little Tommy Beats The Hell Out Of Brett Favre
I don’t know what the hell little Tommy is so frustrated about in his life but he decides he needs to throw on his big brothers football helmet and pick up his little league baseball bat and take it out on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre. Too much Grand Theft Auto in little Tommy’s life.
WTF: little Tommy
Excellent Parenting
This is a picture of little Tommy outside of the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings preseason game. Does little Tommy even know what a bitch is? I don’t think so, this is what being a parent is all about you get to instill all kinds of crap onto your kids and they will just roll with it.
What’s with the sassy pose little Tommy?
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: Myself (Salami)
Myself (Salami)
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to myself, Salami, for my blunder on Tuesday’s show when I confused former former Pittsburgh Steelers Jack Lambert with Oakland Raiders Jack Tatum.
Just moments before our daily show was about to air live on Tuesday, I received word via text message that the former Raiders defensive back, Tatum, had died. Shortly after our sponsor announcements and introductions where made, co-host Calvin Casey turned the mic over to me so I could inform our listeners that the NFL had lost one of it’s legends. That’s when the blunder began to spill out of my mouth. As I spoke of Tatum, I was actually describing Steelers linebacker Lambert but continued to use Tatum’s name.
Visions of those iconic photos of Lambert looking towards the camera with his lack of teeth on full display and the highlights of the Steelers from the 70′s on NFL Films was all that my mind kept repeating. Like my brain waves where stuck on one wave length and it happened to be Lambert.
The problem was this live and it was all incorrect. When speaking of Tatum I should have been relaying the information of his iconic moments, like his hit on New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley, his involvement in the Immaculate Reception or perhaps I could have spoke of his Super Bowl hit on Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Sammy White.
When you present yourself ‘live’ you open yourself up for such blunders. I simply tripped up at the one, missed the all alone layup, struck out looking and for that though I admit my fault but still recognize my meltdown and award myself with the Mama Margie Major Meltdown.
The Assassin deserved better, Raider fans deserved better, our listeners as a whole deserved better.
WTF: Jared Allen
Mullet Mafia Needs To Make A Comeback
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen hit the links at the American Century Tahoe Celebrity Golf this getup. Try not to pay to much attention to the pants but the fact that Allen is wearing flops on the course.
Why Jared, why?
Brett Favre’s Agent Calls Him A Drama Queen
Drama Queen
Bus Cook, the agent for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, might have had all he can handle of the will he or won’t he retire situation. Cook did an interview with Men’s Journal in which he called a Favre a drama queen.
“Brett talked to goddamned Ed Werder at ESPN, says he needs ankle surgery. Now why did he do that?” Cook asked. “I’ve got [Brad] Childress calling. I’ve got reporters calling all damn morning. Goddammit, why does he have to be such a goddamned drama queen? Play, don’t play, goddamn, people are getting sick of it. I’m getting sick of it!”
“Why does he have to talk to these people? What good does it do? Ed Werder at ESPN! What’s he ever done for anybody other than say, ‘Look, look, Mommy, I got this first, ain’t I special?’ You got problems with surgery, talk to your wife. Why talk to goddamned Ed Werder?”
Or does Bus just have beef with Ed Werder?
Denver Broncos Tim Tebow Jersey Leads In Sales
NFL's lil baby Jesus
Three months into the league and Denver Broncos third string quarterback leads the NFL in jersey sales.The rookie quarterback had the best-selling jersey in April, even though the Broncos owned his rights for less than eight days during the month.
Donovan McNabb, after being traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Washington Redskins, had the second-most popular jersey. The next most popular jerseys belong to New Orleans Saints Drew Brees,Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning, Dallas Cowboys Tony Romo and Minnesota Vikings Brett Favre.
Michael Vick’s jersey who once was a hot item, fell out of the list top 25 most-popular jerseys and replaced on that list by teammate Kevin Kolb. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is at No. 14 at the list, his lowest place since the 2006 season.
It’s not only Tebow’s jerseys that are selling. So too are his autographs. This past weekend, hundreds of people lined up in Fort Pierce, Florida, and paid $75 for a picture and $160 for an autograph. Twenty people paid $1,000 each to have a private meet and greet with the former Gators star. Tebow donated all of his proceeds to his Tim Tebow Foundation.
Twitter Fight Between Visanthe Shiancoe & Darren Sharper
Too Soon?
Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper have been engaged into a Twitter fight for close to two weeks now but according to Sharper the ttight end went too far.
The fight started when Sharper implied would go after Brett Favre’s surgically repaired ankle in the season opener in September. That caused Shiancoe to stand up for his quarterback and then the Twitter fight began for the whole world to be apart of.
The latest exchange happened when some of the Vikings visited the Minnesota National Guard on Tuesday. Shiancoe then decided to post the photo of a target used for shooting practice. The target had a picture of Osama Bin Laden with Sharper’s No. 42 on his chest and his name written above it.
@sharper responded with the following tweets:
ok homeboy you done went too far, making me out to be something that has brought this country alot of heartache.
Imma bust you right under your chinstrap from the first play on. I don’t care about the fine. F the money Imma do it for the red,white&blue about 19 hours ago via mobile web
And you’ll see me cuz I’ll be dressed in black & gold. Protect your neck that’s all the warning you get.
@vshiancoe had this to say on Twitter
You are the FURTHEST thing from a physical safety.. even you know that your sofT with a capital “T!” You remind me of a growling chihuahua
don’t get your jaw broken trying to be a tough guy. Stay “sofT” and be yourself
Damn ‘homeboy!’
WTF: Jared Allen
Nooooo
In anticapation of an upcoming wedding Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen has done the unthinkable and cut his mullet off. It’s been such a staple of his career these last few years that I’ve forgotten what he looked like without it.
Question now remains does this kill the Mullet Mafia
Detroit Lions Coach Gets Aroused Watching Jahvid Best
Everything Is Up
The NFL Draft has come and gone and now we can start linking the careers of players to the coaches that drafted them, like Bronco’s Josh McDaniels and the Tim Tebow selection. Now matter what the outcome of Tebow’s career is, they are forever joined at the hip.
McDainels isn’t the only coach this happens to though as Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz has to answer as to why they traded back into the first round to select California’s running back Jahvid Best. Schwartz has taken it upon himself to embrace the role and the move for Best.
On Thursday as the first round was winding down the Lions made a trade with the Minnesota Vikings to take over their 30th overall pick. Schwartz said he could hardly control his emotions as he waited for the trade to be finalized so they could select Best. Even with their man now a Lion, Schwartz couldn’t contain his emotion as to why he fell in love with the pick.
“Some people watch adult videos on their computer. I go to YouTube and watch Jahvid Best highlight clips. That’s what gets me aroused.”
It’s probably a good thing the Lions no longer employ defensive line coach Joe Cullen anymore. He definitely could show Schwartz a few ways he liked to get aroused.
NFL & UConn Found Korey Stringer Institute
In Memory Of
The NFL and the University of Connecticut have partnered with Kelci Stringer, the widow of Minnesota Vikings tackle Korey Stringer who died from heat stroke nine years ago, to open the Korey Stringer Institute at UConn’s Neag School of Education. The creation of the institute will be announced Friday at the NFL Draft and
“There’s constant research that comes out each day and we want to continue to put out that information and be a resource for every athlete in any sport at any level. I would hope in the short term we can help eradicate these types of heat-related deaths,” said Kelci Stringer.
Stringer died of complications due to heat stroke on Aug. 1, 2001 during training camp. At 27, he was the first professional football player to die from the illness. Kelci Stringer spent several years in court suing the NFL and equipment manufacturers, all the while envisioning a day when there are athletic trainers at every high school in the nation; today, only about half of the schools have one. And she imagined a time when pro, college and youth sports organizations have set policies on prevention of heat illnesses.
One of the primary missions of the institute will be to extend awareness, education and advocacy about the proper precautions to avoid heat stroke through its website. The institute also will offer its services to athletic trainers, team physicians, athletic directors, coaches, league supervisors, parents, principals, equipment manufacturers and others to create proper protocols, policies and emergency action plans to prevent sudden death in sport, especially as it relates to heat stroke.
The league which settled the lawsuit over Korey’s death out of court decided to provide financial help, as is Gatorade. The NFL also will help publicize and market the institute, and few sports organizations are more effective in those areas.
Atlanta Falcons To Be 1st To Use MMA Training
Rudy J Is Also A Beast In The Octagon
The Atlanta Falcons have become the NFL’s first franchise to begin a team-sponsored MMA program for its players. The sessions are run by MMAthletics, a company formed by FOX Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer and Ultimate Fighting Championship star Randy Couture.
A dozen Falcons players have volunteered for the innovative training done in conjunction with Atlanta’s traditional offseason workouts. Another four-to-eight players are expected to join.
“We’re always looking for new and progressive ideas as far as training and offering our team supplements to the athletic performance model we have in place here,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “This was something we were comfortable with as far as conditioning but even more importantly the idea of having MMA help the players with their leverage, hand quickness, and things that could help them within the trenches taking on blocks and battling inside.”
Glazer said that “fighter mentality” is what MMAthletics tries to instill in NFL participants like those of Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen,San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis, and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart who have been apart of his program.
Falcons coach Mike Smith became sold on the idea in February when meeting with Glazer and Couture at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. But unlike their UFC counterpart there isn’t sparring during these hour-long workouts just the physical and mental stress it endures
The Falcons will train with MMAthletics into May and possibly beyond. Glazer said another NFL team he refused to name will begin workouts in May.
Brett Favre Gives Wrangler Jeans To Minnesota Vikings Players
Penny Pincher
Brett Favre did the single most selfless thing any football player has ever done, he’s given the Minnesota Vikings players a pair of Wrangler jeans. Yes jeans, screw a trip to Hawaii, a Rolex or like a Bentley like Cleveland Cavaliers Shaquille O’Neal did for teammate LeBron James.
Favre left a pair of Wrangler jeans in the lockers of his teammates this week for their optional workouts at Winter Park. He reportedly got all of their sizes and each player has them in their locker.
Some didn’t know at first where they came from, others right away because of how lame it is. Jasper Brinkley called it “a great gift” and said it says a lot for a teammate to think of all of them like that.
Punter Chris Kluwe had a little more fun with it saying “Yeah, did leave them for us. They’re a little stiff. I may have to drag them behind my car for a couple miles.”
We are talking about $35 pair of jeans here, don’t want you to go broke now Brett.
Esera Tuaolo Tries To Show America He Has Talent
Over The Rainbow
Esera Tuaolo in 2002, having retired from the NFL, announced that he was gay on HBO’s Real Sports. This made him the third former NFL player to come out, after David Kopay and Roy Simmons. Tuaolo played defensive tackle for the mainly for the Minnesota Vikings but made stops with the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers over the course of nine seasons in the NFL.
Now he’s hoping to make the final cut of “America’s Got Talent.” Esera has made it to the next round of the preliminaries at “America’s Got Talent” in his bare feet. If he survives the next cut we can expect to see him on the first episode of the NBC show when it returns. He only gets 90 seconds to be himself so he’s singing an R&B kind of version of ‘What’s Going On?’
Does the bare footed Tuaolo tackle the next round and show America he has talent off the field? You can tune in to find out.
Judge Rebukes NFL Move Of StarCaps Case To Federal Court
Williamses Walk
With a state trial scheduled to start Monday, the NFL’s last attempt to avoid trial was rejected by a federal judge. The case involving Minnesota Vikings Kevin and Pat Williams got a rebuke from a federal judge who said the action “borders on the abuse of process.”
U.S. Judge Paul Magnuson issued a three-page order after the NFL asked the federal court to take the case, scheduled for trial Monday in front of Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson. The ruling means the case will go on as scheduled.
Magnuson said the NFL’s action seemed “calculated only to avoid trial on the merits.” The NFL spent months unsuccessfully arguing the case should be heard in federal court. Magnuson and the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals already said no.
At the trial, the Williamses will try to prove the NFL is at least their partial employer so they can recover damages related to positive test results for taking a banned substance.
The league suspended the defensive tackles for four games each in late 2008 for taking bumetanide, a diuretic that can be used as a masking agent for steroids. The players went to court and won the right to continue playing while their legal case played out. The NFL has a strict liability policy that holds players responsible for what goes into their bodies. But the Williamses argued that Minnesota law gives employees an opportunity to explain the innocent use of an otherwise banned product and that the NFL didn’t allow them to explain their use of StarCaps.
If Johnny Cochran is reading this I could still use further understanding of all that is transpiring. You help would be appreciated Johnny.
Final Eight Plan Will Restrict Top NFL Teams From Pursuing Free Agents
Est. 1920
This year free agency for the top eight NFL teams will be a whole lot different from years past and may hinder those clubs in the pursuit of signings that would help them get over the hump. This is due to a deadline that passed in which no agreement was reached between the players and owners reps concerning labor negotiations thus making the upcoming season an uncapped season.
This year fans cannot assume that New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens or the San Diego Chargers can just sign whatever player they want in this years off-season. Because of the riff in the labor negotiations this has caused league-imposed financial restrictions on how those teams will be able to accomplish their off-season goals by limiting them in their pursuit of free agents. This more than likely will leave those executive vice presidents and general managers to be more stand offish come the opening of free agency March 5.
Here is the NFL’s explanation of the limitations the “Final Eight Plan” has on those teams that reached the divisional round of the playoffs and their restrictions in free agency.
During the Final League Year, the eight clubs that make the Divisional Playoffs in the previous season have additional restrictions that limit their ability to sign unrestricted free agents from other clubs. In general, the four clubs participating in the championship games are limited in the number of free agents that they may sign; the limit is determined by the number of their own free agents signing with other clubs. They cannot sign any UFAs unless one of theirs is signed by another team.
For the four clubs that lost in the Divisional Playoffs, in addition to having the ability to sign free agents based on the number of their own free agents signing with other clubs, they may also sign players based on specific financial parameters. Those four only will be permitted to sign one unrestricted free agent for $5.5 million (estimated) or more in year one of the contract, plus the number of their UFAs who sign with another team. They also can sign any unrestricted free agents for less than $3.7 (estimated) million in year one of the contract with limitations on the per year increases.
In the case of all final eight teams, the first year salary of UFAs they sign to replace those lost cannot exceed the first year salary of the player lost with limitations on the per year increases.
A lockout may or may not happen but it’s effects will be felt in a playing season.
Minnesota Vikings Fans Want Brett Favre To Return
Keep The Streak Of 309 Alive
Minnesota Viking fans want Brett Favre to give one more year and aren’t dancing around the subject. That’s cause a group on Facebook reaching over 84,000 has secured enough donations to purchase a spot on an electronic billboard in Favres hometown of Hattiesburgh, Mississippi letting him know they want him back.
So how does the people of Mississippi feel about about the move by the fans wanted their favorite son to play another year? Well Gerald Watts of Petal said that he thought Minnesota fans where class act and Mitch Brent of Hattiesburg said that Favres “proven he can play as good as any quarterback in the league.”
The Facebook group’s founder, Jay Tappe of Minneapolis, said he started the group because he was crushed after the roughing up Favre received during the Saints game on Jan. 24, and wanted to turn the disappointment into something positive and a day later only had about 6,000 fans. The group now is gaining about 10,000 members a day since then.
Fans and group members talk about Favre, and are asked to donate at least $1 on a separate Web site to help pay for the billboard. Now that the billboard is reality the extra money donated will go to Deanna Favre Hope Foundation, a breast cancer support and awareness organization.
Brett Favre Bruised & Battered
Bus Cook, sports agent to many of the NFL’s top quarterbacks but most famously released these photos (the first is of his ankle and the second of the hamstring) Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre after the NFC Championship game in which he was consistently knocked around like a rag doll.
The Favre haters obviously had a field day with the outcome but we are talking about a 40 year old that kept getting up and was available for the next play. 309 consecutive starts (including playoffs) at quarterback should at least buy you a little room in the toughness department.
Minnesota Vikings Bryant McKinnie Kicked Off Pro Bowl Team
Embarrassing
Minnesota Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie has been kicked off the NFC Pro Bowl squad after missing four of five practices, attending just one team meeting and missed the team photo.
McKinnie has been using his Twitter account to let the world know that he has been enjoying the Miami nightlife. Leaving the NFC Pro Bowl roster with just three tackles on its roster. McKinnie’s still has received his game check for being named and attending the one practice.
If guys who are making their first Pro Bowl aren’t taking it serious are we?
HUGE TV Numbers For AFC & NFC Championship Games
Est. 1920
The NFC Championship game on FOX was of blockbuster magnitude as the New Orleans Saints thrilling overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings drew a 33.3 overnight and approximately 57.9 million viewers, which would be the second best NFC Championship average viewership of all time, behind only 1982’s Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers (“The Catch”) matchup that produced a 68.7 million viewers.
The NFC Championship game on FOX Sunday night was well above last years Arizona Cardinals/Philadelphia Eagles game which only produced 38.4 million viewers and it 33 o.3 overnight is up 5% from New York Giants/Green Bay Packers on FOX in 2008 (31.7) and . Ratings peaked at a 39.4 from 10:00-10:30 PM.
The Vikings/Saints is the most-viewed television program of any kind, excluding Super Bowls, since the series finale of Seinfeld in 1998 which saw 76.3 million.
The game did not dominate in all markets though, in Buffalo the NFC Championship game was actually outdrawn head-to-head by Extreme Makeover Home Edition on ABC, with Extreme Makeover drawing a 35.8 and the game drawing a 32.1.
CBS on the other hand did not post as great as number compared to FOX however did draw the highest overnight rating for the AFC Championship game in 16 years and saw 46.9 million actual viewers.
The Indianapolis Colts come from behind win over the New York Jets drew a stellar 28.4 overnight rating on Sunday afternoon, up 4% from San Diego Chargers/New England Patriots on CBS in 2008 (27.4).
The 28.4 overnight is the highest for the AFC Championship Game since Buffalo Bills/Kansas City Chiefs in 1994 (29.5) on NBC. Additionally, the 28.4 is the highest overnight for any NFL telecast on CBS, excluding Super Bowls, since the network resumed airing NFL telecasts in 1998. Ratings peaked at a 32.0 from 5:30-6 PM.
Minnesota Vikings Announcers Have A Great Question For Brett Favre
Vikings announcers Paul Allen and Pete Bercich like pretty everyone watching yesterday couldn’t believe their eyes when Brett Favre was intercepted in the final seconds of the NFC Championship game. I love the line “this is not Detroit man, this is the Super Bowl”…classic.
General Larry Platt, Creator Of “Pants On The Ground” Visits Minnesota Vikings
Visanthe Shiancoe & "Pants On The Ground" Creator
I for one had no idea who General Larry Platt was till a day after watching the Minnesota Vikings skull drug the Dallas Cowboys 34-3 last weekend. The whole “Pants on the Ground” only came into my world after watching Vikings quarterback Brett Favre do the rendition in the locker room after the game.
I thought Favre was being original and came up with on his own or with some help of a fellow Vikings player. Oh no, I was wrong and it turns out it comes from an American Idol participant named General Larry Platt.
Well the Vikings loved it so much that they invited Platt to a team meeting for a meet and greet and to perform the song. Left tackle Bryant McKinnie recorded and posted the performance by Platt (click here). Platt’s 15 minutes of fame doesn’t end just there as he will even be on the Vikings sideline of the NFC Championship game down in New Orleans. No word if they have discussed bringing him to Miami if they beat the Saints.
Prince Supposedly Creates Vikings Song
Supposedly Prince has released a song about the Minnesota Vikings according to MyFoxTwinCities.com. However I believe this to be a fake because I can’t believe my man Prince would go this low and how does MyFoxTwinCities have all the lyrics but not all of the song?
With that said, they report that Prince said he “saw the future,” went home that night after watching the Vikings skull drugged the Dallas Cowboys and wrote the song “Purple and Gold.”
Here are the lyrics they say he wrote (but again where is the rest of the song is what I would like to know)
Purple and Gold Lyrics
the veil of the sky draws open
the roar of the chariots touch down
we r the ones who have now come again
and walk upon water like solid ground
as we approach the throne we won’t bow down
this time we won’t b denied
raise every voice and let it b known
in the name of the purple and gold
we come in the name of the purple and gold
all of the odds r in r favor
no prediction 2 bold
we r the truth if the truth can b told
long reign the purple and gold
the eyes say ready 4 battle
no need 4 sword in hand
we r all amped up like a rock n roll band
ready 2 celebrate every score
ready 2 fight the elegant war
ready 2 hear the crowd roar
that’s what we came 4
and so much more
in the name of the purple and gold
r spirits may b tired
r bodies may b worn
but since this day is r destiny
r history – that’s y we must b
4ever strong as the wind that blows the Vikings’ horn
in the name of the purple and gold
CHORUS
New York Jets Already Selling Super Bowl Gear
WTF
It seems that the confidence of head coach has trickled all through out the New York Jets front office and team shops as the Jets have begun selling AFC Championship and Super Bowl gear.
Are the Saints, Vikings or even the Jets opponents the Colts jumping the gun as well and the answer is no.
