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He has a great future in front of him.

This is a metaphor, not a tautology.

Flag fest in Tampa Bay. 5 tds wiped out by penalties! 3 fumbles and 2 interceptions including a Jimmy G pick 6. Ugly, ugly stuff.

Ireland don't really seem to have capitalised on the phenomenal bowling performance they had this morning.

Still highly likely England win this!

A lead of 122 is still not too bad on a pitch that seemed to be deteriorating rapidly. Today's record temperatures will hasten that. Though if England bat properly and see today out without much damage then it's back in their favour big time. I wouldn't like us to be chasing more than 200 and even that might be tough.

The TMS crowd reckon the heat will play into England's favour. Drying out the pitch and making it a fairly flat track to bat on - today might be the best day for batting before it deteriorates further. The outfield will also be pretty quick. Early wickets before it gets too hot would help Ireland a lot.

Can't see Alaphillipe holding on. Think a major blow up in Alps is coming.

Pinot looks the strongest climber in the race. Would love to see him win it.

Some evidence against the usefulness of tempo runs

http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Tempo_Runs

Anyone recommend a good running book that covers running techniques, preparing  for races etc. Got a book that covered the basics with regards to training programs for different distances. But it's geared more towards general training rather than races and how to adapt training coming up to a race.

This website is great for all things running

http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Main_Page

Any recommended NFL podcasts? The only one I've really tried is Vernon Kays and i'm sure there are better ones out there. It's a minefield though.

The Mina Kimes podcast (ESPN) is very good

Her worst legacy will be losing the Assembly. 

They have give a free reign to Shinners for last two years.  Shown up for intolerance on rights and language badly.   Brexit and their Tory agreement enhanced that.  Taking a crack at farmers and business over their genuine concerns another own goal.

Even Peter Robinson and others can see that demographics are working against them and they need to adjust

She needed to be a leader of unionism that reached out.  Unionism needs to bring people into their house, not drive them out.   Even her "reach out" efforts earlier this summer seemed contrived and tapered out once the Brexit mud-slinging started.

The long term trends mean that stalemate is actually helping nationalism.   I can understand that why herself, Sammy Wilson etc can't see that but surely there is someone in that party (or these all powerful SPADS?) that has an ounce of strategic thinking.

I suspect jumping on Brexit to show how British they are will prove the most short-sighted strategy possible.

/Jim.

As usual Jim, you are spot on with your analysis.

There are a couple of scenarios that could play out which would really expose them badly. A narrow defeat of the agreement in Westminster followed by either a no-deal Brexit, or may be more plausibly, a second referendum that delivers a remain vote. They could very quickly end up as the fall guys in both of these situations and achieve something that the IRA could never achieve in 30 years of bombing - an erosion of consent for the union with the wee six among the British electorate.

[They have to overcome Andy Reiditis in the playoffs]

Wow! Hard to believe.  Some going.  What's the thoughts on these two teams? Obviously amazing on offence but will they come a cropper in the play-offs?

They will both be there or thereabout. Rams and Saints are the cream of the NFC. Steelers/Pats/Chiefs in the AFC

If Kansas can hold onto number 1 they'll be dangerous. They have to overcome Andy Reiditis in the playoffs, but that will be easier at Arrowhead.

In fairness to Andy Reid i don't think he has ever had a QB as good as Mahommes. I think they're the front runner in AFC. So much depends on staying healthy from here on in but i'd still have them as slight superbowl favourites even after last nights defeat.

Did Donovan McNabb ever have weapons like Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Kareem Hunt and Sammy Watkins? QB production is a function of several things, only one of which is ability. Mahomes is doing really well but he has only played 11 games in the NFL.....lets not send him to Canton already.

TO and Brian Westbrook were pretty decent but yes, i'd agree that Mahommes has a better supporting cast than McNabb probably ever had (and possibly the best in the league at the moment). But Alex Smith had the same cast last year (substituting Albert Wilson for Sammy Watkins) and Mahommes is way outperforming what Smith did. My point wasn't really on Mahommes per se but more a word in defence of Andy Reid. Every QB he has worked with has looked better under him than in any other stop along their career. Michael Vick, McNabb, Alex Smith (minus one year he was excellent under Harbaugh), may be even Kevin Kolb.

[They have to overcome Andy Reiditis in the playoffs]

Wow! Hard to believe.  Some going.  What's the thoughts on these two teams? Obviously amazing on offence but will they come a cropper in the play-offs?

They will both be there or thereabout. Rams and Saints are the cream of the NFC. Steelers/Pats/Chiefs in the AFC

If Kansas can hold onto number 1 they'll be dangerous. They have to overcome Andy Reiditis in the playoffs, but that will be easier at Arrowhead.

In fairness to Andy Reid i don't think he has ever had a QB as good as Mahommes. I think they're the front runner in AFC. So much depends on staying healthy from here on in but i'd still have them as slight superbowl favourites even after last nights defeat.

The form of the Steelers offense in general, and the run game in particular, has really hurt Bell's holdout. I don't blame the Steelers for the position they've taken - they operate within the rules as they're laid down and make the decisions they think will benefit the organisation in pursuit of their goals. What weakens the player's negotiating position more than anything is the franchise tag. The NFLPA should really look to get rid of it in the next collective bargaining round.

Patrick Peterson probably on his way out of the Cardinals as well.

What's his contract situation like?
There are quite a few 'contenders' that are really struggling in the secondary this season, so you would think that would play to the Cardinals advantage in terms of compensation they can recoup.

2 years left.  I think they are looking for two first rounders. If they get that, they'll be happy.

That would be a good trade for the Cardinals if they can get it.

Two 1s would be a great deal, he is 28 so it's a "win now" (Chiefs?) team that will take the plunge you would think

He's been relatively injury free i think, so at 28 he could still have quite a few good years. Cornerback is one of those positions where players can have relatively long careers. That said, it will inevitably be a team in win now mode as you say as they will be the ones to overpay. I agree that the Chiefs are the most likely, followed by the Eagles and may be the Vikings?

Patrick Peterson probably on his way out of the Cardinals as well.

What's his contract situation like?
There are quite a few 'contenders' that are really struggling in the secondary this season, so you would think that would play to the Cardinals advantage in terms of compensation they can recoup.

2 years left.  I think they are looking for two first rounders. If they get that, they'll be happy.

That would be a good trade for the Cardinals if they can get it.

Patrick Peterson probably on his way out of the Cardinals as well.

What's his contract situation like?
There are quite a few 'contenders' that are really struggling in the secondary this season, so you would think that would play to the Cardinals advantage in terms of compensation they can recoup.

[Carlos Hyde to the Browns.]

Carlos Hyde to the Browns.
Hard to evaluate Hyde - very highly rated out of college and although he looked good at times and played behind some awful o-lines he also tended to rack up a lot of his yardage in 'garbage time' (I know there was a lot of that in SF the past few years!).

I guess this means they're going with a QB at no1.