10
Oct
2012
Following the success of “Cleveland ’95″, networks to present “F%&* Cleveland Night” (VIDEO)
This is hilarious.
Last week, the NFL Network aired the latest in their ongoing series “A Football Life“, entitled “Cleveland ’95“, which looked back at that fateful final season before Art Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore. It also examines the first head coaching tenure of a young Bill Belicheck, whose effort toward re-building the franchise went for naught, as the very team was yanked out from under them before they really had a chance. It was a rough time for all Browns fans … one that many have yet to fully recover from, and certainly not something they were particularly eager to re-live.
Well our old friend Mike Polk (of “Factory of Sadness” fame) is here to put things into perspective for us, with this brilliant teaser for the sports broadcasting world’s next plan to kick Cleveland fans while they’re down —  simply called, “F%&* Cleveland Night”. With “the sole purpose of depressing the s#!t out of America’s longest-suffering sports fans”, this joint-venture of the NFL Network and ESPN promises to bring back all of the worst nightmares from Cleveland sports history … all in glorious HD, and right into your living room.
That’s right. Among other punches to the gut, Browns fans will get “the Decision”, “the Drive”, “the Shot”, and “the Fumble”. Â All. Night. Long. Â Oh, and just to ratchet up the sadness factor, the lowlights will be set to the music of Adele.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
24
Sep
2012
NFL GIFs of the Week: 2012 Week Three
We love our GIFs here at ReadAndReact, so we’ve started a new weekly feature where we collect the best GIFs from each NFL week, and post them all in one convenient spot for your viewing enjoyment. Â
Most of these come courtesy of the always-awesome GIFulmination, @SBNation GIF or@CJZero Twitter… so special thanks to those guys.  Submit your favorites GIFs to info@readandreact.net, and PLEASE BE PATIENT WHILE THIS PAGE LOADS.
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In honor of the passing of Steve Sabol – who is the reason so many of us fell in love with professional football – SBNation posted these classic NFL Films GIFs:
Willie Brown running into your living room:
(via sbnation.com)
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Earl Campbell = truck:
(via sbnation.com)
30
Aug
2012
NFL replacement refs to start season; continue to make a mockery of the game (VIDEO)
(Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images via nydailynews.com)
On Wednesday, the NFL sent out a memo to all 32 teams to let everyone know that the replacement referees will start the season on September 5th.  In it, the league’s Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson attempted to claim with a straight face that the current replacement refs are doing an adequate job, and that they feel confident entering the season with a second-rate collection of former Canadian and Lingerie Football League officials:
In light of the current state of negotiations, we will have replacement crews on the field when the regular season begins. The replacements have undergone extensive training and evaluation, and have shown steady improvement during the preseason. We will continue the training with each crew and they will work as much of the regular season as necessary. The replacement officials are dedicated and enthusiastic, have worked very hard to improve, and have persevered despite the attacks on their qualifications and performance. We are all grateful for their service to the NFL.
Obviously, Ray hasn’t been watching the same pre-season games that we all have, because these replacements are clearly not ready for primetime. And despite being directed by the NFL to remain silent on the subject, players and coaches throughout the league have been vocal in their support of the full-time refs. There is a genuine concern from many parties about the integrity of the game – and particularly player safety – if these clowns are allowed to officiate a regular season contest, when everyone is going full-speed, and there is actually something at stake. The league says it will attempt to mitigate this by placing veteran former referees in the booth as “officiating supervisors”, who will attempt to guide the replacements, as well as with expanded use of instant replay on all turnovers and scoring plays.
With the labor negotiations between the league and the NFLRA at a standstill, this is hopefully just a tactic to put pressure on the regular refs to accept their offer and get back to work. But in the mean time, these replacement referees continue to make a mockery of the game, and only prove to strengthen the NFLRA’s stance that the full-time professionals are desperately needed back on the field.
In response to the memo, the NFLRA issued their own statement:
“We are not surprised that the NFL was not going to reach out to us,” the NFLRA said in a statement. “However, this is consistent with the NFL’s negotiating strategy, which has been ‘take it or leave it’ and lock them out. It now appears the NFL is willing to forego any attempt to reach a deal in the last seven (7) days before opening night. It is unfortunate because the Referees want to get back on the field. Our members have been engaged in extensive preparations and are ready to go.
“If the NFL is serious about negotiating, we are ready, but we can’t negotiate with ourselves.”
During last night’s Giants-Patriots snoozefest, the replacements put forth yet another example of their “dedicated and enthusiastic” work …Â one that starkly contradicts what the league would have you believe about their state of preparedness for the rigors of an NFL season.
VIDEO & BONUS GIF AFTER THE JUMP
20
Apr
2012
Look how cute Bill Belichick was as a 6-year-old (PHOTO)
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick celebrated his 60th birthday this week, but this photo from Belichick family archives shows the dark overlord of NFL coaches during gentler times, as a six-year-old child:
(Photo via Reddit.com/r/nfl)
Basic math tells us the picture was taken in approximately 1958, and in it we find young William, pre-hoodie, sitting and smiling in the front of the stands at what was likely the U.S. Naval Acadamy, where his father was an assistant football coach.
If you look closely in his eyes, behind that innocent grin, you can tell little Bill is already putting together defensive schemes in his head.
[H/T Reddit.com/r/nfl]
5
Feb
2012
Giants defeat Patriots 21-17 to win Super Bowl XLVI, Eli wins MVP (VIDEO)
Eli = Elite (Photo: NY Giants Facebook)
The New York Giants are Super Bowl Champions once again, and Eli Manning has won his second Super Bowl MVP award after defeating the New England Patriots 21-17 in Indianapolis tonight. With the win, Eli officially steps out of the shadow of his brother Peyton, and cements himself in the annals of NFL history as one of the game’s greatest quarterbacks.
The biggest play of the game came in the fourth quarter, as the Giants attempted to drive the field for the game-winning score. Manning hit Mario Manningham for this incredible 38-yard sideline catch:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
1
Dec
2011
Behold, the NFL Coaches Soundboard
From Complex.com comes this tremendous NFL Coaches Soundboard, featuring some of the more memorable quotes in league history from some of its finest coaches.
In addition to the more well-known classics, we get surly sound bytes from living legends like Bill Belichick (“Stats are for losers….final scores are for winners.”), Bill Parcells (“So consider yourself sucked”) and Mike Ditka (“We’re not going to be the hittees, we’re going to be the hitters.”). Plus, we also get lesser-known gems from John McKay (“Well we didn’t block … but we made up for it by not tackling.”), Jerry Burns (“We had a f#cking trap play called, and his f#cking shoe comes off.”) and Bill Callahan (“We have got to be the dumbest team in America”). And a lot more.
So click the image below to check out the soundboard, and enjoy prank calling your friends as John Gruden, Mike Singletary and Rex Ryan stuck in an elevator. That’s just good times.
15
Nov
2011
Ochocinco’s new Twitter avatar is the best thing he’s done all year (PIC)
(Image via PatsPropoganda.com)
This hilarious Lethal Weapon 3 poster spoof – with Chad Ochocinco, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick playing the roles of Danny Glover, Mel Gibson and Joe Pesci, respectively -Â is apparently the new avatar for Ochocinco’s Twitter account.
Good stuff, but this new partnership hasn’t exactly proved to be “lethal” so far. Unfortunately for Chad, it seems as though he’s spending way more time on Twitter than he is studying the Patriots playbook, netting just 11 catches for 201 yards and 0 touchdowns this year. And while it’s definitely cool, let’s not pretend that Chad actually tried his hand at photoshop and created this masterpiece himself … I’m guessing it’s a piece of fan art from one of his nearly 3 million (!!!) followers.
[H/T Pats Propaganda]
14
Nov
2011
Rex Ryan is a grumpy loser; tells fan to “Shut the f@#k up” (VIDEO)
(Image via Sportsgrid.com)
You know what? I’m starting to think that, for all his bluster (and girth), Rex Ryan might not have the thickest skin for criticism … especially when he’s losing.
At halftime of his team’s 37-16 drubbing at the hands of the Patriots, with his team trailing just 13-9, the Jets head coach cursed out fan in the stands at MetLife Stadium. The guy – possibly drunk, probably a Patriot fan – clearly struck a nerve with Ryan, shouting, “Hey Rex, Belichick is better than you!”, to which Rex retorted, “Shut the f@#k up” as he walked into the tunnel.
Watch the video below, with the action coming at the 15-second mark:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
12
Nov
2011
Watch this Giants-49ers Monday Night Football Game from 1990 … in it’s entirety
(Photo via forums.49ers.com)
In preparation for tomorrow’s game featuring the same two teams, and just because it’s awesome, we bring you this classic 1990 defensive struggle between the 10-1 New York Giants and 10-1 San Francisco 49ers.Â
In it, we get a brilliant MNF broadcast with Michaels, Gifford and Dierdorf, featuring (among other greats) Joe Montana, Lawrence Taylor, Jerry Rice, Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick. And although the game didn’t see a lot of touchdowns, you’re watching one of the great offenses of its time squaring off against one of the best defenses in what would be a preview of that year’s NFC Championship game. It just works on so many levels.
So settle in and enjoy the full game … via YouTube user DaveMeggett, in all 13 glorious parts:
[H/T Reddit.com/r/NFL]
23
Sep
2011
Bill Belichick as a Roller Skating Pirate … no, really (VIDEO)
(Photo: INSNTRPLY.com)
Part 2 of A Football Life aired on NFL Network last night (read our review of Part 1 HERE), and while there was plenty more insight provided into the world of Bill Belichick, the runaway highlight from the show came during the Patriot’s 2009 week 8 bye. Former pats WR Randy Moss organized a Halloween party for the players & coaches, and sat down with the Hoodie to see if the coaches would be interested in joining.  Belichick slowly warms to the idea, eventually saying “it’s a great holiday! Candy and costumes … how can you beat that?!?”
That scene is followed by footage of Belichick arriving at the roller rink dressed as a pirate, with his girlfriend playing the part of wench, where he’s greeted by Moss as Spongebob Squarepants and other players who are just thrilled to see Bill let his hair down a bit. Â And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Belichick laces up the skates and takes to the rink to get his pirate roller boogie on … yaaaarrrrr:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
