Happy Hump Day, friends and fans! This is obviously a tough time for all of us, but we can get through this together. While we won’t be here with Hot Links every weekday, we’ll still be able to post these a few times a week. Additionally, our staff has some fun stuff in the works, so keep your eyes peeled for things of that nature!

Although former Oklahoma Sooners CB Parnell Motley did not receive an invite to the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, he was able to work out during OU’s Pro Day right before the sporting world shut down across the globe. The Norman Transcript’s Tyler Palmateer recently wrote about this rising rookie hopeful and his thoughts on where he could fit at the next level.

It makes sense for Motley that he ideally sees himself as a ‘press-man corner’ since his cover strength throughout his collegiate career has been locking onto receivers and limiting the air space between him and his assignment. Overall, his Pro Day testing numbers were good enough in his mind, but the fact that he was able to be seen up close is by far the most valuable factor working in his favor going forward. Other programs weren’t as fortunate as Oklahoma since many of them had to close their doors on in-person visits from groups of scouts and the like.

Sooner fans know there is a place for Motley in the NFL, all it will take is the right management with the right staff to recognize his strong suit and capitalize at the right time.

Now onto today’s Hot Links! Ronnie Perkins puts in work, GK is a Cowboy, Brady is a Buc and more!

OU Links

• It’s not Thursday, but check out this throwback photo Cale Gundy received from former OU QB J.C. Watts. When Bob Stoops and company arrived in Norman, Oklahoma Football was quickly resurrected to the height of the sport all over again, and this cast of characters had a lot to do with that. Boomer!

• Lincoln and Caitlin Riley spent the weekend away from all the noise of the modern world for a little family fun and some trout fishing. I still never got my invite, but it’s all good, Coach. I’m not salty about it or anything like that.

• While junior DE Ronnie Perkins awaits the return of team practices, he took a trip down to Houston to receive further training on his footwork. He even offered some veteran tips for the young bucks there, like 2021 DL Tunmise Adeleye.

• On Tuesday, the Dallas Cowboys agreed to a three-year deal with former Sooner and six-time Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy. There’s obviously a massive overlap of between the OU and Dallas Cowboys fan bases, so this is welcome news to plenty around these parts!

• OU pitcher Dane Acker tossed a no-hitter against LSU earlier this month, and on the call to witness every moment of that historic day was Taylor Maples. Shortly following the conclusion of the game, Maples wrote up a piece on what it all meant from his perspective, and now he’s sharing those thoughts with the rest of us in this well-constructed reflection.

Around the Sports World

• The free agency period of the NFL offseason is running high with the biggest news coming from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Reportedly, former six-time Super Bowl winning New England Patriots QB Tom Brady is taking his talents to Florida’s west coast for his 21st year as a pro.
• Speaking of Brady, he could be a secret package deal with ex-Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown. After brief stints in Oakland and New England, and a series of questionable antics off the field, it remains to be seen if the talented pass-catcher still has a future roster spot in the NFL. If he does sign with Tampa Bay, that would suddenly become one of the hottest hubs for storylines in football in 2020.

• Many average civilians have expressed their dissatisfaction with entire NBA organizations receiving coronavirus testing for their players and staff while those same tests are currently in severely limited quantity for the majority of Americans. League spokesperson Mike Bass released a statement explaining why this is the case.

• SB Nation’s James Dator took a deep dive exploration into the whimsical world of Japan’s devout mascot culture that’s also a billion-dollar enterprise.

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