Dwyer 8-21-21 Dwyer Notes: Arizona Cardinals, Trey Lance, DeShaun Watson, Trevor Bauer

Let’s talk about some recent news that’s going to impact how I play the betting market.

Larry Fitzgerald isn’t sure if he wants to play football this year. That’s very bad news for the Arizona Cardinals who need to spread the field to give DeAndre Hopkins and AJ Green room to operate. Neither Hopkins nor green is known as a burner.

I question whether a competitor and likely future Hall of Famer like Larry Fitzgerald – – who came close to winning but ultimately lost the only Super Bowl he was in – – would lack the drive to play on a team that he thought had a legitimate chance of going deep in the playoffs. I get the feeling there’s more to the story here.

The team seems to be already falling apart. Look at Tyler Murray’s dismal numbers from the Kansas City Chiefs preseason game. Folks, on six dropbacks he got sacked twice.  He ended the game passing for less than 5 yards.

Moreover, the team’s age is already showing. JJ Watt has already had hamstring problems this preseason.  An older player with an injury history having hamstring problems this early doesn’t bode well.

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In the Bay Area, everyone is hot and bothered over Trey Lance.  People need to realize that the rookie quarterback is not ready to start.  The team almost certainly is going to go with Jimmy G. for at least the first month of the season. 

Those of you in fantasy pools need to make a note of that.  Preseason is a bit of a charade.  Fade all of these first-year quarterbacks for at least the first month of the season.  And that includes Trevor Lawrence.

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According to reports, a grand jury has been impaneled to investigate allegations against DeShawn Watson.  Folks, that’s the end of the Houston Texans season.

Pay close attention to whether criminal charges are ever brought against Watson.  He is an elite quarterback and I suspect there are teams with very high potential such as the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos who are monitoring the situation carefully.

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The Dodgers’ situation with Trevor Bauer is also dicey.  We now know from reports that Trevor Bauer apparently was into S&M.  At least one of the women who came forward – – and there are multiple women -- sent text messages to Bauer expressing some excitement over the physical roughness of an encounter they had. 

It appears that Bauer was overly rough during his encounters and that at least one of the encounters may not have been consensual.

This is a messy case that may end up in court that involves physical injuries to more than one woman and the possible attempted defense by Bauer of consent. 

Bauer already is out until at least the end of August.  Don’t rely on him at all this season and don’t assume that he’ll be eligible to play or even available to play next season.