Day 547

• Breathe in...  Breathe out...   
• About the only people who should be materially surprised by "America Day One" and the result of last night's First Mass are those who picked the Tom Bradys to cover 9 or 9.5 points.  Total of 60, Double Cliffhanger, and the Tom Bradys win over the only other real national-ratings get the NFL still has.  (Sunday is probably going to be an absolute ratings BLOODBATH.)
• And the first taunting crackdown whining from Yahoo! and Frank Schwab.  The video is in the article linked.  #66 of Tampa and #91 of Dallas got into it after a play, and the only question I have is that we didn't see the face of #66 -- but it was clear the way he appeared to be looking that he gave words, so the taunting call was not a bad one.  But here's my problem:  That's a PUNCH by #91 of Dallas.  How in the Hell was he not tossed??
• It was the only taunting call last night.  There were, however, 19 accepted penalties in the game.  Three declined, and the above offsetting situation.

• And we have a possible "Rig Job of the Day" candidate as well, courtesy of Sports Illustrated.  Late in the game, heading for the winning field goal -- Offensive Pass Interference on Tampa Bay here?

Offensive Pass Interference or a great throw and catch? 🤔

Dallas Cowboys - 29
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 31pic.twitter.com/JCIgTQd4hD

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 10, 2021

• And Sports Illustrated notes a second major bad call  (SI paywall) to benefit the Tom Bradys:  A no-call on a Lavonte David removing-helmet unsportsmanlike conduct foul.  
• The Big XII has approved snapping up most of the relevant Go5 football programs in adding UCF, BYU, Houston, and Cincinnati.  That's for 2023, apparently.
• The Yankees are in trouble -- swept by the Blue Jays in a 4-game set at Yankee Stadium this week.  The unique part:  At no time in the series did the Yankees ever lead, the first time that has happened to the Bronx Bombers in a 4-game series in 97 years.  And the Blue Jays are now just a half-game back of the Yanks for the second wild-card in the AL.
• Could easily see Hunter Renfroe of the Red Sox suspended by Major League Baseball -- he's gone public with claims that the league told the team to stop testing for COVID as a breakout of the virus was growing on the team -- The Show Must Go On!  Both the team and the league deny his claims.
• Chris Sale from the Red Sox can be added to the COVID-positive list.
• Not surprising given what the Raiders will require to see the games:  The Las Vegas Raiders are now 100% vaccinated.
• Leonardo Messi finally broke Pele's South American international goals record during the World Cup Qualifiers last night.
• It's official:  MLB announced today Trevor Bauer will not pitch again in 2021.
• And, late today, a potential further answer as to why the Cowboys got fucked last night:  Yep, another Cowboys drug suspension:  Their starting right tackle, La'El Collins, has been suspended for five games due to a violation of the substance abuse policy.  According to the ESPN report, though, no failed drug tests are involved.  Nowhere in the policy is FIVE games a specific penalty either.  Reading the suspension policies, my only guesses (and Sports Illustrated appears to back this up) are that he failed to appear for a test or attempted to manipulate multiple tests.  That's all I can guess.  Stay tuned on this one.  So someone please explain to me why he played last night...   
• No one should be surprised by this next one.  Having the only two real ratings draws the NFL still has (Tom Brady and the Cowboys) last night was very good for NBC -- a 16% year-over-year increase in the share, and a five-year high for the Thursday night opener.  The viewership total of nearly 22 million was a nearly 30% increase from the last two years.  Will be very interested to see what Sunday and Monday bring.