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From Our Editors

Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.

Steve Smith On Feeding His Family, Rule No. 89

Everyone wants to talk about Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens But Carolina WR Steve Smith would like to remind you that he's still among the best in the league...at post-game interviews.

Hearty fist-bump to BSO for transcribing Smith's post-game interview with Andrea Kramer tonight. Some highlights...

"You know, first, you know, I just gotta thank my Lord Jesus Christ, you know, without him we wouldn’t be here. But, 5-8 or 8-5, you gotta play. This is why I feed my family. This is why I grew up on the B.

You want an explanation on what the B is? You will not receive one.

You know, #22 had something to say to me on the field...So, little youngster…Ah, you know, just telling me who he is, so I had to establish the rules and regulations of the game…

When asked what said rules and regulations consist of, Smith said...

"Which was 89."

For the record, "youngster" #22 was actually 28-year-old Vikings DB Benny Sapp.

Update: And here's the video...

0 comments

by Sean Keeley • Dec 21, 2009 12:28 AM EST

Your Obligatory De-Pantsed Lineman Video

Because if we know our demo, a 300-lb man's upper thighs and side buttocks are exactly what you're looking for...

And you thought there was no good reason to watch Raiders' games anymore.

H/T: Deadspin

0 comments

by Sean Keeley • Dec 21, 2009 12:11 AM EST

Randy Moss (Briefly) Addresses Media After Bills Game

The Patriots spent all last week defending Randy Moss for accusations (a fire first ignited by Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble -- "[Moss] shut it down" -- and then further flamed by the media) that he took plays off against Carolina. Moss stayed quiet throughout it all. Until today.

After Sunday's 17-10 Patriots win against the Bills -- a game in which he had five receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown -- Moss spoke to the gathered media, and didn't take any questions, choosing instead to offer a quick statement in his West Virginia twang: "Ya'lls had all two weeks to do your talkin', now let me do mine."

Whatever your opinion is of Moss, or the Patriots or this whole situation, I think we can all agree on one thing: that beard is awesome.

0 comments

by Ryan Hudson • Dec 20, 2009 10:02 PM EST

Early Nominee: NBA Play Of The Year?

It’s still early, but the Boston Celtics—Tony Allen and Eddie House, specifically—just submitted a pretty compelling candidate for play of the year tonight vs. the Timberwolves. Yes, that award may not exist beyond the ESPYs, but still:

If any athlete would take great pride in winning an ESPY award… That athlete is Eddie House.

(HT: Celtics Hub)

0 comments

by Andrew Sharp • Dec 20, 2009 8:14 PM EST

PHOTO: Mike Wallace's Winning TD

You want to know how close the Steelers-Packers game was? Look at Mike Wallace.

Look at his feet, look at the sideline, the defender... Now stand up and start mimicking Al Pacino. Come on, you know want to. The inches we need are ALL AROUND US!

(Ordinarily at this time, I'd be dazed and quasi-napping while Mike Wallace jabbers in the background on 60 Minutes. Now, the other Mike Wallace just made me want to watch Any Given Sunday, which... would you look at that?! Just started on ESPN Classic.)

1 comment

by Andrew Sharp • Dec 20, 2009 8:04 PM EST

Lessons In New Ways To Lose Games: The Pittsburgh Steelers

The Situation: Steelers had just kicked a field goal to take a 30-28 lead over the Packers, in Green Bay, with just 3:58 remaining in the game.

What Most Teams Do: kickoff.

What Pittsburgh Did: attempted an on-side kick.

Result: not good.

If the Steelers had recovered, the public backlash surely would have been quieter. But they didn't recover -- instead, someone on Pittsburgh touched the ball before it went 10 yards, Packers took over, marched down the (short) field and scored a touchdown.

New Situation: Steelers down 36-30 with under a minute to go. Congratulations, Mike Tomlin, you all but secured your team's sixth consecutive loss.

UPDATE: Ignore me. Ben Roethlisberger just led the Steelers on a game-winning drive, throwing a 19-yard touchdown with no time left on the clock to Mike Wallace, who made amazing catch and somehow kept both feet in bounds. (But I still think the onside kick was dumb.)

1 comment

by Ryan Hudson • Dec 20, 2009 7:42 PM EST

Chad Ochocinco Remembers His Fallen Teammate

Chad Ochocinco ultimately decided not to wear Chris Henry's No. 15 for Sunday's game in San Diego (despite the pleadings of Peter King), but there was no doubt that his former teammate was in his thoughts, both before and during the game.

Ochocinco, during the pre-game moment of silence (via Chris Littmann).

And later, after scoring on a 49-yard touchdown.

Denver's Brandon Marshall wore his regular number (No. 15), with a "HENRY" nameplate across the back during warm ups.

0 comments

by Ryan Hudson • Dec 20, 2009 7:09 PM EST

Titans' Season Turnaround Continues To Be Ludicrous

If I told you after Week 6's 59-0 blowout that the 0-6 Titans would have a better record than the 4-2 defending Super Bowl champion Steelers by the end of Week 15, you would have excused yourself, driven to the store, purchased a pie, driven back, thrown it in my face, and laughed at my custard-smothered frown.

Well, that's happening. That is, if the Steelers lose today and actually end the week with a worse record -- 6-8 -- than the 7-7 Titans. All of a sudden, Tennessee finds itself in a five-way tie (maybe even a six- or seven-way tie) for the AFC's final wild card spot. Unfortunately the Titans are likely to lose out if the spot is determined by the league's tie-breaking procedures. How important is that, though? A playoff berth would be spectacular for Tennessee fans, sure, but even if they miss the postseason, I get the feeling that their season will be more special and memorable than those of some teams who do make the playoffs.

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by Jon Bois • Dec 20, 2009 5:47 PM EST

Paging Mr. Goodell: Can We Settle The AFC Wild Card With A Death Match?

This is just insane.

After the Jets and Dolphins faltered this afternoon, there are now five teams sitting at .500 in the AFC. Should the Ravens lose vs. the Bears and the Steelers win vs. the Packers, that will make seven. Err.. Let's repeat that.

SEVEN TEAMS TIED FOR SIXTH PLACE.

Of course, there are all sorts of labrinthine means of breaking that tie—conference record, head-to-head matchups, some convoluted strength of schedule rating--but really, there's a chance that this could be a once-in-a-lifetime type thing. Why not make the most of it?

If seven teams finish at 8-8—and with the way things have gone, don't rule it out—we should just gather all seven teams, and maybe include the Raiders just for fun, and have them fight to the death in the abandoned Pontiac Silverdome. It may sound like hyperbole, but imagine 400 football players in full uniform battling it out for the playoffs... Exclusively on the NFL Network!

It'd be like a Y2K scenario... What would happen if everyone tied? In a word: ANARCHY.

0 comments

by Andrew Sharp • Dec 20, 2009 5:03 PM EST

Jerome Harrison Is The Latest Browns Player To Embarrass Chiefs

Josh Cribbs wasn't the only Browns player to make a mockery of the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Running back Jerome Harrison took the rock 34 times for 286 -- yes, two hundred and eighty-six -- yards and three touchdowns. This puts him at third on the all-time single-game rushing list, behind Adrian Peterson (296) and Jamal Lewis (295).

Chiefs defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast attempted to make a statement on his team's defensive woes, but then he slipped on a banana peel and an anvil fell on his head.

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by Jon Bois • Dec 20, 2009 4:25 PM EST

Video: Yes, Another Josh Cribbs Kickoff Return

Apologies if we're over-saturating you with Josh Cribbs-centric writing, but you're just going to have to live with it. In case you missed it, Cribbs returned his seventh career kickoff for a touchdown against the Chiefs, setting a new NFL record. In the second quarter, apparently dissatisfied with returning a kick for a mere 100 yards, Cribbs blasted through the Chiefs' special teams unit with a 103-yard return all the way to the house.

Video? Why, of course we have video!

0 comments

by Jon Bois • Dec 20, 2009 3:05 PM EST

Lions Yank Culpepper, Quarterback Issues Continue To Abound

On the heels of Daunte Culpepper's abysmal performance in Week 14, the Lions quarterback continued to disappoint in the first half of Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Apparently head coach Jim Schwartz has seen enough. John Niyo tweets:

Drew Stanton looks like he'll be the QB in the second half for Lions. Helmet on, Culpepper arms on his hips, looking like he's done.

Bad times for the Lions. Franchise quarterback Matt Stafford is still out with a shoulder injury, and it turns out that their number 2 option is bad at football. Hmm. this is odd. Schwartz has gathered a mop, a jersey, and a random assortment of other items on the sideline. What is he...oh goodness, is he attempting to construct a new quarterback? Stop it, Jim! Just stop! It's no use!

0 comments

by Jon Bois • Dec 20, 2009 2:57 PM EST