Eagles Spit Takes, Week 1 NFL Picks, and a Possible Clippers Scandal With Joe House

What It Covers

Bill Simmons and Joe House analyze Eagles-Cowboys Thursday night game, break down NFL Week 1 picks for their Ringer 107 contest, and discuss the Steve Ballmer-Kawhi Leonard payment scandal investigation involving alleged salary cap circumvention.

Key Questions Answered

• •Week One NFL Betting Strategy: Home division underdogs in Week 1 historically perform at 23-7, making high spreads dangerous. Lines moving two full points before kickoff signal sharp money concerns. Avoid betting teams with significant defensive injuries or rookie quarterbacks making road debuts in primetime spots.
• •Taunting Rule Inconsistency: NFL enforces judgment-call taunting penalties for individual celebrations like flexing near opponents, yet allows 15-30 second choreographed team celebrations in end zones. This creates arbitrary enforcement that will inevitably swing a close game outcome when called on fourth down conversions or scoring drives.
• •Salary Cap Circumvention Methods: NBA teams use investment vehicles, foreign jurisdictions, documentary deals, team plane access, and owner property usage to compensate star players outside official contracts. The Ballmer-Kawhi situation involving $28-48 million through Aspiration company represents unusually sloppy execution compared to typical under-the-table arrangements.
• •Ringer 107 Contest Picks: Chiefs minus-3 over Chargers (Mahomes-Reid week one dominance), Falcons plus-1.5 over injury-depleted Buccaneers, Bears plus-1.5 over Vikings (Ben Johnson upgrade from Eberflus), Ravens minus-1.5 exploiting Bills secondary injuries, Jaguars-Broncos money line parlay (both favored against inferior opponents with coaching advantages).
• •Eagles Offensive Concerns: Philadelphia averaged under 150 passing yards with Jalen Hurts completing fewer than 20 passes against Dallas despite missing defensive star Jaylen Carter. The conservative playcalling and lack of vertical passing against a vulnerable Cowboys secondary suggests the team is hiding offensive capabilities before facing Kansas City in Week 2.