NEW YORK, NY – You remember a couple of years back when Antonio Brown, once one of the most dynamic receivers in the NFL, completed his epic career meltdown by removing his jersey in the middle of a game against the Jets and retired on the spot? Kinda hard to forget. In fact, it doesn’t seem like the kind of thing we will ever see again… or is it? This season is only around half over and already produced more than a few interesting situations and moments. At this point I’d say that we could very well witness some weirdness over the next few weeks. Here now are the top contenders.
The Indianapolis Colts. Colts coach Shane Steichen has already lost the trust of the guy who was supposed to be his franchise quarterback, the beat writers that cover the Colts, most Colts fans, and probably even a few people who don’t even know all that much about the Colts or football (like Junior Blaber, for instance). It’s not too much of a stretch to see the rest of the Colts team quit on him, maybe even at halftime of an upcoming game. Like they refuse to go out for the second half? That would be amazing. Odds: 10,000-1.
Deebo Samuel. Last week against Tampa Bay, 49ers kicker Jake Moody missed three field goals and receiver Deebo Samuel had seen enough. As he went over to have a calm intellectual review with his kicker, Niners long snapper Taybor Pepper (great name) decided to moderate the gentlemanly debate. Samuel didn’t love the idea and took a swipe at Pepper. It’s all since been explained away as teammates being “fiery.” But, really? Samuel, once one of the most explosive offensive weapons in the game, has been banged-up a lot lately and seen his production plummet. Could another sideline confrontation be coming? Odds: 75-1.
George Pickens. To call Steelers wideout George Pickens mercurial, is an understatement. While undeniably talented, and suffering through a carousel of crappy quarterbacks, he seems to have found some ray of hope with Russell Wilson under center… or has he? I am convinced that Pickens is the closest thing we have to the second coming of Antonio Brown. He’s already shown flashes of erratic on-field behavior and seems destined to create a true WTF??? moment. Not sure what it will be, but it will be spectacular. Odds: 5-1.
Aaron Rodgers. We can’t let the receivers have all the fun. Jets QB Aaron Rodgers has treated the past couple of years like an avant-garde performance-art installation, starring himself. When he’s not sitting in a cave or pouring various dubious potions into his 40-year-old body, he’s making a fortune playing quarterback for arguably the worst franchise in football. Better yet, he’s playing it looking like a bewildered, muttering George Bailey from “It’s a Wonderful Life” once he’s shown just how crappy life could be. So what’s next for Captain Foghat? Alien abduction? Species reassignment surgery? Trying to draw defenses off with high nasal chanting? It’s anyone’s guess, but it’s an absolute certainty it will be “very Aaron Rodgers.” Odds: 3-1.
Stefon Diggs. He’s out for the rest of the season with an injury, but if Stefon Diggs had been around for Houston’s Sunday Night collapse against Detroit, chances are very good that he already would have tantrum-ed his way off the Texans. Odds: Unavailable.
Micah Parsons. He’s been injured, frustrated, wanting a big fat new contract and, worst of all, playing for Mike McCarthy and Jerry Jones. The guy is about to crack. Either he takes it out on an opposing player in horrific fashion or runs out of bounds and flattens his doofus HC into oblivion. Take your pick. Odds: 2-1.
That’s all for today. Odds are Buddy Diaz will be back in this space tomorrow. Check him out.
