Good call...Jerod Mayo just got hired, already...

I heard some places comparing Metallic Rouge to Carole & Tuesday. That was a major red flag for me.

I'm now on New Game+ in my Horizon Zero Dawn gameplay with 3 achieves left. I'll venture back into anime once that's over, given my regular headaches since my time off started are finally getting lesser.

I'm curious to see whether this is the year Jim Harbaugh is back in the NFL. And finally, my Mondays won't be consumed with getting in all the game highlights until September.

The true heat of summer is finally here. Had to have air con cranking for 11 hours for the day that just finished. Cooler nights about to return at least, which is the balance I want in summer.

Seems like the Flyers momentum is cooling. Leafs had an OT loss but it's the game against the Avs in ~32 hours that is the one I have my eyes on as a true measuring stick. A very harsh road trip with the Oilers and Cancuks on the agenda and a home game on return versus the Jets is really going to crank up the difficulty. Nylander got a major extension a few days ago. I still can't believe he wasn't voted into the All-Star lineups but since Bedard will be forced to miss due to injury (gee, Betman - you thought that wouldn't happen if you let dirty play slide and that retaliation is required instead of refs doing what they're meant to), maybe Nylander gets in as a replacement.

And it is done. Belichick and the Patriots are finally no longer together.

Pete Carroll fired from the Seahawks and Nick Saban actually retired from Alabama. And the Belichick button still isn't hit.

Vrabel just got fired from the Titans...for what...he's not the one that gifted you AJ Brown or drafted like junk or who committed career seppuku on the field against the Bengals as a #1 seed...

Yeah, that is a big trade for the Flyers. A #5 pick demands out. You get a #6 pick from 2020 that has proven talent and a 2nd-rounder. It's amazing what your team can do once it's free of the insanity of a clueless GM. Tortorella has swung a massive fix in an incredibly short time from a coach perspective.

Michigan wins the CFP with a dominant last quarter. Harbaugh is finally a champion. Wonder if the NFL will come knocking after this. Hope Penix Jr. doesn't take any major hits in draft stock, he was getting hurried by that Michigan D all game.

How's January anime looking for you? I haven't gotten back to anime yet because every day since my leave started, I've had a headache or had to catch up with numerous friends on the rare chances they were available.

Well...

The Falcons did fire Arthur Smith. 1 minute after midnight US East time. Wow. Arthur Blank had the balls to do it. They might be the most intriguing hire destination of this offseason
The Jags blew it against the Titans (who are picking top 10) and went from 8-3 to 9-8 and missing playoffs, letting the Steelers in...Lawrence might actually be in danger of not getting a major extension. However, Baalke had better be in the firing line too.
Rivera just got fired from the Commanders HC along with Fitterer as Panthers GM. Also expected. Two out of the three dominoes have fallen. Whether Belichick remains as Patriots HC is the big question. Yes, he got them every success they've ever had but he has whiffed for several years in the dual role and they could be in the basement (but let's not pretend we don't want them to stay there) for a long time.
Packers got in, Love was balling. First of the two games I went over to a friend's to watch. Game wasn't pretty but Love was amazingly efficient. It is hilarious after all the heat the Packers copped for drafting Love instead of a WR, they look like they made the right choice long-term.
Friend who supports the Cardinals was kind of sweating on all the results of every team on 4-5 wins. He was relieved when the Cardinals ended up missing the game-winner to stay at #4 on the draft. I just hope like heck for them and him that Marvin Harrison Jr. is there at 4 and that the pick is instant. I think they will be the team to change the most in W-L next season. Gannon has instilled a culture despite the off-season memes and Ossenfort had a very good first draft. Get a WR at 4 and either OL or DL with the Texans pick, they should be on the right track.
Bucs win Tank Division, such as it is. And...you might still beat them, but...the injuries to Hurts and Brown in that Giants 'game'...argh...
Stoked that the Bills ended up winning their division and get to host the Steelers with a #2 seed that looked nigh impossible at 6-6. For them to rally to 11-6 and get to that seed while the Dolphins are sentenced to going to the Chiefs, instead of a rematch of this game if the Dolphins won - huge difference. Allen was really erratic early but went god mode in the 2nd half. Dolphins just went utterly missing in the 2nd half and that final drive injury to Hill might have ended any chance they had in the playoffs.

I guess the most intriguing matchups of the wildcard weekend are Browns-Texans (the Watson trade), Rams-Lions (the Stafford trade) and Packers-Cowboys (the Bryant 'catch' and the 'almost' comeback). The Bucs offer a 'chance' for momentum for your Eagles if they can wake up. Hopefully the Bills can end the yinzer parade swiftly. It would be expected that the Chiefs deal with the Dolphins but given the offensive struggles of late for them, maybe there's significant upset potential?

Texans in, Colts out. And somehow the Steelers might get in...Dolphins-Bills just became even more high stakes. GL on the regular season finale. Which coaches other than Ron Rivera do you think will join Reich, McDaniels and Staley in the dumpster once Black Monday starts? Falcons should cut Arthur Smith but they won't. I guess Belichick might actually happen. And hopefully the CFP championship is epic.

CFP semis happened today. Michigan v Washington in the championship in a week. Am very keen for this one. Harbaugh finally getting to the big game v Penix Jr having a season for the ages. If Penix Jr isn't in #1 pick discussion after this, I got no idea why people won't give him his dues.

Um...that was a week...

I figured the Ravens would lock in #1 in the AFC at this point but I didn't think the 49ers (even though I'm rolling with them would secure #1 in the NFC this week...Cardinals sure woke up in the 2nd half against the Eagles. Technically, they should still get Marvin Harrison Jr given that the Bears, Commanders and Patriots likely all go QB in the upcoming draft, but yikes...Eagles being 10-1 feels like years ago now. Bills-Dolphins is the wild finale of the regular season for their division, Texans-Colts for a wildcard. Steelers somehow still have a non-losing season and could still get in...Tank Division has 3 teams limping in with non-winning records and one of them has to get in, likely to be hosting your Eagles in the wildcard round.

Leafs have had a bad week, lost all 3 and almost seem fortunate to have scraped an OT point in one of them. Samsonov was cut and cleared waivers after letting in a flood of goals no NHL goalie should... Hildeby has been called up from the AHL immediately, kid has had a save % around .96 in the AHL. They're likely going to debut him against the Ducks after Jones plays against the Kings tomorrow. Woll isn't back until February. In the meantime, your Flyers are now ahead on points in the same conference. Tortorella has weaved his gritty mentality once more. Since early November, you have the best record in the NHL. Canucks and Jets are still soaring and the Rangers are still going berserk. Bedard is having a rookie season for the ages.

Anime-wise, Spice and Wolf remake got confirmed for April, Kimi ni Todoke S3 got an update. I should catch up on Freiren and Apothecary Diaries soon...but as you may have seen in chatting with Kanon, I am sinking a ton of time into Horizon Zero Dawn on the gaming front currently.