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sports Saturday 30 July 2022
Heady times for the NFL's bottom feeders

By PAUL NEWBERRY Sportsbook.
AP Sports Columnist That's not surprising, given
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) their stop-gap predica-
— These are giddy times in ments at the most impor-
Atlanta and Houston. tant position on the field.
The Falcons and the Texans The Falcons will likely turn
have yet to lose a game Ryan's old job over to Mar-
and can talk boldly about cus Mariota, a former No.
defying the NFL skeptics, a 2 overall pick who is now
group comprised of pretty nothing more than a jour-
much everyone outside neyman.
their locker rooms. Mariota hasn't started a
Atlanta coach Arthur Smith game since 2019, and
got downright testy when there's already plenty of
asked Friday if he goes speculation that he'll quick-
about his job any different- ly be supplanted in Atlanta
ly when his team is facing by third-round pick Des-
such low expectations. mond Ridder.
"Who cares?" he said of The Texans are already
the grim prognostications used to playing without
(which, full disclosure, I am Watson, who voluntarily sat
in total agreement with). out all of last season amid
"Just go do a Google a fallout with the team and
search, go look and see facing allegations from a
what they thought of the plethora of masseuses. No
iPhone coming out if you criminal charges were filed,
want to humor yourself. but the case still lingers over
It's hard to find good com- the quarterback after his
edy these days. Go back trade to the Browns.
and look at those predic- Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith takes part in drills at the NFL football team's practice Davis Mills, who started 11
tions if you want real com- facility on Thursday, July 28, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. games for Houston as a
edy." Associated Press rookie, will apparently keep
Of course, that sort of bra- the starting job for another
vado is a lot easier to mus- Super Bowl, and they have parlayed terrible seasons attention at this early stage year. But he's hardly viewed
ter in the dog days of train- about as much chance of into World Series champi- is devoted to storylines at as the sort of quarterback
ing camp, when the actual snapping that drought as onships, and weren't the the top of the food chain — who can turn this franchise
season is still a month-and- Chris Rock going on a bud- least big bashful about tak- Tom Brady's unretirement, around.
a-half away. dy trip with Will Smith. ing their fans along for the Watson's possible suspen- The earliest chance for
From this vantage point, The sexual misconduct lumps. sion after being traded to either team to make a
those 17 games are a pris- allegations against fran- But rebuilding is a dirty word Cleveland, the Rams de- course correction appears
tine canvass on which any- chise QB Deshaun Watson in the NFL, especially in light fending their Super Bowl to be 2023.
one — even the Falcons or forced Houston to start of allegations by former Mi- title — there's always a per- In the meantime, a blind-
the Texans — could pro- over, as well. ami Dolphins coach Brian verse fascination with the fold and earplugs might be
duce a Michelangelo of Good luck, though, getting Flores that he was offered bottom feeders. the only way to escape all
the gridiron. anyone from the Texans to $100,000 to lose games dur- Especially with a 2023 draft the negativity.
Chances are, they'll turn acknowledge they're actu- ing the 2019 season in order class that will likely be led by "The biggest thing is just
out something closer to ally rebuilding. to land higher draft picks. a pair of potential franchise blocking it all out as much
Dogs Playing Poker. "Everybody has the same You'll hear no such talk from quarterbacks, C.J. Stroud as you can," Falcons de-
Atlanta and Houston are goal: winning the Super the Falcons or the Texans. of Ohio State and Heisman fensive back Isaiah Oliver
the longest of the long Bowl," new coach Lovie "The biggest expectation Trophy winner Bryce Young said. "You're gonna see it.
shots in the NFL, a pair of Smith said Friday, uttering is to be a team that sticks of Alabama. Social media nowadays,
seemingly jinxed franchises those two words for the together and is about the Either would fit quote nicely it's impossible not to see it.
that appear headed for first — and presumably last detail and comes to work in Houston or Atlanta, which But if anything, it just gives
truly horrible campaigns, — time this season. "We as every day doing the little are the early favorites for you more motivation. Just
even by their generally low coaches have to do a bet- things," Houston receiver the No. 1 overall draft pick. knowing people have low
standards. ter job, the best job we've Brandin Cooks said. "As The Falcons are listed at expectations for you makes
Just six seasons after reach- ever done in coaching. far as the wins and losses, 250-1 to reach the Super you want to go even hard-
ing the Super Bowl for only And then our talent, what- we're just going to show up Bowl, longer odds than er."
the second time in fran- ever our talent says we and let that take care of it- every team but one. The They might earn an "A" for
chise history — and be- should be, that's what we self." Texans check in at 300- effort.
coming forever known as want to be." While much of the league's 1, according to FanDuel But that's about it.q
the team that squandered Teams in other sports talk
a 28-3 lead in the biggest openly about the neces- LIKE US ON
of games — the Falcons sity of thoroughly rebuild-
went into total rebuilding ing and the likelihood of it
mode by dealing quarter- leading to massive losses,
back Matt Ryan and taking a group that includes the
a mammoth salary cap hit. Major League Baseball
The Texans, who entered teams in both Houston and
the league two decades Atlanta.
ago, have yet to reach the The Astros and the Braves Facebook.com/arubatoday/