12
Apr
2013
Lions sign Norwegian Youtube sensation “Kickalicious” (VIDEO)
(via twincities.com)
The Detroit Lions signed Norwegian Kicker Havard Rugland, a.k.a. “Kickalicious”to a 3-year deal worth nearly $1.5 million yesterday … because of course they did.
The Lions have apparently brought Rugland into compete with veteran David Akers based almost entirely on the prowess displayed in his viral trick shot video (see below), which has garnered over 3.1 million views since it was posted in September. Rugland worked out for the Lions last month, and has reportedly been working out with former NFL kicker Michael Husted to prepare him for his tryouts with Detroit and a couple other teams whose scouting departments have devolved into a bunch of people surfing Reddit all day for viral videos (if you guessed the Jets and Browns, you win a prize).
Clearly this is a PR stunt by Detroit, but regardless of what comes of Rugland’s NFL career, the video itself is pretty impressive to watch:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
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”. All. Night. Long. Oh, and just to ratchet up the sadness factor, the lowlights will be set to the music of Adele.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
10
Sep
2012
NFL GIFs of the week: 2012 Week One
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.
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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The NFL is BACK … and ‘merica!!!
(via sbnation.com)
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On opening night, Rob Ryan also fired up that football is back:
(via cjzero.com)
9
Sep
2012
Brandon Weeden gets caught under the American flag during pre-game (GIF & VIDEO)
So far, this is our favorite moment of NFL opening Sunday.
Watch Browns rookie QB Brandon Weeden – making his first pro start, and clearly still adjusting to the NFL stage – get caught under the American flag during today’s Browns-Eagles pre-game ceremonies:
(via mocksession.com)
Weeden eventually found his way out of there, in case you were worried.
VIDEO & PHOTO AFTER THE JUMP
9
Sep
2012
Will Smith to start, Jonathan Vilma to lead “Who Dat” chant in Saints opener
(via deadspin.com)
After having their suspensions overturned by an appeals panel on Thursday, four NFL players - Saints LB Jonathan Vilma and DE Will Smith, Browns LB Scott Fujita and free agent DL Anthony Hargrove – were immediately allowed to return to the field as soon as possible.
“Consistent with the panel’s decision, Commissioner Goodell will, as directed, make an expedited determination of the discipline imposed for violating the league’s pay-for-performance/bounty rule,” Aiello said in a statement. “Until that determination is made, the four players are reinstated and eligible to play starting this weekend.”
In a huge victory for the Saints, Smith will start the opener in New Orleans today. And although Vilma will need a few weeks to recover from a knee injury, he is expected to take the team out of the tunnel at the Superdome, and lead the crowd in a “Who Dat” chant following the coin toss.
While the ruling is a crushing blow to Roger Goodell and the NFL, it’s important to note that the suspensions are not permanently vacated, pending a further ruling by the league. It’s entirely possible (and even likely) that Goodell will find a new way to suspend the players (and especially Vilma) for “conduct detrimental to the league” … as opposed to actually intending to injure opposing players, which they clearly have no proof of.
But expect a raucous crowd in New Orleans today, as they celebrate this victory, no matter how temporary it may be. Oh, and Fujita will not play in the Browns’ opener, as he is on the team’s injured/exemption list while he recovers from a leg injury.
6
Sep
2012
Former Browns and Ravens owner Art Modell dies at 87
(via foxnews.com)
Art Modell – one of the most influential men in the history of the NFL – died early Thursday, “peacefully of natural causes”.
Modell was among the most important figures in the NFL as owner of the Cleveland Browns and a league insider. During his four decades as a team owner, he helped negotiate the NFL’s lucrative contracts with television networks, served as president of the NFL from 1967 to 1969, and chaired the negotiations for the first the collective bargaining agreement with the players in 1968.
He also was the driving force behind the 1970 contract between the NFL and ABC to televise games on Monday night.
But for many, Modell’s legacy will forever be tarnished for moving the Browns out of Cleveland and to Baltimore in 1996. It’s a decision that still haunts the people of Cleveland and Browns fans everywhere, who will always remember Modell like this:
7
Aug
2012
Browns name Weeden starting QB; owner Jimmy Haslem gets hands-on with players (PIC)
Yesterday, Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur announced that Brandon Weeden will be the team’s starting quarterback heading into the season. And while the news doesn’t exactly come as a surprise, it puts to rest any potential controversy between Weeden and Colt McCoy, and is a step in the right direction for a franchise desperately searching for identity at the QB position.
“Brandon is the starter and we’re moving forward,” said Shurmur. “I think that’s the important thing. I’m not looking back. We’re committed and we’re rolling. We anticipate he’s going to do a great job.”
At 28-years-old, Weeden isn’t your average rookie, and will be given every chance to become the new face of the team. It might not be entirely fair for McCoy, but let’s face it, for better or worse, the Browns had already turned the page on Colt the day they drafted Weeden.
On Friday, new Browns owner Jimmy Haslem visited with his team at practice, where showed that he takes a particularly hands-on approach with his players:
Hey now! (AP Photo/Joshua Gunter, The Cleveland Plain Dealer)
In addition to spot cup checks, Haslem has also indicated that he’d be willing to explore changing the Browns long-standing uniforms, in an attempt to keep up with the times and maximize marketing opportunities.
But regardless of your feelings about the old orange and brown unis, or whether you had hoped McCoy was the team’s savior, it’s clear that Haslem is an owner who brings enthusiasm and confidence to an organization that has been lacking in that department for some time now.
27
Apr
2012
With Weeden pick, Browns continue their never-ending search for QB (Photo)
When the Cleveland Browns selected 28-year-old QB Brandon Weeden with the #22 overall pick in last night’s NFL draft, it shocked a lot of Browns fans everywhere. Leading up to the draft, the Browns front office had been assuring everyone who would listen that they were comfortable with Colt McCoy under center, and were expecting him to take a big leap forward this year.
(Photo via Reddit.com/r/nfl)
Cleveland started things off Thursday night by making a big move to trade up one slot to select RB Trent Richardson with the #3 pick, much to the delight of the Dog Pound. But when their second pick of the first round came up, and when WR Kendall Wright - who they had been targeting - was snatched out from under them by the Titans at pick #20, the Browns were left with Weeden as the best available player on their board.
GM Tom Heckert says “there wasn’t really an afterthought”, but perhaps they should have given a bit more consideration as to how it would effect their incumbent QB. Because now, the Browns are apparently considering trading McCoy, and the Cleveland offense is looking like it will be totally re-vamped for the 2012 campaign.
BONUS LINK: Browns superfan Mike Polk (of “factory of sadness” fame) posted this video welcoming Weeden to Cleveland.
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]
13
Dec
2011
James Harrison suspended one game for hit on Colt McCoy
(Photo: ESPN.com)
In an unprecedented disciplinary move, the NFL has suspended Steelers’ LB James Harrison for one game following his helmet-to-helmet hit on Browns QB Colt Mcoy last Thursday (VIDEO HERE). It was Harrison’s fifth illegal hit against a QB in the past three seasons, which qualifies Harrison as a “repeat offender” and therefore made him subject to suspension.
From the league’s official statement:
Harrison was penalized for roughing the passer in last Thursday night’s Steelers-Browns game for an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit against a defenseless quarterback, Cleveland’s COLT MC COY. In addition to four fines for illegal hits against quarterbacks in 2009 and 2010, Harrison also was fined twice for unnecessary roughness during that period. Harrison totaled six fines in that two-year period.
The 2011 League Policies for Players manual states: “Players who were fined for violations in 2009 or 2010, and whose fines were either partially or fully upheld, will be considered second and/or repeat offenders under this policy.”
Prior to now, the league had only levied fined against players for such behavior, but Harrison has been the poster child for the league’s new policy against helmet-to-helmet hits for years now. Despite the fact that Harrison plans to appeal, there really is no defense for the way he lowered the crown of his helmet directly into McCoy’s facemask the way he did on this play. Roger Goodell had finally seen enough, and decided to drop the hammer.
Whether or not you agree with the legue’s crackdown on vicious hits, this is the NFL today … like it or not. And after years of fines and warnings, it’s clear that Harrison still just doesn’t get it. Maybe missing some actual game time will get through to him.
BONUS GIF OF THE HIT AFTER THE JUMP
