The Rich Top 5: NFL Preseason Week 1 Thursday Games’ Top Observations

One night of preseason football, five things worth remembering. Rich ran through his top takeaways from Thursday, and one of them was less an observation than a public service announcement.

**5. Anthony Richardson still plays football.** It had been a while. Indianapolis put him on the field and he showed off the arm and the legs, fumbling once along the way. There was an interception on the night that was not on the quarterback, with the receiver popping the ball into the air rather than corralling it. The real point is what happens next. Richardson has asked for a trade, and if the Colts are comfortable with Riley Leonard backing up Daniel Jones, somebody out there is going to take the shot and say they have got this.

**4. Two second-round receivers balled out.** Jeremy Bernard did not play a lot and still looked terrific. Shivers had seven catches for 68 yards in the first half, which is a lot of production for a player who arrived as the answer to a complaint. San Francisco fans spent the draft asking why the Niners did not stick around at the end of the first round, why they did not get aggressive and trade up for Makai Lemon. They kept trading back, took this kid in the second, and handed him Jauan Jennings' number. He looks really good.

**3. Fernando Mendoza has it, and Kirk Cousins still looked nice.** Cousins is going to get the start, and he should, unless the arm strength fades or the mobility goes, because you have to be able to move in the offenses the Kubiaks and Sean McVay and the Shanahans run. Worth remembering how creative that coaching tree can get when it has to be. Everyone wondered how Gary Kubiak was going to get Peyton Manning under center, the answer was the pistol, and that season ended with a Super Bowl.

**2. The Steelers backup quarterbacks are in good hands with Mike McCarthy.** When Pittsburgh hired him, the pitch included his reputation for bringing along young quarterbacks, which drew a raised eyebrow. Aaron Rodgers is the real example there. Dak Prescott was already established when McCarthy got him. After watching Will Howard and Drew Allar on Thursday, check the box.

**1. Jeremiyah Love is the real deal.** That one goes without saying, and Rich put it on the list anyway.

There is a bonus entry, too, because the kickers had a night. A pile of field goals from 50 yards and beyond went through, everybody has an enormous leg now, and three of those makes belonged to the best new name in football. Trey Smack, out of Florida, smacked the Steelers for three of them.

The name alone earns a spot on any list.