Archive for the ‘Video’ Category
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22
May
2012
Watch the 2011-2012 NFL Season in six minutes (VIDEO)
Every year, around this time, we start missing football a little bit. Sure, there are owners meetings, OTAs are starting, and we’re getting a sneak peek at some teams in action, but we’re still more than 3 months from the start of the regular season, and it’s been more than 3 months the Giants hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. And as much as we can appreciate the NBA and NHL playoffs, can see how some people (not us) can enjoy the start of the epically long baseball season, and even don’t mind watching a little Champions League soccer now and again … combined, they still somehow don’t compare to the thrill of the NFL by itself.
In case you’re like us and are starting to go into football withdrawls, the good people at NFL Films put together this nice little walk down memory lane to help you re-live this past season, and remind us once again how awesome the sport is. It isn’t exactly new, but we were saving it up for a time when we thought you might need it most … enjoy:
17
May
2012
Eli Manning’s sandwich celebration from SNL: now animated by EA sports (VIDEO)
While we were away, Giants QB Eli Manning made his live comedy debut, hosting Saturday Night Live to mostly positive reviews.
Thanks to the wonders of technology, I was able to watch the show on DVR, and I mean, it wasn’t like Eli was the funniest host the show has ever seen, but it was definitely one of the better episodes of the season (for whatever that’s worth). He was relatively loose and self-effacing, and pulled off quite a few genuine laughs throughout the night … particularly once he managed to relax and slow down a little bit. It certainly wasn’t the train wreck I was expecting it could turn into, and once again Eli did alright following in the footsteps of his older brother.
One of the better moments came during a fake motion capture session at EA Sports for their Madden franchise, where Manning is asked to perform a touchdown celebration for the game. Eli responds with a series of bizarre maneuvers, ranging from hugging himself to drinking water to girlishly throwing a grenade – the last of which was hilarious in its execution. Ultimately, Eli decides on his ideal signature celebration: making a sandwich, dropping it on the ground and looking around sheepishly before picking it up and eating it.
Well, someone over at EA Sports apparently enjoyed getting the SNL treatment, and decided to animate Eli’s sandwich celebration for real, posting it to Youtube on Tuesday. And aside from the fact that he’s wearing a Patriots uniform, it’s pretty excellent:
SNL writer Sarah Schneider was apparently thrilled at the tribute to her sketch. We can only hope that the gang at EA Sports actually includes this celebration in the game, if only as an easter egg of some sort.
WATCH THE SNL MOTION CAPTURE SKETCH, PLUS A BONUS SNL DIGITAL SHORT AFTER THE JUMP
28
Apr
2012
The NFL draft sure was different back in 1981 (VIDEO)
As we resume with day three of the 2012 NFL Draft, it’s worth looking back on the humble beginnings of the event, to get some perspective on just how far things have come.
This awesome video of ESPN’s 1981 draft coverage does just that, showing us a loosely organized get together inside a hotel ballroom, struggling with technical difficulties … as opposed to the multi-million dollar Radio City Music Hall spectacle it is today.
Watch as Pete Rozelle kicks things off with the selection of George Rogers and Lawrence Taylor, while a young Dr. Z (SI’s Paul Zimmerman) provides the pre-Kiper-era draft analysis:
Watch Part 2 after the jump:
27
Apr
2012
Giants Fans: check out this David Wilson highlight reel (VIDEO)
The Super Bowl Champion New York Giants surprised some people by selecting Virginia Tech RB David Wilson with the #32 overall pick, to finish off the first round of this year’s NFL Draft.
(AP Photo/Dave Martin via CBSNews.com))
After saying goodbye to Brandon Jacobs after the season, and with Ahmad Bradshaw‘s nagging foot problems, GM Jerry Reese said it was “a pretty easy pick for us” in selecting Wilson:
“He’s a terrific football player,’’ Reese said. “This guy loves to play football. He can do anything you want him to do. He’s a good piece to add to our running back stable.’’
Tampa Bay had jumped ahead of NY to snag Boise State RB Doug Martin with the 31st pick (who many had projected as going to NY), but Reese said Wilson was the number two running back on their board, behind only #3 overall pick Trent Richardson.
Wilson – who rushed for a school record 1,709 yards last season – brings tremendous speed and game-breaking ability to New York. He is expected to contribute right away as a kick returner, and split time with Bradshaw in the backfield, where he sees himself as a “mix of Ray Rice and Arian Foster”.
DAVID WILSON 2011-12 HIGHLIGHTS AND BACKFLIP CONTEST AFTER THE JUMP
5
Apr
2012
Listen to Gregg Williams’ bounty speech that should end any hope of a Saints appeal (AUDIO)
On the very day that Saints head coach Sean Payton and GM Mickey Loomis are appealing their suspensions with the NFL for their involvement in the bounty scandal, Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports drops a bombshell that should effectively stop that appeal process in its tracks.
In it, Silver reveals that defensive coordinator Gregg Williams specifically directed his players to injure members of the 49ers prior to their post-season meeting in January, and made “hand gestures” signalling that he would pay money to whoever took out QB Alex Smith.
(Photo: Matthew Sharpe/Getty Images via BleacherReport)
Silver got the audio from filmmaker Sean Pamphilon of the United States of Football, who had access to Saints team functions for much of the 2011 season while working on a documentary. The speech in question came during a defensive team meeting the night before the Jan. 15 playoff game, in which Williams delivers a profanity-laced tirade intended to inspire his troops to battle. It would be the Saints last game of the season, and Williams would be fired two days later.
Perhaps most damaging to the Saints cause is the timing of Williams’ speech, which would have come well after the NFL had alerted the Saints that they were looking into the bounty program, and right after the league re-opened the investigation and specifically directed owner Tom Benson and Loomis to put a stop to it. The 49ers game was just two weeks later, and while you can’t actually hear the hand gestures, Pahmphilon says he believes “there’s no doubt at all” that Williams put a bounty on Smith in the meeting. And if that’s the case, it means that Loomis and Payton – who were not present at the meeting – clearly didn’t take enough action in policing their own staff.
UPDATE: The Saints are already trying to paint Williams as a “rogue” coach on his way out the door, who acted in defiance of his superiors. It’s clear that Payton and Loomis are going to set Williams up as the fall guy in an effort to lessen their own punishments, but we’ll see how much water that holds with Roger Goodell.
The relevant audio from Williams speech is below, but here are a few of the more notable gems:
QUOTES AND AUDIO AFTER THE JUMP
31
Mar
2012
Watch Jon Gruden interrogate Andrew Luck (VIDEO)
(Image: ESPN via Orlando Sentinal)
ESPN’s Camp Gruden, where former coach Jon Gruden puts the top collegiate QB prospects through the ringer prior to each year’s draft, has become something of an annual tradition. We all remember last year when Cam Newton couldn’t name a single play from his Auburn playbook, which may have scared some people off from the eventual offensive rookie of the year.
This year’s edition of Gruden’s QB Camp kicked off this week with Stanford’s Andrew Luck, possibly the most hyped quarterback prospect since John Elway. Watch the clip below, where Luck takes us through a routine play from his college playbook, “Spider 2/3 Y Banana”. We get to watch Luck squirm a bit when Gruden shows a clip where Luck throws a pick-six interception against USC … on that very play.
Luck takes it all in stride, probably because Stanford ended up winning the game in triple overtime. But it’s at least nice to see someone putting the future Colt to the fire a bit, rather than slobbering all over him as perfect, “can’t miss” prospect:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
27
Mar
2012
Browns superfan proposes adjustment to his season ticket package (VIDEO)
Cleveland superfan Mike Polk, Jr - previously of the epic “Factory of Sadness” rant - recently received a note from his beloved Browns franchise, reminding him to send in payment for his 2012 season tickets.
This is his response:
[H/T Scene & Heard]
26
Mar
2012
Tim Tebow is really, really, really excited to be a Jet (VIDEO)
(Photo: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images via BleacherReport.com)
The New York Jets introduced Tim Tebow as their backup quarterback today, which means that the circus has officially rolled into town for Rex Ryan & Co.
The anonymous player quotes and speculation as to whether Tebow will compete for starting time with the newly re-upped Mark Sanchez have already begun, and we’re months away from the start of training camp. Just wait until Jets nation gets a real taste of Tebowmania …
For his part, let’s just say that Tebow is “excited” to be a Jet. In fact, let’s let Timmy say it … a total of 44 times during his 30-minute session with the media:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
24
Mar
2012
Andrew Luck throws a 75-yard bomb into the wind at impressive pro day (VIDEO)
Stanford QB Andrew Luck put on a show at his pro day yesterday, turning in a near-perfect performance in Palo Alto and cementing his position as the top quarterback in this year’s NFL draft.
And when he was finished with his 48 scripted throws, Luck answered requests for one more deep pass by showing off his arm strength. Check out this perfect bomb into the wind that traveled about 75 yards in the air, and was unfortunately dropped by his receiver at the goal line:
Don’t get me wrong, there’s no such thing as a sure thing in the draft, but I’m starting to understand what all the hype surrounding Luck is all about.
14
Mar
2012
Calvin Johnson: No one man should have all that power … or money (VIDEO)
(Photo: NFLGridironGab.com)
The Detroit Lions just made Calvin Johnson the richest wide receiver in the NFL, signing him to an new eight-year contract worth up to $132 million, including $60 million guaranteed. It’s one of the biggest deals in league history, surpassing the contract Arizona gave Larry Fitzgerald last year (8-year, $120 million), and ensures fans in Detroit will have the Johnson-Stafford connection to look forward to for the foreseeable future.
In case you were wondering why the Lions were willing to break the bank for Johnson (and were curious why we chose the headline we did for this post), this Megatron highlight video should give you an idea:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
