Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers (NFLN 8:20PM) Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan
Sunday, December 11
New England Patriots @ Washington Redskins (CBS 1PM) Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf Kansas City Chiefs @ New York Jets (CBS 1PM) Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals (CBS 1PM) Marv Albert, Rich Gannon Indianapolis Colts @ Baltimore Ravens (CBS 1PM) Bill Macatee, Steve Tasker
New Orleans Saints @ Tennessee Titans (FOX 1PM) Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions (FOX 1PM) Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick, Laura Okmin Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers (FOX 1PM) Ron Pitts, Jim Mora Philadelphia Eagles @ Miami Dolphins (FOX 1PM) Chris Myers, Tim Ryan Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Jacksonville Jaguars (FOX 1PM) Sam Rosen, Chad Pennington
Chicago Bears @ Denver Broncos (FOX 4PM) Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals (FOX 4PM) Dick Stockton, John Lynch Oakland Raiders @ Green Bay Packers (CBS 4:15PM) Jim Nantz, Phil Simms Buffalo Bills @ San Diego Chargers (CBS 4:15) Kevin Harlan, Solomon Wilcots
New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys (NBC 8:20PM) Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya
Monday, December 12
St. Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks (ESPN 8:30PM) Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Ron Jaworski
You may already know CBS and NBC are fighting over Tim Tebow for a possible Week 15 Flex Game, but that only begins to tell the story of the infinitely expanding media obsession with Tim Tebow. I foolishly anticipated as Tebow played more minutes in Denver, we would get used to the idea of him playing in the NFL and he would fade away from being the most talked about man in the world. After all, there's no possible way ESPN and other outlets could possibly talk MORE TIM TEBOW. Right?
I couldn't be more wrong.
One five game winning streak filled with last minute victories later and TebowMania is out of control. ESPN, in their infinite wisdom to torture people with any grip of what is real in the world, is DEDICATING AN ENTIRE HOUR OF SPORTSCENTER TO TIM TEBOW Wednesday afternoon at 2 PM ET. Set your DVRs. Amongst the instruments of terror are...
Highlights of Tebow’ comebacks.
Josina Anderson reports live from the Broncos facility.
Jerry Rice will break down Tebow’s development as a passer.
Steve Young will discuss Tebow’s future and how the Broncos should handle him.
An Ed Werder feature: “Winning the Tebow Way."
The debate over Tebow with Skip Bayless.
The top-10 Tebow moments, which will include his Florida days.
An examination of Tebow’s impact on fantasy football.
It must be the goal of ESPN to convince any person that finds the Broncos QB likeable (like me) or sits on the fence to hate him with a passion only saved for telemarketers, migraine headaches, and violent diarrhea. The shame is the average NFL fan can't even enjoy what Tebow is doing in Denver because of this obsession.
There are literally 1,695 other NFL players to talk about - 53 players on 32 teams. Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees are setting records, and yet it's Tebow that gets a full hour of SportsCenter. What about outside the NFL? The best player in baseball may sign with a new team any second, and yet it's Tebow that gets a full hour of SportsCenter. The NBA season is only weeks away from starting, and yet it's Tebow that gets a full hour of SportsCenter. The NHL is proposing radical realignment, and yet it's Tebow that gets a full hour of SportsCenter.
It's not even funny anymore how big of a joke ESPN's Tebow sickness is at this point. Sure, it's fun for us and others to mock TebowMania, but this is seriously getting out of hand. Unbelievably, this is worse than the height of any coverage ever associated with Brett Favre. ESPN's Tebow infatuation shows nothing more than a disconnect from actual sports fans and a warped sense of reality like they are under some sort of hypnotic spell. What the $%*# are they going to do in the offseason, stalk him going to the Mini Mart? Wait in the bushes outside his home to see when he takes out his recycling? Put Jon Gruden on television 14 hours out of the day to examine his mechanics? At least Ed Werder will get a less prickly, less creepy human being to follow around.
TebowMania has now taken on a life of its own and is too big for ESPN to control anymore. In fact, if anything, TebowMania has become some sort of mutant creature hellbent on destroying its creator (ESPN) and the known universe. Think the classic Godzilla movies before he got soft and the immense destruction that took place. That's what TebowMania is doing to our lives, except without the '50s special effects.
It begins with one hour devoted to Tim Tebow. Then, it'll be a 30 for 30 documentary. Next, a miniseries followed by Tebow: The Magazine. Tebow Week, where the quarterback's best performances are dubbed with commentary by Tebow, Skip Bayless, and Merril Hoge won't be far behind. The Tebow On Tebow reality series should be a foregone conclusion.
Finally, I'm fully expecting Tebow to be deified as a god in Bristol, CT and great pyramids will be built in his honor until a Hebrew slave named Moses Malone delivers his people out of bondage. Then again, maybe that was The Ten Commandments.
The regular season is over and so is another year of the Pammies. But before we take a look at the final Pammies standings and crown a champion (as if you don't know who it's going to be), we have to reward Week 14's winners. The envelope please...
10) "Every time after Rosario makes a good play, they tell him to make another one." -Charles Davis (via sctvman)
9) "Larry Fedora better get a rain coat, because a thunderstorm is heading his way." -Craig James There's lightning in gatorade coolers? (via glokkenspx)
8) "We're really getting close to kickoff at the SEC championship game." - Tim Brando It's 2:17. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. (via NHSportsHP)
7) "Johnson had him faked out but there was no way Southern Miss was going to be faked out" - Craig James (via bjo109)
6) "The whole complexity of this game could've been different." - Craig James (via tomatpsu). Complexion, the word is complexion.
5) "We are being booed and we arent even in the game" - Mike Patrick, maybe your being booed because Craig James is in the booth and you're awful. (via jleimer)
4) "You are the inaugural Pac 10, err, Big 10 Championship game champions!" -Kevin Frazier (via DPMilGaya). Ohh Fox...
3) ''Game of centimeters? How about decimeters?'' - Charles Davis (via FreddiePhysical). Centimeters are actually smaller than decimeters. This is why we need to convert to the metric system.
2) "Wilson...making chicken salad out of a broken play..." - Gus Johnson (via ChrisMcSharpe)
1) "The first, inaugural Big 12 Champions." - Tim Brewster (via Aaron_Torres) at the Big Ten Championship Game.
(Click "read more" for your final 2011 Pammies winner and full standings after the jump...)
The NFL put out a press release today announcing that they are going to hold off on revealing the Week 15 "flex" until tomorrow (Wednesday, December 7) because NFL Committees were in New York today. By waiting until tomorrow, the announcement will only come 11 days before the Sunday of Week 15, thus, breaking NFL Flexible Scheduling 101.
Hmm, no big deal I guess, until you realize Week 15 features a Tim Tebow-Tom Brady match up that is currently lined up for a 4:15 p.m. EST start on CBS. It would seem, as the Denver Post says, that flexing Tebow-Brady would be a "no brainer" ... so why wasn't it flexed already?
Well, apparently CBS is playing a little Tebow tug-o-war (Tebow-war?) and thinks it's their turn to have him, which may be the real reason for the hold up in the "flex" announcement despite what it says in the NFL press release:
CBS, apparently, is not letting the game go easily. The network is considered the "AFC network," yet it was not been able to capitalize on telecasting a Tebow-led Bronco comeback last Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings when the Fox network was handed the game because of an NBC flex game that broadcast the New Orleans-Detroit game.
Now NBC would like to flex their Dec. 18 primetime game to the Tom Brady-Tebow matchup, which figures to be a ratings bonanza.
C'mon, guys. There's enough Tim Tebow to go around. I mean, ESPN is having a TebowCenter tomorrow. Be generous and ready to share.
In one corner stands one of the most notorious local trolls in the sports media, John Steigerwald of the Observer-Reporter in Washington, PA. In the opposite corner is Ryan Lambert of Yahoo's Puck Daddy. The subject is Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin and a possible link to steroids that is as flimsy as Shaun Bradley or the latest Brett Favre madness from ESPN.
Steigerwald hypothesized in a recent column that Alex Ovechkin's recent drop in production is due to his getting off performance enhancing drugs. Steigerwald doesn't even go the ESPN/Favre route citing sources, rather he goes all the way to "whispers." If that doesn't scream Pulitzer I don't know what does. The article is a joke and just another pathetic way to get his name in the headlines. Skip Bayless thinks this article is an insult to journalistic standards. But that's what this guy Steigerwald does. If you'll remember, he was the one that said Dodgers fan Bryan Stow brought a savage beating upon himself by wearing a Dodgers jersey to a Giants game.
Lambert, a writer at Puck Daddy, eviscerated Steigerwald and his admitted speculation in a column yesterday in a victory for common decency. In response, Steigerwald then invited Lambert on his daily radio show today to discuss their difference of opinion and thankfully Puck Daddy has the clip. It's quite long at just under a half hour, but this is radio hand to hand combat at its best and includes Lambert suggesting Sydney Crosby may indeed be a vampire due to similar "whispers." At the very least, I'm guessing it was more interesting radio than "Wrestling Reality" which immediately followed Steigerwald's program on TribLive Radio. It's the hockey fight of the year thus far, and Lambert is the winner in a unanimous decision...
Ironic, isn't it? I thought it was the bloggers that were supposed to be the ones to make wild, unfounded, speculative accusations with absolutely no basis... and the real sportswriters were supposed to be the ones to professionally debunk them in a regal, noble sort of way. Well, well, well how the turntables...
Listen to the Ryan Lambert vs. John Steigerwald radio battle - Puck Daddy
Through her counsel, Mary Parker, ESPN reporter Erin Andrews has re-filed a lawsuit in Davidson (Tenn.) County Circuit Court against the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt and her convicted stalker, alleging invasion of privacy, negligence, and infliction of emotional distress. Andrews' stalker, Michael Barrett, was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for following her around the country and filming her through the peepholes of her hotel rooms. The lawsuit accuses Barrett of calling the hotels beforehand and obtaining her room number from the hotels, so he could rent the room next to her. The lawsuit was originally filed in July 2010, but Parker explains that they couldn't get all of the defendants under one jurisdictional roof, so they had to withdraw and re-file accordingly [via Deadspin]:
The original case was non-suited to try to get all of the cases in the various states joined together under the jurisdiction of one court which has not been able to be resolved. Our year for re-filing was about to run, so we re-filed, but only against the entities that are clearly jurisdictional in TN. All original allegations against those entities are exactly the same.
Andrews is seeking $1 million per count plus costs and interest -- $4 million from her stalker and $3 million from the hotel. She also apparently still intends to file suit against the other hotels that were in the original complaint from July in the proper jurisdictions. The above-referenced re-filed complaint can be read after the jump.
There were dozens of deserving nominees this week, and most all of them came from Chris Berman. The Sunday NFL Countdown host was in rare form this week, even for him. Elsewhere, Dick Stockton looks to build his lead and Brian Billick has no idea where he is or what he is doing. You could make the same argument for Donovan McNabb. Too soon? Here are your Week 13 nominees...
1) "Tom Brady is half quarterback, half coach, half coordinator." - Rich Gannon, no wonder Brady's so good, he's 1.5 people! (via markgoodman10)
2) "You can throw your QBR and completed passes out the window. I'll roll the ball downfield to win games" - Jon Gruden (via FlowyDNA)
3) "Arian Foster Houstonian for beer" - Chris Berman (via AA) in the most bizarre Australian accent known to humankind.
4) "These musical award shows are like college bowl games. There are just too many of them." - Troy Aikman (via BloggerJustinF) with your cultural commentary of the week.
5) "They should let Michael Vick take a shot at the end zone here." - Brian Billick from Broncos/Vikings (via sctvman)
6) "You can't have drives like that, they left 10 points on the board." - Dave Lapham (via BY318) on one Benglas drive that had a TD and FG called back.
7) "You see a lot of head coaches handle the playcalling but you don't see a lot of head coaches handle the playcalling" - Jim Mora (via ShutdownLine)
8) "Seattle might be the best 5-7 team in the National Football League." - Steve Mariucci (via markgoodman10) when at the time Seattle was the only 5-7 team in the league.
9) "if that was a pass down the field it would have been pass interference" - Phil Simms (via dmitsch15) describing a block on a punt return.
10) In summary, today Brian Billick has called Jared Allen "Gerald", Brian Dawkins "Darryl Dawkins", and Big Ben as "Roethlisbooger." Amazing. (via AA)
11) "This is an aroused Cardinals defense we are seeing here today." - Dick Stockton (via PTNetherton) Eww...
12) "Brandon 'Our Prices Are In' Saine" - Chris Berman (via CMehring) jumping the shark for 17 years running.
13) "Hand off to Wells! Kolb can't find any one. Incomplete." - Dick Stockton (via TheBrain2177)
14) "Watch how easily this guy pulls out" - Mike Mayock (via bjo109)
15) John Lynch: "Dez Bryant slipped there." DickStockton: "Yeah, and so did Dez Bryant. You wonder if there's a problem." (via SportsByDallas)
Vote For Your Week 13 Dickies Nominees! (vote for up to five)
The winners will come Wednesday so make sure you vote early and often and check back for the full NFL Week 14 announcing sked later this week!
Life is funny. One day you're pegged as the guy to replace the legendary Barry Melrose as the lead hockey analyst for the largest sports media company in the world. You parlay that into a nice little relationship with Michelle Beadle. But of course, things can go the other way as well.
Melrose returned to reclaim his lead analyst status, Beadle moved on and is rumored to be interested in seeking a relationship with "a snarky Chinese Jew blogger type who really gets sports media" and a recent domestic dispute netted the former NHL player a whopping 500 hours of community service.
And now things have certainly spiraled to new lows for Barnaby as he was arrested for a DWI after spotted driving erratically on a rim, causing a lot of sparks that led to residents calling the police. Barnaby has since been let go by ESPN and there are signs of some more ominous things to come.
The first being that Barnaby's Porsche Cayenne was found to have a lot of damage to the front and missing a front tire, which obviously points to some type of collision that the police are still investigating. Also, these quotes from the District Attorney point to the possibility that the agreement regarding his past arrest may put his Unites States residency in jeopardy...
"I hope Mr. Barnaby has a good lawyer because he is going to need one," Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III said.
Barnaby, 38, of Clarence, a native of Ottawa, Ont., who is not an American citizen, was told in July that his earlier charges would be dismissed only if he stayed out of trouble.
"He's potentially in jeopardy of deportation," Sedita said after his latest arrest.
While ESPN always gets banged on by hockey fans for not wholeheartedly covering hockey (something even hockey enthusiasts Steve Levy and Linda Cohn poke fun at), Barnaby's hiring was planned as a replacement for Melrose's departure back to coaching in what ended up being one of the shortest coaching stints of all time. The pair co-existed without much friction or fanfare for the last three years but I think most hockey fans won't be too distraught with Barnaby's exit and the likelihood of more Melrose.
It will be interesting to see if ESPN replaces Barnaby with another analyst. Given the limited airtime the NHL gets and ESPN has operated with only Melrose at times, it's possible they'll go that route again. On the flip side, having a second person in the fold might be a good insurance policy as ESPN personalities seem to have a 50% chance of taking a coaching job, joining a competitor, or being fired for some sketchy incident. With that in mind are there any former players you'd like to see land at the mother-ship?
Although highly unlikely, I think ESPN would be wise to consider Yahoo's Greg Wyshynski, aka Puck Daddy, as a possibility for a mostly web and radio role with some augmenting television coverage. Yahoo and ESPN are deadlocked in a battle for web supremacy in terms of overall audience numbers. Wyshynski is one of the most beloved and successful new media voices and by all accounts, a really good dude who would give ESPN a bit more street cred in the blog space. It would also provide a new voice hockey voice in Bristol and show hockey fans they care just a little bit about the sport.
It's probably a longshot as ESPN seems pretty set in their ways of bringing in former players and coaches, but as we've seen that doesn't always end up well.
Yesterday, ESPN produced this laughable story about one Brett Favre. A story so preposterous that it defied explanation. The entire basis for this article is a "source" claiming Brett Favre "would" listen "if" the Bears called him. Those words in quotes are important. There are no indications the Bears are actually going to call Brett Favre. None. Zero. In other words, it's not happening. In fact, this ridiculous article even goes on to state, "there's likely little to no interest from the club." REALLY!?!?! The fact that this was even published and then promulgated on ESPN airwaves is embarrassing. This is not a story, it's a way for ESPN to feed their Brett Favre addiction.
Immediately after reading the article I took to Twitter with the story and attached the hashtag #ESPNFavreHeadlines to a tweet@awfulannouncing mocking the ESPN story and their Favre obsession. Then, a couple more #ESPNFavreHeadlines came in from our Twitter followers. Suddenly, scores of tweets flooded the AA Twitter inbox with hilarious #ESPNFavreHeadlines and a movement was born. The hashtag began trending in the United States and then Worldwide. So of course, the only way to commemorate the occasion is by taking the best mock ESPN Brett Favre headlines and putting them together in one place. As always, these are Real Tweets from Real People...
ONeal_Matt @awfulannouncing Sources report Favre upgrades cell phone plan to include free pic messaging #ESPNFavreheadlines moose_bigelow @awfulannouncing Sources say Favre will listen if Huey Lewis releases a new album #EspnFavreHeadlines DJ_Jeff_Weaver @awfulannouncing According to members of his inner circle, Favre's jeans are both "real" and "comfortable" #ESPNFavreHeadlines HughGWreckshin @awfulannouncing According to sources, Favre is surprised it took so long for us to bring him up again for no reason #ESPNFavreHeadlines FelskeFiles @awfulannouncing Favre says he would supersize his Value Meal if he were to be approached. #ESPNFavreHeadlines RamsHerd @awfulannouncing Favre wonders what all the fuss was about. Nickelback is great! #ESPNFavreHeadlines ksmattingly @awfulannouncing Sources say Favre will consider recording A Charlie Brown Christmas if he isn't at home when it airs. #ESPNFavreHeadlines BackQuiet @awfulannouncing Brett Favre would sign for package, if approached by FedEx. #ESPNFavreHeadlines
jen2714 #ESPNFavreHeadlines @awfulannouncing "Reports indicate Favre would 'Have it His Way' if approached by Burger King." dbach22 @awfulannouncing brett favre still wearing wranglers, would listen to offers from fubu and jynco if interested. #ESPNFavreHeadlines jjbecker111 @awfulannouncing Farve would listen if Jenn Sterger gave him a call. #ESPNFavreHeadlines CFPtherealOG @awfulannouncing ESPN's Ed Werder reports Favre has invited him off his lawn inside for Christmas dinner. #ESPNFavreHeadlines James_Fayleez @awfulannouncing Sources say Favre will cut a fart when he feels gassy. #ESPNFavreHeadlines CaptTouchback @awfulannouncing Favre Retires From Wranglers, Re-signs With Wranglers, Retires Again and Signs With Levi's. #ESPNFavreHeadlines johhnypbrclops @awfulannouncing sources say Favre will listen, but first must stop, then look #ESPNFavreheadlines dr883@awfulannouncing Favre would listen if ESPN wanted to blow more sunshine up his ass #espnfavreheadlines
BooNelly47 @awfulannouncing Favre thinks dos equis got it wrong not naming him most interesting man in the world #ESPNFavreHeadlines psicher @awfulannouncing Sources: Brett Favre used to cite his in MLA Format #ESPNFavreHeadlines MDWDFW Source says Favre would throw INT if the season was on the line. #ESPNFavreHeadlines @awfulannouncing TheBlackerby @awfulannouncing Favre would consider Showcase #1 but needs more info on Showcase #2 before bidding. #ESPNFavreHeadlines #PriceIsRight Lee_Zy Sources say Favre, in hindsight, would probably ask for the phone number of Jenn Brown instead #ESPNFavreHeadlines @awfulannouncing rashadalaiyan @awfulannouncing Favre would get his son playing time by fabricating a story about him being locked in a shed. #ESPNFavreHeadlines mattyzucks @awfulannouncing Sources say that if asked, Favre would agree to iTunes Terms and Conditions #ESPNFavreHeadlines dcarcass@awfulannouncing 'Favre Considers Finishing Leftover Milk After Eating Cereal' #ESPNFavreHeadlines
BlackMagic_5 @awfulannouncing #espnFavreheadlines Brett Favre would be interested in a box of cookies if approached by Girl Scouts. dekimmel @awfulannouncing Source says Brett Favre still unsure why his name isn't pronounced "favor." #ESPNFavreHeadlines mhfight@awfulannouncing#espnFavreheadlines ESPN reports that Favre would listen if his doorbell rings Hec718 #ESPNFavreHeadlines Sources close to Brett confirm he HAS been Keeping Up with the Kardashians. ShaggyNScoobyD Breaking News: Brett Favre just burned a piece of toast but sources say he WILL try to make another one #espnfavreheadlines NOTSportsCenter SOURCES: Brett Favre may consider mowing his lawn tomorrow #ESPNFavreHeadlines
danmccallion Sources are reporting that Brett Favre WOULD listen if a song by the band Chicago came on the radio. #espnfavreheadlines Don_Lito10 Brett Favre said he will consider using newspaper in case he runs out of toilet paper #ESPNfavreheadlines JasonOrfao SOURCES: Favre throws laundry into hamper, strengthening arm for possible NFL return. #espnfavreheadlines SouhanStrib Favre would listen if John Madden told him he loves the game and plays like a little kid. #ESPNFavreHeadlines IAmJordanWorley REPORT: Sources say Brett Favre would consider being baptized by Tim Tebow if approached. #ESPNFavreHeadlines FakeWilbon Favre To Sign With Bears. Plans To Take Back Title Of Biggest Douchebag From Suh #espnfavreheadlines
PaulPabst "Favre loses throwing arm in combine accident...still not ruling out comeback" #ESPNFavreHeadlines Cameron_Gray BREAKING NEWS: Brett Favre breathes in oxygen, and then breathes out carbon dioxide - 3 hour SportsCenter coming up - #ESPNFavreHeadlines csolomon15 @awfulannouncing Sources say Favre would like to save 15% on his car insurance if contacted by a Gecko. #ESPNFavreHeadlines MBeller @awfulannouncing Sources say Favre would consider a business venture if contacted by a deposed African prince via email. #ESPNFavreHeadlines allie_yoder @awfulannouncing Favre reports he would probably use a shakeweight if he got it as a gift. #ESPNFavreHeadlines Youfisheyedfool @awfulannouncing Brett would be interested in another inch or two if approached by Photoshop. #ESPNFavreHeadlines
This is from this past Saturday's Big Ten Championship game. Yes, we know it's old and you've probably seen it elsewhere, but it had to be posted here and I wanted to give our own Brady Green some time to recover before putting up things that might make him cry. You see, he's a big Michigan State fan and Sparty nation is still in mourning, but I wanted to get the video up before the blogging statute of limitations officially run out on this.
In case you missed out on another Michigan State-Wisconsin classic, the situation was fourth-and-six at Michigan State's 43 yard line. If Wisconsin fails to convert, they likely go on to lose. Instead, Russel Wilson scrambled to his left, stopped, planted, rise-and-fired across field to Jeff Duckworth, a receiver who had just caught his first touchdown of the season earlier in the game. Duckworth, despite being surrounded by green, jumped and pulled the pass into his bread basket at the Spartans' seven yard line. Wisconsin would score and get the two-point conversion to take a three-point lead that would ultimately be the difference for the Rose Bowl berth.
