Cover 3: Your Weekly Insight Delivered Every Thursday

Cover 3 is a digital newsletter that covers 3 different stories around football every week. From the locker room to the front office, we’ve got you covered.

Each Thursday, an email will land in your inbox from me, Jordan Palmer.

Our goal is not only to give you the stories you won’t get anywhere else - but another perspective that can help you build your relationship to the game, your family, and all the people you enjoy spending time with.

Travis Kelce Is A Marketing Genius, Brock Purdy's Brilliance, And The Irony Of The Pac-12

In today’s email:

Travis Kelce is putting on one of the best displays of sports marketing we’ve ever seen.

Why is Brock Purdy so good? Let's peel back the layers on the quarterback narrative that's taking the NFL by storm.

This isn't just Pac-12 irony; it's the conference delivering a masterclass in how to exit the stage—leaving the audience wanting more.

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

Travis Kelce Is A Marketing Genius

Alright, football fans and pop culture vultures, gather 'round. Let's talk about Travis Kelce's latest off-field maneuver—a playbook so deft it might just be one of the most brilliant moves in sports marketing to date. This guy is setting a new standard for what it means to be a sports icon in the limelight.

Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs' tight end extraordinaire, isn't just turning heads on the gridiron—he's now a staple in the tabloids, thanks to his link-up with none other than Taylor Swift. Now, we've seen athletes pair up with celebrities before. It's a tale as old as time. But this? This is something else. This is tapping into an empire.

The Swiftie Universe

The Swiftie universe isn't your run-of-the-mill fan base. They're a juggernaut of loyalty and passion, the likes of which can turn any narrative on its head.

And Kelce, whether intentionally or through the serendipitous twists of stardom, has found himself smack in the middle of it. It's not just a romance; it's a strategic alliance that's sending Kelce's marketability into the stratosphere.

The Kelce Legacy

Let's get one thing straight—Kelce's legacy on the field is as solid as they come. He's the tight end who could hang up his cleats tomorrow and walk straight into Canton. He's redefined the position, outpaced the legends, and has his financial game on lock.

But Kelce's not just about breaking records and banking checks. He's building a brand that could rival the likes of Strahan, who transcended football fame to become a morning show staple and a household name.

But here's the kicker—Kelce's doing it while he's still in the game. This isn't about what's next after the final whistle; it's about leveraging the now. His romance with Swift opens doors that no amount of touchdown dances could.

We're talking global recognition, international campaigns, and a fan base that follows not just a jersey number, but the man wearing it.

Global Influence

This season alone, Kelce's face is everywhere. And if this is what he's pulling off between games, can you imagine the off-season? We're talking about a guy who's poised to take his brand global, who's looking to fill stadiums not just in the heartland of America but across continents.

In this narrative, Kelce isn't just the protagonist; he's the mastermind. He's playing a different kind of ball game—one where the end zone is global influence, and he's already sprinting down the field unopposed.

It's a play that's as genius as it is bold, and it's why we might be witnessing one of the most significant sports marketing masterstrokes of our era.

 So, as we sit back and watch Kelce's next move, remember this: we're not just watching an athlete in his prime; we're watching a savvy marketer redefine what's possible for sports personal branding. In the game of fame, Travis Kelce might just have executed the perfect audible.

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Why Is Brock Purdy So Good?

Let's peel back the layers on the quarterback narrative that's taking the NFL by storm. Brock Purdy, a name that's become synonymous with the underdog story, is doing more than just capturing hearts; he's flipping the script on how we gauge a quarterback's preparedness for the professional grind.

While everyone's been caught up in the glitz of passing yards and touchdown ratios, there's a less flashy metric we've glossed over—total college attempts.

This Isn’t Just A Number

This isn't just a number. It's a testament to the grit and grind that shapes a signal-caller in the fires of game day competition. Purdy racked up a whopping 1,467 attempts at Iowa State.

Trey Lance? A modest 318 at North Dakota State. Now, these aren't just stats; they're stories. They narrate a tale of repetition, resilience, and the raw education that only live snaps can impart. 

Here's the kicker: sometimes, the best QB classroom is the field itself. Sure, Brock Purdy could have had more hype coming into the draft with a different college resume.

Maybe if he'd been that archetype of an NFL quarterback—taller, faster, stronger—he'd have been snagged earlier. But what Purdy brought to the table was something less tangible but incredibly valuable—experience.

While Lance's limited collegiate attempts painted a picture of potential, Purdy's portfolio was filled with chapters of actual game scenarios, learning to read defenses on the fly, making split-second decisions, and dealing with the pressure cooker environment of college football's Saturdays.

Nothing Compares To In-Game Reps

This is a narrative I've seen unfold time and time again. As a quarterback development coach, I've always emphasized the significance of on-field experience. You can have all the training camps and off-season programs in the world, but nothing quite compares to the education you get from actual game reps.

Brock Purdy, in his NFL journey thus far, is proof that those college game attempts aren't just throwaways. They're the building blocks of a quarterback's on-field IQ, preparing them for the rigors of the NFL in ways that can't be replicated.

As Purdy continues to make waves, it's a reminder to all the young quarterbacks out there: value every snap, because each one is more than just a pass—it's a step towards your future in the game.

Pac-12's Final Bow: An Unintended Grand Finale

In the grand theater of college football, the Pac-12's current narrative is drenched in irony. As we've watched the conference's dissolution unfold—a seismic shift driven by financial currents and viewership trends—the spotlight has inadvertently swiveled back to the West.

The Pac-12, in its twilight, has unleashed a season that's nothing short of a prime-time blockbuster.

A Weekly Spectacle

We've all seen the writing on the wall: teams are picking new allegiances, with some heading to the Big Ten, others to the Big 12, and a few charting courses to destinations like the Mountain West. The Pac-12's bigwigs banked on the idea that late-night kickoffs were too niche for the nation's appetite.

But here's where the plot twists—this season, the Pac-12 has been serving up the main course, giving fans across time zones a reason to stay up past their bedtimes.

This isn't your run-of-the-mill loyalty that keeps SEC and Big Ten fans glued to their sets; this is about the Pac-12 delivering a weekly spectacle, with teams jockeying in and out of the top 25, showcasing depth and dynamism week after week.

A National Statement

Now, as we zero in on the Pac-12 championship, it's not just a title on the line—it's a national statement. With Oregon and Washington set to square off, we've got a scenario where the victor isn't just a conference champion but a national contender.

Whether Oregon triumphs and props up Washington as a one-loss wonder or takes a tumble only to reveal their own resilience, the stakes couldn't be higher.

Amidst this unexpected crescendo, we've witnessed storylines worthy of their own documentaries. Colorado's ratings-busting run, Arizona's offensive pyrotechnics, Utah's steadfast march, and Oregon State's renaissance—all have been chapters in this season's riveting Pac-12 tale.

The Jolt College Football Needs

The impending disbandment of the conference as we know it feels like an epic novel ending on its most riveting chapter. As these teams prepare to enter uncharted conferences, it's not merely a matter of adjusting strategies; it's a complete overhaul of the collegiate football ecosystem.

The recruiting chessboard is set to undergo a metamorphosis, reshuffling power dynamics and redefining fan loyalties.

Yet, this may very well be the jolt that college football needs. Imagine a landscape where every game echoes the NFL's weekly high stakes. That's the future we're glimpsing through the Pac-12's unexpected grand finale—a future where any given Saturday is laden with games that carry weight far beyond the immediate win or loss.

As we bid adieu to the Pac-12, we're not just witnessing the end of an era; we're catching a glimpse of a new dawn in college football. A dawn where the thrill of the game extends from coast to coast, regardless of the kickoff time. This isn't just Pac-12 irony; it's the conference delivering a masterclass in how to exit the stage—leaving the audience wanting more.