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Good Morning,
The NFL said its goodbyes to one of the league’s most iconic offensive linemen yesterday. Eagles center Jason Kelce was one of the best to ever play the position. We pay tribute the man with an unmatched dog mentality. Plus, there’s a shift in the College Football Playoff moving forward, a 16-year-old played spoiler at the Australian Open, and the Suns rallied from 22 points down in the 4th quarter. Editor’s Note: We’re undergoing some technical issues this week. If you didn’t receive yesterday’s newsletter, you can read it here.
Letter Rip! |
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'Underdog' Jason Kelce Retires a Philly Legend |
Photo: Perry Knotts / Getty Images |
Eagles Center Jason Kelce Retires After Playoff Loss, But the Hall of Fame Center Will Be Adored in Philly Forever
It’s not every season an offensive lineman garners a headline story, but few offensive linemen have this kind of clout. Eagles center Jason Kelce is retiring from football after 13 seasons. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Kelce told his teammates the news after Monday night’s loss to the Bucs. And yes, he’s the big brother of the most famous NFL player in the world right now, but Jason was big-time before Travis put on an NFL jersey. In Philly? Big-time doesn’t do it justice. He’s a legend. The 36-year-old has spent his entire career in Midnight Green, and he leaves the game as one of the greatest centers in NFL history. He had tears in his eyes as he walked off the field Monday night.
Jason Kelce’s NFL Impact
At 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, you wouldn’t think Kelce is undersized, but he is standing next to NFL linemen. There aren’t many stats to prove a center’s worth, but it’s felt through leadership, reliability, and grit in the trenches. It’s also recognized by peers (6 All-Pros and 156 consecutive starts ought to do it). His 7 Pro Bowls are the most by any center in NFL history. Kelce’s speed and crafty footwork have made him one of the most versatile offensive linemen to ever play the game. Just look at the Eagles’ famous ‘tush-push’ play (or Brotherly Shove). That only works because Kelce is in the center of the wedge. His work ethic is unmatched.
The Super Bowl Parade Speech
In sports, alcohol-induced parade speeches are always iconic. But at the Eagles’ first-ever Super Bowl parade in 2018, Kelce’s ‘Underdog’ speech stole the show. His scream-laced rant brought Philadelphia new levels of Super Bowl bliss as he ripped the doubters, the media, and the enemies, and united a fan base that had yearned for a title since it joined the NFL.
Offensive lineman have a thankless position — one that requires a true blue-collar, “hungry dog” mentality. But the Eagles’ O-line anchor made a living off being that hungry dog. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer when the time comes, and a Philly legend. We may never see another center quite like Kelce.
Read More
ESPN: What Jason Kelce Meant to the Eagles as a Teammate & Player
Athletic: Why Jason Kelce is an Instant Legend in Philadelphia Upon Retiring
CBS Sports: Retiring Eagles All-Pro Jason Kelce Yelled ‘F— My Life!’ Before Each ‘Tush Push’ Play Call |
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Remembering College Football's Last Decade |
Image via Joe Stella / Media Mobilize |
Reviewing the Last 10 Years of the 4-Team CFB Playoff Format Before Shifting to a 12-Team Tournament
As we tie a bow on the college football season, and coaching changes continue to swirl, we can’t help but reminisce about the past 10 years of the 4-Team College Football Playoff. Remember before that? We used to crown a champion based on one BCS Championship Bowl Game. And prior to that era (1998-2013), the title was determined by the polls at the end of the season. Much has changed, and it’s about to get so much better. College football shifts to a 12-team format beginning next season, and that should give even more teams opportunities to make magic. So let’s rewind the last decade of 4-team chaos.
The SEC’s Dominance Was Evident
It’s no surprise the SEC completely owned the CFB Playoff for much of the past decade. The trio of Alabama (3), Georgia (2) and LSU (1) combined for six titles and 12 CFB Playoff appearances — more than any other conference, by far. Only Clemson (2), Ohio State (1) and Michigan (1) claimed titles for the ACC and Big Ten. The Big 12 never won a CFB Championship despite seven different bids to the 4-Team postseason. Neither did the Pac-12.
Juggernauts, Beware
Those six different champions over the past 10 seasons are some of the most dominant programs in college football history. You could add the likes of Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Oregon as teams with near-misses over the past decade, but the Juggernauts of the game are about to see something different in the future. A 12-team format means the playoff isn’t just a two-win process — it’ll take three or four wins in December-January to hoist the trophy. Injuries, stamina and matchups become much more critical.
No More Drama?
The 12-team shift also means teams like this year’s undefeated Florida State squad won’t be left wanting as the No. 5 team in the country. Nor would a No. 6 Georgia team be eliminated for one loss to end the season. There will still be drama on the “who’s in?” debates, but less egregious snubs are the future.
The chart above breaks down the past decade of the College Football Playoff — an epic transitional era in the sport’s history. It’s strange to see the changes as we turn the page. Alabama’s three championships were just a piece of Nick Saban’s run. The Pac-12 is soon-to-be gone. And the overall landscape of college football is changing before our eyes.
Read More
Draft Kings: History of the CFB Playoff as Last 4-Team Tournament Ends
FOX Sports: Ranking the 10 National Champions During the 4-Team CFB Playoff Era
Sporting News: College Football’s 12-Team Playoff Format, Explained |
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16-Year-Old Takes Over Melbourne |
Photo: Cameron Spencer / Getty Images |
6-Seed Ons Jabeur Stunned by 16-Year-Old Mirra Andreeva at Australian Open
Second-round action at the Australian Open is officially underway, and we have our first major upset of the tournament. The 6-seed in the women’s draw and last year’s Wimbledon runner-up, Ons Jabeur, was shocked by 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva in a stunning straight-set romp (6-0, 6-2). Jabeur was run off the court in just 54 minutes. The other top stars of the women’s draw advanced somewhat easily, including #4 Coco Gauff, #3 Elena Rybakina and #5 Jessica Pegula. Caroline Wozniacki and #32 Leylah Fernandez were also ousted in the second round. There’s plenty of live action this morning. Here’s the latest:
Women’s Singles (1st-Round Highlights)
#3 E. Rybakina def. K. Pliskova (7-6, 6-4) #4 C. Gauff def. C. Dolehide (7-6, 6-2) #5 J. Pegula def. R. Marino (6-2, 6-4)
M. Andreeva def. #6 O. Jabeur (6-0, 6-2)
Men’s Singles (1st-Round Highlights) #2 C. Alcaraz def. R. Gasquet (7-6, 6-1, 6-2)
#4 J. Sinner def. J. De Jong (6-2, 6-2, 6-2)
#6 A. Zverev def. D. Koepfer (4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3)
Upcoming Australian Open Schedule #1 N. Djokovic vs. A. Popyrin (4:15 am ET — LIVE)
Read More
Tennis: 16-Year-Old Mirra Andreeva Blitzes Ons Jabeur in Fearless Display
ESPN: Coco Gauff Reaches Australian Open 3rd Round; Ons Jabeur Out Fast |
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🏀 2024 NCAA Tournament Bracket Projections
Seemingly every ranked team lost last week. But somehow, some way, the selection committee is going to put together a 68-team bracket in two months' time, for which our current projected No. 1 seeds are Purdue, Kansas, Connecticut and Arizona. (Bleacher Report)
⚾️ Hypothetical 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot
The BBWAA (Baseball Writers’ Association of America) will announce the results of the 2024 Hall of Fame vote live from Cooperstown next week (Jan. 23). Here’s a glance at one writer’s preview to the names on this year’s list. (CBS Sports)
🏈 Updated 2024 NFL Mock Draft
The 2024 NFL Draft is closer to having a complete first-round draft order. We know where six more teams will be selecting after the Rams, Browns, Steelers, Dolphins, Eagles and Cowboys were all eliminated in the Wild Card round. (Sporting News) |
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🎾 Australian Open
Full Upcoming Match Schedule
🏀 NBA
Bucks at Cavaliers (7:30 pm ET, ESPN)
Mavericks at Lakers (8:30 pm ET, ABC)
🏒 NHL
Red Wings at Panthers (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)
Blackhawks at Sabres (7:30 pm ET, TNT)
🏀 NCAA
M: #18 Creighton at #1 UConn (7:00 pm ET, FS1)
M: Louisville at #4 North Carolina (9:00 pm ET, ACCN)
M: USC at #12 Arizona (10:00 pm ET, ESPN) |
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