MidValleySports.Com

By Joe Torosian

Kick it!

Jayden Daniels and his handlers have decided to go to war with LSU over the use of his name/image/likeness.

Daniels is upset because his #5 jersey was issued to another player. Now, it’s a battle.

LSU hasn’t issued Joe Burrow’s #9 to anyone since he won the Heisman…so I understand the hurt feelings…But Heaven’s gates, and Hell’s flames, Daniels, you’re the starting quarterback of the Washington TaxSkins! Stay focused.

Heard a comment today on Matthew Stafford’s injury history. In his second season, 2010, Stafford played in only three games. He didn’t miss another game for eight years. 

In 2019, Stafford played in eight games, and in 2022, as a result of the Rams’ offensive line chainsaw massacre, he appeared in only nine.

In 2023, he played in 15 games; in 2024, 16 games; and in 2025, 17 games. This doesn’t mean he’s immune to injury, but he certainly isn’t Joe Burrow.

Last Add Stafford: He’s played in 239 of a possible 277 games. In just six seasons, Burrow has already missed 20 games. 

I’ll say it again, I love the NFL pre-season… It’s about expectations. I don’t expect to see great football or a great game.

What I’m seeing is guys for the dream they’ve had since they first started playing pass and catch in the street. I love seeing who’s in the Practice Squad pipeline.

And I always enjoy saying, “Oh, that’s what happened to that guy.”

I’ve never spoken to a specialist on this…but thinking of Russell Westbrook and his 18 NBA seasons, 19 years counting UCLA, of being in the basketball conversation…How can someone play…commit all that time/energy/effort and not be a competent outside shooter?

I’m not slamming Westbrook’s career, but what chip are you missing that you can’t integrate competent into your game?

I’m not saying everyone has to shoot like Barry, Bird, or Steph…but only to shoot well enough where teams pay a price for cheating on you.

I can shoot the ball. I haven’t played in years, and I know I could go onto a court and have a more than a reasonable chance of hitting a 20-footer (25!) from the top of the key.

My basketball problem was too short, too slow, too unathletic, and being all earth. (Also grades, if I want to give all the reasons)

But I could shoot.

When you’re an NBA player, you’ve got one job…how can you not shoot?

Last Add Basketball: How long until somebody in the WNBA gets Tomjanovich’d?

The MLB brought back the “Field of Dreams” game…whatever…

Question: Is Tampa Bay, currently riding a nine-game winning streak, peaking too soon? When is the right time to peak in the MLB? Now? Late August? September?

#92—May the San Francisco Giants rot and lie stinking in the earth. 

Last Add Patrick Mahomes: The Kansas City Chiefs won two Super Bowls with Isiah Pacheco, a seventh-round pick, as its lead back. A competent running back can be found, but in a passing league even the best quarterback needs a number one receiver. KC is failing Mahomes.

And that’s why I like the Bolts and Broncos in the AFC West.

The Dude abides…

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