12
Nov
2009
Mike Smith fined $15k, DeAngelo Hall $0 for role in sideline brawl
(Photo: AP)
The AP is reporting that Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith has been fined $15,000 for his part in Sunday’s sideline skirmish with Redksins CB DeAngelo Hall.
Hall, on the other hand, was not fined at all. This may seem a bit odd considering that Hall launched himself into the Falcons sideline seemingly intent on starting trouble (mission accomplished!). But apparently Mr. Goodell saw something different than the rest of us, and decided to punish everyone involved except Hall.
Other fines handed out following the brawl include Redskins safety LaRon Landry ($7,500), Washington defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth ($5,000) and Falcons director of athletic performance Jeff Fish ($2,500).
And again, Hall = $0. Makes perfect sense.
Smith had this to say after Thursday’s practice:
“I received a letter from the NFL office this morning,” he said. “I want to reiterate that I’m always going to have my players’ backs and I’m going to take care of them.”
Good for Smith. DeAngelo Hall is a punk with a history of starting trouble, and it’s ridiculous that Goodell would let him off the hook like that.
3
Sep
2009
VICK HITS THE SCENE WEEK THREE
Without getting into all the sticky details, Roger Godell and the NFL stated today that Michael Vick will be eligible to return to regular season play WEEK THREE.
The Eagles will host the Kansas City Chiefs–who seem extremely ripe for the picking.
Vick's last regular season game was on New Year's Eve 2006. His team at the time, the Falcons, lost 24-17 to the Eagles--his team of today.
15
Aug
2009
Chris Cooley reminds us that the NFL frowns on individuality
Roger Goodell will not tolerate sock violations ... or pledge pins on your uniform
Redskins TE Chris Cooley – the NFL’s best blogger – recently posted an account of a team meeting regarding uniform violations, reminding us just how seriously the NFL takes their policies (in case there was any doubt). Cooley goes on to list some of the fines that can be levied against players for straying from the league dress code.
Camp is well underway so let the multitude of meetings continue – all kinds varying from local gang activity to how to handle your baby’s mama. One of my favorite annual meetings was held as the the team gathered restlessly yesterday afternoon. The NFL dress code and fine schedule.
Just for fun I figured I would list some of the fines mentioned in our meeting and different amounts.
$5000 fines
- High/Low whites on socks
- Pants not covering knees (no skin should show below the waist)
- Bandana
- Wrong nasal strip
- Hand towel alterations – towel must be 7 to 8 inches and have no tape on it
- Tape not the same color of the shoe.
- Jersey untucked (usually there is a warning for this one)
- Jersey cut too short
- Sleeves coming out of jersey – only QB can have this and only a certain amount can come out
- Chinstrap undone ($7500)$10,000 fines
- Personal messages
- Any second offense fine
- Wrong attire 90 minutes previous and after a game – clothes must be Reebok apparel
- Tinted visor – must have a doctors note for a tinted visor
Some of these fines might seem nick-picky, sure. But the fines go to charity, and it’s not like these are huge hits on players’ bank accounts either. And I can totally see why a bandana and incorrect nasal strip could be a threat to the integrity of the game. That’s just common sense.
27
Jul
2009
Clinton Portis Will Haunt Your Dreams
There’s a lot of big stuff going on in NFL news today … namely that Michael Vick was reinstated by Roger Goodell and Plaxico Burress still looks like he’s heading to jail.
But when we saw this picture of Redskins RB Clinton Portis (above), it shook us to the core. Suddenly, all other news seemed trivial compared to the paralyzing, horriffic fear of having our brains eaten in our sleep by this blonde devil-creature. It’s all we could do to get out of the fetal position and crawl to the keyboard to make this post.
Clearly, there is only one way to handle this: don’t go to sleep. And if you see Portis on the street … KILL IT!!!
23
Jul
2009
Vick Freedom Tour includes strippers, Goodell, possible reinstatment?
It’s been an eventful week for our old friend, and recently released convict Michael Vick. The Big Lead reports Vick spent Monday night – his first night of freedom – hanging out with Allen Iverson in Virginia Beach. At a strip club. Of course, Vick flatly denies this rumor.
Meanwhile, ESPN tells us that Vick met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday to discuss his possible reinstatement. League sources say that Goodell is expected to grant a conditional reinstatement of Vick as early as next week! If this is true, it would mean Vick would be allowed to sign with an NFL team this season, attend training camp, and then would be suspended for the first 4 games of the regular season.
Well that didn’t take very long, did it? The guy has been out of prison for less than a week, and he’s already rolling out to the strip clubs, and on the verge of reinstatement. It’s like it’s 2005 all over again!
For their part, the league office says no decisions have been made, and Goodell is quoted as having said, “this is not about me”.
30
Jun
2009
Listen to Donte Stallworth’s 911 call
Cleveland Browns WR Donte Stallworth is serving a 30-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to DUI and manslaughter in the March death of Mario Reyes … a slap on the wrist that many people felt was too lenient. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apparently agreed, and responded by suspending Stallworth indefinitely.
Here is the recording of the 911 call Stallworth made after the accident, in which he tells the operator that Reyes “just ran in front of my car”. WARNING: This is mildly disturbing, and contains some profanity:
1
May
2009
Jews for Jets upset by NFL Scheduling conflict
These guys clearly need to fast for their sins Yom Kippur. Especially the guy on the left. (Photo: Getty Images)
Okay, so this story is like 2 weeks old, but I’m barely a Jew (and really only think of the Jets as the tenants of Giants stadium), so I didn’t really pay attention when it originally came out.
When the 2009 NFL Schedule was released, the New York Jets filed a complaint with the NFL because their 1st two home games conflicted with the Jewish Holidays of Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur. The Jets were inundated with complains from their Hasidic fanbase:
In the letter to Goodell, owner Woody Johnson suggested the game against the Titans be changed to a 1 p.m. start to give Jewish fans time to arrive home before sundown.
“I am extremely disappointed with the league’s decision to schedule us to play at home on consecutive Sundays that are in direct conflict with the Jewish High Holy Days,” Johnson wrote. “There has long been an understanding that neither the Jets nor the Giants fans should have to bear completely the brunt of this issue since we are in the largest Jewish market in the country.”
According to reports, the Giants requested they play on the road on the two holidays, and the Jets did the same. But somehow the Jets request didn’t make it to the league office (dun, dun, DUN!!!). The league has taken full responsibility, and is moving the games to start & end before sundown.
Jimmy Kimmel also had an interesting piece on the trouble this issue was causing in the Jets locker room:
26
Mar
2009
NFL Owners Meetings Rage On!
While most of us are neck-deep in March Madness, the NFL owners are getting together this week – ostensibly to discuss how rich they are, and how they can continue to get richer. And while they’re at it, they’re changing the rules of the game … for better or worse.
Jerry Jones challenges other owners to Rock, Paper, Scissors for the rights to host the 2011 Super Bowl
Here are a few of the changes that have been instituted:
- Allowing video replays on a loose ball that could be either a fumble or an incomplete pass (the Ed Hochuli rule)
- Added video reviews of down-by-contact plays involving a fumble
- Replay can now be used to determine if a loose ball hit the sideline
- The draft order for playoff teams was reworked and will be based on where teams were eliminated in the postseason
- Check out this article on NFL.com for a complete list of rule changes
And then there’s the “Brady Rule” (from Boston.com):
… the league’s Competition Committee adopted a clarification of the current rule on hits to a quarterback in the knee area or below. The clarification specifically prohibits a defender on the ground who hasn’t been blocked or fouled directly into the quarterback from lunging or diving at the quarterback’s lower legs.
The pussifying of the NFL continues, in the name of protecting the franchise quarterback. Now, not only can you no longer hit a QB below the waist or above the neck … now, defenders need to basically stop playing if they’ve fallen down (or been blocked to the ground), and they can’t crawl toward the QB, who by the way, has the effing football!
I’m sorry, but this goes against the fundamentals of defensive football. We are a few years away from QBs wearing a red jersey and being untouchable. For the amount of money these guys are making, its about time to start treating QBs like the real football players they are.
So a knee gets blown out here or there?!? Welcome to the NFL, son.
Extended Regular Season coming
Last but not least, the Washington Post and NFL.com are reporting that the NFL regular season will likely expand to 18 games in 2011.
credit: thesportingorange.com
Apparently they’re leaning toward trimming the pre-season to 2 games (which I actually agree with), and then tacking on 2 regular season games at the end. There’s been some talk of extending the season by just one extra game to 17, with all teams playing one international game per year, to keep the home/away games even.
Quite simply, this move is profit motivated. Shocking, I know. By swapping out pre-season games for regular season games, the NFL will automatically make more money. And let’s face it, pre-season games suck. Plus, the idea of adding more international games is part of Goodell’s overall plan for globalization of the league. On a business level, do I blame them? No.
But the reality is that the NFL is a brutal sport, and it takes a much larger toll on the athletes than any other sport. Even over 16 games, most teams are already wearing down by the end of the season, and the playoffs are largely determined by which team is lucky enough to stay healthy. If they extend the season any longer, the product on the field is going to suffer, careers will be shortened, and the sport will be watered down even further.
Not sure I’m a huge fan of Mr. Goodell right now, and this move might backfire on the league.
