Gridiron Digest: Kicking off Super Bowl Week with George Kittle vs. Travis Kelce

Super Bowl LIV promises to be unlike anything we have seen in nearly a decade: no Bradys, Mannings, dynasties, legacies or David vs. Goliath storylines. It is going to be a week and a game for the rest of us: the fans who have grown weary of the NFL aristocracy and are eager to witness a clash of fresh faces, new personalities and innovative tactics.

It all kicked off on opening night in Miami, and Gridiron Digest was there to bring you all the quotes and chaos:

• Learn who teammates think is the Chiefs' secret weapon   

• Find out whether Raheem Mostert can keep track of all the cities he has lived in

• Discover which Chiefs player got stalked by his own brother on media night

• Get inside the conference room with voters to discover how Saturday's Hall of Fame selection meeting will turn out

• Look at who is rising up draft boards after last week's Senior Bowl practices

...and much more!

We kick things off by trying to trigger a feud between the two best tight ends in the NFL. And failing. But perhaps an outspoken defender will come spice things up.

The Great Tight End Smackdown, Part 1: Travis Kelce on George Kittle

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Travis Kelce vs. George Kittle: vicious tight end rivalry or mutual admiration society? As Gridiron Digest learned Monday Night, it's definitely the latter. At least according to Kelce:

Gridiron Digest: Are you the greatest tight end in the league?

Travis Kelce: "I let my play on the field do the talking for me. [Kittle] is a great player. I love watching him as much as anybody else. Even being in the same boat as that guy, I'll take it."

Digest: What about his game do you admire most?

Kelce: "It's his tenacity. Every single play, it's his energy, his ability to get after the defender whether it's a run or a pass. I think everybody in football would agree with that."

Digest: Who are the tight ends you grew up admiring?

Kelce: "Guys like Todd Heap, Heath Miller, obviously Tony Gonzalez. I remember playing when the tail ends of their careers were going on, and I cherish those memories. Those guys broke the mold of how the tight end position was supposed to be played."

Digest: If you and Kittle spent a day together, what would you end up doing?

Kelce: "I couldn't tell you. But we'd probably end up talking football by the end of it."

Hmm, not exactly the WWE-caliber shenanigans we were hoping for. Maybe Kittle will bring a little more sizzle...

The Great Tight End Smackdown, Part 2: George Kittle on Travis Kelce

Steve Luciano/Associated Press

OK, maybe Travis Kelce was on his best behavior and wary of providing bulletin board material. But George Kittle came roaring down the runway of Super Bowl Opening Night wearing John Lennon coke bottle glasses. Surely he was ready to stir the pot a bit. (Narrator: He surely was not.)

Gridiron Digest: Who is the best tight end in the league?

George Kittle: "I think Travis and I both play really good football, and we both just try to do the best for our team."

Digest: What about his game do you admire the most?

Kittle: "When I first started watching Travis, when I was in college, what stood out right away was his personality on film. He wasn't scared or hiding. I think that helped him play at such a high level for so long: Four years of over 1,000 yards is insane. He's an incredible player and one of the best red-zone threats in the NFL."

Digest: If you and Kelce spent a day together, what would you end up doing?

Kittle: "We'd have fun together, but I don't know. I'd let him plan it out."

Digest: He said you would just end up talking football.

Kittle: "I would love to talk football with Travis. I would love to pick his brain."

The Great Tight End Smackdown, Part 3: Frank Clark Settles the Debate

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Tired of hearing Travis Kelce and George Kittle compliment each other's tenacity and personality? Well, good news: Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark settled the tight end non-feud Monday by tersely calling Kittle "the second-best tight end in the game."

OK, Clark is almost certainly biased toward his teammate, Kelce. But we'll take whatever shots Clark is willing to fire after listening to Kelce and Kittle kill each other with kindness. And Clark referred to himself Monday night as "Black Elvis," a "rock star" who "doesn't care for nothing but winning and putting on a show." Surely Clark is ready to provide some bulletin board material.

Clark circled back to Kittle when listing the 49ers' offensive weapons later in his news conference. Buckle your seatbelts, folks.

"You know, you've got Kittle, one of the best tight ends in the game and one of my favorite players in the NFL over the past two years," Clark said. "Hats off to him, and hats off to the 49ers."

Sheesh. If the Chiefs and 49ers are gonna go out of their way to be so nice to each other, we might as well bring boring old Tom Brady back.

A Few Moments with the Chiefs' 'Secret Weapon'

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

When Gridiron Digest asked Chiefs players to name a "secret weapon" on their offense, most of them diplomatically declined to single out one player. But offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz gave the nod to a former No. 1 wide receiver who has embraced his role as a third (or fourth or fifth) fiddle.

"I think Sammy [Watkins] does a lot for the offense," Schwartz said. "People look at the contract [three years, $48 million] and the numbers [52 receptions, 673 yards, three TDs this season] and think that it doesn't really match up. But he's the guy who's out there always doing the right thing."

"The cool thing with him is that every day he's working to get better," Schwartz continued. "There's no 'receiver mentality,' the diva stuff; that's kinda what the whole team is like. You never once see Sammy sulking about production or wanting the ball more. He just does his job, and he's a lynchpin of the offense. A receiver is not just all about stats and receiving yards."

Watkins later talked about how abandoning some of the "diva stuff" that marked his early career with the Bills helped him become a cog in a Super Bowl-level machine. "I think it's one of the highlights of my career, as a person," he said, "to literally put my ego to the side and group up with a bunch of guys where this is their team. This was Travis Kelce's, Patrick [Mahomes'], Tyreek Hill's team, long before I got here. So my understanding coming in was to go out and help them—help us—win a Super Bowl.

"They already had all the accolades, all the numbers. My job is to just go out there and fill it in, play my game, make the best of the opportunities that come to me and just enjoy the ride."

Of course, Watkins is hardly a "secret" after catching seven passes for 114 yards and a touchdown in the AFC Championship Game. But the Chiefs offense has so many obvious weapons that it doesn't really need secret weapons. And if Kelce and Hill are covered, the defense must be ready for Watkins, who will be doing the right thing and waiting to make the best of his opportunity.

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On the Road with Raheem Mostert

Steve Luciano/Associated Press

Most fans know 49ers running back Raheem Mostert has been employed, albeit briefly, by many different teams. In fact, that's just about all most fans know about Raheem Mostert.

Bleacher Reports' Tyler Dunne gave the NFL world a more thorough introduction on Monday to the no-longer-obscure running back who is likely to have a huge impact on Super Bowl LIV. Gridiron Digest followed up on that Monday night, wanting to learn just how much Mostert has really gotten to do during his many NFL whistle stops.

As it turns out, he packed a lot of life into some very short roster stints.

Gridiron Digest: You were briefly on the Eagles roster. Were you in Philly long enough to visit the Liberty Bell or Independence Hall?

Raheem Mostert: "Oh yeah, definitely. Philly is one of the greatest cities ever. I enjoyed my time there. I got to sight-see, do the Rocky stairs. Great food. All those teams that I have been a part of, there's some little piece that connects me. I can't wait until my son gets a little older so I can show him, 'Hey look, this is where I proposed to your mother, [where] me and your mother walked these steps' and stuff."

Digest: Where did you propose?

Mostert: "Baltimore, in the Inner Harbor."

Digest: That covers your Ravens tenure. What about Cleveland?

Mostert: "My wife's from Cleveland. I actually have a house there."

Digest: And Chicago?

Mostert: "Great pizza. Deep dish is unbelievable. And I did a little shopping on Michigan Avenue."

Digest: What do you remember about your time in Miami?

Mostert: "Man, Miami's like a second home to me. My first home was New Smyrna Beach. When I was a little boy, I always came down to Fort Lauderdale and down here to Miami. I'm a big beach guy. You can call me a beach bum. I love the ocean. I love the tranquility. That truly helps me get away from everything."

Mostert is unlikely to get any beach time this week. But he has a chance to finally make his mark on San Francisco here in Miami after so many other NFL cities left their mark on him.

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Sights and Sounds of Opening Night

Mike Tanier

No one proposed marriage to Jimmy Garoppolo, the way one young reporter did to Tom Brady back in 2008. That may simply mean would-be suitors know Garoppolo has a rather particular romantic life, but it was also a sign that Super Bowl opening night isn't as wild, woolly and (let's face it) corny as it has been in years past.

Sure, an Andy Reid impersonator was walking around wearing the Rams uniform the preadolescent Reid famously wore to a Punt, Pass and Kick competition long ago. One journalist interviewed players while dressed as a 1950s stewardess, and a couple of dudes challenged bit players to a game of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots. But the reporters in attendance mostly behaved like reporters. Mostly.

Other notes from the Monday night scene:

Brothers in harm

Former NFL offensive guard Geoff Schwartz, now a media personality, wore a blonde wig and mustache to try to ambush his brother, Mitchell Schwartz, a current Chiefs offensive tackle, during his podium interview. Mitchell responded by not even looking toward his brother's side of the podium until the mustache was dangling from his cheek. Finally, another reporter forced Mitchell to confront his brother by asking: "What's it like being the best Schwartz brother to play in the NFL? Is there a lot of pressure on you?"

"No pressure at all, Mitchell said as Geoff giggled. "It happened pretty easily. Within a couple of years, I had that title, so it was as smooth a transition as I had in the NFL."

Geoff then swooped in for a hard-hitting expose on his brother's dining habits. "Is it true that you order fajitas for two for one as a typical dinner?" he asked.

"That's a fact," Mitchell said. "I can confirm. Fajitas for two for one is the standard Mexican order."

For the record, fajitas for two for one sound pretty darn good.

Bad casting

Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman was asked, in the spirit of the relaunched Bad Boys franchise, which teammate would best play Will Smith's role of Detective Mike Lowrey and which would be better cast as Martin Lawrence's Marcus Burnett. "I think Travis [Kelce] would be like the Will Smith, the outgoing one. And for Lawrence, the more silent one, a guy like Darwin Thompson. He'd be low-key, laid-back."

Wait, Lawrence plays a quiet guy in the Bad Boys movies? Are we remembering these films wrong, or is Hardman?

Please workshop your material

Some media types come to opening night looking to do a little comedy; heaven knows Gridiron Digest has been there. But a lame gag can be truly cringeworthy. Case in point: one reporter asked Sammy Watkins if he has ever been called "the Sandwich Kid."

"No, never got that," a confused Watkins replied.

"You know: Sammy, sandwich?"

"It's pretty cool. I got a lot of nicknames."

"Would you consider that one?"

"But why would it be sandwich? What would be the meaning behind it?"

"You know: Sammy. It's what you call a really good sandwich. 'Hey, the Sandwich Kid!'"

"Hey, I like it. Put me in the middle of this sandwich. I get it."

Now that we read that bit written out, it's 10 times funnier (in The Office sort of way) than it was in person.

And what were some of Watkins' real nicknames? "SWAT, Dove, B.U.G., Starship 14, Slammy, a lot of different names."

The Sandwich Kid is a long way from Starship 14. But it's a lot better than Slammy.

Remembering Kobe Bryant

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Monday's Super Bowl opening night began with a moment of silence for basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who died along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash at age 41 on Sunday. As has happened at other memorials for Kobe over the past few days, the "silence" soon erupted into a "Kobe! Kobe!" chant by the fans in attendance.

Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark, a Los Angeles native, devoted nearly half of his hourlong press conference to answering questions about the impact Kobe had on his life. "That's my one and only idol," Clark said. "He means everything to me. There's nobody in the sports world or entertainment who I looked up to more than Kobe Bryant. I feel for his wife, for the rest of his kids, and for everybody else who he touched."

"It's going to forever affect us," Clark continued, "especially the folks who come from L.A. like myself. We understand. It's kinda different. ... Growing up in Los Angeles, inner city, South Central, you don't have a lot to lean on or look forward to. It's just gangs and drugs. That's really it. The one person I looked to for inspiration and all my strength growing up, when I was going through the things I was going through, was Kobe Bryant."

49ers running back Raheem Mostert was among the many other players trying to express his grief and shock of Kobe's death.

"Everybody saw him as a person who was immortal," Mostert said. "It was really sad, the way it happened, with his daughter right next to him, traveling to a basketball game. Him supporting the whole team. And all the little things. You cannot take that stuff for granted, and I know he didn't.

"He was truly a legend, and I will always be thankful for him."

Inside the Numbers: Super Bowl LIV Edition

David Eulitt/Getty Images

Looking for an edge in Super Bowl LIV? Well, good luck. The 49ers and Chiefs are both good at just about everything. You have to dig pretty deep into the analytics to find an advantage. Luckily for you, Gridiron Digest has already done that deep dive, scouring the Football Outsiders database for the splits that will matter. Here are five tidbits that reveal some hints and dispel some myths about how the game will play out:

The Chiefs offense ranks No. 2 in the NFL on 3rd-and-long, and the 49ers defense ranks 12th in the same situation: The 49ers defense is awesome on 3rd-and-short and -medium but only above average on 3rd-and-long. It recorded just eight sacks in 83 pass attempts on 3rd-and-7-plus, meaning it's possible to sidestep their pass rush and make a big play down the field against them. Patrick Mahomes excels at doing just that, and one or two 3rd-and-long conversions could be all the Chiefs need to put the 49ers in a big hole.

The 49ers offense ranks 12th in the NFL at stopping deep (15-plus-yard) passes: This relative weakness goes hand-in-hand with the last one. The 49ers defense is vulnerable to just about nothing—except big chunk passing plays. The Chiefs, obviously, are outstanding at generating big chunk passing plays. To keep them from turning two or three Mahomes miracles into an easy win, the 49ers must leverage some of their other advantages. Like...

The 49ers defense ranks second in the NFL at stopping tight ends and first at stopping running backs: The 49ers defense does lots of things well, of course, but it is particularly good at preventing Travis Kelce and Damien Williams types from beating it in the passing game. One big reason: Opponents often keep tight ends and running backs in to stop Nick Bosa and company. Every time Kelce or a Chiefs running back is blocking instead of running a route, it's a win for the 49ers.

The 49ers rank seventh in the NFL in generating second-level yards. The Chiefs rank 31st in the league at preventing second-level yards: "Second level" yards are what a running back gains 5-10 yards past the line of scrimmage. If you watched the 49ers beat the Packers, you know that they excel at gashing defenses 10 yards at a time with rushing plays. The Chiefs are relatively easy to gash. If they allow the 49ers to dictate at the line of scrimmage, this game could devolve into a Giants-Bills Super Bowl XXV situation, with Mahomes (like Jim Kelly before him) unable to lure his opponent into a shootout because he only has a handful of possessions to work with.

The Chiefs defense ranks first in the NFL when winning by more than eight points, but the 49ers offense ranks first in the NFL when trailing by more than eight points: This split might surprise you. After all, the 49ers have a reputation for running the ball and only passing when they absolutely must. But Jimmy Garoppolo led four fourth-quarter comebacks this season and averaged 9.1 yards per attempt with a 72.7 percent completion rate when trailing. So if the Chiefs do manage to build an early lead, they cannot expect to steamroll the 49ers by taking away their running game. And if the 49ers build an early lead against the Chiefs…well, you've watched the playoffs.

What Hall of Fame Voters Are Saying About the Class of 2020

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

The Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee meets Saturday to pick five modern era players to round out the Hall's Centennial Class for 2020. (Fifteen senior players, coaches and contributors were already announced on Wednesday.)

Gridiron Digest polled several committee members to try to figure out how this year's vote will go. Here's what they had to say about this year's 15 finalists. Per committee rules, all voters must remain off-the-record.

Troy Polamalu

All voters agreed that Polamalu is a likely shoo-in.

Skill-position players: Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Edgerrin James and Reggie Wayne

Voter A: "Wayne's arrival will likely impact both of the other receivers, and potentially James as well, if a voter isn't convinced that two members of the Colts offense from the Peyton Manning era deserve induction."

Voter B: "I don't think Wayne will get in as a first-time finalist."

Voter D: "I'm not so sure about Wayne getting in, even though he's a Hall of Famer. Wide receivers are funky."

Voter G: "I don't see Wayne making it this year. Bruce and Holt would get my vote before him."

Voter A: "Holt is the biggest long shot just because I don't think he can leapfrog Bruce and, whether fair or not, voters will probably compare the two and choose one (if either) to vote for."

Voter B: "Having Holt and Wayne on the ballot could actually help Bruce. Calvin Johnson is eligible next year, so picking Bruce could prevent a logjam."

Voter E: "Edge has to get in one year. It's just a matter of when the timing is right."

Voter F: "I have not sensed momentum for Edge or Bruce, but who knows this year?"

Safeties: Steve Atwater, LeRoy Butler and John Lynch

Voter C: "They're all the same guy."

Voter D: "You can't lose with any of them. I think Lynch has got to move through to the Hall. They keep bringing him back for a reason."

Voter B: "Atwater made it to the final 10 last year. People are finally realizing how good he was."

Voter E: "I would put Atwater and Lynch a smidge above LeRoy, at least going in. I've been a big proponent of Lynch for years. Both he and Atwater were tone-setters who changed the way offenses played. Plus, they've been waiting in the queue longer."

Voter F: "If I had to guess, Atwater over Butler and Lynch."

Voter C: "I think it's time for us to have a good discussion about Butler. But I don't see two safeties [including Polamalu] getting in this year."

Voter G: "Butler is an interesting guy. First time in the room. Don't know how he'll impact Lynch's chances. I'm not a Lynch guy. Terrific Cover 2 safety, but not a HOFer."

Offensive linemen: Tony Boselli, Alan Faneca and Steve Hutchinson

Voter B: "We're probably going to pick one off each year. I think Hutchinson might have a little better case than Faneca, but it's close. And whenever it's close, many of us vote for the guy who has been waiting the longest."

Voter C: "The class is going to be Polamalu, the three offensive linemen and one out of the other 11 guys. We've been saying in the room forever that these three are all Hall of Famers. If they are the best bet, then why are we waiting?"

Voter D: "Everybody knows all three of them ought to be in. But I don't think we're going to put them all in at the same time. I think people are warming to Boselli."

Voter G: "There probably will be considerable discussion again about whether Boselli played long enough. I think his career was just too short. [Digest note: Boselli played 91 games over seven seasons.] I thought Faneca should've gotten in five years ago. I'm shocked each year when he doesn't get the votes, because there's zero negative talk about him when we discuss him."

The rest of the field: Linebacker Sam Mills, defensive tackle Richard Seymour, linebacker Zach Thomas and defensive tackle Bryant Young

Voter A: "Mills is a long shot, considering he hasn't played since 1997 and memories can fade."

Voter G: "I'm partial to Mills. He's got a lot of support in the room. Whether it's enough to get him into the top five this year, I don't know. I'm just glad we're going to be able to discuss him."

Voter F: "I am going to push hard for Mills. A great football player who was central to so much in the Saints' defense when it was great."

Voter E: "Seymour is probably borderline, mostly because he didn't play a glory position. There aren't many like him in the Hall of Fame. It's easier for a guy with big sack numbers than for a guy who took on double-teams and two-gapped."

Voter G: "Thomas and Young are real long shots."

Voter E: "I'm really happy Thomas finally made it in the room. I think he was pretty special, but he's polarizing, based on what I've heard from others. I think the discussion will be fascinating."

Gridiron Digest's ballot (if we had one):

Atwater, Bruce, Faneca, Mills and Polamalu.

Gridiron Digest's prediction:

Faneca, Hutchinson, Mills, Lynch, Polamalu.

Senior Bowl Spotlight

Butch Dill/Associated Press

The Gridiron Digest team spent last week in Mobile, Alabama, watching prospects prepare for April's NFL draft (and, oh yeah, the actual Senior Bowl) and came away with more notes than could possibly fit in one Digest slide. Here are the heavily edited-down highlights:

Quarterbacks

Oregon's Justin Herbert had a "check all the boxes" week: He's big and sturdy (6'6⅛", 227 pounds), displayed a smooth delivery and a great arm, and came across as confident and likable in interviews.

Jordan Love of Utah State got sharper as the week went on and was mostly mistake-free in practice reps. He's looking more and more like a top-20 pick.

Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts showed spotty timing and accuracy early in the week but proved as the week progressed that he's a capable passer with developmental potential. As you might expect, Hurts spent his media sessions diplomatically side-stepping both Lamar Jackson comparisons and suggestions that he might have to change positions or become a Taysom Hill-type in the NFL.

"I think you have a lotta guys showcasing that they have this ability to do things with their arms and their legs," Hurts said at the start of the week. "I think I'm capable of doing that. But regardless of what's what, I want to be efficient with everything I do."

Receivers, etc.

Lots of Senior Bowl receivers will hear their names called in the second or third rounds of the draft. Liberty's Antonio Gandy-Golden looked like a mini (if 6'3½" and 222 pounds can be described as "mini") DK Metcalf: The skills were rudimentary, but he ran over and past lots of all-power-conference defenders. Tennessee's Jauan Jennings gave off a Deebo Samuel vibe, getting open on all sorts of short and deep routes. Ohio State's K.J. Hill displayed a quick release and some precision routes. Baylor's Denzel Mims gobbled up everything thrown at him. Notre Dame's Chase Claypool, a Kendrick Bourne type, looks like a tight end (6'4⅜", 229 pounds) and blocked like one in screen drills, clapping and jawing at defenders after big thuds.

Dayton tight end Adam Trautman was a rock star in interviews and demonstrated ideal burst off the line and a willingness to block. Portland State's Charlie Taumoepeau caught everything in sight, splitting the ticket for lovers of small-school tight ends. (And everyone who goes to the Senior Bowl loves small-school tight ends.)

It's hard for running backs to stand out when defenders cannot tackle to the ground, but UCLA's Joshua Kelley showed off some excellent one-cut quickness, TCU's Darius Anderson caught everything in sight and Arizona State's Eno Benjamin ran every rep like it was the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl and made a fine impression in media interviews. All three also played very well in the game itself.

South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw

Kinlaw was the best prospect in Mobile before getting shut down for the week with a minor knee injury. He's also one of the best stories of the draft, having risen from homelessness as a teenager in Washington, D.C., through the junior college ranks to an almost Aaron Donald-level of dominance on the interior line.

Here's Kinlaw describing the struggle of growing up living in the basements of his family's friends:

"We went without electricity. No water. We had to use the neighbor's hose to fill up totes of water. We would take them back in the house. We had gas, so we'd light the stove with a little match or something. Get a tall pot, fill it with water, mix it with some cold water, put it in a bucket, take it upstairs, take a shower like that.

"But at a young age, we just thought that was normal. That's how we was living. ... It made me a man at a young age."

As for Kinlaw's preferred pass-rushing technique? "I just love to run through somebody. Point A to Point B. As simple as that."

Our editors are screaming at us to wrap things up

Others who stood out: Utah edge-rusher Bradlee Anae (who also dominated in the game), North Carolina defensive lineman Jason Strowbridge, Iowa cornerback Michael Ojemudia, LSU center/guard Lloyd Cushenberry III, Saint John's tackle Ben Bartch, Florida edge Jonathan Greenard, San Diego State guard Keith Ismael...and many more you will be hearing about over the next three months! 

Point-Counterpoint

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

Is Eli Manning a Hall of Famer?

Point: First ballot. No question. Anyone who disagrees is a garbage troll.

Counterpoint: Puh-lease. He's basically Kerry Collins other than having a famous last name and getting lucky a few times.

Aaron Rodgers questions how people can believe in God.

Point: Sheesh. Not even the Bible is a good enough playbook for this guy. Mike McCarthy never stood a chance.

Counterpoint: You'd think that Rodgers would have found religion instead of losing it after facing the 49ers front four.

Is Eli Manning a Hall of Famer?

Point: He's the Brady Slayer! How can you tell the story of the NFL without him?

Counterpoint: We seem to be telling the story of the NFL without Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett and Cliff Branch pretty well. We just pretend that Marcus Allen won two Super Bowls with one run.

Donovan McNabb blames Terrell Owens for breaking up the 2005 Eagles. TO responds.

Point: Gosh, maybe things would have worked out differently if either of these guys had the ability to just move on.

Counterpoint: This feud is renewing my appreciation of Eli Manning.

Speaking of which, is Eli Manning a Hall of Famer?

Point (sputtering): Two rings! 57,000 yards! Voters are obligated to look past 16 years of mostly ordinary play and focus exclusively on two games and some accumulated stats! That's how wise decisions are made!

Counterpoint: Instead of inducting guys simply because they were famous and successful, the Hall of Fame should add the guys I unearthed in my "analytics research" (by which I mean "clicking through Pro Football Reference looking for asterisks and plus signs"), like Ken Anderson, Stanley Morgan, Clem Daniels, Lemar Parrish, R.C. Thielemann and that linebacker my dad said was the toughest guy in the league in 1977. I think his name was Tommy Gradibergey or something.

The Raiders officially become the Las Vegas Raiders.

Point: Pro football in the gambling capital of the world. Pete Rozelle must be rolling over in his grave. And Al Davis is taking action on which side he'll land on.

Counterpoint: If the NFL flip-flops on its marijuana policy as quickly as it changed its tune on gambling, in three years the Chargers will be playing their home games in Tommy Chong's basement.

Is Eli Manning a Hall of Famer?

Point: Why are you doing this to us?

Counterpoint: Are you the devil? Are we being punished for our sins?

Fans cannot get enough of this argument.

Point: Yes, they can.

Counterpoint: Buckle up, it's gonna be five long years, folks.