Deadspin: sunday night football

Full Moon Over Chicago

Barry Petchesky — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:36:36 EST

Considering the flood of emails, you people are all about Devin Hester's ass. I'm not here to judge, so we present it in all its glory after the jump.

Al Michaels Would Like To Clear Something Up

Dashiell Bennett — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:00:09 EST

I don't know if this was Al, a phlegmy Cris Collinsworth, or one very sick statistician, but who the hell hocked up a (presumably) gigantic loogie on air last night? Do they have spittoons in the booth? [Video via NBC]

T.O. Scolds Media, Ed Werder Following Spanking Of Giants. Let's Watch The Fun

Rick Chandler — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:45:36 EST

Here's Terrell Owens doing what he does best, denying controversy that he's supposed to have started. In this case, the jaunty jalopy cap adds a special air of believability, wouldn't you say?

This time it's the whole Tony Romo-Jason Witten who-likes-who-best squabble, which T.O. says never happened. The three, in fact, were seen laughing it up on the sidelines during the Cowboys' 20-8 win over the Giants on Sunday night. Shoving matches? Heated words? Certainly not. T.O. denies all.

"Thats Ed Werder reporting that, and whatever his sources was, they told a blatant lie. For me, that's a lack of professionalism in my eyes."

Romo:

“It’s just part of playing football,” Romo said. “We have a lot of highly competitive individuals who want to win. I give a lot of credit to T.O. and Jason for drumming this whole thing up to take attention away.”

Actually, the leading receiver for Dallas was neither Owens nor Witten, but rookie running back and former Yellow Jacket Tashard Choice, who had four catches for 52 yards. But it was his 91 yards rushing and a touchdown which really propelled Dallas. Too bad the Giants didn't have similar backup power at running back; they sorely miss Brandon Jacobs. Not to mention a certain trigger-happy receiver (they're 1-2 without him).

Eli Manning was only 18-of-35 for 191 yards and two interceptions, and the Giants didn't score a touchdown. One big reason for his poor showing was the fact that he was sacked eight times, and hurried several others.

By comparison, Iraqi journalist Muntather al-Zaidi had a much better day, hurling two shoes at George W. Bush during a press conference with unerring accuracy; both would have hit him right on the numbers had Bush not ducked. And as you can see in the photo, al-Zaidi was being heavily pressured on at least one of his throws, which he still managed to zip in on a nice spiral directly over the podium. Eli should spend today studying that tape.

'Boys Overcome Distractions, Shut Down Giants [NBCSports]

SNF: Can Philly Get Over The Hump In The NFC East?

Josh Zerkle — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:40:12 EST

People continually point to the NFC East as pro football's best division, and they should. Theso-called "Black and Blue" division features four well-run organizations with rabid fanbases and a clear priority set on not only winning on the field, but running their teams better than anyone else in the league. It should be no surprise that the New York Giants look poised to repeat as Super Bowl champs, having been a 5-seed in last year's NFC that got their shit together down the stretch in 2007. And despite personnel losses to retirement and injury, they look poised, at 7-1, to do it again.

The Eagles finally seem to be healthy enough to answer the bell this week against what nearly everyone is calling the class of the NFL. Brian Westbrook and Kevin Curtis are healthy, Donovan McNabb is coming off a big game against Seattle last week, and their defense is third in the NFC in yards allowed. First in the NFC? Yep, the Giants.

Eli Manning, despite his team's success, can still toss the occasional quail with the worst of 'em. And Philly at home is as tough an out as any in the league. It's a bit early to point to this game as having playoff implications, but if you'd like an early peek at the pecking order of the NFC, you'll want to stick around for this one.

John Madden Getting Sick of Riding Old Bones Across Country in a Bus to Cover Crappy Games

DAULERIO — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:30:46 EDT

The Washington Post has just reported that NFL broadcasting stalwart John Madden will miss his first week blabbering about football for the first time in 476 games. He's not gravely ill and not planning on retiring soon either, so the Frank Caliendo suicide watch is also put off indefinitely. No, the 72-year-old Madden insists the week off is more "circumstantial" than anything else and, instead, he will be at home in the Bay Area spending time with his five grandchildren doing grandfatherly things.

There is no specific reason as to why Madden will miss the game — more "circumstantial" than anything else, the article says. Plus Madden says it was "discussed" prior to this season with NBC rep Dick Ebersol and apparently this was good enough a week for NBC not to spend thousands of dollars in gas money on Madden's personalized "Too Chickenshit to Fly" mobile to get the big guy to Florida. Instead, Cris Collinsworth will fill-in, leading to the obvious speculation that he'll be the eventual heir to the Madden throne. But Collinsworth says that's not in his future plans and he has no desire to fly around the country every weekend covering football games because he likes watching his kids grow up. Also, Collinsworth is allergic to Turducken and suffered gran mal seizure the last time he used a telestrater.

Madden's Broadcasting Streak to End at 476 Games [WaPo]

Tonight: Tennessee Titans Vs. Indianapolis Brown Colts

skeets — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:00:20 EST

As you no doubt already know, the Titans control their own playoff fate tonight as they battle the Indianapolis Colts in the RCA Dome. Win, and they're in. Lose, and they're ... um ... what's bad and rhymes with lose? Bruised? Sure. Lose, and they're bruised. That, and the Browns get to massage their horse balls for one more week.

Lucky for us, NBC flexed its scheduling option-ceps with this one — which way to the gym? — so we all get to watch Jim Sorgi let down the entire city of Cleveland firsthand. Should be fun.

And finally, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't present Kige Ramsey's hard-hitting analysis of tonight's big game. Take it away, champ:

"The key [to a Titans win] I believe is that they've got to score a lot of points. They have to. And their defense has got to stop the Colts offense."

Hmmm. Sound advice. Enjoy the game, guys.

Fins Win! Fins Win! Fins Win!

skeets — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 17:30:53 EST

Well, we said the Dolphins had to beat the Ravens to avoid the ol' schneid season, and gosh golly gee dang it, they somehow pulled it off! In overtime! Shortly after Baltimore missed a 44-yard field goal, Greg Camarillo caught a short pass over the middle and busted off the 64-yard winner. Final score: Miami 22, Baltimore 16. The '76 Buccaneers salute you, Greg! Even though they have no idea who you are.

In other news: Fred Taylor's groin, oblivious to cold weather, scored a touchdown in the final two minutes as the Jags withstood a late fourth-quarter Steelers run to assure a playoff spot; the Pats just beat the Jets by 10 because something is definitely wrong with this 14-0 team; and the Browns held on to beat my beloved Bills 8-0. At least I think that's what happened. It was a little difficult to see these games at times.

Checking in on the four o'clock fun: the Cowboys second drive ended in an interception, recovered fumble and three points; the Colts T.J. Rushing (and his incredible football name) returned a 90-yard punt to put Indy up early; and the Chargers are absolutely spanking the Fuck Lions. It's already 20-0 Bolts with like, six minutes to go in the second. We'll see if Norv can blow this.

And finally, tonight, I just realized there are TWO games on tap. Well, there was at least. Yeah, you see, 'Nightmare Ant' doesn't like switching back and forth between games, so he just decided to combine the Redskins-Giants and Bears-Vikings into one. So, um, yeah ... it's Washington at Minnesota now. No Neck Beard tonight, folks. Sorry.

OK, I'm done. I need to go shovel my bike out from under six-feet of snow. I'm J.E. Skeets, and you've been the best! Enjoy the games, guys.

Football Night In Baltimore

Unsilent Majority — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:36:42 EST

The Colts return to Baltimore face the Ravens in the city birthed them. They should expect to be greeted by large groups of confused men wearing purple camouflage and the women that love them because they don't know any better. Enjoy the game, I just realized the Wizards were playing tonight so I've got about twenty minutes to haul my ass down to Chinatown.

Eagles, Patriots, Roughriders And Bombers

skeets — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:30:09 EST

The biggest question regarding tonight's Eagles and Patriots game (8:15pm, NBC) isn't whether the Pats can keep their perfect season run alive. They will. It's whether or not this inevitable gong show will resemble anything even close to a competitive football game. It probably won't.

Oddsmakers currently have New England listed as 24.5-point favorites — the second largest line in NFL history. And though I'll lay my cold hard cash with Bill and his boys, you have to think a team will never be more motivated to cover a point-spread. I mean 25 points? Jeesh. That's just a dick to the eye.

QB Donovan McNabb will miss the game because of a sprained ankle, injured thumb and the runs. (Blame the Chunky Soup.) A.J. Feeley, who threw a pair of touchdowns in a win over the Dolphins last week, gets the start. A.J., quick word: the Pats are just a bit better than the Dolphins. Just. Best of luck, though.

And finally, if 48-10 blowout isn't your Sunday cup of tea, may I suggest you try and find a station airing Canadian Football League's 95th Grey Cup. It's the Saskatchewan Roughriders versus the Winnipeg Blue Bombers tonight, in what should be a pretty good game. Seriously. Grey Cup games are almost always close. And ooh, look, Lenny Kravitz is the halftime performance! What? Please stop laughing.

Enjoy the games, guys.

Tom Brady is Mr. Sunday Night

Unsilent Majority — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 20:00:21 EST

It's been quite a day of football and I'm not sure my heart can take much more after what the Redskins just put me through. Fortunately tonight's game will be the football equivalent of a low-sodium diet. New England is walking into Buffalo having had two weeks to gameplan for a wounded opponent. This could get ugly. New England is favored by anywhere from 15-17 depending on where you're shopping. I've got a minor financial interest in the outcome, but my focus will probably be on cartoons for the next couple of hours. I'm all done for the weekend, enjoy your night and feel free to follow along in DUAN. They don't bite but a few of them will oblige if you buy them some of drinks.

Past, Present And Future Football Action

skeets — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:40:48 EST

Brett Favre joined Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 60,000 yards during the Packers' 34-0 shellacking of the Vikings today. (Yes! I started the GB defense this week!) Adrian Peterson injured his knee thanks to an Al Harris helmet shot, but Jesus eventually rose and made his way to the bench. Expect Big Daddy Drew to announce a cool $37.62 bounty on Harris's dreadlocks by noon tomorrow.

In other noteworthy news: Joey Harrington found Crumpler for a last second Falcons win over the Panthers; Big Ben and McNabb pulled off a few second-half heroics to lead the Steelers and Eagles to victories, respectively; and the Bills won their fourth in a row on a 34-yarder via Ryan Lindell's foot. It was a nice 'lil buffet of one o'clockers, actually.

Checking in on the current action: Reuben Droughns' 1-yard TD run has given the Giants their first lead versus the Cowboys; Kurt Warner's got the Buzzsaw That Is The Arizona Cardinals moving the chains; and Da Bears and Raiders are trying hard to out suck each other.

But hold on, there's more! If you promise NOT to tell a friend about that ugly Bears-Raiders game, Madden and Co. will throw in an Indianapolis at San Diego game ... FREE!

Can the Colts bounce back from their tough loss to The Greatest Team Ever? Can the Chargers give up 300 yards to Joseph Addai? Who knows? That's why we watch the game, folks. Enjoy it.

There's Something About Brett

skeets — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:40:15 EDT

Brett Favre threw three touchdown passes, including a 57-yard strike to Greg Jennings late in the game, to tie Dan Marino for the all-time touchdown mark and lead the Packers over the Chargers, 31-24.

Ironically, Favre's historic 420th was his 115th career TD thrown in September, and his 94th TD thrown in the fourth quarter. (115 + 94 = Brett's age = ironic = not a very funny joke.) I know this because I live and die by the Brett Favre Touchdown Database. It's a great read — Elisha reads it to Peyton every night before bed.

Anyway, it's the Cowboys and Bears tonight, if you're into that sort of thing. I won't be watching because a friend just scored us free tickets to see DJ Premier, but hey, you kickback and enjoy the game, OK? You deserve it. Seriously.

Tom Brady, LaDainian Tomlinson, And You!

skeets — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:00:15 EDT

Well, another weekend, another twenty to thirty televised football games. Whew. What a weekend. I've never eaten so much beef jerky in my life! (I really need to take up smoking.) But hey, we're not done yet. No, that would be healthy.

It's the Chargers-Patriots tonight, in a rematch of January's AFC divisional playoff feud. Plenty of subplots in this sucka, but I'll save you and myself the trouble, and just let the NBC producers explain them to us over and over and over again.

Anyway, should be a good game. Have fun, and thanks for letting me wander around here with no pants on this weekend. My boys love the fresh air.

Wait ... What's Sunday Night Again?

Leitch — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:19:35 EDT

NBC's team of 50,000 broadcasters — deep breath: CostasCollinsworthMichaelsMaddenOlbermannBettisBarberKing — is doing what it can to let you know that Sunday Night Is Football Night." In case you didn't get that from the commercial, allows us to distill NBC's message into text form:

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Sunday Night Football Will At Least Seem Dramatic

mjdeadspin — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:57:48 EDT

Ain't It Cool News has managed to get their hands on an .mp3 of the brand new theme song for Sunday Night Football. They opted against something Hank Williams-esque (or even Pink-esque) and went for the big guns: John Williams.

Williams, of course, is responsible for the music in Star Wars, Harry Potter, The Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., and a ton of others. And honestly, his latest work for Sunday Night Football isn't much of a departure from that. Here it is:

I don't know if it gets me all that psyched for football, but that's definitely the song I want to hear right before I fight Peter King.

ScoreKeeper On John Williams' New NBC Sunday Night Football Theme!! [Ain't It Cool]
NFL Sunday Night Football [NBC]
NBC Orders Weekly Pink Taco [Kissing Suzy Kolber]