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Each Thursday, an email will land in your inbox that covers 3 different stories around football each week that will help you be the smartest football mind in the room.

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Cincy’s QB2 Could Be Someone’s QB1, The Transfer Portal is CRAZY… But It’s Also Amazing

In today’s email:

Jake Browning went 32-37 with 354 passing yards against the Jaguars on Monday. Cincy’s QB2 may just end up being someone else’s QB1.

1,184 players entered the NCAA Portal this week. That’s CRAZY.

While it’s certainly crazy… The portal creates a golden opening for a select few players every year. Let’s get into it.

🔥 NEW: At the bottom of this week’s newsletter, we’ve got a question for YOU. 🔥

Cincy Has A QB2 That Could Be A QB1

What's happening in Cincinnati is worth every bit of your attention. When the Bengals faced off against the Jaguars on that prime-time Monday stage, we all expected the usual suspects to shine.

But football, in its unpredictable glory, handed us a plot twist: Jake Browning stepping into the QB spotlight and absolutely owning it.

The Numbers

Now, let's crunch some numbers: 32 for 37, with a smooth 354 yards to his name. But here's the deal—it's not just about stats. It's about a second-string quarterback showing up with the poise of a first-string pro, proving that he's got the goods to be someone's main man on the field.

It Starts In Pre-Season

Flashback to pre-season, and the story starts to take shape. With Joe Burrow on the mend, Browning found himself neck and neck with Trevor Siemian, both vying for that backup QB slot.

Zac Taylor, with his coach's intuition, made a call—Browning was their guy. And let me tell you, it's starting to look like a call that could redefine not just a season, but a career.

Dig into Browning's history, and you'll see this isn't a fluke. He's been setting records since his high school days, dominating the college scene with the Huskies, and leaving a trail of touchdowns in his wake.

Yet, somehow, the guy goes undrafted, biding his time, quietly honing his craft until—bam—the spotlight hits.

Monday Was A Statement

That Monday night game? That wasn't just a win. It was a statement. Browning stepped onto that field and cut through the noise, the doubt, and every "you can't" he's ever heard.

Sure, Cincinnati's path to the playoffs is a puzzle with missing pieces, but Browning's not just a placeholder—he's a game-changer. And for anyone tuning in, it was clear: this guy's ready to lead.

So, Bengals faithful and football fanatics, keep your eyes on this narrative. Jake Browning isn't just holding down the fort; he's building his own. And as for the rest of the NFL? Take note. Cincy's QB2 isn't just waiting in the wings—he's ready to fly, and he might just be taking off in a new jersey come next fall.

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The Transfer Portal Is Crazy

The transfer portal is turning into the Wild West of college football. As I tap away at the keyboard, the number of quarterbacks in this high-stakes lottery has soared past 85. 

And here's the kicker: there are only about 30 to 35 slots up for grabs where these QBs can dream of starting. That's right, it's musical chairs, but with fewer seats than players when the music stops.

The Stories You Don’t Hear About

 This frenzy isn't just about the high-profile transfers making waves and grabbing headlines. It's the untold stories that grab me—the ones about the quarterbacks who leap into the portal from smaller programs, fueled by hope and the promise of greener pastures, only to find silence on the other end.

Imagine being one of those players. You've taken the gamble, stepped into the portal with visions of a starting spot, maybe even a bigger program. But then the market speaks, and it's not in your favor.

The real gut punch? When you try to retreat back to your alma mater, only to find the door you walked out of has been closed, locked, and bolted shut behind you.

We're looking at a scenario where kids who were on a full-ride scholarship suddenly find themselves on the outside looking in. From being courted and coveted to possibly paying their way through school—or worse, hanging up their cleats for good.

The Human Element Behind The Portal

The portal saga is a cautionary tale, a reminder that every click of that 'enter' button is a roll of the dice. The stories of those who don't land softly will likely be scattered, mere whispers compared to the roar of signing day celebrations.

And it might be a long time before the full impact of this transfer turbulence is truly understood, before someone digs deep into the shadows and shines a light on every hope, every heartbreak, and every lesson learned in this modern-day gladiator arena we call college football.

So, here's to the dreamers in the portal: may fortune favor you. And to the rest of us watching this unfold, let's remember the human element behind each stat, each transfer, each change of jersey.

It's a game, sure, but for these young athletes, it's also their world spinning on a fingertip, with every twist and turn felt deeply. The transfer portal may be crazy, but it's also a stark reminder of the razor's edge on which the future of these players often balances.

… BUT The Transfer Portal Is Also Amazing

Alright, let's flip the script. We've delved into the chaos of the transfer portal, but let's talk about the flipside—the brilliance of it. It's like a vortex that can either suck you into oblivion or catapult you into the stratosphere of college football glory.

I'm not just tossing around hyperbole here; this is the real deal.

For years, the trajectory of college quarterbacks was pretty much set in stone. You know the story—a coach splits, a program dives, and these kids are caught between a rock and a hard place.

Do they hang tight and risk their draft stock plummeting, or do they jump ship to the NFL, knowing full well they're not ripe for the picking?

A Few Names Come To Mind

Enter Cam Ward, the gunslinger whose arm's been cocked and ready to fire on the NFL stage for a while now. He's been playing the waiting game at Washington State, teetering on the edge of taking the plunge.

But lo and behold, the transfer portal swings open like a saloon door in the Wild West, offering him a shot to choose his destiny, sharpen his skills, and get that bread—all while vying for the win. 

And let's talk about Will Howard. The guy lost the spotlight at Kansas State, but he's still got some fuel in the tank. He's got a golden ticket to scout out a new home base, one that'll shine up that draft stock of his until it gleams.

Now, Kyle McCord is another tale of talent in limbo over at Ohio State. The starting spot's as slippery as an eel, and next year's no guarantee. But the portal?

That's his gateway to potentially greener pastures, a chance to take his game, seasoned with a sprinkle of college experience, and see if it sizzles elsewhere.

A Stroke Of Genius

The old crossroads dilemma for quarterbacks—NFL or bust, or back to a busted program—is yesterday's news. The portal's the new crossroad, offering a path paved with potential and paychecks. It's a chance to reboot, rebrand, and relaunch into collegiate stardom or, better yet, a smoother sail into the NFL draft. 

So yeah, the transfer portal? It's not just crazy; it's a stroke of genius. It's the plot twist in the college quarterback narrative we didn't know we needed until it hit us like a hail mary pass.

And for players and fans alike, it's turning the game we love into a whole new ballgame.

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