NFL News:

• Hilarious if true – the Cowboys “are not expected” to attempt to sign Earl Thomas. 
  • This works on a number of levels:
    • Two years ago, when Jason Garrett was coach, Thomas tweeted “come get me” to him.
      • Now Mike McCarthy is in charge, and he knows a thing or two about having to cater to prima donnas.
    • It severely undercuts his signing price.
      • If Baltimore is able to recoup their money, then teams have to pay him a full salary.
      • If the Cowboys openly don’t want him, then it undercuts his negotiating stance because people know the crazy guy with the fat chequebook isn’t lurking around the corner.
    • He must have something seriously wrong we don’t know about.
      • After all, Jerry Jones signed Greg Hardy.
      • He’s still dealing with the cheating & wife-pulls-gun scandal from back in May, which seems a decade ago now.

• Attendance updates:
  • No fans:
    • The 49ers – citing “the continuing COVID-19 health emergency and accompanying government restrictions” imposed by the state of California & Santa Clara County.
    • The Rams & their tenant – who came to the conclusion “after careful consideration and discussion with State and local health officials”, but they are leaving the door open for the possibility fans could attend later in the season.

• The Lions cancelled practice today to protest the police shooting in Kenosha, WI.
  • As a group, they walked out of the facility & had spokesmen speak to their anger over continued police abuse of authority. 
    • “We can’t be silent,” DE Trey Flowers said. “We can’t say silent. We cannot be going on in the world with our regular day. So today, unified we stand here and we came up with these words, these slogans, and we spread the message, spread the word.”
  • The Packers team & players issued their statements late Monday, and are deciding on what other response they will bring.

• A different social action the Lions are taking is to host City receiving boards on election night in November.
  • Ford Field will be home to eight of the 12 County receiving boards, to ensure outside integrity of the process.
    • A receiving board is used to check ballot returns and review paperwork from precincts throughout Election Day.
  • In addition, Lions office employees will be given the day off to assist the process.

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins – 7:00PM | NBCSN / Sportsnet
    • Game 2 – Bruins lead 1-0
  • Vegas Golden Knights vs. Vancouver Canucks – 9:45PM | NBCSN / CBC / Sportsnet
    • Game 2 – Vegas leads 1-0
• NBA:
  • Jazz vs. Nuggets – 6:30PM | TNT / TSN5
    • Game 5 – Jazz lead 3-1
  • Mavericks vs. Clippers – 9:00PM | TNT / TSN5
    • Game 5 – Series tied 2-2
•  WNBA:
  • Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm – 10:00PM | ESPN2
• MLB:
  • Blue Jays at Red Sox – 6:30PM | Sportsnet1
  • Orioles at Rays – 6:30PM | FS1
  • Dodgers at Giants – 9:30PM | FS1 / Sportsnet1
• MLS:
  • Montreal vs. Whitecaps FC – 8:00PM | TSN

A pretty solid night of sports and entertainment.