NFL Noise:

• It’s Franchise Tag Day! Let’s see who didn’t sign a long-term deal & are taking the one-year Tag rate:
  • Patriots Guard Joe Thuney – $14.78 million.
    • First Patriots tag since 2015.
  • Chargers Tight End Hunter Henry – $10.767 million.
    • It’s due to his missing all of 2018 & four games from 2019 due to injury.
      • No long-term deal until he last a whole season.
  • Bucs Linebacker Shaq Barrett – $15.828 million
    • He has filed a grievance, claiming he should be paid as a DE and not a Linebacker, based on number of snaps at each position last season.
      • That would raise his Tag pay by almost $2.0 million.
  • Steelers Linebacker Bud Dupree – $15.828 million
    • Same grievance as Barrett.
  • Jaguars Defensive End Yannick Ngakoue – $17.788 million.
    • He wants a trade out of Duval, but the Jags aren’t likely to move him.
  • Cowboys QB Dak Prescott – $31.4 million
    • We’ve covered this before.
  • Giants Defensive Lineman Leonard Williams – $16.126 million
    • Wants a raise; Giants won’t pay – it’s the “Mike Brown” theorem.
  • Bengals WR AJ Green – $17.865 million.
    • As stated above – why pay top dollar when you can get away with 35 cents and fans still buy tickets?

• Texans WR Kenny Stills was arrested at a Breonna Taylor protest in Louisville Tuesday night. 
  • He was among a group of protesters who were arrested outside the Kentucky Attorney General’s private residence, demanding charges against the three officers involved in the shooting.
    • They all face felony charges of “intimidating a participant in the legal process”.
      • “Due to their refusal to leave the property and their attempts to influence the decision of the Attorney General with their actions,” was the statement the police gave for their actions.
  • Stills’ agent pointed out the incongruities:

Kenny Stills:
– stood on a lawn
– asked for justice
– got arrested

Cops that killed Breonna Taylor:
– kicked in her door
– killed her
– didn't get arrested@KSTiLLS has officially spent more time in jail fighting for justice than the known killers who killed Breonna Taylor.

— Ryan Williams (@RyanWilliamsA1) July 15, 2020

• The Packers are the latest team to announce no fans will be able to attend any preseason functions.
  • This includes their traditional “Family Night” practice and the one preseason game they are anticipating playing at home.
  • Of course, the real controversy will come when they try to ban “owners” from the events.

Tonight’s … entertainment? SPORTS!:

• Pro Graps:
  • Wrasslin’:
    • AEW Dynamite – 8:00PM | TNT / TSN2
      • “Fight for the Fallen”, featuring Jon Moxley (aka “Dean Ambrose” from WWE) versus Brian Cage.

        

    • NXT – 8:00PM | USA
      • The fallout from “The Great American Bash”
  • UFC: From Abu Dhabi: Kattar vs. Ige
    • Prelims – 7:00PM | ESPN / TSN5
    • Main Card – 10:00PM | ESPN / TSN5
  • Dark Side of the Ring – TSN2
    • 10:00 PM: The Killing of Bruiser Brody
    • 11:00 PM: The Last of the Von Erichs

• Left Turns:
  • NASCAR Cup Series:
    • All-Star Race – 8:30PM | FS1 / TSN3
      • The midseason All-Star Race from Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

• MLS Is Back Tournament:
  • Vancouver Whitecaps vs San Jose Earthquakes – 9:00 PM | TUDN / Twitter / TSN

• MLB:
  • Blue Jays Intrasquad Game #2 – 6:30PM | Sportsnet

I only included the baseball because I felt bad for Sportsnet, because they have nothing until baseball & hockey return. They are the redheaded sports channel of Canada.