Bonus coverage

September 22, 2016

Bonus coverage … For football starved football fans – I mean its been three days since we had a meaningful game! – there are a couple of potentially intriguing games on tonight’s telly schedule. Indeed, the NFL world is abuzz with speculation about who, if anyone, will be at QB for New England when they host resurgent Houston in a battle of AFC contenders on CBS at 8:25 PM ET. For the Patriots, Tom Brady will still be in the proverbial sin bin serving the third game of his four game suspension for doctoring footballs, while prime backup Jimmy Garoppolo is listed as a ‘doubtful’ game-time decision with a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder. If Garoppolo can’t go, and the belief is he won’t, the Patriots will start rookie Jacoby Brissett, a 3rd round pick at the 2016 draft. And that would make WR Juliam Edelman the backup for the Patriots for the evening. Should be interesting. Meanwhile, there is an interesting ACC match-up on the college schedule with #5 Clemson playing at Georgia Tech. Clemson, of course, is led by junior QB DeShaun Watson, one of the top 2-3 prsopects at the position for the 2017 draft. The Tigers also have a couple of the top recievers for the upcoming draft in junior WR Mike Williams, who could conceivably be the first wideout off the board in April if he checks out medically, along with veteran TE Jordan Leggett. At the same time, RB Wayne Gallman, a 3rd junior, is a quality back with at least some second-day potential. For its part, Clemson’s defense features 3 decent senior prospects in DT Carlos Watkins, OLB Ben Boulware and CB Cordrea Tankersly. Meanwhile, Tech players to watch include DTs Patrick Gamble (#91) and Francis Kallon (#92), a couple of undersized interior dfenders who could get some late-round or free-agent looks as 5T DEs, and active, but undersized LB P.J. Davis (#40). Also be advised that Pigskin Paul Guillemette’s full preview for Saturday’s college schedule should be posted within the hour or so.