Roster Moves Shake Up the NFL 🏈, LeBron's New Name 🏀 + More!

Good Morning Blitzers!

Yesterday was a tough day for many NFL players, as teams cut their rosters from 90 to 53. To put that in corporate jargon, teams laid off 41% of their player-departments. Not great. But a lot can happen between today and the end of the week. Many players will be on the move and getting practice squad jobs (the corporate world equivalent of a good freelancing gig). We're wishing everyone the best of luck. On a positive note, we have some college football news, a fun basketball story, and some MLB highlights on deck. Keep scrolling!

WTF Stat: Looking to brag about your baseball team no matter how bad they're doing? Here is something your team is best at this season:

🏈 The NCAA's oversight committees have proposed eliminating college football's spring transfer window, leaving only a single 30-day transfer period in December. This proposal, aimed at enhancing "roster stability," would reduce the total transfer days from 45 to 30. If approved in October, the change would take effect for the 2024-25 school year. Players involved in postseason games or affected by coaching changes would still have specific exemptions.

• 🔥 Take: Ahh, the ol' band-aid on the gunshot wound, I'm sure that will fix things. If the NCAA's 'oversight committee' actually wanted to propose something meaningful, here is my half-baked fix: make the players sign 3-4 year contracts with colleges they commit to out of high school. The contract covers tuition, NIL, and everything in-between. This will protect the school (from 1-year transfers) and player (injuries/teams dropping scholarship athletes). If a player wants to transfer, he can mutually agree to part ways with the team or another team can buy him out of his contract. This will allow smaller teams losing players to bigger schools to earn money for developing those players. They can use this money to fuel future recruiting and NIL initiatives. Players can void the contracts if the head coach leaves. Note, I said it was a half-baked fix.

🏀 LeBron James has decided that his son Bronny James cannot call him "Dad" while they're on the basketball court. In a preview for an upcoming episode of The Shop, LeBron explained that, once they are off the court and away from the game, he's happy to be "Dad" again. On the court, however, Bronny should refer to him as "2-3," "Bron," or "GOAT" if he prefers.

• 🔥 Take: Was this really news worthy? No, probably not. But it’s fun to learn more about these father-son dynamics because it’s so rare to see it happen, especially on the same team. Well, outside of when Ken Griffey Jr. was messing with his dad in the outfield. Also, I know LeBron is joking about having his son call him “GOAT”, but if I’m Bronny, I’m only referring to him as “old timer” or “senior citizen”, maybe even siring a kid just so I can call him “Gramps”.

NFL Rosters Down to 53

Yesterday at 4 PM, all 32 teams had to get their rosters down to 53 players. Here is a list of some of the key players that were either cut, traded, or added to the PUP or IR. Keep in mind that NFL rosters are fluid, especially during this period, and some of these players might be re-signed to practice squads or picked up by other teams.

Quarterbacks:

• Mike White (Miami Dolphins)

• Bailey Zappe (New England Patriots)

• Malik Willis (Tennessee Titans - traded)

• Nathan Peterman (Las Vegas Raiders)

• Desmond Ridder (Arizona Cardinals)

Running Backs:

• AJ Dillon (Green Bay Packers - IR)

• D'Onta Foreman (Cleveland Browns)

• Elijah Mitchell (San Francisco 49ers - IR)

• Samaje Perine (Denver Broncos)

• Matt Breida (San Francisco 49ers)

• Frank Gore Jr. (Buffalo Bills)

Wide Receivers:

• Tim Patrick (Denver Broncos)

• Kadarius Toney (Kansas City Chiefs)

• Noah Brown (Houston Texans)

• Allen Robinson II (New York Giants)

• Isaiah Hodgins (New York Giants)

• Terrace Marshall Jr. (Carolina Panthers)

• Parris Campbell (Philadelphia Eagles)

• Martavis Bryant (Washington Commanders)

Tight Ends:

• Donald Parham Jr. (Los Angeles Chargers)

• Logan Thomas (San Francisco 49ers)

• Irv Smith Jr. (Kansas City Chiefs)

Offensive Linemen:

• La'el Collins (Buffalo Bills)

• Jackson Carman (Cincinnati Bengals)

• Alex Leatherwood (Los Angeles Chargers)

Defensive Linemen:

• Samson Ebukam (Indianapolis Colts - IR, designated to return)

• Carl Lawson (Dallas Cowboys)

Linebackers:

• Ernest Jones IV (Los Angeles Rams - traded to Tennessee Titans)

• Deion Jones (Buffalo Bills)

Cornerbacks:

• Caleb Farley (Tennessee Titans)

• Rock Ya-Sin (San Francisco 49ers)

• C.J. Henderson (Houston Texans)

• Tre Flowers (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Safeties:

• Johnathan Abram (New Orleans Saints)

• Lewis Cine (Minnesota Vikings)

• Adrian Amos (Jacksonville Jaguars)

• Kareem Jackson (Buffalo Bills)

Notable PUP List Additions:

• Nick Chubb (Cleveland Browns - RB)

• Trent Williams (San Francisco 49ers - OT, Reserve/Did Not Report)

• T.J. Hockenson (Minnesota Vikings - TE)

• Orioles 3, Dodgers 2: A match up between two of the best in baseball, Baltimore hold on to win thanks to a jack from Ramón Urías.

• Braves 8, Twins 6: Atlanta scores 4 in the top of the 10th and slides into victory.

• Nationals 4, Yankees 2: Patrick Corbin throws a gem and 2023 second overall pick Dylan Crews looks comfy in the big leagues:

• Giants 5, Brewers 4: Brewers lose, but this was a really nice play by Blake Perkins:

See the full MLB scoreboard here and the current standings here.

On this day in 1918, Cleveland Indians centerfielder Tris Speaker physically confronted/assaulted umpire John Connolly over a close call at home plate. Speaker would be suspended for the rest of the season for his role. He was batting .318 on the season and was leading the league in doubles at the time of his suspension. The Indians would lose the Pennant by two games to the Red Sox. The Sox would go on to win the World Series that year (1918), the last time they would that feat until 2004.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which player has the most career rushing yards for the Jacksonville Jaguars?

D. Fred Taylor - Taylor played 11 seasons with Jacksonville Jaguars, rushing for 11,271 yards. He finished his career with a 4.6 YPC, and sits 17th in all-time rushers.

Check back in tomorrow for today’s trivia answer and more info!