Punter Mocks Goodell On His Whiteboard

Turns out that punters have a great sense of humor. At least Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe does when it comes to the recent NFL Lockout. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a letter this week to players stating his side of the story. Not everyone agrees with the Commish however.

Kluwe took to his whiteboard to illustrate how he, as a player, feels about the efforts that the NFL Commissioner and the owners are putting into the lockout situation.  He states that “Dear NFL – If you’re losing money, just show us. We’re not unreasonable men. A compromise can be reached, but not without trust.”

Now it’s time to “Unleash the Lockout!!”

Soon after Kluwe made up another whiteboard, this time with the letter that he received from Goodell.  Or I should say, what he interpreted from the letter from Goodell.

Awesome! It’s not the first time that Kluwe has spoken out about the NFL. He recently mentioned that when the Vikings were playing at a temporary field in Minneapolis after the Vikings Metrodome collapse that the field was dangerous. He also used the whiteboard before to point out that the punter doesn’t count when it comes to head injuries.

NFL Films Steve Sabol diagnosed with brain tumor

I grew up watching the great NFL Films as a kid. Most of them involved team highlights and Super Bowl stories. But there was also a line of videos like the “Football Follies” and other awesome blooper films that even used the great voice of Mel Blanc. If you watch a film or video about the NFL back in the day the odds are it was produced by NFL Films.

Founder Ed Sabol created NFL Films in 1962 and over the years the NFL Films has become a great documentary of the sport and cameras have followed players and teams around ever since. Sabol was elected into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2011 for his hard work over the decades.

But there’s a sad bit of news this week as Sabol was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He had suffered a seizure at an event in Kansas City earlier this month. Sad news, indeed.

Steve Sabol of NFL Films was diagnosed with a brain tumor this week after suffering a seizure at an event in Kansas City on March 5. Sabol will undergo chemotherapy and radiation to try to eliminate the tumor, which was found in the left side of his brain.

“(Sabol) will begin treatments soon,” the company’s statement said. “Steve is in good spirits and is deeply appreciative of everyone’s good wishes.”

The 68-year-old Sabol has always been great at “telling on himself” when it comes to the story of his time with the company. He was a student at Colorado College in 1964 when his father Ed, the founder of NFL Films, called him up and said, “Judging from your grades, the only things you’re doing out there are watching movies and playing football. But that makes you uniquely qualified for this new venture.” [via Yahoo! Sports]

Former Pro Bowl star Drew Hill dies at 54

Sad news as word of the passing of Andrew Hill surfaced this week. The former Georgia Tech star played 14 years in the NFL and in two Pro Bowls. Hill was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 12th round of the 1979 NFL Draft and played for the Oilers and Falcons before retiring in 1993.

While with Houston, Hill set the team record for most career pass receptions after he emerged as an elite receiver. While with the Rams, Hill was used a lot on special teams but when he was given the shot at being a primary receiver for the Oilers he started to shine.

In his seven years in Houston he would go on to average more than 60 receptions a year and over 1,000 yards a season.

Former Georgia Tech and NFL standout Drew Hill died Saturday at Piedmont Hospital after suffering two strokes earlier this week. Hill was admitted to the hospital Thursday after becoming ill while playing golf. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Hill, 54, is in Tech’s record books in several categories: receiving yards per season (t-15th, 708, 1978), receiving yards/career (19th, 1,080, 1975-78), and yards per reception/career (t-4th, 19.3).

“As a person, Drew was quiet and humble. He never sought attention for himself. He was a great guy and a great teammate. We used to play poker at his house. We had so much fun. He’s going to be missed by many,” Highsmith told the Chronicle.

Hill retired after 15 seasons in the NFL, telling the AJC at the time that he wanted to get into private business and also be with his family after his grandmother had passed away. [via AJC.com]

Hill Signs With Falcons

Weekend Pigskin Links With March Madness Cheerleaders

The Pac 12 Has a New Logo; Autotuned Music Video

Earlier this week the Pac 12 revealed its new logo through a autotuned music video (spoiler alert: they changed the “10″ with a “12″! Brilliant!). Judging by the number of rapper-wannabes and shitty singers who still overuse T-Pain’s novelty hallmark in the studio, I truly believe there are people like that out there. Please go off yourself, autotune. For the sake of our sanity.

Taco Bell Birthday Cake FTW!

Cheerleaders of the 2011 NCAA basketball tournament

Having trouble filling out your bracket? Confused as to which team runs the better offense and which one can guard the perimeter better than the other? Well, this post probably won’t help you in that regard. It will, however, help you identify which cheerleading squad brings the most to the table. And in the end, isn’t that what’s important?

10 Greatest March Madness Upsets of All Time

Everybody generally loves a winner. I say generally because there is always someone who hates the winner (the loser). However, there is always one thing that everybody loves, the underdog. Talented underdogs give us a reason to root against the favorite; they make things interesting. They are the David that slays Goliath, the long shot that pays off, the proof that any team can win on any given day if they bust their behinds more than the other team. With all the upsets that happened last night, especially Morehead State over Louisville, it got us thinking, what are the greatest March madness upsets of all-time. Well here we go…

Jets’ D’Brickashaw Ferguson could lose $750,000 if lockout continues

Yes, the players could lose workout bonuses, but I feel the worst for the fans and the normal workers who will be out of jobs or be forced to take pay cuts because of the lockout. This isn’t only affecting the owners and players, it’s affecting so many more people. I hope a resolution comes quickly.

Attempting To Answer The SAT’s Newest Essay Question About The Authenticity of Reality TV

It isn’t often that a question from the SATs is the subject of controversy, but a number of students around the country who took the test this past Saturday the 12th of March are a little befuddled at the essay question they were presented with during the written portion of the exam.

Only One NFL Team Not Collecting Season Ticket Deposits During Lockout

It is being reported that the New York Giants are not requiring fans to secure their season tickets with deposits despite the possibility that there will be no football next season. It seems that ever other NFL team is taking up the money even though the NFL has locked out their players.

As the battle between the players and owners continues I can’t help but wish that no NFL fans would pay for any tickets until the dispute is settled.  That way the owners can’t cash in on a bunch of money and add it to their coffers while they wait out the lawyers.  It’s like giving a loan to a loan shark.

The report states that the season ticket scam could net the NFL nearly $1B from the season-ticket payments.  Not a bad sum of money to stick in the bank and make some interest on.

Giants owner John Mara was on WFAN this afternoon and said fans would not be required to make their partial or full-season ticket deposits until a there is a resolution with the labor dispute. Mara said invoices will be mailed out next week containing a letter from Mara and executive vice president and chairman Steve Tisch explaining season-ticket holders have the option of making payment by May 1 (normally full payment is due by that date) or exercising the option to wait until a new collective bargaining agreement is agreed upon. [via]

No Football: An Ugly Vision into our Future

When the leaves turn a rusted hue and soft summer breezes become biting chilly gusts, man turns to the NFL and fantasy football for warmth and comfort. Chicken wings, pizza and beer ease his soul as he Googles “fantasy football sleepers” and “running backs age 30 or older”. Women (their callous hearts forsake the game) roll their eyes with apathy and disinterest as men gather ‘round draft boards to tell tales of fantasy football’s past. Men dream longingly of tailgates long ago: Bags of ice. Foam fingers. Kegstands. Pull-start backup generators. Charcoal. Sausage, oh, the sausage!

What is one to do? “Clear the rain gutters,” says your wife. “Let’s go to the arts and crafts store,” says your girlfriend. Man’s greatest excuse, “Baby, the game is on,” is no more.

Fox is showing “Everybody Loves Raymond” re-runs. CBS is running infomercials. ESPN analysts Chris Berman and Tom Jackson are sitting at their homes, likely in the very same position as you. NBC’s Bob Costas is covering European Alpine Skiing as men around the United States clench their fists and pound on the armrest of their lounge chairs.
Saddest of all, desperate men watch Arena Football games with blank stares. Their needs not met, the color washed away from their face.

Somewhere, Adrian Peterson sheds a single tear.

But fret not gentlemen, this is America. Too much money is at stake. The combined value of each team in the NFL is $33 billion. Think of all the jobs in the NFL cities that profit from the NFL like bars, restaurants, hotels, flights, car rentals and so on. Yes, the owners want another sliver of the NFL money pie, but not at the cost of having no pie this year at all.

Like all things in this country, it’s hype. It’s sensationalism at its finest. The NFLPA and owners posture themselves in an attempt to make the other group call their bluff. In the end, if the owners cannot attain what they want, they will hold off another year or two to try again.

Do not toss and turn in your sleep to visions of an apocalypse this fall, the lockout is a boogeyman.

Buffalo Bills George Wilson Talks Lockout

Buffalo’s News 4 Sports spoke with Bills NFL Players Association Rep George Wilson, for his thoughts on the latest labor developments. The NFL Lockout has started as the players and owners struggle to find a middle ground. Safety George Wilson is the players union rep for the Buffalo Bills.

George Wilson knew he had his players ready. But Bills fans are another story. The Bills safety and NFL Players Association rep got an early taste of the fans anger about the latest labor developments.

News 4 Sports spoke with Wilson, who remains on vacation in Europe. But while out of the country, he’s been dealing with the labor dispute and all of the latest issues. Saturday at midnight, the NFL locked out the players in response to the NFLPA’s union decertification.

Wilson says the Bills players were ready, thanks to Wilson’s work preparing them the last few months. He says the news did not come as a suprise to them. They were ready for dealing with no health insurance, no contact with coaches and no ability to workout at Ralph Wilson Stadium [...more...]

Vikings Cornerback Chris Cook Arrested

Wanting to make sure to keep the Minnesota Vikings in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, cornerback Chris Cook decided to pull out a handgun during an altercation.  He only has one year under his belt in the NFL and only played 6 games last year after an injury knocked him out.

There’s an odd chance that Cook’s case could be a thorn in the side of the NFL as it’s the first situation to fall under the jurisdiction of the league’s personal conduct policy for an act committed during the lockout. Guns and NFL players don’t go well together in commissioner Roger Goodell’s eyes but with the NFL and the players in a lockout the NFL cannot contact Cook to deal with the situation.

Until the deal is struck with players and owners/NFL, the situation with Cook will have to take a backseat.  Ignored?  Probably not.

Vikings cornerback Chris Cook reportedly becomes the first arrest of the NFL’s post-lockout era of 2011.

WSET-TV in Lynchburg, Va., reported Cook was arrested Saturday evening for brandishing a handgun during a fight.

In light of the NFL’s lockout that began at 12 a.m. Saturday, players or league officials aren’t expected to have contact with or make judgments on players regarding legal troubles. It’s uncertain if or when Commissioner Roger Goodell could get involved in Cook’s legal case and his standing with the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Cook, who reportedly got into a fight with another man around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, recorded 21 tackles in six games of an injury-plagued 2010 rookie year. The Lynchburg native was a second-round pick in April’s draft.

The NFL Strikes Out With A Lockout

It’s coming. We all knew it was coming. It’s stupid and uncalled for and in the end it’s centered around greed which makes us all wonder why anyone was surprised when the NFL and the Players negotiations dissolved and the NFL Lockout started.

The NFL blames the players and the players blame the owners and the league. The losers are the fans who support the NFL but may head into next season without their favorite sport. The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) will now decertify as a union and instead be known as a ‘trade association.’

This moves allows the players to now sue the NFL in an attempt to break the owners. Even NFL boss Roger Goodell issued this letter to the fans to try to ease the pain.

Dear NFL Fan,

When I wrote to you last on behalf of the NFL, we promised you that we would work tirelessly to find a collectively bargained solution to our differences with the players’ union. Subsequent to that letter to you, we agreed that the fastest way to a fair agreement was for everyone to work together through a mediation process. For the last three weeks I have personally attended every session of mediation, which is a process our clubs sincerely believe in.

Unfortunately, I have to tell you that earlier today the players’ union walked away from mediation and collective bargaining and has initiated litigation against the clubs. In an effort to get a fair agreement now, our clubs offered a deal today that was, among other things, designed to have no adverse financial impact on veteran players in the early years, and would have met the players’ financial demands in the latter years of the agreement.

The proposal we made included an offer to narrow the player compensation gap that existed in the negotiations by splitting the difference; guarantee a reallocation of savings from first-round rookies to veterans and retirees without negatively affecting compensation for rounds 2-7; no compensation reduction for veterans; implement new year-round health and safety rules; retain the current 16-4 season format for at least two years with any subsequent changes subject to the approval of the league and union; and establish a new legacy fund for retired players ($82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years).

It was a deal that offered compromise, and would have ensured the well-being of our players and guaranteed the long-term future for the fans of the great game we all love so much. It was a deal where everyone would prosper.

We remain committed to collective bargaining and the federal mediation process until an agreement is reached, and call on the union to return to negotiations immediately. NFL players, clubs, and fans want an agreement. The only place it can be reached is at the bargaining table.

While we are disappointed with the union’s actions, we remain steadfastly committed to reaching an agreement that serves the best interest of NFL players, clubs and fans, and thank you for your continued support of our League. First and foremost it is your passion for the game that drives us all, and we will not lose sight of this as we continue to work for a deal that works for everyone.

Yours,
Roger Goodell

Uggghh….enough already. It’s just greedy people arguing about money. I don’t feel sorry for them. But don’t worry. We’ll miss the NFL next year but there will be other football. They’ll even be other sports and all of them will gain from the NFL’s loss and that’s too bad. The NFL has for years marketed itself as a premier league and the ultimate U.S. sport and there’s nothing about these events that do anything other than make the NFL takes several steps backward.

Tim Tebow Heads To The Arena Football League….Kinda

Is he the starting QB of the Denver Broncos next year or not? Tim Tebow‘s fate in Denver is hazy but as long as jersey sales are out the roof you can expect the former Florida Gator to be in the Mile High City for awhile. And with the future of the NFL in doubt as owners and players struggle over a potential lockout you can bet NFL players not able to suit up will find different leagues to stay sharp in.

Tebow could have a great career in the Arena Football League and in the season opener of the Orlando Predators on March 26th Tebow will be a guest of honor for the team. Tebow will participate in a pregrame program during the Preds’ faith and family night at Amway Center. That program also will feature former Predators standout Herkie Walls and current Preds Nick Hill and Marlon Moye-Moore.

I’m not sure all what “participate in a pregrame program” entails but it got me thinking if there were no NFL season next year it would be pretty sweet to watch the big guy rip up the AFL.  I mean, he’s got to be bigger than most of the players on either team on the field.  We’d definitely see some crazy runs and highlights out of Tebow bouncing off the walls of the field and rumbling over defensive players.

While I wait for that dream to happen, here’s a bit of Tebow talking to reporters for you Tebow fans. He talks about his NFL experience, the potential lockout and charity work while he was at the ESPN The Weekend At Walt Disney World.

« Previous Page — Next Page »