This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Here’s Mike Sykes.
People really think the Arizona Cardinals are about to start losing games on purpose this season.
Honestly, it’s hard to blame them when you look at the situation. It is truly one that is ripe for tanking. All you have to do is look at their last few roster moves and you can definitely catch the vibe.
On Monday, the team released Colt McCoy. The QB had been penciled in as their starting quarterback throughout training camp and the preseason. For him to be outright released just a few days before teams make final cuts was just shocking.
And now the Cardinals have released veteran QB Colt McCoy, per league sources.
Either veteran Josh Dobbs, whom Arizona acquired last week, or rookie fifth-round pick QB Clayton Tune will start opening day at Washington.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 28, 2023
When you put that move in context with the others Arizona has made, the tank radar definitely goes off.
Arizona put Kyler Murray on its physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from a torn ACL. He’ll be out for at least four weeks, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. On top of that, the team traded for Joshua Dobbs, who is a career backup. He’ll probably start games for Arizona this season — at least until Murray is back. And who knows when that’ll be.
On top of that, the team traded Isaiah Simmons to the Giants last week after drafting him just three years ago. He’s a former top-10 pick. NFL teams are stubborn. Giving up this easily on a player isn’t normal.
Considering all that, it’s easy to see this as a 100 percent Grade A “Go Winless for Williams” tank operation. Caleb Williams is nice, man. Even his fumbles are golden.
But look, y’all. Let’s be real. The only way tanking actually makes sense here is if you don’t think about it too hard.
So let’s really think on it starting with Colt McCoy. We are talking about Colt McCoy here, right? This isn’t Drew Brees, folks. There’s simply not a world of difference between Dobbs and McCoy here.
Some have also suspected that Murray is on the PUP list because the team is trying to lose. But does that really make sense for any party involved here?
Kyler Murray is absolutely on the clock for the Cardinals. If the Cardinals trade him in 2024 they’ll save about $39 million in cap space and would only incur a $13 million dead money hit. If he’s not performing for this team, he will not be in Arizona — plain and simple.
Plus, you’ve got a first-year head coach in Jonathan Gannon who is trying to make a good first impression here. Tanking might get the Cards a good draft pick, but it certainly isn’t going to impress anyone or establish the culture Gannon wants to set.
Tanking has happened in the NFL before, certainly. Don’t get me wrong. It’s an awful think. Especially in this league where players are constantly risking their bodies playing this incredibly physical and dangerous sport
I just don’t think that’s what’s going on here. Are the Cardinals bad? Yes. Absolutely. Worst team in the league. But are they that on purpose? I don’t think so. Let’s cut them a bit more slack than that.
The brilliance of Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh is facing a self-imposed 3-game suspension from Michigan to start this season behind alleged recruiting violations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Normally, that would be the story for Michigan heading into the season. But leave it to Harbaugh to absolutely flip that on its head.
He completely ripped the NCAA with a call for players to finally be able to participate in revenue sharing, ESPN’s Tom VanHareen writes.
“We all should be about diversity, equity and inclusion. I’m calling for a system that is fair, equitable and benefits all involved. Don’t exclude the student-athletes from the profits. My opinion, you can’t say you’re about diversity, equity and inclusion, if you aren’t willing to include the student-athletes in revenue sharing.”
Harbaugh is absolutely right, but this isn’t a new revelation. Folks have been saying this for years. But many other powerful head coaches have scoffed at the idea — looking at you, Nick Saban. That’s why this is huge.
Now that we’ve got all of these super conferences, though, this is a conversation that’s going to spring up more and more because the money is only going to get bigger and the players aren’t seeing a cent of it.
Is this a bit self-serving from Harbaugh? Sure. The Big Ten makes a ton of media money. It just signed a $7 billion with Fox. Michigan has a lot more money than other schools, which would help with recruiting.
That doesn’t matter though. He’s still right. It’s time for these schools to pay these players.
While you were sleeping…
Some fans took things way too far with Ronald Acuña Jr. The Braves’ star was approached by two fans on the field in a game against the Rockies.
They seemed to be trying to take a selfie, but things just went too far. FTW’s Mary Clarke has more.
During the Atlanta Braves’ visit to Coors Field to play against the Colorado Rockies, a pair of fans were able to jump into the outfield during the game. Not only were they able to make it onto the field, the fans were able to get close enough to Acuña to touch him before security arrived.
From video captured in the stadium, it seemed as if the fans were looking to take a selfie with Acuña, but the entire situation was quite scary all the same.
Two fans ran onto the field and tried to grab Ronald Acuña Jr. pic.twitter.com/z04x9HhOlk
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 29, 2023
That’s pretty terrifying and could’ve absolutely gone left. Thankfully, though, no one was hurt in the process. Acuña was OK.
Security better tighten up, though. This is wild.
Quick hits: Don’t mess with Coco Gauff … The best and worst GMs in the NFL … and more
— We know Coco Gauff as this super sweet, super awesome tennis player that we’ve come to love. But she’s got a fiery side, too. Just ask the umpire she popped off on the umpire during her match at the U.S. Open. And she was right, too! Don’t mess with Coco. Charles Curtis has more.
— Robert Zeglinski ranked the 5 best and worst GMs in the NFL. If you loved the coaches ranking, you’ll definitely love this one.
— Paul George has the best Charles Barkley impression — hands down. Prince Grimes has you covered on this one.
— Christian D’Andrea has every notable NFL veteran released on cut day so far for you here.
That’s all, folks. Happy Tuesday.
