sitting on the jungle gym
MNF! Week 4
Former NFL Pro Bowl tight end, Russ Francis, was killed yesterday in an airplane crash.
Francis played 13 NFL seasons after being drafted by the Patriots in 1975. He excelled, earning three Pro Bowl nods by 1976. After a stint with the 49ers, he retired briefly to go into broadcasting, but returned in 1981. His comeback was pivotal, culminating in a key role for the 1984 Super Bowl-winning 49ers.
The plane crash crash happened in Lake Placid, home of Lana Del Rey, who just a couple weeks ago was spotted in Alabama recording at Muscle Shoals studio.
Muscle Shoals Sound recorded Del Rey along with the studio’s baby-grand piano, the same piano the original demo for Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” was cut on.
Forty-six years this month, a plane crash claimed the lives of three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, including lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and his sister and backup singer Cassie Gaines.
The band's name, "Lynyrd Skynyrd," is a tribute to Leonard Skinner, a high school gym teacher who was notorious for enforcing the school's strict haircut policy. He would send the band members to the principal's office for violating the policy.
The New York Times called him, "arguably the most influential high school gym teacher in American popular culture."
Another influential gym teacher includes Tom Coughlin, who began his coaching career as a high school physical education teacher and coach.
Tom Coughlin (second from right)
I could see this guy being a gym teacher:
Numbers
5: Joe Burrow is the 1st QB in NFL history to attempt at least 150 passes in his team's first 4 games of a season, and average fewer than 5 yards per attempt on those passes.
20: The C.J. Stroud Texans have won two straight by at least 20 points. For comparison, the Vikings last won a game by 20 points in 2019.
1: Zach Wilson is the only opposing QB to have more completions, more passing yards, more TD passes and fewer interceptions than Patrick Mahomes in a Mahomes start, college or pro.
1 [TRIVIA]: Which QB is this through four games?
QBR - 1st (84.8)
Comp. % - 3rd (72.3%)
CPOE - 8th (5.2%)
Pass yds. - 8th (1,019)
Yds./attempt - 2nd (9.1)
Ints. - T-1st (0)
QB Pts above replacement - 3rd (24.9)
EPA/dropback - 1st (0.35)
Quotes
“He didn’t throw the flag until after [Michael Carter II] picked the ball up… I ain’t been in the league for a long time but I know that’s not how you do things.”
Sauce Gardner on the late flag
“No. Don’t ever say that.”
Kyle Shanahan after a reporter asked if he can imagine what it would have been like if he didn’t get McCaffrey
“It is but a scratch. Just a flesh wound.” When asked if the injury is actually a flesh wound or if he was quoting Monty Python, Herbert said, “That was just a quote.”
Justin Herbert on his finger
“I’m open. I’m always fucking open.”
Ja’Marr Chase after the loss to the Titans
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Picks
Monday, 10/1 @ 8:15pm
Seahawks (-2.5) at Giants
The Seahawks rank fourth in the league in adjusted line yards created at 4.6 yards per carry. The Giants front ranks 25th in rush defense according to DVOA. So far the New York defense has surrendered 70 rushing yards to Tony Pollard, 106 to James Conner and 85 to Christian McCaffrey.
Kenneth Walker III entered Week 4 ranked fourth in the league in forced missed tackles per attempt (.38) out of all runners with at least 20 carries.
Record
ATS: 11-12 (-0.08)
O/U: 5-6 (-0.46)