Random thoughts: Let’s build a Rays’ stadium

Just think, if the Rays' fans decided to build their billion-dollar stadium-in-the-sky for them, it would just take, what, about $3 million each. Who doesn't have that laying around?

-- I thought it was classy of Saints' quarterback Drew Brees to send former and current players a personalized ball for helping him break Peyton Manning's yardage record. But where is his gift to the Bucs' secondary. They helped, like, a lot.

-- A report said Ohio State considered replacing Urban Meyer with former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and Syrancuse Coach Dino Babers. Odd. I would thought that if Ohio State wanted to stay on course, it would have considered Dillinger, Capone and Pretty Boy Floyd.

-- Out of 40 bowl games, USA Today ranks the Gasparilla Bowl, with USF, number 39. That means it's better than FIU vs. Toledo in the Bahamas Bowl. So there.

-- Come to think of it, the Gasparilla is barely more interesting than watching FSU players go through the Burger King drive-through window.

-- Buc player who needs to be good against Baltimore today: Carl Nassib, who needs to help contain Lamar Jackson.

-- Do you think the Gasparilla would be a bigger draw if Marshall had the real Doc Holliday as its head coach. With maybe Wyatt Earp as defensive coordinator?

--There's a reason Vince Young was so good when he starred in "The Nutcracker." Guy's been bringing his own nut for years.

-- Buc player who needs to be good against Baltimore today: Jameis Winston, who faces a solid defense.

-- Goodnight, Bill. Bill Fralic, who died last week, was one of the good ones. Shortly after an interview, we ran into each other on a flight. I was with my sons, who were small and wide eyed at the size of his biceps. He couldn't have been nicerhe world is less today.

-- Clemson's Dabo Swinney, swimming against the tide while waiting to play the Tide, would prefer paring the playoffs to two teams instead of expanding it to eight. That would be true, of course, until that year when the Tigers were third.

-- Buc player who needs to be good against Baltimore today. Lavonte David needs a 15-tackle afternoon.

-- If the Rays do leave Tampa Bay, there should be a bounty on the first fan who says "Gee. I never thought they'd go."

-- Let me get this straight. UCF whines that no one will play it, and Florida offers the same two-for-one deal it gives a lot of the teams from non-Power Five conferences, and Knight fans are angry that they didn't get a home and home? Look, these games are to help UCF balance the scales. They aren't even yet.

-- I don't want to suggest anything, but should the Rays think about bringing the fences in. The top three home run hitters are no longer in a Rays' uniform: C.J. Cron, Wilson Ramos and Jake Bauer. That leaves Willy Adames, with 10, as the returning home run king.

--  The Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins was fined $12,500 for suggesting that the referees "stay off of the bottle." It would have been more, but it was happy hour.

-- Buc player who needs to play well against Baltimore today: Safety Jordan Whitehead, who needs to bring some pop into the box.

-- I'm going to miss Jake Bauers, who was a good guy. On the other hand, he hit less than the Kevin Kiermaier line, which is always risky. Even for a pitcher.

-- Here's a shame. Marshall's nickname is not the "Dillons." Wabash is not the "Cannonballs." Campbell is not the "Soups." And Webster is not the "Dictionaries."

-- Rumors say Mike McCarthy, the ex-Packers coach, may be headed to Cleveland. So could Baker Mayfield underachieve in the playoffs as severely as Aaron Rodgers (one title) has?

-- Did you see the Lakers' Lance Stephenson was hit with a technical foul for playing the air guitar against Charlotte. No one has said, but some think Stephenson might have been playing "Stairway to Heaven."

-- Cam Newton is playing the "disrespect" card after the New Orleans Saints sent him a broom to signify their three-game sweep of the Panthers. last year. I guess if they beat Carolina again, you can assume a dustpan is on its way.

-- Buc player who needs to play well against Baltimore today: Chris Godwin, who can't finish with one catch on 10 targets.

-- Ranking the Rays' off-season moves. 1. Signing pitcher Charlie Morton; 2. Trading Jake Bauers for Yander Diaz; 3. Trading Mallex Smith for Mike Zunino; 4. Releasing C.J. Cron for nothing. 5. Not getting a stadium for a billion dollars to be named later.

-- Buc player who needs to play well against Baltimore today: Brent Grimes, who has been invisible for most of the season.