19
Sep
2011
Dunta Robinson just doesn’t get the whole illegal helmet-to-helmet thing (VIDEO)
Leading with the helmet is Robinson's forte (Photo: Getty Images via WashingtonPost.com)
UPDATE: Robinson has been fined $40,000 by the NFL for this hit.
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Last season, Falcons CB Dunta Robinson made headlines with his brutal helmet-to-helmet collision with Eagles WR DeSean Jackson, becoming the poster child for the NFL’s crackdown on violent tackling. And despite being fined for that play and the league issuing a new manifesto on discipline and illegal hits, apparently, Robinson still doesn’t understand, because he went and did it again during last night’s Eagles-Falcons game, this time to WR Jeremy Maclin.
Regardless of his intent, Robinson clearly led with the crown of his helmet, and the league will certainly be reviewing the play to see if any fines and/or suspensions are warranted, especially considering that he’s a repeat offender. The hit also drew the ire of the Eagles players:
“He’s two for two now,” Maclin said. “Fortunately, it wasn’t as bad as Jack’s was last year. I guess we’ll see what Roger Goodell has in store for him.”
Jackson didn’t think too much of Robinson’s hit on Maclin.
“I guess that’s what type of player he is,” Jackson said. “He tries to go for the kill shot and things like that. He got a flag for it, so just glad Jeremy is OK.”
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
28
Apr
2011
VIDEO: Roger Goodell gets booed at the NFL Draft
As expected, when he stepped up to the podium for the first time at tonight’s NFL Draft, Roger Goodell was showered with boos from the fans on-hand at Radio City Music Hall.
The crowd – expressing the frustrations of football fans across the land – chanted “WE WANT FOOTBALL! WE WANT FOOTBALL!” for almost a minute, while all the commissioner could do was meekly smile and agree with the sentiment until the chant died down. It took a call for a moment of silence for those affected by the recent tornados in the South to finally quiet the crowd.
Watch and enjoy as Goodell squirms uncomfortably:
The hazing didn’t stop there, as Goodell was jeered every time he stepped up to announce a pick during the first round.
And things got even more awkward when Goodell greeted the #2 overall pick of the Denver Broncos, Von Miller, who is one of the plaintiffs named in the anti-trust lawsuit brought against the league. Incidentally, that lawsuit is the one that led to this week’s decision to lift the lockout, but Goodell was all smiles and greeting Miller with super-genuine hug in welcoming him to the NFL.
5
Mar
2011
FRIDAY EVENING NFL OWNERS CONFERENCE CALL: ROGER GOODELL LABOR UPDATE
Goodell texts Ralph Wilson's typewriter from the Madden Cruiser (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
Roger Goodell: ….So essentially, that’s where it stands currently. Do any of you have any questions for me right now?
Ralph Wilson: I can’t see anyone?
Arthur Blank: It’s a phone call sir. So you shouldn’t see anyone.
Bob Kraft: What’s the hold up, Roger?
Goodell: They don’t want 18 games, they are worried about injury. I think if we can agree on the amount of games, the rest will fall into place.
Al Davis: Who’s worried?
Goodell: The players, sir. The people we are negotiating with.
Davis: Negotiate! I once rode the dragon with Howard Hughes, I only eat the beating hearts of unicorns, I sleep upside down in a belfry, I don’t negotiate with anyone!
Kraft: Al, good God, have you ever listened to yourself? You’re losing it.
Davis: Of course, I have only heard the sound of my voice since I had my face laminated in 1987.
Dan Snyder: Why don’t we just keep it at 16 and put this thing to bed.
Jerry Jones: Snyder, why don’t you shut up. You don’t know anything.
Snyder: Whatever, Jerry! Great job with the tickets!
Paul Allen: Hey, let’s work together, boys. I need more money for my mattress. I’m sleeping funny.
Randy Lerner: Have you tried putting some gold bars in there?
Zygi Wilf: Oh that works. Or sometimes I will have some of my servants get in there for the night. The odd shapes of their bodies provides a good night’s rest.
Blank: I find that if you shred the 100-dollar bills before you put them in the mattress, it’s more comfortable.
Goodell: Let’s keep on track. Do you all still want 18 games?
Wilson: Wait, this is a phone? Where is the dial? Is this magic!?
Blank: Sir, it isn’t magic, just a newer phone.
Wilson: Demons!
1
Feb
2011
James Harrison has changed his ways, Mr. Goodell (VIDEO)
Insert pillow at receiver's feet (Photo: Post-Gazette.com)
Super Bowl Media Day is one of biggest circuses in all of sports, and with reporters from all over the world asking the same questions over and over again, it can easily blend into a mind-numbing hum of sports cliches and politically correct answers.
Well thank goodness for Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison, who used the stage today in Dallas to once-again make his views about the league’s crackdown on illegal hits known. Harrison became the poster boy for the NFL’s heightened stance on violent tackles this season, ultimately losing $125,000 to fines for hitting opposing players too hard. Never one to shy away from a good sound byte, he even threatened to retire from the sport after his now-infamous hit on Mohamed Massaquoi. And as the league’s most heavily fined player this season, Harrison is clearly still harboring some resentment against commissioner Roger Goodell.
Among other things, Harrison said that the meeting he had with Goodell was a “waste of time”, and questioned whether the league really cares about player safety. Fortunately for us, Harrison still seems to have a good sense of humor about the whole thing:
29
Nov
2010
Andre Johnson avoids suspension for beating Finnegan; fans everywhere applaud
Andre Johnson dishes out some street justice to Cortland Finnegan (Photo: Karen Warren/Chronicle)
Let’s face it: Andre Johnson did the league a favor. When the all-pro WR beat Cortland Finnegan like he stole something during yesterdays Texans/Titans game, it somehow felt as though justice had been served.
Finnegan takes pride in being a dirty player. His entire game is getting inside his opponents’ heads until they finally snap and draw a penalty. The guy is a punk, plain and simple, who has openly boasted about wanting to be labeled the dirtiest player in the league. And so far this season, he’s done a fine job of building his reputation along those lines. But yesterday, Finnegan picked a fight with a much bigger dog, and he finally got what was coming to him. And as it happened, football fans around the world cheered.
Which is why it’s nice to hear that Johnson will not be suspended for his part in the brawl for it all, according to a report from Fox26. And the Houston Chronicle reports that both players have been fined $25k, but neither will face suspension for their actions. It actually seems like a particularly light slap on the wrist for both players from Roger Goodell, who up until now recently has handed out fines like Halloween candy. Richard Seymour was just fined the same amount last week for smacking down Ben Roethlisberger … and that was just one open-handed shot, while both were wearing helmets. So it seemed that a heavier punishment was in line for both players after their full-on brawl at the 40-yard line.
Johnson has been extremely contrite in apologizing for his actions yesterday, saying he simply lost his cool and would accept whatever punishment came his way. But Goodell apparently agreed with Mike Ditka, who went on the Mike and Mike radio show this morning and suggested that Johnson should be commended for his actions:
I wouldn’t suspend him. I would applaud him if I was the National Football League. Where does it say that if I snake bites you, you can’t step on the snake? And that’s exactly what happened to this kid.
That seems to be the general consensus.
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO OF THE BRAWL AFTER THE JUMP
9
Nov
2010
NFL doesn’t fine Coleman for Collie hit; continue to make up rules as they go along
(AP Photo via NYTimes.com)
In a shocking move, the NFL has elected not to fine Eagles S Kurt Coleman for this hit that knocked Colts WR Austin Collie out of the game on Sunday.
The decision is surprising mainly because it is the correct one. And in their zealous quest to eliminate helmet-to-helmet hits from the game, the league has seemingly preferred blind justice over common sense when levying punishment (see the ludicrous fine given to Myron Pryor for the completely legal hit that injured Brett Favre). So it appeared that Coleman was a prime candidate for an example-making suspension to really drive their message home.
But today, the league issued a statement explaining they would not discipline Coleman at all:
“Because the helmet-to-helmet contact was a result of Collie being driven toward Coleman by Mikell’s legal hit, there will be no fine for this action”
So it seems that Goodell and his cohorts really are just making this all up as they go along. Just when you thought they were going to fine and suspend anyone who dared make contact with the head or neck area of an opponent, they go and do something completely out of character and make a decision that reeks of logic and a greater understanding of the nature of the game … well, at least at the beginning.
7
Nov
2010
VIDEO: Austin Collie gets knocked out by helmet-to-helmet hit
(Photo: Matt Detrich / The Star)
Another scary moment today in Philadelphia, when Colts WR Austin Collie was knocked unconscious by S Kurt Coleman during the 2nd quarter of the Eagles 26-24 win. After the play, Collie lay motionless on the turf for several minutes before being immobilized and carted off the field. According to initial reports, Collie suffered a concussion, but after the game he was “alert, sitting up and has movement’’.
Once again, it was a bang-bang play, and Collie looked to be making a move with the ball before he was hit by both Coleman and S Quintin Mikell. Mikell was flagged for hitting a defenseless receiver, but on the replays you can see that he delivers a shoulder-to-shoulder hit as Coleman comes in from the other direction. As the target moves, Colman’s helmet strikes Collie’s cleanly, and you can see that Collie is out before he hits the ground:
The play will undoubtedly be scrutinized by the NFL, and is sure to re-ignite the discussion about violent hits in the game. But from where we sit, it looks like a clean play by the Colts defenders, with a very unfortunate result.
Whether you agree with it or not, this is the “new NFL”, and this is exactly the type of helmet-to-helmet collision the league is trying to remove from the game. So regardless of his intention on the play, Coleman can expect a call from Mr. Goodell with at least a fine – if not a suspension – as punishment. And you can almost certainly expect Goodell to make an example of Coleman here … especially since he’s not a big-name player for the league.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKGET5-mUNo
30
Oct
2010
Roger Goodell intent on invading London with NFL franchise
(Original photoshop/hack job by ArtieFufkin)
The NFL returns to London this weekend, with the 2-5 Broncos facing off against the 1-6 49ers before a sold-out audience at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. This is the latest step in Roger Goodell’s never-ending quest for global domination, and the fourth regular-season contest played in London in as many years. And despite the fact that the league continues to schedule sub-par match-ups for the overseas audience, Goodell once again expressed his desire for an NFL franchise in London:
“Each year, the different barometers indicate that our popularity continues to rise,’ Goodell said.
‘I think the next step will be multiple games (in Europe). And if that’s successful then I think the idea of a franchise here is realistic.’
One has to wonder how accurate Goodell’s barometer is, and whether or not the average person on the street in Europe gives a rat’s ass about American football. Goodell envisions a world with NFL franchises in Mexico, China, Japan and Europe, but it seems a bit delusional to believe there’s enough demand (let alone talent) to support that sort of a plan any time soon.
But where there’s money to be made, Goodell will undoubtedly be trying to plant seeds. And we’ll see how the ol’ barometer handles the stink bomb about to be dropped on 80,000+ fans at Wembley this weekend.
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.
3
Sep
2010
Shocker: Roethlisberger suspension reduced to 4 games
Ben Roelisberger will hopefully avoid the local nightlife during his suspension
Well, this isn’t really surprising, but today, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reduced Ben Roethlisberger’s six-game suspension to four games.
As we all know by now, Roethlisberger was suspended earlier this year after being accused of sexual assaulting a college student in Milledgeville, Georgia on March 5th. Although no charges were filed, Goodell elected to suspend Big Ben for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. But the Pittsburgh QB met with Goodell early this morning, when he learned he would be able to return to the team on October 17th, when the Steelers face the Cleveland Browns. During his suspension, Roethlisberger will not be allowed to visit the team facility or have any contact with Steelers coaches or personnel.
But don’t think Roethlisberger is completely off the hook. From NFL.com:
The league said the “reinstatement is contingent on Roethlisberger continuing to adhere to the program established by our advisors and avoiding any further violations of the personal conduct policy.”
“You have told me and the Steelers that you are committed to making better decisions,” Goodell said in a letter to Roethlisberger. “Your actions over the past several months have been consistent with that promise and you must continue to honor that commitment.
So that basically means Ben needs to stay away from bars, and keep it in his pants for the next six weeks. Let’s see if the big guy can make it happen!
