Some people are fans of the Green Bay Packers. But many, many more people are NOT fans of the Green Bay Packers. This 2015 Deadspin NFL team preview is for those in the latter group. Read all the previews so far here. Your team: the Green Bay Packers. Your 2014 record: 12-4. That seems like a successful season. I wonder what happened to render all of that so terribly, wretchedly bittersweet… OH RIGHT! This: YESSSSSSSSSSSS. YES YES YES. Can we see it from a different angle? Good, and again… God I just wanna chop this game up and snort it right up my nose. They had a 16-0 lead. They had a 19-7 lead with just over two minutes to go. They held Russell Wilson to a passer rating of ZERO in the first half. And they still lost! Play this game a thousand more times from the start of …
There weren't many surprises in the United States women's gymnastic team that emerged this past weekend from two days of all-around competition at the Olympic trials. This was the set of gymnasts that we seemed destined to end up with for months now, or at least since returning Olympic champion Nastia Liukin woefully underperformed on the uneven bars at the national championships three weeks ago. There'd been some dim hope after nationals that Liukin—who only announced her comeback to elite competition at the end of October—could get her routine together, giving the team the bars specialist it was missing. But while her skills were there individually at the trials, she lacked the fitness and endurance to string them together and survive an entire routine. Friday night…
It's that time of year again, when we face the ugliest rivalries and seek resolution through honest competition. After the success of 2010's Pie vs. Cake tournament, we realized that with just one short season of war, we may find peace. And if pies and cakes sparked the passions of hungry stomachs, dogs and cats stoke the ever-burning embers within each and every one of us, the warmth and light we share with all living things. We have to go deeper. Thus we now look to settle the centuries-old grudge between cats and dogs. Brace yourselves. [ Jezebel] Relatedfree betting calculatorsparlay calculationsmoneyline odds calculatornfl half point calculatorkelly criterion calculatorhow to hedge betsbetting against the spreadbetting on overssports betting parlaysround robin betswhat is +…
data-mm-id=”_2fkohtt9g”>Like most extensions of this presidential administration, PETA has faded into the far corners of everyone's mind until they do something outrageous to make their way back into the public purview again. In this week's edition of this endless cycle of news, the organization released a press release on Tuesday explaining why they've requested Mississippi State retire their Bully the bulldog mascot, currently played by Jak the bulldog. In case you missed it, Mississippi State faced off against Auburn last weekend. During the game, Auburn running back Jatarvious Whitlow was tackled out of bounds and ended up colliding with Jak the bulldog. Both parties glared at each other as the former got off the ground. Bully was ultimately fine, and that was the en…
data-mm-id=”_ovujsfi5v”>The fantasy football playoffs draw ever closer. If you've already locked in your playoff spot, congratulations. For the rest of you, here are five options that could give you that little boost you need to squeak into the playoff picture. (All stats via standard ESPN PPR leagues)1. Jonathan Williams, RB, Indianapolis Colts (Available in 71 percent of ESPN Leagues)Jacksonville Jaguars v Indianapolis Colts / Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesHead coach Frank Reich has already stated that Marlon Mack will miss another week with a hand injury, so Williams should be your priority if you need a running back or flex option. He's their only reliable back in the rotation right now, and it showed last week as he carried the ball 26 times for 104 yards with a TD, good for 2…
data-mm-id=”_pdp7h0hil”>There's been a lot of talk about Baker Mayfield's physical stature recently. Beyond the inappropriate comments by an ESPN Radio host that led to his suspension yesterday, it also appears concerns about Mayfield's body makeup linger within the Browns organization too. According to Ian Rapoport, a big focus for the Browns going into next season is Mayfield's fitness level. Rapoport said the former Heisman trophy winner put on weight last offseason to try and "bulk up", which apparently cost him a step in 2019. An important focus for the #Browns heading into 2020: QB Baker Mayfield’s fitness and body makeup. From what I understand, he put on some weight last year to bulk up and lost some quickness. His plan is to be slimmer & fas…
data-mm-id=”_2ggon75sh”>Monday Night Football is entering a pivotal year as the venerable franchise looks to regain some of its previous luster. There are has been no shortage of personnel-related takes ascribing blame for the so-called slump but the primary factor in the success of failure of a broadcast, when a person really sits down and thinks about it, is the quality of the game being presented. Compelling matchups are absolutely essential in ensuring that any network is not playing catch-up from the outset trying to manufacture interest. MNF has suffered this fate in recent seasons, often due to bad injury luck and having no recourse in flexing in a better matchup. Last night's NFL schedule release provided real optimism, though, that this year will be different. 2020 Monday…
data-mm-id=”_9wozb2wwa”>The Pittsburgh Steelers won their 10th game in a row on Sunday when they took down the Jacksonville Jaguars by the score of 27-3. The defense was its usual dominant self against an ugly Jags offense, notching four picks and two sacks on the day. The offense was not terribly efficient but took advantage of the short fields given by their defensive counterparts to score three touchdowns. The Steelers remain perfect. Now, they are far from a perfect team. The defense is one of the best in the league, but Ben Roethlisberger and Co. are hit-or-miss as a unit. Roethlisberger is not the Big Ben of old, capable of carving up careless defenses. He and the Steelers rely heavily on the YAC ability of their talented receiving core and well-schemed plays to create yards. Tha…
data-mm-id=”_mu2n6znsz”>Watching Marcus Smart play basketball is a difficult experience to describe. The joy of watching him go horizontal in an effort to recover a loose ball can be almost immediately offset by an off-balance bricked transition three– and it often is. Frustration bubbles over as he tries to flop for a foul that not even a blind grandmother would give him, then completely disappears as he gets back up and sprints down the floor for a chase-down block. Early in his career, that chaos was completely unchecked. But he's learned to control that chaos to affect basketball games in a net positive manner. Besides his All-NBA defense, Smart has turned into one of those guys who makes "winning plays." If the Boston Celtics need a turnover on a crucial possession…
data-mm-id=”_ms17vqnv5″>LeBron James has been here many, many times. This is his 10th trip to the NBA Finals. He has won three championships. He has lost six. He's been swept and he's won in seven. There are not many scenarios he has not seen on this stage so when he texts his team a simple message – "Must win" – it's worth listening. For most players, this kind of story would be worth a serious eye roll. Heck, it's still a little corny. Of course it feels like a must win game. They all should. But in this case, the possibility of a 2-2 series with Bam Adebayo getting healthy and Goran Dragic maybe being available this weekend and self-doubt creeping in for all the Lakers who have never been here before certainly makes a good case for Game 4 being super im…