XRAY - Model racing cars

There are 32 NFL franchises , and probably 32 questions we can ask about each of them.Some are quite pertinent:nter in Philadelphia? Will J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson return healthy to Houston and carry the Texans back to the AFC South lead? Will fans be screaming for their first-round rookie quarterback to get on the field, like, yesterday?Good questions all.But we’re concerned here with the irrelevant queries. Such as:1-Can Tom Brady win at age 41?Maybe you should ask this question when he is 51 – just kidding, Gisele.At 40, Brady was as Tom Terrific as ever, even without his favorite receiver, Julian Edelman, for the entire season. To think he suddenly will go over the hill with the way he trains and his smarts and competitive fire is foolhardy.”Obviously, I evaluate last season and things I can do better. I don’t think this offseason was any different for me,” he has said.No, Brady won’t play forever; the Jets, Bills and Dolphins surely can’t wait until he disappears, not to mention the rest of the AFC. But wondering about Brady’s competence in 2018 , when he just might win his fourth league MVP award, is an irrelevant task.2-Will the Browns win a game?Yes they will, maybe even in Week 1 at home against their archrivals, the Steelers, but more likely somewhere else in the first half of a schedule that isn’t exactly daunting.We understand that every matchup for a club that is 1-31 under coach Hue Jackson is challenging. Still, the Browns added enough talent to win a handful of games or more – and that’s not even considering what top overall draft pick Baker Mayfield might provide at quarterback if he gets on the field.3-Will Jimmy Garoppolo ever lose a game?Yes, he will – plenty of them.Sure, Jimmy G is 7-0 as a starter, including 5-0 when he took the reins in San Francisco last year. Look for that first loss to come early this season, perhaps in the opener at Minnesota, a major challenge for the rebuilding 49ers.Visits to the Chiefs and Chargers also are on the September docket.So thoughts of Garoppolo remaining unblemished are irrelevant.That doesn’t mean he won’t improve; he might do so significantly.”I don’t know how much of a jump you’re going to see,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. ”When you talk about expectations, I don’t know how you’re going to live up to that. He did very good last year. If we had 400 yards a game , does that mean we need to have 600 the first five games to improve? I don’t know what the numbers will be, but we will be a better offense.”4-Will the NFL and players’ union find common ground on national anthem protocol. Or anything else?Nope. Not even close.The 10-year labor agreement expires after the 2020 season. The union has fought the league on virtually every topic in it and quite a few outside of it. The anthem policy unilaterally imposed by the league and teams is the latest sticking point.Common ground between these sides? Irrelevant.5-Is Jon Gruden headed back to the broadcast booth after this season?It might be tempting for Gruden once he sees how much pro football locker rooms and player approaches have changed since he previously worked a sideline 10 years ago. Still, to suggest a guy with his enthusiasm, intelligence and creative streak is going to sour on coaching so soon is … irrelevant.Gruden could be hard-pressed to win much this season with Oakland, but he’ll put his stamp on the Raiders, and they will be better for it down the line – when he’ll almost certainly be around.6-In how many stadiums will Roger Goodell be booed this season?Let’s see: There are 31 homes for the teams (the Jets and Giants share MetLife Stadium), plus Azteca in Mexico City, Wembley and the new Tottenham Stadium in London. So 34 works.Thinking the commissioner won’t get booed in any of them? Irrelevant.— Andrew Luck threw a touchdown pass on what will probably be his last preseason drive, and Christine Michael scored on a 1-yard plunge late in the third quarter to lead the Indianapolis Colts get past San Francisco 23-17 on Saturday.Luck looked much sharper than he did in Monday night’s loss to Baltimore. He wound up 8 of 10 with 90 yards and produced the only TD in the first half. He also had four carries for 27 yards before leaving midway through the second quarter.Otherwise, it was a struggle for the Colts. They had trouble establishing the run — and stopping the run, too.Alfred Morris carried 13 times for 71 yards in the first half as San Francisco piled up 99 yards on the ground. Morris finished with 17 carries for 84 yards.Still, the Colts managed to keep the 49ers out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter and nearly picked off Jimmy Garoppolo on back-to-back plays near the goal line late in the first half. Garoppolo was 9 of 19 with 135 yards before giving way to C.J. Beathard midway through the third quarter.Former Colts receiver Pierre Garcon caught two passes for 62 yards.San Francisco settled for field goals of 37 and 27 yards in the first half to make it 7-6, and briefly took a 9-7 lead on Robbie Gould‘s’ 32-yarder late in the third quarter.But Indy struck quickly both times it trailed.Luck capped his final drive with a nifty 15-yard run on third-and-13 , then hooked up with a leaping Eric Ebron on the next play for a 15-yard score that made it 7-3.In the third quarter, backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett found Seantavius Jones on a 53-yard pass. Two plays later, Michael’s scoring run gave Indy a 14-9 lead.Michael Badgley also made field goals of 25, 51 and 40 yards for Indy.Quarterback Nick Mullens scored on a 1-yard run and Jeremy McNichols added a 2-point conversion run for San Francisco to close out the scoring with 4:07 left.San Francisco cornerback Richard Sherman made his preseason debut after returning from a torn Achilles tendon, and the Colts welcomed back safety Malik Hooker, who missed the second half of his rookie season after tearing two ligaments in his right knee.Both played most of the first half.NATIONAL ANTHEMWhen the 49ers last visited Indianapolis in October, nearly two dozen players demonstrated by kneeling during the national anthem, prompting Vice President Mike Pence to walk out of Lucas Oil Stadium.This time, nobody took a knee while the anthem played, with the only demonstration coming from San Francisco receiver Marquise Goodwin, who raised his fist again.INJURIES49ers: Linebacker Reuben Foster did not return after being diagnosed with a concussion in the third quarter, and cornerback Jimmie Ward left in the first half with a quadriceps injury. Receiver Marquise Goodwin also left in the first half with a hand injury, but returned later. San Francisco played without running backs Jerick McKinnon (knee) , Matt Breida (shoulder) and Joe Williams (ribs), and backup offensive linemen Erik Magnuson (hamstring) and Gary Gilliam.Colts: Defensive end John Simon (neck), backup safety Ronald Martin (shoulder), offensive lineman Denzelle Good (knee) and safety T.J. Green (hamstring) all left in the second half and did not return. Indy was already playing without cornerbacks Quincy Wilson (hand) and Nate Hairston (hamstring), linebacker Anthony Walker (groin), defensive linemen Denico Autry (lower leg) and Tyquan Lewis (foot), running backs Marlon Mack (hamstring), Robert Turbin (ankle) and newly acquired Brandon Oliver and Tion Green, and receivers James Wright (knee) and K.J. Brent (knee).UP NEXT49ers: Wrap up the preseason at home Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers.Colts: Close out the preseason at Cincinnati.___