Morning Cup Of Joe
January 2nd, 2026
Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe’s readers ease into their busy workday with a few football links, wacky news and a pleasant distraction.
Saint Lamar Jackson said he will play Sunday night against the Steelers. [PFT]
Who had the best contract years? [CBS]
Did Joe Burrow hint at upheaval in Cincinnati? [Yahoo!]
Contract incentives tracker. [NFL]
When you get in a cop’s face and threaten to drop him on the concrete, you should thank him for only getting tazed. [TikTok]
Browns might take a run at Mike McDaniel? Swing for those fences, Cleveland! [Rotoworld]
Dolphins hire Troy Aikman as a consultant in GM search. Let’s hear all the caterwauling from BSPN talking heads about about conflict of interest now since folks got all high and mighty with Tom Brady (who works for FOX). Joe’s willing to bet $50 not one person at BSPN will say a word about this except for Chris “Mad Dog” Russo or maybe screamin’ Stephen A. Smith on their non-BSPN affiliated radio shows. [Awful Announcing]
Behind the scenes at the NHL’s first outdoor game in Florida. [Front Office Sports]
Are casinos about to bail on Chicago? Not to offend readers who live there, but Joe in another life did time in that place for seven years. Worst seven years of Joe’s life and that’s not an exaggeration. There may not be a more overrated city. That is, unless you like perpetual winter, traffic so bad you’d rather arrive to work two hours before needed and leave two hours after necessary, exorbitant cost of living, stinging taxes, nasty people and did Joe mention the horrible weather (other than six weeks a year)? Other than that, cool place. Even casinos are about to bail. But man, the locals think it is the center of the universe. [NBC Chicago]
Bugs Bunny vs. aliens. The “spacemen” tangled with the wrong critter. [TikTok]
Here's @MoveTheSticks on those cherry picking stats to critique Fernando Mendoza's game.
From this week's "The Schrager Hour".
📺: https://t.co/A2RCQsiiBV
🎧: https://t.co/jlLxzSvohc@OmahaProd @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/uo5CPsF9Xm— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) January 1, 2026
Sometimes, I hate being right. But when you know ball, you know ball. 🤦🏾♂️#CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/X40CUZHnNk
— Bryant McFadden (@BMac_SportsTalk) January 1, 2026
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:22 am
Agree that Chicago is a awful place, getting our car stolen while being at a baseball game at Comisky Park was a pain, but the cops were the rudest police officers I have ever come across.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:25 am
Nathan Shepherd-Saints having an incentive to sack will be a good thing.
Sounds like Troy will be able to test the waters before committing.
Joe B. is telling it like it is. Besides players, he is sounding off on coaching too. Their owners have some decisions to make too.
Absolutely loving the NHL outside ice rink. Read that it’s cold enough for sweaters. Awesome! They said the roof remains closed until before tonight’s game. Looks beautiful and hope the ice conditions withstand the outside elements too. Great article and thank you for sharing it.