Sports this 'n' that

So the Mets dropped two of three to the NL East champion Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend. Like the Mets, the Dodgers had something to play for, and that is the #1 overall seed in the NL playoffs, which begin in two weeks.

So, of course, the headlines declared that the Mets' chances of reaching those playoffs are "dwindling". They open a 6 game road swing tonight in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. Online, fans are salivating over NL HR leader Pete Alonso possibly taking advantage of the thin air at Coors Field. We'll see.
=====================================
It's just the second week of the season, but some key players are already falling like dominoes in the NFL.

The Jets play at home tonight against Cleveland without QB Sam Darnold, out with a bout of mononucleosis. Former Denver QB Trevor Siemian will be under center, and will have a former teammate to throw to in Demaryius Thomas, who was acquired from New England last week. The game marks Odell Beckham Jr.' return to the Meadowlands since the Giants dealt him away for Gibrill Peppers in the offseason. Unfortunately for the Jets, even if they win, they have to go to New England next.
===============================
In Pittsburgh, QB Ben Roethlisberger's 16th season is already over after 2 weeks due to a non-contact elbow injury in a loss to Seattle. Mason Rudolph takes over. There's every reason to believe Big Ben may just get Wally Pipp'd by Rudolph.

And if you don't know what I mean, go back and read your baseball history books.
================================
Here's another reason why the New England Patriots are the NFL's Evil Empire.

I've often joked about coach Bill Belichick acting like he'd rather work for the CIA. Truth is, he wishes he was a college coach. The defending champs ran it up against Miami on Sunday, to the tune of 43-0. Yes, they want to play a full 60 minutes, but Belichick doesn't believe in preserving the long term health of his star players. Just ask Rob Gronkowski. Gronk was lost for the season in a blowout win over Indianapolis in 2012, still in the game at a point when the game was long decided because Belichick wanted to rub it in the way certain college teams do.

Fast forward to today, and the game's biggest diva, Tom Brady, who was still chucking late in the game against Miami even though the defense was pitching a shutout. Common sense tells us to pull the starters when the game is well in hand. They do it all the time in baseball, as the Mets demonstrated in two blowout wins over Arizona last week. They do it in high school football. Case in point being Troy High pulling some of their starters in the 3rd quarter against Amsterdam with the game already decided on Friday.

Brady wants to pad his stats to justify people claiming he's the greatest of all time, which he really isn't. Funny how a 6th round pick out of Michigan is one of the league's biggest bullies on the field today. He's forgotten how he missed most of 2008 after getting injured in the first quarter of week 1. New England didn't reach the Super Bowl that year, but it seems like they think they're the only AFC team that belongs there.

As another example of Patriot arrogance, rather than hold off on activating Antonio Brown, the Pats decided to let him play in front of his hometown fans in Miami. Yes, they're waiting for everything to sort itself out as it relates to allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse. And, yep, there's another case that has cropped up as of today.

Maybe it doesn't pay to play the Raiders for fools.
================================
The Giants are 0-2 after losing to Buffalo yesterday. Coach Pat Shurmur is openly questioning whether or not Eli Manning should still be the starting QB.

Here's the problem. Most of the Giants' receivers are out due to injuries (Sterling Shepherd) or suspension (Golden Tate). Reigning Offensive Rookie of The Year Saquon Barkley isn't getting enough touches. The defense is also inept and suspect. It's not going to get any better.
================================
New Orleans will have to turn to Teddy Bridgewater, who was a Jet for 15 minutes last year, at QB after Drew Brees broke his hand in a loss to the Rams. Why Minnesota gave up on Bridgewater, who's also been a backup in Baltimore, I'll never know.