The NFL Hall of Fame Game is bad football. You'll watch it anyway.
Well... kinda. It's more like "football" -- little F and heavy on the air quotes -- is back.
What we have Thursday night is the Hall of Fame Game, which might just be the most wasteful use of a cool name in pro sports. "Hall of Fame Game" gives the impression of something a lot better than the product on the field ever turns out to be. It sounds a lot more important than it actually is.
Don't get me wrong, the circumstances around the Hall of Fame Game are important. It's in Canton, Ohio, and kicks off a days-long celebration of the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame set to be enshrined later in the week. In 2025, that includes Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe. They'll be introduced on the field prior to kickoff between the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions.
But shortly after that is when I usually check out. I'm good on the game. I don't miss football that much.
The truth is, you don't miss it that much either. You're just watching out of obligation. It feels like something you're supposed to do. We've all been there. Besides, nothing else is on, right? Wrong! This is where I step in to say you don't have to do this to yourself. That game is important to talent evaluators and third stringers fighting for a roster spot only. Nobody else. Literally anything is better. Close your eyes and pick a random movie off Cory Woodroof's top 50 comedies of the 21st century and you'll have a better time.
HOF GAME: 5 players to watch in Chargers-Lions
In fact, my proposal to the NFL is to move the Hall of Fame game to the regular season. Make it the opener. Get rid of this extra preseason game that two teams have to play every year. It's bad football, and we don't need it...
Now please excuse me while I log into my sportsbook app and throw 10 bucks on the Chargers +2.5.
MLB Trade Grades
With the Major League Baseball trade deadline today at 6 p.m. ET, we've already seen quite a few players on the move, including Eugenio Suárez, Jhoan Duran and Steven Matz. FTW has grades on a few of the biggest deals:
BULLPEN BLUES: Cameras caught José Buttó's live reaction to being traded
Here's the 18 best remaining MLB trade deadline targets. Stay locked into FTW for more coverage as things unfold.
Quick Hits: Celsius recall ... CFB coaches in the hot seat ... and more
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