Macca

Patriots deal QB Jimmy Garoppolo to 49ers for 2018 draft pick For a 2nd round pick too by the looks of it ... Garoppolo was to become a restricted free agent by seasons end so the Pats get a deal done now. Re-signing him might have been a prohibitive move by the Pats in the sense that the 49ers are looking like tagging Garoppolo as their franchise player.

Yeah, I'm heavily into podcasts nb ... Movies & TV shows mainly. But for something different, 'Inside Psycho' & 'Inside The Exorcist' are both extremely good (both rank high on the various podcast charts) 'This American Life' is also quite good. For any movie that I've really liked or for a particular favourite movie, I can listen to as many as 10 podcasts to re-live that film. Once done, listening to that many podcasts about a movie often makes one want to watch that particular movie again! The intriguing part about podcasts is that anyone can do them ... and because of that, they are not exactly big money-spinners. In effect, podcasts are like a community service out in the public domain. They're here to stay for the same types of reasons. Here's Podbay's top ranking Film & TV podcasts (click on 'browse' for other categories)

I reckon the thinking when playing a top team away from home is that you have to score twice in order to have a realistic chance at getting points from the game. That's a generalisation though. Mourinho is the master at achieving a 1-0 victory with a late winner. He's happy for his teams to sit back even at home. I see United only had 45% of possession. Man City are the team to beat all the same - 28 points from 10 games with a +29 goal difference already. They don't really look like faltering but you never know

In the 97th minute too ... but I'm well used to it after all these years. The ambition is often just to stay up and the incremental achievements are to take points off the big clubs (which we did to great effect in the 2015/16 season) Bilic hasn't got a lot to work with but he's close to being sacked anyway ... that's just the way soccer works. It's nothing personal in many ways, it's just win or you're out. And in soccer it's always about winning now. I know of plenty here that follow teams that are no longer in the top division (Leeds, Forest, Derby et al) so I'm hoping that we can survive (again) The games on the telly have been terrific ... Spurs really missed Harry Kane last night. He's not easily replaced and he's so good that he is irreplaceable for a team like Tottenham.

Not sure we're going to get the audio coverage back in a hurry GV ... I've got a tunein subscription and they don't do the games either. The thinking is archaic - the EPL is one of the most in-demand leagues in world sport and we can't even get radio coverage. On Tunein radio I can listen to any NHL, NBA, MLB or NFL game anywhere, anytime ... but no EPL.

There are a number of podcasts surrounding 'Stranger Things' but I found the following one to be amongst the better ones ... Dungeons & Demogorgons - A 'Stranger Things' Podcast by the "Bald Move Crew."

Humidor might have won if it didn't hang in late ... but when you're chasing a champion horse that can happen. Edit: Bowman just said Winx kicked again when threatened so maybe a bit of both. Was a good race and an exciting finish all the same. 2000 is her distance down to 1600 so the 2 English races targeted makes sense.

Here are the games again along with Bill Simmons' latest column ... 10 Ways to Make the Miserable NFL Season More Fun - Plus: your Week 8 picks

It seems there are big plans ahead DJ ... Cox Plate a Winx farewell to Melbourne? According to Chris Waller ...

Found this link ... Weight For Age Championships: The Best Global WFA Events By Region For the reasons you've outlined, I'm not sure we'll ever see a truly world class field in the Cox Plate. Other incentives could be introduced but that would almost certainly involve some hefty dollars.

I still remember Bill Collins proclaiming that "Kingston Town can't win" ... it duly flew home and won! Won 3 Cox Plates all up so Winx would be joining exalted company if she wins today. I've been to the Cox Plate a few times but have always gone to the trouble of getting decent seats. Saw Northerly & Sunline win

The only worry for Winx might be interference but the field is down to 8 now. It's a race for 2nd & 3rd for the rest. There's 440k up for grabs for 2nd place which easily covers the total acceptance fees of $30,590. Even 8th place receives 100k ... and conveniently, there are only 8 runners. Winx should win easing up - 10 lengths is a stretch but you never know.

It's adjudicated in real time but it looked bad because Flacco's helmet flew off. Alonso did not lower his helmet and lead with it either - that's a whole other issue when that happens. To be honest, I just saw it as a normal football play - it's adjudicated differently though. The message for the QB's is quite simple - you go out of the pocket and you're fair game (within reason of course) Mike & Mike chat about it here in the first hour of their show (the show isn't on ESPN tonight)

Well, Alonso can't know for sure whether Flacco is going to keep running and he definitely doesn't know when Flacco is going to give himself up either. He's committed and can't stop himself in midstream either. I had no problem with the defensive player who tackled Rodgers and one could argue that the tackle on Rodgers was later than the Alonso hit on Flacco. By the letter of the law it's a penalty and he'll probably cop a fine. As for a suspension, not for mine. By the way, do we all think that the Jets are going to win? ha ha Edit: Just noticed that Clintosaurus has picked the Falcons

It's a good point you make faulty ... and it would be just like them (the filth) to do such a thing. At some stage they'll push hard to share the gate at the QB clash though. In the meantime we can set up other clashes with the other big Victorian clubs ... we've scooped the pool first up with the Geelong home game and PJ needs to cement that one (especially if it could always be our home game) The Blues, Hawks & Dons would present opportunities too ... Home or Away (rotating year by year) or Home & Away. We can safely have these types of goals now that we've lifted ourselves out of the mire.

Going right back this time ... it's great viewing these old clips in blu-ray though. I especially like the intro from Lennon in the 2nd clip.

The Dolphins of Miami failed to show up. The hit on Flacco is the talking point.

Winx should win by 6 lengths tomorrow too ... a mate of mine likes the 2 roughies (Kaspersky & Hardham) to feature in the race for the minor placings. I doubt whether I'll have a bet in the race but if Winx somehow manages to not win, the 'first 4' could pay a bundle. How was that Caulfield cup first 4 dividend? The hidden Hayes horse strikes again.

Was wondering why the Vikes are 9.5 favourites and then realised that it's another London game - but we are talking about the Cleveland Browns. Anyway, Minnesota are the 'road' team so you can include them in your tips. Panthers Dallas Oakland

Leaderboard in the comp 5 - Clintosaurus 4 - Dappa Dan 3 - JV7, Go the Biff 1 - Macca 0 - The usual suspects So it's on to week 8 (1 point only) ... Atlanta & the Vikings look likely but it gets tough after that (as is normally the case) All 3 of the evening games are good match-ups and also, the Dallas/Washington game has a lot riding on it. So too the Oakland @ Buffalo encounter. It's a reasonably good round of games this week. Week 8 'Guess the Lines' podcast with Bill Simmons & Cousin Sal

Yeah, that closes the argument alright. Fisher was diabolical and what was it? 5 years? He makes McCarthy look like a veritable genius.

Not sure you're wrong just yet Dappa but we really had to beat the Saints to have any realistic chance of salvaging the season. Detroit at Lambeau are next up and they'll fancy their chances. Could be a fierce encounter, all the same. Anyway, I've moved on (kinda, sorta) but it's difficult to jump into a different mode so quickly. At some stage I'll start having a closer look at Hundley but it's always been about winning games and winning the division at Green Bay. But you've got your 10+ years franchise QB by the looks of it ... he has that look of class about him that separates the gun players from the rest. The Eagles are now equal 2nd favourites (along with the Steelers @ 8-1) to win the SB, after starting the season at 60-1. No prizes for guessing who the favourites are (again)

We have a new leader ... Leaderboard in the comp 5 - Clintosaurus 4 - Dappa Dan 3 - JV7, Go the Biff 1 - Macca 0 - The usual suspects .

Well, I've always said that we all know our own team's very well but for your sake, I hope that you're wrong Your next 4 are ... @ Jets, @ Panthers, vs Dallas then @ Seattle. That's a tough run made all the more tougher if the Jets prevail in that first encounter.

I'd rather have expectations and then get disappointed with a playoff loss haha I'm now in 'MFC coached by Neeld mode' ... anyone want that misery back? The Pats are showing us how good they can be in this game ... Belichick is the best coach/manager in world sport. Just like the Pats, the Falcons will get their mojo back at some stage ... Panthers losing today helps and the jury is out on the Saints.