NFL DRAMA AWARDS !

Who will win?








My original idea for this post was a kind of Drama award for the NFL.

We certainly have had (and continue to have) plenty of teams, coaches, owners and players all worthy of some sort of Headline or Drama award this year.

I even had a couple top contenders in mind (Vikings and Brett Favre) vs ( Redskins, AH, McNabb, Shanahan). Yes the Redskin side out numbers the Vikings, but only in candidates.

There are plenty of other contenders out there and everyone (fans), depending on their loyalties and personalities, will have his or her own favorites.

The first dilemma I encountered was how to choose and whom?

One way might be to go simply by number of news articles for 2010. I quickly realized, that despite my , and a certain followers preferences, the previously mentioned; surprisingly are NOT necessarily top contenders.

Google 2010 news articles:

Brett Favre --------- 19K results
Donovan McNabb ------ 9K results
Albert Haynesworth -- 4K results
Mark Sanchez -------- 11K results
Minnesota Vikings --- 21K results
New York Jets ------- 28K results
New York Giants ----- 31K results

I could have done more but I did not feel like going through every possible team and player combination out there.

Another way to choose a winner might be to go simply by popularity.
For this I turned to social media to look for answers.
Again, I found some surprising results.

Teams with most Facebook fans:

#1 Dallas Cowboys
#2 Pittsburgh Steelers
#3 New Orleans Saints
#4 New England Patriots

#6 Minnesota Vikings
#10 Washington Redskins

Then we have the number of people who “like” something, or in this case, somebody else:

673K people like the Minnesota Vikings
440K people like the Washington Redskins
1.16 million people like the New England Patriots
1.26 million people like the Steelers

But what about some of the players?

T.O. has 390K people who like him (obviously there is no accounting for taste as you will soon see)
Favre 98K like him
Mcnabb 40K like him
Only 1K people like Haynesworth.
Randy Moss, has 170K liking him.

Ochocinco 1.3 million people like him (Really?)

And, sad to say, two of my personal favorite NFL role models:

5K like Darrell Green.
2.5K like London Fletcher.

Twitter had some equally interesting results for top followers:

#4 Kerry Rhodes
#7 Mark Sanchez
#9 NY Jets
#11 New England Patriots
#16 ndamukong_suh
#21 Vikings

Oh, and now for something completely different, one funny listing I saw regarding “most retweeted” for 2010 . . .








OK, now that I have totally digressed beyond / past my original idea, let me pull everyone back to how to choose and present an award.

For this, I took inspiration from the original photo I so grandiosely trashed. The Oscars and the Academy Awards.

Instead of creating a dull and most likely incomplete poll, I am going to create discussion threads on my Fumbled Returns Facebook Fan Page with the following Categories:

Best NFL Actor
Best NFL Art or Sign
Best NFL Fan Costume
Best Rant
Best Action Shot
Best Sound Effect
Best Unscripted Comment
Best Dance
Best Score
Best Commercial
And stealing one from categories turned down . . .
Best Juvenile Award

Within these discussion threads anybody will be able to nominate their own personal suggestion / link and or agree with one that is already there.
I will keep the threads open through the remainder of the season, including the playoffs and super bowl.

And in keeping with the original inspiration, tally the votes and announce the awards sometime around the real academy awards in 2011.

So, you all have some time to think about your choice awards for each category and submit an entry.

Submit multiple entries if you like.

Or confirm that you end up liking one already there.

Lets see who wins!

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Randy Moss, Brett Favre and Jenn Sterger

Randy Moss on wondering what kind of pass that Brett Favre will be making . . .

And buying a new pair of gloves . . .

It’s not the ball that bothers me . . .
It where the hand that threw it has been . . .




Randy Moss is now worried that Brett Favre has his number . . .

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Favre vs Shanahan Round 1

Brett Favre bumped Mike Shanahan from Sunday Night Football

From the DC Sports Bog . . .

As if you needed any more reasons to be bitter about Brett Favre's return, he managed to bump Mike Shanahan off NBC's Sunday Night Football broadcast.

The Redskins coach sat down with Bob Costas early last week to tape an interview that was scheduled to air during halftime of the 49ers-Vikings game. Then some stuff happened with Brett Favre, and the world was overcome with fumes, and Al Michaels scored an interview with the grizzled one, and so NBC Sports producers decided that would be the halftime spot.

No arguments here. If you've got the noble gunslinger, and the Vikings are playing, you have to go with that interview at halftime. And since the Shanahan interview was pre-taped, there wouldn't be any new ammunition added to the Albert Haynesworth gunfight.

Still. Go ahead and add it to the list.

As for the lost Shanahan-Costas footage, an NBC Sports spokesman tells me it will air at a later date, likely during the Thursday night kickoff game.

Oh palease, Another Headline Ratings Op stolen by the Vikings.

Danny and Co. will have to come up with more "As Albert Turns" drama.

Guess I will just have to keep tabs and see what happens come Nov 28th!

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Wordless Wednesday Football

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Brett's New Look

Vikings coach Brad Childress said Friday he's known about Brett Favre's ankle injury for some time and he still has not changed his outlook on the QB's potential for playing next season.

"I still don't know," Childress told reporters about whether Favre would play in 2010. "That's my story and I'm sticking to it from the way back when."

Favre revealed on Friday that he's considering having surgery to repair damage in his ankle. He cautioned that the injury is not "debilitating" and that the Minnesotta Vikings are said to be outfitting Brett with new equipement for when he does decide to return for the 2010 season.

Childress said the injury is a "life issue" for the 40-year-old Favre. "Whether he gets things fixed now or later or has to have an elbow cleaned out now or later or a shoulder cleaned out now or later," he said. "Those are kind of ongoing."

The Vikings coach also reiterated that he's not concerned by the possibility that if Favre plays, he may not join the team until well into its training camp. Last year, Favre joined the Vikings in mid-August.

"How much (preparation time) does he need? He knows," Childress said. "I've got a ballpark idea of how much he needs and obviously what he got last year was plenty."

But whatever happens, I'm sure the Vikings organization will have all Bretts new equipment ready and waiting for him.

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No QB Left Behind

It seems that the NFL, along with all their other negotiations, are exploring options regarding kids, recruiting, and future professional players.

It makes sense. Imagine having a program, a farm system of sorts, which identifies potential future football stars, provides training and education, bringing them up to be well rounded, and well known professional football stars.

Each professional team could have its own program. Guiding kids and athletes, molding them to one day fit in with the future of the NFL.

I think this is a great idea. Probably would be cost effective (cost less than some of these modern day multi gazillion dollar contracts) And it wouldn't cost anybody any draft picks either.

So congratulations to the Vikings, the NFL and most importantly Brett Favre and his family for kick starting this wonderful program.

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Ask Brett

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Absolutely no truth

To the rumors that Fox Sports, has contacted me regarding the use of my blog name and their commentary regarding the NFC title game.

Absolutely no truth...

to the rumor that any of the purple pride or vikings mania organizations have contacted me either regarding their protest the current state of Brett Favre's contract.

Or that the Vikings organization is looking to pro-rate Bretts contract...

Or that I have been asked to change my background colors to purple and gold...

Absolutely no truth...

to the rumor that said Brett Favre is teaming up with Prince to write a new theme song... (combination purple and gold and pants on the ground called ball on the ground) with special guest appearances from MC Hammer (can't touch this), 38 Special (hang on loosely), and Simon and Garfunkel (slip sliding away).

Absolutely no truth...

to the rumor that ESPN has removed AP, Brett and Reggie from their fantasy football no cut lists...

Absolutely no truth...

to the rumor that I am holding out for sponsorship of Reggie Bush, who really did fumble a return and can't seem to hold on to anything off the field either...

What IS TRUE...

is the FACT that London Fletcher IS going to the Pro Bowl because the Saints and middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma are going to the Super Bowl.

The game was so "gut-wrenching" for Fletcher that he actually turned off the TV when the game was tied at 28-28 in the fourth quarter.

Couldn’t watch it.

“Watching the Saints vs. Vikings game was something that I could not get comfortable with,” Fletcher admitted.

Turns out it was equally as uncomfortable waiting in silence for the final score.

So he turned the TV back on.

It was overtime. Kicker Garrett Hartley, who beat the Redskins in Week 13 with a chip shot field goal, lined up a 40-yard game-winner for the Saints.

The kick sailed through the uprights.

“I did a little sprint around the house,” Fletcher said, laughing.

This is how much making the Pro Bowl meant to Fletcher.

What IS True...

is the fact that I will always bleed Burgundy and Gold.

Fletcher has not missed a game in his 12 year career. Is one of the most prolific tacklers in the entire NFL and is a true leader both on and off the field.

He is also one of the finalists for the Payton award; the award named for the late Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, which goes annually to the player who combines on-field excellence with off-the-field community service.

Best of luck to you London. You deserve it.


Who knew that my blog name sake would be so appropriate for the NFC championship game?

Absolutely no truth...

To the rumor that said namesake is for sale at any price!


under six figures...

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Look it, Step it, Throw it

That is my football QB passing lesson plan.

Actually, it is really Look, Step, Throw. But in a 3 year olds vocabulary it gets translated to Look it, Step it, Throw it.



Notice, I did not say anything about look, step, THROW ACROSS YOUR BODY WHILE RUNNING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD!

Obviously I still need to go over the next step of actually catching it, but QB's do not need to catch it, just throw it.

Catching is another football instructional video that only comes with practice.

And after last night, I have thought of a follow on instructional video of "don't fumble it".

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Today is the day...

That you are either complaining that you were robbed of a championship
or
that you are boasting how great you are.

When in reality, you are just lucky...
or not.

See, when it comes to fantasy football, you never know how things are going to turn out.

In the borderless league championship game, the final outcome rested in the hands of the winners and losers of Monday Night Football.

And once again, Brett Favre and the Vikings CHOKED!

And once again, the east coast lost to the west coast...

Oh well, it really was a great season and we had lots of firsts for the league over the course of the season.

In fact we already have some firsts for next season lined up. Such as Franchise Players, and Draft order based on final standings.

One thing I have already noticed is that the default consolation brackets on ESPN negate the over all records and standings of the bottom 6 teams.

The way it is set now, whomever does the worst in the consolation brackets ends up being in last place, regardless of the overall record. Which means you get first pick in the draft next year. This gives the non-playoff teams an incentive to lose each and every single one of the last three games.

Of course, as commish, I can over ride this and do as I please but we do have a league discussion board where ideas, suggestions and complaints are recorded and discussed in an open format.

(I give everyone the false hope that their opinion really does matter).

It actually could be fun to see how badly one could make your team choke but ultimately this could distort the balance, standings and draft picks for next year.

So the current last place team with a record of 4 - 9 in the regular season lost all three consolation rounds and now gets 1st pick in the draft. As apposed to the worst regular season record of 1 - 12 team is actually 3rd in the draft because somehow they managed to win one of the last three games.

I already know this is going to be an active discussion board in the post season.

I really love this stuff!

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Games of the Week

Well, the two games of this past week had to have been the Vikings Packers game;
And ; The final World Series Game.

So, in tribute to both, courtesy of the Stupid Sports Blog, I present the following...























The Vikings and Packers game had 39 Million Viewers.
Here is the breakdown of the demographics...

19 million -- Packers fans
500,000 -- Vikings fans
2 million -- Guys in Wranglers
300,000 -- Gay guys in Wranglers
2 million -- Guys in Wranglers who won't admit they're gay (overlap group of original Wranglers group)
6 million -- People who were hoping Favre would snap a bone or tear a tendon
4 million -- People who own Adrian Peterson in fantasy leagues, who were once again disappointed by Favre's short-yardage TDs
150 -- People rooting for Favre who aren't Vikings fans
150 -- People who own Favre in fantasy leagues and their starter on a bye (overlap group)
900,700 -- Gunslingers
1 -- Cyndi Lauper
1 -- Mary Jensen
1 -- Peter King
7 million -- Lazy people who couldn't find their remote




















A Tribute Song to the World Champs -
Remix BNL "IF I HAD 2 BILLION DOLLARS"...

If I had 2 billion dollars
(If I had 2 billion dollars)
I'd buy you a house
(I would buy you a house)
If I had 2 billion dollars
(If I had 2 billion dollars)
I'd buy you players for your house
(Maybe a nice starting pitcher or first baseman)
And if I had 2 billion dollars
(If I had 2 billion dollars)
Well, I'd buy you a bullpen
(A nice reliant bridge to Mo)
If I had 2 billion dollars I'd buy your title

If I had 2 billion dollars
I'd build $5,000 seats in our yard
If I had 2 billion dollars
You could take out a loan, it wouldn't be that hard
If I had 2 billion dollars
Maybe we could put like a little tiny monument park in there somewhere
You know, we could just go up there and hang out
Like hang out with the ghosts and stuff
There would be fat guys in zubaz pants already there for us
Wearing jersey T-shirts with names on the back

They have jerseys with names on the back but the uniforms don't?
Well, can you blame 'em
Uh, yeah

If I had 2 billion dollars
(If I had 2 billion dollars)
Well, I'd buy you Carl Pavano
(But we'd DL him for three years because that's cruel)
And if I had 2 billion dollars
(If I had 2 billion dollars)
Well, I'd buy you an exotic vet
(Yep, like The Rocket or Abreu)
And if I had 2 billion dollars
(If I had 2 billion dollars)
Well, I'd buy you Gary Sheffield's remains
(Ooh, all them crazy drug-riddled bones)
And If I had 2 million dollars I'd buy your title

If I had 2 billion dollars
We wouldn't have to worry about scouting
If I had 2 billion dollars
Now, we'd pay A.J. Burnett a whole lot more
If I had 2 billion dollars
We wouldn't have a consistent winner
But we would have just one winner
Of course we would, it's just simple probability
And buy really expensive middle relievers
That’s right, all the fanciest relie....Paul Quantrill!
Mmmmmm, Mmmm-Hmmm

If I had 2 billion dollars
(If I had 2 billion dollars)
Well, I'd buy you a Moose
(But not a real moose, that's cruel)
And if I had 2 billion dollars
(If I had 2 billion dollars)
Well, I'd buy you a mercenary
(A Giambi or a Mondesi)
If I had 2 billion dollars
(If I had 2 billion dollars)
Well, I'd buy you some steroids
(Haven't you always wanted some steroids?)

If I had 2 billion dollars
I’d buy your title

If I had 2 billion dollars, If I had 2 billion dollars
If I had 2 billion dollars, If I had 2 billion dollars
If I had 2 billion dollars
I'd be champs

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Old age and treachery will beat youth and skill every time

Shutdown Corner Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:53 pm EDT
Brett Favre throws a dirty block at Eugene Wilson's knees
By MJD

If you didn't see it for yourself on ESPN, take a look at this filthy little crackback block that Brett Favre(notes) threw at the knees of Texans safety Eugene Wilson(notes) in the third quarter of the Monday Night preseason game.


Yeah, he's like a little kid out there. Specifically, that little girl Esther in "Orphan."

Mike Tirico's right, that wasn't cool. It was dirty, is what it was, not to mention illegal. My kudos and thanks go to Tirico and Ron Jaworski for pointing it out and not using the kid gloves on the usually sacred Favre.

It's not the worst thing any of us have ever seen, but I cringe any time I see an NFL player do something that is both unnecessary and puts someone else in such danger. I know that it's a dangerous game, and physical plays have to be made, but this, in my view, doesn't fall into that category.

Favre didn't have to go that low. Favre didn't have to put Eugene Wilson's knees in jeopardy. Like Jaws said, that's a potential career-ender.

That said, though, even though I've made no secret of my disapproval of Favre's nonsense over the past couple of years, if this were someone else, I'd probably be way more upset about it. I'm not saying that it's okay, of course, but Favre's been a quarterback in the NFL for 83 years and I can't recall a single other incident of dirty play.

So I won't label him a dirty player. The man's history earns him the benefit of the doubt. Make no mistake, though, the play itself was dirty. Here's what the NFL rulebook says about the crackback block:

An offensive player who lines up more than two yards outside his own tackle or a player who, at the snap, is in a backfield position and subsequently takes a position more than two yards outside a tackle may not clip an opponent anywhere nor may he contact an opponent below the waist if the blocker is moving toward the ball and if contact is made within an area five yards on either side of the line. (crackback)

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Quips and Quotes...

Here are two of my favorite Quips and Quotes from today...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Headline: VIKINGS TO DUMP JACKSON SOON ...









QUOTE(#2):
Originally posted 07:16 AM ET 08.19 by Cheesy Texan

So when Favre's arm falls off and Sage realizes he's Sage Rosenfeld, John David Booty will get the starting nod. Damn good strategy, Vikes!!!




So, that would be a booty call then. HA! I slay me!!










---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Headline Raiders :
Raiders head coach Tom Cable punches assistant Randy Hanson.









"That's absurd! Every Raider knows weapons are much more effective!"

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NFL Reality Shows...

So, the other day I was looking at suggestions for Fantasy Football Team names and realized that they would be perfect titles for reality TV episodes.

Here are some potential episode (AKA Fantasy Football Team Names) for Life on the sidelines...

Kibbles and Vicks
Eli, The Other White Manning
Forgetting Brandon Marshall
Cassel Greyskull
Goodell’s Morality Squad
FavreDollar Footlongs
Farve From Over
Forte-fied
WD-Forte
Burressted Development
ORTON (hears a) WHO?
Flacco Seagulls
I Dream of Mangini
Cutler's Last Stand
Home is where the Portis
I’m so Zorny
Have Bush? Get Barber!
Victorious Secret
Touchdown There
Show me the TD's!
The I.R.S.
Because the I.R.S. always wins, no matter what. There’s no beating the I.R.S.
(I know, that last one is not truly football related but it was too good to pass up)

And the NFL could also market special commemorative sports items based on each show...

Such as this one...



















(NOTE)
If I were the type of person to speak out about such things as the NFL's double standards, hypocritical or ethical or not, spin of profiting after a crimes or meddling with players lives and money... I probably would do so here...

But, I'm not. So, I won't.

Sorry.

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I can hear it in their thoughts and see it in their faces...

I don't get it....
How could I have missed it?
Vick to an NFC East Opponent!!!
I've got to think of something...

And to think I could have had a prima donna premier QB buy my side right now, if only...





PSSssst!
Hey I can still run and throw...

A Little...

Maybe half the season...

I could come in on 3rd down...

Have you heard of wildcat?




Me and Jason in the same backfield...

I bet he could block...






I hear where you are coming from and I've got your number!!!











Just some of the things that tick me off...

Unwarranted Hype...
Brett Favre Hype...
Michael Vick Hype...
Dan Snyder...

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Edina = Every Day I Need Attention.

Brett Favre makes deposit on condo in Edina, MN

Yet another story about B.F. and the V!

Seriously, I think I'll pop on over to see what T.O. is doing....

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I give up....

It is now officially Lent.

So, here are some ideas of things to give up...

Sports:

Not!

This may be asking the impossible. Though, if you're anything like me, this would be quite the sacrifice. How many hours a day do you spend reading about sports? How many games and television shows (Sportscenter) do you watch? Instead, use that time and spend it with the people that you love.

I, for one, know that my wife would love it if I gave up sports for Lent.
Man, I hope she's not reading this article.

Stocks:

Not!

Though this may not be a bad idea given that the market is intent on killing all returns from the past 10 years!

Myspace, Facebook, Youtube:

OK, maybe...

At this point I'd like to welcome all you 'former' internet socialites to the ancient community app that started it all: BLOGGER!

Alcohol, Ice Cream and Soda:

I am setting the lofty goal(s) for all three!
Hey, it's fat Tuesday as I am writing this, so, guess what I am indulging in....
Thank god for spell check!

And, not to alienate all those other great ideas and sport celebrities...
Note: I am not giving up Ranting or trying to be Humorous ;-)
Though, after this post, maybe I should...

Colorado Avalanche are giving up......Winning any games the rest of the season.

Brett Favre is giving up......Playing in the NFL....or is he?

Alex Rodriguez is giving up......Naming names in the steroids scandal.

Ben Roethlisberger is giving up......scrambling.

Minnesota Vikings are giving up......2009 Season by attempting to sign QB Sage Rosenfels.

Bill Belichick is giving up......polos and button down shirts.

Detroit Lions are giving up......that's it...just giving up.

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