1984Echoes

I was thinking more along the lines of The North Beyond the Wall. Like... Siberia.

So... Unless they start playing better... They're obviously still not ready yet for prime time (making the playoffs)...

So... We got the BETTER version of Sean Payton then...? I'm glad we got DC in the fold. And Holmes too... So very happy with where the Lions are right now...

I don't think that was turf... I think it was a low tackle that took out his legs... nothing wrong there... But as MC alluded to above, (and it also looked like it to me) he locked his knee right before he took the hit... almost like he was bracing for the hit. I don't think that helped. Not certain how much turf played a role in all of that but... I'm thinking mostly it was a low hit and a "locked knee"...

JAZZ Version: These are some of my favorite Jazz Albums (I have all of these) and I left quite a few out... I don't know why "Bird and Diz" didn't make this cut... call it a bonus album after these 10 (in no particular order): John Coltrane - Love Supreme: Miles Davis - Kind of Blue: Joe Henderson - Lush Life The Music of Billy Strayhorn John Coltrane - Giant Steps: Wynton Marsalis - Crescent City Christmas Card: Stan Getz/ Joao Gilberto: Dave Brubeck - Time Out: Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday & Others at Newport: Thelonious Monk - Straight, No Chaser: Thelonious Monk - Monk's Dream

The US has found a motherlode of Lithium: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/worlds-largest-ree-lithium-discovered-160012987.html World's Largest Reserve Of REE Lithium Discovered Beneath California's Salton Sea: $540 Billion Motherlode Could Meet America's Supply Demands For Decades Eric McConnell Tue, December 26, 2023 at 11:00 AM EST·4 min read When it comes to rare-earth elements (REEs), lithium stands out because of its usefulness and potential value. That's why the Department of Energy (DOE) was jumping for joy when it discovered what is believed to be the world's largest supply of lithium beneath California's Salton Sea. The estimated 18 million-ton motherlode could be worth up to $540 billion and meet America's demand for decades to come.

I thought Branch was playing solely nickel? Then you have 4 guys for 3 spots, or 4 spots if they play any dime packages... So I'm certain the coaches will figure out the rotation. Plus... I wouldn't wanna play CJGJ full minutes his first game back from this injury. And, IIRC, CJGJ was playing both safety and nickel so... there is a small amount of flexibility in there as well...

Well then the Lions need to stuff his fan with hits.

Netanyahu outlines 3 Prerequisites to end the war: https://thehill.com/policy/international/4376720-netanyahu-outlines-three-prerequisites-for-peace-in-op-ed/ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote an op-ed Monday outlining three prerequisites for peace in the region: the destruction of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza and the beginning of a deradicalization process of Palestinian society. The last two are "Musts", the 1st one - destruction of Hamas - is probably unattainable. However, Israel is going to do its best to degrade Hamas to the point of being irrelevant. To whatever degree they can do that. Wall Street Journal if you want the original and not a summary by the Hill and have a WSJ subscription: https://www.wsj.com/articles/benjamin-netanyahu-our-three-prerequisites-for-peace-gaza-israel-bff895bd

Israeli POV: The most significant amount of Hamas leadership is in Khan Younis. Several Israeli (IDF) deaths attempting to root out Hamas' terrorist networks/ Command & Control (including planning leadership & center for Oct 7th)/ Hamas fighters in Khan Younis. Toughest fight yet for Israel in this war. They are not going to stop until they rout the Hamas' forces in Khan Younis. Doesn't say anything on what they gain by that... Sinwar supposedly is in Khan Younis, but he could still slip out uncaught even with IDF forces surrounding the city, I'm guessing, through their tunnel systems. Reportedly... the general Gazan population is enraged at Hamas for putting them in this crisis, caused by Hamas' Oct. 7th actions. Hamas has become more popular with West Bank Palestinians... But not Gazans. Also, Israel is not going to change tactics. Especially now... after the UN has decided that they are going to do whatever they need to do to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza. And NOT make any concerted effort to stop Israeli actions (language pushed by the US and accepted in order to get a UN agreement). And Israel is going full speed ahead in trying to dismantle Sinwar and Hamas and whoever they can kill or capture in Khan Younis. Just my 2 cents...

That went right through his arms... Into his gut... And out the other end...

I don't know... From what I remember, there were two Vikings almost on top of him as he barely squeezed off the kick... Close enough that a hand may have altered the trajectory... Even if not, his concentration coulda been thrown off by how close they were... I mean, he's still a crappy kicker. There's a guy with a monster-leg in the upcoming draft. Mevis out of Missouri? Successful at an 84% rate and routinely kicks 55 yarders. Maybe use the extra 3rd on him...? It's not like the Lions have never used a high draft pick on a kicker before...

Taylor Decker gettin' emotional. Been a long road for him...

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

I wanted to marry Donna Reed when I was a kid... After watching this...

3rd time's a charm... 1) Branch blew a gimme INT in the end zone and gives Minny 7 points. Changes the score but just a WAG because it doesn't say 30-17 at the end since the game flow changes. But... still... 2) Cominsky kicks the ball instead of falling on it. Ends the game. 3) Melifonwu - THIRD TIMES a CHARM!!!

MELIFONWU SAVES THIS ****ING GAME!!!!

Iffy was going for the ball... Why the penalty? It shoulda been Vikings penalty not offsetting...

And then Jefferson...

Melifonwu!!!!

That's my point. Don't overpay him just because he has a "history" with Goff. DPJ, and also Antoine Green could be developed into replacements... We have a boatload of veterans that are helping the team win games... but they are middling or old or injured and we can't stack overpay on top of overpay on the next contract for guys like these... even with names like Decker & Ragnow...

Manning pitched an average of 86 innings in both 2022 and 2023, 0 innings in 2020 and 118 innings in 2021... I don't think they'll jump him to 186+ innings in 2024. I don't know IF they will limit him, but I'm guessing yes, and then, if yes... does that mean 120 innings or 150 innings or what...? I don't know. But on a guess... I don't think he pitches innings in a "go-for-broke" vein...

That was exactly my point as well... The middling players will be tougher calls... All depends on the cost of the "next" contract for these middling guys...

The trickier decisions are Decker, Ragnow, Josh Reynolds and other veterans who are part of the core of the team but not the critical components like those on your list. I think your list is big money decisions, but the other side of the coin is do we pay relatively high contracts to players who may be: (A) close to getting too old, (B) replaceable in some ways, but difficult to replace in others (how do you replace top talents a LT, C, and RG (Glasgow) easily when picking at the back end of each draft round/ there are multiple needs/ these guys ARE critical components of team success? (C) Goff is another tricky call. I think he deserves an extension... but at what cost? And we have no idea what Hooker is or is not at this point... (D) All the money spent on middling players that is a high-dollar veteran cost (in relative terms) adds up, and restricts future Cap Flexibility. I think Sewell, ASB, Hutch, McNeill & Jamo are all easy decisions IMO. Houston is not in a position to demand big money. He'll be affordable. The same with Barnes, Melifonwu, etc... guys who are just now starting to step up... But I definitely pay the other guys on this list. I see no issue with that. It's the building blocks in the middle that will be tougher calls, IMO.

Yeah that's how I described it: 5-man rotation using 6 starters. I think that works mostly if they want to severely limit Mize's, and maybe even Manning's innings this year. Even moreso if they want both in MLB and NOT in Toledo, but the top 4 spots have been taken by Skubal/ Maeda/ Flaherty/ Olson. They could pitch ~4 innings each in a game, and alternate who starts each time. 30 starts where each pitch ~ 4 innings = 120 innings each. More or less... Just an idea...