Former Kentucky star Lynn Bowden reportedly on the NFL trade block again

Five things of interest, if only to me:

1. Lynn Bowden could be on the move again

Former Kentucky football star Lynn Bowden may not be long for the Miami Dolphins. According to reports, the NFL team has been shopping the wide receiver, who starred as a wide receiver at UK before leading the Wildcats to their Belk Bowl win over Virginia Tech in 2019 as a quarterback.

Bowden began his NFL career with the Raiders before being shipped to Miami, where he caught 28 passes for 2011 yards in 2020. He missed last season with an injury. Now new Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has added Tyreek Hill to go with Jaylen Waddle, Trent Sherfield, Cedric Wilson, Mohamed Sanu and Erik Ezukanma to his receivers room.

2. Joel Williams departs secondary

Kentucky’s secondary is considered a major question mark heading into the 2022 season, so Monday’s news that defensive back Joel Williams had entered the transfer portal surely raised some eyebrows.

Williams’ departure may have more to do with the players Mark Stoops brought in to fortify the position. Through the transfer portal, UK picked up Keidron Smith from Ole Miss, Zion Childress from Texas State and Londyn Craft from Mississippi State. In addition, freshman Alex Afari is expected to be a factor at Williams’ old nickel back spot, as well.

Kentucky ranked 79th in pass efficiency defense in 2021 after finishing 54th in that category in 2020 and 12th in 2019.

[These five Kentucky football freshmen could play key roles in 2022]

3. Kentucky football No. 21 in coaches’ poll

To be honest, I don’t have a lot of faith in the coaches’ poll for either college football or college basketball. Still, for UK to make its preseason rankings is another step forward for Mark Stoops’ program.

UK was one of six SEC teams to make the initial poll. Alabama was No. 1. Georgia was No. 3. Texas A&M was No. 7. After Kentucky at No. 21, Arkansas was at No. 23and Ole Miss at No. 24.

My question: Which coach gave Texas a No. 1 vote in the poll? Lots of faith in Steve Sarkisian.

4. Big Ten to replace SEC on CBS?

Starting in 2024, CBS will no longer have an SEC football game for its traditional 3:30 p.m. Saturday time slot in the fall. The SEC will have become exclusively an ESPN property by then. Well, it appears CBS has found a replacement.

According to the Sports Business Journal, the Big Ten is in final negotiations for its future television rights with Fox, CBS and NBC. Fox would get the noon Big Ten game, with CBS taking the 3:30 slot and NBC receiving the rights to prime-time games.

5. Another tough break for Mekhi Becton

Former Louisville offensive lineman Mekhi Becton is having an MRI after injuring his surgically repaired knee in the New York Jets’ practice on Monday.

The Jets say they don’t believe the injury is serious. Still, it could be another setback for the 2020 first-round pick who injured his right knee in the 2021 opener and did not return. Becton has started just 14 of 33 games over his two NFL seasons and reportedly checked in overweight at the team’s minicamp in June.

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