Super Bowl LV: The GOAT Debate Starts Or Ends Sunday Night

Tom Brady goat

What are the two worst words in sports? Answer: “GOAT Debate.” This time, the subjects are not Michael Jordan or LeBron James. The new GOAT debate between Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady will either start or end after Super Bowl LV.

Thanks to sports talk shows, the basketball GOAT debate has been shoved down our throats like Joey Chestnut’s hot dogs on July 4. Is Jordan better than LeBron? Is LeBron better than Jordan? Is six for six in the NBA Finals worth more than four wins in ten appearances? Jordan may have had the better peak, but LeBron has the longevity.

The only thing holding back the GOAT debate is time. MJ played in the 90s while LeBron played in the 2000s. The two icons never faced off in the NBA Finals, let alone a regular-season game. Had Jordan and LeBron played each other with the biggest prize on the line, the GOAT debate would cease to exist.

Unlike the NBA, the NFL’s quarterback GOAT debate will receive clarity on Sunday night when Mahomes and the Chiefs take on Brady and the Buccaneers.

Currently, Brady is the GOAT. Whether you believe that means he’s the greatest football player of all time or the greatest winner of all time is totally up to you. However, he’s the greatest quarterback to ever play in the NFL.

The numbers speak for themselves. 6x Super Bowl champion, 4x Super Bowl MVP, 3x NFL MVP, 2X Offensive Player of the year, and a partridge in a pear tree. The fact that 43-year-old Brady will be playing in his tenth Super Bowl on Sunday is mind-boggling.

There is only one current player who might be able to catch Brady’s stats and accomplishments. It just so happens that he’ll be on the other sideline Sunday night.

Many believe Mahomes is already the most gifted quarterback to ever play in the NFL. In just three seasons as a starter, Mahomes won a Super Bowl, a Super Bowl MVP, and an NFL MVP. Mahomes has only lost one playoff game in his career and that was to Brady’s Patriots. If Dee Ford doesn’t go offsides, he would be undefeated in the postseason. Keep in mind, Mahomes is only 25-years-old. With Andy Reid, Eric Bienemy, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill at his disposal, Mahomes and the Chiefs will be Super Bowl contenders for the next five years.

All of the pressure is on Mahomes. If he wants to be the GOAT, he will need to beat Brady on the biggest stage. He needs to avenge his loss in the AFC Championship and win his second Super Bowl. If Mahomes beats Brady, he’s not the GOAT, but he’s on the right trajectory.

For argument’s sake, let’s say the Chiefs win Sunday night, Mahomes wins MVP, and they win the championship the following year. That means Mahomes would be the catalyst for the first three-peat since the NFL merger. Plus, Mahomes would have the key victory over Brady in the Super Bowl. There would still be some work left to do, but you could make the argument that three straight Super Bowls including one over the GOAT rank higher than Brady’s six. I personally wouldn’t crown Mahomes the GOAT just yet, but if he were to win four to five championships including the important one over Brady, it would be difficult to not call Mahomes the GOAT.

On the flip side, if Brady beats Mahomes on Sunday, the GOAT debate ends right there. It would be dead on arrival. It would be seven to one in terms of championships. Brady would hold wins over Mahomes in the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl. No matter what Mahomes does the rest of his career, not beating Brady in the two biggest games of the season would a giant blunder on his resume. For Brady, a win on Sunday gives him an insurmountable lead over Mahomes.

Sports talk shows will run GOAT debates until the end of time. After Super Bowl LV, they will either intensify or disappear at the quarterback position.

Who will come out on top in Super Bowl LV? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Andy Reid needs a Super Bowl Victory to Cement His HOF Legacy

Is this the season Andy Reid changes his legacy?

At 61 years old, with 21 years of head coaching experience, his teams experienced incredible regular season success. Of 21 season with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, he only missed the playoffs six times. Most recently, with Kansas City, their regular-season records include:

  • 11-5
  • 9-7
  • 11-6
  • 12-4
  • 10-6
  • 12-4
  • 12-4

His teams won 10 division titles and they had an overall 61.8-percent winning percentage. But, even with all of the wins, his teams have still fallen short of the big game. Andy Reid is largely looked at one of the greatest coaches to never win a Super Bowl. He’s been called out for poor clock-management, letting his foot off the gas and losing in critical games. His 12-14 playoff record hangs over any of his feats. And he’s ridiculed for it every, single season.

But, with a Super Bowl victory, he can change all of that and vault himself into a new category of NFL coaches.

Andy Reid’s coaching tree is already better than Bill Belichick’s

Everyone knows Bill Belichick’s success with the New England Patriots is otherworldly. However, his coaching tree produced very few winners. In a recent article by Matt Lombardo of NJ Advance Media, he compared in detail the differences between Andy Reid and Belichick’s legacy of head coaches. In comparison, Reid’s successors are far better in comparison:

Belichick’s Coaching Tree

  • Combined Record: 281-330-1
  • Playoff Appearances: 8
  • Super Bowl Titles: 0

Reid’s Coaching Tree

  • Combined Record: 350-307-1
  • Playoff Appearances: 19
  • Super Bowl Titles: 2

Even without a Super Bowl title himself, Andy Reid’s success lives through his coaching tree. Although, if Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and the Kansas City Chiefs win this year’s Super Bowl, his legacy will boom.

Andy Reid, Offensive Genius

With respect to Philadelphia and Kansas City’s scouting, drafting and signing, Andy Reid’s coached so many offensive powerhouses. It takes only a second to think of incredible playmakers from the Eagles and Chiefs. Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy, Terrell Owens, and DeSean Jackson highlight his years in Philadelphia. While Patrick Mahomes, Jamaal Charles, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce are huge in Kansas City.

But, even without the superstars, he’s gotten the most out of every running back and receiver on his teams. He even made Alex Smith look like an NFL MVP. Regardless of the players available, Reid’s teams put up points. 13 of his 21 teams ranked in the top-10 of offensive points per game in their respective seasons. Additionally, nine of them ranked in the top-six in scoring offense.

Now, with Patrick Mahomes at the helm with Travis Kelce, Tryreek Hill, Damien Williams, Mecole Hardman, and Sammy Watkins to utilize, Reid’s offense is at full force. This offensive power was on display in their 51-31 win against the Houston Texans. With a Super Bowl victory, Andy Reid’s genius will be immortalized.

Reid is too good to not have a ring

In his two decades of experience, Andy Reid amassed 207 wins, 10 division titles, and one Super Bowl appearance. In terms of head coaching success, Reid ranks seventh all-time in regular-season wins. Don Shula, George Hala, Bill Belichick, Tom Landry, Curly Lambeau, Paul Brown and Marty Schottenheimer each join him in the 200-plus win club.

Despite his exceptional company, he is the only one of them without an NFL title. This Super Bowl victory would vault him into the discussion of a future Hall of Fame coach.

Andy Reid has the wins. He’s known as an offensive genius. Any layman can name countless elite players from his teams. All he needs is two more wins to get the respect he deserves.

Don’t Let the Jay-Z and NFL Partnership Co-opt Kaepernick’s Movement

Jay-Z and NFL Partnership RocNation

What a week it has been for the NFL and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z. Last Tuesday, it was leaked that the newly minted billionaire entered into a partnership with the NFL. The following day, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Jay-Z held a press conference at the Roc Nation New York office to formally announce their partnership.

Roc Nation will now serve as the NFL’s official Live Music Entertainment Strategists. As a part of the partnership, Roc Nation and the NFL has committed to nurturing and strengthening the community through music and the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative. Upon the initial announcement and after the press conference, the sports and hip-hop community went into a frenzy. Critics immediately began calling Jay-Z a sell-out, leading to days of debate about Jay-Z’s handling of the deal. Here we are yet again focusing on the wrong issue in regards to Colin Kaepernick’s protest.

Every season, Kaepernick’s message and general-purpose gets co-opted by something. In 2016-2017 it was overtaken by those who wanted to make his protest about the United States flag and military and use it for political capital. Last year, it was the rift between Eric Reid, Malcolm Jenkins, and the Players Coalition. This year it is Jay-Z’s partnership with the NFL. While Jay-Z may deserve some criticism, calling him a sellout is going a bit far. People should not rush to judge this partnership, let’s see how it plays out. There is likely to be a lot of good that comes out it. Most importantly, people should not allow Kaepernick’s message to get lost in the noise over this partnership.

Colin Kaepernick’s Sacrifice

Three years ago, Colin Kaepernick began protesting police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem. Kaepernick began his protest in the wake of the brutal deaths of Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, and countless others who lost their lives at the hands of law enforcement. Kaepernick stated clearly that his protest was about police brutality. However, many viewed his protest as disrespectful to the United States flag and military. As a result, the country became very divided on the issue. Kaepernick was subsequently blackballed from the league. Kaepernick still does not have a job with the NFL.

Why Some Are Calling Jay-Z a Sellout for Entering into the Partnership

As a result of Kaepernick’s protest and some other issues, the NFL’s image has been suffering. The NFL is fighting concussion cases in court. The league continuously has to address its poor and inconsistent handling of domestic violence cases. Perhaps the thorniest thorn in the NFL’s side is Colin Kaepernick. Although the NFL settled the collusion grievance with Kaepernick, the NFL still cannot shake the effects of his protest. Players are still kneeling, which angers a certain demographic of the NFL’s fan base. Countless artists turned down the invitation to perform during the Super Bowl half-time show in solidarity with Kaepernick. One of those artists was Jay-Z.

Jay-Z was one of the Loudest Critics of the NFL

Jay-Z has been one of the most vocal critics of the NFL for their blackballing of Colin Kaepernick. He wore a Kaepernick jersey on Saturday Night Live in 2017. Last summer, Jay-Z famously criticized the NFL in the Carters hit single ApeShit. Jay-Z stated, “I said no the Super Bowl, You need me, I don’t need you. Every night we in the end zone, Tell the NFL we in stadiums too.”  Jay-Z also reportedly encouraged other artists to “say no” to the Super Bowl. It is for these reasons that some have called Jay-Z is a sellout for creating this partnership. It is for these reasons that many were baffled by the partnership and wondered how it came to be.

Labeling Jay-Z a Sellout is Going a bit Far and the Debate Runs of the Risk of Co-Opting Kaepernick’s Movement

While Jay-Z may deserve some criticism for this deal, labeling him as a sell-out is going a bit far. He has done a lot for the black community. Jay-Z has been a major proponent of criminal justice reform. He created a platform for the Trayvon Martin docu-series. Jay-Z tried to help Kalief Browder, a teen who was incarcerated in Rikers Island for three years after being wrongfully accused of robbery. Browder spent a great amount of his imprisonment in solitary confinement. He ultimately committed suicide after he was released. Jay-Z made sure everyone knew his story. He has demonstrated a commitment to social justice and criminal justice reform. Jay-Z should have to answer questions about the deal, particularly what changed his mind about working with the NFL. However, labeling him as a sell-out is going a bit far.

It is true that Jay-Z should have handled the optics surrounding the announcement of the partnership better. He certainly should have found a better way to answer the question about if he would kneel. He should not have said that “we are past kneeling.” Doing that only fed into the narrative that the NFL wants to create. That narrative is that players should be past kneeling. Look we have this deal with Jay-Z to promote social justice, so there is no need to kneel. However, that view is wrong and should be dismissed.

Police brutality is still an issue. There is certainly still a reason to kneel for any player who chooses to protest in that way. Jay-Z also stated in the press conference that he supports any protest that is effective. There is no question that Kaepernick’s kneeling has been effective. It certainly has. However, the media did not focus on that. Again taking the focus from why Kaepernick kneeled in the first place. Focusing on Jay-Z’s words has allowed the message of the movement to be co-opted yet again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upTgCskHvi0

Let’s Refocus on the Issues Kaepernick Gave his Career for

Focusing on whether Jay-Z is a sellout is giving the NFL what they want. Instead of talking about police brutality and other issues that plague minority communities, everyone is debating if Jay-Z is a sell-out. These are the wrong questions to focus on. The focus should be on police brutality and what this partnership is going to do to combat the issue. This partnership should be held to a high standard. The partnership must produce tangible outcomes for the betterment of dealing with police brutality and other social causes. In the end, that is what Jay-Z stated he wants with this partnership to do in the press conference.

Jay-Z had to know that this deal was going to be met with the exact criticism that it has received. With that knowledge, it is likely that he is working towards something greater that has yet to reveal itself. Perhaps his greater plan could be in the reports that he may acquire an ownership interest in an NFL team. Having minority ownership could go a long way in the NFL. If that happens, perhaps Jay-Z could help Kaepernick get on a team.

At the very least, Jay-Z could bring a perspective to NFL ownership that has never been there. He could tell them that it is not tolerable to refer to NFL players as inmates. Perhaps as an owner Jay-Z can help make sure that the next player who takes a stand like Kaepernick does not lose his career for it. Let’s not rush to judgment. Let’s see how this partnership plays out.

Why Do Fans Wait Until Great Athletes Retire to Openly Appreciate Their Greatness?

great athletes kobe lebron brady not appreciated

Avid football fans tuned in to watch the NFL’s most exciting event, Super Bowl LIII. The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams in a “defensive showdown”. It was the Patriots third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. It was also the franchises ninth Super Bowl appearance with head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady at the helm. Given that Brady was successful in his ninth Super Bowl appearance, the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) debate has been embedded in almost every conversation. The ultimate question is – does this Super Bowl win solidify Tom Brady’s position as the GOAT?

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While the GOAT debate can be fun, it can also be pretty contentious. The contentious nature of the debate can deflect from the true greatness that sports fans are witnessing at the moment. The debate can cause sports fans to completely miss what it is happening because fans are focused on finding flaws in great players’ performances to justify who they think should be regarded as the GOAT. Accordingly, fans have a tendency to snub athletes during their careers who are later regarded as greats. Why do sports fans wait until the end of an athlete’s career to show their true appreciation?

The Black Mamba – An NBA Legend

One of the best examples of fans failing to show true appreciation until the athlete retires can be seen in former Los Angeles Laker, Kobe Bryant. Bryant is without question one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Bryant’s greatness cannot be disputed. After all, he scored 81 points in one game in his prime. Bryant then showed everyone how to retire when he scored 60 points in his final game. However, Bryant did not receive all of his deserved accolades until he retired. For years Kobe Bryant was one of the most hated athletes in sports. People thought he was arrogant, not a team player, and completely self-interested.

However, when he announced his retirement those sentiments changed. Instead, people said he was confident, made his teammates better, and led his teammates to several victories and NBA Championships. Everyone was ready to embrace the “Mamba Mentality.” Why did fans wait until Bryant’s retirement to show true appreciation for his performance in the NBA?

Maybe it is the old adage of not truly being able to appreciate something until it is gone. Once an athlete retires, fans are left wishing they could re-live the athlete’s greatest moments. The failure to truly appreciate Bryant while he was playing robbed the sports world of the opportunity to truly bask in his greatness. It seems that the sports world may be on the same track in regards to LeBron James and Tom Brady.

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Fans are Failing to Acknowledge LeBron James’ and Tom Brady’s Greatness While They are Playing

LeBron James is undisputedly one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. However, when he is talked about that fact seems to get lost. Fans often focus on the fact that he is 3-9 in the NBA Finals. However, when he retires the story will likely be re-framed to reflect the fact that James appeared in 8 consecutive NBA finals. Most recently, everyone talks of the fact that the Cavaliers were swept in the 2018 NBA Finals. Again when James retires the story will most likely reflect the fact that James took what was probably the most unlikely team ever to the NBA Finals.

Similarly, Tom Brady is and has been one of the most hated players in the NFL. Tom Brady’s ability to get his team to multiple playoffs, AFC Championships, and Super Bowls is truly remarkable. However, some sports critics find ways to poke holes in his performances. To be fair, in light of Spygate and Deflategate some of his criticism is earned. Critics use those instances to take away from his greatness. In spite of how some sports fans feel about those controversies, Brady’s innate ability to constantly have his team in a position to advance to the Super Bowl is nothing short of amazing. When Brady retires the talk will not be of Spygate and Deflategate, it will be about how Brady managed to advance to 9 Super Bowls.

If Fans Are Not Careful Other Great Moments are Going to Pass Them By

Sports fans should learn to appreciate James, Brady, and other greats while they are still playing. Fans should learn to stop looking at every player’s performance for what it is not and start to appreciate it for it is. In most cases, the players are doing something that has not been before and will probably never be done again. Just simply witnessing the longevity of James’ and Brady’s careers is remarkable.

The fact that James and Brady have been able to stay at the top of their games this late in their careers is remarkable as well. Their greatness should be admired now, not after they retire. If fans do not learn to stop being so critical, other great moments are going to pass them by. If fans are not careful, they will be left to wish they could re-live James’ and Brady’s and other players’ greatest moments.

Leave a comment with who do you believe are the most under appreciated athletes of all time?


Julian Edelman is Not a Hall of Fame NFL Player: Stop the Nonsense

Julian Edelman Patriots Super Bowl MVP

We all have to acknowledge that Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is a really good wide receiver. He is clutch and a great playoff performer. However, all this talk about him being a Hall of Fame wide receiver is insanity. He has never been to a Pro Bowl or been selected to an All-Pro team. Edelman has 499 career receptions for 5,390 yards and 30 touchdowns. Those numbers barely put him within the top 300 receivers of all-time. Edelman’s stats put him closer to the Brandon LaFell’s and Deion Branch’s of the world than Hall of Fame receivers.

Do these look like the stats of a Hall of Fame player? Yet, NFL analyst continued to make the irrational case for Edelman.

Sidenote: No one is mentioning that Edelman was suspended for the first four games of the 2019 season for PEDs. Shouldn’t that matter?

Issac Bruce, Hines Ward, and Chad Johnson are just a few players who were head and shoulders better receivers than Julian Edelman is and none of them are in the Hall of Fame. All have nearly doubled his career stats in every statistical category. So why this became a topic of discussion is beyond me.

Edelman Won the Super Bowl MVP

Edelman will join Dexter Jackson, Desmond Howard, Mark Rypien, Phil Sims, and Jim Plunkett on the long list of Super Bowl MVP’s who didn’t make the Hall of Fame. There is a reason players aren’t eligible to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame until after they have been out of the game for five years. It allows voters to have an objective view of the players without recent history influencing the votes.

Tom Brady and the Patriots have won four Super Bowls without Edelman. Deion Branch, Wes Welker, and James White all looked like Hall of Fame players with Brady as well.

Leave a comment with your opinion on Julian Edelman and the Hall of fame.

Super Bowl VIII: Best Prop Bets

The Super Bowl is not only the championship game in the NFL, but it’s the championship game for gambling. The Super Bowl is one of the biggest gambling days of the year. In 1991, $40 million was bet on the Super Bowl. In 2018, the total was over $158 million and 2019 is expected to be higher than that.

One of the reasons why the total has grown exponentially is the rise of the prop bet. Prop bets are bets that can be made that don’t necessarily impact the final outcome of the game. Instead of betting who will win the game, gamblers can bet things like score at the end of the first quarter, the coin toss, and the color of the gatorade that will be poured on the winning coach. Prop bets entice and allow non-gamblers to bet during the Super Bowl without knowing anything about football.

Prop bets elevate the Super Bowl viewing experience. What prop bets should you invest in? There are hundreds of prop bets that can be made, but I’m going to break down a few of my favorite ones.

*Odds were taken on 2/2 from Bovada unless otherwise noted*

Gladys Knight Over/Under 1:49 To Sing The National Anthem

The time of the National Anthem is my personal favorite prop bet. There is no better rush than pulling out your stopwatch and timing the national anthem. Type in “Gladys Knight National Anthem” and you will find dozens of articles that evaluate her singing ability and how it will translate to the National Anthem. FiveThirtyEight did on study on covers sung by Gladys Knight and learned that her versions were 7% longer than the originals, which is good for a bonus of 12.7 seconds. Plus, men tend to sing the anthem more quickly than women. I expect Knight to sing a powerful rendition of the anthem that is full of soul and high notes. Bet the over.

Over 1:49

Tom Brady Over/Under 37.5 Passing Attempts

During the regular season, Tom Brady threw over 37.5 passing attempts in only 5 games. However, Brady shattered that number in both playoff games with totals of 44 and 46. In his last three Super Bowls, Brady’s passing attempts average is approximately 53. With Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh in the middle of the Rams’ defense, expect Tom Brady to get the ball out of his hands quickly as the Pats should elect to throw a lot of short passes instead of runs. Bet the over.

Over 37.5

What Will Be The First Song Performed By Maroon 5?

  • Makes Me Wonder         +EVEN
  • One More Night              +550
  • Moves Like Jagger         +600
  • Animals                           +700
  • Sugar                              +900
  • Girls Like You                 +900

*Lines taken from OddsShark*

Who is ready for some Maroon 5 at halftime? Want to make their performance more interesting? To do that, bet on the first song they will sing! To break down this list, I’m using process of elimination. “Sugar” and “Animals” get the ax because they were not number one hits. I’m eliminating “Girls Like You” because Cardi B is not scheduled to perform. Even if Cardi B surprisingly shows up and performs the song, Maroon 5 would never open with a song that featured another artist. It’s the band’s time to shine, not Cardi’s time. I’m also eliminating “Moves Like Jagger” for the same reason I eliminated “Girls Like You.” Even if Christina Aguilera shows up to perform, it would not be for the first song. That leaves us with two choices, “Makes Me Wonder” and “One More Night.” My pick is “Makes Me Wonder” because it was Maroon 5’s first number one hit and it’s a more upbeat song.

Makes Me Wonder +EVEN

Enjoy the Super Bowl!

The NFL Needs to Mirror College Football’s Overtime Rules

nfl Overtime Rules college football

On Sunday, football fans witnessed one of the most exciting NFL Championship Sundays ever. Both the NFC Championship game and the AFC Championship game went into overtime. There is nothing better than watching two teams fight it out so effectively that the game ends in a tie and is forced into overtime. Overtime is almost like a second game where both teams get an equal shot at becoming the victor. However, that is not exactly true for NFL overtimes.

A Coin Toss Decided the Outcomes of Both Championships

To no one’s surprise, the teams that won the two coin tosses won the games. The implementation of the “sudden death” rule on Sunday left many fans upset that each game was essentially decided by a coin toss. The games were decided by a coin toss as it was an almost certainty that the team that won the toss would take possession, score first, and win. Both teams did exactly that.

Although some may argue that the NFC Championship game was decided by a blown call at the end of the fourth quarter, the game still went into overtime.  The team that won the toss, the Los Angeles Rams, won the game without the New Orleans Saints ever getting an opportunity to score. In the AFC Championship game the team that won the toss, the New England Patriots, won the game without the Kansas City Chiefs ever getting an opportunity to score.  Accordingly, fans were upset that the NFC and AFC Championship games were essentially decided by a coin toss.

The NFL Needs to Change This, Especially for Championship Games

The NFL needs to change this. This is especially true as it pertains to championship games. The team that does not take possession at kickoff (usually the team who loses the toss) is essentially at an unfair disadvantage. Some may argue that there is no disadvantage because the defense should be able to hold off the opposing offense. This is a fair argument. However, it would be better if both teams were guaranteed a chance to perform on both offense and defense. Such a change would ultimately make the game more competitive. It would force both teams to prove they deserve to win offensively and defensively.

The NFL Needs to Adopt Some Variation of College Football’s Overtime Rules

The college football overtime rules are much better than the NFL’s. The NFL can certainly learn from college football in this area. Like the NFL, overtime in college starts with a coin toss.  Where it differs is in the fact that both teams are guaranteed a possession.  This means that both teams will have the opportunity to play both offense and defense. This is better because it forces both teams to earn the win on both ends of the field.  

If the team that gets the ball first scores, they must defend it and hold off the other team’s offense. The college overtime period starts at the 25-yard line.[i] If the game is still tied at the end of the overtime period it keeps going until a team wins.[ii] However, once the game reaches a third overtime period, the teams may no longer kick after a touchdown and are forced to attempt a two-point conversion.[iii] This goes on until a team wins.

Some may argue that this type of overtime makes for a long game.  That is true, a game could be extremely long if both teams keep scoring.  However, that is an extremely rare occurrence. Even with that possibility, the NFL needs to consider some variation of college football’s overtime rules.  Allowing who gets to advance to the Super Bowl to be determined by a coin toss is simply unacceptable.

[i] Chris Chavez, How Does College Football Overtime Work? Rule, NFL Differences Explained, Sports Illustrated (Aug. 14, 2017), https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/college-football-overtime-rules-explained.

[ii] Id.

[iii] Id.

Stop Calling Travis Scott and Big Boi Sellouts for Performing at Super Bowl Halftime

Super Bowl Halftime Big Boi Travis Scott

The Super Bowl, America’s most anticipated and exhilarating sporting event of the year is rapidly approaching. It is also one of music’s most anticipated and exciting events of the year. Everyone waits to see who will headline the halftime show, just as everyone waits to see what two teams will face off for the Lombardi Trophy. Being asked to perform for the Super Bowl is one of music’s greatest honors. Such a request is symbolic of “making it” as a music artist. Being asked to perform at the Super Bowl carries a certain level of prestige. Some of the greatest entertainers of all time have graced that stage. Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince have all performed during Super Bowl halftime. It would seem that any and every artist would jump at the opportunity to perform for the Super Bowl. Right?

“I said no to the Super Bowl…You need me; I don’t need you.”

Perhaps before 2016, any artist would have jumped at the opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl. However, things have changed. Ever since the NFL blackballed former San Fransico 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for protesting racial injustices, there has a been a growing trend amongst the hip-hop community to “say no to the Super Bowl.” Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z reportedly declined the invitation to perform during Super Bowl LII last year. He confirmed the story this summer in the hit Apes**t. In that song, he stated: “I said no to the Super Bowl/You need me, I don’t need you/Every night we in the end zone/Tell the NFL we in stadiums too.” In the video, he had men kneel signaling to everyone that he declined the offer in support of Kaepernick.

This year’s Super Bowl halftime performance was met with the same trend. Various artist including Rihanna and Cardi B reportedly declined the invitation to perform. Accordingly, declining the invitation to perform at the Super Bowl has become a showing of solidarity with Kaepernick. However, is saying no the Super Bowl the only way to show support for Colin Kaepernick and the cause he sacrificed his career for? Apparently, some think so given the reaction to Travis Scott and Big Boi agreeing to perform in this year’s halftime show. The rappers have been called sellouts for their willingness to perform for the league that is continuing to blackball Kaepernick. However, when all things are considered surrounding their agreements to perform labeling them as sellouts is an incorrect assessment.

It is Foolish to Call Big Boi and Travis Scott Sellouts

Before this question can be answered, it is important to understand some of the context surrounding this year’s Super Bowl halftime performance. Super Bowl LIII is going to take place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta is and has been a hotbed for hip-hop for the last 20 plus years. Given this prime location, musicians and fans alike expected the halftime show to be a who’s who of Atlanta hip-hop royalty.

Unfortunately, those expectations were crushed when the NFL announced that the Calfornia native pop group Maroon 5 would be Super Bowl LIII’s headlining act. First and foremost, Maroon 5 is a deserving act. However, fans were rightfully outraged as they could not understand how the NFL could overlook all of the musical talents that have come out of Atlanta. Therefore, fans were outraged that artists such as Usher, Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri, and a host of other Atlanta artists were snubbed for the halftime show.

After the outrage regarding the lack of Atlanta artists, it seems that they tried to make it right by asking Big Boi to join the show. Big Bio is an Atlanta native and is one half of the legendary group Outkast. Once Big Boi accepted he became the subject of unfounded criticism.  He accepted the opportunity to perform at the same Super Bowl that everyone was initially upset had no Atlanta representation.  Then all of a sudden everyone was upset with him for accepting the bid.

Big Boi was immediately regarded as a sellout for accepting the very opportunity that everyone was upset was not given to an Atlanta artist. In what world does that make sense? It cannot be both ways. One cannot be mad that no Atlanta artists were initially represented and then be mad when an Atlanta artist takes the opportunity to represent the city. Perhaps that is the very reason Big Boi decided to perform, to represent his hometown and all of the musical greatness that has hailed from Atlanta.

There is More Than One Way to Show Support

How can someone who garnered a donation to a social justice cause in exchange for their performance be deemed a sellout? Before Travis Scott finalized his agreement to perform, he made the NFL agree to donate money to a social justice cause. Specifically, he made the NFL agree to match his $500,000 donation to Dream Corp. This donation is proof that “saying no to the Super Bowl” is not the only way an artist can show their support for social causes.

Opting out of performing for the Super Bowl is a great way to show support for Colin Kaepernick and the causes he sacrificed his career for.  It is nice to see some members of the hip-hop community come together and refuse to do the Super Bowl performance as a sign of solidarity with Kaepernick.  However, that does not mean that is the only way to show support. Travis Scott supported social justice issues with his donation.  Big Boi is representing Atlanta for all those who wanted to see Atlanta represented on the stage.  With all things considered Travis Scott’s and Big Boi’s willingness to perform doesn’t make them a sellout.

Most importantly, you have no right to call anyone a sellout if you watch the Super Bowl or have watched one single second of NFL football since Kaepernick has been blackballed.

Philip Rivers Could Be NFL MVP: Just in Case You Didn’t Know

Patrick Mahomes is the odds-on favorite to win the MVP, but there is one player that is gaining ground quickly. It’s not Drew Brees. It’s not Andrew Luck. It’s not Aaron Donald or Khalil Mack. Philip Rivers is that player!

Why is Philip Rivers all of a sudden on MVP ballots? Beating the division-leading Chiefs on the road in primetime to keep the Los Angeles Chargers in the hunt not just for the AFC West, but home field advantage throughout the playoffs is a good start. Also, this throw helps…a lot.

Rivers is capitalizing off of the “what have you done for me lately,” theory. Recency bias tends to happen with awards and although Mahomes has had a spectacular season, Rivers recently shined when the lights were brightest. In the biggest game of the season on the biggest stage, it was Rivers, not Mahomes, who delivered late. Down 14 points in the fourth quarter, Rivers led the Chargers on two straight drives that ended in touchdowns with the exclamation point coming in the form of a 2-point conversation with 4 seconds left to give the Chargers their first lead of the entire night, which ended up being the difference over the Chiefs. Also, keep in mind that Rivers did not have his top wide receiver, running back, or tight end in the lineup in the 4th quarter.

Although Drew Brees is second in the odds for MVP, the Saints QB has struggled in his past three games with only 531 yards, 2 TDs, and 3 INTs. If Brees struggles again this week at home against the Steelers, his decline in the MVP race will continue.

However, while we’re on the topic of the last three games, let’s take a look at the numbers from both Mahomes and Rivers.

Mahomes: 915 yards, 8 TDs, 1 INTs

Rivers: 832, 5 TDs, 2 INTs

Mahomes’s numbers are better on paper, but they don’t really tell the story during that three game stretch. Mahomes struggled against Baltimore the entire game and had it not been for a miraculous throw to Tyreek Hill; the Chiefs would have been losers of two straight games, bouncing them from the top of the AFC to the 5th seed. The yards and touchdowns favor Mahomes tremendously, but if you take a closer look at the completion numbers and records of each team, the race is not as wide as portrayed by the oddsmakers.

Also, if you can believe this, Rivers has more games with multiple touchdowns (13), which is first in the NFL, than Mahomes (12). Plus, voters are more likely to remember Rivers’ late-game comeback win over Mahomes than Mahomes’ 4 TD performance Week 1 over the Chargers.

There is no doubt in my mind that if the season ended today, Patrick Mahomes would win the MVP (and rightfully so). However, there are still two weeks left with huge playoff implications on the line. The Chiefs and Chargers are currently tied for first in the AFC West with 11-3 records. The Chiefs currently hold the tiebreaker so if both teams win out, the Chiefs would not only win the AFC West, but they would earn the #1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. One misstep by Mahomes and it could result in the 5 seed.

Rivers is going to have to play out of his mind these next two weeks to gain momentum for his MVP campaign. First of all, Mahomes will have to struggle mightily, which hasn’t happened all season long. Mahomes and the Chiefs travel to Seattle on Sunday night, which is no easy task, and finish off the season at home against the Raiders. If Mahomes throws multiple interceptions in both games with little to no touchdowns, Rivers has a chance to steal votes away. With a game at home against Baltimore and a game on the road against Denver, if Rivers can light up the scoreboard and throw for 6+ touchdowns that result in two wins, Rivers will have a legitimate case to win the MVP.

Philip Rivers is not a traditional long shot since he is third in the MVP odds. That being said, Mahomes has been at the top of the ballot all season long while Rivers has not even been in the top 5 for most of the season. Can Rivers actually unseat Mahomes from the MVP race despite? It seems impossible, but with the ball in his hands, Rivers won’t go down without a fight.