Communications breakdown
Jim Rodriguez: It's a new world when it comes to social media
Jim Rodriguez
Feb 1, 2018, 7:43 am
Here is what’s trending...your future.
It started on Monday when the Clippers decided to hit the reset button and trade Blake Griffin to the Pistons.
“Shocked” is how Griffin described it.
After all, he was just months removed from signing a 5-year, 173 million dollar deal with Los Angeles. But it was more than the trade itself that blew Blake away. It is how he found out he was going from Lob City to the Motor City. Wait for it.... social media.
Griffin told ESPN: "Finding out through Twitter or through other people is a tough way to find out when you've been with a franchise for so long.”
Seven and a half seasons to be exact.
This is the same franchise that while trying to re-sign him last summer, had employees raise his number 32 jersey to the rafters at Staples Center symbolizing a future retirement ceremony.
The Clippers have every right to move a player, any player. Just like a player can veto a deal with a no-trade clause. But there is an uneasiness about this. No heads up, no conversations, nada. Here’s your stuff and peace out.
I get that Griffin is a millionaire a hundred and seventy times over. Like that’s suppose to make it easy.
Think how freaked out you were when Facebook changed their page layout. Now try moving halfway across the country.. tomorrow.
This is something that isn’t lost on LeBron James. The “King” dropped this dilly dilly on the media:
"When a player gets traded, [the front office] was doing what was best for the franchise," James said. "But when a player decides to leave, he's not loyal, he's a snake, he's not committed.
"That's the narrative of how it goes. I know that firsthand."
Thank you LeBron. We’ll get to you later this summer. Maybe he’ll Facebook Live his Decision Part 2.
Things got even wilder on Tuesday for corner back, Kendall Fuller.
As news broke about the Chiefs trading quarterback, Alex Smith to Washington; a report said there was an “unidentified” player in the mix that was going to Kansas City.
Fuller on his twitter account, @KeFu11er dropped these pearls as the identity of the player was coming to light:
At 10:45pm on Jan 30, 2018:
Awkward...
14 minutes later:
Nahh its not me.. I don’t thinkk
Lol im on here tryna find out just like yaa
Three minutes after that (11:02pm):
Mannnnn im safe! I ain’t get traded
Then an hour later. 12:09am, Fuller posts the meme of Homer Simpson backing up into bushes and disappearing:
Me on Twitter after tweeting all that then finding out i got traded!
And a minute after that:
Talk About A Night
Hell, I tilt my head like a puppy in confusion when my smart phone rings. I forget you can actually speak to someone on it.
I’m sure a grandparent somewhere said that social media will be the death of us. I’ll take my chances. It’s far better than any show on TV. Plus it’s really crockpots that will kill us all.
Can’t wait to see what’s next.
You can listen to my radio show, The Sports Bosses , weekdays at 9 a.m. on SBNation Radio.
The Houston Texans have a big challenge in store as they look to start the season with a win against the Colts this Sunday. When these two teams met in Week 2 last year, the Colts dominated the Texans, despite losing their QB Anthony Richardson to a concussion after the first quarter.
Keeping Richardson contained on Sunday will go a long way in increasing the Texans' chances of coming home with a win. The Texans defense will have their hands full containing the Colts backs and tight ends in the passing game.
Scoring touchdowns with their wide receivers could prove difficult, as the Texans allowed the second-fewest TDs (10) to the receiver position in 2023.
Limiting running back Jonathan Taylor will also be a top priority. While the Texans had an elite defense against the run last season, they struggled with Taylor in Week 18 as he almost rushed for 200 yards.
Houston's D allowed only four carries to running backs in 2023 that went for 20 or more yards. Two of which were to Taylor in the final game of the regular season.
Finally, DeMeco Ryans and company have to find a way to get pressure on the QB. They only had one QB hit and zero sacks on Richardson and Garner Minshew the first time they faced off last year.
On offense, the Texans have two big x-factors to watch for on Sunday. The offensive line that suited up to play the Colts in Week 2 last season is completely different from this year.
The o-line was ravaged with injuries to start the 2023 campaign, so we expect a big jump in productivity in the trenches this year.
Another big addition in 2024 is the presence of running back Joe Mixon. The running game only produced 2 yards per rush in Week 2 against Indy last year, so there's clearly room for improvement.
Be sure to watch the video above for our in-depth preview of Texans-Colts!
And catch Texans on Tap (a Texans podcast) live on our SportsMapTexans YouTube channel following every game this season!