Hi Folks,
We do a lot of really insightful, thoughtful and serious features here at Footballguys with some very smart people thinking deeply for you. This is not one of those features.
This is Random Shots and it's a few pages of me downloading my goofy and dysfunctional mental hard drive that gets stuffed with way too many random items from too many hours watching, reading about and listening to football every weekend and throughout the week. It's the only way I keep relatively sane. Here's hoping it has some value for you.
We'll see. Now let's get to it.
J
Opening up with a little "Graphic Violence"...
Thanks to Footballguy Matthew Oaks and Reddit for that one.
This is what's known as a "Business Decision". The look on Ryan's face after is priceless.
Bill Belichick is 6-0 with NFL QBs on their first career start.
Once again...
Number six was Jacoby Brissett starting Thursday night for the Patriots.
That made three North Carolina State QBs starting this week as Brissett joined Philip Rivers and Russell Wilson. Almost exactly three years ago, the league had three NC State starters with Rivers, Wilson and Mike Glennon. Let's hope Brissett doesn't continue the "one of these is not like the other two..."
I'm with Rich Hribar...
Thanks to Footballguy Keith Harrison for that one.
Cole Beasley was knocked into the dinosaur age Sunday night. Click here to see...
Thanks to Brian Sumner for that one.
After Week 2, I told you Cam Newton's hat game was strong.
After Week 3, Newton suffered what we in the business call a "setback".
Thanks to Footballguy Justin Bonnema for that one.
Warning. You can't unsee the image below.
Trent Dilfer gave us this with his Odell Beckham Jr analysis Sunday morning...
Randy Moss approved.
And ESPN Countdown Note To The Tech Crew: You are killing Matt Hasselbeck with the earpiece wrap. He's wishing he could go back to the less painful days of playing quarterback...
During Countdown Sunday morning, the crew went live to Britt McHenry in Charlotte making the appropriate serious face.
Much better than this video encounter with the towing company... (Warning: some NSFW language)
McHenry of course apologized and was suspended for one week by ESPN. And I don't mean to be unfair to McHenry. I believe she was sincere with the apology and it's a good thing video cameras weren't so prevalent when I was 28 years old like she is. I get it. But it's also a good reminder to always always always be nice. It's right in line with my two basic rules:
1. Act like you give a damn.
2. Don't be a dumbass.
Take care of those two and life tends to go much more smoothly.
NBA Note with a Steph Curry - What He Looks Like.
It's still early but I'm going to go out on a limb and say Marcus Peters is pretty good at Football...
When you wake up and you're not 0-3...
Thanks to @FauxAndyLuck for that one.
I know he was a hurdler and all that. But easy there, Ezekiel...
For Eagles players Connor Barwin and Vinny Curry, this wasn't their first rodeo with Darren Sproles. He's got a long ways to go still at this point but they knew how this play would end.
Thanks to Footballguy Matt Waldman for that one.
I'm down with my Buddy Mike Clay on this.
One more week to the season and a second bye week. And while I'm on the topic (and writing reports on half the players in the league who are injured), can we please finally drop the ridiculous idea of adding more regular season games to the schedule?
A Tim Couch sighting...
What's that behind Wesley Johnson's ear?...
Thanks to Footballguy Kevin Knoll for that one.
Looks like Miami found their 12th Man...
Never gets old...
Few QBs hate throwing interceptions more than Drew Brees. Much less pick sixes. But if he's going to throw one, I can't imagine he'd want anyone else but Deion Jones to make the play.
Jones is a New Orleans native and lived through Hurricane Katrina. His grandmother was evacuated to the Superdome.
Before Monday's game, he wore cleats marked with an X representing the mark rescue workers would spray paint on the front doors of homes they'd cleared after the hurricane.
After the game, the look on these men's faces says it all.
I'm not sure why but this graphic cracked me up.
The head to head contact is obviously a big deal with the skill position guys. But I don't know what you do about lineman that have it on every play. These gouges don't happen by themselves...
Golf Legend Arnold Palmer died Sunday.
Throwback to a classic ESPN commercial.
Russell Wilson's not made of normal ligaments and tendons...
Terrelle Pryor Exposed...
Thanks to Footballguys Rob Logan and Justin Bailey for that one.
Rookie Dak Prescott on point.
This could be interesting when Romo returns...
Catching a kickoff in the endzone is hard. And so is the football.
She was ok after the game.
Football players seem to get the cool cleats. Baseballguys get their fun too as the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig rocked this pair of sweet Vin Scully tribute cleats this summer.
More uniform notes. This week the Oregon Ducks look just like their mascot.
If you're wondering why Jared Goff hasn't started, here's why.
You're an NFL Quarterback. At least in theory. You don't wear your jersey to a bar,
All he needs is J.J. Watt's letter jacket...
Thanks to Footballguys David Dodds and Clayton Gray for that one.
I railed on Matthew Stafford last week and his inability to slide.
He must have heard me...
It's one thing for an offensive lineman to give up a safety. Leaving the star QB hanging when he asks for a handup is another level...
Fun With NFL Rules.
Green Bay kick returner Ty Montgomery with a headsup move here. Montgomery purposely stepped out of bounds before diving onto the ball. By rule, the kick is declared out of bounds and the Packers got the ball at the 40. Then went on to score a touchdown. Stanford Guy.
Cleveland's Terrelle Pryor was all over the field Sunday as a wide receiver, quarterback and safety. Mary Kay Cabot was kidding here. But just barely.
The Browns season thus far...
Rad Commercial Of The Week goes to Nike and their killer Da Da Ding Spot.
Little known fact - Random Shots has more female readers than any Footballguys feature we do. Or at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. For you Women out there, don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. And for you Dads out there with Daughters, make sure they know the same. Cool videos like this can sometimes reinforce that truth.
Headline this week:
Relax everyone. Mystery solved. It was the "My silly friends put cocaine in my wallet and started passing it around" thing.
God Bless Bills Fans.
Or I guess I should say, "May God protect Bills fans. From themselves". Be more careful out there Guys. We want you back.
Music Note. This past week was the 25th Anniversary of Nirvana's album, Nevermind. That had me thinking about my all time Nirvana recording which is "Unplugged". And my favorite song from the Unplugged set, "Where Did You Sleep Last Night". Click here to see it.
This recording from the 3:00 mark to the 4:15 is maybe my favorite piece of music video ever recorded. And the look on Cobain's face at the 4:02 mark may be my favorite few seconds ever for music. I know it sounds melodramatic but for a split second, it looks like he drops the mask and we can all see. So good. Miss that guy.
The song of course is a cover from the legendary Blues artist, Leadbelly. To hear the recording from 1941, click here. It's beyond awessome too.
I sometimes talk about Football not being all that important. But it can be the glue and the vehicle that sometimes helps bond communities and relationships. This video shows Officer Michael Blackmore helping talk down a man that seemed ready to hurt himself. Blackmore does an excellent job here searching for some common ground and something to look forward to. In this case, a love for South Carolina Football and a hatred for the Dallas Cowboys.
And that brings up something bigger. Every month should be like this but September is officially Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
If you are in a crisis or you're experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts: call the National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273 TALK (8255)
If you're looking for more information, referrals or support: call this HelpLine 800-950-NAMI (6264)
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately.
If you're struggling with any of the above and you want to connect with a goofy guy like me who likes Football, email me at bryant@footballguys.com. I'm not a counselor but I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Hit me up and we can talk trash about the Cowboys or whatever team you like. I'm totally not joking.
Running Back By Committee is usually bad news for both running backs. Not for Atlanta Monday Night...
Heading into Sunday, this is what the Cowboys were facing...
Thanks to Footballguy Clayton Gray for that one.
With tensions running high, the officials and Odell Beckham Jrmet for a little pre game talk.
Apparently, they failed to sufficiently warn Beckham about the always perilous kicking net...
On the upside, Beckham dominated the visor category.
God Bless Cleveland Fans.
But it's not all bad.
The Atlanta at New Orleans game always stirs up memories of the Steve Gleason block from 2006. One of my favorite NFL memories.
So good.
Monday night we got these pictures which while not as exciting, are pretty important.
and
and maybe most of all...
I said to my guys before the New York - Washington game that Odell Beckham Jr and Josh Norman could have rocked the world if they'd done something like Weatherspoon and Coleman here. That was too much to ask and I know I'm goofy that way. But thank you Saints and Falcons for giving us this.
And I know this is "Peace, Love and Kumbaya" stuff. That's me. If that's offensive or too much for you, there's an unsubscribe link at the top of the email.
More Baseball with a great snag by the Pitcher.
Thanks to Footballguy Matt Waldman for that one.
If you're Jarvis Landry, the only thing better than scoring a touchdown is scoring a touchdown and getting a kiss from your Mom.
Wrapping with one of the most touching moments in sports I've seen in a long time.
24 year old Marlins Pitcher, Jose Fernandez was killed Sunday in a boating accident.
The team honored him with all the players wearing black Fernandez #16 jerseys and then laying their hats on the mound.
But the strongest moment came with the first Marlin batter in the bottom of the first inning. 160 pound leadoff hitter, Dee Gordon, one of Fernandez' closest friends took the first pitch wearing Fernandez' helmet. Gordon is a left handed batter but took the first pitch as a right handed hitter as Fernandez was. He then moved to the left handed batters box and did this.
I know you can do both but when people ask why I wasn't glued to the Presdential Debate and why I'm not arguing about Trump vs Clinton on Facebook and Twitter, it's because I'd rather watch stuff like this. Not saying that's the right way. Just saying that's me.
Thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Keith Harrison, Matthew Oaks, Clayton Gray, David Dodds, Rob Logan, Justin Bailey, Justin Bonnema, Brian Sumner and Kevin Knoll for the help on this one. If you've got a Random Shot of your own, shoot me an e-mail at bryant@footballguys.com.
Thanks for playing along. I hope you make the most of whatever you're doing in your life. Love your neighbor and stick together.
Peace and Grace to you.
J