19
Dec
2011
Johnny Knox isn’t supposed to bend that way (GIF)
(Image via mocksession.com)
Ouch. Bears WR Johnny Knox will undergo surgery today to stabilize a vertebra in his back after this scary hit on Sunday versus the Seahawks.
Knox caught a pass from Caleb Hanie in the first quarter, then fumbled the ball backward into his own territory. The Bears’ receiver made a diving attempt to recover the fumble, when he was hit by Seattle DE Anthony Hargrove and bent over backward in half [VIDEO HERE]. Knox was down for a significant amount of time before being placed on a spinal board and carted off the field.
Thankfully, the initial prognosis for Knox is positive, and he should eventually be able to resume his football career … which is the only reason we’re cool posting the gruesome GIF of the injury above.
“He has total movement throughout his body, has total use of all his extremities, which is good,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We’re doing tests right now. He has total movement. He’s not paralyzed or anything.”
So yeah … that’s good news. Here’s wishing Knox a speedy recovery.
15
Nov
2011
Watch Marshawn Lynch fake Ray Lewis out of his jock (GIF)
Yup. It happens to even the best of ‘em.
Watch Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch send both Ray Lewis and Jarret Johnson flying with this incredible juke move from Sunday’s 22-17 win over the Ravens:
(Image via kissingsuzykolber.com)
Yikes. That’s just nasty.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
16
Jan
2011
VIDEO: Bears fans borrow Blackhawks’ tradition, cheer through national anthem
The singing of the Star Spangled Banner at a sporting event is generally only noteworthy if the singer forgets the lyrics, or is otherwise particularly crappy. But recently, there has been a string of genuinely heartwarming anthem videos hitting the web. Earlier this week, this video went viral of an AHL hockey crowd helping an 8-year-old girl finish the song after her mic cut out. And even the most cynical among you will smile a little upon watching it.
Today, the Chicago Bears wanted to get a raucous playoff atmosphere going at prior to kickoff of their NFC Divisional Playoff against the Seattle Seahawks. As such, they brought in Jim Cornelison, who normally handles the anthem duties for the Chicago Blackhawks, to do the honors at Soldier Field. And the result was one of the more goosebump-inducing pre-game moments since Whitney Houston 20 years ago (pre-Bobby Brown) at Super Bowl XXV:
For the uninitiated, it’s been a Blackhawks playoff tradition to cheer through the national anthem for over 25 years, with Cornelison doing the singing for the last 15 of those. And after helping to lift the Bears to an impressive 35-24 victory today, you can probably expect it to become a Chicago football tradition as well.
14
Jan
2011
VIDEO: Carl from ATHF thinks the NFL should switch to a bowl system
This is probably my favorite rant yet by our resident cartoon voice of the people, Carl from Aqua Teen Hunger Force … specifically his take on the Seahawks win, and what the NFL should do to prevent such atrocities in the future:
When a team like the Seattle Seahawks can advance past the Wild Card round, then maybe it’s time the NFL take a page from the college playbook, and abandon this stupid playoff system based on merit. Let every pro team with at least 5 wins play in a collection of random regional bowls named after car parts emporiums and hoagie franchises!
Classic.
Then, Carl goes on to drop his Stone Cold Lock of the Century … Of the Week on the much-hyped Jets-Patriots game:
Uh-oh. Bad news Patriots fans … I’m going to go throw a few bucks on gang green.
10
Jan
2011
Seattle’s 12th Man caused a seismic event during Lynch’s run
I feel the earth move ... (Photo: SeattleTimes.com)
Everyone knows the Seattle Seahawks fan base - collectively known as the “12th Man” – are one of the loudest home crowds in all of sports. Qwest Field was specifically designed to amplify the noise of the home fans, and it’s notoriously one of the worst places for NFL teams to have to visit. So much so that in the past, the Seahawks have been accused of piping in additional crowd noise to supplement the live cheering. But I don’t think anyone could have expected that the Seahawks fans would make so much noise that it would actually make the earth move!
And that’s exactly what happened at 4:33 pm PT on Saturday … which is also right when Marshawn Lynch broke loose for his unbelievable, hyperbole-inducing 67-yard TD run that helped launch the Seahawks past the defending champion New Orleans Saints in the first round of the NFC Playoffs:
Seismologists at the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network detected activity at a sensor that is just to west of Qwest Field.
“We looked at the stations nearby and one station in particular just clearly showed the crowd roaring,” said John Vidale, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
People all over the internet have been calling this an “earthquake”, but let’s not get carried away. Apparently this particular sensor was only 300 feet away from Qwest Field, at the site of the Old Kingdome.
(Image: SeattleTimes.com)
There’s no doubt that seismic sensors that close by would feel some vibration from 70,000 people jumping up and down going nuts. But it’s not like it made buildings in the area shake, or even was enough to set off car alarms. If you set a sensor 100 yards away from any NFL game, I’m willing to bet it would register something at the loudest points in the game.
All cynicism aside, this is still pretty cool. In fact, if you’re so inclined, the Seattle Times has a timeline of the vibration seen on this seismic graph, as it relates to the moment-by-moment of Lynch’s run.
8
Jan
2011
Seahawks stun Saints, Marshawn Lynch delivers an incredible final blow (VIDEO)
(Photo: Getty Images)
Well that right there is why they play the games.
Everybody’s least favorite playoff team, the 7-9 Seahawks, upset the defending champion New Orleans Saints today in Seattle, hanging on for a shocking 41-36 win. The game was a shootout from the very beginning, with both defenses seemingly taking much of the afternoon off. Seattle was led by QB Matt Hasselbeck, who threw for 272 yards and four TDs in leading his team to a 24-17 halftime lead. And the offensive fireworks didn’t stop there, as both teams racked up almost 900 combined yards of total offense in the game.
Just when it looked like Drew Brees and the Saints were going to overpower the lowly NFC West champs down the stretch, RB Marshawn Lynch broke away for an incredible 67-yard 4th quarter touchdown run that put the game out of reach. The Saints seemed to have Lynch bottled up near the line of scrimmage, but the man who Carroll traded for mid-season broke loose around midfield. At least six members of the NO defense had a legitimate chance to bring him down on the play, but Lynch simply wouldn’t be denied the end zone:
Crazy. It’s already being called one of the greatest runs ever, and considering the breadth of skills Lynch used to elude defenders on the play (power/speed/shiftiness/field vision and one nasty stiff-arm), along with the fact that it sealed one of the bigger playoff upsets in recent league history, it certainly deserves to at least be in the conversation.
In the end, the Seahawks – who were roundly derided as the worst team to ever make the playoffs – once again proved that on any given Sunday, any team in the NFL can beat another … and that we don’t know a damn thing about how this post-season is going to play out.
BONUS GIF OF LYNCH TOSSING TRACY PORTER AFTER THE JUMP
8
Jan
2011
Mike Williams’ road from draft bust to comeback story of the year (VIDEO)
(Photo: SeahawkNationBlog.com)
During the pre-game build up to today’s Saints-Seahawks Wild Card game, NFL Network aired this excellent profile on Seattle WR Mike Williams, who has returned from the brink of obscurity to become the comeback player of the year for Pete Carroll‘s team in 2010. And while Michael Vick is likely a lock for the league-wide award, Williams’ story doesn’t involve electrocuting dogs, and is as refreshingly positive as we’ve heard in a while.
A dominating receiver at USC, Williams had been considered one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory after coming out after his Sophomore year and being chosen 10th overall by the Detroit Lions in 2005. Williams pocketed a huge signing bonus, got fat and subsequently cut, and bounced around to a few teams before falling out of the league. He spent those two years away from the game (from 2008-2009) starting a family, getting his head right and getting back into shape in case another opportunity came calling.
And when Carroll – who was Williams’ coach during his best years at USC – got the Seattle gig, he looked up his old go-to guy and invited Williams to camp. Since then, Mike Williams has done all the right things and started to erase that “bust” tag, leading the Seahawks with over 750 yards receiving this season and shattering his previous career totals along the way. But Williams truly seems to have a good head on his shoulders these days, and understands that he still has a long way to go:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
8
Jan
2011
VIDEO: Beer cups at Qwest Field don’t measure up
This video hit the interweb yesterday, and it shows a couple of Seahawks fans doing a quick scientific study with the vendor beer cups at Qwest Field. As you can see from the clip, the “small” 16-oz cups hold the exact same amount of liquid as the “large” 20-oz cups (which sell for $1.25 more). It’s a pretty cool optical illusion, but it also rightfully had the Seattle beer lovers up in arms, thinking they had been ripped off all season long.
First & Goal, the company that manages Qwest Field, released a statement yesterday, saying they were unaware of the situation and would rectify it as quickly as possible. From the Seattle Times:
“This is the first time we have been alerted to this fact … Upon our internal investigation this afternoon, we discovered the cups that are marked 16 oz. hold 20 oz. of liquid. Fans who purchased a 16 oz. beer actually received 20 oz. of beer for the 16 oz. price. Fans that purchased the 20 oz. beer received the amount they purchased.”
So as it turns out, the “12th Man” was actually getting a better deal on the small beer, rather than being overcharged for the large. According the the statement, during today’s Seahawks-Saints playoff game at Qwest, ALL beer sold will be 20 ounces and cost $7.25 (the price of the small). So I guess there’s no real cause for a major protest. And it certainly sounds like our testers enjoyed the extra four ounces they were getting … probably more than a few times.
8
Jan
2011
Carl from ATHF on the Seahawks playoff travesty (VIDEO)
Our old pal Carl from Aqua Teen Hunger Force is back with his hilariously unique perspective on the NFL, and delivers big time this week with his prediction for today’s Saints-Seahawks Wild Card playoff match-up. As usual, Carl succinctly sums up our feelings about Pete Carroll’s team hosting a playoff game with a losing record.
Best line: “We give out another trophy for teams that finish 7-9 … it’s called a high draft pick. This aint pee-wees where everyone gets to have a pizza party. It’s the NFL.”
Unfortunately, if Carl picks a team, it’s pretty much the kiss of death. So you might want to throw a few bucks on Seattle at the last minute … if you’re into that sort of thing, I mean.
31
Dec
2010
WEEK 17 NFL THOUGHTS & PICKS: NEW YEAR’S EDITION
Winners in Bold
Carolina @ Atlanta:
Carolina ends its mess of a season against the Falcons who are having a fine year. They say that John Fox might be tapped to replace Eric Mangini if he is let go in Cleveland. Something about that is wildly depressing and stinks of resigned mediocrity of the new normal: withering job prospects, no assets, low paycheck, massive debt from an education that gets you nowhere, and a marginal chance of your NFL team winning eight games.
Pittsburgh @ Cleveland:
Speaking of Eric Mangini, his under-talented Browns take on the Steelers at home in front of the faithful. Many of us at ReadAndReact headquarters are firmly behind Coach Mangini and feel he deserves one more year to right the ship. The Browns have had a tedious revolving door of coaches and quarterbacks since they re-entered the league. Their fans at this point are listless and battered, wondering why they are being tested by God, and if he will ever show them mercy. I hope for all those toiling by the lake that the Browns absolutely destroy the Steelers this Sunday, that Holmgren looks deep into his extra large soul and decides to give Mangini one more year. Curses can’t last forever, even the biblical variety, and Mangini might be able to lead this team to the promised land yet.
The process takes longer when God has arbitrarily decided the team you coach has to suffer for 40 years (AP)
Minnesota @ Detroit:
Here’s to Brett Favre for playing football one year too many. Here’s a toast for him being completely himself, whether that is leaping around the field like a 12-year old on a playground or giving a maddening self indulgent, self-serving press conference. It is rare these days for an athlete to show any of his true self, as he will be pillaged for any misstep, wrong turn of phrase, or even smiling on the sidelines by the press, blogs, and fans alike. Favre, unlike the other professionally programmed robots, happily unleashes his id upon us all and, though many times not likeable, it is real and honest. Here’s to one of the best moments of the season, of Favre making a surprise appearance, outdoors in a snowy stadium in Minnesota, leading a touchdown drive like old times, fans delirious, scripted like a movie. Then, as quick as it started, it sadly ends with his head bouncing off the frozen turf. Favre exits the league leaving fans with a lot of wonderful memories and conflicting opinions as he heads back to his ranch in Mississippi. Perhaps like Cincinnatus he waits for another team to call or maybe he just swims in bathtubs full of money or puts on his Wranglers and heads to the local high school and with joy on his face tosses pass after pass to high school kids running fade patterns, his shadow growing larger and larger as the sun sets red in the evening Mississippi sky.
Oakland @ Kansas City:
The league would be a better place if the Raiders were a better team. A win on Sunday would bring them to eight wins and forward on the road to respectability. Kansas City on the other hand is having a dream season, the fans enjoying every moment because they aren’t sure if it’s a dream or if it’s real.
Danny, Wes and Julian celebrate a Patriots victory by jumping up and down on Tom and Gisele's hand crafted $20,000 king sized bed
Miami @ New England:
I like to think of Danny Woodhead as a loveable hobbit somehow pressed into service by the mad wizard Belichik. I imagine every time he gets the ball he screams in fear and is actually just running for his life, giants and monsters around every turn as he higgledy piggledy does his best to dash to safety. I like to imagine that after each game he goes to Tom and Gisele’s apartment and hops on the bed with his pals Wes Welker and Julian Edelman, happy to be alive as Gisele and Tom try on Uggs boots and read long letters from their old friend and leftist poet Randy Moss.
Buffalo @ New York Jets:
The Bills have been meanderingly interesting this year and the emergence of the Fitzmagic and his beard have galvanized a rust belt fan base and has inspired lonely men (and some women) in hunting cabins and ice fishing houses of upper New York to grow out their own beards in solidarity, and quite frankly for something to do. It has also inspired ReadAndReact to attempt to cajole the Amish Rifle to save his truly magnificent beard; please sign our petitionthat implores him that the world needs men with beards and he is a beacon of hope to us all. We also might create a petition to make the Jets go away. They are a wildly irritating clown show that needs to be taken down and shipped out of town.
Cincinnati @ Baltimore:
Speaking of clown shows, whether it was the poor coaching, play, or just a cavalcade of bad decisions in critical moments, this season has been an utter disaster for the Bengals. They face a typically well prepared and winning Baltimore team that could probably beat the Bengals with four guys from the practice squad and seven bottles of Gatorade.
