Thom Allison’s Weekly Round-Up: All-Pro suspended, Brady said what?

With the NFL Draft over for another year, fans and analysts alike have had the opportunity to digest and mull over every selection made. 

Before a single snap has even occurred, each player lucky enough to hear their named called has been graded as anything from a future Hall of Famer, to the new Ryan Leaf. 

Now, we have a slight lull in proceedings before the start of rookie mini camps and pre-season. 

However, as we all know, there is no such thing as a slow news day in the National Football League (NFL).

PE-DeAndre Hopkins

There is only one place to start this week. 

I think it’s prudent at this point to make the reader aware of my conflict of interest as a long suffering Cardinals fan.

I will attempt to maintain journalistic integrity and remain as impartial as possible with that.

Why Nuk Why? Our season is over before it began, time to hire Brian Flores and start the tank. Ok now I’ve got that out my system. 

Yes, DeAndre Hopkins was handed a six game suspension this week, for a breach of the NFL wellness policy in relation to performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). 

Occurring back in November 2021, this revelation explains the Arizona Cardinals trade for Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown. And their decision to select a tight end in the second round. 

Prior to the playoffs, DHop had been telling anyone who would listen that he was working flat out to make it back for the postseason. 

Those comments have not aged well. Call into question his integrity, it really isn’t a good look. 

Hopkins was quick to release the standard “it wasn’t really my fault” apology letter, before accurately adding that he should have been more careful. 

Yes DeAndre, it might be wise to take some precautions in future.

Match-Baker

The Baker Mayfield/Cleveland Browns saga continues to rumble on. 

Draft weekend came and went, with Baker drawing about as much interest as a Jerry Jones driving school.  

With the QB needy Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers selecting their future signal callers, Mayfield’s options appear to be scant. 

It would seem that barring an injury situation similar to what happened to the Vikings in 2016 with Teddy Bridgewater, Mayfield’s only real escape route is via Seattle. 

We’ve suggested before that the Seahawks would be a perfect fit for the former No.1 overall pick.

There is one minor stumbling block however. Pete Carroll is adamant that Drew Lock can be their franchise QB. 

Now, this may very well be a smokescreen into pressuring the Browns into covering more of Mayfield’s contract. Or, it may be that Carroll has lost his mind, at this point the jury is still out. 

Adding to the intrigue is the Browns own short term QB situation. They may well have sold the family silver to fly Deshaun Watson in from Texas. But they still haven’t addressed the situation which amounts to 22 unresolved civil cases. 

Regardless of the outcome of those cases, it would be fair to assume that we won’t see Watson making his Browns debut for an extended period of time. 

This leaves Cleveland in need of a backup QB to take the reins.

There is a perfect candidate in Mayfield. Whether the two parties can reconcile for the sake of their short-term futures is undecided. 

The Brady Goats Gruff

Tom Brady has pretty much lived a football fairy tale.

For over two decades, he has played the part of the undisputed GOAT. 

This week, we were reminded that he is just as apt at being the troll, as he took to social media to pass comments on the infamous “tuck rule” incident. 

For those unfamiliar, let me quickly bring up to speed. Late in the fourth quarter of the 2001 AFC divisional playoff game between the Raiders and Patriots, Brady dropped back to pass, aborted his throw and whilst trying to bring the ball back into his chest, the ball was dislodged and recovered by Charles Woodson. 

A clear fumble, ruled a fumble on the field. This was before HQ got involved via replays and suddenly discovered a new rule that only they knew about, and reversed the decision to an incomplete pass. 

This is now infamously referred to as “The Brady Rule” as it can only be applied when TB12 is the QB. 

It was highly controversial at the time. And 22 years on, it still sparks a fierce reaction from fans. 

So when Brady took to Twitter to inform us that “it probably was a fumble”, he knew what to expect. Lots and lots of angry fans!

Most of the fierce backlash came from Las Vegas Raiders fans. I can’t work out why, surely it’s those from Oakland who have reasons to be upset!

Oh well, time to tuck and run.