Hi Folks,
We do a ton of insightful, thoughtful, and serious features here at Footballguys, with 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 brain 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 manage. Here's hoping it has some value for you.
We'll see. Now let's get to it.
J
The Holidays are upon us. Let's open like we always do with the best rendition I've heard in a while of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" courtesy of that noted Holiday Crooner - Bill Belichick.
Just like last year, I'm starting right off the bat with the music as we cover all the Holiday bases. First, a Run DMC - Charlie Brown mashup of Christmas in Hollis from the Best Christmas Movie Ever - Die Hard.
Next up is Adam Sandler with the classic Chanukah Song.
Elvis sings my favorite Christmas song.
And for a picture of cool personified, he butchers the words but still kills it live.
Long live the King.
Lastly, one of my favorite Sports Illustrated covers from a few years back featuring Belichick Santa.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Footballguys.
I truly hope it's a sweet time of the year for you.
The Manning Brothers' faces told the story on this one.
Manning Brothers' reaction to Aaron Rodgers interception is just what you think it would be. pic.twitter.com/Zr3kAtzyU5
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 20, 2022
At halftime for the Colts - Vikings game, some well-known mascots took on a youth football team. "Blooper" of the Atlanta Braves was brutal.
Blooper showing no mercy 😤
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 17, 2022
(via @BlooperBraves)pic.twitter.com/pxBHZsnsDP
What is it with mascots and little kids?
Pretty much this.
Mississippi State by 100 in their bowl game as they'll be playing to honor coach Mike Leach who died last week. They're playing in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 21, 2022
WHERE THERE IS A REAL-LIFE PIRATE SHIP.
Every league should run its waiver wire with free-agent bids.
One more reason to have a bidding system for Waivers... pic.twitter.com/yBN5bwxHE5
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 21, 2022
A feel-good Christmas Moment.
A pair of foxes made themselves at home inside Coors Field
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) December 12, 2022
(via @Rockies) pic.twitter.com/36NBRhzfnU
Throwback to the old days when defensive players got flagged for "Giving him the business down there."
October 5, 1986
— Old Time Football 🈠(@Ol_TimeFootball) October 27, 2022
Marty Lyons gets a little rough with Jim Kelly, and he gets called for it.
“After he tackled the QB he was giving him the business down there, that’s a 15 yard penalty”#Jets#Bills pic.twitter.com/BsCHfN3mDu
Not just a Corgi Race. A Corgis in Christmas Sweaters Race.
The best thing you will see all day. pic.twitter.com/NzMFdECDxO
— Doug Farrar ✠(@NFL_DougFarrar) December 4, 2022
Poor guy can't get away from it.
The Colts have been outscored 28-3 in the second half vs. Vikings pic.twitter.com/rILNV4lqhK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 17, 2022
This was me after the Colts-Viking game...
Fun level going from Colts - Vikings slugfest to Deshaun Watson... pic.twitter.com/ZgsGA0FjDD
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 17, 2022
Justin Jefferson after the game.
“I know we scared y’all in the first half!”@JJettas2 🤣
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 17, 2022
(via @nfl) pic.twitter.com/wtUeGzsZQu
I love all parts of our country. God Bless the Midwest states and their fans.
The @Vikings are back. #SKOL pic.twitter.com/DiGIiucXxD
— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2022
I had no idea.
Wait. The Jimmy Kimmel Bowl is a real thing?
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 17, 2022
That's hilarious.
And I'm completely with my friend Andy. We can have it at my barn.
It's frankly ridiculous you haven't stepped up to sponsor the Football Guys Bowl.
— Andy Behrens (@andybehrens) December 17, 2022
This one hurts.
Mark Andrews in the Ravens’ offense pic.twitter.com/chHRzwigod
— Akash (@YZR_Fantasy) December 18, 2022
Too perfect.
night, Dad ðŸ”µðŸ”´âšªï¸ #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/PVkESRVxTx
— Victoria (@ffb_victoria) December 18, 2022
The underrated tell was the signature.
my man did college the right way pic.twitter.com/zxJc48o4i8
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 17, 2022
Thanks to Clayton Gray for that one.
What a terrible and sad play.
Has to be seen to be believed: pic.twitter.com/DKNWzwu2pR
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 19, 2022
This was Leon Lett fumble level bad.
And please, spare me the "LMFAO LOLZ did you see that stiff arm!!!!" As if a defensive end bowling over a quarterback he outweighs by 60 pounds is something.
Not great.
Hug someone you love this holiday season. 🫂 pic.twitter.com/cqA7BHSLmT
— Andy Holloway (@andyholloway) December 19, 2022
But my observation Monday morning after seeing Washington fans was, "I'm glad they don't pull for the Saints."
Giants troll game = Strong.
😠pic.twitter.com/RAlLgoh57N
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 19, 2022
I can't decide if I should be impressed with Brian Daboll or mad at him.
Kayvon Thibadeoux has a TD as a Giant before Kenny Golladay ðŸ˜
— NYG_PETE (@nyg_pete) December 19, 2022
I felt this one a little too much...
Best ball teams getting into 1st place only to lose to a Monday Night Football touchdown pic.twitter.com/ETuQzznR2b
— Erik Beimfohr 🙌 (@erikbeimfohr) December 20, 2022
My email inbox is wild this time of year.
My email box during the playoffs is wild.
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 18, 2022
These sting, but I totally get it. People love fantasy football, and they hate losing. I hope for these folks we had some say in helping them get to the playoffs, but I still understand the passion and disappointment.
I get it. pic.twitter.com/NHhqJSdyA2
I shared this on Twitter, and it sounded way more whiny on my part than I meant to be. I truly do get the passion. Sure, people should be nicer when they email, but I get the intensity. It's why we're able to have a business.
I'm glad people care this much.
There's another angle on this, too: Don't take it personally when someone is unkind on the internet. You never ever know for sure what that person is dealing with. Lots of folks are carrying heavy things around, and they'll use email or social media to vent. I'm not saying that's right. I think one should always try to be kind. But I also get it.
I think it's massively better to assume the best of people. You just never know.
I had this conversation with someone the other day, and they said people might be taking advantage of me when I assume the best. Maybe. But I'm not that worried about it.
In my opinion, the upside to moving on with life and not letting things pull you down far outweighs the negative.
As if we needed more evidence, season ticket prices are too expensive...
1. Robbing a bank is wrong.
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 20, 2022
2. I'm not endorsing crime.
3. I so hope he was wearing the wolf mask... https://t.co/jFflNu8Z81
My friend Jeff knows...
— jeFF (@TheFantasyEng) December 20, 2022
I was not expecting to hear Booger McFarland stories about drinking whiskey on the sidelines to stay warm on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown.
ESPN gotta bring back Sports Science to explain this one 🥃 pic.twitter.com/Wbqvz2Mz7T
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 19, 2022
Live look in on Roger Goodell...
Roger Goodell when Booger McFarland tells the story on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown about drinking whisky on the sidelines to stay warm... pic.twitter.com/Pzzw0nAfnO
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 21, 2022
Rock on, Stefon Diggs. This fan lost his dad a while back, and Diggs has stayed connected.
ðŸ˜ðŸ˜#BillsMafia - y’all got a real one but you didn’t need this to know it ðŸ™ðŸ»
— James Kindred🈠(@Jimmy_3_Tech) December 20, 2022
Pride & Poise Mr Diggs ðŸˆâ˜ ï¸ðŸ´â˜ ï¸
From #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/X4SzCtNxFx
Everyone who ever played Nintendo had the same thought.
— alex (@highlghtheaven) December 20, 2022
The game lost one of the greats this week with the passing of Franco Harris.
When you arrive at the Pittsburgh airport, you’re greeted by a life-size replica of Franco Harris. Right next to him is a similar thing for George Washington. The ratio of selfie pictures taken with the two is roughly 10,000 to 1 in favor of Harris. pic.twitter.com/FYKXLOlZUE
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 21, 2022
Almost 50 years to the day of the "Immaculate Reception." I don’t think it’s being too dramatic to say that team, that player, and specifically, that play was, in combination, an inflection point for our sport.
We all get to do what we do with fantasy football, in no small part, I believe, because of these things. And for that, I am grateful.
There is also a much bigger point there, and I think it’s quite proper to recognize we all owe a great deal to the folks who came before us.
Rock on, Franco Harris.
Everyone freaked out as if this guy was Nostradamus. He predicted one of the greatest young players at the time would win the World Cup seven years later. And, of course, he did.
December 18, 2022. 34 year old Leo Messi will win the World Cup and become the greatest player of all times. Check back with me in 7 years.
— José Miguel Polanco âï¸âï¸âï¸ (@josepolanco10) March 20, 2015
Calling my shot now.
February 10, 2030. 34 year old Patrick Mahomes II will win the Super Bowl and be one of the greatest players of all time. Check back with me in 7 years.
— Joe Bryant (@Football_Guys) December 21, 2022
Wrapping with this one. I said this last year, and I'll say it again. This has been a tough year for many people. And the Holidays can make it even tougher for some.
Shauna Niequist is a writer I enjoy. She wrote this a few years ago, but I think it applies now.
“My prayer is that what you’ve lost, and what I’ve lost this year, will fade a little bit in the beauty of the Christmas season, that for a few moments at least, what is right and good and worth believing will outshine all the darkness, within us and around us.”
That's my hope for you. That the pain of what you've lost this year may fade a bit as we seek out and focus on what's right and good and worth believing. If it's tough for you, give yourself some grace. I'm with you.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours from all of us at Footballguys. Rock on.
That'll do it this week. Thank you for being with me on this goofy journey.
Love your neighbor and stick together.
Peace and Grace to you.
J
