive 2024 offense go to waste on principal.

Sometimes, change is necessary. Fans soon will see if the Texans feel the same way.

Joel Embiid’s altercation with a columnist was the writer’s words coming home to roost

The NBA is investigating an altercation between Joel Embiid and a Philadelphia sports columnist.

Joel Embiid shouted at and eventually shoved a Philadelphia sports columnist in the 76ers locker room during an exchange of words after Saturday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The altercation stemmed from a story written by Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes that mentioned Embiid’s son and late brother in a criticism of the center’s lack of availability for the 76ers. The column’s lede crossed a line that could unfortunately result in Embiid missing even more time than he already has.

The altercation began with Embiid confronting Hayes as reporters entered the locker room, according to ESPN, saying “the next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you are going to see what I’m going to do to you and I’m going to have to … live with the consequences.”

The NBA is investigating what happened, a league spokesperson told ESPN’s Shams Charania. There hasn’t been mention of discipline for Embiid yet, though that’s completely within the realm of possibility and maybe even an expected consequence for his actions — just like Hayes getting shoved could have been an expected consequence for what he wrote.

Considering the personal nature of the column, Hayes is lucky things didn’t escalate further.

Using Embiid’s family the way Hayes did was disgusting and completely unnecessary for a critique about how much Embiid plays. I firmly believe in keeping your hands to yourself, but Embiid’s reaction is not hard to understand. If anything, it should be a lesson learned for the entire sports media industry that some things are off limits.

Hayes seemed to understand as much, apologizing on X for the Oct. 23 column just a few hours after it published and removing any mention of Embiid’s family. That it was possible to edit without changing the column proves how unnecessary that part was to begin with.

According to ESPN, Hayes also offered an apology to Embiid during Saturday’s altercation. Embiid, who previously addressed Hayes while talking to reporters Friday, saying “I’ve done way too much for this [expletive] city to be treated like this,” rejected the apology.

“That’s not the [expletive] first time,” Embiid said.

I’m not familiar enough with Hayes to know whether that’s true. But if the column does follow a similar pattern of behavior, Hayes needs to be held equally accountable as Embiid. If he can’t get his points across without personal attacks on athletes, the Inquirer should find a columnist who can.

Deshaun Watson era ends with as much angst as it started with

His time with the Browns, perhaps his career, is over. And it ended with as much anger and angst as it started with

The Deshaun Watson is over as the Cleveland Browns quarterback tore his achilles in the loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. And one thing is clear: it ended with as much angst and chaos as it started with.

When the Browns first acquired Watson from the Houston Texans, it caused a commotion on social media around Northeast Ohio and beyond. It caused beat writers and analysts to quit, placed protesters outside of the house of head coach Kevin Stefanski, and led to one of the most cringe-worthy press conferences we’ve ever witnessed as the team introduced their new quarterback.

Since the trade, Watson had not lived up to the hype. He has missed more games than he has started, has fallen near the bottom of the NFL in every quarterback metric in games he has played, and has soaked in all of the guaranteed money the Browns have given him.

Let’s face it. After another season-ending injury and subpar play, the Watson era is over. And his career might be over. While he will likely be back on the roster in 2025, it would be stunning to see him take another snap in a Cleveland Browns uniform.

And with that being the case, it ended just as horribly.

Not only was Watson booed when they introduced him during the pregame festivities, his first home game after a disappointing three-game road trip, but they booed him after his achilles shot up his calf. Leaving the field on a cart and in tears, this is how his time in Cleveland ends.

Browns players like Myles Garrett and Jameis Winston went after the fanbase for their reaction to one of their own getting hurt. Garrett even went as far as to say that the fans “should be ashamed of” themselves for their actions.

It’s been difficult to be a fan of this team over the last three seasons. It’s been difficult to cover them. It’s difficult for a player to defend one of their own against the very fans that love them. Every bit of this has been difficult since March of 2022. And it leads to mixed feelings, reactions, and decisions from every party involved.

There is a wedge between the players and the fans, and one that the organization largely forced on both parties.

Whatever is next for Watson, and it’s hard to see another team dialing his number based on his play on the field mixed with what has happened off of it, this exit sums up his time as a member of the Browns and the 2022-2024 era as a whole in Cleveland.

The Deshaun Watson era ends as horribly as it started.