1. Apologies are tricky.
Sometimes people are forced or prodded to apologize for something when they really don’t want to apologize. Sometimes people just apologize to get others off their backs. And sometimes people apologize because it’s the right thing to do, even though they really don’t think they should apologize.
And then people love to analyze whether an apology was sincere or authentic or legitimate.
If I’m assessing Peyton Manning’s “apology” to Tommy DeVito’s agent, I’m going to say someone definitely suggested Manning offer up some kind of mea culpa and the sincerity was, let’s just say based on the tone, lacking.
On the ManningCast last week, when Tommy DeVito’s agent, Sean Stellato, was shown on camera before the Packers-Giants game, Peyton and Eli had the following exchange:
Peyton: DeVito’s dad said he kinda wanted to stay under the radar. He’s hugging his agent in the stands after every play, so I’m not sure ...
Eli: Sean Stellato.
Peyton: Who? What’s the agent’s name again?
Eli: Sean “Slimy” Stellato. I got some inside intel from some of my boys. That was a nickname in college.
Peyton: Slimy. Perfect. That is great research.
The following morning, Stellato appeared on WFAN’s Boomer & Gio show and said he never had the nickname “slimy” and didn’t seem thrilled with the characterization from the Manning brothers.
“I don’t know if that’s just him being a Southern dude,” Stellato said about Peyton. “But I don’t understand where ‘slimy’ comes from.”
“Never heard that nickname in my life,” Stellato added. “That ‘slimy,’ that word has never entered my head, ever.”
Peyton sort of, indirectly addressed the tiff with Stellato on Monday’s edition of the ManningCast during the Eagles-Seahawks game. The Hall of Fame quarterback did not mention the mixup about the “slimy” nickname, however. He offered an apology for making fun of Stellato’s suit, while also making his feelings about Stellato more than clear.
“I’m gonna be nicer to agents now,” Peyton said in reference to New Year’s resolutions. “Although, I do think agents have no place on the sidelines. There’s no reason an agent should be on the sideline pregame.”
“Your agent didn’t come on the sidelines?” asked Eli.
“I signed my contract. I said call me in six years when it’s time to renegotiate. That’s the role of an agent at an actual football game.
“But I wanna apologize to Sean. Seems like a great guy. I apologize, Sean, for making fun of your outfit.”
Peyton & @EliManning have some work to do in 2024 😂 pic.twitter.com/biL9bxhtmG
— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) December 19, 2023
Why do I have a feeling we’ll now hear from Stellato about Peyton telling him to stay off the sidelines?
2. There was another notable moment on Monday’s ManningCast. Three weeks ago, the Niners crushed the Eagles, 42–19. After the game, San Francisco’s Nick Bosa said his team “put the blueprint out there” on how to beat the Eagles. Philly then lost to Dallas and Seattle for a three-game losing streak.
Nick Bosa says the 49ers feel they put out the blueprint to stop Jalen Hurts
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) December 7, 2023
“Jalen is looking at the rush every play. You have to be disciplined and not give him that quick escape route where he can get to his guys quick. It paid off” #Eagles pic.twitter.com/wAJSEbMiL2
ManningCast guest Christian McCaffrey seemed to give us some insight into that blueprint, because the Niners star running back pulled an old-school Tony Romo and told us a Jalen Hurts run was coming, and how the play would go, before it even happened.
https://t.co/V9cDUMYX7f pic.twitter.com/HtdpEDjWUb
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) December 19, 2023
3. A bonus episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina dropped this morning, and it features an interview with AEW wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman, also known as MJF.
Friedman talks about his rise in AEW, his heel and face personas, why he stands out in professional wrestling, whether he considers himself a locker-room leader and the status of his contact with the company and Cody Rhodes recently saying that he thinks Friedman will one day wind in up WWE.
MJF also weighs in on CM Punk, headlining a pay-per-view show in his hometown of Long Island, having ADD, and being inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Friedman also discusses recently running into John Cena on the red carpet, how and why his fascination with Burberry started, having a wrestling-themed Bar Mitzvah, the time a fan plotted to possibly abduct him, the best Long Island food establishments and much more.
You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.
You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Sports Illustrated’s YouTube channel.
4. ESPN's Joe Buck had a fantastic call of Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s game-winning 29-yard touchdown catch for Seattle last night.
Lock to JSN for the lead!
— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2023
📺: #PHIvsSEA on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/bbJNB6yPkz pic.twitter.com/t7q0x5073q
As did Kevin Harlan on Westwood One’s national radio broadcast.
𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘄𝗸𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗗❗️
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) December 19, 2023
Drew Lock connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba on this 29-yard strike to give the #Seahawks the lead with just 28 seconds to play.
You should listen to this.
Kevin Harlan & @kurt13warner on the call 🔊⤵️: pic.twitter.com/B5eyZSLHAa
5. Nuggets star Nikola Jokić had a rare off night Monday, scoring just eight points in a win against the Mavericks. The day before, Steph Curry scored just seven points in a Warriors victory over the Trail Blazers.
I point this out to only enhance a stat that comes via Reddit. LeBron James has scored in double figures in 1,175 straight games.
The player with the next longest streak? Joel Embiid at 157 games.
6. I wrote last week that the Lakers hanging a banner for their in-season tournament win was embarrassing. After actually seeing the banner raising that took place last night, it’s even more embarrassing than I originally thought. Absolutely nobody cares one iota about the Lakers winning a contrived, meaningless tournament. This is not something NBA fans will be talking about years from now, trust me.
The Los Angeles Lakers unveil the first In-Season Tournament championship banner pic.twitter.com/qVN9jssRER
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) December 19, 2023
