14
Jan
2013
Peyton Manning shares post-game moment with Ray Lewis (PHOTO)
By now this photo has made the rounds, but we couldn’t resist sharing a genuine, un-staged moment between two of the greatest football players of our time.
Following the Broncos devastating 38-35 playoff loss to the Ravens – more than two hours after the game had ended – Peyton Manning met up with Ray Lewis in the visitor locker room to congratulate him on the victory:
(Photo via @CSteele32)
They say a picture says a thousand words, and with Lewis taking his final run at the post-season, we can only imagine the stories these two warriors have to share from their storied careers as opposing forces in the NFL.
What we wouldn’t have given to be a fly on the wall for that conversation. Even though only Peyton’s young son was close enough to hear what was said, fortunately for us, Ravens media director Chad Steele was there to capture the moment and share it with the world.
5
Nov
2012
Your fun fact of the 2012 NFL season so far (PIC)
After eight games played this season, both Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck are 5-3, with 2,404 yards passing.
(via NFL Facebook)
Mind = Blown.
2
Oct
2012
NFL 2012 Quarter-Point “Jump To Conclusions” Mat
Every year, we try to refrain from pulling a Tom Smykowski from Office Space, and jumping to any conclusions about the NFL season prematurely. In a sixteen-game season, it generally takes several games for teams to figure out their identity, and a lot longer than that to determine a realistic playoff picture.
So while it’s tempting to draw knee-jerk reactions from a couple of games, we at least try to wait until the quarter-point mark to start making our hyperbolic and definitive statements about the season ahead.
Michael Bolton: That’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard in my life, Tom
And even though many of these will undoubtedly prove wrong, we’re not afraid to draw these bold conclusions after just week four of the season.
So without further adieu, here are our top 5 observations on the 2012 edition of ol’ Jump To Conclusions mat:
27
Sep
2012
Joe Mays’ suspension for removing part of Matt Schaub’s ear upheld (PHOTO & GIFs)
Broncos LB Joe Mays had his one-game suspension upheld yesterday for his brutal helmet-to-helmet hit on Texans’ QB Matt Schaub last Sunday.
(Photo: Joe Amon/denverpost.com)
The impact of the hit was so great that it sent Schaub’s helmet flying, along with a small piece of his ear lobe. And if you look closely enough in the banner pic above, you just might be able to make out that little ear chunk flying through the air. It was a gruesome sight to be sure, but Schaub toughed it out, missing only one play before returning to the field.
“I felt fine,” Schaub said. “I just lost a piece of my ear. I was bleeding and my helmet came off. So I had to come out for a play, but I was fine.”
(via houstonpress.com)
Yikes.
As a repeat offender, Mays was also fined $50k for the hit, but he only appealed the suspension in hopes that he might be able to play in Sunday’s game against Oakland. Instead, the league has re-determined that Mays hit a defenseless Schaub in the head area with his own helmet after he had thrown the pass. Pretty obvious, really.
Mays has apologized to Schaub for the play, insisting he didn’t intend to hurt anyone, but will still have to sit this week out and think about what he’s done wrong.
GIFS AFTER THE JUMP
18
Sep
2012
Memo to Roger Goodell: the replacement refs continue to embarrass the NFL
We’ve been saying this since the pre-season, but after this weekend’s games (and particularly the Monday night junk show that we all witnessed), it’s become more than painfully obvious that the replacement officials charged with policing the multi-billion dollar NFL are in over their heads … and it’s having a very real affect on the quality of the product on the field.
And unfortunately, it seems that Roger Goodell just doesn’t care.
(via denverpost.com)
Last night’s Falcons-Broncos game put a national spotlight on the problem, as the scab officials bumbled their way through an hour-long first quarter, clearly unable to handle the speed or intensity of the game as it unfolded before them. At one point, there was a 6-minute delay in the action after players got into a shoving match on the field after a fumble, and the replacements struggled to restore order (or make a definitive call on the recovery). The scene has been described as “chaotic”, with MNF announcer Mike Tirico finally breaking down and saying, ”Honestly. It’s embarrassing. The command and control of this game is gone”.
Later, the replacements showed their lack of grasp on the pro rule book with a couple of egregious spots. Toward the end of the half, the Broncos were awarded 10 yards for a defensive holding penalty against Atlanta – an infraction that only carries a 5-yard penalty in the NFL (it’s 10 yards in college). In the third quarter, with Atlanta driving in their no-huddle offense, the game was paused again while the officials sorted out the spot on another defensive holding penalty. This one had been incorrectly spotted from the previous spot, instead of the spot of the foul as NFL rules dictate.
So even when these officials ultimately got the call right (with the help of the on-field NFL officiating supervisor), it completely interfered with the flow of the game, rendering it nearly unwatchable.
12
Sep
2012
So there’s a Peyton Manning corn maze now (PHOTO & VIDEO)
Think Broncos fans are excited about Peyton Manning’s debut?
Check out this photo of Fritzler Farm Corn Maze in LaSalle, Colorado, whose owners decided to model their annual maze to look like Manning:
(via sportsillustrated.com)
The maze opens to the public on September 15th. I would just hate to get lost in the Manning Face.
And of course, now Peyton can team up with the Marshawn Lynch corn maze to dominate vegetation labyrinths worldwide.
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
Peyton Manning feeling it in first win with Broncos (GIF)
Tonight, it was vintage Peyton.
After much hype and build-up, in his first game back in over a year after neck surgery – and his first as quarterback of the Broncos – Peyton Manning looked like the Peyton of old in leading Denver to an impressive 31-19 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
(Photo: AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Manning looked in complete control of the offense, directing the show in the no-huddle, and going 19 of 26 for 253 yards and 2 touchdowns … including the 400th (and 401st) TD of his career, becoming only the third player in NFL history to do so (Favre, Marino). To secure the win, Manning had to lead the Broncos back from a 19-14 deficit early in the 4th quarter, and did so with ruthless efficiency, including a 71-yard pitch and catch to Demaryius Thomas that put Denver ahead for good.
WATCH PEYTON’S GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS HERE
31
Aug
2012
Watch Cardinals rookie Michael Floyd make a ridiculous TD catch (VIDEO & GIF)
(AP Photo: Paul Connors via arizonasports.com)
During last night’s Cardinals-Broncos pre-season game, rookie wide receiver Michael Floyd made a play that would be in contention for catch of the year, had happened in the regular season.
Early in the 2nd quarter, Floyd lept in the endzone between a pair of Broncos defenders – tipping the ball to himself while getting drilled – to come down with the circus catch from QB Ryan Lindley. Watch it below in GIF format, so you can see exactly how it happens over and over again:
GIF AND VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
21
Mar
2012
Tim Tebow to NY is finally done … after Jets nearly drop the ball
UPDATE: OK, it’s done. Tim Tebow is officially a Jet, for the same terms as discussed earlier. Even the Broncos announced it on their Twitter. So … way to not blow it, guys!!!
In the words of Bart Scott , I genuinely CAN’T WAIT to hear Rex Ryan explain their thinking on this one. Let the Big Apple circus commence!!!
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Before all you Jets fans out there go and purchase your new Tim Tebow jerseys, you might want to wait for the deal for the Broncos QB to actually be finalized.
(Photo: terezowens.com)
It seems that the trade between the Jets and Broncos that would send Tebow (and a 7th round pick) to New York in exchange for a 4th and 6th round pick has hit a snag.
And despite the fact that the Jets announced the deal on their Twitter page (which is still up at the time of this posting), they apparently didn’t really read Tebow’s contract before agreeing to the terms. And now they’re contesting a clause that would require NY to pay back $5 million in advance salaries from his rookie contract in Denver.
If this deal doesn’t end up going through, the Jets are going to end up looking really, really stupid.
