Author: Michael

The 2023-24 NFL season kick-off is almost here! OutKick is unveiling its team-by-team preview series. Last week, we covered the AFC and NFC West. This week, we’re tackling the AFC and NFC North, continuing with last year’s third-place finisher in the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay Packers 2022-23 Record: 8-9

Green Bay Packers 2023-24 Win Total Over/Under: 7.5

Offseason Moves
Talk about turnover! Perhaps no NFL team is going to look more different in 2023-24 than they did in 2022-23. Gone is future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

After 81 scoreless minutes, Spain and Sweden’s showdown had a goal-ridden finale. Meanwhile, Australia and England are set to meet in the second semifinal.

The NFL season is just around the corner, and if you’re itching to place some player prop wagers on the season, now could be an excellent time to take advantage of a few preseason markets.
Bear in mind it’s usually not wise to tie up a lot of bankroll for the season, so think carefully about how much you invest in the preseason to have plenty left for your weekly wagers. However, there’s no reason not to start getting in on some of the action today.
I’ve chosen mostly over bets, so maybe we won’t have to sweat it out for the full 17-game regular season.

Following a summer of conference upheaval, every aspect of the CFP, from its format to revenue sharing to who has the most influence, is up for review.

I have written often over the last decade in this space about the tilted relationship between NFL management (owners, teams, commissioner) and NFL labor (players, union, agents). Starting with the 2011 lockout, the owners have been intent on “resetting the economic model,” which is management-speak for clawing back whatever they can from the players. And they have been dramatically successful in achieving that objective.

Want to know how terrific Jordan Addison has looked? Just ask his coach.
On Sunday after practice, I spoke with Kevin O’Connell and opened my questions by asking what he’s seen from Addison thus far this summer. Here’s the ensuing 54 seconds:
“What’s really been impressive is what he mentally was able to absorb in the spring without getting to really take any reps as we let him kind of settle in,” O’Connell told Sports Illustrated.

Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Michael Oher’s lawsuit sheds new light on the hit movie ‘The Blind Side’
The life story of Michael Oher, a ward of the foster care system being adopted by a family in Tennessee who set him on the path to NFL stardom, seemed too good to be true. It was the basis for a book by Michael Lewis, titled The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game, and a later movie based on Oher’s life story.
However, a new petition filed in probate court on Monday alleges just that: That the story was too good to be true.

Environmental protesters over in England have been busy this summer appearing at a number of major sporting events including Wimbledon, The Open, and most recently, the Women’s British Open. Charley Hull, who finished runner-up in this past weekend’s Women’s Open, characterized the protesters rather poetically calling them “a bunch of idiots.”
READ: GOLF WRITER QUITS AFTER HE SAYS PUBLICATION REFUSED TO PUBLISH PREGNANT GOLFER’S PRO-LIFE, CHRISTIAN VIEWS
The protesters stormed onto the 17th hole while Hull and eventual winner and playing partner Lili Vu were playing the Par 3.

Kansas City Royals star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. made some history Monday night when he raced around the bases for the fourth fastest inside-the-park home run in the Statcast era (since 2015).
While the play was a lot of fun, lots of MLB fans rightfully had the same question about the scoring: How was it ruled an inside-the-park home run when it clearly looked like an error by Seattle Mariners right fielder Dominic Canzone?
Witt hit a hard liner to right, which seemed like a playable ball but Canzone appeared to lose in the lights at the last moment and Witt went on to circle the bases.

Olga Carmona struck late to lift Spain to a thrilling 2-1 win over Sweden on Tuesday and send the Iberians into a first Women’s World Cup final.