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29
Apr
2011
Mark Ingram, Jr. gets an emotional message from his dad after being drafted (VIDEO)
This might have been the most emotional moment from last night’s 1st round of the NFL Draft.
Alabama RB and former Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram found himself waiting the longest to hear his name called in the draft’s green room, as he slid farther and farther down the board. But after being selected #28 overall by the New Orleans Saints, Ingram was overcome with a sense of relief and emotion, as ESPN’s Suzy Kolber shared an email she received from Ingram’s father, Mark, Sr.
Ingram, Sr was also selected #28 overall back in 1987 by the New York Giants, and went on to be an integral part of the club that won Super Bowl 25. He is currently serving a 7-year federal sentence for bank fraud and laundering. When Kolber shared the father’s message to his son, Ingram, Jr. simply couldn’t hold back the tears:
With the addition of Ingram, the Saints now have a crowded backfield, with Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory and Reggie Bush already in the fold. Shortly after the draft, Bush sent out this tweet, indicating that he’s aware of the writing on the wall:
14
Jan
2011
For Browns fans, a voyage through the wilderness continues
Another new beginning. (Source: Cleveland.com)
And so the Browns begin again.
Eric Mangini out. Pat Shurmur in — through a revolving door that Friday welcomed its third head coach since 2008 and fifth since the team rebooted in 1999.
In that time, the Tennessee Titans have only known Jeff Fisher as coach.
Since 1999, the New England Patriots, led by former Browns coach Bill Belichick, have enjoyed winning records in 10 consecutive seasons. Tom Brady — who the Browns ignored in the 2000 NFL Draft to select Spergon Wynn — has won 111 football games and three Super Bowls during a stretch in which Cleveland’s fans have endured nine season with six or fewer wins and a growing sense of purposelessness.
As each losing, demoralized leader of men is shipped out of town, a new coach strides in and, in his introductory press conference, trumpets his respect for the great tradition of the Cleveland Browns.
Images in grainy black-and-white depicting heroes long gone — many dead.
For fans under 30, the deep history of a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since January 1995 is irrelevant. Young football fans throughout Ohio have grown up watching their half-baked hometown roster of hobby horses dismantled and embarrassed repeatedly by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, two teams that look a lot more like the Browns of old than the Browns themselves.
5
Jan
2011
The five deadly sins of Mike Holmgren and the Cleveland Browns
The spotlight now falls to Holmgren to get it right. (Source: Cleveland.com)
On Monday, Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren went from wise father figure atop a rebuilding Browns organization, to a man under significant pressure to deliver.
It’s one thing to tell a fanbase that Eric Mangini hasn’t met expectations — it’s another to meet them yourself. While Holmgren excels at win-you-over press conferences, it’s his football decisions this offseason that will define his tenure with this star-crossed franchise.
The Browns are about to hire their sixth head coach since their return in 1999. Whoever finally turns the ship around will never buy a drink in Ohio again — but it’s no small task, and one that’s left wheelbarrows of dead along the road out of town.
Here are five mistakes Holmgren must avoid, if he wants to turn this ship around:
MISTAKE #1: Miss on the coach
While some were thrilled to see Mangini swept aside, they might look back and wonder why the move was made if Cleveland goes in the direction some predict.
Holmgren talked about spreading a wide net, but lead candidates for the coaching vacancy appear to be limited to those also represented by Holmgren’s agent, Bob LaMonte. He fronts John Fox, Jon Gruden, Jim Mora, Brad Childress, Pat Shurmur and — ugh — Marty Mornhinweg.
“I don’t want to have to do this again, so I have to get it right,” said Holmgren.
It’s hard to get excited about that “right” choice being Mornhinweg, who went 5-27 as coach of the Detroit Lions.
6
Dec
2010
As the Jets-Pats rivalry goes, there’s never been a bigger one than this
Long simmering, the feud between the Jets and Patriots is set to explode Monday night. (Source: New York Daily News)
(Ed. note: This article was originally posted last week, but with the impending Monday night match-up on everyone’s mind today, we thought it deserved another look)
________________________
The word “rivalry” is tossed around a lot in the NFL. You hear announcers, desperate for market share, describe a pedestrian Seahawks-Chiefs tilt as a rivalry. Who’s buying that? Most “rivalries” unfold without so much as a breadcrumb on the line.
The history between the New York Jets and New England Patriots is a messy, entangled war by contrast. With both franchises notched at 9-2 atop the AFC East, you have to go back to the 1990 Monday-night meeting between the 10-1 49ers vs. the 10-1 New York Giants to find a late-season prime-time bout with equal appeal.
The lifetime record between these two teams stands at 51-50-1 in New York’s favor. Records aside, the Patriots are the Goliath, having dominated the last decade with three Super Bowl wins under the leadership of a once-per-generation quarterback talent in Tom Brady.
The Jets, after years of struggle, are at the threshold — but the long-time Jets fanatic is still haunted by ghosts: “When will the other shoe drop? When will the S.O.J.s appear from behind the Wizard’s curtain?”
A season sweep over the Patriots would send a statement league-wide: These Jets are for real.
29
Nov
2010
VIDEO: Derek Anderson unleashes in postgame press conference
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Derek Anderson blew his top Monday night, unloading an emotional tirade on Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic during a postgame press conference following the team’s 27-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Anderson’s rant was in response to Somers’ questioning about footage from the Monday Night Football broadcast, which showed Anderson laughing with guard Deuce Lutui while the 49ers sailed to victory.
ESPN’s Jon Gruden was critical of Anderson’s loose demeanor, as shown below:
Somers began by asking Anderson about his conversation with Lutui.
“I don’t mean this to be sarcastic or pointed,” he said, “but that went out on Monday night television, and a lot of fans are talking about it right now as a big problem with this team. Can you put into context what was going on at that moment, and what caused you to–”
So what exactly were they smiling about? (Image via CBSNews.com)
Anderson stopped Somers: “What Deuce and I talk about is nobody else’s business.”
“But why was something funny when you’re down 18 points in the fourth quarter?” Somers asked.
“It wasn’t funny. I wasn’t laughing about anything,” Anderson said.
Somers pressed: “But the cameras showed you laughing.”
Anderson again cut Somers off, becoming emotional.
“I’m not laughing about anything … You think this is funny? I take this (expletive) serious. Real serious,” Anderson said. “I put my heart and soul into this (expletive) every single week. I’m just telling you, right now, what I do every single week. Every single week, I put my freaking heart and soul into this. I study my ass off.
“I don’t go out there and laugh. It’s not funny. Nothing’s funny to me. I don’t want to go out there and get embarrassed on Monday Night Football in front of everybody.”
The back and forth continued until Anderson marched out of the room.
27
Mar
2010
JaMarcus Russell weighs in at 290 pounds!
I used to think this photo was altered for comedic effect ... now I'm not so sure
Adam Schefter is reporting that QB JaMarcus Russell reported to the Oakland Raiders facilities yesterday, tipping the scales at 290 lbs. Apparently this is part of Al Davis’ new and exciting plan to have Russell run the Wildcat offense from the Left Tackle position. Schefter tweets:
Two people reported that Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell returned to Oakland and tipped the scales at 290 pounds. At least he was under 3 bills.
This news comes in stark contrast to earlier reports that the former #1 overall pick was working hard to transform his body, and was said to be in much better shape this year. Russell, who at 6′-6″ was listed at 260lbs on last year’s roster, was by many accounts pushing 300 during the season. And if this latest report is true, it appears that Russell is doing everything he can to solidify his place in history as the NFL’s biggest all-time draft bust.
Way to go, JaMarcus. Nevermind that $68 million you’re being paid. Whatever you do, don’t drive past that In-N-Out on your way home and hit the gym for a few hours.
24
Jan
2010
General Larry Platt sings “Pants on the Ground” for Vikings (video)
Vikings TE Vishante Shiancoe with General Larry Platt (Image via Twitter)
In case you were worried that the whole American Idol “Pants on the Ground” meme would go away too quickly, rest assured that the Minnesota Vikings are doing their part to give General Larry Platt his full 15 minutes of fame. Brett Favre sang Platt’s song in the Vikings’ locker room after last week’s win, and this afternoon, HC Brad Childress brought in the General himself to inspire the team prior to today’s NFC Championship game.
CONTINUE AFTER THE JUMP FOR VIDEO OF PLATT’S PERFORMANCE
19
Nov
2009
Jeremy Shockey scoffs at LeBron James’ football-playing abilities
(Image: Twitter.com)
There has been a lot of chatter recently about the notion that LeBron James could somehow help the Cleveland Browns on the football field this season. In fact, earlier this week, James said that he could be “really good” if he put his time & energy into it, and the Browns (seemingly jokingly) even entertained the idea of bringing him on board. And who could blame them, right?
Well, don’t try to feed any of that jive to Jeremy Shockey! The Saints TE made his feelings on the subject clear via his Twitter account earlier today. saying that James couldn’t “even make a practice squad”, and calling out his 40 time as proof. Now, we’re not sure why Shockey feels so threatened by King James, but it makes for good blog fodder on a slow work day, and that’s good enough for us!
UPDATE: Giants’ WR Steve Smith has weighed in on his Facebook page, saying that he wouldn’t want to have to defend James. Of course, Smith plays offense. So he somehow managed to make this even more of a moot point. Way to go, Steve.
(Image: Facebook.com)
As we previously noted, James was an All-State WR in high school, and Randy Moss even suggested that he could be a better pro than Antonio Gates. Continue reading after the jump for the latest ESPN segment that got Shockey so fired up.
13
Oct
2009
John Riggins Rips into Redskins, calls Jim Zorn a high school coach
John Riggins is hoping to instill some of that fire that brought Washington their last Super Bowl. 18 years ago.
Things aren’t going so great in Washington these days with the 2-3 Redskins. After another loss to a previously a winless team (the Panthers), the calls for head coach Jim Zorn to be replaced have started growing louder & louder around the Beltway.
You can add Hall of Fame Redskins RB John Riggins to the list of critics who are none-too-pleased with the state of the franchise. Riggo just posted this video to his Twitter account – apparently fresh from chopping wood – in which he pulls no punches in calling out GM Vinny Cerrato and Zorn as the main problems with the ‘Skins. In fact, he goes so far as to suggest that Zorn would be a better fit coaching at the high school level:
“Jim, you are not a head football coach in the NFL. High school? Definitely. You can coach my son in high school any time. Ankle biters for sure.
[...]
You’re out of your league Jim. No offense to you, but I don’t think you’re gonna grow into this job. I just don’t think that you’re cut from that right bolt of cloth … But I wish you luck, and you are gone.”
Ouch. Check out the entire rant below, and prepare for the groundswell of support among DC-area sports radio callers around a “Riggins for Head Coach” campaign.
5
Oct
2009
Ochocinco takes Twitter fans out to dinner
For all the jackassery he exhibits on a regular basis, as far as I can tell, Chad Ochocinco would probably be a pretty cool guy to hang around. He’s clearly certifiably insane (you know, in a fun kinda way), and I certainly wouldn’t want him on my team … but he seems like he’d be fun to hang out with.
Last night, to celebrate the Bengals overtime victory over their in-state rival Cleveland Browns, Ochocinco made the following Twitter post:
Anybody in Cincy want to join me for dinner, headed to J Alexanders in Hyde park, dinner on me
Ochocinco later posted this photo of himself with about 20 Bengals fans who took him up on the offer:
Ochocinco celebrating with his Twitter nation
I count 20 dudes and 2 women in that photo. Sweet ratio.
But seriously, that’s pretty effing cool of Chad. Can you imagine something like this happening with your favorite athlete? He even posted a photo of the bill, which was surprisingly light all things considered. I mean, if I went out to dinner with an NFL player, you’d better believe I’d be getting myself more than a burger and chicken fingers.
Check out the photo of the bill, after the jump
