I Threw a Brick: Week 7 Picks
The Ancient Greek philosophers thought highly of the Greek word parrhesiah (παρρησία) which means speaking truth freely, and fearlessly to power. The NFL is headed to Paris this week.
Nationwide street protests over conditions and staffing at schools, rising cost of living, and deteriorating public services have made news across the globe.
Here comes the NFL to brighten people's lives!
Though the game has been scheduled for over a year, the civil unrest is not enough to stand in the way of Commissioner Roger Godell’s aims to grow the game internationally. If America’s most popular distraction can bury it’s rivals for their shortening attention span, then why can’t the same be true in Europe?
A devil’s advocacy could even infer how the NFL is conflating their presence as that of the Olympic Truce.
Unless somehow Paris is modern Olympia and this strange oblong “football” contest is a grand Ekecheiria (laying down of arms) , entertainment-as-distraction was more of a Roman thing and not a Greek revolutionary concept.
Panel et circenses “bread and circuses,” paved the way to hot dogs and UFC. America exports its best athletes again as the Saints and Steelers peddle a Parisian capital boost; some mind-numbing collisions and cheerleader cabaret during their season-long struggle to become “world champions.” As if!
Roger Godell is gambling too. He’s gambling that no issue too grand that a good tussle, Sunday parlay and oddly bouncing ball can’t correct, right?
For the Greeks entertainment during revolution only served to fortify the populist cause, not stifle or pacify it: Rigas Feraios songs became revolutionary anthems; the “karagiosi” shadow puppet theater evolved into a powerful grassroots vehicle for Greek patriotism.
“Better an hour of free life than forty years of slavery and prison,” -Rigas Feraios Thourios (The War Song).
Not to suggest that the game cannot be compelling on its own merits. We could witness an inspiring underdog story of young Tyler Shough holding serve against the crotchety, and opinionated Aaron Rodgers. The upstart, antiestablishment, gauche Saints opposing the established and decorated Steelers. Can sport transcend the field and infuse a cause with the spark fuels it?
Ironically the “fleur de lis” Lily flower symbol the Saints don was a royal symbol authorities would brand on prisoners and insurrectionists in royal galleys. The French revolutionaries banned and destroyed it everywhere as the definitive symbol of monarchy.
In New Orleans, the symbol became popularized as a connection to the city’s French roots. In light of hurricane Katrina, the symbol now overshadows any elitist or aristocratic origins and serves as a galvanizing emblem of solidarity, grit and perseverance.
Such is the duality of life and football—and how confusing the iconography becomes when repurposed by a separate community. Whether or not the Parisians will hedge their allegiances to the team from the French Quarter at this moment in time where embattled athletes on the field infuse those off it to "Liberté, égalité, fraternité, ou la mort!” (Liberty, equality, fraternity or death” remains to be seen.
Whether or not Franco’s Italian Army took up any roots in Europe is unclear, as well. And unlike Mussolini, would they be willing to travel?
Perhaps France could indeed quell all this unrest—a collective pause in the revolution for “ze football”—to indulge, momentarily, in some good ol’ American Exceptionalism in it’s most violent and bombastic theatricality.
The Saints will be the “home team” in Paris, which is fitting considering the French influence over the crescent city. The fires burning in Paris mimic the dumpster fire that has been the Saints defense. The offense has been very dynamic, fast paced, and running a lot of plays.
Quarterback Tyler Shough was a journeyman in college (a new sports species after NIL) playing for three different programs before the Saints drafted him in the second round of 2025. He didn't start until the middle of the season, but insiders were surprised by his tenacity and the offense seemed to improve from a joke with Rattler under center to around average—which in some years is enough to win the NFC South.
The offensive line has struggled against blitzes, another problem when facing Pittsburgh. The defense under former Chargers coach Brandon Staley has not been good but we still like the Saints at +3.5. The offense is too effective and does enough to cover.
We like the 49ers (-2.5) at Atlanta. San Francisco continues to be the best team in the league. They have a lot of injuries including their top receiver, Mike Evans being out this week, but their coach is a top offensive playcaller and their defense is fast and ferocious. Purdy has been the MVP so far this season.
Lastly take the Bengals (-0.5) against Baltimore. Lamar Jackson is out again and the Bengals are coming off their bye week and got their receivers healthy.
Comments