D-Line vs. QB

Here is a video from Mike and Mike on ESPN.

Very interesting debate, but in all honestly an impossible one to win.  Playing quarterback and playing defensive line are almost like two different games.  "D-Linemen get hit every play, they are tougher than quarterbacks."  "Sure, a defensive lineman gets hit every play, but does he ever get hit with his arms in the air and his ribs exposed?"

As a former quarterback I think you have to be tougher to play quarterback.  The severity of shots you can and will take, unexpectedly, is scary.  You are literally a target for these defensive linemen.  Their goal on roughly half of the plays is to intimidate and pound the opposing quarterback.

Now, that is not to say it takes some serious balls to play defensive line.  I think, apart from running backs, defensive linemen are probably the most likely to experience head trauma, at least later in life.  They experience repetitive blows to the head.  Now they may not be severe all the time, but play in and play out they are getting whacked.  But are they ever asked to have a blitzing linebacker run through them full speed when they aren't ready?  I don't think so.  And then expected to bounce back like nothing happened?

Quarterbacks are tougher than d-linemen, agreed?

Agreed?

Vikings' Stadium Collapses

Video of the Vikings' stadium, the Metrodome, collapse late last night.  Cool footage.

Now, why the hell didn't they make a stadium that can handle this much snow?  They are in MINNESOTA.  It snows a ton there.  They could have simply made the structure stronger, or maybe
heat the roof to melt the snow.  Absolutely ridiculous, and I cannot imagine that is going to be a quick or easy fix...

Albert Haynesworth Suspended Four Games Without Pay...Finally!

$100 Million man Albert Haynesworth has been suspended for the Redskins' final four games for conduct detrimental to the team.

It's about damn time!  This guy has been nothing but trouble all season.  I have not heard or seen one thing all year that he has done to improve his team chemistry or to help his team win.  He lays on the ground like a big oaf during plays, he complains about the switch to the 3-4 defense.  This is embarassing.  I am actually shocked that it took so long for someone to call him out and for him to be suspended.

Football is not something you do.  You need to play with some passion.  He is getting paid $100 Million.  That is simply ridiculous.  He is getting paid to play a game.  I would die for another chance to play football.  Unfortunately, that's not in the cards for me.  Now I have a job, and I am not getting paid anywhere close to what he is making.  But I still approach it like I was still playing football.  People are counting on me, so I do everything I can.

Albert, time for you to grow up.  You are soft mentally.  Stop complaining about everything.  Maybe you will get your wish and end up on another team next year (if someone can put up with your contract and the headaches).  And if so, you better make it count.

Do you want this to be your legacy?

Cam Newton Will Win the Heisman

How can you argue with these plays?  And a national title appearance?  And a 188 QB Rating.  28-6 TD-INT ratio.  20 rushing touchdowns.




Cam Newton will win the Heisman.  Agree?

Randy Moss Interacts With Fans at Patriots' Game

I was actually at this game.  Probably the funniest thing at a football game I've ever been to.  You can tell the Pats smoked the Jaguars 35-7 (28-0 at half).  And Moss had a fun day all around: 4 catches, 45 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Fred Taylor's Son, Kelvin Taylor, in 8th grade

Kelvin Taylor, son of Fred Taylor of the Patriots, shown here in 8th grade...Playing for his high school team.  Here are Taylor's stats his first two years of high school football (8th Grade and Freshman year):

2008 (8th grade): 1,692 yards and 27 touchdowns

2009:  295 carries, 2,597 yards and a state-record 47 touchdowns





Future NCAA star, agree or disagree?

Sam McGuffie Unreal High School Highlight Tape

For as much buzz that Noel Devine's high school tape generated, I think McGuffie's was that underrated.  Unbelievable quickness, explosion and leaping ability.

Todd McShay Top 5 NFL Mock Draft

Who do people believe more, Todd McShay or Alex Brown?



VS.

1. Buffalo (0-7) Andrew Luck
 (Need a franchise QB, simply put. Best QB prospect in the 2011 Draft)

2. Dallas (1-6) Patrick Peterson 
(secondary problems at the safety and cornerback level; Peterson's versatility will cover some of Dallas' glaring weaknesses on D)

3. Carolina (1-6) A.J. Green 
(Jimmy Clausen was drafted as a franchise QB; with Steve Smith often injured, Clausen needs young weapon)

4. San Francisco (2-6) Prince Amukamara 
(secondary problems in San Fran can be put to rest with this pick)

5. Denver (2-6) Robert Quinn
(freakish athlete who could start across Elvis Dumerville, creating the most fearsome pass rush in NFL)

NFL Video of the Day - Football in November

Here is a cool, short clip about the grind that is a football season, and about the importance of games in November.  It's when gamers must come out, when teams must elevate their play to win that championship, make the playoffs, achieve whatever they set as a goal before week 1.  Enjoy.

Myron Pryor fined $7,500 by Roger Goodell

This is getting absolutely outrageous.  Someone please tell me what is wrong with this hit.  Are you serious?  Give it up, Roger...Let them play.

Any guesses on when we will see the first offensive player fined for using his helmet as a weapon?

HE SERIOUSLY GOT FINED FOR THIS?!?!

Video of the Day - Zac Etheridge and Rodney Scott

This is absolutely incredible.  I am amazed at the video productions that ESPN puts together.  I had the chills during this entire 5 minute clip.

Video of the Day - LSU Football Recruits 2010

It's always fun to try to pick out the next stars of the NCAA.  Here are LSU's recruits from this past recruiting class:

Video of the Day - Ray Lewis Runs Through a Door

Ray Lewis hits harder than a battering ram swung by a SWAT Team Leader...1,000 POUNDS OF FORCE.  Wow.

Video of the Day

Watch this.  And try to only watch it once.  I have already posted this before, but it is THAT good.

NFL Stat, Video and Picture of the Day

Stat (Rule) of the Day
Apparently the quarterback cannot be downfield when a forward pass is thrown.  (Brett Favre catching a Randy Moss pass on the first play of tonight's game.)

Pic of the Day

How much longer will Singletary be the 49ers head coach?

Video of the Day:
Boise State to be #1 in the BCS Standings

NFL Stat, Video and Picture of the Day

Video:
After watching a bit of Calvin Johnson today, I figured I would throw up his unreal highlights from Georgia Tech:


Picture of the Day:

Calvin doing his thing.

NFL Stat of the Day:

Calvin Johnson was considered a "freak" after posting a sub 4.5 40 yard dash time at the NFL combine (considering he is 6'5 235 pounds).  

Here are the fastest recorded 40 yard dash times from the NFL Combine:

Top official 40-yard dash times since 2000, when official times were first [electronically] recorded.:

• 4.24: Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina (2008)
• 4.28: Jerome Mathis, WR, Hampton (2005)
• 4.28: Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson (2010)
• 4.29: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State (2008)
• 4.29: Stanford Routt, CB, Houston (2005)
• 4.29: Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska (2005)
• 4:30: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland (2009)
• 4.30: Yamon Figurs, WR, Kansas State (2007)
• 4.30: Darrent Williams, CB, Oklahoma State (2005)
• 4.31: Tyvon Branch, CB, Connecticut (2008)
• 4.31: Justin King, CB, Penn State (2008)
• 4.31: Jonathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina (2006)
• 4.31: Aaron Lockett, WR, Kansas State (2002)
• 4.31: Santana Moss, WR, Miami (Fla.) (2001)

(Source: NFL.com)

Video, Picture and NFL Stat of the Day

Since Tom Brady is going for win #100 as I am writing this, here are the four quarterbacks that will soon be numbers two through four in terms of the fastest to 100 wins:

Joe Montana - 49ers - 139 Games

Terry Bradshaw - Steelers - 147 Games

Brett Favre - Packers - 153 Games

Peyton Manning - Colts - 154 Games

Tom Brady (If the Patriots Win) - Patriots - 131 Games

Pic of the Day:  Tom Brady and his Decent-looking Wife:

Debate of the Day:  Is Tom Brady the biggest celebrity in NFL History?

Video of the Day: Tom Brady 911 Car Accident Phone Call
Funny stuff.

NFL Video, Picture and Stat of the Day

Video:
Here are two, very similar videos.  They are pretty entertaining.  I always wondered how the coach of the offending team reacted to these refs?  It couldn't have been pretty...



And do people think this next ref saw the first clip before this game?



Pic of the Day

And this is why the Umpire has been moved behind the line of scrimmage this year.

Stat of the Day:

Here is the rule that determined that Calvin Johnson's catch a few weeks ago was not a game-winning touchdown:

Article 3.  Completed or Intercepted Pass. A player who makes a catch may advance the ball. A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense) if a player, who is inbounds:

(a) secures control of the ball in his hands or arms prior to the ball touching the ground; and
(b) touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands.
. . .

If the player loses the ball while simultaneously touching both feet or any part of his body other than his hands to the ground, or if there is any doubt that the acts were simultaneous, it is not a catch.

Item 1: Player Going to the Ground. If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete.

Essentially, the player must maintain control throughout the entire process of the catch.  You be the judge:

Clip, Pic and Stat of the Day 9/25/10 - NFL Long Snapper

Here is a News story about Brian Pittman, a longsnapper of the Houston Texans. He goes pretty much anywhere you can think of, and snaps what he finds.

There is always so much pressure on kickers in crunch-time situations, but the snapper and holder have just as much responsibility as the kicker. I was the holder for three years in college, and you really never receive any attention for it...unless you make a mistake.



Along the same lines, here is a picture of what you would see as a holder or punter with the snap coming for you.

Mike Leach snaps a ball for the Arizona Cardinals.

Stat of the Day:  The most 50 yard field goals in a game is three, and it has been done four times:

Morten Andersen, Atlanta vs. New Orleans, Dec. 10, 1995

Neil Rackers, Arizona vs. Seattle, Oct. 24, 2004 

Kris Brown, Houston vs. Miami, Oct. 7, 2007 

Conner Barth, Tampa Bay vs. Miami, Nov. 15, 2009

Daily Clip, Pic and Stat - 9/23/10

Well, I need a catchy name for this Daily Dose of Football.  I am absolutely open to suggestions.

Stat of the Day:
I was watching a re-run of the Saints-49ers Monday Night Football game and saw a statistic saying how many catches the Saints' running backs had.  Late in the 4th quarter they had 13 catches for around 100 yards.  That got me thinking, "I wonder what the record is for most catches in a game by a running back?"  And, sadly, I could not find the answer.

Can anyone help me out?

Most Catches in a Season by a Running Back:
101 - Larry Centers, FB, Arizona Cardinals in the 1993 season.  He amassed 962 yards through the air, while catching two touchdown passes and rushing for two more.


Pic of the Day - Larry Centers
In honor of our first Stat of the Day, Larry Centers also gets the Pic of the Day

Larry Centers making one of his 827 career receptions

Clip of the Day - Emmitt Smith and Darryl Johnston

The fullback position is by far the most under appreciated position in football.  Sure, people will argue with me saying that offensive linemen just block all game long and get no glory.  

And I'll come right back and tell you that so do fullbacks, and they do so by running full-speed into oncoming linebackers.  

Most fullbacks did not catch the ball as much as Larry Centers did, and some will go their whole career without scoring a touchdown.

A true fullback is the definition of a "bad-ass" football player.  I have posted a video of Owen Schmitt smashing his head with his helmet, and I only wish I had a video of former teammate Tom Brown at Dartmouth head-butting people's helmets to pump them up...with no helmet.

I posted a clip of Emmitt Smith's Hall of Fame Speech on August 8, 2010, particularly of him thanking Darryl Johnston for all of his sacrifices.

In the following clip, Emmitt Smith had just become the NFL's all-time leading rusher and went to the sideline and hugged his family.  Then, he found his fullback, Darryl Johnston...

This clip brought tears to my eyes.  Literally.  This is what being on a football team means.  You aren't afraid to make sacrifices for each other.  Football is a game that must be played with passion.  I miss playing the game.