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Hi Folks,
We do a ton of insightful, thoughtful and serious features here at Footballguys with 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 manage. Here's hoping it has some value for you.
We'll see. Now let's get to it.
J
Sometime a tweet is so beutifully written, the best thing I can do is just get out of the way. This is one of those cases.
Tom Brady proving the oldest truth in sports: You can wear whatever you want to the post game presser as long as you win.
Dude has a personal chef. And he can't find someone to pick out his clothes for him?
Hat Tip - @nfl_memes
Fantasy Football is fun. But don't be this guy whining at Golden Tate.
Even better was Tate with the perfect response.
Thanks to Footballguys Jason Wood for that one.
Thanks to Footballguy Matt Cox for that one.
"Now that Alex Smith finally has some offensive weapons around him..."
Jamaal Charles and Jeremy Maclin be like:
My friend Nigel Eccles of FanDuel sent me a note this week. Apparently, Nigel's Gmail thought my Week 2 Rankings were in Czech and Google asked him if he wanted to translate.
He said he blames Kyle Juszczyk...
Sounds about right.
Kansas City keeping us on our toes...
If you know me, you know I'm a believer in the "Look Good - Play Good" maxim.
I told you last week how nobody should have been surprised to see Vikings WR Stefon Diggs go off wearing the Randy Moss tribute cleats.
From last week's Random Shots:
In case you were wondering why Stefon Diggs played so well Monday night...
For some inexplicable reason, Diggs chose to roll with some random Wheel of Fortune cleats for Week 2.
The results were predictable.
Can I get a W?
Easy there, Furman...
Fivethirtyeight.com ran a list this week of the most loved and hated teams.
Agree? Disagree?
Browns as the 7th most hated team? That's hardcore.
As with most things, fivethirtyeight does, it's worth reading the whole article. They even break it down by which fanbases hate the Patriots the most...
Randy Moss on TV continues to be fun. Sunday Countdown ran a feature covering New England fans who left the Super Bowl game early. The guys on the ESPN set were asked to raise their hand if they'd ever left a game before it was over.
Randy Moss said, "I PLAYED in one and left early!"
The Kelce Brothers were fun Sunday.
Family's important.
Thanks to Footballguy Brian Sumner for that one.
Jim Ross with the call of J.J. Watt's tackle.
Never gets old.
I'm with my friend Bill Barnwell. Seems like the least we can do...
Nailed it.
Fun and classy moment between Brees and Brandin Cooks before the game Sunday.
I love Jay Cutler for lots of reasons. Mostly he makes my job writing Random Shots roughly 15% easier each week.
But almost equally as fun, he possesses the ability to make people lose their mind. He threw the ball out of bounds at the end of the half Sunday and the internet reacted exactly as you'd expect.
Cutler was asked Monday what he thought about it. He too, responded exactly as you'd expect.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer gave us this gem on quarterback Sam Bradford's knee.
I feel like my definition of "fine" is different than Coach Zimmer's...
Not this time...
Hat Tip - @nfl_memes
If you've been near a television in the last few days, you've seen Marshawn Lynch dancing on the sidelines.
Like most things Lynch does, everyone thought it was the greatest.
I'm not sure I get it though. He scored a touchdown in front of his hometown crowd. I'd be pretty shocked if DIDN'T dance on the sidelines. For the day he posted 45 yards on 12 carries and was the third best rusher on the team. All against a terrible defense. This is awesome?
I'm way more impressed by free Skittles.
Monday morning, some of the talk shows tried to manufacture outrage "roasting" people who they claimed didn't like Lynch dancing. A group that outside of a few grumpy Jets fans, made up about .01% of fans. Everyone knows Lynch can do anything and everyone will love it. There are better things to talk about Monday morning that some imaginary debate to stir up interest.
Bigger Point: Raider fans are some of the most diehard in the country. I couldn't help but feel bad for them blindly cheering their team while the owner is laughing all the way to the bank in Las Vegas. I'm not sure if the fans sticking with them is admirable or pathetic. I know which side I'd fall on.
Jaguar Fans: This is why we can't have nice things.
Pre-Game Diving into a pool of mayonnaise.
Well, mayonnaise diving and this.
Music Note Of The Week from a Random Shots regular. My favorite band, The Avett Brothers.
A sweet tribute to Chris Cornell a few days after his death. Seth Avett at the 2:20 mark is remarkable.
On that note, I've said it here plenty of times and I'll keep saying it. Mental health is a serious thing and there's ZERO shame in asking for help. If you're in a bad spot and considering suicide or know someone who is, suicidepreventionlifeline.org can help. Click the link here for information or you can call 1-800-273-8255 to talk to someone confidentially who can help. Or talk to someone close to you. Or contact me at bryant@footballguys.com. Whatever you do, don't keep it to yourself. People want to help.
I bet Eagles fans will be anxious to see Travis Kelce in the future...
Duke Johnson Jr has skills.
Tom Brady was angry.
Of course, nothing helps that "Angry Brady Narrative" like a Saints Defense...
I've defended Mike Glennon a bit as I don't think he's as bad as most people do. But I think it may be a lost cause. Bears fans are like:
Be careful what you wish for...
My cousin, Ted Wilson with another camera shot from the Steelers game. Nice.
Former NFL senior VP of officiating and now FOX Rules Analyst Dean Blandino posted this tweet Sunday.
Ouch. The replies were rapid and swift.
Serious note for a second. This article on Eddie Lacy and his struggles with weight is worth the read. I'm more guilty than most on this type thing. This whole column is built on goofiness but if you see me going over the line, don't hesitate to email me at bryant@footballguys.com and let me know.
It's easy to forget these guys are real people too. Rock on, Eddie Lacy. And for us, and I'm talking mostly to myself, be excellent to each other.
The question Cowboys fans and Elliott guys were asking Sunday afternoon...
These guys make a lot of money. These guys earn a lot of money.
Rough day for the non players too Sunday. Who don't make nearly as much money...
And
Even the Parachute Guys had trouble.
Ezekiel Elliott quit on this play after Prescott was intercepted.
Many on the internet were not pleased. Especially SI.com's Peter King who wrote, "I don’t like what Ezekiel Elliott did Sunday. At all." in an article with the headline:
I get it. I didn't like it either. But the "At all" seemed a bit much.
Feels like "strenuously objecting"...
Sam Weinberg from a Few Good Men: “I strenuously object?” Is that how it’s done? Hm? “Objection, your Honor!” “Overruled” “No, no. I STRENUOUSLY object.” “Oh! You strenuously object. Then I’ll take some time and reconsider.”
Speaking of Court...
I like Vance Joseph.
Thanks to Footballguy Joe Caulfield for that one.
Antonio Gates with a familiar shot Sunday. Congratulations on breaking the tight end touchdown record. I disagree with the caption though. "Perfect" would have been in San Diego.
Pat McAfee narrating punt returns is GOLD.
The contrast between the Stanford Tailgate section and the San Diego State Tailgate section was... stark.
Parting Shot as I climb on the Soapbox.
This was my favorite moment from Sunday's games and I bet it hardly registered for lots of fans. While most people were focused on big hits or long passes, the Patriots showed us why they're the best team in football. It's not because they're the most talented, although the talent is great. It's because they're the most prepared. Watch this clip below.
3rd and 9 from the 18 with 20 seconds left in the 2nd quarter. No timeouts. Brady dropped back, scrambled and rushed for 8 yards coming up short of the first down with about 15 seconds left and the clock ticking. Brady immediately got up and started signaling for the field goal team who was ready. The field goal unit quickly but smoothly lined up, the center snapped the ball with a couple of seconds on the clock and Gostkowski made a 28-yard field goal as time expired. Business as usual.
If you're like me, you watched this happen and thought two things as Brady ran off the field and the clock ticked down:
#1. They are absolutely going to get this off in time and make this.
#2. Most teams would not.
Not because their kicker isn't good or their quarterback can't scramble. Becuase they're not prepared.
This isn't an issue of talent. This is an issue of desire. The desire to be ready for what can happen. To have thought about it. To acknowledge the situation. And to execute when you know it's time. It's the edge that wins. Granted, when both sides are equally prepared, the more talented side wins. But in a great many cases, I've found the other side doesn't prepare. They don't put the work in to win.
The great news is anyone can prepare. I don't have to be able to throw a football like Tom Brady to prepare. And neither do you.
Off the Soapbox.
That'll do it for this week, Folks. Thanks to Footballguys Clayton Gray, Keith Overton, Jason Wood, Nigel Eccles, Brian Sumner, Joe Caulfield and Matt Cox 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
