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Random Shots From Week 11

Joe Bryant's Random Shots From Week 11
By Joe Bryant, November 22, 2023

Random Shots From Week 11
Photo: USA Today Sports

Hi Folks,

We do a ton of insightful, thoughtful, and serious features here at Footballguys with smart people thinking deeply for you.

This is not one of those features.

This is Random Shots, and it's a few pages of me downloading my brain that gets stuffed with way too many random items from too many hours watching, reading about, and listening to football every weekend and throughout the week. It's the only way I manage. Here's hoping it has some value for you.

We'll see. Now, let's get to it.

J

If a fantasy football season were nine seconds like this video, we're about six seconds in. So far, feels accurate.

Make sure to have the sound on.

Yearly reminder: As I write this, Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I think it's my favorite holiday as it doesn't have all the weird commercial pressures with over-the-top decorations or gifts. It's mostly about food around a table with people. I hope you're able to have a great one.

Current Mood:

I'm thankful for the Passtronaut, Joshua Dobbs.

X-Ray results.

Love that they used the UT graphic here.

Preview of Aaron Rodgers' December return?

I love the generosity from DK Metcalf here. Logan Thomas wasn't even asking for the jersey, but Metcalf didn't hesitate.

Some people lived charmed lives.

Thanks to Jake Bryant for that one.

Dynasty GMs are built different.

Waiver Wire explained in 11 seconds.

The Missouri kicker is a trip. Game-winning field goal against Florida and walked off with the "Gator Chomp".

Speaking of kickers, I so hope this guy makes it to the NFL.

The perils of sideline reporting.

I love how Jeff Brohm just smiles.

A baseball note. Football is by far my true love now. But baseball can be beautiful.

This is a fine for the running back in today's NFL.

If Marshawn Lynch played today, he might be fined more money than he made.

The legend of Texas A&M's 12th man is a student at a 1922 game was called down from the stands to suit up on the field when many of the players were injured. When I was a student there in the late 80s, coach Jackie Sherrill made the genius marketing move of using all "Walk-On" players for the kickoff team. They brought that back Saturday, and it was pretty great.

NFL as characters from Cars.

Plus Gronkowski.

And this one is perfect.

Righting something that's been wrong for a while. Will it be enough to lift the curse that's kept them out of the Super Bowl? We'll see.

Tyreek Hill with a sweet behind-the-back catch.

We need to bring Marino out for the throw...

The Browns - Steelers hate is not a new thing.

Tommy DeVito would have made a great Sopranos episode.

Rarely seen in the wild, the Horsecollar-Facemask.

"System QB"

This feels a bit too real some weeks.

Savage.

And this.

Nailed it.

"Oh, Dear" was the right call here.

Plus: The only quarterback to beat the Eagles this year.

And yes, Zach Wilson is an elite athlete. It happens sometimes.

The Steelers remembered.

I mostly loved how much Cris Collinsworth loved this.

Not sure if this speaks more to the Lions' resilience or the Bears' ineptitude. But this was something.

Odell Beckham Jr: Bridesmaid Edition.

If she's dating someone, they'd better be ready.

Ouch.

Numbers matter. Always have. Always will.

Can't unsee it.

On brand.

In August, I envisioned this happening every Sunday.

I'll say this for the NFL Scriptwriters: they made it easy on people like me this year.

So much for that C4 endorsement gig for Micah Parsons.

Accurate.

So good.

We haven't seen too much "Happy Brian Daboll" on the post-game podium this year. But when we do, it's good.

Jalen Carter almost pulled off the Interception Spike.

It was that kind of night for Mahomes.

Steeler fans who'd given up on the Matt Canada offense...

Tom Brady defied age for seemingly forever. But once retired, he's gone full-on "Back In My Day" Grumpy Old Man mode.

I'm a believer in making things clear.

But I think I could see the Eagles are wearing white jerseys and white pants without the explanation here.

Justin Jefferson does not care about your Fantasy Team.

That's cool. I don't care about Justin Jefferson's personal hobbies.

But seems like a weird flex for a paid entertainer to make sure we know he doesn't care.

Obviously, men should do their fair share around the house. Just try to work it out so it's not during Monday Night Football.

Capitalism.

Dang.

Genius.

Music note of the week is from Sufjan Stevens. "Chicago" is my favorite song from him. It's joyful and sad and reflective and more. It's the song I walked my daughter down the aisle to for her wedding. I love it.

So good.

I fell in love againAll things go, all things goDrove to ChicagoAll things know, all things know
We sold our clothes to the stateI don't mind, I don't mindI made a lot of mistakesIn my mind, in my mind
You came to take usAll things go, all things goTo recreate usAll things grow, all things grow
We had our mindsetAll things know, all things knowYou had to find itAll things go, all things go
I drove to New YorkIn a van, with my friendWe slept in parking lotsI don't mind, I don't mind
I was in love with the placeIn my mind, in my mindI made a lot of mistakesIn my mind, in my mind
You came to take usAll things go, all things goTo recreate usAll things grow, all things grow
We had our mindsetAll things know, all things knowYou had to find itAll things go, all things go
If I was cryingIn the van, with my friendIt was for freedomFrom myself and from the land
I made a lot of mistakesI made a lot of mistakesI made a lot of mistakesI made a lot of mistakes
You came to take usAll things go, all things goTo recreate usAll things grow, all things grow
We had our mindsetAll things know, all things knowYou had to find itAll things go, all things go
You came to take usAll things go, all things goTo recreate usAll things grow, all things grow
We had our mindset (I made a lot of mistakes)All things know, all things know (I made a lot of mistakes)
You had to find it (I made a lot of mistakes)All things go, all things go (I made a lot of mistakes)

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter passed this week. May we be so blessed to have a Rosalynn Carter in our life.

On a similar note, I'm wrapping with this one. I did this last year, and it seemed to resonate, so I'll say it again.

It's about the value of food. And Family. And after a few years of not normal Thanksgivings and gatherings for some, this may make it all the more important.

My Mom died a few years ago. She always made a Sweet Potato Casserole for holidays. It wasn't particularly special or unique. Like a million other Better Homes and Gardens-type recipes. Sweet Potatoes, Half and Half, Sugar, and Vanilla with a Marshmallow topping. Someone in your family likely makes something similar.

As my Mom's health declined the last few holidays, bringing that Sweet Potato Casserole was about all she could contribute. And that was, of course, great. It wasn't about the food.

I'll miss her at dinner this year.

This year, I'm trying to make her Sweet Potato Casserole.

It's a big deal.

I love how food is so much more than just fuel for our bodies. It's a zillion times bigger. So, in some ways, it sort of is about the food. Because sometimes food and memories are all we have left.

And I don't want that to sound sad. I'm thankful.

Rock on, Mom.

My hope and prayer for you today is you have reason to be thankful, too.

Thank you for being part of this goofy journey with us.

And thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Jake Bryant, and Clayton Gray for the help. If you've got a Random Shot of your own, email me at bryant@footballguys.com.

Thanks for playing along, and I hope you make the most of whatever you're doing in your life. Love your neighbor and stick together.

Peace and Grace to you.

J

Photos provided by USA TODAY Sports
Tags Fun Timeless De'Von Achane Odell Beckham Jr Tom Brady Jalen Carter Ty Chandler Tommy Devito Joshua Dobbs Myles Garrett Rob Gronkowski Tyreek Hill Josh Jacobs Justin Jefferson Patrick Mahomes II DK Metcalf Isiah Pacheco Micah Parsons Brock Purdy Bijan Robinson Aaron Rodgers Logan Thomas Zach Wilson Xavier Woods

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