Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack
-- A man named Ronald McDonald was shot Thursday at a Sonic Drive-In in Lumberton, NC. Really, he was. Mr McDonald is said to be OK, but he was upset that the hospital didn't serve breakfast 24 hours a day.
-- Kris Bryant had three HRs, two doubles last nite, coming with three total bases of the all-time record (19) for total bases in a game, held by Sean Green.
-- Roberto Clemente used a bat that was 36 inches long, weighed 39 ounces.
-- When he was 30 years old, Harrison Ford was a carpenter, not an actor.
-- Morehead State gave hoop coach Sean Woods a contract extension thru 2020.
-- There were 52 homers hit in major leagues Sunday, most of any day this year.
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Armadillo: Tuesday's List of 13: NFL knowledge to ponder......
13) Falcons-- Missed playoffs last three years, going 18-30, despite starting 5-0 LY. Were last in NFL in sacks (19) LY, 5-5 in games decided by less than seven points. .
12) Bills-- Had only 21 sacks LY (31st) so Rex Ryan brought his brother Rob in to help with the defense. Led NFL in rushing yards, but were #28 in passing yards.
11) Panthers-- Will be hard to re-create +20 turnover margin; they were 5-0 in games decided by less than 7 points. Have four games west of Rockies this season. Getting Kelvin Benjamin back at WR provides some upside.
10) Bengals-- Made playoffs last five years, but its been 25 years since they last won a playoff game. Were +11 in turnovers, allowed 2nd-least points, but will have their third offensive coordinator in last four years this season.
9) Cowboys-- Had four QBs throw 98+ passes LY; they lost 12 of last 14 games after a 2-0 start. Their -22 turnover margin was worst in the NFL.
8) Packers-- Five of McCarthy's seven playoff losses came on the last play of game. Started 6-0, stumbled to 4-6 finish, scoring 8-13 points in last two games- they get Jordy Nelson back from injury at WR this year.
7) Texans-- O'Brien is "QB guru" but Texans used nine QBs (starting seven) in his first two years in Houston. Only two of their 16 games LY were decided by less than seven points- they should have five new starters on offense this year.
6) Colts-- Luck missed nine games LY; Indy was 29th in rushing yards, 22nd passing, 28th in total yards- they drafted four offensive linemen. Also have their third OC in last five seasons.
5) Vikings-- Minnesota is 24-9 vs spread under Zimmer, 15-5 as an underdog; they were 4th in rushing yards, 31st in passing yards- their fired their offensive line coach.
4) Patriots-- Went 3-5 in last eight games after a 10-0 start; Garoppolo threw four passes all year-- now he has to start the first four games, with Brady suspended. Patriots had 49 sacks LY, second-most in NFL.
3) Giants-- Lost six of last seven games, but kept both coordinators and fired a future Hall of Fame head coach. Went 6-10 LY despite a +7 turnover ratio; they allowed an average of 420 yards/game (last) and gave up 40.7 ppg in last three games.
2) Saints-- 31st in rushing yards allowed, 31st in passing yards, 31st in total yards, last in points allowed. Brees threw for 4,870 yards but is 37 now. Only had five draft picks this year-- two of them were offensive players.
1) Steelers-- Roethlisberger is 34 now; Pitt was #3 in passing yards, T4 in scoring, despite Big Ben missing five games. Had 48 sacks under new DC Butler, 3rd in NFL.
-- A man named Ronald McDonald was shot Thursday at a Sonic Drive-In in Lumberton, NC. Really, he was. Mr McDonald is said to be OK, but he was upset that the hospital didn't serve breakfast 24 hours a day.
-- Kris Bryant had three HRs, two doubles last nite, coming with three total bases of the all-time record (19) for total bases in a game, held by Sean Green.
-- Roberto Clemente used a bat that was 36 inches long, weighed 39 ounces.
-- When he was 30 years old, Harrison Ford was a carpenter, not an actor.
-- Morehead State gave hoop coach Sean Woods a contract extension thru 2020.
-- There were 52 homers hit in major leagues Sunday, most of any day this year.
**********
Armadillo: Tuesday's List of 13: NFL knowledge to ponder......
13) Falcons-- Missed playoffs last three years, going 18-30, despite starting 5-0 LY. Were last in NFL in sacks (19) LY, 5-5 in games decided by less than seven points. .
12) Bills-- Had only 21 sacks LY (31st) so Rex Ryan brought his brother Rob in to help with the defense. Led NFL in rushing yards, but were #28 in passing yards.
11) Panthers-- Will be hard to re-create +20 turnover margin; they were 5-0 in games decided by less than 7 points. Have four games west of Rockies this season. Getting Kelvin Benjamin back at WR provides some upside.
10) Bengals-- Made playoffs last five years, but its been 25 years since they last won a playoff game. Were +11 in turnovers, allowed 2nd-least points, but will have their third offensive coordinator in last four years this season.
9) Cowboys-- Had four QBs throw 98+ passes LY; they lost 12 of last 14 games after a 2-0 start. Their -22 turnover margin was worst in the NFL.
8) Packers-- Five of McCarthy's seven playoff losses came on the last play of game. Started 6-0, stumbled to 4-6 finish, scoring 8-13 points in last two games- they get Jordy Nelson back from injury at WR this year.
7) Texans-- O'Brien is "QB guru" but Texans used nine QBs (starting seven) in his first two years in Houston. Only two of their 16 games LY were decided by less than seven points- they should have five new starters on offense this year.
6) Colts-- Luck missed nine games LY; Indy was 29th in rushing yards, 22nd passing, 28th in total yards- they drafted four offensive linemen. Also have their third OC in last five seasons.
5) Vikings-- Minnesota is 24-9 vs spread under Zimmer, 15-5 as an underdog; they were 4th in rushing yards, 31st in passing yards- their fired their offensive line coach.
4) Patriots-- Went 3-5 in last eight games after a 10-0 start; Garoppolo threw four passes all year-- now he has to start the first four games, with Brady suspended. Patriots had 49 sacks LY, second-most in NFL.
3) Giants-- Lost six of last seven games, but kept both coordinators and fired a future Hall of Fame head coach. Went 6-10 LY despite a +7 turnover ratio; they allowed an average of 420 yards/game (last) and gave up 40.7 ppg in last three games.
2) Saints-- 31st in rushing yards allowed, 31st in passing yards, 31st in total yards, last in points allowed. Brees threw for 4,870 yards but is 37 now. Only had five draft picks this year-- two of them were offensive players.
1) Steelers-- Roethlisberger is 34 now; Pitt was #3 in passing yards, T4 in scoring, despite Big Ben missing five games. Had 48 sacks under new DC Butler, 3rd in NFL.