Archive for the ‘NFL News’ Category
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22
Apr
2013
Is JaMarcus Russell ready for a comeback? (VIDEO)
(via blacksportsonline.com)
JaMarcus Russell is widely considered the biggest draft bust in NFL history.
His precipitous fall from #1 overall draft pick out of LSU in 2007 to an overweight, codine-abusing washout after just three seasons is well-documented (including by us, multiple times), but the one thing that’s missing from most stories about Russell is the human element. What, exactly, caused someone with the world in the palm of his hands to throw it all way for some fast food and sizzurp? And how could it have all fallen apart so quickly?
This ESPN special, entitled “Jamarcus Russell, Waking Up” provides the most insight yet into the mind of Russell, from his high school days to LSU and through his darkest days in Oakland. It tells about how Russell lost one of his closest uncles – and then another uncle – in the same year (2009), which helped to derail him mentally before his final season with the Raiders. And it shows you a man today who, after three years away from the game, is facing his failures head on and gearing up for a comeback.
Along the way, the feature transforms Russell from a punchline into a sympathetic figure, and one you want to root for. Whether or not Russell will make it back to the NFL remains to be seen (we wouldn’t exactly bet on it), but it’s a reminder that at the end of the day, these gladiators we root for on Sundays are real people too, facing real human struggles. And sometimes we all fall short of the glory, and deserve at least a chance at redemption.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
12
Apr
2013
Lions sign Norwegian Youtube sensation “Kickalicious” (VIDEO)
(via twincities.com)
The Detroit Lions signed Norwegian Kicker Havard Rugland, a.k.a. “Kickalicious”to a 3-year deal worth nearly $1.5 million yesterday … because of course they did.
The Lions have apparently brought Rugland into compete with veteran David Akers based almost entirely on the prowess displayed in his viral trick shot video (see below), which has garnered over 3.1 million views since it was posted in September. Rugland worked out for the Lions last month, and has reportedly been working out with former NFL kicker Michael Husted to prepare him for his tryouts with Detroit and a couple other teams whose scouting departments have devolved into a bunch of people surfing Reddit all day for viral videos (if you guessed the Jets and Browns, you win a prize).
Clearly this is a PR stunt by Detroit, but regardless of what comes of Rugland’s NFL career, the video itself is pretty impressive to watch:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
20
Mar
2013
Say Goodbye to the “Tuck Rule”, and hello to the “Helmet Rule”
As expected, the NFL Owners voted to abolish the infamous “Tuck Rule” by an overwhelming margin today, bringing an end to one of the more controversial rules interpretations in recent history. The owners also voted to ban ball carriers from initiating contact with the crown of their helmets in the open field - a rule that should prove to be wildly controversial in its own right over the coming weeks and months.
(via cbssports.com)
As we know, the Tuck Rule was made famous in 2001 when Tom Brady lost the ball after starting a passing motion – but while bringing the ball back down toward his body – during a snowy playoff game against the Oakland Raiders. It allowed a fumbled ball that is moving forward in the hand of a quarterback to be ruled an incomplete pass … an interpretation that flew in the face of common sense every time it was applied. Well after more than 11 years, reason has finally prevailed, and the rule was eliminated by a 29-1-2 vote.
For their part, the victims of that call – the Raiders – have responded to the rule change via Twitter, en Espanol:
Adios, Tuck Rule.
— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) March 20, 2013
8
Mar
2013
Richard Sherman destroys Skip Bayless on First Take (VIDEO)
You had to see this coming.
On Thursday, Seahawks “All-Pro Stanford Graduate” cornerback Richard Sherman went on an epic takedown mission of ESPN’s First Take’s resident loudmouth, Skip Bayless. And it was as glorious as it was awkward to watch.
(via gamedayr.com)
For years, Bayless has been goading players from the comfort of his First Take pulpit, and with the program becoming more and more about drawing guest athletes into name-calling contests for the sake of ratings, it was only a matter of time before a player decided he had heard enough. And Sherman, known for his on-the-field trash talk, appeared up for the challenge.
After Steven A. Smith opened the interview by asking Sherman how good he really thinks he is, Sherman seemed laser-focused on taking down Bayless, coming at him with a barrage of prepared remarks including “you’ve never accomplished anything”, and culminating with this rant:
“I’m the top of my field. I’m All-Pro. I’m one of the best 22 players in the NFL. You’re going to brush it off, but I don’t think you’re the best 22 anything. In sports. In media. In anything. I think you think more of yourself than you actually can prove. I’ll put it like this. In my 24 years of life, I’m better at life than you.”
Bayless initially attempted to take the criticism in stride and deflect the comparison to Darrelle Revis, but Sherman clearly wasn’t finished with Bayless yet, going on to call him an “ignorant, pompous, egotistical, cretin”, and saying “I’m going to crush you on here in front of everybody because I’m tired of hearing about it.”
It really is worth watching the full exchange below.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
4
Feb
2013
Ray Lewis shares seat with Lombardi Trophy on flight home (PHOTO)
Assuming you’ve been pinned under something heavy for the past month, you probably hadn’t heard that Ravens LB Ray Lewis is retiring after 17 years in the NFL. And after yesterday’s victory over the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, Lewis is going out in the best way imaginable, with a second Super Bowl championship under his belt.
Today, Lewis tweeted this photo of himself admiring the newly acquired Lombardi Trophy on the team flight home from New Orleans, along with the following message:
“My last ride.. Up in the clouds… This feeling is so real. We coming home with the crown Baltimore.”
(via @raylewis)
Regardless of the off-field controversy that seems to endlessly surround Lewis, you can’t deny his greatness as a linebacker, and his impact on the game during his career.
Am I nuts, or does it look like Lewis is flying coach here? Seems a little odd for the world champs to be slumming it in coach, no?
UPDATE: It appears that Lewis wasn’t the only one who got to cradle the trophy on the flight home … according to the Ravens’ Twitter, the Lombardi was passed around the entire plane:
The Lombardi Trophy was passed around the entire #Ravens team plane. Coaches, players, staff. Really cool!
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 4, 2013
4
Feb
2013
The night the lights went out in Louisiana (GIF & VIDEO)
Last night, Super Bowl XLVII brought us one of the more surreal moments in sports history, as the power in the SuperDome went out during the 3rd quarter last night, leading to a 34-minute delay in play.
(via deadspin.com)
The outage came shortly after the Ravens took a commanding 28-6 lead, and the lengthy delay seemed to allow the 49ers to regroup and regain some momentum once the lights came back on. And even though Baltimore was able to hang on for the victory, the conspiracy theorists are already out in force suggesting some sort of foul play.
CBS’s 60 minutes crew was on hand and had their cameras rolling in the NFL’s control room as the lights went out, and captured this remarkable footage of the outage and its immediate aftermath:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
14
Jan
2013
Peyton Manning shares post-game moment with Ray Lewis (PHOTO)
By now this photo has made the rounds, but we couldn’t resist sharing a genuine, un-staged moment between two of the greatest football players of our time.
Following the Broncos devastating 38-35 playoff loss to the Ravens – more than two hours after the game had ended – Peyton Manning met up with Ray Lewis in the visitor locker room to congratulate him on the victory:
(Photo via @CSteele32)
They say a picture says a thousand words, and with Lewis taking his final run at the post-season, we can only imagine the stories these two warriors have to share from their storied careers as opposing forces in the NFL.
What we wouldn’t have given to be a fly on the wall for that conversation. Even though only Peyton’s young son was close enough to hear what was said, fortunately for us, Ravens media director Chad Steele was there to capture the moment and share it with the world.
3
Dec
2012
John Harbaugh shares awkward post-game handshake with Mike Tomlin (VIDEO)
(via usatoday.com)
In case you turned off the Steelers-Ravens game after the final whistle, you might have missed this post-game exchange between head coaches Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh.
After coming out on the losing end of a hard-fought 23-20 battle against their division rivals, John Harbaugh swallowed his pride and stepped toward midfield to congratulate Tomlin on the win. But Tomlin was having none of it, and tried to pull the ol’ drive-by handshake, barely even looking Harbaugh in the eye.
That’s when Harbaugh tightened his grasp on the Steelers coach’s hand, physically pulling him back into the exchange, so he could make sure that Tomlin really heard and appreciated his heartfelt congratulations. Watch for yourselves:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
3
Dec
2012
Brady Quinn makes eloquent statement in the wake of Jovan Belcher tragedy (VIDEO)
On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Panthers 27-21. As we all know by now, the game was played under unthinkable circumstances following the horrifying murder/suicide by Chiefs LB Jovan Belcher just one day earlier. As details continue to emerge about the incident, and Belcher’s state of mind leading up to Saturday’s events, our hearts go out to the families of Belcher and his girlfriend, Kassandra Perkins. But most of all, our thoughts and prayers are with young Zoey Belcher, orphaned in the most tragic way imaginable at just 3 months old.
After the game, Chiefs QB Brady Quinn stepped up to the mic and delivered on of the more poignant statements we’ve heard yet about this whole situation. Quinn looks inward to ask what more he could have done to prevent this tragedy, and asks each of us to reflect on the bigger picture, and specifically how we relate to others in a social media-driven society.
It’s definitely worth a listen/read.
“What could I have done different? When you ask someone how they’re doing, do you really mean it? When you answer someone back ‘how are you doing’ are you really telling them the truth? We live in a society of social networks and Twitter pages and Facebook, and that’s fine and stuff, but we have contact with our work associates, our family, our friends, and it seems like half the time we’re more pre-occupied with our phone and other things going on instead of the actual relationships we have in front of us. Hopefully, people can learn from this and try to actually figure out if somebody is battling something deeper on the inside, than what they may be revealing on a day-to day basis.”
(Quinn speaks after Romeo Crennel declines to speak about what he witnessed in the parking lot of Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday)
Well said.
1
Dec
2012
Martellus Bennett – aka “Black Unicorn” – saves a fan, gets the animated super hero treatment (VIDEO)
(via juanelway.com)
Giants tight end Martellus Bennett has a reputation as a colorful guy, always reliable for a good quote or tweet, and even going so far as to give himself the nickname “Black Unicorn”.
After the Giants’ 38-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers last Sunday, Bennett made headlines for saving a middle-aged man who fell from the stands when Bennett threw his gloves into the crowd. Afterward, Bennet said he “tapped into my inner super hero, which I do have”, quickly springing into action to catch the man before he could hit the ground.
“I’m usually a ninja, but my Spidey-senses told me he was going to take a fall, so I saved his life. He owes me his firstborn or something. Actually, I don’t want that. Maybe a sandwich or something.”
Well fortunately for us, Black Unicorn told the story to the guys at TheNOC, who give Bennett the animated super hero treatement, bringing his words to life through vivid, poorly drawn animation. It’s pretty great:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
