A.J. Green goes to Cincinnati Bengals with fourth pick in NFL Draft

Pros: Displays a ridiculous vertical leap in tight coverage to grab passes, especially in the end zone. Can bring the ball in one-handed, even with a defender trying to disrupt him, an ability that makes him play even "taller." Excellent straight-line speed and he cuts very well; hard to match on slants and posts. Tracks the ball in stride from full speed and keeps his eye on the ball to make the tough over-the-shoulder catch.

Extends his hands to grab the pass and brings the ball to his chest quickly as he's turning to get upfield. Has no qualms about going over the middle and into a defender's area; will lay out on these plays if necessary. Plays through contact and looks to get upfield even when he's wrapped up. Sits in zone very well and can glide past defenders to extend the play. Shows a burst to productivity on receiver screens. Not afraid to be physical; will get a stiff-arm out and fight for extra yards. Has an excellent concept of routes.

Cons: Not an especially strong player; at 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, he could probably gain 10 pounds without losing any of his downfield speed. Can't generally just blast by cornerbacks at the line, though he does have an array of moves to get past press coverage. His ability to break past more physical corners displaying aggressive moves and tight coverage at the line may be a slight concern at the next level.

What he brings to the team: Green has already been compared to Randy Moss in some quarters, and while that's a bit extreme, it's true that he possesses a rare combination of skills that should see him succeeding very quickly at the NFL level. With his ability to jump, get downfield as much with agility as speed, and use his hands to snatch the ball in the tightest spaces, another comparison comes to mind - especially if�Green gains a few pounds.�Green isn't nearly as physical as a Calvin Johnson, but many of the attributes line up well enough to make�him an elite NFL starter.

Is it the right pick? Yes, if the Bengals can figure out their quarterback situation. Carson Palmer has given no indication that he wants to be a Bengal anymore, but he may change his mind when he sees Green's freaky game tape.

The rest of the top 10 picks
? 1. Cam Newton -- Carolina Panthers
? 2. Von Miller -- Denver Broncos
? 3. Marcell Dareus -- Buffalo Bills
? 5. Patrick Peterson -- Arizona Cardinals
? 6. Julio Jones -- Atlanta Falcons
? 7. Aldon Smith -- San Francisco 49ers
? 8. Jake Locker -- Tennessee Titans
? 9. Tyron Smith -- Dallas Cowboys
? 10. Blaine Gabbert -- Jacksonville Jaguars

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/A-J-Green-goes-to-Cincinnati-Bengals-with-fourt?urn=nfl-wp1474

Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen Estella Warren Esther Cañadas Eva Green

Police report accuses Aqib Talib of pistol-whipping, shooting at a guy

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Aqib Talib is in a heap of trouble. The following paragraph Monday from Richie Whitt at Sportatorium, the Dallas Observer's Sports Blog, is a doozy.

According to a GPD initial report about the incident and two sources familiar with the case Talib allegedly attempted to pistol-whip his sister Saran's boyfriend, Shannon Billings, and then, after a struggle, used his mother Okolo's pistol and fired several shots at Billings as he fled the scene on foot.

If you're scoring at home, that's a pistol-whipping and a borrowing of mom's gun to shoot at your sister's boyfriend, all in one paragraph. Yikes.

Police currently describe Talib as a "person of interest" in the shooting. Billings, the alleged victim, has been involved in two other family-violence cases involving Talib's sister, Saran.

You can check out more details of the police report here. Talib has yet to release any kind of statement about the incident.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Police-report-accuses-Aqib-Talib-of-pistol-whipp?urn=nfl-wp620

Kerry Suseck Kim Kardashian Kim Smith Kim Yoon jin Kirsten Dunst

Madden 2012 promo unveils new Bills uniforms months early

It's pretty ironic that EA Sports' Madden: 2012 would use a video of Steve Johnson as it dropped the ball on keeping the Buffalo Bills' new jerseys a secret, but if you're a Bills fan, you're probably used to this sort of thing.

A promo for the new game showed Johnson running across the middle (screengrab, via Buffalo Rising, above) with a Bills uniform that consisted of a white helmet that looked different than anything the team had been sporting in years past. The EA people quickly yanked the YouTube video showing the new uniforms after getting heat from the NFL about the leak, but said they had showed the NFL the promos before going live with them.

It seems that the Bills had planned on unveiling the new uniforms during a fan appreciate event later in 2011, but the Madden game had players sporting the new look, that ESPN's Tim Graham will describe.

The helmets will be white with the blue charging buffalo and gray facemasks. Jerseys will have broad stripes on the shoulders instead of the sleeve bottom. Pants will be blue or white, the opposite of the jersey. Blue pants will have red-between-white piping. White pants will have red-between-blue piping.

Socks will have blue-and-white striped tops, and players will have the option to wear blue or white shoes as opposed to black. Belts are believed to be gray.

I mean, no way this is a bad thing, right? It's bringing attention to the Buffalo Bills, who have finished better than .500 just once in the last 11 seasons, and probably has fans a little excited for a new look, if football is actually played this year.

Also, it seems a perfect time to actually unveil these bad boys as the draft kicks off on Thursday. Have the new players sport them in front of the cameras as they join the Bills, and start selling them as the buzz goes around about this leak by Madden. All in all, it seems like a good thing for the Bills if they can embrace it and try to make it worth their while. Trust me, it could be the most exciting moment all year for Bills fans.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Madden-2012-promo-unveils-new-Bills-uniforms-mon?urn=nfl-wp1381

Paulina Rubio Paz Vega Penélope Cruz Pink Piper Perabo

President Obama took a trip to Revis Island

Speaking at a press conference about the release of his birth certificate, President Obama condemned our culture's focus on trivial endeavors. "We do not have time for this kind of silliness," he said. "We've got better stuff to do. I've got better stuff to do."

Like going to Revis Island, apparently.

Obama invited New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis to a private fundraising dinner Wednesday night, hours after delivering his forceful statement to the press. Revis said he met privately with the president for five minutes and was thrilled to hear that the president knew of his rogue principality.

Via AP:

"The president said to me, 'How is the island?' I laughed and said, 'It's good and I'm keeping it covered,'" Revis said in a statement given to his agent.

"Deep down, I can't believe it that the president of the United States would know about Revis Island. It was an incredible experience."

Let me get this straight. The president met with a guy that has his own island (where shutdowns are commonplace, no less) on the same day he released his birth certificate from another island? It all seems way too convenient for me. Right, Luke Scott?

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/President-Obama-took-a-trip-to-Revis-Island?urn=nfl-wp1426

Cristina Dumitru Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso

Texans’ DB observes a cockfight, tweets about it

Kareem Jackson, second-year cornerback for the Houston Texans, took a recent vacation to the Dominican Republic.

While there, he took in a little bit of the local culture, which apparently includes making chickens fight each other until one of them is dead. We know this because he tweeted about it.

Via John P. Lopez of CBS Houston, here are Jackson's two cockfighting-related tweets:

"My first time ever seeing chicken fight till the death it was crazy… "

"Look at all these people that be at these chicken fights, you would think its a college football game."

He also posted the picture you see to the right.

Lopez rakes Jackson over the coals for the offending tweets, but personally, I don't see that Jackson did anything wrong here.

I see the harm in cockfighting, of course -- it's a brutal, inhumane thing to do to an animal, and I'd be thrilled if the practice was somehow abolished worldwide. And maybe Jackson shouldn't have tweeted about it, only because of the scrutiny and media attention (for example, this post) it will bring.

But that Jackson did something he should be ashamed of? I don't see it.

When you visit another country, that's what you do. You take in the local culture and the local activities, and if you see something crazy -- like cockfighting, for example -- you tweet that you just saw something crazy.

It's not Jackson's fault that cockfighting is legal and popular in another country, and it's not like he endorsed the activity. It's not like he tweeted, "Hey, I'm at a cockfight, and it's awesome, and I'm going to do this every day!" It's not like he helped strap a razor blade to a chicken's foot.

He was there. He saw it. He said it's crazy. I see no reason for the guy to apologize.

Gracias, Pro Football Talk.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Texans-DB-observes-a-cockfight-tweets-about-it?urn=nfl-wp28

Deanna Russo Denise Richards Desiree Dymond Diane Kruger Dido

Video: Former firefighter drafted by Eagles, gets standing ovation

Danny Watkins, the Baylor offensive lineman who was selected by Philadelphia Eagles with the 23rd pick in the NFL draft, is:

a. The oldest player taken in the first round.

b. Only the fourth Canadian ever selected in the opening round.

c. Without his two front teeth, the product of an old hockey injury (he has replacements).

d. Someone who didn't play football in high school.

e. A former volunteer firefighter.

f. The most compelling story of the 2011 NFL draft.

When his name was read at the draft, Watkins received a standing ovation from a group of his fellow firefighters from the West Kelowna Fire Department in British Columbia. Watkins joined the department as a volunteer at age 16:

When it was time to go to college, Watkins chose a California junior college to pursue his firefighting education. He hadn't played a down of organized football in his life. As you'd expect, it didn't take long for a 6-4, 260-pound guy with size 19 feet to get noticed on campus, and soon Watkins was on the football team, slowly acclimating himself to the game.

Related: Draft pundits weigh in on first round's winners/losers

First he made the Juco All-American team. Two years later he was an All-Big 12 selection at Baylor. Now he'll be tasked with keeping Michael Vick off the turf.

Judging by his past, Danny Watkins shouldn't have too much trouble in protection.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Video-Former-firefighter-drafted-by-Eagles-get?urn=nfl-wp1567

Elisabeth Röhm Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin Emma Heming

Tommie Harris bids Chicago adieu with wistful newspaper ad

Tommie Harris, the lovable Chicago Bears defensive tackle, was released by the team on Monday after seven years with the club. He'll be a free agent if such a thing exists this summer.

He said goodbye to the city of Chicago on Thursday with this newspaper ad:

That's a class move. In a situation like that, a guy can choose to be bitter and upset on his way out the door, or he can be thankful for his time there and look forward to the next opportunity.

Everyone's better off with the Tommie Harris approach. Some new city will be getting a solid dude.

Gracias, Chicago Breaking Sports.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Tommie-Harris-bids-Chicago-adieu-with-wistful-ne?urn=nfl-329239

Marisa Miller Marisa Tomei Marla Sokoloff Marley Shelton Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Boo this man! Goodell showered with jeers at NFL draft

Roger Goodell got a well-deserved Bronx cheer at the NFL draft.

The NFL commissioner was showered with boos each time he stepped to the podium in New York, a clear reaction by fans in attendance to the recent lockout. Goodell was forced to grin and bear it, meekly agreeing with fans' calls for football and wearing the fakest smile this side of Cam Newton:

If it wasn't happening to Goodell, that would have been painfully awkward. Since it's him, the guy who's trying to reverse-Robin Hood the NFL season, it was a delight, particularly after the commish weirdly interjected the Alabama tornadoes into his opening remarks. Even if the segue toward the tragic natural disasters weren't intended to quell the booing, it appeared to have that slimy effect.

Goodell would hear the sames boos and wear the same pained expression all night. Whenever a draftee came to the podium, the commissioner embraced each rookie with enormous bear hugs that lasted a beat too long, as if he needed some reassurance that somebody in Radio City Music Hall didn't hate him.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Boo-this-man-Goodell-showered-with-jeers-at-NFL?urn=nfl-wp1496

Melissa George Melissa Howard Melissa Joan Hart Melissa Rycroft Melissa Sagemiller

The Second Shutdown 40: #63 – Titus Young, WR, Boise State

With the 2010 NFL season in the books, the draft edging ever closer (and a lockout battle now headed to the courts) it's time to turn our eyes to the pre-draft evaluation process. We've already done scouting reports of the top 40 players on our board, and you can read all the details on the first Shutdown 40 here. For the second Shutdown 40, players 41-80, we have the advantage of combine performances and that much more evaluation material.

But we're always going mostly on game tape; the proper evaluation formula seems to be about 80 percent tape, 20 percent Senior Bowl/combine/Pro Day. If you see what you expect in drills, you go back to the tape to confirm. If what you see in drills surprises you in a positive or negative sense, you go back to the tape to catch where the anomalies may be.

We continue the second Shutdown 40 with Boise State wide receiver Titus Young. The three-time First-Team All-WAC offensive weapon averaged more than 15 yards per catch in his career for the Broncos, and he stretches the field as well as anyone in the NCAA. Young also saved some of his best performances for the best competition, eradicating concerns that he was running up his stats against weaker WAC competition ? he blew Oregon State's doors off in 2010 with five catches for catches for 136 yards and a touchdown, and five kick returns for 125 yards. Adding his six catches for 129 yards against Nevada's excellent defense, and it's clear that Young is the kind of player that could project as NFL elite over time in the right system. In 42 games for Boise State, Young caught 204 passes for 3,063 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also rushed 44 times for 341 yards and eight touchdowns, returned 55 kicks for 1,435 yards and two touchdowns, and took 11 punts back for 76 yards.

The value of speed burners like Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson, both as a receiver and returner, makes Young a very interesting potential pick. But does Young measure up to that level of explosive production? Let's turn on the tape…

Pros: Gets off the line against press coverage very quickly and can use stutter-steps to help in that regard. Has a great burst and acceleration in his first few steps; makes him a real problem for enemy defenses on receiver screens and other yards after catch opportunities. Gets outside the wide corner on deep routes, establishes outside position nicely, and is fast enough in a straight line against most defensive backs to ease up if need be on underthrows (which you get used to when your quarterback is Kellen Moore). �Will probably develop into an even better deep receiver if/when paired with an NFL quarterback with a better feel for long passes. As a return man, possesses great straight-line and cut speed, and a tremendous eye for gaps.

Cons: Not an especially physical receiver; at 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds, may not be rugged enough for slot play even though he's built more like that type of receiver. Inconsistent hands catcher who looks upfield before securing the ball. Height makes him a liability with jump balls; Young has to win the speed battle deep. Surprisingly tethered near the ground for such an athlete. Presents very little threat to bail and establish further yards after first contact. Can be distracted by physical corner play and doesn't always read deflections well. Doesn't get the separation you'd expect, though this may be a function of having to adjust to throws. Has a pronounced belief in his own ability that can get in his way at times.

Conclusion: It's tough to know what to think of Titus Young. In the abstract, it's easy to see that he has great functional football speed, and that he can get open in ways that you'd think would transfer to the NFL. What I don't know is whether his raw speed is something that will allow him to beat the smaller passing windows in the pros, and whether his body will hold up to the rigors of a more physical league. I'm willing to give him a pass on the speed/separation issue, because I've seen other fast receivers robbed of their ability to get as vertical as they really could by noodle-armed quarterbacks. In the end, I think he'll be a nice end/slot hybrid guy with some return value, but I'm not seeing a #1 receiver here. The DeSean Jackson comparison is handy, but I don't think it sticks … at least, not yet.

NFL Comparison: Deon Butler, Seattle Seahawks

More Second Shutdown 40
#41 ? Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia | #42 ? Muhammad Wilkerson, DT/DE, Temple | #43 ? Aaron Williams, DB, Texas | #44 ? Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech | #45 ? Rahim Moore, FS, UCLA | #46 ? Martez Wilson, ILB, Illinois | #47 ? D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas | #48 -- Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina | #49 ? Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy | #50 ? Jabbal Sheard, DE, Pitt | #51 ? Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa | #52 ? Brooks Reed, DE/OLB, Arizona | #53 ? Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky | #54 -- Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada | #55 ? Sam Acho, OLB/DE, Texas | #56 -- Andy Dalton, QB, TCU | #57 ? Davon House, CB, New Mexico State | #58 -- Jon Baldwin, WR, Pitt | #59 ? Marcus Cannon, OT, TCU | #60 ? Drake Nevis, DT, LSU | #61-- Quan Sturdivant, LB, North Carolina | #62 ? Orlando Franklin, OT, Miami

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-Second-Shutdown-40-63-Titus-Young-WR-B?urn=nfl-wp1089

Cat Power Catherine Bell Chandra West Charisma Carpenter Charli Baltimore

04/21 (Caps Win!) Quickie

Source: http://www.danshanoff.com/2011/04/0421-caps-win-quickie.html

Majandra Delfino Malia Jones Malin Akerman Mandy Moore Maria Bello

The Second Shutdown 40: #61 – Quan Sturdivant, LB, North Carolina

�

With the 2010 NFL season in the books, the draft edging ever closer (and a lockout battle now headed to the courts) it's time to turn our eyes to the pre-draft evaluation process. We've already done scouting reports of the top 40 players on our board, and you can read all the details on the first Shutdown 40 here. For the second Shutdown 40, players 41-80, we have the advantage of combine performances and that much more evaluation material.

Over the next few weeks, we'll also be adding Pro Day data when relevant. But we're always going mostly on game tape; the proper evaluation formula seems to be about 80 percent tape, 20 percent Senior Bowl/combine/Pro Day. If you see what you expect in drills, you go back to the tape to confirm. If what you see in drills surprises you in a positive or negative sense, you go back to the tape to catch where the anomalies may be.

We continue the second Shutdown 40 with North Carolina linebacker Quan Sturdivant. Stranded by the year-long suspensions of defensive teammates Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin and waylaid by a hamstring injury that cost him five games, Sturdivant nonetheless performed admirably, finishing third on the team in tackles with 61, including 8.5 for loss. In 2008, he led the nation in unassisted tackles with 87, and switched between outside and inside linebacker with aplomb in 2009. In 45 games with the Tar Heels, Sturdivant racked up an amazing 297 tackles (186 solo), 22 solo tackles for loss, six sacks, three interceptions, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles, seven quarterback hurries, and one blocked kick.

Sturdivant impressed as much with his ability to transcend injury and a marked decline in talent around him in 2010 as he did with anything before. Can he take that inner strength and make a way for himself as an NFL standout? Only the tape knows for sure…

Pros: Assignment-correct in tight gaps, but what makes Sturdivant stand out among inside linebackers is his ability to use his speed and break off the original lane and redirect if the play goes away from him (this is different than the misdirection issue we'll talk about soon). Former quarterback and safety with the speed and agility to drop back into coverage either at middle depth of from the line — could be an interesting zone blitz player because of this. Excellent understanding of zones and coverages; he will pass off one receiver and head to another assignment like a really big safety.

Good enough in mid-zone (8-15 yards) to force quarterbacks to throw away from him. Rangy in nickel sets; can cover a lot of ground laterally. Versatility makes him an every-down linebacker. Ferocious and aggressive when hitting the line, which can be good and bad. Not always as sure downhill as he is in space; will lose battles to play action and misdirection at times.

Cons: Sturdivant tends to get stiff and limited�when he has to redirect after firing off the ball; he's so intent on going 110 miles per hour that he could be prone to some spectacular whiffs when facing elite NFL running backs. At 6-foot 1 and 241 pounds, doesn't have the size or thumping tackling style to take on NFL offenses as a true middle linebacker; will tend to break down when trying to man up with bigger backs. Has the speed to rush the passer more (he wasn't asked to all that often at UNC), but he'd need to develop a wider array of hand moves and foot fakes before he'd be an effective NFL edge rusher.��

Conclusion: The best thing I can say about Quan Sturdivant is that even when he lost a lot of the line flexibility in front of him due to the Quinn and Austin suspensions, he maintained his game and adjusted to seeing more ballcarriers in his kitchen as opposed to when they were heading outside to get away from Austin. His adaptability would serve him well in a defense that needs a rebuild, but he'd be best off in a system that allows him to play inside nickel and outside 4-3. He could play specialist in a 3-4 ILB role if his relative lack of tackling power wasn't a problem, and he might see some time with the right team as a pass rusher in a five-man front. Like Peterson, Sturdivant has enough of a skill set to become the face of a linebacker corps — as long as he's put in the right place.

NFL Comparison: Mike Peterson, Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-2005)

More Second Shutdown 40
#41 — Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia | #42 — Muhammad Wilkerson, DT/DE, Temple | #43 — Aaron Williams, DB, Texas | #44 — Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech | #45 — Rahim Moore, FS, UCLA | #46 — Martez Wilson, ILB, Illinois | #47 — D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas | #48 -- Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina | #49 — Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy | #50 — Jabbal Sheard, DE, Pitt | #51 — Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa | #52 — Brooks Reed, DE/OLB, Arizona | #53 — Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky | #54 -- Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada | #55 — Sam Acho, OLB/DE, Texas | #56 -- Andy Dalton, QB, TCU | #57 — Davon House, CB, New Mexico State | #58 -- Jon Baldwin, WR, Pitt | #59 — Marcus Cannon, OT, TCU | #60 — Drake Nevis, DT, LSU

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-Second-Shutdown-40-61-Quan-Sturdivant-L?urn=nfl-wp1009

Pamela Anderson Paris Hilton Patricia Velásquez Paula Garcés Paulina Rubio

Monday 04/18 (NBA Playoffs) Quickie

Source: http://www.danshanoff.com/2011/04/monday-0418-nba-playoffs-quickie.html

Bridget Moynahan Britney Spears Brittany Daniel Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy

Tom Zbikowski would very much enjoy punching Chad Ochocinco

Baltimore Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski is a fighter. Not in the figurative "that guy has a lot of heart and won't give up" sense, but in the literal "that guy punches other people in the face for money" sense.

He has a fight coming up on March 12 in Las Vegas, taking on Richard Bryant on the undercard of the Miguel Cotto vs. Ricardo Mayorga pay-per-view.

Monday on the Dan Patrick Show, Dan asked Zbikowski which NFL player he'd most like to fight. Via Pro Football Talk:

“Ochocinco talks like he can box,” Zbikowski said.

“I’d let it go for about 45 seconds,” Zbikowski said. “I’d let him know what a real jab feels like.”

What say you, Ocho? Are you ready to throw down in fisticuffs? Tweet about it:

@tommyzbikowski you wana go nite nite, you want to box me, for 1 your feet are to slow and you've no hand speed to even be competitive #smh

Boxing is indeed part of Ochocinco's workout routine, so he's not a complete stranger to the boxing ring. He's also very experienced in pretending like he wants to fight people. Shawne Merriman, Solomon Wilcots and Anderson Silva to name a few.

Zbikowski has responded to the response:

Dear Ocho Cinco (I won't call you Johnson cause you only get one name change in my book), thanks for following my career...You and me at M&T Bank Stadium, charity four-round boxing match. You wear Orange and Black and I will wear Purple and black. If we do it in May, that should give you enough time to get ready...You game?

It sounds wonderful, but odds on this actually happening are about 7,000,000-to-1. I guess the chances are improved, though, if a lockout happens and players no longer have to worry about following any league or team rules.

Still, I'd think the most likely thing is for the talk to continue, and for the fight to never, ever even come close to happening.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Tom-Zbikowski-would-very-much-enjoy-punching-Cha?urn=nfl-330825

Kelly Carlson Kelly Clarkson Kelly Hu Kelly Monaco Kelly Ripa

Thirty-two reasons you need to watch the NFL draft

1) See Roger Goodell get booed. He will, and absolutely should, be booed like he's Michael Irvin standing on top of the Liberty Bell urinating on the Rocky DVD box set. Of course, it will be completely pointless, because as long as you're attending or watching the draft, you're doing exactly what Roger Goodell wants you to do.

2) Will any player do anything weird in defiance of the commissioner, league, or lockout? I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but I hope Cam Newton takes his new hat from the commissioner and yells in his face, "Thanks, DEVIL."

3) Speaking of Cam Newton, he's a fascinating prospect. Physically, he's prototypical and then some. Mentally, there are questions. Add this to the importance of quarterbacks in today's game and the number of teams with a need at the position, and he's a fascinating guy to watch.

4) The NHL is taking the night off. There's still a lot of hockey left to be played. Be honest. You could use a little break.

5) The first round looks like it's going to be a festival of quarterbacks. This, despite the fact that a lot of these quarterbacks are getting third and fourth-round "grades" from some analysts. I love this heightened emphasis on quarterbacks. And it's even better for teams who already have a good one and can sit back and watch their rivals burn first-round picks on quarterback reaches.

6) These might be the last days to enjoy NFL action before Roger Goodell's nightmare scenario comes to fruition, and the league will be but a barren, desolate landscape of despair, where the dry, crusty earth is roamed only by cockroaches, ribs-exposed deer that haven't eaten in weeks, and human beings willing to engage in the dark practice of cannibalism.

7) On the NFL Network, Chris Berman won't be ruining everything by tipping off picks.

8) Few things in the world are as ridiculous as this enormous media spectacle. The hype and promotion of the draft is flat-out absurd to begin with, but this year it gets even more ridiculous when you consider that the NFL is in the middle of a major labor crisis, has a million more important things to worry about, and is currently antagonizing fans like a lonely message board troll. All that's going on, and we're still doing this. It feels a little like the band continuing to play while the Titanic went down.

9) We'll be liveblogging!

10) Your opinion, though largely uninformed, is pretty much as valid as anyone else's. Guys who have spent their whole lives studying the draft, analysts and front office people alike, still have a pretty low rate of success at predicting NFL-worthiness. You can read a couple of Mel Kiper columns and do just as well as anyone else.

11) It's about the only way you can consume the NFL right now without needing a lawyer to interpret things for you.

12) Someone's inevitable green room slide. Here's how that will go: Everyone will feel terrible for the guy, like they're watching a man take his last walk to an electric chair. Eventually, he will get drafted, and which point he will be praised for his courage and poise in how he "handled things."

13) Is it time to look for replacements for Peyton Manning or Tom Brady? It seems like a slightly premature worry to me, but some young man could end up getting a great mentor and enormous shoes to fill.

14) Robert Quinn didn't play football last year, was banned from college football for life, had a tumor in his head, and will probably go in the top 10. That's a pretty good story.

15) This year, there will be none of that "we have the guy signed before we draft him" nonsense. It seems like everyone thinks Cam Newton is going first overall, but no one could swear to it. Some uncertainty at the top is nice.

16) Maybe your team will draft Patrick Peterson instead of a quarterback they'll later regret, and that will make you happy forever.

17) You're going to want to record "The Office" anyway. It's a TV event. Let it have a semi-permanent space on your DVR, watch the draft as it happens, then watch "The Office" later.

18) The draft is pretty much tailor-made for following along on Twitter.

19) Matt Millen might say something about Detroit's draft pick, giving you a perfectly legitimate reason to hurl a railroad spike at your television.

20) If you were so inclined, you could pull off a "Huge, Ridiculous Media Spectacle" doubleheader by watching the entire first round, and then staying up for this Royal Wedding nonsense.

21) Players' moms are going to be happy. It's nice to see moms happy.

22) If you want, you can feel superior when everyone's draft predictions go completely awry, which, of course, they will.� Don't let the fact that no one on earth could accurately predict this nonsense deter you.

23) NFL Draft Prop Bets. Bet on whether or not Mr. Irrelevant will be an offensive or defensive player. Bet on Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert going first. Bet on the number of SEC players taken in the first round.

24) Wildly unhelpful highlights. This might be my favorite thing about the draft. A defensive end gets drafted, and then ESPN shows a highlight of the guy running directly to the quarterback, unblocked, and destroying the guy. Or they show a running back going through a huge hole, where no elusiveness, power or vision is necessary at all. Because that's what makes these guys good prospects ? how they perform when no one is even attempting to stop them. That happens so often in the NFL.

25) It'll be nice to see the ex-players in Round 2. Barry Sanders, Willie Roaf, Natrone Means, and the great Charles Haley. Hopefully, one of these gentlemen has it in them to do something colorful, crazy or controversial. The smart money is on Haley.

26) It will probably be this week's best draft, unless you happen to love John Cena.

27) The draft comes before free agency this year, so if your team doesn't address a need, you can cling to some hope that they'll eventually get to sign someone competent.

28) I'm expecting Thursday night to kick off a new Bengals era. With their first pick, it seems pretty likely that they'll draft either Carson Palmer's replacement or Chad Ochocinco's replacement.

29) The Raiders don't have a first-round pick, so that somewhat limits what kind of craziness they can pull. You never know, though. Maybe they'll trade into the first round and try to take a guy who was taken four picks ago. Or maybe they'll sit pat in the second round and draft a dead guy or something.

30) Can we unite the Pouncey brothers in Pittsburgh? And if it happens, how will Chris Berman tip it off? Will he go with a pun on "pounce"? Or will it be something brotherly? Can he squeeze both into one sentence?

31) Maybe the biggest favor the draft does for us is that it ends draft speculation, 95�percent of which appears to be completely made-up.

32) It could be a uniting experience for the world's gingers. Gather, people with fiery manes, and rally behind Andy Dalton as he battles against oppression.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Thirty-two-reasons-you-need-to-watch-the-NFL-dra?urn=nfl-wp1335

Lauren Conrad Lauren German LeAnn Rimes Leeann Tweeden Leelee Sobieski

Someone tried to start a ‘Brett Favre to the Panthers’ rumor

Let me check the calendar here. Late March? Yeah, that seems about right for a Brett Favre comeback rumor. With the league and players conspiring to take away anything else that might be fun or interesting, honestly, I'm surprised it's taken this long.

Here it is, though. Charley Walters, a columnist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, worked this into a column over the weekend:

Don't discount the possibility of Brett Favre, who turns 42 in October, returning next season, but not with the Vikings. Maybe Carolina.

Sweet! Also, I'd like to add that you shouldn't discount the possibility of Jon Kitna becoming the first pregnant man to ever start a game at quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars. I'm not saying it's going to happen, I'm just saying, if I were you, I wouldn't discount that possibility.

Anyway, Darin Gantt, the Panthers beat reporter for heraldonline.com, ran this by the Panthers.

In a word (OK, three words), that's not happening. Ran it up the flagpole early this morning, and the response was swift and sure.

Maybe somewhere. But not here.

Well, that was fun while it lasted. No word yet on Kitna's possible attempt to conceive.

Given how this offseason is shaping up, I'm not sure I wouldn't welcome another round of Brett Favre unretirement rumors. What have we got to lose? After the disastrous downward spiral of Favre's last few months in the league, what might happen next? How do you top a 6-10 season with a sub-70 quarterback rating and a penis-picture-texting scandal?

I don't know, but I say we give him a chance to try. Let's get this train wreck rollin'.

Gracias, Cat Scratch Reader.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Someone-tried-to-start-a-Brett-Favre-to-the-Pan?urn=nfl-wp610

Radha Mitchell Raquel Alessi Rebecca Mader Rebecca Romijn Reese Witherspoon

04/21 (Caps Win!) Quickie

Source: http://www.danshanoff.com/2011/04/0421-caps-win-quickie.html

Scarlett Johansson Selita Ebanks Shakara Ledard Shakira Shana Hiatt

Ron Artest: Lakers Forward Wins Citizenship Award

Basketball Journalists Recognize LA Lakers F Ron Artest's Dedication to Community as Stunning Image Reversal Continues

Ron Artest was awarded 2010-11 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award today, in recognition of his efforts to raise awareness and funds for mental-health issues.

The award, which is given by a panel of 150 basketball writers nationwide, continues an amazing evolution of Artest's public image that truly began when he joined the Lakers.

Just a few years ago, when one thought of Ron Artest's activities off the court, images came to mind of splattered beer and flying fists in the stands at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Even for years after "The Malice at the Palace" and Artest's subsequent year-ending suspension, he was known as an erratic, undependable player who was equally focused on promoting his nascent record label as pursuing an NBA championship.

Since joining the Lakers, that's all changed. As a player, Artest is now known for sacrificing money and stats to try to fit in with an established team as a supporting player.

As a person, he is now known for his joyous, unfiltered press conference following the Lakers' triumph in last year's NBA Finals, in which he thanked his psychiatrist and displayed a genuine enthusiasm that is uncommon in today's professional athletes.

Today, the transformation seems complete, as it's not even surprising to learn that Ron Artest has won an award for his good deeds off the court.

Here is Artest's reaction to the award, via the Los Angeles Times:

"I'm not going to tell you there it's up there with the NBA championship, but it's definitely over the Defensive Player of the Year award that I got," said Artest, who won that honor for the 2003-04 season. "It's important because there are kids here in America who aren't doing well. I want to see those kids have an opportunity to succeed, whether they're on drugs, are abused or have a lack of confidence, bullied, cyber bullied or have family issues. I'm trying to help out and bring awareness."

 

For more on the Lakers supporting players who must step up in their series with the New Orleans Hornets, click here.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/679388-nba-playoffs-2011-tuesdays-schedule-updates-injury-reports-analysis/entry/71870-ron-artest-lakers-forward-wins-citizenship-award

Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi Ana Paula Lemes

Draft Masters Podcast #1: Chad Reuter, NFLDraftScout.com

�

As the draft approaches, we thought it would be a good idea to get the best tape evaluation guys on the phone, one by one, and talk to them about where they stand on all the primary subjects having to do with this year's draft. Thus, the idea for the Draft Masters podcasts was born. We'll have some big names for you in the next week, but we begin with a good friend and trusted colleague in Chad Reuter from NFLDraftScout.com.

Over the last few years, the work done by the good folks at NFLDS has become as close to the industry standard as can be in such an analyst-filled profession as the draft projection game. With exhaustive news reports and scouting profiles that go beyond comprehensive, NFLDS has done the official draft-eligible profiles for NFL.com for several years, and the company's recent content deal with CBS means that still more people will benefit from that knowledge. Chad is one of the primary catalysts in that process. Chad has been studying the NFL Draft for more than a decade, working as a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com since June 2007. He currently lives in Denver with his wife, Heidi.

In this opening podcast, we go through the list of quarterbacks and who actually stands out, the running backs in later rounds who could surprise, the names of some surprising sleepers, and what the "deepest defensive line draft class we've ever seen" really means when it comes to NFL personnel.

Click the link below to listen, or right-click to save the audio file to your computer:

Draft Masters Podcast #1: Chad Reuter, NFLDraftScout.com

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Draft-Masters-Podcast-1-Chad-Reuter-NFLDraftS?urn=nfl-wp1046

Shannyn Sossamon Shiri Appleby Sienna Guillory Sienna Miller Simone Mütherthies

2011 Tourney: Day 1 Live Chat

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VegasWatch/~3/m5ImtchpEWw/2011-tourney-day-1-live-chat.html

Moon Bloodgood Mýa Nadine Velazquez Naomi Watts Natalie Imbruglia

Now the NFL wants HGH blood testing? Uh-oh

Arguing over who gets the bigger cut of $9 billion has already proved to be too much for the owners and players to handle. Adding another, more complicated negotiating point to the process seems like a terrible, terrible idea if you'd like to see professional football in 2010.

It seems that's going to happen, though. Tell us about it, Alex Marvez:

As first reported by FOXSports.com, the NFL is insisting upon HGH testing as part of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with its players. The NFLPA hasn't taken a definitive stance on HGH testing other than saying it was subject to negotiation as part of a new CBA.

Now, I know a lot of you are concerned about cheating in sports, but this one's not as simple as, "Hey, let's find the cheaters and get them out of our noble game, because we believe in fairness and justice!"

Ask yourself this: If you were applying for a job, how would you feel if your employer asked for a few vials of your blood first?

There's a lot more you can find out from a fellow's blood than just whether or not he's sucking down HGH lollipops. Is it also alright for the NFL to check your cholesterol? Can they check for STDs? Can they see what other legal, necessary prescriptions you're on? Can they check other genetic factors they might feel will shorten a guy's career or long-term effectiveness?

And if you were a player, would you trust the NFL to do the right thing with your blood? It's not like the league has a long history of proving that they'll always do the right thing by players.

Are we even sure that we're philosophically opposed to HGH use? I'm opposed to cheating, and I'm all about a level playing field. In this particular case, though, where we're talking about a profession that brings total destruction to the body over time, and if HGH can help a man heal faster or keep him walking in his 50s, shouldn't we at least consider that maybe it's worth the trade-off?

It's a complicated issue, and not likely one that would find a quick and easy resolution. That's not good news for the return of football in the immediate future?

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Now-the-NFL-wants-HGH-blood-testing-Uh-oh?urn=nfl-wp606

Eva Mendes Evangeline Lilly Eve Fergie Foxy Brown

Raiders WR Louis Murphy arrested with unprescribed Viagra

Louis Murphy was pulled over early on Sunday morning for playing his music too loud, and, according to police, refused to show his ID. An officer then attempted to handcuff him, and again, according to police, Murphy refused to cooperate.

None of this, however, is the interesting part of the story. What happened then, Gainesville Sun?

Harrison said Murphy consented to a search of his vehicle, where officers found a "non-labeled prescription bottle containing 11 individual pills later identified as Viagra." Murphy could not provide a prescription for it and allegedly told the officer that he had peeled the label off of the bottle "because he did not want his girlfriend to know he had a prescription for it."

I'm going to go ahead and guess that he didn't want the entire Internet to know about it, either, but here we are.

That's a pretty rough night. A guy gets pulled over for the relatively harmless infraction of loud music, and the story ends with the whole world given an unflattering glimpse of his sex life. Also, they probably took his Viagra.

About the only thing that would be worse for Murphy is if this happened in the middle of one of those four-hour spells you hear so much about.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Raiders-WR-Louis-Murphy-arrested-with-unprescrib?urn=nfl-wp767

Lisa Marie Lisa Snowdon Liz Phair Lokelani McMichael Lori Heuring

'Dancing With the Stars' Week Six Performance Recap: Another Pro Stumbles

Filed under: Dancing With The Stars, Recaps

Get 'em while they're hot ... and cheesy.

Yes, it was Guilty Pleasures Night on 'Dancing With the Stars,' featuring house band Hanson and each of the seven remaining contestants grooving to songs people are embarrassed to sing along to in public. (Well, some of us, anyway.)

With the leaderboard topper changing from week to week, Monday night's show proved it's time to separate the wheat from the chaff. And, indeed, the judges gave out their first perfect 10s of the season. But for one couple, the night was marred by catastrophe ... and it wasn't Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Source: http://www.tvsquad.com/2011/04/26/dancing-with-the-stars-week-six-performances-recap/

Tara Conner Tara Reed Tara Reid Taryn Manning Tatiana Zavialova

Kickoffs moved from the 30 to 35: Good or bad for the game?

Update: NFL owners voted Tuesday to move kickoffs to the 35-yard-line, but left touchbacks remaining at the 20.

The NFL's competition committee is mulling over the idea of moving kickoffs from the 30-yard line back to the 35, where they were in 1994. It also proposes bringing touchbacks up to the 25.

Seventeen years ago, the NFL made that change because it wanted fewer touchbacks, more returns, and in theory, more excitement. Today, the notion is that it wants more touchbacks, fewer returns, and in theory, fewer injuries.

Two things come immediately to mind. First, it's hard to take anyone seriously when they insist that player safety is a priority while the league still wants an 18-game regular season.

Secondly, if you can look past the 18-game hypocrisy, the question of where we draw the line between protecting players and juicing up the game is an interesting one.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick has his own thoughts on the matter and clearly isn't for it:

"It's a pretty complicated proposal," Belichick said. "I don't like the idea of eliminating the kickoff from the game. I think it's one of the most exciting plays in football. It looks like the competition committee is trying to eliminate that play. I don't know if that's really good for the game."

If this proposal were to pass, essentially what they're saying is that they're willing to� sacrifice some excitement, some of what makes the game appealing to consumers, in exchange for fewer broken body parts. If that starts with kickoffs, where does it end? Sure, more touchbacks might give us fewer injuries, but so would a lot of things. Would this be the start of a trend that ends with players being ruled down when an opponent asks them politely to stop running?

Where is that line? What rule change is too far? At what point in the pursuit of safety is the nature of the game fundamentally altered?

My short answer: Not here. I remember when the change was made in 1994, and to tell you the truth, I don't remember any change at all in how much I enjoyed football games between '93 and '94. It happened, people adjusted, and football was pretty much the same.

I'm not saying it's inconsequential. Kick return studs like Devin Hester would indeed lose some of their potency (perhaps not coincidentally, the Bears are against the change), but it's not the kind of thing that's going to stop anyone from watching football. It's not that big of a change.

Devin Hester's talented enough that, even if he gets fewer chances to break off a touchdown return, he's still going to find a way to help make football awesome. As fans, we're not going to lose much here.

Follow Yahoo! Sports on Facebook and be the first to know about the most interesting stories of the day.

Other popular Yahoo! Sports stories:
? The heaviest person ever to finish a marathon
? Hours before biggest fight, UFC star fights crime
? Elin one-ups Tiger with pricey mansion

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Kickoffs-moved-from-the-30-to-35-Good-or-bad-fo?urn=nfl-wp425

Samaire Armstrong Samantha Mathis Samantha Morton Samantha Mumba Sanaa Lathan

Ben Roethlisberger does something positive in a bathroom

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is utilizing the old, but highly effective "put a reminder of something you need to overcome on your mirror" motivation technique from Rocky IV.

Roethlisberger grabbed the nameplate from his Super Bowl XLV locker -- a game his team lost to the Green Bay Packers -- and put it on the mirror in his bathroom. Ben's heart's on fire to get back to the Super Bowl, and to again be the winner.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

"The day I got back, I took my nameplate from my locker -- 'Ben Roethlisberger, Super Bowl XLV' -- and it's sitting underneath my mirror in my bathroom. I want to see that every day. It hurts a lot.

"To see that every day is just motivation for me to work out, to bust my butt to not let it happen again because I want to be a champion. And, right now, I'm not a champion."

[...]

"The first loser, and that kills me. Until I can get back to that point, I want to remember the pain, and it's going to burn in me [See? Heart's on fire -- Ed.] until we can get back and win one. If it never happens, I'll be killed, but I'm going to do my best to get back there."

Roethlisberger also says that his ultimate goal is to win more Super Bowls than any other quarterback in NFL history. �Right now, he's got two rings. The gold standard is four, shared by Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana. Tom Brady and Troy Aikman are also ahead of Roethlisberger with three each.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Ben-Roethlisberger-does-something-positive-in-a-?urn=nfl-wp989

Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti

The Shutdown Corner Podcast: Antitrust attorney D. Bruce Hoffman

We're going in a slightly different direction with today's podcast. With the Brady v. NFL antitrust lawsuit opening in Minnesota district court today, we thought it was time to talk with someone who could navigate the weightier legal issues of the case in a much more comprehensive fashion than the collection of footballheads whose work you usually read here.

To that end, we called on D. Bruce Hoffman, the head of the Global Competition practice at the prestigious Hunton & Williams firm. Mr. Hoffman has represented numerous major corporations in consumer protection and antitrust cases, and he was kind enough to walk us through what antitrust really means, and what it has to do with whether we'll actually be able to enjoy a football season in 2011.

Among the topics covered:

-- The real meaning of antitrust, and what it means to sports and sports fans;

-- How the American Needle ruling relates to this case;

-- What the players need to do to prove "Irreparable financial harm";

-- Whether the owners have a legitimate case when they claim that the NFLPA's decertification was a sham;

-- What the actual process in the courtroom will look like, and what could happen today; and

-- What the long-term ramifications of today's statements and rulings could be. Could the lockout actually be lifted today?

If you have an interest in the legal details of the NFL's current labor war (and yes, we understand that some of you do not), this is an essential 30-minute podcast that will give you a better sense of what's really going on (and what will happen down the road) in an overall perspective.

The Shutdown Corner Podcast: D. Bruce Hoffman (.mp3; 26.6 MB; 29:05)

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-Shutdown-Corner-Podcast-Antitrust-attorney-?urn=nfl-wp797

Lorri Bagley Lucy Liu Luján Fernández Magdalena Wróbel Maggie Grace

2011 schedule released amidst ongoing labor strife

Are you excited for the release of the 2011 NFL schedule? Many people aren't, and it's hard to blame them — at the same time the league is locking the players out and putting the game's future in peril, and the players provide equally unsympathetic targets to most fans, it's tough to get geared up about games that might not even happen, Still, we're of the "any port in a storm" school of thought, which means that even the thought of games happening and matchups to discuss is interesting enough to discuss. So, at the risk of excluding reality for a few minutes, here are some of the more intriguing games that … uh … may or may not actually occur in the 2010 season.

(Note: You can view the entire schedule here)

Thursday, September 8 —Saints at Packers

The last two Super Bowl champions face off in what should be a very cool matchup … at least, we hope it is. Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees trying to carve up two of the league's more creative defenses … well, that would be a treat.

The rest of week 1 is as notable for what it doesn't' feature — a Giants-Jets game on Sunday, September 11. Nope. The Giants travel to Washington D.C. for a Sunday afternoon game, and the Jets host the Cowboys on the Sunday night opener.

Sunday, September 18 — Eagles at Falcons

Vick Bowl!

Sunday, September 25 — Steelers at Colts

A great SNF matchup between the teams that have represented the AFC in five of the last six Super Bowls.

Sunday, October 2 — Jets at Ravens

Between Rex Ryan, Bart Scott, and Ray Lewis, this should be a quote festival. Of course, Rex used to run the Ravens' defense to perfection.

Sunday, October 9 — Jets at Patriots

The Pats get a shot at revenge against the team that shocked them out of their Super Bowl run.

Sunday October 16 — Saints at Buccaneers

The Saints held their heads up last season, but the Bucs came out of nowhere as one of the NFL's surprise teams. This will be their first major test of the young season.

Sunday, October 23 — Colts at Saints

Bucs-Bears at Wembley Stadium is always a big story, but rarely a great game. We'll take this Super Bowl rematch from two seasons ago.

Sunday, October 30 — Patriots at Steelers

At some point, if the Pats want to break out of a Lombardi Trophy slump that goes back a number of years, they're going to have to play smashmouth away from home. What better place?

Sunday, November 6 — Ravens at Steelers

Giants-Pats provides a Super Bowl XLII rematch, but Steelers-Ravens has become the NFL's best rivalry, and it's one we always look forward to.

Thursday, November 10 — Raiders at Chargers

What's the big deal here? Well, according to the reports, this is the Thursday in which all our long national nightmares are over — a TNF broadcast without Matt Millen, Joe Theismann, or Bryant Gumbel. Mike Mayock instead? Yes, there was much rejoicing.

Sunday, November 20 — Eagles at Giants

Note to New York's special teams coach: Do not punt to DeSean Jackson late in the game. We're not saying, we're just saying…

Thursday, November 24 — Packers at Lions, Dolphins at Cowboys, 49ers at Ravens

Mmmmm. Pass the gravy!

Sunday, December 4 — Colts at Patriots

The old chestnut is back, and it still has a lot of meaning. Amazing, when you think about it.

Sunday, December 11 — Bears at Broncos

If Jay Cutler is ever to get over that case of sensy-poo and rabbit ears, now would be the time, as he heads back to the place of his first NFL success.

Sunday, December 18 — Seahawks at Bears

The Seahawks have slipped into the playoffs a few times in the last few years, and the Bears have squashed their last two opportunities. Is it time for revenge?

Sunday, December 25 — Bears at Packers

Most of the games are on Saturday of this week, but what's better than NFL tradition on Christmas night?

Sunday, January 1 — Buccaneers at Falcons

If things go the way they did last year, this might be a fight for a division title.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/2011-schedule-released-amidst-ongoing-labor-stri?urn=nfl-wp1042

Thora Birch Tila Tequila Tina Fey Tricia Helfer Tricia Vessey

'30 Rock' 100th Episode Recap

Filed under: Reality-Free, Recaps

['30 Rock' - '100th Episode']

'30 Rock''s little show-within-a-show is reaching 100 episodes. So's the show about a show, and I've gotta say that I am absolutely exhausted after sitting through that hour of television. Exhausted in a good way.

When '30 Rock' is firing on all cylinders (like on last night's show), it does fast-paced nonsense and throwaway gags at an 'Airplane'-like pace. Add an actual story that made sense, liberally sprinkled with flashbacks and guest stars recalling the past five years, and this is one of the most satisfying 100th episode celebrations of a series I've ever seen.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Source: http://www.tvsquad.com/2011/04/22/30-rock-100th-episode-recap/

Jessica Paré Jessica Simpson Jessica White Jill Arrington Jill Wagner