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Good morning! Good morning! PanthersYou were just traded, too.
You Were Sleeping
It’s hard to recall a midseason trade so juicy as this: San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffrey was a star runner.The Carolina Panthers made a late-night move to tilt the NFC’s power balance, and it was done by the Panthers.
The Niners didn’t have to give up a first-round pick to get him, but McCaffrey did play only 10 combined games in 2020 and 2021 due to injuries. A second, third and fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft — plus a fifth-rounder in 2024 — go back to Carolina, where the firesale is fully on.
As a shaman-like action, Tim Kawakami wrote extensively Thursday on McCaffrey’s fit in San Francisco before the trade happened. This combination of player/offensive scheme is almost too good. It doesn’t hurt that McCaffrey starred at Stanford in college, either.
Both ends should be read:The Niners are Fully committing to itThe Panthers sense a weak NFC. The Panthers are completely tearing it down. More moves are expected in the coming days, weeks. Jeff Howe already has Get the complete grade here.
- The trade was a distraction from a chaotic TNF match. Andy DaltonSaved the Cardinals from drowning early this season thanks to three interceptions — two of them returned for touchdowns in the second quarter — in Arizona’s 42-34 win. The Cardinals are currently 3-4. SaintsThere are two teams: 2-5. Both teams have 8-9 written all across them.
You should find someone who loves you even more than Marco Wilson does football.
🎥 @benbbaldwin | @NFL pic.twitter.com/f3KjqFobFk
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 21, 2022
MLB Playoffs
The Yankees are against it
It’s amazing how both ALCS games have technically been close but never felt within reach, really. The Yankees even had a chance down to the final batter in last night’s 3-2 loss in Houston, and yet they Return to New York down 2:It feels almost over.
Yankees fans will highlight the small run difference of just three between these first two games. This is also on the road, in an environment that seems impossible to conquer. So at least they’ll be in front of home fans this weekend, right?
At least they’ll have Gerrit Cole starting Game 3. He has allowed just three earned runs over 13 1/3 innings this postseason. If he can’t get you a win, it’s time to make some offseason plans.
Pulse Polls
In defense of Rory’s chicken
Rory McIlroy, Tom Kim and their budding bromance in the golf game is called “Brotherhood”. This is supported by the Pulse. McIlroy is an experienced vet; Kim is the most promising young golfer. They seem to share a genuine affection for one another.
It’s deep enough to where they talked about fast food fried chicken, and Kim revealed he hasn’t had Popeyes yet. Direct quote, via Golf Digest:
- “I know he likes fast food, so I asked him [if he prefers] Chick-fil-A or Popeyes and he told me he hasn’t had Popeyes yet,” McIlroy said with a laugh. “So I said, ‘no, you’ve got to have Popeyes, I think it’s better than Chick-fil-A.’”
This opinion won Some flakThis is absurdity in the golf world. You can squabble about service all you want, but it’s undeniable that Popeyes serves better fried chicken than Chick-Fil-A.
This is naturally our next Pulse Survey. Vote! Let’s fight on a Friday. We’ll publish the results Monday.
Things You Must See
Fun storybook goals
LAFC advanced to last night’s MLS Western Conference Final via a goal kids dream about: The game ended in stoppage, at the corner. Chicho Arango was at the right spot at the right moment. Bang.
Paul Tenorio has Read the whole storyLos Angeles. LA takes Austin/Dallas’ winner on Sunday
The Best Bets
Agenda Horned Frog
We’re still .500, just waiting on that big weekend to get in the black. Crouching bettor, hidden winner. We’re aligning with frogs this weekend:
College
TCU (-3.5) vs. Kansas State
The Horned Frogs just came off a major win against Oklahoma State. Kansas State’s best win this season (Oklahoma) looks a little shaky in retrospect. Frog smash.
Iowa at Ohio State UNDER 49.5
Most people will tell you to take the Hawkeyes at +29.5, but the Pulse doesn’t make sheep bets. The Buckeyes will roll, something like 34-6, and we’ll all go home happy.
Continue reading: Mock’s best bets | Expert picks | Model with full projection
Giants(+3) Jaguars
This line feels wrong, which means Vegas knows something we don’t. I’m staying on the G-Men. I’d even pick them outright.
JetsAt BroncosUNDER 39.5
We know Denver won’t score, and we also know Denver has a good defense. We have another 16-12 game right around the corner.
Continue reading: Mock’s best bets | Expert picks | Survivor pool recs
Record: 2-2
All records from Pulse 10-10
Pulse Picks
・Behold college football’s All-Transfer team at the midway point. For more proof that the portal is important, take a look at This roster is stacked!.
・Oliver Kay has a great column The Ronaldo mess in ManchesterThis article provides a relevant look at the way history repeats itself.
・What have you seen? Tariq Woolen play? play? Seahawks’New Richard Sherman clone Could be named Defensive rookie of the year.
・The Mariners enter the offseason officially as a team on the rise. They have more moves to make.
・Aaron Rodgers Here are some suggestions of how to improve the Packers’ offense.
・A Detroit Pistons executive It is currently on leave as he’s investigated for workplace misconduct with a former female employee, sources confirmed to The Athletic.
・We were mistaken! Our college football writers Take a look at their preseason predictions. (OK. We were correct, too.
・Last-minute Adds fantasy football rosterYou are here.
(Photo: Jim Dedmon/USA Today)
