Notes: Go watch the Michigan Panthers, get a Jake Bates bobblehead

The playoff-bound Panthers are honoring the UFL-turned-NFL star.

It’s cool to support people chasing their dreams.

That’s one of the takeaways from a fantastic profile on Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates from Tony Paul of The Detroit News. The writer caught up with Bates just ahead of the Michigan Panthers finale at Ford Field on Saturday afternoon, and he had nothing but kind things to say about the UFL.

“I love when people ask me, rising college seniors ask me, about the UFL, is it worth it. Man, I would go back and do that a million times. I can’t say enough for what the league and the team did for me,” Bates told Paul.

Bates will be in attendance at the 3 p.m. game Saturday as the playoff-bound Michigan Panthers take on the Houston Roughnecks. Perhaps a special treat for fans, as the first 2,000 attendees will receive a Jake Bates bobblehead.

In the article, Bates reflects on how thankful he is that the UFL took a chance on him, and says he’s watched every Panthers game so far this season.

As the Michigan Panthers host, I’m a bit biased, but it’s cool to support hardworking people chasing their dreams. It’s perfectly fine to criticize any product, but all I see are players focused and passionate, staying long after the game to sign autographs for kids. From the coaches to the trainers, it’s an incredibly positive environment, and I hope the league continues to expand (our attendance numbers jumped this season.) It’s never a bad thing to be supportive.

Anway, off my soapbox, the pair go on to talk about everything from how Bates once stood in the nosebleeds at Dallas Cowboys games growing up to getting his thoughts on the big moments of his UFL career as he lined up to kick 60+ yarders. You can read the article in full here and I’m labeling it a must-read.

And onto the rest of your notes.

• This cool graphic depicts the confidence level of each NFC North fanbase over the course of the season. Poor Bears fans.

• The St. Brown brothers are out with a new podcast, joined by New York Giants 4th round pick Cam Skattebo as he talks draft process, trading cards, and more.

• The House of Hutch sends their love to the family of 19-year-old Kayden Strong, a Lions fan who they visited just a week before his passing. In lieu of flowers, they requested donations be made to organizations they love, including Hutch Heroes.

• Our own Jeremy joined a neat NFC North podcast with a cool name if you’d like to give it a listen.

• This is neat!

• Also very neat!

• The Athletic’s Dane Brugler revisited his initial top-50 draft board to evaluate how his predictions fared . Of course, you see Lions on the list.
• Snubbed!

• HBD!