14
Mar
2012
Calvin Johnson: No one man should have all that power … or money (VIDEO)
(Photo: NFLGridironGab.com)
The Detroit Lions just made Calvin Johnson the richest wide receiver in the NFL, signing him to an new eight-year contract worth up to $132 million, including $60 million guaranteed. It’s one of the biggest deals in league history, surpassing the contract Arizona gave Larry Fitzgerald last year (8-year, $120 million), and ensures fans in Detroit will have the Johnson-Stafford connection to look forward to for the foreseeable future.
In case you were wondering why the Lions were willing to break the bank for Johnson (and were curious why we chose the headline we did for this post), this Megatron highlight video should give you an idea:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
26
Feb
2012
Robert Griffin III ran really, really fast at the combine (VIDEO)
(Photo: Joe Robbins/Getty Images via Indystar.com)
Well, this is impressive. Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III isn’t throwing at the NFL combine, but he showed off his athleticism today in Indy, sending teams scrambling to trade up for the Baylor QB in April’s Draft.
RGIII turned in the fastest 40-yard dash time for a quarterback since 2006, clocking in at 4.41 seconds officially, and was unoficially timed at an even more impressive 4.38 seconds (video below). It was the 8th fastest time overall at this year’s combine, and the 3rd fastest time by a QB in the history of the event, with Michael Vick setting the bar with a 4.33 in 2000, and Texas AM& QB Reggie McNeal posting a 4.40 in 2006. At 6’2″ tall and 223 lbs, Griffin furthered his freakish display by puting up a 39-inch vertical jump to go with a 120-inch broad jump.
And while Stanford’s Andrew Luck is the consensus #1 pick (and was no slouch himself today, comparing closely to Cam Newton in his measurables), needless to say, this kid’s an athlete, and should instantly make an impact in the NFL. Despite pressure to participate in throwing drills today, Griffin will show off his arm when he throws at his pro day on March 21.
VIDEO OF RGIII’S 40-YARD DASH + BONUS GIFs AFTER THE JUMP
9
Feb
2012
Super Bowl XLVI is even more thrilling mic’d up (UPDATED w/VIDEO)
Manning makes the throw of his life (Photo: NFL.com)
As always, the NFL Films crew was in full force at Super Bowl XLVI, capturing all the sights and sounds of the world’s biggest game as only they can. For this game, the Sound FX team had WR Victor Cruz and LB Michael Boley mic’d up for the Giants, and QB Tom Brady and DT Vince Wilfork wired for the Pats. And the result is every bight as insightful and exciting as you’d expect it to be.
Here are the links to watch the entire Sound FX program on NFL.com: PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4
A few of the more interesting moments from the broadcast:
- Justin Tuck’s pre-game speech inspiring his teammates who have yet to win a Super Bowl to reach for their ring (which possibly inspired the team’s now-famous post-game “I got a ring” celebration)
- Patriots owner Robert Kraft asking to look into Tom Brady’s eyes before the game to see if he has “the look”, and Brady responding “I got it today. I’ve had it for three days”
- Victor Cruz pre-game: “Super Bowl 46 … I used to think it was all about me, and what I could do. It’s all about this team, man.”
- Wes Welker: “I’m open on every play.” Brady: “I know you are, man. I know you are.”
- Brady, following the intentional grounding call that resulted in a safety on the first offensive play of the game
“I looked at Gronk, I looked to Wes, he dropped, then I felt him, I had no place to throw it away. I threw it over his head. I didn’t want to throw an interception.”
- On Cruz’ fumble/non-fumble in the first quarter, when the Patriots were flagged for 12 men on the field, the Giants saw it all the way, urging Manning to snap the ball to catch New England for a free play
- After Jason Pierre-Paul knocks down a Brady pass, the QB says to Welker on the sideline: “It’s like throwing in a forest, dude, those f*ing guys arms are like…”
- When Giants Kevin Boothe was called for holding Vince Wilfork in the 2nd quarter, nullifying a big first down and ultimately killing the drive. Immediately, the referee asks the official who thew the flag “You’re good with it? I thought he spun off of it”, which Wilfork later confirms, saying “That was a bad call”.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
6
Feb
2012
Watch the Giants celebrate on their team flight home from the Super Bowl (VIDEO)
Via rookie LB Mark Herzlich‘s Twitter comes this sneak peek at the Giants team flight home from Super Bowl XLVI … and it’s about as raucous and celebratory as you’d expect.
Watch as RB Andre Brown leads the team in singing the hot new jam, “I got a ring”:
1
Feb
2012
The Inevitable “Sh*t People Say During the Super Bowl” (VIDEO)
Well, the “Sh*t ____ Say” phenomenon that’s been sweeping the interwebs – which has seemingly been exhausted to cover every race, gender and social substrata – has finally reached the NFL.
This “Sh*t People Say During the Super Bowl” compilation, courtesy of theguysfromtheinternet, should give you a pretty good sense of what to expect if you’re planning to watch SB XLVI with friends this Sunday. We really didn’t plan on enjoying this (let alone re-posting it), but it’s actually pretty funny … particularly the commentary on Madonna’s halftime show:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
29
Jan
2012
Brandon Marshall makes ridiculous TD catch; wins Pro Bowl MVP (VIDEO)
(Image via SportsGrid.com)
Sunday’s 2012 Pro Bowl started out pretty much as expected, with defensive players giving minimal effort at little things like rushing the passer, covering and tackling, setting the stage for the offensive shootout that ensued. The AFC ultimately out-gunned the NFC 59-41, with Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall reeling in a Pro Bowl record 4 TDs and earning the MVP trophy.
And while this laissez-faire defensive attitude elicited boos from the crowd and groans from television viewers everywhere, the game did end up providing a few noteworthy moments. To be honest, we didn’t actually watch the whole thing, but we got a pretty good feel for things via the stats and game highlights … and with 100 total points scored, you get the general idea: defense (and running backs) took the day off in Honolulu today. For their part, the NFC had three players – Tony Gonzalez, Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Smith - with more than 100 yards receiving, with Fitzgerald pulling in three scores of his own.
Marshall finished with 176 yards on six catches, but none of them were as memorable as this unbelievable (and wildly lucky) third quarter grab of a tipped Andy Dalton pass while laying on his back in the endzone:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
28
Jan
2012
Watch this amazing compilation of fan reactions to the AFC Championship game (VIDEO)
(Image via Youtube.com)
There has been a trend sweeping YouTube in recent years of fans recording themselves watching live sporting events unfold, and then uploading their reactions for all the world to see. This has provided us with all kinds of tremendous sporting moments caught on camera from the fan’s point of view, like this remarkable compilation of fans watching Landon Donovan’s game-winning goal in the 2010 World Cup.
And as you might guess, last week’s AFC Championship game between the Patriots and the Ravens provided all kinds of fodder for superfans everywhere to freak the eff out, with their cameras rolling. Between both Lee Evans’ near-game-winning-TD that wasn’t and Billy Cundiff’s field goal shank that lost it for Baltimore, the final few minutes were an emotional roller coaster for fans of both teams.
So that’s what makes this compilation of fan reactions to the game (aptly titled “The Agony of Defeat and Thrill of Victory“) – which features both ebullient celebrations and soul-crushing collapses from Pats and Ravens fans alike – just so fantastic. You really get to feel the win/loss from both perspectives, and get a sense of just how much this game means to people everywhere. And of course it includes this guy.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
23
Jan
2012
Watch this Ravens fan lose it after Cundiff’s missed FG (VIDEO)
(Image via Sportsgrid.com)
We feel badly for Ravens fans today. Honestly, we do. The Baltimore defense played tremendous football in yesterday’s AFC Championship, holding Tom Brady in check, only to have their Super Bowl hopes dashed by a missed chip shot FG by K Billy Cundiff.
Imagine how it must feel to have been a Ravens fan watching it all unfold yesterday. Brutal, right? Now imagine watching your favorite team lose while surrounded by “friends” who came over to your house for the big game, and decided to have some fun by cheering for the Pats all day. Well, thanks to this video, we get to experience the loss through just that perspective.
From the Youtube description: ”Our good friend has a passion for Maryland sports. Maybe an obsession.” And as you’ll see, their good friend’s passion reached its breaking point after Cundiff’s shank, and he decided that everyone needed to leave his house. Immediately.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
19
Jan
2012
Giants and 49ers set to renew rich playoff rivalry (VIDEO)
"The Hit" ended Montana's day, and ultimately his career in SF (Photo: NY Daily News)
On Sunday, the 49ers and Giants will meet in the playoffs for an NFL record-tying EIGHTH time … with all of those match-ups coming since 1981. Along the way, the two NFC powerhouses have won a combined 8 Lombardi Trophies, and have given us a few of the more memorable games in playoff history.
In looking back at the rivalry, some of the more indelible playoff memories include Jim Burt blasting Joe Montana in New York’s 49-3 Divisional drubbing in 1986, Roger Craig inexplicably fumbling late in the 1990 NFC Championship game to set up Matt Bahr’s game-winner, and Trey Junkin (whose name alone has become a curse word in Giants fandom) botching the game-winning field goal snap in 2002′s Wild Card game to complete the second-biggest collapse in playoff history.
So before these proud franchises take the field to provide the latest chapter in their long-running saga, we thought it fitting to look back at two of their previous meetings to get ourselves in the proper frame of mind. Specifically, we bring you the highlights from the 2002 NFC Wild Card game and the 1990 NFC Championship.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
8
Jan
2012
Tim Tebow and the Broncos stun Steelers; Demaryius Thomas scores 80-yard OT game-winner (VIDEO)
Who's got two thumbs and is more popular than Jesus? THIS GUY! (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images via Yahoo.com)
Pretty much every “expert” in the media had written off Tim Tebow and the Broncos heading into this weekend’s Wild Card match-up against the the heavily favored Steelers. And for good reason. The magic seemed to have run out for Tebow and Denver, having lost their last three games in ugly fashion and backed their way into the playoffs, with Tebow’s fabled mystique noticeably deteriorating toward the end of the season.
Today, in an ironic role reversal, Tebow and the Broncos found themselves ahead early and having to fight off a furious comeback attempt by Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers. Tebow threw for one 2nd quarter score on a 30 yard bullet to Eddie Royal and ran for another to give Denver a 20-6 halftime lead. But Roethlisberger rallied Pittsburgh in the second half, tying the game on a 31-yard strike to Jericho Cotchery with just under 4 minutes remaining and sending things to overtime.
Then came “Tebow Time”: with the Broncos’ season on the line, Timmy did what he does best and came up with a huge play when it mattered most. On the very first play of overtime, Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas in stride at the 40 yard line for an 80-yard walk-off touchdown, giving Denver a stunning 29-23 victory:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
