20 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Not for long. With the ankle and ACL behind her and now in the WNBA, it’s only a matter of time before they discover Page Bueckers. Minnesota gal, so I suspect that blonde hair may be real. She’s a willing passer and has a great game. Just drafted this year. She has a fashion sense to rival Angel Reese. Same size as Clark. Don’t take this as a slam on Clark. I just think Bueckers has ability to rival Clark and is possibly more marketable.

Per ESPN stats:

Bueckers is averaging 18.4 points, 5.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocks over 35.6 minutes per game this season while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range.

All the better. The league needs stars. They have a chance because the NBA is almost unwatchable. Their game is not just dunking and shooting threes.

1 hour ago, bpac55 said:

So much for all the anticipation. Looks like the Flyers off-season was a bunch of 1-year deals and a 2-year platoon goalie.

You’re forgetting kind of a crappy job at drafting.

16 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

You’re forgetting kind of a crappy job at drafting.

I honestly don't know about the draft yet. The NHL draft can be such a crap shoot, especially if no one is NHL ready. It was underwhelming in terms of having so many 1st and 2nd round picks and only Zegras as brought in. They better have big plans for next year.

13 hours ago, Iggles_Phan said:

What about an irrational number?

The Bengals had a guy on their team back in the seventies or eighties who wanted to wear that but wasn’t allowed to. He was also the only player in history who ever got a perfect score on the Wonderlic test. Harvard grad, I believe.

10 hours ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Understood. But for me, that defensive performance should have been rewarded with SOME player on the defense getting the MVP award, Sweat just seemed like the best choice of that group. But, like I said, that will almost never happen again. Even before the league leaned super heavy bias to offense and specifically to the QB, defensive MVPs are already ridiculously rare in the history of the Super Bowl.

Heck, back in the early days of the Super Bowl, a linebacker from the LOSING team actually won the MVP!!

16 hours ago, just relax said:

t would explain a lot.

He would still have the worst jump shot in the WNBA.

10 hours ago, Alphagrand said:

You’re forgetting kind of a crappy job at drafting.

The Porter Martone pick seems like it was decent. I think the opinions are mixed on Nesbitt. The NHL draft is difficult because of the age eligibility aspect of it. They have repeatedly taken players like Nolan Patrick that they have failed to develop.

This must have taken some time.

BDN makes an appearance

11 hours ago, just relax said:

All the better. The league needs stars. They have a chance because the NBA is almost unwatchable. Their game is not just dunking and shooting threes.

Isn't that what makes Clark so exciting? I thought 90% of the appeal was how bonkers her range is.

7 hours ago, FranklinFldEBUpper said:

Heck, back in the early days of the Super Bowl, a linebacker from the LOSING team actually won the MVP!!

I was just looking back to the last defensive player to win it and it was Von Miller. His stat line wasn't as good as Sweat's was. The difference was probably that Denver only scored 24 points.

58 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

He would still have the worst jump shot in the WNBA.

The Porter Martone pick seems like it was decent. I think the opinions are mixed on Nesbitt. The NHL draft is difficult because of the age eligibility aspect of it. They have repeatedly taken players like Nolan Patrick that they have failed to develop.

The opinions shouldn’t be mixed. They used both picks 22 and 31 to draft a player ranked lower than 31 on the consensus draft boards.

I hope he scores 65-70 points per season and lives up to the pick — but the process and value was horrible.

This video explains why the 2023 Eagles Offense was so woeful in the collapse. It is well worth the watch.

What I would love to see is having Kollman assess the 2024 Eagles in terms of how they addressed the very real issues he brings up in the video.

Truly a League of their own, the Women’s Pro Baseball League is having tryouts from August 22-25. Can it survive the competition from the MLB backed Athletes United Softball League? A regular XFL v USFL dilemma. Can either surpass the American Cornhole League in revenues? Can any of those take away from the entertainment dollars devoted to the multiple professional pickleball leagues? How is minor league baseball, G-League or minor league hockey to survive such stiff competition? (I wish I had the alternative to listen to a podcast from Ndamukong Suh giving me financial advice). When does training camp begin?

Damn, he must really appreciate his OL.

Fran is already doing his 2026 draft film review. This is interesting

1 hour ago, BigEFly said:

Damn, he must really appreciate his OL.

Obvious personnel impacts this, but so does play calling. Zac Taylor know this info, how often do you think they call extra protection over when there isn’t a blitz coming?

They let him get hit. I would hate to be QB of a dope team like that. Bad Oline or not, there are ways to prevent it getting THIS bad

1 hour ago, Alphagrand said:

The opinions shouldn’t be mixed. They used both picks 22 and 31 to draft a player ranked lower than 31 on the consensus draft boards.

I hope he scores 65-70 points per season and lives up to the pick — but the process and value was horrible.

I don't think he was ranked lower than 31 on consensus boards. I think there are some vocal social media "scouts" that had him ranked lower. The Scouting Bureau him ranked as 15th in terms of NA skaters. https://www.nhl.com/draft/prospects He's ranked 17th here: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/scouts-analysis-ranking-the-top-64-prospects-for-the-2025-nhl-draft/ He's ranked 26th on this composite board: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/06/25/the-2025-nhl-draft-big-board-compiled-public-prospect-rankings/ The Flyers wanted a Center and probably had him as a top 15 prospect. I don't think the process is necessarily the issue.

25 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

I don't think he was ranked lower than 31 on consensus boards. I think there are some vocal social media "scouts" that had him ranked lower. The Scouting Bureau him ranked as 15th in terms of NA skaters. https://www.nhl.com/draft/prospects He's ranked 17th here: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/scouts-analysis-ranking-the-top-64-prospects-for-the-2025-nhl-draft/ He's ranked 26th on this composite board: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/06/25/the-2025-nhl-draft-big-board-compiled-public-prospect-rankings/ The Flyers wanted a Center and probably had him as a top 15 prospect. I don't think the process is necessarily the issue.

Process was exactly the issue I pointed out a week before the draft when folks said they wanted to draft Martone at #6. I said at the time my issue with taking Martone there is it mandated another move to be made because there won't be a suitable center there at their next pick #22. There would need to be a trade-up to 16-17 if they expected to have a chance at Reschny or Cootes -- who were both much better prospects at center than Nesbitt.

Briere took Martone then forced the board, rather than letting the draft play out. Nashville made an idiotic pick at #5 taking Martin, which opened the door for Briere to take the 2nd best center in the draft, which was Hagens. It was a gift that Briere botched. He compounded his error by trading way up where it wasn't necessary -- if Nashville wanted to trade up to 13-15 to take Nesbitt, then you let them double-up another mistake and push another better prospect down to you. Again, Briere traded way up to draft a player who was not nearly worth the investment.

It's just my opinion, but I'm almost positive in 3-4 years everyone will acknowledge:

Hagens -- better fit for roster construction than Martone

Jackson Smith -- better prospect to take at #12 than Nesbitt. You can throw Reschny and Cootes in on that one as well

Blake Fiddler -- better prospect than Carter Amico at #36/38

I think fans will be patient with Briere and Jones for one more season, but they have to start showing positive results.

11 hours ago, Alphagrand said:

You’re forgetting kind of a crappy job at drafting.

15 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

Process was exactly the issue I pointed out a week before the draft when folks said they wanted to draft Martone at #6. I said at the time my issue with taking Martone there is it mandated another move to be made because there won't be a suitable center there at their next pick #22. There would need to be a trade-up to 16-17 if they expected to have a chance at Reschny or Cootes -- who were both much better prospects at center than Nesbitt.

Briere took Martone then forced the board, rather than letting the draft play out. Nashville made an idiotic pick at #5 taking Martin, which opened the door for Briere to take the 2nd best center in the draft, which was Hagens. It was a gift that Briere botched. He compounded his error by trading way up where it wasn't necessary -- if Nashville wanted to trade up to 13-15 to take Nesbitt, then you let them double-up another mistake and push another better prospect down to you. Again, Briere traded way up to draft a player who was not nearly worth the investment.

It's just my opinion, but I'm almost positive in 3-4 years everyone will acknowledge:

Hagens -- better fit for roster construction than Martone

Jackson Smith -- better prospect to take at #12 than Nesbitt. You can throw Reschny and Cootes in on that one as well

Blake Fiddler -- better prospect than Carter Amico at #36/38

I think fans will be patient with Briere and Jones for one more season, but they have to start showing positive results.

Mostly agree. I preferred Martone over Hagans and was very happy to get him. The trade up for Nesbitt broke my spirit. He would not have lasted until 22, but then I didn't want him at 22 anyway. At 31, sure. Honestly would have been very pleased to trade up to 15 to take Eklund. We need centers, but if they aren't the BPA at their pick, take BPA regardless of position. Outside of Martone, the Flyers mostly drafted a bunch of Paul Holmgrens. One Paul H. Is good for a team. 4-5 is not.

4 hours ago, DEagle7 said:

This must have taken some time.

BDN makes an appearance

For #233 they have it to Clyde Simmons. I think Jordan Mailata also has an argument.

The Eagles clearly own pick #233 😂

51 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

Process was exactly the issue I pointed out a week before the draft when folks said they wanted to draft Martone at #6. I said at the time my issue with taking Martone there is it mandated another move to be made because there won't be a suitable center there at their next pick #22. There would need to be a trade-up to 16-17 if they expected to have a chance at Reschny or Cootes -- who were both much better prospects at center than Nesbitt.

Briere took Martone then forced the board, rather than letting the draft play out. Nashville made an idiotic pick at #5 taking Martin, which opened the door for Briere to take the 2nd best center in the draft, which was Hagens. It was a gift that Briere botched. He compounded his error by trading way up where it wasn't necessary -- if Nashville wanted to trade up to 13-15 to take Nesbitt, then you let them double-up another mistake and push another better prospect down to you. Again, Briere traded way up to draft a player who was not nearly worth the investment.

It's just my opinion, but I'm almost positive in 3-4 years everyone will acknowledge:

Hagens -- better fit for roster construction than Martone

Jackson Smith -- better prospect to take at #12 than Nesbitt. You can throw Reschny and Cootes in on that one as well

Blake Fiddler -- better prospect than Carter Amico at #36/38

I think fans will be patient with Briere and Jones for one more season, but they have to start showing positive results.

I think Martone was the better prospect than Hagens. He's been more productive at a more competitive level of play. I think the question after that is where they see Nesbitt. Giving Briere one more season isn't enough time to know whether these players were the correct picks.

OK...what's consistently the most eccentric personality type in sports...and what options am I missing?

A. Backup catcher MLB

B. ST gunner NFL

C. Left handed middle relief pitcher MLB

D. 4th line center in NHL

15 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

OK...what's consistently the most eccentric personality type in sports...and what options am I missing?

A. Backup catcher MLB

B. ST gunner NFL

C. Left handed middle relief pitcher MLB

D. 4th line center in NHL

Overpaid, underperforming star WR in the nfl shouldn’t be close

1 hour ago, eagle45 said:

OK...what's consistently the most eccentric personality type in sports...and what options am I missing?

A. Backup catcher MLB

B. ST gunner NFL

C. Left handed middle relief pitcher MLB

D. 4th line center in NHL

Jealous WNBA woman.

58 minutes ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

Overpaid, underperforming star WR in the nfl shouldn’t be close

I was also going to say diva wr