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 a tiny bit of value for you.
We’ll see how it goes. Let’s get to it.
J
Gronkowski and Big Papi singing a love song in Spanish about Iced Coffee is the definition of Random Shots.
Too easy.
Thanks to Footballguy Brian Sumner for that one.
This seemed to go over pretty well last week with everyone but the Bud Light executives so I'll try another round.
Bud Light is the Official Beer Sponsor of the NFL. You know this.
Here's the Bud Light world they'd like to portray.
Here's the Bud Light world we live in.
Temperature at kickoff was 72 degrees Thursday night.
And Kirk Cousins had the Handwarmer out...
Steve Smith, you're ridiculous.
When you have enough money to decorate your house however you like and your nickname is "Silverback" this is what you get.
Yes. Yes. A thousand times Yes. Rock on, Trent Williams.
Cause:
Effect:
That leads to
And
Tyler Eifert owners: Yes, the league does really hate you.
Eifert's reaction to this not being a touchdown was appropriate.
Ridiculous the league can't get this rule right.
Note to Tony Siragusa.
The shoes were cool.
But on your pants, there's a tag somehwere on them with two numbers. The first number is your waist size. The second number is your inseam. For next week, pick a pair of pants where the second number is about 6 less than than whatever it says on this pair.
This week's Quarterback Running Free In The Open Field goes to Matt Ryan and Andy Dalton.
With no sound or motion, it's almost peaceful. But that's not reality for Ryan and Dalton.
If I owned an NFL team, I'd ask my franchise quarterback to always wear a knee brace on his forward leg. For reasons just like this. No piece of protective gear handles everything. But I have to think it would've helped.
As I did research on this, I found I wasn't alone. Robert Kraft asks Tom Brady to do the same thing.
And while I was at it, I'd wear shin guards like Cam Newton too.
Dallas safety J.J. Wilcox felt better two seconds before this picture than he did two seconds after...
Bears coach John Fox revealed the secret to winning Football.
Morris Claiborne likes three chin strap buckles.
Aaron Rodgers likes one.
Why do I notice? Or care?
Julio Jones does it all.
I'd been a little confused on what to think about Chip Kelly.
Thankfully Stephan A. Smith saved the day.
One of the best stories this year is the relationship Panthers QB Cam Newton has built with Braylon Beam, a six year old battling cancer.
This summer, Beam brought down the house with a Dance Off at mid field breaking out Newton's SuperMan move.
He then gave Newton some passing tips.
Sunday, he was back on the field. That's pretty special there. Rock on Braylon Beam.
God Bless Packers Fans.
Jon Gruden is always looking for more info. Here he checks Randall Cobb's pulse in the bus while pretending to shake hands.
There's keeping your head in the game while on the sidelines. And then there's Drew Brees keeping your head in the game while on the sidelines.
First he confirmed the play call.
Then he broke the huddle as the guys on the field broke their huddle.
Then licked his fingers as he normally does before the ball was snapped.
That's awesome.
I'd love to talk with this Green Bay fan and see where he's coming from.
Oakland transplant?
KISS fan?
Mardi Gras guy?
Same thing for this Titan fan.
I'd love to know how this happened.
"Dude, you know what would be rad for the game? A PINEAPPLE"
A.J. Green is all business. Aditi Kinkhabwala seems like an energetic and smiling type person. Green replied to most every question with this look and a “Still got a lot of work to do.” position.
At one point, Kinkhabwalasaid, “You haven’t smiled once.”
Green didn’t flinch and said, “Another day. Another day. Stay level. Let the game come to you. I just go out there and play.”
Focused.
Cam Newton is winning at every level.
Nice followup to this one you'll remember from last year's Random Shots.
Love that guy.
And I love Jerry Jones too. As someone who writes a column like this, Jones is what you call a "target rich environment". But I'd love him anyways. One of my favorite angles of the Jerry Jones Schtick is the "I'm pretty busy here but yeah, I guess have time for an interview".
But you know if the reporter wasn't there waiting for him outside the locker room, Jerry'd be all...
Love those Dolphins. Poor Guy.
And is that Pete Carroll's sister sitting behind her?
God Bless Florida.
That's pretty cool. I hope Griffin gets a shot again in the league.
Dallas made some news this summer implementing Virtual Reality technology to help prepare their quarterbacks. We'll get to see how that's paying off in the next few weeks. Here's new Dallas quarterback Brandon Weeden preparing with the headset. Things move pretty fast around here..
Steelers WR Antonio Brown is a boss on and off the field.
Brandon Marshall said this was the worst play in NFL History.
Easy Brandon. Forget NFL History. If the past is any indication of the future, that's probably not the worst play the Jets will make this season.
Another "Picture Tells The Story". Jay Gruden Sunday.
That's the face you make when your opponent's starting running back blocks your punt...
I love word pictures.
Here's a great one for Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr
After a Week 1 surprise, the 49ers seem to be returning to who we thought they were.
Overheard at the White House this week.
Thanks to my Buddy David Dodds for those.
Oh those tricky Seahawks. The old "guy on the right fake catching the punt while the guy on the left actually fields the ball. Love this one.
Rookie respect.
Kansas City defensive back Marcus Peters helped James Jones with his jersey Monday night.
Thanks to Footballguy Scott Overbey for that one.
Another "I don't get mocking the other guy's move" thing from Monday. Jamaal Charles scored and did the Discount Double Check.
Clearly, Rodgers was shaken.
When asked about it, he siad, "State Farm appreciates it."
i've no idea how this is below the surface but I always like to see reconciliation. Nice moment from the Buffalo - Miami game Sunday.
More love for Packers fans. Hello, Coach.
Last one on Cam Newton. This barely missed the cutoff date for last week's column but I couldn't let it slide. The Spanish broadcast for Newton's touchdown flip is the best thing you'll hear today. Seriously.
Pittsburgh RB Le'Veon Bell looked happy to be back on the field hurdling players.
This has been Bell's game for a while dating back to his Michigan State days.
Just Warren Buffet rocking a Ndamukong Suh jersey. With shoulder pads.
Somtimes this thing just writes itself.
Facing Aaron Rodgers can feel like being stabbed in the neck. Rodgers is just rubbing it in...
And as if 49er fans needed reminding...
Oh Andy...
Just Steve Young doing Ray Lewis's intro dance...
I'm with these guys. Whatever play Atlanta ran on first down there, I'd never run that one again.
I bet Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman saw Michael Irvin Sunday on television and thought, "I've seen that face before". And probably that hat too...
Bob Kraft and Tom Brady kiss before games.
Ok, I kind of get the grandfatherly peck on the cheek thing.
I'm not as sure about the interlocking fingers.
With that said, I think I should have drafted more Patriots...
Wrapping this one with a video I talked about last season. But it's that good. Owen and Haatchi is an incredible story about a boy with a rare disability connecting with a very unique dog. It's twelve minutes long but trust me, it's that good.
That'll do it for this week, Folks. Thanks to Footballguys Doug Drinen, Clayton Gray, Keith Overton, David Dodds, Brian Sumner, Nigel Rhodes and Scott Overbey 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.
J