What’s taken the NFL so long to drop the hammer on Nick Bosa?
It’s the election, silly.
The NFL has been reviewing the case of the San Francisco 49ers defensive end’s blatant disregard for the league’s rule against wearing or messaging political slogans for the bulk of the week – Bosa crashed an NBC postgame interview on Sunday night and pointed to the “Make America Great Again” cap he wore – but has yet to issue a statement or reveal the extent of the expected discipline.
Bosa won’t be suspended for his ploy, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports under the condition of anonymity. The person did not want to be identified because the case is still under review. It’s likely that the NFL will merely fine Bosa – yet not until later next week.
After election day on Tuesday.
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Sure, the evidence is clear-cut, right there on videotape. The rule is well established. Bosa butted into Melissa Stark’s interview with 49ers players Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Isaac Guerendo after their victory against the Dallas Cowboys and drew attention to his political position as the MAGA hat represents the slogan of former President Donald Trump’s campaign. And just because the game was over, Bosa was still subject to the rule while on the field, which is why, for example, players are still subject to discipline if they engage in postgame scuffles.
It seems as if the league, which has been a target of Trump’s in the past, is sensitive to adding fuel to the intense political rhetoric as the election approaches.
Nice try, but when a star player mars an NFL broadcast by wearing a MAGA hat, you’ve already been drawn in. Remember, when NFL players knelt in protest during the national anthem in 2017, Trump infamously called to get the “sons of (expletive) off the field.”
Now Bosa gets his word in.
The NFL won’t let this slide. Yet the league’s delay in making its statement on the matter could ultimately lessen the bite.
Motor City juggernaut
During the five-game winning streak that has propelled the Detroit Lions (6-1) to the franchise’s best start since 1956, they’ve scored more touchdowns (24) than thrown incompletions (20). Talk about efficiency.
Jared Goff has the highest completion rate (83%) and passer rating (146.5) over a five-game span than any quarterback in NFL history (50 attempts minimum). And that only begins to reflect the balance that is flowing. The Lions are the only team in the NFL with three players – Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Amon-Ra St. Brown – who have produced 400 yards from scrimmage and posted 5 TDs from scrimmage. They lead the league in touchdowns scored from outside the red zone (nine) and they have the most touchdowns produced in goal-to-go situations (17).
Can anybody stop the Lions? No doubt, the confidence is sky high for a team that has averaged 43 points the past four games.
“We talk all the time that we are our biggest culprits when we have a three-and-out or it’s a punt or it’s a turnover,” Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said. “It’s usually something self-inflicted more often than what teams are doing against us.
He went on to add, “I think they understand that if we get the first first down in each series, then chances are pretty high that we’re going to end up with points for that drive.”
Well, the Green Bay Packers get the next crack during a showdown on Sunday at Lambeau Field that will determine first place in the NFC North.
Quick slants
— Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly has snapped for 12 quarterbacks since joining the team as a first-round pick in 2016. He won’t deny the frustration as the latest revolution has Joe Flacco supplanting Anthony Richardson. “Can name all of them,” Kelly said. “Good friends with all of them. Just kind of reality, right?” Well, it could be worse. During the same span of years since Kelly entered the NFL, the Cleveland Browns have started 16 quarterbacks.
— The Arizona Cardinals haven’t allowed a sack in three consecutive games. It’s the first time that’s happened for the franchise since 1975. And it’s also a reflection of the mobility Kyler Murray brings. The slippery quarterback has avoided multiple would-be sacks. As center Hjalte Froholdt put it, “You can’t really talk about zero sacks without mentioning Kyler.”
— The Atlanta Falcons’ feeble pass rush is trending in the wrong direction. The Falcons have posted an NFL-low six sacks, one reason the defense has the third-worst rate in the league for coming off the field on third downs. “There’s always a certain area in all three phases – offense, defense, special teams – that everyone’s going to focus on as your weakness,” said Jimmy Lake, the defensive coordinator. “And then we start to work on these things, and we catch fire at the end of the season and here we go.” That sounds like a plan. In the meantime, the Falcons D could represent good matchup news for struggling Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott on Sunday.