Individual athletes will still be able to compete in the Olympics under a neutral flag if they can "prove they are clean and unconnected to the doping cover-up," but I think the bigger one here is Russia being banned from participating in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

That is unless FIFA somehow allows a "neutral country" to participate in the World Cup. That may not be as crazy as it sounds considering how corrupt FIFA is...

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s unanimously imposed a total ban on Russian participation in all global sporting activities, including the World Cup and Olympics, for four years after the Russian government was found to have (once again) concocted an elaborate and wide-ranging doping program for years.

This ban stems from a World Anti-Doping Agency January investigation to determine Russia's compliance with worldwide doping rules. In January, WADA officials traveled to Russia to collect samples from a testing lab at the center of their earlier doping scandal back in 2014 that led to the first round of sanctions against the country. It soon became clear to the WADA officials that "a significant number of the results in the data the Russians surrendered to WADA had been changed or deleted in an effort to cover up — at minimum — dozens of potential doping violations."

What is now known is that the doping program has been around since late 2011 and never really stopped despite the numerous times they have been caught. So, the real question isn't whether a four year ban is too harsh, but instead whether a four year ban will actually convince Russia to cease their doping program.

Russia didn't create cheating or doping in sports, but they sure, for lack of a better analogy, injected steroids into it. They turned something that a bad apple here and there does into a sophisticated, state-run doping conspiracy designed to give them a secret competitive advantage. The WADA is doing its best to get them back in line, but it remains to be known whether Russia will get in line.

I'll certainly be tuning into Ohio State vs. Wisconsin. I don't have a huge preference either way, but my best friend is a die-hard badgers fan so I tend to passively root for them just because. That and I always love rooting for underdogs when "my team" isn't playing.

In the same breath, this game is certainly Ohio States to lose. It may be an away game, but I can't help but think they'll be prepared to do whatever it takes to punch a ticket to the playoffs.

I don't think there's much of a debate to be had here. Jackson is a hell of a player who should be in the top five on everyone's NFL MVP list. A quarterback also has the 9th most running yards in the entire league?! That's just insane.

If he stays healthy then he most certainly will become the best dual threat quarterback in league history.

Dallasite Wrote: What do you think the MLB should do about this? Is this grounds for stripping away their title for that year? Can they be punished for this going forward as well somehow, maybe with losing draft picks or trade freezes or something?

I absolutely think that something needs to be done. Stripping away their title would be unprecedented, but if there is legitimate reason to say they got that title by cheating then maybe an unprecedented action needs to be taken. The only problem is that the Yankees didn't "win" the World Series, so I don't really know if I'd be okay with giving it to them.

Losing draft picks just seems like too light of a penalty. I'm almost in favor of something more drastic, like a postseason ban for 2-3 years. The NCAA doesn't seem to have a problem handing those down. Maybe MLB should do the same.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has been suspended indefinitely after striking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head with HIS OWN HELMET during the final seconds of their Thursday Night Football game. It was one of those plays where you couldn't believe your own eyes and makes you wonder if the star player just went involuntarily into retirement.

Here's how it all unfolded. Pittsburgh was down 21-7 with 14 seconds left. Rudolph threw a quick pass to Trey Edmunds on third-and-29 and just after he released the ball Garrett wrapped him in what can only be described as a bear hug, wrestling Rudolph to the ground. As Pittsburgh players came to their QB's defense, Garrett inexplicably ripped Rudoph's helmet and then hit him in the head with it before being tackled to the ground by Steelers guard David DeCastro and then punched and kicked by Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey.

Pouncey was given a three-game suspension while DeCastro was suspended for one game, but the NFL dropped the hammer on Garrett. He is suspended the rest of this season, including the postseason, and must reapply to join the NFL next year. Needless to say, the NFL isn't playing any games.

If you don't believe what you just read then I encourage you to see it with your own eyes:

I can't believe I am saying this, but I agree with Goodell...at least when it comes to preseason games. They are worthless and are basically a way for teams to charge fans exorbitant fees to watch a scrimmage.

The additional games is a little more complicated because I can see both sides of the argument. As a fan, I would love to see more games, but I can see where the players are coming from because it's a grueling sport where one injury can end a career.

Personally, I think it's pretty easy - two more regular season games in exchange for a 2-3% revenue share increase from the owners to the players., which currently is at 47% of total revenue. Maybe the owners can add in a few more sweeteners like additional benefits for retired players and players who have their career cut short due to injury. They'd certainly be able to afford it if their raking in a few extra hundred million a year with the additional games being played.

It pains me to say be discussing postseason baseball at all since my Cubbies decided to have a lackluster year and not make the playoffs, but with the sheer strength of the field in this years playoffs I have a feeling I'll still have a lot of fun watching from the sidelines. With four 100-win teams in the playoffs and no runaway odds-on-favorite, it's going to be fun baseball for die-hard and casual fans alike to watch.

The Dodgers, Yankees, Twins, and Astros all finished the regular season with over 100 wins and all have a legitimate chance to win it all this year. Vegas is giving the Astros the slightest of advantages in taking it all while not surprisingly giving the Dodgers the best chance to win the NL Pennant and almost as good of odds as the Astros as winning it all.

It goes without saying that the Dodgers are the clear favorite to win the NL Pennant, but crazier things have happened before and I wouldn't be surprised in the least if the Cardinals or Braves, two storied teams in their own right, take the pennant away from them.

However, the AL will be far more interesting with two 100-win teams playing against each other in the Division Series, which is just crazy. That series between the Twins and Yankees alone will be one of the most exciting to watch in the entire playoffs. And while there is always a chance that Houston can get knocked out in the ALDS, I have a feeling they will easily make the ALCS and we'll have yet another awesome series to watch between two powerhouse teams.

Needless to say, this years playoffs are sure to bring a whole bunch of fireworks that will even get this die hard Cubs fan to tune into.