We went 4-0 with our picks last week to get to 7-3 for this postseason.

The next two are hard.  We really want to pick the Bills, but in a late change of heart we think Kansas City will pull it out.  We really want to pick the Buccaneers, but QB AARON RODGERS really seems to have been in a different zone this year.  So Kansas City and Green Bay in a match-up of the two number one seeds and a re-match of Super Bowl 1.

So far the trend in this preseason has been good, but not great games, which have been slightly under-scoring.

We think all four teams will get into the 20s, maybe even the 30s.  We would certainly take the over of 52 in the NFC Championship Game.

– – –

Six coaches hired, no Black coaches among them.  The Texans are an unlikely last hope for those supporting diversity.

Mike Freeman of NFL Today:

New Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is A Football Guy, and Football Guy will always be Football Guy. Because Football Guy will hit you in the mouth. Football Guy won’t back down. Football Guy eats nuts and bolts, washes it all down with battery acid, and poops rocks because that’s what Football Guy does. Football Guy will also bite off your kneecap.

Wait, what?

“We’re gonna kick you in the teeth, and when you punch us back, we’re going to smile at you,” he said at his introductory news conference on Thursday. “And when you knock us down, we’re gonna get up. And on the way up, we’re going to bite a kneecap off.”

That is an actual quote.

As word of Campbell’s presser spread throughout the NFL and social media, it led to some loving what he said, and others shaking their head.

There are some teams that like Football Guy but that isn’t the point. The point is that as this hiring cycle winds down, and not a single Black head coach has been hired, and only one person of color, the Jets’ Robert Saleh (who identifies as Arab-American) has, this is one of the bleakest hiring cycles in recent NFL history.

There is one job opening remaining (the Texans) and one of the most attractive candidates, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, hasn’t been hired, and a bevy of people who aren’t as qualified have been.

To be clear, the criticism of some of the head coaching hires is less about the hires themselves, and more about who gets the opportunity, who does not, and why.

Campbell’s hiring is one of the best examples yet of what Bieniemy and other Black coaches face when it comes to getting one of these jobs. The standards for them are stratospheric and always shifting; the standards for their white counterparts are neither.

What’s often used against Bieniemy is that he doesn’t call plays, Andy Reid does. It’s been reported Campbell’s never called plays in the pros. Campbell’s title in New Orleans was assistant to the head coach and tight ends coach.

Campbell also got a six-year deal. To say it’s unusual for someone that’s never been a head coach in the NFL (or hasn’t been but has multiple college national championships under his belt) to get such a lengthy contract would be a dramatic understatement. This isn’t to say it’s never happened before, and the move is typical Lions tomfoolery, but not only are Black coaches having a difficult time getting hired, there’s little chance one in today’s harsh hiring climate in the NFL would get a six-year deal.

But one of the most striking things about this hiring cycle is there’s no way in hell, and I mean no way ever, a Black coach could talk like that, particularly as a candidate looking for a head coaching position, and still get a job.

It’s true that in 2008 Mike Singletary, as interim coach of the 49ers, once dropped his pants at halftime to make, well, some kind of point, and he was still hired by the team as its permanent coach. Yet he was a Hall of Famer with a lengthy track record in football.

Singletary was the exception. Then, and now, most Black coaches are held to much harsher standards. The harshest, in fact. They must follow an ever-changing set of standards. They cannot, in any way now, talk about eating people’s kneecaps.

It’s possible Campbell will win a Super Bowl with the Lions. The Browns made the playoffs so anything is possible.

This also isn’t as much about Campbell the man as it is what Campbell’s actions represent.

Which is Black coaches getting kneecapped.

It has been a good cycle for the hiring of Black GMs.  We count three – Brad Holmes in Detroit, Terry Fontenot in New Orleans and Martin Mayhew in Washington.  Three out of seven openings, if we didn’t miss any.

NFC NORTH

DETROIT

They are still buzzing about Dan Campbell’s first appearance before the media as the coach of the Detroit Lions.  Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com:

Dan Campbell’s epic press conference to open his tenure with the Detroit Lions lasted over an hour and went to places no one could have expected, from a spit-take about Don Muhlbach’s longevity with the franchise to references to ‘The Big Lebowski’ and biting kneecaps.

But beneath the humor and the one-liners and the bluster of Campbell’s very memorable debut in Detroit, there were many bits of real information the 44-year-old head coach was willing to share about the franchise, where he sees it going and what the future could be.

So while many will see the intensity and the passion — both of those are clearly real and unquestionably could be helpful to galvanize a locker room that sorely needs it after Matt Patricia’s three poor years with the club — Campbell did offer up some of what this team might look like.

1.The Matthew Stafford question remains an open one: Both general manager Brad Holmes and Campbell praised Stafford this week, but both also essentially gave versions of ‘we’re looking at the whole roster,’ when asked about their future plans about the quarterback or the No. 7 overall pick this spring.

“We’ve had discussions but here’s what I’d say about Matthew,” Campbell said. “He’s a stud. He’s one of the toughest quarterbacks you’ll ever see. Extremely talented. I know he’s a team guy and I know he wants to win. So I’ll leave it at that. That’s what I do know.”

Holmes essentially said the same thing Tuesday — and then said he had to look at the roster. Campbell did acknowledge “there’s a million avenues that you could go with the quarterback talk,” before saying it’s too early to get into it.

But unlike past years and past regime changes, it feels clear like there at least will be a conversation about Stafford’s long-term viability with the Lions. And based on the way Stafford spoke at the end of the season, those are probably conversations he would have opinions about as well.

Campbell did acknowledge the NFL “is a passing league right now,” and that a strong quarterback boosts the odds of success. No matter what, Stafford’s situation will be one to watch.

2.So what’s Campbell’s style? There’s no question about his passion. You got that from him about 14 seconds into his presser. But how he handles the offense and the defense — and the hires he makes there — are going to be critical.

Aaron Glenn, the former Jets cornerback and New Orleans secondary coach, is coming over as the defensive coordinator. That’s one hire down — and a potential good one at that. Glenn is viewed very highly around the NFL and has potential as a future head coach. Offensive coordinator and the majority of position coaches should come together in the next few weeks but this is his style:

“We’re going to run a system that puts our best on your worst,” Campbell said. “That’s what we’re going to do because that’s what we did in New Orleans. We’re going to find a way to put our guys in one-one-one matchups, whether it’s run or pass. If you’re telling me that our left tackle is better than their right end, and we can run outside zone all day — we’re going to run outside zone, as long as we cut off the back side. Why not? If we can exploit a weakness, we’re going to do it.”

Every coach is going to try to do something like that, but Campbell acknowledged the flexibility he wants his coordinators to work within. Specifically, Campbell said “I’m not a system guy,” but rather he’s going to trust his coordinators to run their systems and put players in the best position to be successful and play to their strengths.

3. The goal is harmony: That at least is what it sounds like between Holmes and Campbell — although time will be the true arbiter here of how successful Detroit’s attempt at a collaborative approach for making 53-man roster decisions is going to truly work.

Campbell acknowledged he and Holmes won’t always agree — the two haven’t delved deep into the current roster yet, let alone the future — but they’ll have similar visions. That much was clear to Campbell. And Holmes told Campbell his goal is to make sure he gets him the players he’s searching for.

“That’s exactly what this is about — the collaboration. So as a head coach everything has been about, ‘Coach, what do you need? What do you need? How can I help you,’”Campbell said. “And I told Brad, ‘Brad, what can I do for you? Tell me how I can help you? Can I get you something that’s going to help you do your job well?’ I’ve already said it, I don’t want to make a move without him knowing about it. We’re going to be on the same page. We’re in this thing together.”

4. The roster reality: Holmes might not want to use the word rebuild, but the amount of change that will likely have to come on the defense is clear. Holmes mentioned it during his first presser. So did Campbell. Both men were transparent about that.

“There’s probably more pieces offensively than defensively that super fire me up, but that’s tentatively kind of how I feel,” Campbell said. “I’m going to go through it, but I also know this; there’s always the ability to hit on a good draft and sign a few free agents that you feel believe the same way that you do as a program and come from winning programs, and they fit a role, they fit a piece.”

They’ll likely start with a decision on Stafford, but Detroit has holes in every portion of its defense, many questions at receiver and some smaller issues on the offensive line and at running back.

So it’s not going to be an easy job for either man, especially if they are trying to be competitive in 2021.

5.This is a different deal in Detroit: The Lions have been mediocre at best for most of the last six decades. That’s likely longer than most of the people reading this have been alive or at least can have memories of. So yes, Campbell came off unconventional in his first meeting publicly. Talking about biting kneecaps is something that will be remembered.

But maybe this is what Detroit needs, a completely out-of-the-box, comfortable-in-who-I-am, tell-it-like-he-sees-it coach because so much else has just not worked. Pair him with a forward-thinking general manager — and Holmes appears to be that — and it’s at least the Lions trying something new, which is more than they’ve done for so long.

Campbell is transparent and refreshing. He spoke openly about wanting to hire Glenn, told a great story about how he learned to not judge somebody on preconceived notions in a story about Terry Glenn and answered a difficult question about comments he made about homosexuality as a student at Texas A&M with contrition and another apology, more than 20 years later.

Will this work out? One press conference won’t tell you that. One hire won’t, either. This is going to be a long-term play. But considering Detroit’s last regime, it’s clear there’s a difference with the Lions whether it leads to success or not.

“He really understands the city,” Hamp said. “He understands our fans, he’s going to understand you guys and all the things we’ve been through and he’s determined to bring us all a winner and a new pride for Detroit.”

NFC EAST

PHILADELPHIA

The Eagles hired an enthusiastic young coach in Nick Surianni.  Tim McManus ofESPN.com explores the ramifications:

— The Philadelphia Eagles cut against the grain Thursday by selecting Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni to be their next head coach.

Sirianni’s name emerged late in Philadelphia’s extensive coaching search, which included 10 official interviews and plenty of informal flirting. They reached out to gauge the interest of Oklahoma Sooners coach Lincoln Riley. They put in a request to speak with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, though any potential conversation was pushed until after Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. They considered hiring New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

But in the end, the Eagles ended up going with the 39-year-old Sirianni, who follows the only Super Bowl-winning coach in the team’s history, Doug Pederson. He comes to Philadelphia without any playcalling experience and with some major shoes to fill.

What does this mean for quarterback Carson Wentz?

Once Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie fired Pederson on Jan. 11, it became clear the Eagles preferred the path of trying to keep and fix Wentz instead of trading him, and they gravitated toward candidates who were on the same wavelength. Wentz was at his best when Colts coach Frank Reich was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia. Sirianni was Reich’s right-hand man in Indianapolis and coached quarterbacks in San Diego when Reich was the Chargers’ O-coordinator in 2014 and 2015.

Sirianni has majored in the QB position and is in lockstep with Reich, whom Wentz trusts fully. The odds of Wentz staying in Philadelphia went up when Pederson was fired and likely ticked up another few notches with this decision on this coach.

What drew the Eagles to Sirianni?

Philadelphia had an interview with Sirianni on Tuesday that reportedly spilled into the next day. Buzz began picking up soon thereafter that he was a front-runner for the job alongside McDaniels. He helped the Colts finish in the top 10 in offense two of the past three seasons despite a rotating cast at quarterback. He similarly got a lot out of the Chargers’ receivers when he was their position coach from 2016 to 2017.

A source said Sirianni has “great people skills,” is good with player evaluation and has a strong work ethic. Though maybe not the loudest of personalities, Sirianni is said to have more of an edge to him than it may first appear.

There are also internal dynamics to consider. Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman are deeply involved in the Eagles’ football operations. In order for that power structure to stay intact, the coach has to be amenable to it. Sirianni doesn’t come in with the clout of a McDaniels, for instance, and will likely be fine initially with fitting into that construct and focusing on the coaching side of things.

Did the late start affect whom Philadelphia could hire as coach?

Yes. The Eagles had interest in Arthur Smith, Robert Saleh and Brandon Staley, but those candidates were too far down the road with other teams to seriously consider reversing course once the Eagles jumped into the mix after waiting a week to fire Pederson.

With the hot names quickly scooped up, the only real course of action was to take a deliberate approach and find the right fit.

The Eagles were also coming off a train-wreck 4-11-1 season and didn’t enter the market from a great position of strength. Questions about how things ended with Pederson, the tricky quarterback situation with Wentz and 2020 second-round pick Jalen Hurts, and the poor salary-cap outlook for 2021 impacted the job’s attractiveness.

What are the concerns about Sirianni?

Sirianni has never called plays. Will he assume those responsibilities while adjusting to his first head-coaching gig? He’ll be making that big leap while operating in one of the country’s most intense media markets. His previous NFL stops were Indianapolis, Kansas City, San Diego and Los Angeles. He’s in store for a whole different experience in Philly.

Sirianni must now build out a staff. The pool has already shrunk with assistants around the league getting snatched up by other new coaches. That process needs to begin in earnest.

Is it the right hire?

There was a strong case to be made for Duce Staley. The degree to which current and former players advocated for him both publicly and behind the scenes is very rare. Staley has the respect of everyone within the Eagles organization, can command a room like few others and earned the opportunity after 10 years as an assistant in Philadelphia, including the past three years as assistant head coach.

There is a legitimate question as to whether Staley’s blunt style would have vibed with Wentz, but there’s a case to be made that you should hire the best coach and let the coach guide the team, and the quarterback room, the way that person sees fit.

WASHINGTON

It turns out that Martin Mayhew was wooed away from the 49ers with a GM title in Washington while former Panthers GM Marty Hurney gets a title, still to be determined, and a role perhaps north of Mayhew and south of Team President Jason Wright.

Marty Hurney is the new G.M. in Washington. Unless he isn’t.

NFL Media initially reported that Hurney will be the new G.M. in Washington. Now, NFL Media reports that Martin Mayhew will be the new G.M. in Washington.

Hurney is still joining the team, and he’ll have a top role in the organization. However, it’s unclear whether he’ll report to Mayhew or whether Mayhew will report to Hurney or whether neither will report to the other or whether coach Ron Rivera will basically run the whole show.

Meanwhile, the 49ers will benefit from the hiring of Mayhew by Washington and former San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh by the Jets. By rule, the 49ers will now receive a total of three third-round compensatory draft picks over the next three draft. The NFL adopted in the offseason a rule that gives teams who lose minority candidates to coaching or G.M. jobs elsewhere compensatory draft picks, as an incentive to develop minority coaches and executives.

Hurney twice served as the G.M. of the Panthers, and Mayhew worked as G.M. of the Lions.

Mayhew was announced as the GM on Friday, with Hurney’s title still undeclared.

“Martin is a proven General Manager who will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization,” Washington head coach Ron Rivera said in a statement. “He will be an integral part of running the daily football operations and will allow me the opportunity to focus more on coaching. He impressed both myself and [team owner Dan] Snyder during the interview process and we both believe he will be a tremendous fit here. He is a man of high character and integrity and was part of the rich history and tradition of this great franchise as a member of the Super Bowl championship team in 1991.”

So Rivera announces the hiring, not Snyder or Team President Wright.

Is the WFT, under the guidance of Dan Snyder, now the NFL’s most diverse team?  Here is another sign from Ian Rapoport:

@RapSheet

Important development in Washington: Jennifer King is going to become a full-time offensive assistant for the WFT, source said. She spent the last year as a coaching intern.

Black President, Black GM, Hispanic Coach, fulltime female coach.

Make that Black fulltime female coach.  More from John Keim of ESPN.com:

The Washington Football Team will promote Jennifer King to a full-time offensive assistant, a source confirmed to ESPN, making her the first Black woman to be a full-time coach in the NFL.

King spent this past season as a full-time intern, working with running backs coach Randy Jordan. Washington’s running backs received strong production from third-down back J.D. McKissic, who caught a career-best 80 passes for 589 yards and rushed 85 times for 365. Also, rookie Antonio Gibson rushed for 795 yards and 11 touchdowns as he transitioned from playing mostly receiver in college.

King also worked as an intern for two years under coach Ron Rivera when he was in Carolina, in 2018 and ’19. She also was an assistant receivers coach for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football.

King was an offensive assistant at Dartmouth College in 2019 before joining Washington last offseason. She was a regular participant in the NFL’s coaching clinics from 2015 to ’18, and attended the NFL Women’s Career in Football Forum in 2018. She also played for three professional women’s football teams from 2006 to ’19: the Carolina Phoenix, with whom she spent 11 years, the New York Sharks and the D.C. Divas.

She also served as the head coach of the Johnson & Wales University Charlotte women’s basketball team from 2016 to ’18, guiding it to a USCAA Division II national championship. She was an assistant on the Greensboro College women’s basketball team from 2006 to ’16.

She played softball and basketball for Guilford College.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY

On Friday, the Buccaneers decided that WR ANTONIO BROWN will not be active in Green Bay.

AFC WEST

KANSAS CITY

Do we think that the Chiefs are giving the majority of practice snaps to a quarterback that isn’t going to play?  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Patrick Mahomes was limited once again in Thursday’s practice.

Coach Andy Reid told reporters the QB, who remains in concussion protocol, got in a limited session. Mahomes also was listed as a limited participant during Wednesday’s lighter practice.

Mahomes was seen at practice with his helmet earlier in the day. Reid added that Mahomes took “the majority” of snaps Thursday.

Taking most of the reps is a positive sign the reigning Super Bowl MVP is on pace to get through concussion protocol ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills. Reid wouldn’t confirm the QB’s progress through protocol, however.

“Pat looked good out there,” Reid said, via Sam McDowell of the K.C. Star. “He’s moving around well. He feels good. It’s just important we follow the protocol, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Will Reid be getting a reminder from Mahomes’ mother, Randi Martin?  This from September:

If this announcer doesn’t stop calling my son Pat.. ugh i may scream… lol #help @ESPNNFL @espn

“My mom says I’m Patrick and my dad is Pat. So hopefully we can start calling [me] Patrick just to keep her happy because I don’t want to hear that tonight,” Mahomes told ESPN’s Lisa Salters after Monday’s game.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com on the arrival media conference of new head coach Brandon Staley.

New Chargers head coach Brandon Staley says he’s eager to build an offense that revolves around quarterback Justin Herbert.

“My vision for the offense really fits Justin and what he can do well,” Staley said. “Creating a system for Justin and uniquely shaping it for his skill set, because he is unlike anybody in the NFL.”

The 38-year-old Staley has coached only on the defensive side of the ball in his career as an NFL assistant, but he played quarterback in college at Dayton and said he still considers himself an offensive coach.

“That’s what I was so excited about, to convey in this process, was my offensive vision, because I do consider myself an offensive coach,” Staley said. “I’ve had some great teachers who have taught me a lot of offensive football.”

Many new head coaches have to hope their teams can sign or draft a franchise quarterback, but Staley is walking into a situation where he has a young quarterback in place coming off an excellent rookie season. The most important piece is in place for Staley.

Joe Lombardi of the Saints is said to be on the Chargers wish list for OC.

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com on an interesting Ravens hire:

Rob Ryan is back in the game.

He will be joining the Ravens’ coaching staff as the inside linebackers coach, according to multiple reports.

Ryan was last in the league in 2019 as Washington’s inside linebackers coach. Before that, he was assistant head coach for his brother Rex in Buffalo in 2016. Rex was also the Ravens’ defensive coordinator from 2005-2008.

According to Jeff Zrebiec of TheAthletic.com, Baltimore defensive coordinator Don Martindale is very close to Rob Ryan. The two worked together when Ryan was the Raiders defensive coordinator from 2004-2008 and Martindale was the linebackers coach.

PITTSBURGH

QB DWAYNE HASKINS will try to re-build his career with the Steelers.  Brooke Pryor ofESPN.com:

Dwayne Haskins, a first-round draft pick in 2019, signed a reserve/future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, the team announced.

The sides met earlier Thursday before Haskins officially signed the deal.

The quarterback was released by the Washington Football Team less than a month ago, a day after he was benched in a loss to the Carolina Panthers. He had been photographed without a mask at his girlfriend’s birthday party following a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He was fined $40,000 for his second breach of the COVID-19 protocols and lost his captaincy.

He still started against the Panthers but played poorly and was benched. Haskins was then demoted in favor of Taylor Heinicke, who was signed to Washington’s practice squad less than a month earlier. Haskins was then abruptly released the day after the loss to Carolina.

“I told him that I believe it benefits both parties that we go our separate ways,” Washington coach Ron Rivera said in a statement at the time. “We want to thank Dwayne for his contributions these last two seasons and wish him well moving forward.”

In a tweet, Haskins wrote: “I take full responsibility for not meeting the standards of a NFL QB & will become a better man & player because of this experience.”

Haskins, drafted 15th overall by Washington in 2019 and often criticized as having a poor work ethic, had a tumultuous tenure with his first NFL team.

His selection was driven by owner Dan Snyder, going against the wishes of the franchise’s football side. The coaches were told by Ohio State’s coaches that it would take him time to mature as a professional, and the organization was intent on having him sit his entire rookie season.

With Haskins arriving, TE VANCE McDONALD is retiring.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Defenders will no longer live in fear of being stiff-armed to the turf by Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Vance McDonald.

The 30-year-old veteran announced his retirement Friday.

“My family and I are so grateful for everything NFL football has provided us in our life-all the memories both good and the difficult, the relationships and friends we’ve made along the way, the life lessons the game provided both me and my loved ones,” McDonald said in a statement, via the team’s official website. “It’s always been our dream and mission to leverage the platform given us through the NFL to help serve and uplift others along the way, and we will continue to find ways to serve others as we begin this next chapter of our lives. I am proud to retire a Steeler.”

McDonald was drafted in the second round of the 2013 draft by the San Francisco 49ers. After four seasons in The Bay, the Niners traded the tight end to Pittsburgh in 2017.

McDonald is the Steelers nominee for the 2020 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

“I am appreciative of Vance’s contributions during the last four years of his career that he spent in Pittsburgh,” said Coach Mike Tomlin. “He was a class act on and off the field, leading many of our efforts in the community while also being a voice for our social justice efforts and the community work during the pandemic. I wish he and his family nothing but the best in his retirement and his continued work to be a pillar in the community.”

AFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS

Stephen Holder of The Athletic on what a year with QB PHILIP RIVERS taught him (among other things, he is a sure Hall of Famer):

On the day Philip Rivers signed with the Colts in March, a high-ranking team official responded to my inquisitive texts about what might constitute success for their new quarterback with one, nondescript line:

“We’ll see.”

On its face, the statement didn’t say much. About the only thing I took away was that it might be an attempt to lower expectations for what was then a 38-year-old quarterback coming off a 20-interception season in 2019.

Frankly, “we’ll see” was pretty much where I stood on the whole idea of adding Rivers. It had the potential to end well, I figured, but also had the chance to be a disappointing experiment for a team that considered itself ready to compete for a championship.

At best, I viewed Rivers as a slight upgrade. At worst, I feared he might be a reason for their struggles.

Much time has passed since that “we’ll see” comment and, yes, we have seen.

Personally, here’s what I see: That I was wrong about Philip Rivers.

Months later, I see what the fuss was all about. I see why he is beloved by fans and teammates alike. I see, most of all, why he enjoyed so much success during a 17-year career that officially ended on Wednesday when the longtime Chargers and, now, Colts quarterback, announced his retirement.

Rivers, 39, called Colts coach Frank Reich earlier this week and delivered the news during what was an emotional conversation with his coach and friend.

It could not have been an easy choice. And not just because he was walking away from a game that has brought him $170 million-plus in career earnings or the accolades that come with throwing 421 touchdown passes and for more than 63,000 yards.

It was hard because Rivers immersed himself in the game. He loved it. He lived it. Gave everything he had to it. None of those reasons are the basis for choosing a quarterback, but we would be foolish to pretend they don’t matter.

I got to see in 2020 just how much they do matter.

Rivers, in just one season with the Colts – and in the midst of the pandemic that eliminated offseason workouts – touched every part of the organization. He made impressions on the likes of rookies Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman they likely will never forget. His zeal helped make practice a can’t-miss event for veterans who probably could do without the daily doldrums. He challenged his coaches by seeing and anticipating things that even they could not.

And that was before he went out and threw for 4,169 yards and 24 touchdowns with impressive accuracy for an offense that lost two of his biggest threats in the first five quarters of the season (Marlon Mack and Parris Campbell).

Those off-the-field qualities were the things I could not appreciate from the Eastern time zone. For 14 seasons, Rivers played in San Diego, something of an NFL outpost, for a team not considered a marquee franchise. And once the Chargers moved to Los Angeles for Rivers’ final two seasons with the club, their mere existence was barely recognized by locals.

Those of us on the other side of the country could be forgiven for not completely grasping what was so special about this guy.

Now, I get it. Take, for example, his football intelligence. This was something you heard about endlessly during Peyton Manning’s career, and for good reason. I mean, we still aren’t totally sure what “Omaha!” means. But having covered Rivers this season, there did not seem to be much difference between them in this area.

Rivers’ antics at the line of scrimmage, when you couldn’t tell whether he was in the midst of a fire drill or preparing to throw another touchdown, were all part of what made him so successful. The lack of fans in stadiums this season also made much of this pre-snap communication more audible to fans, giving you a clearer picture of just how much information Rivers was processing and disseminating to teammates.

Colts defensive end Justin Houston was an AFC West rival of Rivers’ for years during Houston’s years in Kansas City, so he’s long had an appreciation for this.

“I knew that (from) going against him because he used to call out everything we did,” Houston said of the Kansas City defense. “So, his football smarts are second to none.”

Texans star J.J. Watt shared an experience on Twitter on Wednesday that summed up Rivers’ amazing cognitive abilities.

“I’ll never forget lining up for a play and Phil pointing to one of our linebackers and telling him he was lined up wrong based off the blitz we were about to run and being 100% correct about it,” Watt wrote. “One of the smartest players I’ve ever played against and a hell of a competitor.”

Rivers was so intelligent that Colts linebacker Darius Leonard and cornerback Kenny Moore, two of the Colts’ best defenders, were learning techniques from him during the season. He helped teach them how to better disguise their intentions as defenders before the snap, and they had the privilege of learning it from one of the most observant and perceptive quarterbacks the NFL has seen.

And then there was the youthful exuberance for the game that you don’t always see from a player of his caliber. So often for star players, the game can become a business, through no fault of their own. The pressure to win and the insane level of scrutiny players are subjected to can blunt some of the enjoyment. But Rivers never let that happen.

Furthermore, he was damn good. Oops! Sorry. Darn good.

Jacoby Brissett had good and bad moments in 2019, but the Colts decided that level of performance was not sustainable. They sought an upgrade. Looking back, it would take some impressive mental gymnastics to suggest that Rivers was not one.

The Colts’ explosive passing plays increased 33 percent in 2020. Passing yards per game increased 21 percent. Sacks decreased 36 percent. The Colts also had more passing touchdowns and a better overall completion percentage. Most of all, they went from seven to 11 wins, a feat that would likely have been impossible with a lesser quarterback.

Rivers certainly could no longer make majestic-looking throws. His awkward, sidearm delivery was always hard to stomach for purists, but a young Rivers could sling the football with the best of them. But the fact that he overcame his lack of arm strength late in his career is actually a credit to Rivers. He learned to pick his spots, knew when to and when not to take chances and lost nothing in terms of accuracy.

In every way, he made the Colts a better team.

I used to scoff at the notion that Rivers was a certain Hall-of-Fame candidate. Having dug into his history this season, I’ve moved past that. If I’m on the committee when Rivers comes up for a vote, he can count on mine. Besides, what would be the logic in voting against a player who ranks fifth all-time in career passing yards, touchdowns and completions?

There isn’t any. Now, finally, I see that. After watching Rivers up close, I clearly see so many of the qualities I never appreciated from afar. I see why his teammates speak about him with utter admiration. I see why his coaches adore him. I see why opponents hated to play against him. I see what Chargers fans saw long ago. I see what the Colts saw when they decided to sign him.

Most of all, I see why Rivers will go down as one of the greatest to play the game he loves.

THIS AND THAT

SUPER BOWL TICKET GIVEAWAY

It could be Tampa Bay’s first Super Bowl appearance in 18 years – and at Raymond James Stadium.  But the NFL is giving away 7,500 tickets to random health care workers, leaving only 14,000.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced today that the NFL is inviting approximately 7,500 vaccinated health care workers to Super Bowl LV as guests of the NFL to thank and honor them for their continued extraordinary service during the pandemic.

The majority of these health care workers — all of whom will have received both doses of the vaccine — will come from hospitals and health care systems in the Tampa and central Florida area. They will receive free Super Bowl tickets and gameday experiences directly from the NFL. All 32 NFL clubs will select vaccinated health care workers from their communities to attend the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay on Sunday, Feb 7.

The NFL will also recognize health care heroes around the country through a variety of special moments both in the stadium and during the CBS broadcast.

“These dedicated health care workers continue to put their own lives at risk to serve others, and we owe them our ongoing gratitude,” said Goodell. “We hope in a small way that this initiative will inspire our country and recognize these true American heroes. This is also an opportunity to promote the importance of vaccination and appropriate health practices, including wearing masks in public settings.”

There will also be 14,500 additional fans in attendance at Raymond James Stadium.

Today’s announcement follows discussions with public health officials, including the CDC, the Florida Department of Health, and area hospitals and health care systems. These officials reviewed and provided feedback on the NFL’s comprehensive plans that will enable the league to host fans and the vaccinated health care workers in a safe and responsible way.

Are these Tampa Bay area health care workers?  Or from around the country?  Will they be compelled to use the tickets themselves, or if you are a struggling orderly can you sell your ticket and make a cool $5,000 or so?

NEXT YEAR’S SUPER BOWL ODDS

We haven’t even got to Super Bowl 54 and there are odds for Super Bowl 55.  These are the odds from Super Book.  See anything you like

Kansas City Chiefs              6-1

Green Bay Packers           10-1

Buffalo Bills                        10-1

Baltimore Ravens              12-1

New Orleans Saints          12-1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers   12-1

San Francisco 49ers         16-1

Seattle Seahawks             16-1

Miami Dolphins                 20-1

Dallas Cowboys                20-1

LA Rams                           20-1

Pittsburgh Steelers            25-1

LA Chargers                      30-1

Cleveland Browns             30-1

Tennessee Titans              30-1

Arizona Cardinals              30-1

Indianapolis Colts              30-1

Minnesota Vikings             40-1

Las Vegas Raiders            40-1

Philadelphia Eagles           40-1

Chicago Bears                  40-1

Jacksonville Jaguars        50-1

Denver Broncos                60-1

Atlanta Falcons                 60-1

New England Patriots       60-1

New York Giants              80-1

Washington                      80-1

Carolina Panthers             80-1

Cincinnati Bengals          100-1

Houston Texans              100-1

Detroit Lions                    100-1

New York Jets                            100-1

See anything you like?

We have our eye on the 49ers at 16-1, the Dolphins at 20-1 and the Chargers and Browns at 30-1.  Among the higher odds, maybe Washington at 80-1.