4 Hard Downs: Grinding Tape, Grinding Meat & Just The Grind
After the draft playing CFB catch-up, why should you grind your own meat and work-life balance
It is golf tournament weekend here in Charlotte. I have been, it can be a good time; that was all before I lived five minutes away, had a wife, got a kid and have to travel down that main thoroughfare of the tournament to get to school everyday.
I didn’t enjoy it when it was me just trying to get to my favorite Harris Teeter. Now I am embroiled in what is basically a three front war: kid to school, HT, wife going to work.
The tournament is great for the city. It is awesome that all the players love it here in the CLT. I love that part and all my friends who work in some capacity for the tournament. So let’s go ahead and SPOT THE BALL!!!
1st Down: Getting Out Of Dodge
We’re going to South Carolina Thursday so that we don’t have to deal with the golf bros and not being able to go to my Harris Teeter.
My kid has friends and cousins who take weeks off of school, my kid never has had one of those. They go to Turks & Cacos or the mountains, but school has always, and will always, be paramount. However, missing a day at the end of kindergarten to go to a far with my best friend from high school seems OK because we avoid a day of the golf course dilemma and she will get a day of both beach and learning about a working farm.
Hopefully, it will reinforce the thing we’ve been teaching her; that chicken nuggets and tenders come from real chickens. But also, that roosters aren’t to be trifled with; and neither are gators which he has 8-10 on his land.
The ladies hit the beach, we are going to cook and catch up and I will try to take some pics but definitely check out Cool Blow Farms! I will be there this weekend.
2nd Down: Grinding Your Own Meat, Can’t Be Beat
Me and my kid grinding down some sirloin tender:
One cut. Not a bunch of butts, scraps, ends and leftovers with pink slime. It is one piece of meat. You can’t Frankenstein a ribeye or strip. You can’t Frankenstein a chuck roast. This isn’t a bunch of “extra stuff” slapped together, this is one cut of meat so you know what you’re getting.
And, as stated in 1st down, teaching my kid that food comes from a thing and not just burgers pre-pattied in the store.
3rd Down: Thinking About The Draft
I’ve had some time to think about the draft now that we are over a week removed and I still don’t know if I like them moving it around year to year or how it is shown on television. For those who don’t know or realize, when I work the draft I am in New York City, in a studio, and we have a quad box with program, graphics, big board and the NFL Network feed.
I think it is nice that other cities besides NYC have got the chance to experience the draft and it drives tourism to the city in an NFL/municipal money move. I also think, as I am living in the nightmare of the golf tournament, that everything they build out and have to tear down feels like a waste. But, I also think it is good work for a lot of vendors.
New York didn’t have to build anything. It was an in and out weekend. With the exception of people in jerseys walking around Time Square it felt like every other time I went to the city. Watching it move around to Nashville, Detroit, Chicago has been really pluses and minuses.
The NFL wins on the spectacle, levels up and promotes the schedule release, and I guess that’s really what matters.
4th Down: Sione Vaki
The Detroit Lions picked Sione Vaki in the 4th round. He is a Felder Favorite for sure as a guy who was a true two-way player.
Running back is where they flipped him to on the NFL Draft website, but I love him as a safety. He’s a dog and truly love what the Lions are building because this team is going to be a problem. They are built in Dan Campbell’s image.
They will eat your kneecaps.
They also have to get to the point where they realize you only have two kneecaps; so they have to do more.
And I’m rooting for Vaki to stick on defense to pair with Brian Branch but if they run him on offense he’ll be fine. Ben Johnson, my teammate from UNC, has me fully invested in the Lions finally finishing the drill by winning a Super Bowl.
When you pick up 5 DBs in this cycle, Vaki is likely special teams and backing up David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Enjoy your Tuesday, I’m about to go for a wet run.
Cheers!!!