Next contracts for Bryce Harper, Le’Veon Bell keep us guessing
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By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Once again, it’s time to check off some items on my “TIDU List” – Things I Don’t Understand:
*WHY THE NATS SHOULD OVERPAY BRYCE HARPER.
Outfield is far from Washington’s most pressing offseason need. The position doesn’t crack the Top 3, but the right fielder’s future is our town’s No. 1 question. Harper said he loves D.C. and wants to return if he’s in the Nat’s plans. That sounds great, but his head must agree if the Nats aren’t the highest bidder – which they shouldn’t be. He easily can prove his love.
Accepting hometown discounts are decisions of the heart.
*HOW JIMBO FISHER COMES UP WITH HIS LESSONS.
The Texas A&M football coach yanked the face mask of linebacker Tyrel Dodson during Saturday’s game, because Dodson was scuffling with a player. “There ain’t no sense to go out there and push and shove and do dumb things out there,” a tone-deaf Fisher said by way of explanation. So, he lost control of his emotions while trying to teach a student about self-control.
Fisher must be a real treat when the cameras aren’t rolling.
*WHY STRANGERS CARE ABOUT LE’VEON BELL’S MONEY.
On one hand, folks complain that “greedy” pro athletes have more than enough money. On the other hand, folks castigate a holdout like the Steelers halfback for leaving money on the table. Bell already has forfeited $3.41 million by missing Pittsburgh’s first four games. Slated to earn $14.5 million this season, he risks losing money in the long run and Steeler fans now hate him.
If nothing else, his body is thankful.
*HOW WASHINGTON CAN STAY ATOP THE NFC EAST.
If only we could freeze the standings and fast-forward to January. There wouldn’t be a first-round bye, but at least there’d be a playoff berth. No one expects Washington to finish in first place and few would’ve predicted even one day atop the division. Yet here we are – thanks to an early bye-week – with Dallas, Philadelphia and the New York Giants looking up to the home team.
Let’s enjoy the view while it lasts.
*WHY FRANK REICH PASSED ON A POSSIBLE TIE.
This wasn’t the Colts coach going for a win-or-lose two-point conversion. That would be gutsy and admirable. But going for it on fourth-and-4 – on your side of the field – with 27 seconds left in overtimes gusty and reprehensible. Or just plain dumb. “We’re not playing to tie,” Reich said afterward. Yeah, but on their five prior fourth downs they punted.
Planting a smooch on your sister’s check won’t kill you.
*HOW ELI MANNING CAN REPAY THE GIANTS’ FAITH.
In Week 1, he was ancient. In Week 3, he was ancient. Otherwise, the Giants QB has been mediocre. New York declined on drafting his successor in April, but that vote of confidence continues to seem misplaced through a quarter of the season. Passing is hard when you’re on your back, and statues avoid sacks as well as Manning. The decision to choose Saquon Barkley looks worse each week.
Maybe the halfback can take some snaps.
*WHY JOHNNY MANZIEL WROTE A LETTER.
Both play quarterback, won the Heisman and were drafted No. 1 by Cleveland. But Manziel and Baker Mayfield don’t have that much in common, certainly not enough for a letter of advice from the former to the latter. That’s what Manziel did for ESPN’s pregame show, telling Baker that “you and I are not the same person” and “don’t take a single day, a single snap, for granted.”
When it comes to the obvious, Johnny Football is masterful.
*HOW SPORTS MEDIA DEFINE BETRAYAL AND SELFISHNESS.
ESPN game announcers said Clemson’s Kelly Bryant was wrong to transfer after losing the starting QB job. A Rivals writer said Bryant screwed his teammates. Similar sentiments flew around cyberspace Saturday after Bryant could’ve regained his job due to Trevor Lawrence’s injury against Syracuse. Bryant simply followed the rules and chose his path. But I guess only coaches are supposed to make business decisions on what’s best for their careers.
Bryant is acting like a professional or something!
*WHY TOM WILSON IS SO RECKLESS.
There’s a saying about players who are considered dirty: You hate them on other teams but love them on your team. The rest of the league likely is correct, though, which means you root for a bad guy. The Caps forward solidified his reputation with a needless hit in a meaningless preseason game, ejected for apparently delivering a shoulder to Oskar Sundqvist’s head. “It was predatory,” St. Louis coach Mike Yeo said.
We should stop kidding ourselves.
*HOW BOXING ON HBO IS NO LONGER A THING.
The sport and network have been inseparable for 45 years. Legends such as Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Oscar De La Hoya were among the headliners in HBO’s history. But the fight game has changed, and the network is moving on. “Going forward in 2019, we will be pivoting away from programming live boxing on HBO,” it said in a statement Thursday.
When it comes to split decisions, this one’s a shocker.
— Brooklyn-born and Howard-educated, Deron Snyder writes his award-winning column for The Washington Times on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Follow him on Twitter @DeronSnyder.
