Some NFL teams can help themselves by nailing their QB decisions during training camp.
French fans should help themselves and move on from an NBA star who never claimed them.
NFL Training Camps to Watch
What Happened: With NFL training camps fully underway, it’s time to start trying to read the tea leaves and see if there is any value in futures bets. And as we all know, success in the NFL begins at the quarterback position.
We aren’t telling you anything you don’t know already by saying that hitching your fortunes to Patrick Mahomes is a good idea, and that you should probably steer clear of Daniel Jones.
But what about those teams with unsettled QB situations?
Why It Matters: For most teams, any uncertainty at the starting quarterback position spells trouble ahead. Whether it’s Aidan O’Connell or Gardner Minshew under center for the Raiders in Week 1, that team ain’t going anywhere.
But for a team such as the Vikings, deciding between a retread in Sam Darnold and a rookie in J.J. McCarthy can greatly impact the team’s +8000 Super Bowl odds.
Are the New England Patriots contenders with Jacoby Brissett under center? We know they aren’t. But if Drake Maye is NFL ready and new head coach Jerod Mayo keeps the defense on track, +25000 championship odds might feel like a lottery ticket worth holding onto.
You are always better putting off your money on established, superstar NFL passers, full stop. But some depth chart battles playing out in training camp will have big impacts and are worth monitoring.
How We’re Feeling Today
Cringing at French basketball fans after yesterday’s display.
During the United States’ 110-84 demolition of Serbia in group play yesterday, center Joel Embiid was booed anytime he touched the ball by the French fans at the game.
Why? Because Embiid decided to play for Team America and not France, a country he has never lived in and is not from. The 76ers superstar gained French citizenship in May of 2022 via an “exceptional interest” clause, but was born in Cameroon and obviously plays and lives in the U.S. now.
With no claim to Embiid, we aren’t sure why French fans are so offended by his decision to not represent a country he has no ties to. The host nation should simply wave the white flag on this one and move on with some dignity still intact.
The Look Ahead
Yariel Rodriguez STRIKEOUTS – Toronto will give its rookie right-hander the ball in Game 1 of today’s doubleheader against Baltimore, and we’ll be watching Rodriguez’ strikeout total closely. His line for today is 4.5; in nine starts, Rodriguez has more Ks (42) than innings pitched (39.0) and has struck out at least six hitters in four straight outings. Only three AL teams have struck out more than the Orioles since the All-Star break, and they haven’t faced Rodriguez yet this season, so this play bears watching.
