NFL

Jaws Pulled From MNF Coverage

February 15, 2012

There’s something fishy about one of ESPN’s top headlines tonight: “Tirico, Gruden duo to call MNF games in 2012.” And that fishiness revolves around an NFL analyst nicknamed “Jaws,” who’s name was mysteriously missing from the above headline — which should have read, “Jaws dropped from MNF team.” That’s right NFL fans, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski has been knocked out of the ESPN booth on Monday Night Football in 2012. Instead, it’ll only be Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden in the booth,...

Tag You’re It: DeSean Jackson, Mario Williams, Brees, Forte and Welker

February 14, 2012

Not sure why this is considered breaking news on ESPN, because most Philadelphia Eagles fans figured this was the move the franchise would make to help save face and trade value of its star receiver, but the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting the Eagles are set to franchise wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

Jackson had a down year in 2011 thanks to a holdout and contract dispute, not to mention being deactivated for a game for disciplinary reasons (missing a special teams meeting), but former Cal star...

Moss, Not Favre, Calling it a Comeback

February 14, 2012

Good news: It’s been one year since Brett Favre officially filed his retirement papers with the NFL, and he’s still retired and doesn’t appear interested in another comeback.

Bad news: His former Vikings teammate Randy Moss is already over retirement and plotting his return in 2012.

That’s right, the Pro Bowl and likely Hall of Fame wide receiver is ready to return to pro football, according to his video chat on UStream on Monday, also his 35th birthday.

“I wanna play football,” Moss said. “Your boy is...

SNL Clowns Clint Eastwood-Chrysler Super Bowl Commercial

February 12, 2012

The great part about watching the Super Bowl at the Las Vegas Hilton’s LVH Theater was that you got to see the reaction of thousands of die-hard football fans to not only the game but the halftime show and commercials. It was interesting to get the pulse of thousands during the game rather than just a dozen or so like-minded friends and family at the house. To my surprise (maybe it’s the cynical sportswriter in me), one of the most popular commercials among the LVH...

An Apology to Terrell Owens

February 12, 2012

One thing that irks me about public figures, whether they're athletes or politicians, is when they blame the media for their downfall.

Newt Gingrich, for example, blaming the media for his marital infidelities during last month's Republican presidential debate.

And it appears Terrell Owens likes him some Republican primaries, because the former Pro Bowl receiver is playing the same card now that he's unable to work his way back into the NFL.

Jeremy Lin = Tim Tebow

February 11, 2012

Jeremy Lin is the NBA’s Tim Tebow.

He’s playing – and winning – in the league against all odds.

The undrafted New York Knicks guard has turned his team’s season around despite not being “as gifted” as the million-dollar athletes that surround him.

He’s a hustler. He’s a scrapper. He’s a winner.

All he does in Lin baby! And he’s all anyone in his sport can talk about right now after scoring a New York Knicks’ season-high 38 points in a 92-85 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers...

EXCLUSIVE: Charles Barkley Loses $100,000 on Super Bowl

February 9, 2012

LAS VEGAS – The Super Bowl loss by the New England Patriots cost NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley $100,000, BallHyped first reported on Sunday. Barkley, who was in Las Vegas for the UFC fight and to also place his bet on the Patriots-Giants game, told us early Sunday at Mandalay Bay that he was letting it ride on New England because of an old friend. “I put $100,000 on the Patriots,” he said, “because of Bill Belichick.” So much for that idea. The underdog New...

Chris Collinsworth is great because the players hate him

February 9, 2012

Well, now I’m convinced: Chris Collinsworth is a great broadcaster. I mean, I liked him before, but when I read that the NFL players voted him thier worst commentator, I knew he was doing it right. Because the players are babies – millionaire babies — and millionaire babies don’t like it when people are critical of them. After all, they’re comfortable with their millions — who wouldn’t be, right? – and in their view anyone who says anything that isn’t absolutely glowing about them is...

Goodell’s Love Letter to NFL Fans

February 8, 2012

EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re not sure if NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was confused and sent this letter out to NFL fans a week early, but he made the following letter available to the public today via the NFL’s media office. It reads like a Valentine’s post-lockout love letter to us, be we’re a little more cynical than the rest of the world. Anyway, here’s that letter in it’s entirety. We’ll let you decide. - B.Hyped. To NFL Fans: Now that another remarkable NFL season has...

Super Bowl XLVI Most Watched TV Program in U.S. History

February 6, 2012

Waiting in line to watch Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday at the Las Vegas Hilton’s LVH Theater, you could tell the interest for this year’s game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots was high. But few could have expected this: Super Bowl XLVI — despite being played between a pair of East Coast teams — was the most-watched TV program in U.S. history, according to the The Nielsen Company. Sunday’s Super Bowl, which saw the Giants top the Patriots 21-17,was seen...