**OFFICIAL Week 16 Game Thread

[Darth_Pelican]

https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/48368412_2280927238626889_4131231082408312832_n.jp g?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=a7598f89267db9067fd344c9ae348d79&oe=5C97CAEC





NATIONAL BROADCASTS
Saturday Afternoon: Washington @ Tennessee (4:30 PM ET, NFLN; Curt Menefee, Nate Burleson, Steve Mariucci)
Saturday Night: Baltimore @ LA Chargers (8:00 PM ET, NFLN; Mike Tirico, Kurt Warner)
Sunday Night: Kansas City @ Seattle (NBC)
Monday Night: Denver @ Oakland (ESPN)

CBS EARLY
http://506sports.com/2018/16-CBS-E-V2.png
█ Anchorage
█ Fairbanks
█ Honolulu

█
Houston @ Philadelphia
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

█
Buffalo @ New England
Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Bruce Arians

█
NY Giants @ Indianapolis
Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon

█
Cincinnati @ Cleveland
Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta

█
Jacksonville @ Miami
Andrew Catalon, James Lofton

█
NO GAME due to local home game on FOX


UPDATES:St. Louis and Cape Girardeau MO: NYG-IND to HOU-PHI


CBS LATE
http://506sports.com/2018/16-CBS-L.png
█ Anchorage
█ Fairbanks
█ Honolulu

█
Pittsburgh @ New Orleans
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

█
NO GAME due to local home game on FOX



FOX SINGLE
http://506sports.com/2018/16-FOX-V2.png
█ Anchorage
█ Fairbanks
█ Honolulu

█
Tampa Bay @ Dallas
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

█
Green Bay @ NY Jets
Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber

█
Minnesota @ Detroit
Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston

█
Atlanta @ Carolina
Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth

█
Chicago @ San Francisco (LATE)
Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman

█
LA Rams @ Arizona (LATE)
Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis

[Millennial_Messiah]

Bolts desperately deserve to have more of their fans go to their games. They're an undefeated 7-0 outside of LA and all 3 of their losses are in LA. Too good of a team and quartrerback to have this weak of fan support. Where is CN when you need him?


Also, where the fuck was that aggressive Brandon Carr in Dallas?



Lamar Jackson is totally a copy of rookie RG3, though, same style offense and everything :lol



Tucker has been straight up garbage this year. Ravens may need a new kicker soon.

[Will Hunting]

Bolts desperately deserve to have more of their fans go to their games. They're an undefeated 7-0 outside of LA and all 3 of their losses are in LA. Too good of a team and quartrerback to have this weak of fan support. Where is CN when you need him?


Also, where the fuck was that aggressive Brandon Carr in Dallas?



Lamar Jackson is totally a copy of rookie RG3, though, same style offense and everything :lol



Tucker has been straight up garbage this year. Ravens may need a new kicker soon.
They don’t have any fans anymore which is why they aren’t showing up to games. All of their fans are in San Diego.

[Millennial_Messiah]

They don’t have any fans anymore which is why they aren’t showing up to games. All of their fans are in San Diego.

It's only an ~hour and a half drive.

Justin Sucker :lol

[Robz4000]

:lol Chargers are who we thought they were

[Robz4000]

:lol God damn Gates

[Millennial_Messiah]

I will say one thing, the refs have really D-bagged the Chargers tonight big time, all game long. It's like their home field is so bad they don't even get any home cooking.

That said, throwing a Hail Mary into double coverage to your 5'9" speed receiver when you have a bunch of receivers well over 6'1" on the team, is fucking retarded. I guess a team with a black head coach just cannot be smart enough to win.

[Ghazi]

Chargers :cry

Still a scary team.

Are the Ravens contenders?

[Chris]

Sean Lee out

[Chris]

Bad luck Joe Buck covering the Cowboys game (OF COURSE).

So glad this PoS is retiring .

[HarlemHeat37]

Kirk Cousins playing in a meaningful game..to make things worse, he's playing Stafford in a stat-padding situation:lol

[Chris]

Gregory:tu

[Blake]

Sean Lee out

There's no way he was going to play

[Will Hunting]

Kirk Cousins playing in a meaningful game..to make things worse, he's playing Stafford in a stat-padding situation:lol
It’s a meaningful game but it’s against a losing team so you’d figure Cousins might play decently but maybe not :lol

Separately, it’s one of the biggest mysteries in the NFL as to why people still think Stafford is good.

[Ghazi]

Do my Browns have a future?

[SuperCam]

all the NFC North QBs are mediocre at best tbh...

[Chris]

Refs are shit

[HarlemHeat37]

:lmao Lions got Hail Mary'd again:lmao

[monosylab1k]

That Jimmy G trade just looks worse and worse.

[Ghazi]

Brady killing me in fantasy

although tbh he is pretty average in Fantasy this year.

[Will Hunting]

Played better at age 41 than any other QB ever has, but this should be Brady’s last season.

[HarlemHeat37]

QB play has been terrible this season..Mahomes has been the only consistently great QB IMO..

[SuperCam]

Played better at age 41 than any other QB ever has, but this should be Brady’s last season.

http://www.hotindienews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/large_brett-favre-610.jpg

[JoeTait75]

Baker is now two away from tying Peyton Manning's rookie TD pass record of 26.

[Will Hunting]

That Jimmy G trade just looks worse and worse.
I’m delusionally hoping they can get him back if Nick Mullens keeps playing well.

Itll be interesting how Belichick/Kraft handle it this offseason when Brady is stubborn and doesn’t want to retire.

[Will Hunting]

http://www.hotindienews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/large_brett-favre-610.jpg
Brady this year is way better than Favre in his last season, it’s not even close.

[monosylab1k]

I’m delusionally hoping they can get him back if Nick Mullens keeps playing well.

Itll be interesting how Belichick/Kraft handle it this offseason when Brady is stubborn and doesn’t want to retire.

Kraft is borderline senile at this point, seems like Jonathan is the one pulling his strings, and if reports are true, Jonathan is in a massive power struggle with Bill. Things could get even uglier than last offseason.

[SuperCam]

media faggots waiting for luck to comeback against a losing team at home so they can suck him off as :crymvp :cry

[monosylab1k]

media faggots waiting for luck to comeback against a losing team at home so they can suck him off as :crymvp :cry

:lol Your guy is getting his shit pushed in by Atlanta, sit down.

[Will Hunting]

Kraft is borderline senile at this point, seems like Jonathan is the one pulling his strings, and if reports are true, Jonathan is in a massive power struggle with Bill. Things could get even uglier than last offseason.
Yeah I don’t see Bill sticking around if they force him to keep Brady but I’m not sure if it’s smart to keep him around if he wants to be making all the personnel decisions. Winning 10-11 games with this team is a pretty big coaching achievement, but his personnel decisions/drafting the last few offseasons have been awful.

[SuperCam]

:lol Your guy is getting his shit pushed in by Atlanta, sit down.

cam is IR while two lousy white qbs are getting destroyed dumbfuck :lol

[Chris]

Gregory:tu

[Mark Celibate]

The Bot is such a fucking piece of shit. 1st and goal at the 4....just hand it to fucking Elliott three times in a row

[Chris]

There's that fade :lmao

[Mark Celibate]

yeah that might work against Tampa Bay, but why the fuck do they just stop running once they get to the goalline?

[SuperCam]

foles >> wentz tbqh

[Ghazi]

right now it looks like the Patriots are gonna get the 2 seed..

As "meh" as they've looked all year... their path to the Super Bowl isn't demanding.

[monosylab1k]

right now it looks like the Patriots are gonna get the 2 seed..

As "meh" as they've looked all year... their path to the Super Bowl isn't demanding.

They’re still not as good as Baltimore, Pitt, Chargers, Titans, Colts, or KC. Only chance is if they got to play the Texans twice.

[monosylab1k]

Burkhead is such a shitty player, I have no idea why they insist on giving him so many touches.

[SuperCam]

where's Cripple Nation now that Cam's backup is finally playing, and looks like a typical white scrub? :lol

[Ghazi]

They’re still not as good as Baltimore, Pitt, Chargers, Titans, Colts, or KC. Only chance is if they got to play the Texans twice.

O ye of little faith ;)

I'd still like the Pats' chances against anyone in Foxboro.

They'd need some magic to win at KC but its fucking Brady/Bellichick ya feel me

[Will Hunting]

They’re still not as good as Baltimore, Pitt, Chargers, Titans, Colts, or KC. Only chance is if they got to play the Texans twice.
I think if you give Brady a bye week it’ll help a lot (last year he looked like he was done prior to getting the playoff bye week), but not enough to beat KC @ Arrowhead. Baltimore’s gimmicky offense is only working because there’s a lack of game film on how to stop it and Pittsburgh at New England will fall apart imo.

[Robz4000]

RIP Demaryus Thomas. Texans could still miss the playoffs tbh.

[Robz4000]

:lol all this drama and we still could get a NE/PHI DB rematch.

[HarlemHeat37]

Luck INT should be coming on this drive..

[Chris]

Wtf kind of call is that?!

[Mark Celibate]

foles >> wentz tbqh

i've only followed at a high level the past two years but should there be a QB controversy next season?

[Chris]

Thank God Winston is trash af

[Will Hunting]

i've only followed at a high level the past two years but should there be a QB controversy next season?
It should be Foles’ job to lose. Wentz is still more mobile and throws better on a dime, but Foles is so much better on the touch passes and deep balls. Alshon Jeffery was almost irrelevant with Wentz but he’s been a threat since Foles took over.

[Raven]

Foles is a fucking pimp.

[Broly]

The league is lucky the Browns are out of playoff contention.

[HarlemHeat37]

The league is lucky the Browns are out of playoff contention.

They're probably the best team in the AFC North:lol

[monosylab1k]

It should be Foles’ job to lose. Wentz is still more mobile and throws better on a dime, but Foles is so much better on the touch passes and deep balls. Alshon Jeffery was almost irrelevant with Wentz but he’s been a threat since Foles took over.

Would be hilarious if Belichick got Foles and benched Brady :lol

[SuperCam]

no bye week for old man tom. finished, tbh

[benefactor]

:cry dets mah qb :cry

[SuperCam]

phillyref strikes again

[benefactor]

:lol that call
:lol NFL

[Chris]

Based Foles about to win this game

[Clipper Nation]

where's Cripple Nation now that Cam's backup is finally playing, and looks like a typical white scrub? :lol
Doesn't change the fact that Scam is trash. Panthers should try to trade for Nick Mullens.

[Clipper Nation]

no bye week for old man tom. finished, tbh
Wrong once again.

[Chris]

Texans are trash you had one job

[benefactor]

:lol NFL gifting the Pats the 2 seed

[benefactor]

Texans are trash you had one job
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/cowboys-vs-texans-final-score-takeaways-deshaun-watson-takes-a-beating-outlasts-dak-prescott-in-overtime/
:lol

[monosylab1k]

Pats are one fluke play from competing for the 1-seed :lol if anything it shows how shitty the AFC as a whole is.

[monosylab1k]

:lol NFL gifting the Pats the 2 seed

Pats could still shit the bed against the Jets.

[SuperCam]

what a packerref gift :lol

[chunticakes]

Doesn't change the fact that Scam is trash. Panthers should try to trade for Nick Mullens.

Pluuuuus team leader McCaffrey one of three running backs to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 balls.

In NFL history.

[HarlemHeat37]

Wow, that call the Saints just got may have been the worst call in NFL history:lol

Would have been turnover on downs, but instead they got a TD..

This league needs to allow reviews on penalties, this is sad..

[Chris]

SaintsRef

[SpursforSix]

Pluuuuus team leader McCaffrey one of three running backs to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 balls.

In NFL history.

Larry...can you confirm?

[SpursforSix]

SaintsRef

And how fucking high would Kamara have had to jump anyway

[chunticakes]

Larry Joiner can I get a witness?

[Chris]

This McDonald guy for the Steelers is a moose :lol

[SpursforSix]

This McDonald guy for the Steelers is a moose :lol

Bend over, I’ll fucking show you a moose

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Saints not even attempting to defend the runningback on that Steelers TD. And not even attempting to defend the receiver on the 2 point conversion.

[Millennial_Messiah]

Pats are one fluke play from competing for the 1-seed :lol if anything it shows how shitty the AFC as a whole is.

If seattle beats kc then yes the miami miracle saved the chiefs bacon

[Arcadian]

The Ben-Brown connection strikes again

[Clipper Nation]

Rookie mistake by Mullens, he could have had a first down easily if he just kept the ball.

[Chris]

Incredible block :tu

[Millennial_Messiah]

Rookie mistake by Mullens, he could have had a first down easily if he just kept the ball.
was thinking that as well. I bet not only Bears fans, but Eagles fans also breathed a huge sigh of relief when he chucked the hail mary instead of taking the easy yardage.


49ers fans probably were happy they lost because of draft stock as well... But this outcome really pissed off Vikings fans, I'm assuming.

[Chinook]

:lol Celebrating a failed conversion

[Arcadian]

God dammit

[Chris]

As good a reason as ever to just stop the "drop the mic" faggotry

[Millennial_Messiah]

Huge game for both teams. A Nola loss today and Carolina next week could drop them all the way down to #3.

[Chris]

SaintsRef to the rescue! :lol

[HarlemHeat37]

Saints have to be the most ref-reliant team in the NFL..

[Spurtacular]

Saints have to be the most ref-reliant team in the NFL..

They were in 09 too when the Vikings were the best team and the rightful champions.

[SuperCam]

Goodell trying to gift Brees with a walk off SB like he did Peyton...

[Spurtacular]

Face palm; the Steelers leaving that much open space deep in the middle of the field.

[Clipper Nation]

Goodell trying to gift Brees with a walk off SB like he did Peyton...
:lol Hoping and praying for Brees to retire

Scam would still find a way to choke the playoffs away on stacked teams, let's be real now.

[Arcadian]

Well, at least we have some time on the clock.

[HarlemHeat37]

Big Rape needs to throw some PI balls up for grabs, they'll get a make-up call..

[Spurtacular]

Yet another NFL game decided on a phony call barring a Steelers comeback.

[Millennial_Messiah]

Wow, Antonio Brown is the greatest wide receiver of all time, twice as good as Rice or Moss ever was. My goodness.

[Arcadian]

They're lucky that was only "illegal contact"...

[Robz4000]

:lol dets sum bad JuJu

[Clipper Nation]

:lol Fumblefag

[Spurtacular]

Never trust a guy with two last names.

[Millennial_Messiah]

:lmao looks like my early season prediction was right all along. None of the 4 teams who suffered a tie early season would make the playoffs.

[HarlemHeat37]

Sucks for Pittsburgh, New Orleans was directly gifted 7 points and then a crucial call on the final drive that eventually led to another 7..

It's getting obvious that the league is trying to push the Brees narrative..you know it's egregious when even the Steelers are on the wrong end of calls:lol

[SuperCam]

AFC champ might as well fold now. Goodell hasn't been this comitted with gifting a walk off Lombardi since Peyton and Cowher. Tom got his in 51

[Millennial_Messiah]

Sucks for Pittsburgh, New Orleans was directly gifted 7 points and then a crucial call on the final drive that eventually led to another 7..

It's getting obvious that the league is trying to push the Brees narrative..you know it's egregious when even the Steelers are on the wrong end of calls:lol
if the Chiefs choke and lose out and the Chargers lose their last one, the Patriots will be the #1 seed, and we all know Brees wouldn't get any calls in THAT super bowl...

[Spurtacular]

League spotting Saints HFA. Par.

[Millennial_Messiah]

Darth_Pelican


Congrats on winning the NFC man!

[Chinook]

Ravens control their own destiny for the fourth seed and could still get up to the second seed. Also, they can get in the playoffs even if they lose next week. I'll take it, given where they were coming out of their bye. Just gotta hold it together against Cleveland. Finding a way to lose "win and in" games is something the team has gotten depressingly good at.

[Will Hunting]

Would be hilarious if Belichick got Foles and benched Brady :lol
I would orgasm out of my ass if the Pats got Foles.

[SuperCam]

One of the worst weeks of nfl ever tbh. Every overrated white qb media darling either benefited from refball and or the other team massively choking in the last minute. Scheinstein, gottlib and cowhard won't know what to do with themselves tomorrow...

[Will Hunting]

One of the worst weeks of nfl ever tbh. Every overrated white qb media darling either benefited from refball and or the other team massively choking in the last minute. Scheinstein, gottlib and cowhard won't know what to do with themselves tomorrow...
White QBs benefit from black QBs choking. Storyline works for me :tu

[Cuppycake Gumdrop]

Game thread is like 1/4 as long without all the Avante & guitardude shitposting :lol

[chunticakes]

Game thread is like 1/4 as long without all the Avante & guitardude shitposting :lol

I like it. More concise. Smells less like shit around here.

[Robz4000]

I would orgasm out of my ass if the Pats got Foles.

wat

[Pelicans78]

Sucks for Pittsburgh, New Orleans was directly gifted 7 points and then a crucial call on the final drive that eventually led to another 7..

It's getting obvious that the league is trying to push the Brees narrative..you know it's egregious when even the Steelers are on the wrong end of calls:lol

The second PI was clearly a penalty. Haden mugged Thomas the entire route. Was no doubt on that one. Surprised the refs waited so long to call it. Don’t let your anti-Brees bias get in the way.

[spurraider21]

I would orgasm out of my ass if the Pats got Foles.
:lol said patfan in december 2017

[Will Hunting]

:lol said patfan in december 2017
Not me.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

WTF! Russell Wilson slid to early, he could've still gotten that 1st down.

[Darth_Pelican]

Feels good man. Starters get to rest for 21 days. O-line can get healthy.

[Darth_Pelican]

League spotting Saints HFA. Par.

They were getting HFA regardless of today’s result. They play the Panthers with a backup QB in vacation mode next week.

[DAF86]

Feels good man. Starters get to rest for 21 days. O-line can get healthy.

How good is that really?

[DAF86]

That last TD pass by Mahgod was something else.

[DAF86]

Chiefs' defense is pathetic.

[Darth_Pelican]

How good is that really?

It worked out in 2009. It will definitely help the O-line. They’re banged up which is a big reason that the offense hasn’t looked as good lately.

[Robz4000]

Yo DAF86, Weren't you a Jags fan?

[DAF86]

Yo DAF86, Weren't you a Jags fan?

Nah, I don't have an NFL team. I'm just bandwagonning Mahomes now.

[Robz4000]

Nah, I don't have an NFL team. I'm just bandwagonning Mahomes now.

:tu

[Darth_Pelican]

Chargers are going to kick themselves for laying that egg yesterday if the Chiefs wind up losing this game.

[Ghazi]

Chiefs actually have to win next week if they lose this game :O

[Spurtacular]

With a Seahawks win, the worst possible playoff scenario taking shape for Vikes. Having to win at Soldier Field to get in the playoffs and then having to win at Soldier Field the week after that.

[Darth_Pelican]

With a Seahawks win, the worst possible playoff scenario taking shape for Vikes. Having to win at Soldier Field to get in the playoffs and then having to win at Soldier Field the week after that.

Game is in Minny

[spurraider21]

- watson was fucking incredible yesterday, tbh
- wilson was a monster in the 4th

so much great quarterbacking yesterday. rodgers, luck, foles too. mahomes had great moments but wasn't as sharp as we've seen

[Millennial_Messiah]

- watson was fucking incredible yesterday, tbh
- wilson was a monster in the 4th

so much great quarterbacking yesterday. rodgers, luck, foles too. mahomes had great moments but wasn't as sharp as we've seen
yes, gotta love Rodgers' heart even though he plays half-injured on a crappy team with a crappy defense and is currently playing for absolutely zero. And a loss would mean a better draft pick and more help for him too smh.

Watson was incredible, but their "godly" pass rushers were pretty much shut out all game except for a few RTP penalties, lol.


Playoff Russell Wilson is back, and they're the 5-seed which means they basically get a first round bye by going to _allas where the 12th Man will make it "Century Link South".

Luck was awful in the first half, I think Mahomes will be fine as long as they stay at home throughout the AFC picture.

[Millennial_Messiah]

Game is in Minny

Next week yes, but I think the Bears play their starters and get the W and send the Vikings to Cancun for the winter. Still fighting for that playoff bye. Lambs are a game ahead and play SF, which has played well lately, and likely without Gurley.

[Millennial_Messiah]

Chargers are going to kick themselves for laying that egg yesterday if the Chiefs wind up losing this game.

It wasn't laying an egg. Ravens are scary because they're basically the 2012 Redskins on offense and the 2000 Ravens on defense.

[Pelicans78]

Next week yes, but I think the Bears play their starters and get the W and send the Vikings to Cancun for the winter. Still fighting for that playoff bye. Lambs are a game ahead and play SF, which has played well lately, and likely without Gurley.

I would be shocked if the Bears won that game. I think Minny wins at home fairly easily.

[Millennial_Messiah]

I would be shocked if the Bears won that game. I think Minny wins at home fairly easily.

I just don't think Minnesota is very good. I've been reading Eagles blogs and they argue how the Vikings' defense just isn't what it was last year (true), they didn't upgrade at QB despite spending a lot of money, their OL is one of the worst in the league, and they have a borderline top 10 tight end and two superstars at WR. I think all that is true.

[Pelicans78]

I just don't think Minnesota is very good. I've been reading Eagles blogs and they argue how the Vikings' defense just isn't what it was last year (true), they didn't upgrade at QB despite spending a lot of money, their OL is one of the worst in the league, and they have a borderline top 10 tight end and two superstars at WR. I think all that is true.

I agree with most of it, but they’ve looked a lot better offensively the last two weeks after firing the OC and the Bears just haven’t been that great on the road. Plus the Vikings will be the more desperate team.

[Millennial_Messiah]

I agree with most of it, but they’ve looked a lot better offensively the last two weeks after firing the OC and the Bears just haven’t been that great on the road. Plus the Vikings will be the more desperate team.

I think the Bears are just fine on the road... defense and running travels on the road in December/January far better than pass happy offenses, which is why HFA is far more important for say the Saints, Rams, Chiefs or Patriots than the Bears, Ravens or even Dallas. Though Dallas home/away splits this year have been somewhat of an anomaly for the franchise that is typically consistently the same home and away.

[Will Hunting]

I agree with most of it, but they’ve looked a lot better offensively the last two weeks after firing the OC and the Bears just haven’t been that great on the road. Plus the Vikings will be the more desperate team.
I'm not sure why, but I have a weird hunch the Vikings are going to implode against the Bears. The Bears play at the same time as the Rams so I'd be surprised if they bench their starters and concede a shot at the #2 seed (even if the chances of LA losing are remote), and Minnesota just seems like a dysfunctional mess of a team that's ready to fold. They haven't passed the eye test all year and I think the "improvements" they've made on offense since firing DeFilippo have more to do with who they've played since firing him and less about the offense getting better. It was obvious that Zimmer timed firing him to be after a tough stretch of games and right before the final 3 games of the season that included 2 easily winnable games as a way to create a scapegoat for a disappointing season (e.g. "We won 2 of 3 after I made a coaching change to run the offense I wanted to run, no reason for me to be on the hot seat!")

Their most impressive win this season was probably the road game against Philly but even that was when Philly was playing like shit, I don't see them beating Chicago unless Chicago rests its starters.

[Millennial_Messiah]

I'm not sure why, but I have a weird hunch the Vikings are going to implode against the Bears. The Bears play at the same time as the Rams so I'd be surprised if they bench their starters and concede a shot at the #2 seed (even if the chances of LA losing are remote), and Minnesota just seems like a dysfunctional mess of a team that's ready to fold. They haven't passed the eye test all year and I think the "improvements" they've made on offense since firing DeFilippo have more to do with who they've played since firing him and less about the offense getting better. It was obvious that Zimmer timed firing him to be after a tough stretch of games and right before the final 3 games of the season that included 2 easily winnable games as a way to create a scapegoat for a disappointing season (e.g. "We won 2 of 3 after I made a coaching change to run the offense I wanted to run, no reason for me to be on the hot seat!")

Their most impressive win this season was probably the road game against Philly but even that was when Philly was playing like shit, I don't see them beating Chicago unless Chicago rests its starters.

I agree with this post. I also don't think the chances of LA losing are really that remote, as SF has been pretty darn good lately with Mullens and that budding superstar tight end.