FanHouse

Sunday Night Football Live Chat: New England at San Diego

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-12T20:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Chargers, Patriots, NFL Fans

You want to know the only appropriate way to wrap up a day of sitting in front of your television watching football? Chatting about it during the Sunday Night Football game!!

The Patriots are flying west to take on the Chargers in a showdown of two teams we all thought would be more juggernauts in the AFC.

Find your coziest blanket, ask that sweetie of yours for a foot rub and join us for the football chat of a lifetime.

The festivities begin at 8:00 PM Eastern and bad news for Pats fans, I heard Tom Brady might be out again this week. When is that guy coming back already?

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Winslow Out for MNF, Everyone Still Avoiding the Testicles Talk

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-12T13:15:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Browns, AFC North

As if the Browns could use more bad news, NFL Network's Adam Schefter is reporting that tight end Kellen Winslow is definitely out for the team's Monday Night "showdown" with the Giants.

Winslow, who was averaging 42.5 yards per game for the 1-3 Browns, missed his fourth day of practice on Saturday for what is being reported as an undisclosed illness.

The "illness" has become so bad the former Miami star has been hospitalized and is being treated with antibiotics. News has already been leaked that the problem is an inflammation in his testicles -- so bad that Pro Football Talk said they "swelled to the size of grapefruits."

No other news outlet, however, has been as ballsy as PFT, saying that the injury is likely unrelated to any previous problems he's had with his knee.

Winslow has undergone four knee surgeries and has had to play through pain throughout most of his four-year NFL career.

His illness is not believed to be related to any of his previous injuries.

The Browns will start Steve Heiden in his place.

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Eric Mangini Named Son After Brett Favre

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-11T16:32:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Jets

I'm not sure if you've ever heard of this guy, but the Jets have a quarterback named Brett Favre who came from the Green Bay Packers. He was a good quarterback and after much deliberation decided to move to New York and try out a new gig.

Well, now the news is out that Jets head coach Eric Mangini promised Favre if he came to the Jets he'd name his son after number 4, and actually did it. Everyone together on three....1, 2, 3, SIGH.

Zack Brett Mangini was born early Friday -- also Favre's 39th birthday -- and the Jets coach and his wife, Julie, gave their third son a middle name fit for an iconic, gunslinging quarterback.

"I think he thinks it's pretty cool," Mangini said of Favre. "I think the more interesting, ironic, I don't know what word you'd use, is the fact he was born on Brett's birthday."

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Five Months Pregnant and Still Making Birdies, Hjorth Near the Lead in LPGA

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-10T17:13:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Golf, LPGA

There isn't a sport with as many factors as golf. A good shot could take a bad bounce, the wind could knock your ball in a pond or a birdie putt heading right in the heart of the hole could hit a spike mark and lose its only chance.

The game is hard enough as it is, but could you imagine playing the game five months pregnant?
Maria Hjorth, ranked 12th in the world on the LPGA, not only is five months pregnant and still playing some golf, but she's playing some dang good golf, leading the Longs Drugs Challenge after the first day and currently just two shots back in the second round. Now that is some pretty remarkable pregnant golf.

The Swedish golf star fired a six-under 66 yesterday and said after her round that pregnancy is a little bit of a hindrance.

"It affects me a little bit," said Hjorth.

"Sometimes my body gets a little bit slow and my hands get quicker than my body. (On Thursday) a few shots I pulled them a little bit left. Other than that it doesn't really affect me too much. I've been feeling really good throughout the whole thing so far. I'll keep on playing until I feel I can't anymore."

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Winslow Could Miss Monday Nighter Because of His, Um, Little Buddies

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-10T15:10:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Browns, AFC North

It was reported, rather meagerly, yesterday that Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow could miss the Monday Night yawn-fest because of "an illness."

The report said just that, nothing more, nothing less, leaving the imagination to wander. Well, you'd have to be a pretty sick person to guess what really happened to Winslow. According to Pro Football Talk, Kellen's testicles "swelled to the size of grapefruits."

Wow, who's up for a late lunch?!?

Tight end Winslow, who looked fine when the team returned from its bye weekend on Monday, visited a doctor on Thursday and missed his second practice in a row.

The Browns say Winslow is out with an illness, but won't disclose what it is.

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The Once-Over: Week Six

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-10T14:02:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: NFL Fans

With attention spans dwindling, we forego full game-by-game previews to give you the essentials you need to know about every contest this glorious NFL weekend. Click here to go back in time.

The 1s

Cincinnati (0-5) at NY Jets (2-2): I'm just going to quickly put this on the table -- when the highlight of your season thus far is your "star" wide receiver kissing the head coach on the head, things are not going well. The Bengals look to me a lot like the cast of "Entourage" looked last week trying to "act" on mushrooms. There is no way bad actors should be forced to act like they're on drugs, unless the point is to make them look very, very stupid. This goes for the Bengals. They have acted like a football team for years, but haven't really produced much, and now we get to see them on mushrooms. It isn't a pretty picture. Also, did you notice I went this entire paragraph without mentioning B _ _ _ _, F _ _ _ _? This is me, taking a stand.

Pick: Jets

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The Browns, Who Are 1-3, Are Talking Trash About the Giants, Who Are 4-0

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-10T11:23:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Browns, Giants, AFC North, NFC East

As your mother or baseball coach or mental therapist once told you, there is a time and a place for everything in this world. When your only win is against the Cincinnati Bengals and your team looks about as tough as a clown at a biker convention, this is not your time.

Browns defensive lineman Corey Williams obviously didn't get the memo, spouting off all sorts of nonsense and ignorance about the Giants and how they are going to put them in their place.

NFL Trash Talkers

Browns defensive tackle Corey Williams talked smack to Brandon Jacobs and the Giants before their 'Monday Night Football' clash. He said, "I'm going to try to knock his head off." Click through to see the other players that ran their mouths off this season.

G Fiume, Getty Images

Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson said he was going to "kiss the star" at Texas Stadium before a matchup with the Cowboys. 'Ocho Cinco' managed just three catches for 43 yards in a Dallas win.

G. Newman Lowrance, Getty Images

Joey Porter talked smack about new Patriots QB Matt Cassel before a game against New England. Then the Dolphins backed Porter up, shocking the NFL world and beating the Pats.

Marc Serota, Getty Images

Minnesota's Pat Williams talked a big game before a 'MNF' matchup with the Packers, saying he would hold Green Bay running back Ryan Grant to less than 100 yards. While Grant only rushed for 92 yards, the Packers won the game 24-19.

Joe Robbins, Getty Images

In days leading up to a another emotional game versus his old team, Cowboys star Terrell Owens said he got "too big" for Philadelphia and former teammate Donovan McNabb. Dallas won the game 41-37.

Ronald Martinez, Getty Images

It was meant just as a joke, but Donovan McNabb took some fun pokes at Chicago Bears stars Brian Urlacher and Tommie Harris before a Week 4 battle. "He can't grow any more hair," McNabb said of Urlacher. And about Harris, McNabb remarked: "He shaves his head with a butter knife and he eats fatty foods." Philly lost 24-20 at Chicago.

Tom Mihalek, AP

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been pretty vocal this season, taking shots at both referees and the ppposition in Texas. Jones told the 'Los Angeles Times' in October that, "The Cowboys have never been about checkered tablecloths and boots and hats. They've been about glitz and glitter. Leave the other stuff to the Houston Texans."

Tony Gutierrez, AP

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Winslow Could Miss The Monday Night Game With 'An Illness'

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-09T17:43:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Browns, AFC North

Because of their amazing football this season, the Browns were awarded a spot on Monday Night against the Giants this week. Sadly, Derek Anderson might have to step on the battlefield without his number one soldier, Kellen Winslow, who is out with a rather peculiar injury.

Winslow has missed two practices in a row because of "an illness." No, seriously, that is what they're saying, I couldn't even make that up.

Tight end Winslow, who looked fine when the team returned from its bye weekend on Monday, visited a doctor on Thursday and missed his second practice in a row.

The Browns say Winslow is out with an illness, but won't disclose what it is.

"We're sending him down and letting the doctors look at him and they'll let us know," coach Romeo Crennel said.

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The Top 10 Franchises That Are Most Likely to Move

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-09T16:27:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Current Events

Just this afternoon we reported that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was thinking the next NFL team might find its way down to San Antonio.

Well, lucky for us, Forbes has now compiled a list of which sports teams are most likely to go out for a carton of milk and never come back home.

The 10 that are most likely to move for one reason or another is as follows:

-- Florida Marlins
-- Tampa Bay Rays
-- Buffalo Bills
-- Minnesota Vikings
-- San Francisco 49ers
-- New York Islanders
-- Phoenix Coyotes
-- Nashville Predators
-- New Orleans Hornets
-- Charlotte Bobcats

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Is San Antonio The Next Stop For the NFL?

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-09T13:42:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: NFL Rumors

When thinking about the big cities in our great country, the easy names pop in your head. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Phoenix. All are pretty enormous and all have multiple sports teams occupying the land. What you may not know is San Antonio is the seventh most populated city in the United States and only hosts one professional sports team, the Spurs.

All that may change in the coming years as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell visited San Antonio yesterday and talked about the hope of bringing a football team to the Alamo.

"There's no question the growth is extraordinary here," Goodell said. "You see it as soon as you come into the city ... The vision the leaders have here to grow this community has been very positive. I think that will provide new opportunities.''

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Obama Might Have the Lead, But John McCain Has ... Brady Quinn!

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-09T12:42:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Browns, AFC North

No matter your party's affiliation, there is obviously a fairly clear difference in the presidential hopefuls' sports knowledge. Barack Obama uses sports metaphors, talks of his beloved White Sox and tends to hoop as much as he can, even if it's against Stuart Scott. John McCain obviously isn't one to gloat about his sports teams, mainly because he's an Arizona guy and, well, they aren't exactly expanding their trophy case (even though he did pick the Final Four correctly this year).

That being noted, McCain brought out the big guns yesterday in Ohio, having Brady Quinn appear at the Republican rally in hopes of swinging as many Browns voters as possible, even though it's easy to leave a hanging chad with a paper bag over your face. From the Cleveland Plain Dealer...

McCain and his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, rallied an overflow crowd Wednesday by urging Greater Clevelanders to support the underdog.

And who better to help deliver that message than two members of Cleveland's favorite underdog -- make that underdawg -- team, the Browns. Quarterback Brady Quinn and left tackle Joe Thomas made a surprise appearance at the rally before roaring supporters at the Walter F. Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center.

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Flacco Named Starter For Rest of Season

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-09T10:36:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Ravens, AFC North

Nobody really knew what to expect from the rookie quarterback coming into the 2008 season but I'm pretty sure this wasn't really the highest vote-getter of possibilities.

Joe Flacco, leading the Ravens to a respectable record of 2-2, was named the starter for the rest season by head coach John Harbaugh yesterday. Flacco has done exactly what the Ravens have needed from a quarterback the last few years, being consistent, not trying to play out of his ability and avoiding the big mistakes.

Obviously this news isn't the best for second year quarterback Troy Smith who was next in line to take the starting position for the Ravens before all hell broke loose with his immune system. Smith suffered a severe case of tonsillitis and had a blood clot in his neck that caused him to lose 20 pounds before the season started and stick the former Heisman Trophy winner on the bench. Now, with Flacco being the man, Smith will have to accept the role as backup quarterback for another season.

"That'll be [Smith's] role this year - possibly into a role where he can contribute playing quarterback for us down the road," Harbaugh said.

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Pacman, Really Dude? Really?

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-09T10:11:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Cowboys, NFC East

One of the few television monologues I go back to time and time again is the Saturday Night Live skit with Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler following the Michael Vick drug fiasco (before the whole dog thing). Basically, Meyers and Poehler put together a back and forth conversation on 'Weekend Update' that posed a series of questions any reasonable person would ask Vick about the smarts it takes to try to sneak hidden marijuana on a plane from a city, Miami, that's known for its import of drugs, and follow it up with a befuddled "really?"

It was the perfect way to illustrate just how stupid Vick really was. He brought weed (an illegal substance) on an airplane in a water bottle (not allowed on airplanes) from Miami (where drugs come out of, or so I hear).

Now we hear that ~~Adam~~ Pacman Jones got in a fight with some bodyguard at a hotel Tuesday night, raising the same question the SNL crew did -- "really?"

Pacman Jones, don't you realize that the commissioner of the NFL, or "the dude you don't want to piss off" to put it in layman's terms, said you can't do a single thing wrong anymore or you're out? Don't you think getting in a fight with a bodyguard that your own team assigned to you is a little counterproductive? I mean, I have never had a bodyguard (though I did once have a feisty Jack Russel Terrier), but basically the bodyguard is there to guard your body. You aren't supposed to get the guy upset at you, and you really don't want to punch him. He's a big guy. Most bodyguards are.

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Suspect in Darrent Williams' Murder Indicted on 39 Counts

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-09T01:54:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West

A man that was considered a "person of interest" in the murder of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams is in custody on first-degree murder.

Willie D. Clark is the 25-year-old that faces 39 counts, from murder to assault to attempted murder and even a weapon violation for the murder of Williams on a New Years Eve drive-by in 2007. Clark, who obviously had been in some trouble before, was already in custody in a different case when he became the first suspect named.

The altercation happened when Williams' crew and Clark's crew got in an argument outside a nightclub in Denver and Clark followed Williams' limo down Speer Boulevard and fired into the car, killing Williams and injuring two more.

Williams' mother, Rosalind Williams, said after finding out Clark had been indicted that it was the first step in a long process of justice.

"Oh, I got bittersweet news today," she said of her phone call from Detective Michael Martinez informing her of Clark's indictment. "There's still a long ways to go, a long trial ahead. And we have to make sure this doesn't happen to another family, too."

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Who's Excited for Some Lingerie Football?

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-08T14:02:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Women's Sports

What are the three basic 'Man Rules' outlined in our yearly handbook? Football. Check. Beer, you got it. Women, hallelujah. Now, brace yourself, what if I told you all three of these things would be joining together into a regular bachelor party without the $20 lap dances?

Get ready for some football. Some Lingerie Football.

Lingerie Football Legends

Jenny McCarthy, 2006 Lingerie Bowl
Who Is She?: Former Playboy Playmate of the Year and actress

Jesse Grant, WireImage

Eric Dickerson, 2004 Lingerie Bowl Coach
Who Is He?: NFL Hall of Famer and Rams legend

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Traci Bingham, 2004 Lingerie Bowl host
Who Is She?: Former 'Baywatch' star and Playboy model

Chris Polk, FilmMagic

Angie Everhart, 2004 Lingerie Bowl
Who Is She?: Actress and former Playboy model

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Kylie Bax, 2004 Lingerie Bowl sideline reporter
Who Is She?: Former SI swimsuit model/actress

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Nikki Ziering, 2004 Lingerie Bowl
Who Is She?: Actress/model

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Ryan Starr, 2006 Lingerie Bowl sideline reporter
Who Is She?: Former 'American Idol' contestant

Jesse Grant, WireImage

Cindy Margolis, 2006 Lingerie Bowl
Who Is She?: Actress

Nancy Ostertag, Getty Images

Trishelle Cannatella, 2005-06 Lingerie Bowl
Who Is She?: Former reality TV star and actress

Robert C. Mora, WireImage

Adrianne Curry, 2006 Lingerie Bowl
Who Is She?: Former reality TV star and Playboy model

Rebecca Sapp, WireImage

The Lingerie Football League, the publicity stunt you might have seen on pay-per-view during a recent Super Bowl halftime show, is taking its bras, panties, and straps to the gridiron for real, forming a league set to premiere in September 2009. Tryouts took place in Seattle this past week and Mitchell Mortaza, founder of LFL, said the reason games won't begin for a year is because they were looking for the hotties at first, and will now try to instill in them some actual football skills to go along with the flowing hair and potential perky enhancements.

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Random Is the Word -- John Wayne Bobbitt to Fight Guy Who Knocked Out Suge Knight

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-08T11:02:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Celebrity Boxing

There really isn't a bad time to be allowed that wonderful image of having your wife cutting off your penis with a steak knife while you sleep. Ahhhh, memories.

John Wayne Bobbitt, the gentleman (we can still call him a man, right?) that lost more than half his 9-iron in that "Sweeney Todd" experiment has decided that his autobiography might not be weird enough, agreeing to fight Greg Smith, the barber that punched out Marion "Suge" Knight during a street-fight in Hollywood.

Norm Clarke of the Las Vegas Review Journal is reporting the two are set to fight on November 15.

Bobbitt, 41, is training for a Nov. 15 celebrity boxing match in Philadelphia against Smith, the barber who made news in May when he knocked out rap mogul Knight during a street altercation in Hollywood.

Bobbitt was scheduled to fight Joey Buttafuoco in a televised celebrity match several years ago, but the event fell apart. Earlier this year, Bobbitt agreed to slug it out with former baseball star Jose Canseco, but the promoter switched to former NFL player and BYU standout Vai Sikahema, who pounded the beefier Canseco into carpaccio.

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Football Coach Shoves 11-Year-Old, Decides It's Time To Quit Coaching

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-07T13:41:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: High School

If you are an adult, especially one that works with children to better grow their athletic ability with sportsmanship in mind, you probably don't want to go pushing opposing players during the post-game handshake.

Don't go telling that to the Marquette Junior Mustangs Football program because these guys PLAY TO WIN THE GAME (AND PUSH PEOPLE AFTER)! Head coach Tony Warneke has resigned his position after shoving an 11-year-old kid on the other team after a game this Saturday. Of course, because Warneke is due for some good Karma his way, the whole incident was caught on tape and the parents of the shoved kiddo are pressing charges.

The push was, of course, caught on video and aired on St. Louis-area television stations. The grainy video, shot at a game Saturday, shows a brawny coach pushing a pint-size player in the face mask, sending him stumbling out of the frame.

The boy's parents are pressing assault charges, and police in Chesterfield, Mo., say they expect the local prosecutor to make a decision on whether to pursue the case by Wednesday.

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Boo Weekley on 'The Tonight Show'

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-07T12:47:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Golf, PGA

I don't think it is crazy talk to consider Boo Weekley the second most popular golfer in the country right now behind Tiger Woods.

His breakout performance at the Ryder Cup just showed a larger audience what some of us golf nerds have known for a while -- that the guy can fire up a crowd faster than Nicollette Sheridan streaking through a fraternity house. The video from his appearance on The Tonight Show last week is up and, let me tell you, it's an absolute afternoon-maker.

I think a +1 is in order to the person that does scheduling for The Tonight Show. Weekley, with all the smarts of cutting your steak with a spoon, was on the same couch as Dennis Miller, one of the quicker-witted guys of our time and someone with a vocabulary that makes Webster rock in his chair. I have no idea if this was on purpose or not, but if so, I want the name of the person in charge so I can send him or her a box of very expensive chocolates.

Weekley emerged doing the same Happy Gilmore dance that he did on the first fairway at Valhalla and then went into this little story, after the jump, about losing his keys in a Port-o-Potty. Check out the interview, which is short but absolutely worth it, after the jump.

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Rich Eisen's Wife Complains About Sarah Palin Showing Off Her Infant At the Debates

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-06T16:54:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Sports Media

By all accounts, Rich Eisen seems like a nice enough guy. He does a great job on NFL Network, as he did at ESPN, and never really ruffles any feathers. I guess the same can't be said about his wife and former ABC sportscaster Suzy Shuster, who writes a little for The Huffington Post.

Shuster decided on Friday that the Sarah Palin act had gone too far, only it wasn't the "I'm a good ol' fashioned mom" act that led Tina Fey to revive her Saturday Night Live career, no, the act Schuster takes offense to is the supposed "quit flaunting your five-month old baby Trig" act that only Shuster seems to take offense to. Trig, as you probably know, is Palin's youngest child, who was also diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

It actually came after the debate, when for seemingly the millionth time, Sarah Palin trotted out her piece de resistance, her favorite prop of this campaign season: her five and a half month old son Trig.

Why is this child up so late every time there is a camera op? Why isn't this baby sleeping in a crib or bassinet somewhere with a sleep sheep or some other sound apparatus lulling him into night-night? Is it just me or does it seem like she carts this poor child around like a living breathing example of how wonderful a mom she is? After all, she's more than adopted the "I'm just a mom, just like you moms out there, America" attitude.

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Plaxico Burress: 'Everybody Doesn't Have to Like Me'

Shane Bacon — 2008-10-06T15:45:00 00:00

by Shane Bacon

Filed under: Giants, NFC East

Plaxico Burress basically has one true road he can take with all this suspension hullabaloo -- either accept the punishment, apologize to teammates and fans, and get ready to play once he's reinstated, or he can just tell people that he's just a football player and they don't have to like him. Yep, I'm going with B.

Burress said in a conference call with the media that he has some teammates he is close to, and they contacted him about the suspension, but other than that, nobody should really care.

"I know the people that care about me a lot. My job is to go to work and catch footballs Everybody doesn't have to like me. I don't have to be friends with everybody. Everybody has a role to play, everybody has a job to do. My job is to get on the field and catch footballs."

Well, actually, your job is to go on the field and catch footballs as well as not ditch out on a workout day without a phone call. That is what is called "being on a team" and unless Plax is thinking about getting some tennis lessons fairly soon, these rules will stick around.

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