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
First things first. Happy Thanksgiving.
Seriously. I say this every year and I'll say it again because it's true. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from all of us at Footballguys. Not sure how Holidays get much better than combining food and football and family and community.
I'm thankful for a zillion things - not the least of which is the fact you'll take a couple of minutes to hang with us and share the experience of a goofy week of observations from my twelve year old mental viewpoint.
I've long said Footballguys has the best family of readers in the world and I'll put them up against anyone doing anything. Bring it. You guys rock and I'm thankful for you.
Happy Thanksgiving Folks.
Much love.
Joe and the Footballguys Staff
Here's something I"m thankful for. That we live in a world where Bill Belichick Making A Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Videos are just one click away.
I told you a few weeks ago how Rex Ryan called in as "Walt Pulaski" from the Buffalo News to ask Julian Edelman a question during his media conference call.
This week, Terrell Suggs called in to Dak Prescott's press call as "Hacksaw Smithers". Classic.
Super cool moment at Kent State this week. For the playing of the National Anthem, the Basketball Team decided to select a fan of a different age, race or gender to stand with them.
"We understand all of the issues going on in our world," sophomore point guard Jalen Avery said in a statement on behalf of his teammates. "In these times, we felt it was important to show a sign of unity in our community."
You can see a video with more here.
I'm not going to go on the soap box here but let's just say from the standpoint of effectively delivering a message, I think this is about one billion times more cool than the other stuff I've seen.
And for the record, coach Rob Senderoff said this was completely driven by the players. Which makes it even more cool. Well done, Kent State.
Thanks to Footballguy Clayton Gray for that one.
College Football Note.
You know he loved that.
Thanks to Footballguy Tom Neclerio for that one.
Usually it's the linemen who act like the cold weather doesn't bother them.
Sometimes it's the wide receivers...
Rock on, Marquise Goodwin.
And this wasn't just a quick show. Goodwin ran routes shirtless.
Tom Brady's new Foot Locker commercial is FIRE.
So good.
Ladies and Gentleman, the last Indianapolis quarterback to lose to the Titans...
If Curtis Painter had ever thrown a touchdown to Jeremy Shockey, I feel like the matrix might have collapsed...
Scott Hanson with the call of the week on Colin Kaepernick: "He's got some speed. Not weighed down at all by that 'I Voted' sticker."
Afterwards, Hanson owned his comment.
But seriously, how could you not own that?
Little things matter.
Lots of people will see this and think nothing of it. Some will see it and make fun of it. What I see in this is a small thing that tells me about something bigger. Namely, be the kind of guy who picks up after himself. Be responsible for your trash. Even when you're an NFL star quarterbacking the 9-1 Dallas Cowboys. Don't expect others to fix your mistakes. You take care of them as best you can.
Good stuff.
Dallas Morning News reporter Kate Hairopoulos had more.
Moral of the story. Throw your trash away. And watch out for ice messing up the rotation.
Music Note of the Week. Grouplove is a fun band with a sound I've been digging since this summer. "Welcome To Your LIfe" will get your day off to the right start.
When everyone but the center got the snap count right, Walt Anderson called it exactly as it happened: "False Start. Everyone but the center".
Jeff Fisher continues to make my life easier.
Love that guy.
Oh Cleveland...
I love the Point After attempt being more difficult. Most of you seem to agree.
But the freakout over missed extra points Sunday took me by surprise.
All the analysts and most of social media acted like the guy with the saw here.
Chad Johnson is available.
And so is Batman.
Cowboys fans are used to the 3:00 PM Local Time kickoffs. This week the game was on the early slate with a noon start. Which meant you watched the game in church...
God Bless Texas.
Pretty much this.
I'm going to leave this one right here...
The Black Hole in Oakland is one thing.
The Black Hole in Mexico City with the Barbed Wire and Moat of Azteca Stadium is another level...
Thanks to Footballguy Don Miller for that one.
The Cowboys with just one more example of "When you win you can do whatever you want..."
You know Calvin Johnson is watching somewhere and thinking this.
Another game. Another Ezekiel Elliott Hurdle.
Tony Romo in the HOUSE.
ESPN's Charles Woodson had this hot take on Tony Romo's presser acknowledging Dak Prescott should be the starter.
"Part of it was selfish. When I listen to that speech, I thought about myself on December 22, 2015, last year when I called media in and told them that I was retiring. That's what this sounded like to me. It sounded a little bit dramatic. I thought he was retiring. I thought he was going to say to everyone, 'Look, this is my last year. I'm done playing.'
"What he did right there, he could've done that at home. We didn't need to see that. He did that for himself. I think it was an easy answer to say, 'You know what, Dak is the quarterback right now. I'm going to back him up.'"
I normally defend ESPN when people claim they just say ridiculous stuff to try and get a reaction.
But for this one...
Antonio Brown showing up for work like a BOSS.
I don't know if Pierre Garcon plans to finish his career in Washington. If he was thinking about playing for another team, I think it's safe to say his agent can cross Green Bay off the list...
Washington's Dan Snyder with another example that one's bank balance is inversely related to their dancing ability.
Turns out the same can be said for QB Rating and Dancing Ability...
Who knew?
A live look in on NFL Senior VP of Officiating Dean Blandino trying to determine the definition of an NFL Catch...
Vikings Social Media Person deserves a raise.
And yes, I'm twelve.
Cam Newton easily won Cleats Of the Week with his Fox Tails.
Tony Romo working as the backup QB saw significantly more practice reps this week than Mark Sanchez had been seeing as the backup when Romo was out.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked about it and for some reason felt compelled to go out of his way to take a shot at his 3rd string QB.
"There's a lot of difference between Tony Romo and Mark Sanchez, guys," Jones said, "that's speaking candidly."
To be fair, there is a lot of difference. Sanchez is 4-2 in postseason play but who's counting?...
But still, seemed like an odd thing to say. Even for Jerry Jones.
Sometimes it seems as if you might as well have stayed on the sidelines. But still it's best to get in the game.
Thanks to Deadspin for that one.
Wrapping this one up with some Thanksgiving Dinner advice. Family Gatherings can be tough sometimes as everyone has different opinions and beliefs. Just remember that one thing Unites Us All...
God Bless Adele.
That'll do it for this week, Folks. Thanks to Footballguys Doug Drinen, Clayton Gray, Don Miller, Tom Neclerio and Keith Overton 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. And Happy Thanksgiving.
J
