Cory's Reads #11: Tuning in for 2AM Football
For years, the NFL has been that drug I just can't quit. Now, our relationship faces the ultimate test.
It’s late on a Sunday night. It’s early on a Monday morning. It’s 2AM local time, and a long day of football is nearing its conclusion. My eyelids are heavy, but my heart is full. Nearly 4000 miles away from my house in Newtown, PA, I am home.
Such is the effect of a sport like football, which has come to define each Sunday every Fall for as long as I can remember. Living abroad — in The Netherlands for now, and the United Kingdom soon enough — has undoubtedly changed this relationship between sport and day of the week (Sunday Night Football is now Early Monday Morning Football), but I refuse to let my new surroundings affect my longstanding love for the NFL. I recognize how strange this commitment might sound to readers both American and otherwise. I’ve moved halfway across the world and my most immediate concern is...keeping up with American football?
I’ve spent the last several days reflecting on my relationship with the NFL. And if I’m truly being honest, I’ve been engaging in such reflection ever since I first fell in love with the sport in February of 2005. Eagles fans surely recognize that timeframe. Super Bowl XXXIX. A showdown between my hometown Eagles and the New England Patriots, fresh off a Super Bowl victory just one year prior. I didn’t watch much football during the 2004 NFL season. It wasn’t until the Super Bowl that I decided to join my father on the couch and see what this game is all about. And as the story goes, I never left. Just two years later, I was so invested that I shed tears when the Eagles lost to the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional Round of the playoffs (diehard fans may recall the false start penalty that all but cost the Eagles that game).
Embarrassingly, that wouldn’t be my last football-fueled temper tantrum. When the Eagles lost to the Kurt-Warner-led Arizona Cardinals in the 2008 NFC Championship, I cried and screamed for hours. While my fandom has since matured, my passion has never waned. If anything, it’s expanded, and I was handsomely rewarded when the Eagles won their first ever Super Bowl over the New England Patriots in 2018. In my lifetime as a football fan, I try to never miss a game. Sundays are for football, as are Monday nights, and that’s the way it is always going to be.
It’s hard to justify the appeal of American football to those not in the know, and I’m not sure doing so is worth the effort. It’s a violent, dangerous sport that enables the exploitation of predominantly Black athletes at the hands of predominantly white owners. The NFL has overlooked some of its players’ most egregious sins, including domestic abuse and sexual assault, while levying harsh penalties towards players who smoke weed or wear the wrong cleats on gameday. Most notably, the league allowed for the blackballing of players like Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid, who famously took a knee against racial injustice and police brutality in the United States. Rehashing these sagas paints the NFL — and football at large — in a purely negative light. But again, I like it. I can’t stop watching. I won’t stop watching.
Every year the NFL does something I don’t agree with. Most recently, the league added a 17th game to the season schedule. While the fan in me is always excited about more football, the additional game only presents further risk to the players, who must already live under the looming shadow of CTE. I wrote last year about the NFL’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and my similarly complicated feelings at the time. COVID-19 remains a concern this season as well, and while the league has fortunately taken a harsher stance against those who choose not to take the pandemic seriously, the uncomfortable coexistence of COVID-19 and live sporting events can be difficult to reconcile. Particularly as high-profile QBs around the league remain unvaccinated, the NFL has once again rendered itself a political battleground, whether it wants to admit it or not. Zach Wilson. Kirk Cousins. Carson Wentz. Lamar Jackson. All these guys, supposed leaders of their respective football teams, threaten to crater their teams’ seasons at any moment. I’ve discussed the unfortunate yet understandable nature of vaccine hesitancy in the past, but the QB position is unique in that it demands exemplary behavior both on and off the field, and these QBs are directly forgoing their responsibilities by not only rejecting the COVID-19 vaccine, but also expressing their hesitancy to media and fans.
Alright. Enough complaining. I do enough of that in every other edition of Cory’s Reads you get sent to your inbox (and if you don’t get Cory’s Reads sent to your inbox, what are you waiting for?)
I present all that preemptive football slander only as a reminder to both myself and others that it is OK to enjoy things! Even bad or problematic ones! It’s a difficult idea to remember in today’s world, where morality reigns supreme, and *gasp* cancel culture lurks around every corner. I’m not saying that our collective embrace of inclusivity and goodness is bad — quite the opposite, in fact — but that, left unchecked, it does threaten to wipe the necessary grime from beneath our feet. Life has sharp edges, like football and dirty jokes and bacon-wrapped scallops. Indeed, various crises demand more urgency and responsibility from us than ever before, but sometimes we just want to eat chicken wings and refresh our fantasy football matchups every five minutes! Believe it or not, our every behavior does not need to be part of some grand moral decision-making process. I recognize the hint of hypocrisy in this suggestion. This newsletter is all but dedicated to problematizing every piece of pop culture under the sun. I’m working through the contradictory nature of enjoying things (what a bleak phrase that is) in the 21st century just like you are. We have certain responsibilities as viewers and consumers of pop culture, but we alone are not responsible for all the associations others might have for our favorite sports, movies, and television shows. If anything, I see politicians, entertainers, and various other authority figures facilitating such intense policing of our interests only because they are hoping to offload the burden of accountability onto us. So whether it’s a guilty pleasure or an unabashed obsession, keep on enjoying things!
We’re all entitled to our own happiness, even in a world where indulging such a feeling can seem selfish or privileged. It’s an uncomfortable admission, but simply having that conversation, offering that recognition, is sufficient in forging a healthy relationship between you and the things you love. I know football is an extension of the military-industrial complex. I know it endangers the men who play it, and I know it emboldens issues of race and gender. But that awareness is closest thing I have to a weapon in the fight for institutional change. And so in the spirit of simply enjoying things, here are some random thoughts on Week 1 of the NFL season, just as Week 2 gets underway...
Are the Philadelphia Eagles...you know...good? In their first game under new head coach Nick Sirianni, the Eagles absolutely dominated the Atlanta Falcons. I acknowledge the Falcons are much worse than they were just a few years ago, but the Eagles were firing on all cylinders. Even Jalen Reagor got in on the action, taking a Jalen Hurts screen pass and taking it 23 yards to the house. It was a much-needed confidence-booster for the second-year WR. Sirianni and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen seem intent on getting everyone involved on offense (sans Boston Scott, surprisingly). Rookies DeVonta Smith and Kenneth Gainwell both found the endzone, and even J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (one of the biggest draft busts in recent Eagles history) played a key role as a blocker (it’s not enough, but it’s more than we’ve seen from him under the previous coaching regime). Sirianni was a strange hire back in January, but he has already brought an earnestness and competitiveness to the team that was sorely lacking last season. This season will likely still have its ups and downs, but one thing is guaranteed: the Eagles will be fun. And in a weak division, fun just might be enough to make a playoff push.
Speaking of last year’s Eagles, Carson Wentz and the Indianapolis Colts are...average. Last weekend couldn’t have gone better for Eagles fans. The Colts lost and Carson Wentz played every snap. At this rate, the trade that sent Wentz to Indianapolis is in great shape to return a first-round draft pick. I was a staunch Wentz defender throughout his time in Philly, and the anti-vaxxer certainly wasn’t bad in his Colts debut. But watching Wentz play is like seeing an ex in the hallway; it just makes you uncomfortable. Even during his best moments Sunday, Wentz held onto the ball for too long, taking unnecessary sacks behind what was supposed to be one of the league’s better offensive lines. The Colts’ blockers weren’t at their best last weekend, but Wentz simply invites contact, and it was refreshing to contrast his extended time on the turf with Jalen Hurts’ poise under pressure.
Am I the only one who thinks the Cincinnati Bengals might be pretty good? Even in victory, the Bengals can’t catch a break. And look, I get it. Last Sunday’s overtime win over the Minnesota Vikings was just Cincinnati’s 7th win since the 2018 season. But Joe Burrow looked fully recovered from the torn ACL that stopped his 2020 rookie season in its tracks, and he is working with one of the most exciting receiving groups in the NFL. Despite a preseason marred by drops, Ja’Marr Chase looked excellent in his NFL debut, and Tee Higgins continues to establish himself as one of the most underrated players in the league. The offensive line remains a concern, particularly with Burrow coming off such a serious injury, but head coach Zac Taylor and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan called a balanced game against Minnesota, relying on Joe Mixon to pick up chunks of yardage before letting Burrow open things up with his arm. The Bengals will likely have to rely on Burrow’s arm a bit more if they want to keep winning (in regulation, preferably. Does anyone play more OT games than Cincy?) but the LSU product was on track to lead the league in pass attempts prior to his season-ending injury in 2020, so any reduction in passing plays would likely be a step in the right direction. With an underrated defense led by star safety Jessie Bates, the Bengals could very well compete for a Wild Card spot in the AFC.
Just go to USC, Urban Meyer. You know you want to. It’s never a good sign when your team has to Tweet out a corny graphic confirming your commitment to them just one week into your first NFL season.
But these are the Jags we are talking about! One of the worst franchises in all of sports! No matter how bad things are, they can always get worse. And no matter how bright things might seem, they will still find a way to get worse. Trevor Lawrence offered a mixed bag in his first game as the Jaguars QB/savior. Lawrence is a special talent, and I am confident in his ability to succeed long-term in the NFL. Unfortunately, I just don’t see that happening under Urban Meyer. Not only is Meyer an overconfident jerk who lacks any ability to communicate with — let alone coach — 53 grown men, but he is also a bigot. That kind of combination rarely makes for a good NFL head coach. With USC firing Clay Helton, Meyer quickly emerged as a potential candidate to fill the vacancy. While I don’t expect Meyer to abandon ship in Jacksonville quite so soon, he might as well. That franchise will continue to sink as long as he is around. It would be best for everyone involved, particularly his young franchise QB, if Meyer left for southern California and gave up on coaching in the NFL. Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time Meyer quit halfheartedly.
Where in the world is Todd Gurley? Speaking of guys leaving the NFL, why not bring one back as well? After losing all three of their top RBs to season-ending injuries, the Baltimore Ravens signed every washed-up RB they could think of. Latavius Murray proved to still have some juice Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders, and Ty’Son Williams seems to be a decent find as an undrafted player out of BYU. But Devonta Freeman? Le’Veon Bell? Both players looked absolutely useless last year. Freeman couldn’t even stick around with the New Orleans Saints this offseason! Alas, Freeman was recently promoted to the active roster, and Bell’s turn will surely come sometime in the near future. But where is Todd Gurley? In the realm of overworked RBs who have experienced dramatic falloffs in the last couple of years, Gurley is the cream of the crop. He was run into the ground in Los Angeles, but at just 27 years old, Gurley surely has some gas left in the tank. Baltimore likely won’t make a move for him at this point, but he’d be a natural fit behind Chris Carson in Seattle, or alongside Devin Singletary in Buffalo. Heck, why doesn’t Arthur Smith bring him back to Atlanta, where he’d be an immediate upgrade over Mike Davis and a perfect fit for Smith’s run-heavy approach?
And finally...my Super Bowl prediction. No early-season NFL piece would be complete without a stab at this year’s Super Bowl. In truth, there are only a select few teams I genuinely see competing for the Super Bowl this season. In the NFC, it comes down to four: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Seattle Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay fans are understandably concerned after Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the offense looked absolutely dreadful against the Saints in Week 1, but this is Aaron Rodgers we are talking about. He has one season left in Green Bay, and I don’t expect him to waste it. I hate betting against Tom Brady, and Sean McVay does seem to have unlocked his offense’s full potential with Matthew Stafford now onboard, but I’m sticking with my guns and predicting the Green Bay Packers to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVI.
As for the AFC, only three teams stick out to me as serious contenders: the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills, and the Cleveland Browns. Including the Browns in such a list feels bizarre, but these are different times. An argument could be made that Cleveland fields the best roster in the entire NFL. It’s just a matter of whether or not Baker Mayfield can lead this team to the promised land. We know Patrick Mahomes is capable of doing so — the Chiefs will be Super Bowl contenders for as long as Mahomes’ career lasts — but I think this is the year that Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills put it all together and not just reach the Super Bowl, but win it too.
The Buffalo Bills defeat the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl LVI.
You heard it here first, folks.
As always, thanks for reading! Next week, I begin my graduate program at the University of Exeter. While I will continue to write Cory’s Reads on a biweekly basis, the articles may end up a bit shorter in the long run. I still hope to provide as much insight and analysis as I can, and I even have a few fun projects I am planning for the near future. If you like what you read here, please consider sharing Cory’s Reads with your friends and family. I can advertise the newsletter all I want, but it is your faith in what I do that ultimately expands my network and drives engagement. Thank you again for your continued support!