3
Nov
2010
Introducing: Bread Favre & Braylon Breadwards
As a blogger, you come across some weird stuff on the interwebs. But every once in a great while you happen upon a blog that is so beautifully conceived, so well-executed, well … that it just makes you smile. Even if you’re not sure why.
Such is the case with Bread People, which came to us late this Wednesday like a beacon of light. Like any good American, we love our carbs, and this blog just spoke to us. There are a lot of excellent sports-related images on this site, but this being an NFL blog, we want to bring to your attention a few in particular. We hope you enjoy:
(Via Bread People)
CONTINUE AFTER THE JUMP FOR BREAD FAVRE
31
Oct
2010
Brett Favre starts but doesn’t finish vs Patriots (VIDEO)
Brett Favre closes his eyes and hopes that this is all a bad dream (Image via SB Nation)
The big story heading into this weekend was whether or not Brett Favre would keep his continuous games streak alive. Well as we figured, Favre started, but didn’t finish today’s game, as both he and the Vikings fell to the Patriots, 28-18.
Favre was injured in the 4th quarter after Patriots DT Myron Pryor’s helmet got underneath the 41-year-old QB’s facemask, lacerating his chin. Favre had to be helped off the field, and ended up getting carted to the locker room looking like he had just been run over by a truck. He received eight stitches, and Brad Childress described him as “a little woozy” afterward. It was one those dreaded blows to the head the league loves so much, but Pryor’s facemask was in Favre’s chest, and it looked to be a clean hit just after the ball was released.
Watch for yourselves:
29
Oct
2010
Favre’s streak reportedly in jeopardy … YAWN
(AP Photo/Andy King via ESPN.com)
UPDATE: Favre participated in practice today on a limited basis, but Childress said he wouldn’t decide on who will start on Sunday until just before game time:
“I am fond to saying 48-hours to game time,” Childress said. “We don’t play until 3:15, I think, East Coast time; still got a lot of treatment time. Can bones heal in 48 hours? Probably not, but (head athletic trainer) Eric Sugarman has a great bone stimulator in there that really does the trick.”
This is starting to remind me of the whole Favre retirement saga … and as such, I no longer care. I mean, this is a 2-4 team with a bad offense led by a gimpy old man. Aside from the streak – which should have ended naturally via one of his recent retirements – this is almost a non-issue. The Vikings would probably be better off with Jackson at the helm this weekend, and that in and of itself speaks volumes.
_______________
The Star-Tribune is reporting that Vikings HC Brad Childress is leaning toward sitting Brett Favre down on Sunday against the Patriots with two fractures in his left foot. This, despite the fact that Favre – who has yet to practice this week and has been in a walking boot until today – hasn’t ruled himself out the game yet. Of course, the big news here is that if Favre doesn’t go, it would put an end to his NFL Record streak of 291 consecutive starts … but that’s still a huge “IF”:
Favre, who has played through numerous injuries during his 20-year NFL career, has “confided” in some close to him he’s not convinced Childress will let him play against New England, the NFL Network also reported Thursday night.
Yeah yeah yeah … I’ll believe it when I see it. Like everything else Favre-related, this feels like just another media-hyped creation to help build up his legend even further. In fact, at least one NFL team doctor said that the injury is nothing more than a “glorified ankle sprain”, and its been speculated that if this were a playoff game, most players would be able to play through it.
They’re going to shoot Favre up with whatever painkillers it takes so he can step under center and take at least the first few snaps of the game to keep his streak intact.
24
Oct
2010
SNL belatedly tackles Brett Favre controversy (VIDEO)
UPDATE: In real world news, Favre reportedly admitted to the NFL on Tuesday that he left voice mails for Jenn Sterger, but denied sending any pictures of his junk.
So I guess that puts and end to that whole saga. [/sarcasm]
______________
Well, it came a little late, but the occasionally funny gang at Saturday Night Live finally leveled their trademark rapier wit on the Brett Favre controversy last night with this ad parody for Wrangler Open Fly Jeans. And it’s actually not bad. Jason Sudeikis does a decent Favre impression, but be sure to watch the reactions of his teammates.
WATCH THE SNL WRANGLER AD AFTER THE JUMP
17
Oct
2010
Wade Ball on display as Cowboys fall to 1-4
Remember when the Cowboys were favorites for the Super Bowl this year? (Photo: Star-Telegram/Paul Moseley)
The world-renowned Wade Phillips discipline was on full display Sunday in Minneapolis during the Cowboys 24-21 loss to the Vikings. Dallas was flagged 11 times for 91 yards, including calls that negated a 68-yard Miles Austin TD, as well as a 34-yard punt return. Austin kicked things off himself with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the Cowboys first score, and Tony Romo added two interceptions that set up 10 points for Minnesota. It was the third time Phillips’ club has reached double figures in penalties this season, as they continue to find new and exciting ways beat themselves.
The loss drops the Cowboys to 1-4 on the season, and has Dallas sports fans praying that the Rangers can salvage their Fall sports season. But owner Jerry Jones is sticking by his head coach, saying after the game that he wouldn’t fire Phillips, at least until the end of the season.
“I would never consider doing that during the season,” Jones said.
(ed note: this is only because of the ridiculous amount of money it would cost to do so)
However, Jones did not give Phillips a vote of confidence. He acknowledged that the Cowboys are in serious trouble due in large part to a glaring lack of discipline.
“I’m not [optimistic],” Jones said. “I’m very disappointed. I realize the challenge that we’ve got, and we’re not playing well enough to get it done right now. We’re running out of the opportunity to make this season what we meant it to be.”
CONTINUE AFTER THE JUMP FOR VIDEO LOWLIGHTS OF THE COWBOYS SEASON
14
Oct
2010
The Ball … Brett Favre’s Groin … It Works On So Many Levels
(Original photoshop/hack job by ArtieFufkin)
So this video of Brett Favre getting hit in the junk by a football has been making the rounds today. By itself, it’s nothing particularly special … just your run-of-the-mill physical/groin humor at its most base level. Clearly not high brow enough for our tastes here at RnR.
However, when taken in context with the events of the past week, Favre’s private parts have taken on added, special meaning. Were the Gods sending Brett a bit of karmic retribution for his alleged indiscretions? That’s really not for us to decide, so we’ll get right to the point of this post. The real win here comes from the fact that the internet has already taken that video clip and mashed it up with one of the greatest episodes of The Simpsons of all time. And any opportunity to combine the NFL with the Simpsons is a good enough excuse for a post around these parts.
Watch now as Farve takes the place of Hans Moleman, and this puerile clip is transformed into a cinematic masterpiece:
8
Oct
2010
Did Brett Favre send Jenn Sterger pictures of his junk?
(Image via NY Daily News)
Yesterday, Deadspin.com broke what could potentially be the biggest off-field NFL story to come along in a while, about one of its biggest stars. If you haven’t seen it yet, here is the post in question, which presents a fairly ugly picture of Brett Favre sexually harassing Jenn Sterger, a former sideline reporter with the Jets. At the time of the alleged incident in 2008, Favre was playing QB for New York, meaning he and Sterger were co-workers. And that takes the issue from just a private instance of indiscretion to one of legally actionable harassment, which could obviously come with serious ramifications.
Watch the video in the linked article, but be warned, there are photos of male genitalia at the the end. In it, Deadspin presents MySpace screen shots, voicemail messages, and pictures of someone’s – purportedly Favre’s – penis. The initial contact came to Sterger via a phony Myspace account under the name “Screaming Lord Byron” (a David Bowie reference) and escalated from there, with Sterger being led to believe that Favre was on the other end. The messages & photos came from a cell phone with a Mississippi area code, and the voice sure as heck sounds like Favre. We’ll reserve judgement on the authenticity of the rest of the evidence.
The NFL says they are “reviewing the matter”, and during a Vikings press conference yesterday, Favre refused to address questions about the report. But Fox Sports’ Jason Whitlock wrote an excellent column about the whole saga, which calls out Roger Goodell to step up and deal with the issue at hand swiftly:
“I’m not getting into that,” Favre responded when asked directly about the Deadspin report. “I’ve got my hands full with the Jets.”
Goodell has no such excuse. He elected himself the NFL’s top cop. He can’t brush this off. Again, if true, this is sexual harassment … It does not matter that Jenn Sterger’s on-full-display, fake breasts were her only qualification to land a job with the Jets. She should be afforded protection from harassment. Unsolicited e-mails, phone calls and Full Monty pics are quite different from locker-room catcalls and coaches running pass plays in the direction of a provocatively dressed Sideline Barbie.
Goodell must investigate the Favre-Sterger incident and either clear or punish Favre.
20
Sep
2010
UH-OH, the Vikings and Cowboys start 0-2
I wonder if Brett is regretting coming back for one more season (Photo: Joe Rimkus Jr/Miami Herald)
Don’t look now, but the sky is falling in Minneapolis and Dallas this Monday, after both cities’ beloved football teams have started the season 0-2. The Vikings and Cowboys were both fashionable pre-season picks to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLV, but are currently looking for their first win … and both clubs are desperately looking for answers.
In Minnesota, Favre was intercepted 3 times and fumbled once in the Vikings 14-10 home loss to the Miami Dolphins. It was his worst day as a Viking, and a rude awakening for Favre who threw just 2 interceptions in the Metrodome all of last season. And while it’s still early in the season, now the Vikings are looking up in the NFC North, where both the Packers and Vikings are 2-0. With WR Sidney Rice already out with a hip injury, and Percy Harvin scheduled for an MRI on his own injured hip, rumors are swirling that the Vikings will make a move for WR Vincent Jackson, who is currently suspended and embroiled in a contract dispute with the San Diego Chargers. Regardless, the Vikings will face the Lions this Sunday before getting a bye week to try and right the ship.
Meanwhile in Dallas, the Cowboys lost to the Bears, 27-20, marking the first time they’ve started the season 0-2 since 2001. Jerry Jones is already starting to freak out, and applying not-so-subtle pressure on Wade Phillips, after losing to two teams they were favored to beat … mainly by shooting themselves in the foot.
That's a whole lotta confused faces (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
9
Sep
2010
ARTIE and THEDARKHORSE discuss 2010 (Part One)
One more time, with feeling: Brett Favre and his Vikings are determined to get back to the NFC Championship. Their journey begins tonight. (Source: NewsOne)
THEDARKHORSE: Artie, we’re finally here. Standing at the doorway, with the 2010 NFL season spread before us in all its splendor. Today, every team has a certain amount of hope. If you’re the New Orleans Saints, you’re sure you can get back to the big game. If you’re the Detroit Lions, you’re sure this season brings proof of growth. If you’re the Minnesota Vikings, nothing less than the Super Bowl is acceptable. That’s fine, except that 15 NFC clubs will ultimately look back on this season as a failure. So… which supposed powerhouse falls the farthest this season? (In your world, Artie, which team is this year’s ’87 New York Giants)?
ARTIEFUFKIN: It is a magical time of year, indeed. I literally got giddy this morning thinking about how close we are to the start of the NFL season. And I like that you’re starting off on a negative note here: which playoff team from 2009 will FAIL the worst the year?
To me, the Arizona Cardinals have peaked, and are due for a fall this year. Gone from this year’s team are Kurt Warner, Karlos Dansby, Anquan Boldin and Antrell Rolle … four of the teams best players. They’re in a weak division, and they have the easiest schedule in the NFL this year, but with Derek Anderson taking over the reigns, things could slide quickly for the Cardinals
And everyone is all over the Vikings jock this year, but they could be in for a rude awakening if old man Farve doesn’t put on a repeat performance of last season, which is going to be difficult to do, especially with that lingering ankle injury. Sidney Rice is injured and Percy Harvin suffers from migraines, and it seems like defenses are finally starting to catch up to Adrian Peterson. To me, the Packers are the team to beat in the NFC, and the rest of the NFC north is getting better … it just feels like a recipe for potential disaster in Minnesota.
TDH, there seems to be an unusually large crop of rookie RBs who will be carrying a large part of the load for their team this year. Guys like Ryan Matthews and Javid Best are two guys who are already being hyped up, but which rookie (not necessarily RB) do you think will make this most impact this season.
THEDARKHORSE: In terms of RB, you’ve named two leading contenders in Jahvid Best and Ryan Mathews. I think they’ll thrive not only because they appear NFL-ready, but because they’ll be given a full chance to operate and produce on offense. Mathews, especially, is being thrust into a starting role occupied for the better part of a decade by LaDanian Tomlinson. Big shoes to fill, yet he’s stepping in at a good time — it appears nobody in San Diego is too distraught to be without LT. These guys aside, I believe C.J. Spiller is the one we’ll be talking about all season long. He’s dangerous from all points on the field and has incredible speed. The guy scores from long distance, and should remind you of a few whip-fast runners from our childhood: Dave Meggett and Eric (“Stop Calling Me Terry”) Metcalf. The Bills don’t have much on offense, and if defenses focuses on Spiller exclusively, he might not get the yardage Mathews will, but I think he’ll be twice as exciting.
Artie, do we have a surprise team in the NFL — do we have a 1999 St. Louis Rams this time around. And, for the record, let’s not call the Miami Dolphins a surprise team. More along the lines of a 4-12 club that completely stuns the league.
ARTIEFUFKIN: Well, I don’t necessarily see anyone coming out of nowhere and winning the Super Bowl, but I do think this might finally be the year that the Detroit Lions turn things around, and get their first .500 record since 1999. You saw glimpses last year that this group of players could pull together, and now that Matt Millen is no longer hanging around like a black cloud of sadness, you just get the feeling these guys are on the right track. They’ve got another year of seasoning under Matt Stafford & Calvin Johnson, and have added rookies like Ndomukong Suh & Jahvid Best, who should both make a big impact right away. Add veterans like Kyle Vanden Bosch, Nate Burleson, Rob Sims and Tony Scheffler to the mix, and you’ve got the building blocks for the future in place. GM Martin Mayhew and Head Coach Jim Schwartz genuinely seem to have a plan in place, and there is finally reason for hope in Detroit.
Click below to read more.
4
Aug
2010
Brett Favre supposedly retiring again (insert dismissive wanking motion)
UPDATE: Aug 4, 2010 @ 13:10pm
This is probably the last time we’re going to post about this guy until the season starts. Given the media’s hard-on for any sort of Favre-related news, we’re going to be subjected to this kind of random speculation for at least the next month. And we’re just not going to ride that ride again.
So here’s the latest (and last from us), via ESPN.com:
Brett Favre told ESPN’s Ed Werder in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Wednesday that he has not made any decision about returning to play for the Minnesota Vikings this season and says he will play if healthy.
Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, said in a statement to the NFL Network on Wednesday that the quarterback has an appointment with Dr. James Andrews next week and will know more at that time. Andrews performed surgery on Favre’s ankle in May.
If you’re looking for Favre news for the next 5 weeks, just turn on ESPN. Trust us, it will be unavoidable.
____________________________
ORIGINAL POST: Aug 3, 2010 @ 13:43pm
So the big sports news today is that Brett Favre reportedly told Vikings teammates and officials that he’s not going to return to Minnesota this season.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune was the first to break the story early this morning, and the sports universe has been all atwitter since:
NFL sources said that Favre began contacting various members of the Vikings on Monday to say he was going to issue a press release Tuesday stating his intention to retire. Favre is not pleased with how his left ankle has responded to surgery in late May.
Of course, this report has now been followed by a statement from head coach Brad Childress that he has not heard from Favre, and is unaware of any decision by the ever-waffling QB. And Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell – one of Favre’s best friends – says he spoke with Favre on Tuesday and he didn’t mention anything about retirement. Either way, you can be assured that the Vikings brass are scrambling tonight to try and persuade Favre to come back for one more Super Bowl run.
Sorry, but we’re not buying any of this for a second. Favre also said he was retiring around this same time last year (on July 28th) and of course ended up joining the team on August 18th. The smart money says that Brett is just making another ploy to get out of training camp, so wake us in a few weeks when this decision may or may not become reality. Until then, we’ll just assume that Favre will be taking snaps in the NFL this season.
Brett Favre told ESPN’s Ed Werder in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Wednesday that he has not made any decision about returning to play for the Minnesota Vikings this season and says he will play if healthy.
Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, said in a statement to the NFL Network on Wednesday that the quarterback has an appointment with Dr. James Andrews next week and will know more at that time. Andrews performed surgery on Favre’s ankle in May.
