Friday Free Mailbag - Sept 29 Edition

Can we work Jordan Montgomery, Kyle Field, big upsets, and Breaking Bad into one mailbag? Yes, yes we can.

Welcome to another “free for all” Friday Mailbag where we put 90 minutes on the clock, pour some coffee, and find out what you would like to chat about as we head into another football weekend.

This one will have plenty of golf for me as a viewer of the Ryder Cup, but more on that below.

First, I want to thank you for joining us at the new site. Some of you have heard this before, but it certainly seems like something worth repeating; this place does not happen without you. I received offers to go write for other bosses about whatever those bosses would dictate, but the dream was to write for you about whatever we wanted. Obviously, we will see where that takes us, but the early returns have been remarkable.

Somehow, thanks to you, in less than our first month with paid subscriptions activated, we have already cracked the top 10 in the world for sports Substacks. I don’t know what to say, except “thank you.” That is incredible and of course, suggests that the Dallas Cowboys are a big deal and covering them in a unique way is a solid plan.

But, again, I know some of you have been following my writing for a long time at many different spots and that hasn’t always been easy with me changing places more than a few times. For years I was doing it for free and then started being compensated for all of these hours. But, I never figured I would be able to set up my own shop and write about whatever you would like. During football season that will generally be football, but I am really excited about what the offseason can be – and I am guessing that will be plenty of the “other stuff” I have always loved.

Anyway, I want you to let me know that I thank you and want to make sure everyone feels like they are appreciated. You clearly have responded in big numbers and I can’t wait to see how we grow.

Enough babbling from me, let’s spend the rest of our time finding out what you want to talk about. Then, when I am done with this, I will get cracking on our Cowboys Pregame three thoughts for New England that will appear first thing Saturday Morning.

Here we go:

From Andy Baldwin: Is there a broad scheme fix that can help the Cowboys D in their undersized positions? Or is it more about knowing assignments, using speed, and tackling in open space?

It is a fascinating topic after last Sunday. The Cowboys insist on small personnel on defense because they want speed and the ability to cover huge amounts of ground. The opponents will attempt to exploit and punish them for this choice. So, what are the remedies? Well, your choices are to play with incredibly great discipline and do not be guilty of assignment busts OR you need to change your logic and get back to a bit of a bigger lineup that can not be isolated and exploited so easily.

I don’t think Dan Quinn will want to give in to the idea that “he has gone too small”, but rather stubbornly attempt to figure out a solution. It will be a narrow corridor of solutions if the entire league goes to work on how to attack them. And make no mistake, the 49ers game plan will really be amazing to study, as will the Cowboys ability to deal with it. But, Andy, in short, the broad scheme fix is probably to not be at the far end of the “small personnel” deployment chart. Dallas is as tiny as any defense in the league when it comes to nickel and dime personnel. My friend Cody Alexander has a real interesting piece on this that I read yesterday.

From Nick Manske: Do contenders typically have slip-ups during the season and lose to an obvious underdog like we did at ARI? Or do they typically only lose to the other contending teams on their way to a breakout season? I’m wondering if this is a sign that this actually is NOT our year.

Well, first, odds are it is not your year. You are in a 32-team league so assuming one of the 31 teams will be winning it all this year is always the smartest bet. That said, let’s look at the last ten champions and see if they have lost games to big underdogs:

2022 - The Chiefs lost at Indianapolis to a Colts team that was a 5.5 underdog and lost two games as a favorite.

2021 - The Rams lost as a 7.5 favorite to Tennessee and also lost five games as a favorite.

2020 - The Buccaneers did not have a significant loss as a heavy favorite, but lost three games that they were favored to win.

2019 - The Chiefs lost as a 10.5 home favorite to the Colts on Sunday Night Football and lost three games as favorites on the year.

2018 - The Tom Brady New England Patriots lost five times as favorites, including a touchdown favorite to Detroit and a 9.5 point favorite at Miami.

2017 - The Eagles only lost once as a favorite at Seattle, but it was only as a 3.5 point favorite.

2016 - The Patriots lost at home to Seattle as a 7.5 point favorite.

2015 - The Broncos lost three times as 5-point favorites, including a loss at home to Oakland with a 6.5 spread.

2014 - The Patriots lost three times as favorites including two 5-point spreads, at Miami and home vs Buffalo (although Week 17).

2013 - The Seahawks lost twice as favorites and once as a large favorite at home to Arizona when they were favored by nine.

So, our quick findings would say that the all lose 2-3 games as favorites and one as a pretty big favorite. But, those are often divisional rivals and I don’t think there are any that were 12.5 point favorites. In other words, that Arizona game is not the very end of the world, but it isn’t good at all.

From Billy Beasley Please share rapid fire thoughts on the following golf-related questions? -How invested are you in the Ryder Cup?

Very. I attended the 2021 Ryder Cup in my home state of Wisconsin and it was a wonderful sports experience that I am very proud of on my sports resume. That was such an unbelievable weekend and experience and I hoped to get to this one, too. Of course, traveling anywhere during Cowboys season is unreasonable in most cases for what pays my bills, let alone, Italy.

But, I love the Ryder Cup and feel like I have been engaged in everyone since about 1999. I will not be watching live on Friday and Saturday at midnight all through the night, but I plan on attempting to watch it all when I wake up each morning. I would like to think the USA can finally win one of these on European soil, but I will tell you that it usually doesn’t take long to have reality hit “us” in the face over there. We always cave in to the crowds in Europe. Let’s hope we finally break our 30-year drought.

-What is your favorite golf destination?

There is no question the ability to play a round at Pebble Beach this past July during my “garden leave” from writing was incredible. If I could bottle a perfect day of memories, I think that day would win the “play a dream round of golf” division. That was just such a wonderful day and I now believe the hype. Incredibly expensive, but sometimes, you feel like the memories were worth the price.

-What is the next one?

Bandon Dunes. I have heard so many good things about a golf trip to Bandon, that I would love to make it happen myself soon.

-Favorite course in the metroplex?

I always say Stevens Park in Dallas. I love the quirkiness of that place and that is probably the place I recommend most. I really enjoy Las Colinas CC and now play there regularly and it is certainly a difficulty level that will knock you back plenty. I have played the most at Grapevine and love their 27 holes. Cedar Crest in Dallas and Rockwood in Fort Worth are both on my list of fun and reasonably priced muni’s. Those are on my short list of favorites.

-Favorite golf “tool”?

I wish I could tell you one that I absolutely have found to be a game-changer. The reality is I have bought more than a few “easy fix” infomercial ideas, but none come quickly to mind. The truth is that it is all a journey to understand what makes the ball do what you want it to do. And it is still a battle to get it to listen to me.

-Favorite golf book?

My favorite golf book is probably “The Match” by Mark Frost. Although I am always looking for books because I binge them after the Super Bowl when I am not so football busy. I really have a golf problem and I love it.

-Best piece of advice

If you want to get good at golf, you need to play golf. When I tried to improve by playing 15 times a year, it was not ever going to happen. But, if you are lucky enough to have a chance to play once or twice a week, improvement can happen pretty quick.

From Jim Greene: Have you ordered a Damian Lillard Bucks Jersey or T-Shirt yet? Thoughts on the big trade?

From Chris Rickard: How do you feel about the Dame trade? Milwaukee came out of nowhere to get this deal done but it makes total sense pairing Dame + Giannis.

Since you both asked similar questions, let me pair you together. First, I am over the moon about this trade happening. I cannot believe my little Milwaukee Bucks are in a brief moment in their history where they have a chance to sit at the big table and play as a power.

This will not last long, but it has already happened for several years, won a title, and now this trade seems to extend that opportunity for several more.

Now, does it make them appreciably better? Probably as Dame has a chance to fix so many of the Bucks offensive issues that arise in the playoffs when everyone collapses on Giannis. Jrue Holiday was a huge improvement over Eric Bledsoe, but obviously is not near the offensive player that Dame is. Of course, Dame is not even close to the defender that Jrue was and it doesn’t take a genius to concede that there is no 2021 NBA title if there isn’t Holiday’s moments of greatness including his unforgettable steal on Devin Booker and subsequent lob pass to Giannis to end the game and give the Bucks a chance to clinch in Game 6.

In short, I am cautious about the health and the window and everything, but I do believe that they had to respond to the signs that the group that won in 2021 was not going to be able to win again. The core was getting older and it seemed the window was closing. This is a bold and risky play, but I love it. It will also cost the Bucks a ton, but it should allow them to keep Giannis in town for several more years. And when he leaves, there is a very good chance that the Bucks will go back to not mattering is much in this NBA where you better take advantage of having one of the best players in the world wearing your uniform. It happens fast.

Giannis turns 29 in December and these special athletes should be appreciate when you can because it doesn’t last long.

From Eric Smith: Having visited a few different football grounds in the UK, and a fair share of places in the US (cue Vivaldi) - which stadium/ground/arena has been your absolute favorite to be at and why?

I think my answer would vary based on which sport. I have been very fortunate to go to many awesome places over the years in many different sports. My bucket list is smaller these days because I have had some enormous opportunities to go places. Also, I have found that you can go to special places a few times, you can find that even the best places can have days where it just isn’t as fun because the home team is getting smashed.

So, with that in mind, let my short list of greatest venues to be at on a great sports day:

• Chicago Stadium for a Blackhawks playoff game in the early 1990s. Unreal electricity in that building pulsating through your chest.

• Anfield, 2019 - Liverpool hosting Chelsea. I will never forget how “alive” it felt to be in the Kop end and and to have Mo Salah fire a shot that nearly made me duck as it hit the top corner netting. St James Park at Newcastle was absolutely brilliant, too.

• My favorite football stadiums in college and pro: Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Lambeau Field, South Bend, Ohio Stadium for the Buckeyes, and yes, I think when it is rocking, Kyle Field is pretty awesome, too. Would recommend, especially those of you who can’t stand the Aggies. I am telling you that you still need to go see a game there because it is pretty electric when it gets going.

• Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke) and Reynolds Coliseum (NC State) were both incredible places when I covered ACC basketball. For the NBA, it was probably the old Arco Arena in Sacramento and Madison Square Garden were both fantastic. The NHL? I think the Calgary Saddledome and Winnipeg were excellent atmospheres.

In short, I have been pretty lucky to go so many cool places and I am positive I have forgotten many.

From Jay Beerley: Ok bonus question: desert island TV shows. You get 3.

My three favorite TV shows of all time? Well, I don’t mean to be boring here, but for me, it will be the three I have spent so much time thinking, reading, and enjoying multiple times:

Breaking Bad, The Wire, and Seinfeld. Honorable mention: The Sopranos, The Larry Sanders Show, The Shield, Atlanta, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

From Tom Cawthon: Should the Rangers consider trying to re-sign Jordan Montgomery? DeGrom, Scherzer, Eovaldi, Montgomery, Gray, and Dunning seems like a pretty stout six starters. This would allow the farm arms to ease their way into the big leagues via the bullpen.

Yes, yes, yes.

I don’t know the going rate for Jordan Montgomery, so I texted my friend Jamey Newberg to see what he thought. I have been beyond impressed with his ability to command a game and come up big when Texas has really needed him.

Newberg told me, “Four to Five years at $20 to $25 million.” I feel like that price is a no-brainer, but he responded with this, “Depends on how much they want to spend on the bullpen.”

I think I would definitely do that, but as usual, it isn’t my money. Also, tough to argue that the bullpen deserves some expenditures. There is nothing quite as stressful as a 9th inning save opportunity right now.

From Lee: Just here for Bob to be my sports therapist, keeping me sane and level-headed while the national media pretend they know anything at all about the Cowboys.

Haha, I try, Lee. I think selling gloom and doom gets the clicks for a lot of people, but I have never seen the point in trying to sell people the worst case scenario every week. The great thing about sports and following a team is that we do not know the future and we certainly do not have the ability to say anything with much certainty. The realities of sports are that they are always evolving and there is more than a little that is dependent on factors we don’t know anything about.

I think predictions are silly because we follow a team every day and cannot get a handle on their destiny, so how can we know where teams are going that we don’t follow every day? We don’t. So, I often preach perspective, slow conclusions, patience, and understanding that the solution to every problem is not to fire someone, trade someone, or demote someone. Players grow, coaches will triumph who never have, and franchises will rewrite their narratives.

Of course, preaching patience and perspective is not going to attract attention like yelling that McCarthy needs to be fired and Dak needs to be washing dishes for a living, but at this age with this many trips around the sun, I am now more than aware of what I don’t know. And that fuels my “sports therapy” world view.

I know everyone wants to win and they want to win now. But, that isn’t how these games, athletes, and teams work. And understanding that every win or loss is not the end of the world will help you enjoy this form of entertainment more. In other words…

Enjoy the journey, not just the destination.

I will be back a few more times this weekend, so stay ready!