New England Patriots Hire Mike Vrabel: One week after firing Jerod Mayo, the New England Patriots hired Mike Vrabel to be head coach. Vrabel's a former Patriots linebacker who had four consecutive winning seasons leading the Tennessee Titans. His firing by that franchise is widely regarded as a major blunder.

posted by rcade to football at 03:21 PM - 2 comments

Enter the SportsFilter NFL Playoff Pickem: The wild card round of the NFL playoffs begins this afternoon when the Los Angeles Chargers play the Houston Texans. Pick the winner of each game along with some props to establish your prognosticative dominance on a lovingly crafted artisanal-batch bespoke sports blog. Good luck!

posted by rcade to football at 10:05 AM - 17 comments

CFL Pickem Champion: Ic23b: The winner of the Canadian Football League Pickem was Ic23b despite picking the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who went down to the Toronto Argonauts 41-24. Tommybiden made a late charge and scored 45 in the final week of the contest, falling 21 short. I take the Costanza.

posted by rcade to football at 08:26 PM - 2 comments

NFL Pickem: All the Marbles: The final weekend of the NFL regular season has a Saturday doubleheader followed by the remaining 14 games Sunday afternoon. Ic23b has a healthy 49-point lead with week winner NoMich in second. I only scored 85 despite getting 15 of 16 games correct, which is a feat unto itself. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 09:18 AM - 16 comments

Sugar Bowl Postponed After Bourbon Street Attack: The Sugar Bowl has been moved from Wednesday to Thursday after a truck attack on Bourbon Street early New Year's Day killed 15 and injured dozens. The game between Notre Dame and Georgia is a College Football Playoffs quarterfinal.

posted by rcade to football at 03:11 PM - 2 comments

NFL Pickem Week 17: Happy Footmas: There's NFL football all over the place the next seven days, starting with two games on Netflix Christmas Day: Chiefs/Steelers and Ravens/Texans. Eight of the 16 games this week have a timeslot to themselves. Ic23b is holding onto first 16 ahead of Rumple. NoMich wins the week with 108. Make your picks, ye merry gentlemen.

posted by rcade to football at 02:01 PM - 12 comments

No football for NC this week: Panthers game this week won't be broadcast in almost half of North Carolina

posted by NoMich to football at 10:13 AM - 1 comment

NFL Pickem Week 16: Penix Time: The NFL returns Thursday night with a Chargers/Broncos matchup. Scores were crazy high in the pickem last weekend. Ic23b scored 129 to pass Rumple for first place. Tommybiden won the week with 158. Make your picks and get ready -- Festivus is near.

posted by rcade to football at 09:01 AM - 17 comments

RichRod back at West Virginia: Legendary Michigan/Arizona/Jacksonville State football coach, Rich Rodriguez, is heading back to West Virginia. No word on possible winners & losers on his return to Morgantown.

posted by NoMich to football at 09:32 AM - 1 comment

North Carolina hires Bill Belichick: Bill Belichick has been hired as the next coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, the school announced Wednesday. The six-time Super Bowl champion, who has never coached at the collegiate level in any capacity, will take over the top coaching position on the open market. Apparently there are winners & losers with this.

posted by NoMich to football at 09:19 AM - 2 comments

Flag planting at Ohio State would be felony under proposed law: Taking a cue from Canadian rapper Drake, Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams introduced a bill Tuesday that would classify flag planting at Ohio Stadium around Buckeyes football games as a felony. Williams, a Republican, represents Ohio's 41st district, near Toledo.

posted by Mookieproof to football at 01:18 AM - 2 comments

NFL Pickem Week 15: Ask Me About My Fantasy Team: The 15th week of the NFL season kicks off Thursday night when the resurgent San Francisco 49ers meet the resurgent Los Angeles Rams. Rumple holds onto first in our pickem by 25 points. Ufez wins the week with 104. Four of us thought the Chargers would upset the Chiefs, who've looked beatable all season while losing just once. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 03:37 PM - 18 comments

NFL Pickem Week 14: Deliver Me from Pick-Sixes: We've reached week 14 of the NFL season and there's a surprisingly good game tonight on Amazon Prime as the 9-3 Green Bay Packers visit the 11-1 Detroit Lions. Rumple's lead in the pickem has shrunk to 24 with week-winner Ic23b scoring 121. Sadly Jameis Winston is not on a national game this weekend.

posted by rcade to football at 09:30 AM - 23 comments

Chicago Bears Fire Coach Matt Eberflus After Turkey Day Debacle: Matt Eberflus is out as Chicago Bears head coach after a colossal blunder late in the game's loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The Bears were nearing field goal range for a tying kick but after quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked with 32 seconds left, they only ran one more play -- a long incompletion to Rome Odunze as time expired. Eberflus takes with him a 14-32 record, six-game losing streak and the timeout he kept in his pocket yesterday.

posted by rcade to football at 03:27 PM - 7 comments

NFL Pickem Week 13: Turkey Bowl Time: Thanksgiving Day brings us the Bears/Lions, Giants/Cowboys and Dolphins/Packers to start the thirteenth week of the NFL season. Rumple holds on to first place in the pickem by 36 points. NoMich wins the week with 68. Nobody thought Dallas could beat Washington. Make your picks and pass the gravy.

posted by rcade to football at 12:56 PM - 13 comments

NFL Pickem Week 12: Jerryworld is Falling Apart: The Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Cleveland Browns to open week 12 of the NFL season on Thursday night. The Dallas Cowboys are going on the road three days later against the Washington Commanders, which is a good thing after parts of the roof fell before the game last Sunday night. Rumple keeps first place with Ic23b 22 back. The score of the week belongs to NoMich. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 06:49 PM - 20 comments

CFL Pickem Week 24: Grey Cup: The Toronto Argonauts meet the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Sunday night in the Grey Cup, the championship of the Canadian Football League. The game airs on CBS Sports in the U.S. and CTV/TSN/RDS in Canada at 6 p.m. Eastern. Pick the winner, the spread and several props.

posted by rcade to football at 09:38 PM - 5 comments

NFL Pickem Week 11: Is This Detroit's Year?: The SportsFilter NFL Pickem returns after an unplanned week off. On Thursday night Washington and Philadelphia meet as the only NFC East teams worth a damn. Rumple holds on to first after scoring 90 in week 9. Tron7 wins the week with 102. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 10:37 PM - 13 comments

CFL Pickem Week 23: Finals: There are four teams left vying for the Grey Cup and they play on Saturday. In the early game the Toronto Argonauts head to the Montreal Alouettes, and in the late the Saskatchewan Roughriders visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Both games are streaming in the U.S. on CFL+. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 05:57 PM - 5 comments

Saints Fire Head Coach Dennis Allen: Dennis Allen has been fired as the New Orleans Saints head coach after three seasons. The Saints started hot but have lost seven games in a row, bringing Allen's overall record to 18-25. This was the second time Allen went into a season with Derek Carr as his starter that ended in a mid-season firing. He coached Carr's rookie season a decade ago with the Oakland Raiders and was fired after four games.

posted by rcade to football at 10:19 AM - 5 comments

CFL Pickem Week 22: Semi-Finals: The semifinals of the Canadian Football League playoffs take place today. The Ottawa Redblacks face the Toronto Argonauts at 3 p.m. Eastern, followed by the B.C. Lions at the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 6:30 p.m. All of these teams have beaten each other once this season. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 07:08 AM - 6 comments

NFL Pickem Week 9: B-E-T-S Bets Bets Bets: Aaron Rodgers and the 2-6 New York Jets are favored to beat the 6-2 Houston Texans tonight on Thursday Night Football. Who is making that bet? Not Rumple, probably, who is leading the pickem for a second week in a row. Werty is in second 12 back. NoMich wins the week with 100. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 04:09 PM - 15 comments

CFL Pickem Week 25: Farewell Regular Season: There are Friday and Saturday doubleheaders to end the CFL regular season. The first game is at 7 p.m. Eastern tonight when Hamilton visits Ottawa. Ic23b has a sizeable lead in the pickem but it continues all the way through the Grey Cup. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 04:56 PM - 6 comments

NFL Pickem Week 8: The Running Back is Back: The 5-1 Minnesota Vikings play the 2-4 Los Angeles Rams tonight at SoFi Stadium to start week 8 of the NFL season. Rumple climbs into first place after winning the week with 99 points, hitting five locks on the Bills, Bengals, Colts, Commanders and Steelers while missing only one game. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 08:03 AM - 16 comments

CFL Pickem Week 20: None of the Marbles: There are three Canadian Football League games in week 20, beginning Friday night when the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats meet as teams eliminated from playoff contention. Also out of contention: me, 128 points below the leader Ic23b. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 11:33 PM - 6 comments

Nick Chubb: Cleveland Got My Back: Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb writes a piece for Player's Tribune about his injury, his recovery, and his town.

posted by rcade to football at 09:35 PM - 1 comment

NFL Pickem Week 7: Can Stop the Jaguars: Sean Payton's new team visits his old team tonight on Amazon Prime to start week 7 of the NFL season. Ic23b has jumped into first in the pickem after a 106-point week. Make your picks and think good thoughts for a Jacksonville team that's already offloading players after six games.

posted by rcade to football at 10:26 AM - 17 comments

CFL Pickem: Happy Thanksgiving!: There are three weeks left in the CFL regular season and the playoffs are taking shape. The Argonauts and Blue Bombers play tonight with Winnipeg looking to clinch the West and Toronto to secure a playoff spot. Ic23b has led the pickem since week 3 and has a 42-point edge on Tommybiden. Make your picks and pass the gravy, but don't bring that cranberry anywhere near me.

posted by rcade to football at 09:27 AM - 5 comments

NFL Pickem Week 6: Can't Stop the Jaguars: The San Francisco 49ers take their 2-3 record up the coast to play the 3-2 Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. Sunday games get an early start as the Jacksonville Jaguars take their brand new W to London to face the 3-2 Chicago Bears at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. There's another lead change in our pickem as Bender leads Rumple by a two-point conversion. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 10:49 AM - 15 comments

New York Jets Fire Robert Saleh: The New York Jets have returned from London and fired Robert Saleh as head coach. Saleh went 20-36 overall and 2-3 this season. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich becomes the interim coach. Saleh's teams had strong defense and constant change at quarterback, with six different starters. Putting the franchise in the hands of second overall pick Zach Wilson for 33 games didn't work out and Aaron Rodgers got hurt four plays into his 2023 debut.

posted by rcade to football at 02:27 PM - 4 comments

CFL Pickem Week 18: No Room For Football: There's only one CFL game to pick this weekend, Saturday's game between Saskatchewan and Edmonton. Ic23b leads by 41 over Tommybiden. Make your picks, er, pick.

posted by rcade to football at 05:42 PM - 14 comments

NFL Pickem Week 5: Davante on the Block: The Bucs and Falcons meet on Amazon Prime tonight to open the fifth week of an injurious NFL season. If you don't mind good things happening to Aaron Rodgers, he might be getting his favorite receiver in a trade soon. Rumple is back in first place in the pickem. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 11:34 AM - 21 comments

CFL Pickem Week 17: Friday Night Football: Week 17 of the Ligue Canadienne de Football has the 5-9 Elks and Tiger-Cats fighting to stay in the playoff picture in Friday night games against the Blue Bombers and Lions. Our pickem had Tommybiden scoring 58 while everybody else scored 5 or less. Ic23b is in first by 31. Fais tes choix!

posted by rcade to football at 11:20 AM - 5 comments

NFL Pickem Week 4: Washington Has a Quarterback: The NFL's Thursday night game on Amazon Prime has the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants both looking to put their longtime rival in a 1-3 hole. Meanwhile the Washington Commanders are feeling good with rookie Jayden Daniels at QB. Our pickem has NoMich and Bender tied for first as new leaders with Rumple one back. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 09:31 AM - 17 comments

CFL Pickem Week 16: The Curse of Barney: There are CFL doubleheaders tonight and Saturday night as the playoffs inch closer. Barney the Dinosaur was not a good luck charm in the pickem, where every player scored 0 points. Probably should have referenced The Big Comfy Couch instead. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to football at 09:02 AM - 7 comments

NFL Pickem Week 3: Run the Ball Nick Edition: The NFL returns Thursday night on Prime when the Rodgers-is-back New York Jets host the Belichick-is-gone New England Patriots. There were lots of upsets last week in our pickem but GridIron_Gambit scored 52 to climb into first place. Their strategy: Being stingy on locks with only three -- hitting on the Jets and Chargers. Make your picks and don't pass up the opportunity to hand off.

posted by rcade to football at 09:38 PM - 19 comments

Packers Center Leaves It All on the Field: Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis changed a pass play to a quarterback sneak in Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts even though it was third down and 10. He only gained three yards. "I asked Malik why he didn't throw the ball on that third down, and he told me Josh threw up on the ball," coach Matt LaFleur said. "I was like, 'That’s the first time I ever heard that!'" Center Josh Myers blamed the electrolyte drinks they give players.

posted by rcade to football at 11:42 AM - 3 comments

Another Tua Tagovailoa Concussion Puts Career in Jeopardy: Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a serious concussion on a fourth-down run in Thursday night's loss to the Buffalo Bills, exhibiting "fencing response" in his arms after the hit from tackler Damar Hamlin. Because of his past concussion problems there's a lot of talk in the media about whether he will (or should) retire even though he's only 26.

posted by rcade to football at 08:46 AM - 5 comments

CFL Pickem Week 15: Everyone is Special Edition: The pro football league that still has kickoffs is back Friday night when the 6-6 Toronto Argonauts visit the 7-6 B.C. Lions. Pete Rozell's dream of parity transcends borders. The last results in the pickem were grim for everybody but Tommybiden, who scored 26. Make your picks and have a super-dee-duper day.

posted by rcade to football at 10:07 AM - 6 comments

NFL Pickem Week 2: Aaron Says Relax Edition: The NFL returns tonight with the Buffalo Bills meeting the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Amazon Prime -- the first of six matchups this week between 1-0 teams. The pickem leader out of the gates is Rumple with 89, followed by three others five back. Make your picks and remember that the NFL season is a "nice, slow Bolero."

posted by rcade to football at 08:29 AM - 16 comments