Before , I thought I should take the time to introduce myself and give you a preview of what’s to come. My name is Jason Saulter and I’m a student at Mansfield University where I’m studying Communications. Before attending Mansfield U. I went to the Connecticut School of Broadcasting where I found my passion of the media industry, especially sports media. I’ve covered sports and entertainment for various broadcasts over the past few years and I am excited to share my take.
I hope that Water Cooler Talk gives you the knowledge you need to sound like the “sports guru” in your workplace, and if you happen to be talking sports next to an actual water cooler then please send a photo. @jasonsaulter
Now, let’s get to the real reason you came here. I’ll assume you’re on your lunch break and needed a break from checking your fantasy lineups…but I’ll take it.
NFL:
Are ACL’s becoming the new concussions? Another star player went down this weekend as Jamaal Charles is out for the remainder of the season, after his second ACL tear in four seasons. A sad day for Charles, NFL fans, fantasy owners, and the Kansas City Chiefs who are now 1-4 and likely not to make up any ground in the AFC.
We saw too many star players go down during training camp and preseason games with torn ACL’s. Jordy Nelson and Kelvin Benjamin are absolutely missed in their respective offenses and let’s also not forget Dante Fowler Jr., Ryan Clady, and Louis Delmas who are dearly missed on their teams as well.
Now let’s get to the fun stuff…and that starts with Josh McCown. Yes, I said it. Who is Josh McCown? That’s the guy who is keeping Johnny Manziel off the field for the Browns and the guy who torched the Ravens through 4+ quarters on Sunday. No disrespect to McCown, but how does this guy throw for 457 yards? This speaks more to how badly the Ravens are this season than to how well McCown played. After Terrell Suggs went down in week one, the Ravens defense has been atrocious and there’s no sign of recovery. The offense has been abysmal as well, but when Steve Smith Sr. returns that should change (should being the keyword). If it wasn’t for two Josh Scobee missed field goals on Thursday Night Football in week four, the Ravens would be 0-5.
Speaking of records that aren’t what they should be, how about those Seattle Seahawks. The Bengals defied expectations and overcame a 17-point 4th quarter deficit to defeat the Hawks in OT. Had it not been for another referee miscue on Monday Night Football in Seattle (see the ‘Fail Mary’ play from 2012), the Seahawks would be sitting in the cellar in the NFC West, with a 1-4 record.
Then there’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’ll be honest with you, I turned the game off at the 2:00 mark with the Chargers ahead 20-17 to watch the Mets-Dodgers game. Mike Vick couldn’t do squat until the fourth quarter, but somehow turned it around. It started with a beautiful double move by Markus Wheaton for a 72-yard TD with 7:42 left in the game to tie it up at 17. Then the two-minute drill worked to perfection, capped off by Le’Veon Bell’s 5-yard wildcat scamper to score as time expired. The Black and Yellow will take the 24-20 win and the 3-2 record, but you know they’re just biding their time until Big Ben returns. Can’t Miss Play
Let’s give credit where credit is due now, all teams entering week five undefeated stayed undefeated. Carolina had the easiest path to keeping their undefeated mark…they had a bye. Besides that, the Bengals, Packers, Patriots, Broncos, and Falcons have all but sealed up a playoff spot. Too early? All right…I’ll wait until next week to start putting teams into the playoffs.
MLB:
Does nobody want to advance past the ALDS this year? The Astros had all but advanced last night, but they allowed a five-run eighth inning to let the Royals tie the series 2-2. The Rangers didn’t show up last night and now their series with the Blue Jays is tied 2-2, with the road team winning every game.
How about those Cubbies? They go into the day with a 2-1 series lead over division rival St. Louis. I know Bartman has already respectfully declined the offer to come back to Wrigley, but maybe the Cubs should pull the offer when they host a potential series-winning game.
If they split the MVP votes between the first half and the second half of the season, you could argue that Yoenis Cespedes should get the honor for the second half. He has single-handedly been the Mets offense since being acquired at the trade deadline, and now the Mets are one game away from advancing to the NLCS after a convincing 13-7 defeat of the Dodgers on Monday night. Did you see the long-ball Cespedes hit last night? If you missed it…shame on you.
NCAAF:
The news last night trumps all other college football material that has transpired over the last few days: Steve Spurrier (70) is retiring. Not at the end of the season, this is effective immediately. After leading the Gamecocks to a 2-4 start to the season, the Ol’ Ball Coach ends his college coaching career with a 228-89-2 record with Duke, Florida, and South Carolina. Thanks for the memories coach (for the record, I’m excluding the Washington Redskins memories). Looking back at the Head Ball Coach