Your “So, Anything Happen While I Was Gone?” (Part 1) Thursday Evening Open Thread

NFL News:

• JJ Watt says he’s ready to go for 2018.
  • He’s always been ready at the start of a season; he hasn’t finished a season since 2015, and played through a sports hernia to help the Texans lose 39-0 to the Chiefs in their Wild Card game.
  • He also looks like he’s been “weight training” with LaRon Landry.

🔜 pic.twitter.com/qrY8fYZ2Aa

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) July 23, 2018

• The Browns are going to kick the tires on Pacman Jones.
  • He did once play for Hue Jackson, but the Browns have a lot of young talent with minimal psychological issues, so it’ll be tough for him to gain a starting position.

• The Todd Gurley contract has led to talk of an Aaron Donald holdout.
  • Not helping is the fact that the deal Ndamukong Suh signed will pay him more than double Donald’s scheduled $6.9 million.

• Also pulling the same move is Khalil Mack.
  • He wants a multi-year deal tacked onto his fifth-year contract of $13.5 million.
  • Apparently, he is also choosing to not to meet with, or talk to, Jon Gruden until that happens.

• As expected, the Seahawks PUP’d Kam Chancellor for 2018, so he won’t count against their roster.
  • He does count against their cap, however. He’s guaranteed $6.8 million, and his cap hit is $14.5 million.
  • They also waived Malik McDowell, their 2017 second-round draft pick.
    • He gave himself a Jeff Kent prior to 2017 training camp, and never played a down due to concussion issues.

In the last three weeks, I enjoyed

• turning 50
• a week’s visit from my mother
• a trip to SF to see the Rugby World 7s
  • and apparently keep passing Zymm
• a Mariner’s game at Safeco.

In a week, I leave for a whisky-tasting tour of Scotland. Hopefully, by the time I get back the NFL season will actually be taking shape and not totally definitely bogged down in anthem-related issues.

Tonight’s sports:

• CFL:
  • Eskimos at Alouettes – 7:30PM | TSN
    • possibly including a QB appearance from JFF himself, given his recent trade to Montreal.
•  Futbol:
  • Tournament of Nations Women’s Soccer:
    • U.S. vs. Japan – 7:00PM | FS1
  • MLS:
    • Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC – 8:00PM | ESPN / TSN2
    • Los Angeles FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy – 10:30PM | ESPN / TSN2
• MLB:
  • Royals at Yankees – 7:00PM | Sportsnet / MLBN

GET WELL, MAESTRO!