Kid sees this coming all the way and is not psyched (Image via WashingtonPost.com)

Heading into Sunday’s Redskins-Patriots clash, the Washington wide receivers collectively decided to leap into the FedEx Field stands if any of them scored touchdowns. Their very own version of the Lambeau Leap … the “Landover Leap”, if you will.

So, following his second quarter score, Jabar Gaffney looked to the back of the endzone and launched himself (backwards) into the stands. Unfortunately for Gaffney, he leapt directly into the unwelcoming arms of two Patriots fans who were sitting in the front row. The father-son duo (pictured above) clearly wanted nothing to do with Gaffney as he came over the railing, and recoiled back, letting him fall straight onto the seating floor (VIDEO HERE).

Watch it in glorious GIF format, over and over again [via SBNation]:

(via SBNation.com)

Afterward, Gaffney was seemingly oblivious that he had jumped onto fans of the opposing team:

I think I went a little bit too high. I missed the ledge and I went over and I just ended up in the seat. It was a lot more comfortable in the seat, though.”

Hilarious. This was the football equivalent of a failed stage dive at a rock concert, where the crowd parts like the Red Sea and lets the lead singer drop to the barroom floor.

(Image via WashingtonPost.com)

Watch RB DeAngelo Williams run roughshod over an elderly photographer on the sideline during today’s Panthers-Redskins game:

(Image via mocksession.com)

Fortunately, the cameraman seemed to be okay after the hit, and was able to recover to his feet relatively quickly.

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

(Photo: NYDailyNews.com)

Two days after Giants S Deon Grant was caught diving to the turf in an effort to stop the clock and slow the Rams no-huddle offense, the NFL issued a warning that players, coaches & teams caught faking injuries to disrupt the flow of the game could be punished with fines, suspensions and/or loss of draft picks. Although referees are powerless to penalize players suspected of feigning injury during the game itself, the league sent a memo to all 32 teams saying they would be reviewing questionable plays and handing out disciplinary action where appropriate for “conduct detrimental to the game”.

But several players have indicated that feigning injuries has long been a strategic part of the game, and is something that is even coached in certain circles:

“I’ve been places where it has been (taught),” said Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, a member of the players’ union executive committee. “They have a name for it and I’ve been places where it’s been pre-called. I’ve been places where it’s one player who has been designated. Maybe I’m getting everyone in trouble, but I’m just being honest.”

“It’s always been in the game,” Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed said. “It’s all tactical stuff you need to use. Whatever it takes. … If you’re tired, you’re tired. You get a break however you can.”

Added 49ers running back Frank Gore: “Hey, I feel if it helps, do it. I’m bound to do it. Whatever it takes to win …”

Obviously, we don’t want to see football go down the road of constant flopping that has taken over the NBA and international soccer, but it’s not like this has become an overwhelming problem in the sport (yet, at least). Plus, Goodell is going to have a tough time enforcing this rule, when its nearly impossible to say definitively whether or not a player was hurting, cramped, got a stinger, or whatever … unless they’re a particularly bad actor (like Grant).

Grant maintains that he banged his knee on the previous play, and went down when he realized he wouldn’t be able to get off the field in time, but nobody’s buying that. Grant is a savvy veteran, and he wasn’t the only Giant to fall to the ground on the play. And the injury time out might have saved the game for the Giants, who were able to catch their breath and force a field goal on the drive. So regardless of any potential punishment, the Giants would probably say it was worth it.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan didn’t go so far as to say he’s coached the tactic himself, but he didn’t deny it either, adding ”It happens all the time, and warnings will come out … and it’s happened again.”

Oddly, this episode features author Chuck Klosterman as Carl’s intended foil, “The Pencilneck” whose attempts at logical reasoning go wildly unappreciated by “The Garden State Stud”.

As always, enjoy, but we don’t recommend taking any gambling advice from Carl … ever.

Watch as Lewis drops straight into play-by-play mode as he encourages rookie QB Tyrod Taylor (aka “the human highlight reel”) in leading the Ravens on a game-winning drive:

Love or hate the Ravens, you can’t help but appreciate Lewis’ pure, unadulterated love of the game.

They're implying that the NFL players are fatcats, you see (Image via NMA.tv)

If you, like most Americans, find in-depth investigative journalism to be “just too darn hard”, then this is for you. The folks over at Taiwan’s NMA.tv have been making a name for themselves of late with their series of US news and pop culture “reports”, which are delivered by stilted animation and, unfettered by the rules & confines of factual reporting, often include blatantly slanderous remarks and innuendo.

It was only a matter of time before these modern day Woodward & Bernsteins set their sights on the NFL Lockout, and they have just delivered this hard-hitting expose, which blows the lid off the labor dispute. In it, we learn that due to the lockout, Mark Sanchez is now running an SAT Tutoring business, and that Brett Fave has been forced to open a cell phone shop. And they’re not afraid to tackle the big issues, like how the lockout might affect the sales of chicken wings worldwide, or players (like Big Ben) running amok without the guidance of their clubs. Leave it to the Taiwanese …

You probably also noticed the “Dan Snyder: Asshole” link at the top of the video, which we certainly couldn’t resist. This clip actually does a brilliant job of summarizing the Redskins’ owner’s general incompetence and douchebaggery.

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

Colt McCoy needs a dance partner. A.J. Green will do. (Source: BCSknowhow.com)

For picks 1 through 5, go here.

Let’s continue with picks 6 through 10.

6. Cleveland Browns – A.J. Green, WR, Georgia: Cleveland’s in a terrible spot. They’re moving to the 4-3, but have nothing along the defensive line. They have a promising young quarterback in Colt McCoy — and they’re moving to the West Coast Offense — but he’s got almost nobody to throw to. They just cut NT Shaun Rogers along with a flock of grizzled defensive veterans — a fiscally sound move, but one that’s left Browns fans wondering who will take the field next season. Changing offensive and defensive philosophies during a lockout-hampered offseason in which coaches cannot communicate with players is tougher. The free-agency window possibly opening for mere weeks, if at all, is tougher. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh and Baltimore have stayed the course. This draft is critical for the Browns, forced to address needs all over the place. Pat Shurmur was brought in to groom McCoy and flip the switch on offense — and Green is the kind of sizzling wideout the team’s been missing since Braylon Edwards broke free in 2007 — and before that, since Webster Slaughter. Still, many could question the Browns passing up one of the blue-chip defensive linemen — but how do you meet two needs at once?

7. San Francisco 49ers – Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson: This is a tough one for me. In a mock with trades, I see Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers pressing for a quarterback, or possibly even trading down into a spot where they can gather picks and select Florida’s Christian Ponder late in the first. Honestly, how many more coaches can call Alex Smith their starter? That experiment needs to cease. With Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert off the board, the 49ers select Bowers, a defensive end who comes with question marks around the health of his knee, but, if ruled healthy, could serve as defensive stronghold while Harbaugh seeks a quarterback elsewhere. Moroever, there are some promising young passers to be had later in the draft, such as Washngton’s Jake Locker and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick – not to mention the polarizing Ryan Mallett out of Arkansas.

Picks 8-10 after the jump.

8. Tennessee Titans – Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn: Yet another top 10 team that would love to bring in a young passer to groom under a new coach, in this case Mike Munchak. People say the Titans are among the franchises hurt the most by a lockout, but I disagree. I see other teams with bigger challenges than the Titans, who have bounced back from poor season before and have cleansed the house of core issues by parting with Vince Young. Kerry Collins has morphed into a Vinny Testaverde-esque veteran — perhaps he’ll play into his mid-40s, but if he goes down, the Titans can’t be comfortable with Rusty Smith at the helm. Warren Moon recently advised the Titans to go after Newton — not sure that holds any weight, but sitting pat won’t do. In this little mock draft that possibly four people are reading tops, the QBs of the day — again — are gone, and Munchak will choose Fairley, who has the frame to gain bulk without losing agility. Fairley’s stock has dropped a bit over the past month due to work-ethic concerns. But look, they called Warren Sapp a pot smoker. That worked out OK for Tampa, if I recall.

9. Dallas Cowboys – Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska: Dallas has backed itself into a good position. Last season’s massively disastrous start paved the way for Jason Garrett‘s more disciplined regime in Big D, and the team responded down the stretch. The addition of Rob Ryan is meaningful — he’s the perfect foil to the down-tempo Garrett, and players love him and play hard for him. I believe this team must address the cornerback position and will select Amukamara, Nebraska’s best defender last season. I also think the Cowboys will take a close look at the remaining top defensive lineman in this draft and they’d love a tough guy like Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt — but that’s a slight reach at this spot. Overall, this organization would be helped if Jerry Jones toned down the rhetoric and empty promises and let Garrett coach game by game through (whatever we have of) the regular season. The annual, undeserved preseason hype, 15 years running, has hurt this team’s soul. They have pretty uniforms, but aren’t even the second best team in their four-team division. Much work is to be done.

10. Washington Redskins – Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina: You can make the argument that Mike Shanahan‘s debut in Washington last season was one of the bigger disasters of recent memory. Putrid on the field, the team managed to stay in the news all season thanks to the bizarre dissembling of Albert Haynesworth and the benching of starting quarterback Donovan McNabb. Shanahan’s handling of both players was a failure, and it’s hard to imagine either returning with the team next season. Assuming (for our sanity) they don’t, quarterback and defensive line are two of the team’s bigger needs. Rex Grossman is not an answer for an NFC East team that must find a way to win inside the division, and I strongly believe that Shanahan and the free-wheeling ‘Skins will pursue a passer with this pick. If they can’t trade up and Newton and Gabbert are off the board, Washington could select the athletic Quinn, who comes with question marks after missing his senior season at North Carolina due to rules violations, but looks like the type of player Shanahan would like to team with Brian Orakpo in the 3-4. Quinn can play DE or OLB and could be a help to a team that had a lot of problems pressuring the quarterback (other than its own) last season. Note: I also think Shanny could dive on a player like wideout Julio Jones, but the team has bigger needs.

For picks 11-20, go here.

(Video via Inside the NFL)

In case you couldn’t make out everything Coughlin said, it went like this:

“From the bottom of my heart and everybody’s, we have a 10-and-6 season, a 10-win season in the NFL, okay?” Coughlin said. “They can kiss my ass, okay? They can line up and kiss my ass. It’s not an easy thing to do.”
At that point, one of the players interjected, “Can we quote you on that, Coach?” To which Coughlin replied, “You can quote me on a lot more than that. The priest is here or I’d say a few more things.”

For a guy with a reputation as a no-nonsense, gruff head coach who can’t relate to his players, Coughlin certainly looks to be able to show his raw emotions to his team. And they definitely seemed to respond. Stuff like that can only serve to help his players feel more connected to the old man, and shows why the Giants ownership didn’t hesitate to bring Coughlin back for another year at the helm.

In cold & rainy Landover this afternoon, Washington led Tampa Bay at halftime but trailed late in the 4th quarter. The home team rallied for a last-minute drive, and Santana Moss caught a 6-yard score from Donovan McNabb to cut the Bucs’ lead to 17-16 with :09 remaining. As Redskins Kicker Graham Gano lined up to attempt the extra point that would tie the game and force things to overtime, you knew that this PAT would be anything-but-routine.  The wet weather had made the ball slick all afternoon … heck, even Daryl Johnston knew not to take this one for granted.

That’s when this happened:

Nick Sundberg’s snap was a bit high, but it went right through holder Hunter Smith’s hands.  Gano – and the Redskins special teams in general – had an awful day, but he never got a chance at this one.

With the win, the Bucs snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 8-5 on the season. Meanwhile, the Redskins fall further into the abyss at 5-8.