Dec 26th 2008 12:19PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, NFL Media Watch, NFL RumorsTom Brady and Gisele Bundchen have been dating for quite some time. She’s his baby momma. He’s her star quarterback. And now, if TMZ (via The Piler) is correct, they are getting ready to tie the knot.

That’s right, sports[gossip] fans, Brady popped the question over Christmas. And apparently he did it in style.
Our sources say Brady, who is famous for his QB skills and running errands for Gisele, proposed on a private jet that took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and landed in Boston. There were four dozen white roses on board, as well as champagne.
Not to mention her parents! Which, obviously, is the most awkward thing of all time. Isn’t it? I would never propose to my ladyfriend … in front of her folks. Sure, she wasn’t going to say “no”, but still, it’s an aggressive move.

On the other hand, one would have to assume that Tom Terrific, despite his fantastic fatherly ways, is probably still scrambling to make sure that they approve of him, given his, um, tendency to attract many women. On the other hand, regardless of how weird that was, he still had a better Christmas than Wes Welker.

Dec 26th 2008 4:30PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, Steelers, Titans, Pressing Issues, NFL Real Talk, NFL RumorsChris Johnson (and his wallet) have already met the wrath of Roger Goodell this year — Johnson celebrated an early season touchdown by wailing on some bongos and got fined. It followed then, that he would get slapped with a similar monetary amount after pulling out a flag attached to his waist and waving it around during a touchdown celebration.

But he won’t, and PFT found out why, after emailing NFL spokesman Greg Aiello:
“It was a towel that is legally part of his uniform,” Aiello said. “There is not a violation of rules.”

“Due to past inappropriate acts while on the ground,” Aiello wrote, “the player demonstration guidelines were modified two years ago to prohibit celebratory actions while on the ground. So it’s a blanket rule (not a snow-angel rule). You can’t go the ground to celebrate a play.”
Of course, this also explains why Wes Welker got stuck with a $10K fine for being creative. But more than that, it points out what a rigid, Spanish Inquisition style of discipline Goodell is taking with the NFL. The thing to do with touchdown celebrations is review them case by case — although admittedly that leaves a lot more room to wiggle on the appeal process — and just say “at your own risk of being fined.”

Then, when something funny humorous, quick and original — like bongo playing or snow angel making — happens, it becomes a “no harm - no foul, let’s move on” scenario. And when someone behaves stupidly, they get slapped with a fine. Hard to see how too many people would be upset by that.

Dec 26th 2008 10:15AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, Pressing Issues, NFL Real TalkSo you know, the National Football League doesn’t care what time of year it is. Okay? Got that? You do snow angels — in the and on a football field of all places — after a touchdown and you’re going to get fined. Doesn’t matter if Roger’s supposed to be jolly for the season. And such is the case with Wes Welker, who just had to open up his purse for the NFL.
Welker said he wasn’t sure if he would appeal, but he acknowledged his snow-angel-making days are over.

“It was a spur of the moment deal, and you can be sure that it won’t happen again,” Welker told Gasper.

Per NFL rules, players are not allowed to go to the ground for a touchdown celebration (unless it is a prayer). The official reason Welker was fined, the NFL confirmed today, was for “unsportsmanlike conduct for participation in an illegal demonstration by going to the ground.”
Sadly, Welker’s not “colorful” enough to do something stupid like change (or just create) to a religion that worships the Abominable Snowman and then try to appeal the suspension — you best believe that Chad Javon would be all over that.

Of course, just because Welker complies wholeheartedly, well, that doesn’t make the NFL fining people for doing snow angels or other colorful-yet-classy touchdown celebrations any less stupid.

Dec 24th 2008 2:00AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Giants, Patriots, Vikings, Pressing Issues, NFL Coaching, NFL Real TalkIt’s entirely arguable that the way the New York Giants played in Week 17 against the Patriots, despite losing, propelled them into the postseason and eventually to a Super Bowl win.

Of course, you could also argue that such a discussion is pointless. Whatever. My main point is that Tom Coughlin typically — as he wrote in a book — does not believe in resting players in the final week of the season if there’s nothing at stake.
“It is a difficult decision,” Coughlin wrote after noting that many NFL coaches bench their stars in similar situations. “It becomes clear that the media and fans care more about a playoff game and therefore don’t want our first-teamers to play. But I feel differently.”
Naturally, then, you would expect to see every single Giant — including Justin Tuck and Brandon Jacobs, both recently banged up — playing full games against the Vikings this Sunday. Or perhaps not; it appears, judging by the somewhat hemming nature of a recent statement to the media, that Coughlin might have changed his tune.
“My answer to all of your questions will be that in conjunction with the medical people and with the idea of improving our game, having individuals perform at a higher level than we did in the last game, which is always our theme, we will do the best thing for our football team,” Coughlin said.
“What’s best for the Giants” and “Play every game like it’s win or go home” are two different statements. And while Coughlin isn’t the type of guy to go back on his word, I don’t think, he would be doing exactly that if the Giants don’t pull out all the stops to beat the Vikings on Sunday.Continue Reading

Dec 22nd 2008 2:10PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, NFL Fans

Lost in the middle of the Patriots thrashing of Arizona on Sunday — where snow angels were all the rage — was the fact Patriots linebacker Junior Seau had a run-in of sorts with a fan. This encounter led to the veteran linebacker being taken to the ground by an unruly lout, who was probably under the influence of his friends Jim Beam and Jack Daniels.

I admit, during the course of a football game I’ve probably screamed quite a few things in the direction of players that I wouldn’t have the stones to say to their faces, and, let’s be honest, we’ve all been guilty of that at one time or another. Call it heat of the moment.

One thing I’ve never thought of doing, however, was running onto the field and attempting to tackle an NFL linebacker. This just goes against all laws of common sense. There are two reasons for this: 1) Doing so would result in me spending an evening in jail, not to mention losing the privilege of purchasing tickets, and 2) It would probably end with something like the video shown above.Continue Reading

Dec 21st 2008 2:16PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: AZ Cardinals, Patriots
As the NFL’s crackdown on players celebrating continues, New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker got the season’s first penalty for making a snow angel.

It’s a blizzard in New England today, and after Welker scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter, he decided to take advantage of the conditions for his celebration: He hopped on the ground, got on his back and made an angel. His teammates looked amused, but the officials didn’t: The Patriots were assessed 15 yards on ensuing kickoff for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Welker isn’t the first Patriot to make a snow angel; long snapper Lonnie Paxton famously did one when the Patriots beat the Raiders in the 2001 playoffs.

The Cardinals didn’t have nearly as much fun in the snow as the Patriots; New England won 47-7.

Dec 21st 2008 2:55PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Bills, Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Jets, Giants, Panthers, Patriots, Ravens, Titans, Vikings, NFL Media WatchLast year, the NFL started this flex scheduling thing, which allows them to alter the schedule late in the season so that the more meaningful games are broadcast on national television.

While there are rules that the NFL follows for selecting these games, they do Week 17 a bit differently. No games are off limits for the switch to NBC, aside from picking teams that have reached televised limits. They also only have to give six days advance warning about the change, instead of the normal 12 days.

That means the NFL will place the game with the most riding on it as their season finale on NBC.

So which games look like they could be a possibility?Continue Reading

Dec 21st 2008 5:15PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: AZ Cardinals, Patriots, AFC EastThe Arizona Cardinals have had their playoff tickets punched for a few weeks now, and they pretty much had nothing to play for on Sunday in New England. That might explain why they didn’t even bother to show up, as they were systematically dismantled by the Patriots, 47-7, at snowy Gillette Stadium.

Despite playing most of the game in a blizzard, Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel completed 20-of-36 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns, while New England managed to pound out 183 yards on the ground on 42 carries. Sammy Morris led the way with 88 yards on 18 carries, while Lamont Jordan scored a pair of touchdowns.

New England went into the half with a commanding 31-0 lead, and then continued to pour it on when Randy Moss scored on a 76-yard play just 19 seconds into the third quarter. Kevin Faulk and Wes Welker also caught touchdowns for the Patriots, while Welker was penalized 15 yards after his score for using the snow to create a snow angel. Seriously? A 15-yard penalty for making a snow angel? Is snow considered a prop?Continue Reading

Dec 22nd 2008 7:34AM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Falcons, Jets, Giants, Panthers, Patriots, Ravens, Steelers, Titans, Vikings, NFL Playoffs

This was the week when seemingly everyone decided they didn’t want to go to the playoffs. For three weeks, the injury-ravaged Broncos could have earned a playoff spot by simply winning one game. But here we are with a week to play and the Broncos still need one win.

In the NFC wild card race, Dallas came into the weekend controlling its own destiny, but they lost. That then put the ball in the Falcons and Bucs’ court. Atlanta did come through with a win to clinch a playoff spot, but the Bucs also punted their chance with a loss to the Chargers. That meant that the Eagles could put themselves in the driver’s seat with a win over the Redskins (the same team that just lost to the Bengals). Of course Philadelphia lost that game, which means that Dallas is right back where they began the weekend–win next weekend and the Cowboys are in the playoffs.Continue Reading

Dec 22nd 2008 8:30AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots, AFC East, NFL FansThere will be plenty of finger-pointing should the Jets miss the playoffs, and while Brett Favre’s name is sure to come up, the real issue is more a macro one: New York was 1-3 against the AFC West this season. Blowout losses on the road in San Diego and Denver, and a demoralizing overtime loss in Oakland, have just as much to do with the Jets’ current predicament as somehow finding a way to lose to the three-win Seahawks.

And now they’ll need help if they hope to play into January.

New York headed into the weekend leading the AFC East, but with the Dolphins and Patriots both winning, they’ve fallen to third. Worse, they have to win Sunday against Miami and pray that the Bills can muster the energy to beat the Patriots. Compounding matters: Chad Pennington will be quarterbackin’ up the Dolphins and even though he might not admit it, I suspect he’s playing with a chip on his twice surgically-repaired shoulder.Continue Reading