Watching the Jets this season has been a delight. Such chaos and turmoil could not happen to a nicer bunch of guys.
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Tag: football
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Report: Rob Gronkowski has broken forearm
This is going to make the end of the season “interesting.” I, obviously, hope he’s back for the playoffs.
Apparently his rib is pressing against his aorta. Hopefully he takes the time necessary to make sure he is healthy before he tries to return.
I used to laugh at Spurrier’s act when he was at Florida. Recently, however, he has been, as Wetzel points out, classless. At least it looks like [Dabo Swinney is going to take the high road](http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/oct/30/second-thought-swinney-decides-give-spurrier-benef/?partner=RSS).
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Now that is Motivation
The cornerback responsible for covering Calvin “Megatron” Johnson gets a call from the voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen. Amazing.
What a horrible game. The Patriots look just terrible on defense.
*See also,* [Bill Barnwell’s Weekly Write-Up](http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8536374/the-patriots-flawed-other-week-7-news) (if, as a Patriots fan, you really want to be depressed).
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Chargers Being Investigated for Cheating
> “NFL Security has already begun investigation as SD equipment man was hiding illegal sticky substance and giving to players. Line judge saw it and had it confiscated and sent to Broncos and league”, [Glazer posted on Twitter](http://tmi.me/ykOsb).
The Chargers have always struck me as overrated and whiny, so hearing this makes me smile. I hope Goodell throws the book at them.
Dan Wetzel writing for *Yahoo Sports:*
> Score this one for public pressure, as the NFL, under intense scrutiny and criticism, finally acknowledged that the job of referee isn’t just a replaceable occupation. As a tidal wave of tumult grew over the season’s first three weeks – capped by Sunday and Monday nights’ nationally-broadcast embarrassments – the league’s hypothesis that it could pretty much round up anyone off the street, put them in striped shirts and the game would go on fine was over.
The NFL’s hand was forced.
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Real Refs on Sunday
So sayeth Adam Schefter.
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Bill Barnwell on the Replacement Refs
> Monday night’s dramatic ending to the Packers-Seahawks game officially saw the league’s replacement officials complete their trip from irritating sideshow to spectacular main event by directly changing the outcome of a game on a questionable call, one that was delivered with their reliable combination of befuddlement and insouciance. It was the first time that the replacement officials had turned a win into a loss by making the wrong call on the final play of the game, unless you believe that the same thing happened with the field goal that ended the Patriots-Ravens contest on Sunday night, in which case that just happened in consecutive games. You often hear about games in which the team who got the ball last won. This was a game in which the team who had the opportunity to be screwed last lost.
I do not think I am going to see many people defending the replacement refs today.
Joe Posnanski:
> But Monday night’s ending, well, if that doesn’t end this farce, then it’s clear that the people who run the NFL have simply decided that they don’t owe the fans, the players or anyone else legitimacy.
> …
> These things, I believe, and others have made the replacement referees a real danger to the NFL’s balance. The NFL was on the edge in so many ways … the replacement referees pushed them over. For most of America, the game was ALMOST too dangerous before; the replacements make it more dangerous. The game was ALMOST too slow and plodding before; the replacement refs make it slower. The game was ALMOST too convoluted before; the replacement refs make it more convoluted. The NFL owners and executives were ALMOST too greedy and self-serving and dismissive of the fans before; the replacement refs make it all the more true.
The NFL should bring back the real officials and just wipe everyone’s record back to 0-0[^fn1]. What a fiasco this whole thing has turned into.
*See also,* [Yahoo Football Blog Summary of the Events #1](http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/seahawks-stun-packers-one-craziest-most-controversial-endings-042606665–nfl.html), [Yahoo Football Blog Summary of the Events #2](http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/seahawks-win-strangest-game-history-call-define-replacement-061942237–nfl.html), [Dan Wetzel’s Column](http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/Dan+Wetzel/SIG=14f0bnn5b/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl–nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-needs-to-clean-up-officiating-mess–hellip-and-issue-a-public-apology.html), and [Dan Levy’s Take](http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1346960-seattle-green-bay-should-have-an-asterisk-thanks-to-nfls-negligence).
[^fn1]: Okay, maybe I am a little biased since I think the Patriots would be at least 2-1 with real officials.
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Revis Out for the Season
> “Everyone gets hurt.”
A classic quote from my dad that is true to this day[^fn1].
[^fn1]: Another favorite, “always go to the ball.”
[Cowboys.com](http://cowboys.com) has launched as a gay dating site. You think Jerry Jones wishes he had just paid the $275,000 originally?
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Clemson’s Defense Does Not Hold up at FSU
> Four games into Venables’ tenure as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator, it doesn’t appear that easy fix is imminent. Saturday night, No.4 Florida State shredded his system for 667 yards of total offense – second-worst in school history – in a 49-37 win over No.10 Clemson.
That is not what us Tiger fans were hoping for when Coach Venables joined the coaching staff.
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A Good Day for the Replacement Refs
If by “good day” you mean they gave the 49ers two extra challenges they were not entitled to.
*See also,* [Matt Schaub losing part of his ear on an illegal hit](http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/matt-schaub-loses-piece-ear-illegal-hit-013507090–nfl.html)
The nightmare has ended. RedZone comes to Time Warner. Let me be the first to say “We’re going double box!”
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Vince Young has Run Out of Money
> On July 30, 2006, Vince Young, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft, signed a six-year contract with the Tennessee Titans that was worth just over $48 million, had a maximum value of $57.79 million, and contained $25.74 million in guaranteed money.
> Just over six years later, Young is not on the NFL radar screen and has run out of money, the Associated Press reports
I hate these stories. The amount of people who take advantage of these young athletes seems off the charts.
I am ready to see him blow by a few defensive backs this week.
Even if he lost the bet, anyone who counts Boyz II Men in his or her favorite artists is good in my book.
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Panel Overturns Saints Player Suspensions
> A three-member panel has overturned the suspensions handed down by the NFL in the bounty case, and all four suspended players — New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, defensive end Will Smith, Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, and at-large defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove — are free to play this NFL season. It is a crushing defeat for the league and Commissioner Roger Goodell.
> “Consistent with the panel’s decision, Commissioner Goodell will, as directed, make an expedited determination of the discipline imposed for violating the league’s pay-for-performance/bounty rule,” the NFL said in a statement. “Until that determination is made, the four players are reinstated and eligible to play starting this weekend.”
Things just got really interesting.