As we enter the month of September it’s a good time to remember that two thirds of 2019 is now history. While it’s still warm and humid the signs of fall are just starting to appear. It’s also the busiest time of the year in the sports world. You name the sporting activity and there is something happening. There are so many events happening so quickly that it’s hard to keep track of them, but we at the Weekly View will do our best. Welcome to the most exciting time of the sporting year!
The Horseshoe cut down to their mandated 53 man roster last week. No real surprises, but a few tough decisions. The team only had a single quarterback on their active roster, Jacoby Brissett. This changed over last weekend, however. The Patriots released Tom Brady’s backup Brian Hoyer and the Colts quickly signed him as their #2 guy.
The team also gave Brissett a $30 million contract extension over the next three years. Originally, #7 was in the last year of his original rookie contract but now the Colts are committed to him for the next three years.
Brian Hoyer, a ten year veteran, got a three year, $12 million contract to play with the Horseshoe. Hoyer was signed by New England in 2008 out of Michigan State as an undrafted free agent. He has played around the league in his career with teams such as the Bears, the Browns, the Texans, the Cardinals, and the 49ers, as well as five non-consecutive seasons with the Patriots. He has that ability to come off the bench and handle an offense in temporary emergency situations effectively. He has had his moments both good and bad. The Colts are hoping he’ll be able to mentor Brissett as well as relieve him.
Because of Andrew Luck’s surprising retirement, many so-called experts are envisioning a disastrous season for the Colts. This may be a bit early for gloom and doom predictions.
The IndyCar jockeys ran at the Portland International Raceway last Sunday. It was almost a replay of the Gateway race of a week ago. Rookie Colton Herta won his second pole position start of the season. As the green flag waved, Herta jumped to the lead. In the second curve on the road course Graham Rahal, Conor Daly, James Hinchcliffe, and Zach Veach tangled and all were unhurt, although eliminated. This brought out an 11 lap full course yellow and allowed for some early pitting for fuel and tires. Just a few laps after the race went green again, Ryan Hunter-Reay banged Jack Harvey in about the same place where previous mishap occurred. Again, both were eliminated.
Will Power took over the lead after Herta’s first pit stop and never let go. So for the second week in a row Power was the winner. It’s probably a bit late for the Aussie to challenge for the point championship but you never know.
Rookie Felix Rosenqvist drove to a very commendable second place. Alexander Rossi finished third and put himself back in second position in the championship race. Colton Herta finished fourth. Josef Newgarden drove very carefully to a fifth place finish. Spencer Pigot was sixth. Simon Pagenand was seventh. Matheus Leist finished eighth, Sebastien Bourdais was ninth, and Charlie Kimball was tenth.
It’s gotten down to the final race of the season on September 22 at the Weather Tech Raceway at Laguna Seca in Monterey CA. Double points will be awarded to the winner so you can bet that Newgarden and Rossi will be battling to the very last lap.
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