So, am I maybe tuning in to watch flag football on Saturday afternoon? Or is this all just scripted WWE nonsense – did I say nonsense? I meant “entertainment” – we’re about to be fed? I need to know in order to determine whether I’m in or out, y’all.
To be clear, I fully grasp that flag football is a nascent sport – at least in terms of its national interest as a spectator sport – and one with surging popularity, and I truly appreciate that. I imagine it’s going to draw great interest domestically and abroad amid its Olympics debut in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles given American football’s profile generally seems to be exploding around the globe – the NFL has scheduled a record nine regular-season games internationally for the 2026 season, including the first to be held in Australia, Paris and Rio De Janeiro.
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Flag also seems to be a fantastic gateway to get more women on the field while providing them increasing opportunities to get college scholarships, is a safer way to get children playing football and – let’s just say it – might be the direction the NFL evolves toward one day if its dominant position on the American sporting landscape goes the way of boxing or horse racing, glory sports in the U.S. once upon a time. (And, yes, plenty of football fans and even current and/or recent players think the league already resembles flag too closely, but I digress.)
And while I digress, I hope the purity of this endeavor – to whatever degree that’s true – doesn’t also go off the rails the way Saturday’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic could be headed. (“Classic.” This is the event’s debut. I mean, get over yourself already, Rubin.)
If you’re like me, you only recently became aware of this – I don’t know – tournament? It was supposed to be staged in Saudi Arabia, which immediately draws a lengthy side eye of its own, but was hastily relocated to LA earlier this month because of that side-eye war the U.S. or Israel or both started in the Middle East. (Sorry, digressing again.)
Brady, NFL stars to test flag skills ‘Gonna bring out the best in us’
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The publicity component has been ramping up in recent days as Tom Brady, who’s actually participating in this thing – side-eye why? – has been caught up in ongoing dialogue (probably the wrong word) of trash talk with one of his fellow competitors, Logan Paul, who also apparently has beef with Rob Gronkowski, one of Brady’s BFFs … and another player in the “Classic.” Gronk and Paul had to be, ahem, separated the other night – by actor Kevin Hart no less – after the tournament’s three teams were drafted.
“You might wear a helmet − that ball might get loose in my hand and if you’re not paying attention,” Brady told Paul at the draft.
K.
A quick review here: Paul, who, like his brother Jake, has made a career out of calling attention to himself – influencer, right? – and whose WWE involvement is among his notable side gigs is part of a flag football tourney which we’re supposed to care about? IShowSpeed (yep, YouTuber) and Terence Crawford (yep, the boxer) also have roster spots.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Logan Paul looks on as quarterback Tom Brady of the Founders FFC watches during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic Draft at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on March 18, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for OBB Media – FANATICS STUDIOS)
Speaking for myself here, but it makes me want to go the Seahawks Seahawks route with a full-throated, “We do not care.”
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Alas, I’m just one man.
I’d love to think this event can actually be truly informative to our Olympic flag football strategy. I couldn’t care less about Paul, but I’m legitimately curious about seeing the the U.S. men’s national flag team – notably its leader, diminutive quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette III – take on former and current NFL stars, with their ranks this weekend including the likes of Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Ashton Jeanty, Davante Adams and quite a few others. Doucette has taken umbrage before to the notion that Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson or fill-in-the-blank NFL quarterback would be a superior option to him when it comes to pursuing a gold medal.
“This event features our world champion flag football athletes on the same field as some of the top current and former pro tackle stars, and I know our players are up for the challenge,” USA Football CEO and executive director Scott Hallenbeck said earlier this month.
I’m not a betting man. But if I was, I’d wager that Team USA is going to run Olympic rings around the NFL guys … though Paul will doubtless prove he belongs (if only you could pull my digression flag). But this whole endeavor seems tantamount to equating a long-drive competition to golf. Or a slam-dunk contest to basketball. I mean, how mad were the hockey purists that the gold medal game last month in Italy between the U.S. and Canada came down to a three-on-three format in overtime?
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Regardless, the shameless histrionics of Brady, Paul, Gronk, Hart, et al. make me wonder if I should care about this less than I generally already do, or if it’s all just a highly orchestrated gateway to earn my eyeballs in the first place. Devoting 900 words of digital ink to all of this is certainly more attention than I should have spared on a Friday during the NFL offseason – though that’s a notion about as legit as one of Paul’s WWE matches. But I’m sure he, TB12 and Co. are appreciative on some level.
But be forewarned, fellas: My trigger finger on the remote − assuming I show up at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday (you’re welcome, Fox) − is infinitely quicker than Brady’s release.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tom Brady, Logan Paul and Gronk talk trash before flag football event: Why?
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