super-bole

Watch out for these 5 'hot' takes in the wake of Super Bowl LII

The Eagles and quarterback Nick Foles pulled off a stunning upset — which makes for "hot" day-after speculation.

Photo by Kiel Leggere/Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl LII turned out to be a thriller, and the Philadelphia Eagles are your new NFL champions.

As always, there will be instant overreactions. If there is one thing you can count on, it's "hot takes" from talking heads and writers hoping to boost ratings and page views. Here are five that you'll see today that are silly, "hot take" clickbait-type stuff — and why they won't happen.

1. The Eagles should trade Carson Wentz.
Hey, they just won their first ever Super Bowl with Nick Foles at quarterback. Why can't they do it again? What do you think the Browns would pay for Wentz? Philly could load up on draft picks and make multiple runs with Foles at quarterback.

The reality: Wentz is a special talent who will be the man in Philly for a long time. Foles was terrific in the playoffs and should start somewhere. But this is Wentz's team moving forward.

2. Tom Brady is done.
He gave up a strip sack fumble in the clutch on Sunday and can no longer mount comebacks. At 40, it is time to hang it up.

The reality: Um, he did the comeback thing just two weeks ago. He threw for over 500 yards against the Eagles. Brady can probably play until he is 50.

3. The Patriots lost three Super Bowls. They aren't that great.

The reality: This is the greatest dynasty of the Super Bowl era. Five titles, eight trips to the Super Bowl, a contender year in and year out. That they have been this good this long in the salary cap era trumps anything done before.

4. The Patriots won't get out of the AFC next year.

The reality: While they will be favored, this might not be a stretch. The Steelers still have the most offensive talent in football. Jacksonville is not a fluke and will be back in the mix next year. Even the Texans with a healthy Deshaun Watson could be a threat. But New England will enter the season as favorites to make the Super Bowl again unless Bill Belichick bails.

5. This was the best Super Bowl ever.

The reality: Um, remember last year? Possibly top five and it was a great game to watch, but it is not in the same category as some of the other Super Bowls. But you can bet someone will be spouting that today.

---

Fred Faour is the editor of SportsMap, and hosts "The Blitz" weekdays at 4 pm on ESPN 97.5.

super-bowl

Cougar Red and Houston Blue

UH expands 'Houston Blue' uniforms, despite NFL cease-and-desist

UH continues using Houston Blue uniforms despite NFL rebuke

Photo courtesy of Houston Athletics

Luv ya Blue running wild.

University of Houston Athletics are in a “Luv ya blue” mood and they don’t care who knows it — not even the NFL.

The university has announced that its football and volleyball teams will wear new Houston Blue jerseys, reminiscent of the classic colors of the Houston Oilers era. The volleyball team's uniform will debut theirs starting November 9 against Texas Tech, while the football team will debut theirs against Baylor on November 23. At the latter event, the first 20,000 fans will receive commemorative Houston Blue rally towels.

The resemblance of the new colors to the Oilers brand was not lost on the NFL. When UH Athletics started incorporating Houston Blue into their uniforms in September 2023, the NFL sent a cease-and-desist letter claiming the uniforms were an attempt to leech off the legacy of the Oilers and the intellectual property of the team now known as the Tennessee Titans. As if to prove the point, the Titans have occasionally worn Columbia blue throwback uniforms at certain games.

UH is unbothered according to vice president for intercollegiate athletics Eddie Nuñez.

“As a university deeply connected to the fabric of Houston, incorporating ‘Houston Blue’ into our uniforms is a powerful way to celebrate the city’s rich history,” he said. “From iconic blue street markers to the Houston Police Department’s signature blue police cars and helicopters, this color holds a special place in the hearts of Houstonians. We’re thrilled to share this tradition with our fans and offer them the chance to show their pride through exclusive merchandise, making it an exciting time for Cougar Nation to rally together.”

The accompanying press release for the uniforms came with a helpful history lesson showing that the Oilers adopted a color widely associated with Houston, not the other way around. The city has incorporated blue into public infrastructure, from street curbs to city vehicles, since the 1920s. The Oilers weren’t even the first Houston team to use blue in their uniforms. That honor belongs to the minor league baseball team, the Houston Buffs. In addition, the university made minor changes to the uniform in response to the NFL's concerns.

UH will be offering a wide range of merchandise to sell in the new Houston Blue colors in person and online through the University of Houston Bookstore as well as at select local retailers. These include shirts, hats, polos, jerseys, and hoodies. Get them before the NFL sends a more strongly-worded letter.

---

Fans of Houston sports and Houston food can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm November 11 at 8th Wonder. Find out more about it here.

university of houston houston blue