(Image via Youtube.com)

There has been a trend sweeping YouTube in recent years of fans recording themselves watching live sporting events unfold, and then uploading their reactions for all the world to see. This has provided us with all kinds of tremendous sporting moments caught on camera from the fan’s point of view, like this remarkable compilation of fans watching Landon Donovan’s game-winning goal in the 2010 World Cup.

And as you might guess, last week’s AFC Championship game between the Patriots and the Ravens provided all kinds of fodder for superfans everywhere to freak the eff out, with their cameras rolling. Between both Lee Evans’ near-game-winning-TD that wasn’t and Billy Cundiff’s field goal shank that lost it for Baltimore, the final few minutes were an emotional roller coaster for fans of both teams.

So that’s what makes this compilation of fan reactions to the game (aptly titled “The Agony of Defeat and Thrill of Victory“) – which features both ebullient celebrations and soul-crushing collapses from Pats and Ravens fans alike –  just so fantastic. You really get to feel the win/loss from both perspectives, and get a sense of just how much this game means to people everywhere. And of course it includes this guy.

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

(Image via NFL.com)

Ray Lewis has long been a controversial figure in the NFL, but no one can argue the man’s ability on the field as one of the finest linebackers of our generation. But the thing that perhaps makes Lewis even more special are his innate gifts as a leader, and his undeniable ability to motivate his teammates around him to be better.

As we watch yet another Ravens defensive coordinator get plucked away for an NFL head coaching job in Chuck Pagano (after Marvin Lewis, Mike Nolan and Rex Ryan before him), you can’t help but wonder if it really hasn’t been Lewis who has been the true guiding force of the Baltimore defense all along. Not taking anything away from Pagano, but with guys like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed in that locker room, it feels like almost anyone could step in and coach this unit to the playoffs.

The latest proof of Lewis’ status as the unquestioned leader of the Ravens comes from his post-game locker room speech immediately following their gut-wrenching AFC Championship loss to the Patriots. Watch and listen as Lewis drops into preacher mode to put things into perspective, congratulating his teammates on a job well done this season, telling Joe Flacco “you played your ass off” in the loss and to keep his head up, while also exhorting them all to get back to work and become stronger as a team.

For this clip, Lewis’ speech has been set to Ravens season highlights, as extra motivation for sad Baltimore fans everywhere.

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

[thanks, Benstonium]

(Image via Sportsgrid.com)

We feel badly for Ravens fans today. Honestly, we do. The Baltimore defense played tremendous football in yesterday’s AFC Championship, holding Tom Brady in check, only to have their Super Bowl hopes dashed by a missed chip shot FG by K Billy Cundiff.

Imagine how it must feel to have been a Ravens fan watching it all unfold yesterday. Brutal, right? Now imagine watching your favorite team lose while surrounded by “friends” who came over to your house for the big game, and decided to have some fun by cheering for the Pats all day. Well, thanks to this video, we get to experience the loss through just that perspective.

From the Youtube description: ”Our good friend has a passion for Maryland sports. Maybe an obsession.” And as you’ll see, their good friend’s passion reached its breaking point after Cundiff’s shank, and he decided that everyone needed to leave his house. Immediately.

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

[WARNING: VIDEO NFSW for language]

(Photo: Twitter.com)

From Ray Rice’s Twitter page comes this incredible photo of Ravens fullback Vonta Leach’s helmet, which needs to be replaced due to the beating Leach has put it through this season.  

(Image via ShutdownCorner)

Yikes. This image gives you just a hint of the punishment Leach delivers on opposing defenders week in and week out.  These helmets are generally built to take a beating, but there’s no question that Leach plays the game in a far more brutal fashion than most, and is a throwback to the olden days of the gridiron.

Let’s just be thankful that the players aren’t still wearing leather helmets, or Leach would be caving in skulls on a regular basis.

Watch Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch send both Ray Lewis and Jarret Johnson flying with this incredible juke move from Sunday’s 22-17 win over the Ravens:

(Image via kissingsuzykolber.com)

Yikes. That’s just nasty.

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

(Photo: NYDailyNews.com)

Two days after Giants S Deon Grant was caught diving to the turf in an effort to stop the clock and slow the Rams no-huddle offense, the NFL issued a warning that players, coaches & teams caught faking injuries to disrupt the flow of the game could be punished with fines, suspensions and/or loss of draft picks. Although referees are powerless to penalize players suspected of feigning injury during the game itself, the league sent a memo to all 32 teams saying they would be reviewing questionable plays and handing out disciplinary action where appropriate for “conduct detrimental to the game”.

But several players have indicated that feigning injuries has long been a strategic part of the game, and is something that is even coached in certain circles:

“I’ve been places where it has been (taught),” said Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, a member of the players’ union executive committee. “They have a name for it and I’ve been places where it’s been pre-called. I’ve been places where it’s one player who has been designated. Maybe I’m getting everyone in trouble, but I’m just being honest.”

“It’s always been in the game,” Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed said. “It’s all tactical stuff you need to use. Whatever it takes. … If you’re tired, you’re tired. You get a break however you can.”

Added 49ers running back Frank Gore: “Hey, I feel if it helps, do it. I’m bound to do it. Whatever it takes to win …”

Obviously, we don’t want to see football go down the road of constant flopping that has taken over the NBA and international soccer, but it’s not like this has become an overwhelming problem in the sport (yet, at least). Plus, Goodell is going to have a tough time enforcing this rule, when its nearly impossible to say definitively whether or not a player was hurting, cramped, got a stinger, or whatever … unless they’re a particularly bad actor (like Grant).

Grant maintains that he banged his knee on the previous play, and went down when he realized he wouldn’t be able to get off the field in time, but nobody’s buying that. Grant is a savvy veteran, and he wasn’t the only Giant to fall to the ground on the play. And the injury time out might have saved the game for the Giants, who were able to catch their breath and force a field goal on the drive. So regardless of any potential punishment, the Giants would probably say it was worth it.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan didn’t go so far as to say he’s coached the tactic himself, but he didn’t deny it either, adding ”It happens all the time, and warnings will come out … and it’s happened again.”

That's Ward in the center, with his feet in the air (Image via CBS Sports)

With our weekly feature, Hit Of The Week, ReadAndReact will find the most brutal tackle, block or run from each weekend of NFL games, and present it for your viewing pleasure. 

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We’re back with our inauguaral HOTW selection for the 2011 NFL season!

This one comes courtesy of Ravens LB Jarret Johnson, who took the opportunity on Sunday to destroy Steelers WR Hines Ward as he came across the middle at the line of scrimmage, potentially looking to receive a shovel pass of some sort. But Johnson sniffed out the play and sent Ward into next week, forcing Ben Roethlisberger to improvise and throw an INT to Ed Reed, thus continuing the Steelers craptacular opening day display:

(apologies for the less-than-stellar video quality, but this is the best we could find for now … we’ll update if better video surfaces)

UPDATE: Here’s another version of the video, with multiple rewinds of the hit, if you’re into that sort of thing.

On Monday, Johnson said he was just reacting to the play, and didn’t have time to premeditate the hit:

“When I hit him, I didn’t expect him to do a freakin’ flip,” said Johnson. “I was just kind of reacting to the play. You don’t even remember a lot of stuff, and I just remember recognizing the play and kind of sitting back. I don’t remember if I took one step or if I ran or what.”

But after all the blind-side blocks Ward has delivered to unsuspected defenders in his career, and with the inherent rivalry in this match-up, this one had to feel like a little bit of payback on behalf of defensive players everywhere. In fact, Johnson went as far as to say so on Monday morning:

“The thing about him – guys like him that are kind of dirty guys, guys that’ll take shots – they usually get theirs,” Johnson said. “Hines never really gets his. He never gets popped for some reason, and part of it is he’s a smart player. He knows when to take his shots and when not to. He knows when to mix it up and when to stay out.

(…)

“Everybody wants to knock that guy out.”

Ravens LB Terrell Suggs, perhaps the most outspoken Ravens defender, also indicated as much after the game:

 When asked if the hit on Ward would draw an ovation, Suggs said: “It probably will. Hines Ward is definitely the guy we dislike the most, just like I’m the guy the Steelers dislike the most.”

The 9/11 tribute ceremonies from Chicago (Photo: NFL.com)

On the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001, the National Football League pauses to pay tribute to the memory of those lost, as well as the heroes from that fateful day.  In addition to allowing players to wear 9/11 tribute gear, a recorded introduction by Robert De Niro, followed by a trumpet performance of “Taps” ran across all networks before the national anthem was sung along with a similar flag ceremony in each stadium.

The video below includes the complete intro, along with the ceremonies from Baltimore prior to the Ravens-Steelers game, not far from where the attack on the Pentagon took place ten years ago, with the anthem being sung by Mishael Miller:

But perhaps the most emotional anthem came from Chicago before the Bears-Falcons contest, where local favorite Jim Cornelison gave another sitrring rendition (previously), with Bears fans cheering along:

VIDEO OF CORNELISON’S ANTHEM AFTER THE JUMP

The ceremonies will continue at NFL stadiums all day long, and we expect the proceedings in Washington later today – and even more so those at the Meadowlands in New Jersey tonight – to be especially moving.

The Browns hope Massaquoi is ready to roll West Coast-style.

The Cleveland Browns are finally getting some players back.

Receiver Mohamed Massaquoi returned to practice Saturday after suffering a fractured left foot at “Camp Colt,” the workout sessions organized during the lockout by quarterback Colt McCoy.

Massaquoi told the Plain Dealer he wasn’t certain when the injury occurred during the practices in Austin, Texas.

“I have no clue where it came from or when it happened,” said Massaquoi. “It was just one of those things where it flared up and we dealt with it. And now hopefully that’s the end of it.”

With Cleveland’s opener against the Bengals less than two weeks away, an injury-gripped preseason has forced coach Pat Shurmur to make roster decisions without seeing his full squad in action.

He’s not about to make Browns fans forget about this guy, but Massaquoi appears to be a good fit in Shurmur’s West Coast offense, which McCoy has run with efficiency so far, throwing four touchdowns to one interception in three preseason tilts.

With Eric Steinbach out indefinitely and a laundry list of Browns nicked up, it’s hard to imagine how Cleveland can compete in the AFC North beyond fiddling around with the Bengals.

In what appears to be a lockout-induced scheduling tick, the Browns don’t play Pittsburgh or Baltimore until December, giving this young team — with new offensive and defensive schemes — time to mature before the big boys hit the scene.

From another angle, having to play the Steelers and Ravens four times in the course of a month is impossible to spin positively — it’s not something even the best of team’s would look forward to.

The Browns better grow up fast.