Training Camp - Titans Ever On

The NFL on REO: The Deep Breath Before the Plunge

In this edition we talk celebrations, optimism, and the curious case of Colin Kaepernick. (1,243 words)

In Peter Jackson’s epic adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, there is a conversation that occurs early in the third film, The Return of the King, between the wizard Gandalf and Pippin the Hobbit. They have arrived at Minas Tirith, the last stronghold of man against the rising darkness of Mordor. After an eventful day, they stand at a balcony and look across the fields of Pelennor towards the dark mountains of Mordor. Pippin, restless and afraid, wonders why it is so unnaturally quiet. Gandalf, introspective and decidedly not full of assurances and hope, tells him that quiet is the “deep breath before the plunge.” Gandalf then delivers this line:

“The board is set. The pieces are moving.”

The message was clear: This was the quiet of armies amassing for battle. War was coming. It was at their doorstep. Everything was set and ready to go.

The NFL on REO: The Draft

Recap of the 2017 NFL draft, and a few other points of interest.

An Exhaustively Researched Hypothesis

The NFL just concluded the 2017 draft. As usual, it was three days full of excitement, drama, and way too many opinions. It also helped confirm in my mind a little hypothesis I have been developing for some time: The NFL is the girl in high school that is socially oblivious, dumb as a box of rocks, kind of a jerk, but is pretty hot. Allow me to elaborate. That girl from high school had no problem getting dates. All the dumb, hormone driven, high school boys could easily overlook her lack of intelligence, her meanness, or her propensity to say or do publicly embarrassing things because…hotness. All those other negative qualities did nothing to lessen her popularity with the guys. That’s the NFL.

The NFL draft is three days of the NFL showing off, patting themselves on the back, and doing it all in the most bombastic and cringe-worthy manner possible. And we still watch. Because hotness. The NFL is hot, has been hot for a long time, and will be hot for many more years to come. It will be hot until all the negatives about the sport finally surpass how attractive it is to fans. And believe me, that time is coming.

Titans Tuesday: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

Are you ready for some football?

Training Camp is here. That means, in less than two weeks, the Titans will play in their first preseason game against the San Diego Chargers. And a month after that, on September 11, the Titans will play their first regular season game of the 2016 NFL season against the Minnesota Vikings.

Right now, at this very minute, there are 32 NFL teams with hope. Even the Browns. Every NFL season brings with it a renewed confidence, excitement and optimism. For the majority of teams in the NFL, those feelings will be thoroughly and violently crushed in a matter of months. But right now, everyone is dreaming big.