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 brain 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.
J
We lost a legend on Tuesday with John Madden. I think one can make the case no other person has made a more positive impact on this game we love than John Madden.
Well done, Coach.
You will be missed.
Boom. Let's Go.
It's college football bowl season. So we get this.
Clemson's Dabo Swinney and Iowa State football head coach Matt Campbell.
Dabo and Matt Campbell on an amusement ride together. This is so beautifully random. pic.twitter.com/qomoshHnsd
— Saturday Gameday (@SaturdayGameday) December 28, 2021
The Internet approved.
— ð•‹ð•£ð•’ð••ð•–ð•£ð•ð• ð•– âš–ï¸â˜•ï¸ (@FFTraderJoe) December 28, 2021
It's late in the season and old quarterbacks are dusting off the workout gear. Matt Flynn speaking truth.
I will never log off pic.twitter.com/b8kdUym8hk
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) December 28, 2021
I'm not overly superstitious. But if I'm an NFL GM looking for my next QB, I keep driving right on past South Bend...
Notre Dame QBs have now lost 24 straight starts in the NFL...
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 28, 2021
- 4 by Brady Quinn
- 4 by Jimmy Clausen
- 15 by DeShone Kizer
- 1 by Ian Book
That is the longest losing streak by starting QBs from a particular college since 1950 (h/t @EliasSports). pic.twitter.com/NrLb4tKuqr
Thanks to Footballguy Devin Knotts for that one.
Live from Santa Clara...
The 49ers… pic.twitter.com/EBvGCSvgMt
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) December 24, 2021
As if we needed more reasons to like Buffalo WR Isaiah McKenzie. Here's a classic Christmas Eve story from TheAthletic:
"For the trip to New England, McKenzie had to take his 5-month-old pit bull, Papi, to the boarder. He hoped to grab a burger at Forty Thieves Kitchen & Bar while he was out.
Bummed to discover the restaurant was closed, he posted an Instagram plea at 8:43 p.m.
“Anybody got food at they house? Cause I’m hungry!”
Chris Uba invited McKenzie to join their family gathering in the Park Meadow neighborhood in North Buffalo.
“I responded to it almost as a joke, with my uncle’s address,” Uba said. “I DM Josh Allen once a week and get no answer, so I thought there was no way he would see it.”
McKenzie replied, “Say no more.”
In less than 15 minutes, McKenzie pulled up in his Mercedes SUV.
...
McKenzie walked into a traditional Polish holiday party. The family of 16 already had eaten, but plenty of pierogi, tenderloin and a certain other family dish remained. They seated McKenzie at the head of the table and brought him plates.
“It was like I was a family member, an uncle or something,” McKenzie said. “It felt good, being there at their dinner table. I got to watch them open gifts.
“It was awesome to be around people who just want to hang out, be normal and enjoy Christmas Eve instead of sitting alone.”
...
“Such a nice man,” said Garrett Timms, Uba's uncle, and a St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute grad. “He was talking away. He just fit right in.”
McKenzie was asked for a single autograph. Nobody pestered him for photos.
McKenzie found the Polish fare slightly peculiar, struggling a couple of days later to remember what everything was called or how to pronounce it.
...
“The poor guy had nowhere to go and was looking for something to eat on Christmas Eve,” Uba said. “We would have been ecstatic if he had just acknowledged the offer, but the fact he came over was just awesome.
“We hope he had a nice time because it made our Christmas.”
McKenzie glowed as he reflected on a special weekend.
“Everything fell into place,” McKenzie said. “I got some food. I got to make some people happy on Friday. On Christmas, I got to ease my mind for Sunday and make a lot more people happy to come out with the win.
“I felt like that was a pretty successful weekend.”
As they say, "That's so Buffalo".
Thanks to Footballguy Aaron Rudnicki for that one.
Cordarrelle Patterson saves the day.
Never change, Cordarrelle 🥺
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 27, 2021
(repost via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/j11kaKKCFZ
Thanks to Footballguy Keith Overton for that one.
Stefon Diggs played Rock, Paper, Scissors with fans and then stuck to his word coming back to sign the jerseys after the game.
.@StefonDiggs was a man of his word after losing rock, paper, scissors ðŸ¤@insidetheNFL | @BuffaloBills pic.twitter.com/IVmoBdl2RL
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) December 28, 2021
During the game, he didn't make many friends with Patriot fans though...
Stefon Diggs scores a TD.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 26, 2021
Points to a few Patriots fans: “You, you, you, you, and you: Shut the f*** up." pic.twitter.com/DTKzWQB5kt
NBA Note for the week.
great moment to start this game in LA: Jokic tries to time the tipoff, but Bill Kennedy doesn’t throw it in the air so he ends up just standing there and twerking.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 27, 2021
Bill Kennedy needs a second to laugh before resuming. pic.twitter.com/MBdjAtsrYZ
Thanks to Footballguy Clayton Gray for that one.
2021 needed this.
Jaylen Waddle celebrating a touchdown by waddling is what we needed this year. pic.twitter.com/IfMxkioXQI
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 28, 2021
His teammates are into it too.
The Waddle is about to take over the celebrations game 🙌pic.twitter.com/XfdgVqtTSB
— NFL on ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsNFL) December 28, 2021
Adrian Phillips' cleat game = Strong.
You're a mean one, Mr. Phillips 🎶 pic.twitter.com/iXwvfVhuff
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 26, 2021
Thanks to Footballguy Clayton Gray for that one.
It's been this way for a while, but in case anyone needed to know: The Offense Has The Advantage.
I mean come on pic.twitter.com/wLATy1xLla
— Gump Cathcart (@bubbagumpino) December 24, 2021
I know everyone loves to rag on Baker Mayfield and I've done my share too. Some of it's the never-ending commercials and clearly, he's underperformed on the field. But I respect owning it here.
Baker Mayfield on tonight’s game: “It’s frustrating. I thought our defense played great, our skill players played well, same thing with the offensive line. Backs were running their tail off. That’s why it’s frustrating for me. I hurt this team. There’s no excuse.”
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 26, 2021
If it feels like Jonathan Taylor is always through the line of scrimmage and into the secondary, it's not your imagination.
What a graphic from the NFL Network broadcast.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 26, 2021
Jonathan Taylor is unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/lmHztUohOt
Don't give up.
Rasul Douglas was on the Raiders from April until August, when he was cut.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 26, 2021
Then with the Texans for six days and cut again.
Then on the Cardinals practice squad for a month.
He has 5 interceptions in 10 games with the Packers.
What a pickup.
I barely know these golfguys. But this is fantastic.
Year-end ð—£ð—²ð—¿ð—³ð—¼ð—¿ð—ºð—®ð—»ð—°ð—² ð—¥ð—²ð˜ƒð—¶ð—²ð˜„𘀠are in.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 27, 2021
There is significant room for growth. pic.twitter.com/Jci0gbmB1x
Music note this week is from a rad band called Great Grandpa. They're an indie rock band from Seattle and they're one of the bands on the equally rad label Double Double Whammy. Check them out.
This is the time of year where watching the waiver wire is important.
Breaking. Keep an eye on Mark. pic.twitter.com/mVmITbpBYb
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 25, 2021
Once you see it...
My parents thought the #browns logo was a rabbit pushing a grocery cart and now I can’t unsee it. pic.twitter.com/afUmn8z8X6
— Alex Klingelhoeffer (@okccfacfp) December 25, 2021
C.J. Uzomah won the walk-up.
Don't say we didn't tell you... https://t.co/iCUXwk7uMG
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 26, 2021
The look on the face of this young man was so good.
🚨 Wholesome Content Alert 🚨
— Yahoo Sportsbook (@YahooSportsbook) December 26, 2021
OBJ blessed a fan wearing his Giants jersey with his gloves 🥺🥺
(via @NFLonFOX)pic.twitter.com/ZdeVYhtSxK
Listening to the analysts after Buffalo's win over New England, apparently, "if you really want to win" a team just needs to go for it on every fourth down.
Who knew?
Dog Racing at halftime is always a winner.
Over/Under on how many times you will watch thisâ‰ï¸ #NecessaryRuffnesspic.twitter.com/ZjhcmTChYS
— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) December 26, 2021
I'm with Jimmy Traina, this may be the bravest reporter I've ever seen.
I warn you, never poke the bear 😅 pic.twitter.com/BNXxWN0PQ3
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 26, 2021
Tom Brady agreed.
Brady on the reporter who asked Belichick for his New Year's resolution after Sunday's loss to the Bills: "I want to be as brave and courageous as she was, asking that question to Coach Belichick after a loss. That's what I want for the New Year."
— Joey Knight (@TBTimes_Bulls) December 28, 2021
It's time.
Sometimes, the Random Shots column just writes itself… pic.twitter.com/YCoYrdlB8J
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 26, 2021
Earlier last week, Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale suggested we pump the brakes a bit before anointing Joe Burrow a Hall Of Famer.
Burrow went out and hung this on Martindale's defense.
Joe Burrow's UNREAL statline @brgridiron
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 26, 2021
- 37/46
- 525 passing yards
- 4 TD
- 0 INT
- 143.2 passer rating pic.twitter.com/488kNSeKLE
When asked whether it was on his mind as he threw for 525 yards, Burrow replied with a grin: "Maybe."
Joe Burrow absolutely has an Aaron Rodgers size chip on his shoulder….. pic.twitter.com/OecPvTeCrE
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) December 26, 2021
Can a defensive coordinator win Coach Of The Year?
Cowboys DC Dan Quinn reacting to DeMarcus Lawrence’s pick-6 pic.twitter.com/iQB8hbR16O
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 27, 2021
Cooper Kupp has the coachspeak DIALED IN.
Don’t be surprised if you see him as a HC in the future 🙌ðŸ¾ðŸ”¥pic.twitter.com/xAO3FVrxtC
— LaQuan Jones (@RealDealFantasy) December 27, 2021
Malik Turner nailed the Home Alone touchdown celebration.
.@leekleek217 with the Home Alone reference😱#WASvsDAL | #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/263fk4moyV
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 27, 2021
Spot on:
You folks that are into writing might know Joan Didion recently died. You might enjoy this article talking about her and some of her writing techniques. It's easy to see the Hemingway influence with the punchy no-nonsense style. Good stuff here. What I Learned About Writing From An American Master.
We put the spotlight on Christian Wilkins last week...
The whole world needs to see Christian Wilkins hit the worm after catching a TD. What a gem. pic.twitter.com/nKAfhIbZ7F
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 19, 2021
But this is not new...
Dolphins Big Man Christian Wilkins is no stranger to sweet celebration. Flashback to when Clemson won the National Championship. pic.twitter.com/eFI6IzlORT
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 19, 2021
He's quickly becoming the Poster Guy for Random Shots.
Christian Wilkins stealing Alvin Kamara’s towel lol pic.twitter.com/1W5uI7BOax
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) December 28, 2021
Wrapping with this one.
Aaron Rodgers: “As you get older… counting your blessings, not the things you don’t have.”
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) December 26, 2021
Preach, man. This is so hard to do. I struggle with this. I bet a lot of us do, too. pic.twitter.com/me7MongPt4
I know of few other things more powerful and life-changing than gratitude.
It's as simple as intentionally seeking to acknowledge the things we're grateful for. It's a shift in focus from a never-ending list of things you want to instead being happy with what you have. And that often starts for me with literally naming things I'm thankful and grateful for.
That doesn't mean blissful ignorance or delusion. These last couple of years have been tough on lots of people. Some excruciatingly so. But if you can, don't let that overwhelm you. I think Rodgers is spot on here. Be thankful.
And one thing I'm super thankful for is you. You give us the gift of your time to hang out with us on these sometimes ridiculous walks through the week. Thank you. And rock on.
That'll do it this week. Thank you for being with me on this goofy journey.
Love your neighbor and stick together.
Peace and Grace to you.
J