9/23/06 – Midway through the second quarter, Paterno makes a dash for the Penn State locker room and doesn’t return until the third quarter.

Punting from his own endzone, on the road, against the #1 team in the country made Joe’s internal cup runneth over. JoePa Became JoePOO.

And so, runneth across the field JoePa did. In the middle of a play. Notice the color of his pants (black) as he lumbers, gingerly, through the middle of the field and through the endzone.

Joe knew where the restroom was and didn’t care what it took to get there. As the old saying goes, “Never trust a Fart.” Joe trusted a fart.

“Is that Joe running all the way across the field? Is Joe Paterno in the endzone?” – Brad Nessler

“Is he going to the bathroom? – Pat Hayden

Then famed sideline reporter Bonnie Bernstein makes an appearance after halftime and makes a pun about “Coach Paterno having the runs.”

He later claims he had the flu, but doesn’t mention why he was wearing black pants in the first half and khakis in the second half.

Happy Valley? More like “Crappy Valley.”

Nittany Lions? “Shittany Lions.”

“Pooterno.”

I don’t want to “poo poo” the issue.

Judging by the towel adorning his neck in the second half, it looks like he took a shower. Which explains what kind of mess he made inside his Bugle Boys.

From an anonymous poster on a P-U I mean PSU message board:

“One of my best friends played at PSU at the time this incident. He explained to me that since the game was on the road at OSU, Joe did not have a change of clothes at the stadium. The one assistant coach that did have an extra pair of pants on site was coach Larry Johnson Sr. If you look up pictures of Joe’s second pair of pants that day you can see how oversized they are which coincides with Larry’s physique.

Just over 5 years later on 11/9/11, Joe Paterno was fired for his role in the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.

Which means that on the day he took a big dump in his pants and proved his incontinence on the field, he was well on his way to dumping out the incompetence he displayed off of it.

Upon his ouster, his career was tarnished as badly as the inside of those black pants must’ve been once he hit the head at Ohio State’s famed Horseshoe.

The post Never Forget When Joe Paterno Pooped His Pants appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

NFL Dream Season was a joint venture between ESPN and NFL Films and was the initial incarnation of Fantasy Football.

They poured through old NFL Films footage and combined physical film with imagination and created matchups that never happened to answer the question, “What team is the greatest in NFL history?”

The Premise

The year was 1988. The internet did not exist. Neither did other upcoming awesome stuff like DVD players or Pamela Anderson.

The argument about best NFL team ever is not a new one. But the way NFL Films attempted to solve it was as novel as it was bold.

The staff at NFL Films took an internal poll and decided on the 20 best teams in NFL history.

They took those results and ran them through a computer game called NFL Challenge, an MS-DOS computer program (watch it here, you can still play today).

ESPN used the computer simulation results to play each fictional game using NFL Films footage to make it appear that one was watching an actual game.

NFL Films added subjective assessments from active and retired coaches to help gauge intangibles and add them to the equation.

From there, they created four divisions of five teams each.

The Gameplay

With the 20 greatest NFL teams chosen, they started the “Dream Season.”

Each team played a regular season schedule of six games. The four division winners advanced to a four team “dream” playoffs. The final two teams played each other in the “Dream Bowl” to determine the greatest NFL team of all-time.

Now that the format and teams had been decided, how to go about creating hour-long episodes of each game? By making each episode a mini-game of itself.

Every game during NFL Dream Season had a play by play crew of two Pro Football Hall of Famers; Merrill Reese, the voice of the Philadelphia Eagles since 1977. And Steve Sabol, the face, president, and co-founder (with his dad Ed) of NFL Films.

To create dream matchups between teams that didn’t play at the same time (hence no footage) the team at NFL Films painstakingly edited and cut scenes from old games and combined them.

“It just took a whole lot of patience, like doing the biggest jigsaw puzzle in the world,” said Sabol, who said it took up to 10 weeks to create just one game.

Each game also featured a pregame show hosted by Reese and Sabol from inside a set that looked like an NFL broadcast booth – complete with actors as other media members to create ambiance and a sense of realism.

The halftime show was hosted by Chris Berman who showed highlights of other “dream” games in progress.

And of course a post-game recap with aforementioned duo of Reese and Sabol. And “Boomer” hosted the postgame show and recapped that week’s outcomes and stats. It was awesome!

Because linear time wasn’t a thing, it lead to some really cool anomalies.

• Weeb Eubank coaching against himself in a battle of ’59 Colts vs. ’68 Jets
• Norm Van Brocklin quarterbacking two teams at the same time (Eagles and Rams)
• Paul Warfield playing wide receiver for two teams in the same game (Browns vs. Dolphins)
• Chuck Noll coaching the Steelers while blocking for the Browns in the same game

Each “game” consisted of roughly 40 plays. Some game match-ups were reduced to highlights shared via Berman during halftime/post game simply because they could not find enough suitable footage.

The Results

The series ran a total of six weeks and featured six full games.

Week by week, the matchups were: (1) 1985 Bears vs. 1977 Cowboys; (2) 1984 49ers vs. 1966 Packers; (3) 1976 Raiders vs. 1969 Chiefs; (4) 1986 Giants vs. 1982 Redskins; (5) 1972 Dolphins vs. 1968 Jets; (6) 1986 Bears vs. 1976 Raiders.

Here are the final regular season standings and results from the playoffs and Dream Bowl:

East
1978 Steelers 6-0
1986 Giants 4-2
1959 Colts 3-3
1960 Eagles 2-4
1968 Jets 1-5

West
1984 49ers 5-1
1977 Cowboys 3-3
1983 Raiders 2-4
1963 Chargers 1-5
1951 Rams 1-5

North
1976 Raiders 6-0
1985 Bears 5-1
1966 Packers 4-2
1953 Lions 2-4
1964 Browns 1-5

South
1972 Dolphins 6-0
1982 Redskins 3-3
1955 Browns 3-3
1969 Chiefs 2-4
1971 Cowboys 0-6

Semis
1978 Steelers over 84 49ers (21-20)
1972 Dolphins over 76 Raiders (24-21)

Dream Bowl
1978 Steelers over 1972 Dolphins (21-20)

Conclusion

NFL Dream Season is reflective of a time when NFL Films and ESPN were both at their height of their powers. Some people would lump the NFL into that statement as well.

Watching the series is a lot of fun and even 30+ years later it is incredible to consider the amount of work and man hours put into the production.

Watch it on YouTube via Dave Volsky’s channel:

The post NFL Dream Season Still Amazes 30+ Years Later appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

Madden 99 Club was initially launched as part of Madden NFL 19.

What is significant about 99? A 99 OVR is the highest rating possible in Madden. During the season, ratings are updated on a weekly basis based on the real-life player performance and skill set, so attributes like Speed, Catch, and Tackle are all accounted for.

Related: List of All NFL Teams

What is the Madden 99 Club?

The ratings in modern Madden fluctuate, thanks to the advent of this thing called the Internet. These ratings used to be locked for the year and now move a bit as the season goes along depending on how players play.

So that got me thinking; out of all the versions of Madden for the last 20+ years, back to 1998, how many 99 OVR ratings had been given out?

Has any player ever gotten a rating of 100 overall in Madden?

Did you know that Madden used to give ratings of 100? YES, it is true.

In all, 7 different players have received 100 ovr in Madden – Deion Sanders the only person doing it twice. Scroll down for full list.

Ready for a run through history? Here is the full list, by year and version of the game starting with Madden 1999:

Madden 1999 Player Ratings

100 Overall Club: RB Barry Sanders (Lions), WR Jerry Rice (49ers), TE Shannon Sharpe (Broncos), TE Mark Chmura (Packers), OT Tony Boselli (Jaguars), CB Deion Sanders (Cowboys)

Madden 99 Club: TE Ben Coates (Patriots), C Dermontti Dawson (Steelers), OG Randall McDaniel (Vikings), OG Larry Allen (Cowboys), OG Mark Schlereth (Broncos), OT Jonathan Ogden (Ravens), OT Willie Roaf (Saints), DE Bruce Smith (Bills), DE Neil Smith (Broncos), DE Reggie White (Packers), DE Tony Brackens (Jaguars), MLB Ken Norton Jr. (49ers), CB Jason Sehorn (Giants), K Morten Andersen (Falcons)

Madden 2000 Player Ratings

100 Overall Club: FB Mike Alstott (Buccaneers), CB Deion Sanders (Cowboys)

Madden 99 Club: RB Barry Sanders (Lions), C Dermontti Dawson (Steelers), P Matt Turk (Redskins)

Madden 2001 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: None
The game featured no players with a 99 OVR rating, however it had a few players with the highest rating of 96 OVR.

Madden 2002 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: RB Marshall Faulk (Rams), TE Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs), LT Jonathan Ogden (Ravens), DT Warren Sapp (Buccaneers), MLB Ray Lewis (Ravens)

Madden 2003 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: RB Marshall Faulk (Rams), LG Larry Allen (Cowboys), DT Warren Sapp (Buccaneers), LE Michael Strahan (Giants), MLB Ray Lewis (Ravens)

Madden 2004 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: WR Marvin Harrison (Colts), WR Terrell Owens (49ers), MLB Ray Lewis (Ravens), ROLB Derrick Brooks (Buccaneers), FS Brian Dawkins (Eagles), K Adam Vinatieri (Patriots)

Madden 2005 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: LT Jonathan Ogden (Ravens), MLB Ray Lewis (Ravens), CB Champ Bailey (Broncos), K Mike Vanderjagt (Colts)

Madden 2006 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: QB Peyton Manning (Colts), WR Randy Moss (Raiders), LT Jonathan Ogden (Ravens), MLB Ray Lewis (Ravens), K Adam Vinatieri (Patriots), K David Akers (Eagles)

Madden 2007 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: QB Peyton Manning (Colts), FB Lorenzo Neal (Chargers), TE Antonio Gates (Chargers), LT Walter Jones (Seahawks), FS Ed Reed (Ravens), CB Champ Bailey (Broncos), P Shane Lechler (Raiders)

Madden 2008 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: QB Peyton Manning (Colts), RB LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers), MLB Brian Urlacher (Bears), FS Ed Reed (Ravens), CB Champ Bailey (Broncos)

Madden 2009 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: QB Peyton Manning (Colts), QB Tom Brady (Patriots), RB LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers), TE Antonio Gates (Chargers), WR Randy Moss (Patriots), SS Bob Sanders (Colts)

Madden 2010 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: QB Peyton Manning (Colts), WR Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals), DT Albert Haynesworth (Redskins), FS Ed Reed (Ravens), SS Troy Polamalu (Steelers), CB Nnamdi Asomugha (Raiders)

Madden 2011 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: QB Peyton Manning (Colts), QB Drew Brees (Saints), RB Chris Johnson (Titans), RE Jared Allen (Vikings), MLB Patrick Willis (49ers), CB Darrelle Revis (Jets)

Madden 2012 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: QB Tom Brady (Patriots), TE Antonio Gates (Chargers), SS Troy Polamalu (Steelers), CB Darrelle Revis (Jets)

Madden 2013 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: QB Aaron Rodgers (Packers), WR Calvin Johnson (Lions), ROLB DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys), CB Darrelle Revis (Jets)

Madden 2014 Player Ratings (Called Madden NFL 25 since it was the 15th year EA Sports released the game)

Madden 99 Club: RB Adrian Peterson (Vikings), WR Calvin Johnson (Lions), LE J.J. Watt (Texans)

Madden 2015 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: WR Calvin Johnson (Lions), LE J.J. Watt (Texans), CB Richard Sherman (Seahawks)

Madden 2016 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: QB Aaron Rodgers (Packers), TE Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), RE J.J. Watt (Texans)

Madden 2017 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: TE Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), RE J.J. Watt (Texans), MLB Luke Kuechly (Panthers), LOLB Von Miller (Broncos)

Madden 2018 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: QB Tom Brady (Patriots), RE Aaron Donald (Rams), LOLB Von Miller (Broncos)

Madden 2019 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: QB Tom Brady (Patriots), TE Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), QB Aaron Rodgers (Packers), WR Antonio Brown (Steelers), DT Aaron Donald (Rams), Von Miller (Broncos), LB Luke Kuechly (Panthers), Kahlil Mack (Bears), and QB Drew Brees (Saints)

Madden 20 Player Ratings

EA Sports announced four Madden 99 ranked players before the season – and added three more during the season.

Madden 99 Club: Bobby Wagner, Aaron Donald, Khalil Mack, DeAndre Hopkins (Read our egg-ceptional interview w DeAndre here), Patrick Mahomes (in-season addition), Christian McCaffery (in-season addition), Michael Thomas (in-season addition).

Madden 21 Player Ratings

EA Sports announced four Madden 99 ranked players before the season. And added four more players in-season.

Madden 99 Club: Christian McCaffrey, Aaron Donald, Michael Thomas, Stephon Gilmore.

Added Seahawks QB Russell Wilson on 10/15/2020. And re-added Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins on 11/19/2020. Prior to his Hail Mary game-winner against the Bills, Hopkins was a 98. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was added on 12/10/2020. Packers WR Devonte Adams was added 12/30/2020.

Madden 22 Player Ratings

Madden 22 featured 5 players in the 99 Club at the start of the season, then added 3 more during the season.

Madden 99 Club: Davante Adams, Aaron Donald, Travis Kelce, Jalen Ramsey, Patrick Mahomes (also on the Madden 22 cover), Myles Garrett (in-season addition), Tom Brady (in-season addition), Justin Tucker (in-season addition). 

2/3/21 UPDATE: To commemorate his retirement Tom Brady has re-joined the Madden 99 Club. As far as I can tell he is the first player ever to make the 99 Club, get removed, and then get re-added all in the same season. 

For a deeper dive, read my article “Tom Brady Madden Ratings Thru The years: by clicking here. 

Madden 23 Player Ratings

Four players started the season in the 99 Club, three of which were in the 99 Club for Madden 22.

Madden 99 Club: Davante Adams, Aaron Donald, Myles Garrett, Trent Williams, Travis Kelce (in-season addition), and Christian McCaffrey the first player to ever make the 99 Club with two different teams. 

Madden 24 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: Justin Jefferson, Aaron Donald, Zack Martin, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes.

Tyreek Hill became 1 of 5 players in Madden NFL history to be rated BOTH 99 OVR AND 99 SPD:

Madden 2000: Barry Sanders
Madden 2005: Champ Bailey
Madden 06: Randy Moss
Madden 11: Chris Johnson
Madden 24: Tyreek Hill

Then, it was Christian McCaffrey’s turn. The week before the Super Bowl, McCaffrey became the first player to make the 99 Club as a member of two different team.

Madden 25 Player Ratings

Madden 99 Club: Tyreek Hill, Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes.

Related NFL Content:

• Madden Ultimate Team: Top Ten Must Have Madden 20 Cards
• Top 10 Hottest Cheerleaders

The post Madden 99 Club: List Of Every Player Ranked 99 Or Higher EVER appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

When I heard Paul Skenes was coming to Omaha to face the hometown Storm Chasers I had to go and feel the heat for myself.

Feel the heat via this video RN (or read about it below):

It was Kid’s Day at Werner Park and first pitch was 11:05. These kids had no idea they were witnessing a generational talent; a term I despise but will use in honor of today’s NFL Draft #BearDown.

For all the kids cared, Todd Van Poppel could’ve been out there hurling the pearl and it would have been all the same to them and their sea of balloon animals, free t-shirts, mobile devices, and future dreams that will doubtlessly go unrealized.

Other than the kids, there were a bunch of old man baseball nerds such as myself thirsting over Paul Skenes, reigning College World Series champ at LSU and #1 selection in the 2023 MLB Draft.

Skenes was the second player in LSU history to be selected first overall in the draft, joining Big Ben McDonald. Skenes signed with the Pirates for a $9.2 million signing bonus the highest ever.

In his first four starts in Triple A, Skenes allowed five hits and four walks in 12 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out 27 dudes in 12 2/3 innings, 57.4% of the batters he’s faced for all you math nerds (me).

So not only was he cutting the mustard but he was exceeding the expectations.

Which impressed me, especially seeing the old dudes (me), kids, and babes leering at him during his pre-game warmup from outside the locker-room and behind the chain-linked fence of the Indianapolis Indians’ bullpen.

In this game Skenes was facing-off against Zach Davies, he of 200 MLB starts and led the majors in games started (33) in 2017 for the Brewers. Kind of a cool opponent, like two ships passing in the night. If Skenes had the career of Davies he could never be labeled a “bust.”

But he sure looks to be a helluva a lot better.

Skenes K’d two of the first three batters and from there he was completely dominant.

Over 4.1 innings he struck out 7 Chasers. And not career-minor leaguers like Razor Shines. Young Royals prospects Nick Pratto, Drew Waters, Nick Loftin, Nate Eaton all went down swinging to the 21-year-old.

In the bottom of the 2nd, Nate Eaton’s single drove in CJ Alexander and Skenes gave up his first earned run in five starts and 30+ innings. Then he struck out the next two batters.

It isn’t just that he is overpowering (see the 100 MPH in the video above) but his control is awesome.

Skenes has five pitches:

Fastball (he leads MiLB in most pitches 100+ MPH by a wide margin)
Slider
Splinker
Changeup
Curveball

To sit directly behind homeplate I really got a feel for how different each of these pitches look. The movement and change in speeds is awesome.

And as my buddy Mike noticed during the game, his arm slotting make it hard to have an idea/guess what pitch is coming.

BTW would you ever say that to another dude in-person? “Dude, your arm slot is awesome.”

The four and 1/3rd he completed on the day were the most of his Triple-A career and first time he has been allowed to pitch into the 5th inning.

You can see the Pirates gradually ramping up his workload:

3 innings, 46 pitches
3 innings, 44 pitches
3 1/3 innings, 55 pitches
3 1/3 innings, 65 pitches
4 1/3 innings, 71 pitches

Will the Pirates call Skenes up this season?

There is no reason they shouldn’t, especially because they are competitive and Skenes would nicely round out all the other young arms (Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, Bailey Falter) on the staff.

The post Behind The Skenes: Paul Skenes 7 Strikeouts vs. Storm Chasers appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

LeBron James is having a fantastic season with the Los Angeles Lakers, earning his spot in the All-Star Game for the 20th time. Despite his success, the Lakers have faced challenges, struggling to secure a playoff spot.

There’s been speculation about LeBron leaving in the offseason, but he’s made it clear he’s committed to the Lakers. While he knows his playing days are numbered, LeBron remains loyal to the purple and gold.

LeBron’s Statement

LeBron James recently spoke to reporters about his future in the NBA, revealing that he hasn’t decided how many more seasons he’ll play. He acknowledged that retirement is approaching and mentioned the possibility of a farewell tour in his final season, although he’s uncertain about it.

“I’m 50-50,” James said, referencing the contrasting approaches of players like Tim Duncan and the more celebrated farewell tours of legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. “There are times when I feel like I owe it to my fans who have been with me on this journey for over two decades to give them that moment of appreciation in every city. But there’s also the part of me that’s uncomfortable with all the praise.”

He expressed his contentment with the Lakers organization over the past six seasons and emphasized his hope to remain with the team. However, he acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his next move, considering he has a player option for the upcoming season.

“I don’t have all the answers,” James admitted. “I hope to stay with the Lakers; it’s a fantastic organization with a rich history. But ultimately, I don’t know how it will all play out. Retirement is inevitable, and it’s on the horizon for sure.”

LeBron’s Legacy with the Lakers

LeBron James’ tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, which commenced in 2018, has been nothing short of transformative for the franchise. Since donning the iconic purple and gold jersey, James has etched his name into Lakers lore with remarkable achievements and contributions on and off the court.

In his first year with the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James and the team missed the playoffs. But they bounced back strong the following season, winning the NBA title in the unique ‘bubble’ setting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his time with the Lakers, LeBron has been a consistent performer, putting up impressive numbers in points, rebounds, assists, and steals every game. Last season, he achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing the record held by Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

In a memorable moment against the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron’s jumper secured his place at the top of the scoring list with 38,388 points. His contributions to the Lakers and the sport of basketball will be remembered for years to come, inspiring future generations to reach for their dreams on the court.

Nearing Milestones

LeBron James is on the verge of hitting another significant milestone: scoring 40,000 points in his NBA regular-season career. With just 132 points needed to achieve this feat, he could reach it in approximately five games. Betting enthusiasts keen on tracking LeBron’s progress towards this milestone can find odds and betting options on platforms like FanDuel Sportsbook.

But LeBron’s dreams go beyond personal achievements. He’s always wanted to play alongside one of his sons in the NBA. That dream could become a reality with his eldest son Bronny eligible for the NBA Draft this spring.

For LeBron, playing with his son represents the ultimate combination of family and legacy. As he continues to make history on the court, his impact reaches far beyond basketball, inspiring countless fans and future athletes worldwide.

USA Basketball and Olympic Considerations

LeBron James loves representing the USA in basketball, but right now, he’s got a lot on his plate. He’s thinking about playing in the Olympics in Paris, but he’s also focused on his health and helping the Lakers in the playoffs.

Recognizing the toll that years of rigorous competition have taken on his body, LeBron understands the importance of prioritizing rest and recovery. With his longevity in mind, he knows that preserving his physical well-being is paramount to his continued success on the court and his ability to contribute to the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff aspirations.

Moreover, LeBron’s decision is influenced by his desire to ensure he is adequately prepared for the grueling demands of the upcoming NBA season. As a seasoned veteran with an unparalleled work ethic, LeBron recognizes the significance of entering each season in peak condition, ready to lead his team to victory.

LeBron’s commitment to excellence and love for the game will shine through whatever he decides.

Conclusion

LeBron James’ decision to share his retirement wishes while donning the Lakers jersey is a significant moment for NBA fans. As we eagerly anticipate what’s next, one thing remains crystal clear: LeBron’s impact goes way beyond the court. He’s left an undeniable mark on the Lakers and the basketball world, solidifying his status as one of the all-time greats.

The post Laker for Life: LeBron James Reveals Retirement Wishes with LA Team appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

According to Nielsen’s average audience estimates, a staggering 123.7 million viewers watched Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11. The broadcast on CBS alone attracted an average of 120.3 million viewers, marking it as the most-watched single-network telecast to date. And made it the most-watched program ever.

The number of how many people watched the Super Bowl has grown roughly every year from the first Super Bowl until 2015. Then it experienced an abrupt downturn – from 114.8 million in 2015 to 91.6 in 2021.

In the graphic below, you can see the variance in dates.

Here are the top 10 most-watched Super Bowls prior to LVII in 2024:

What is the most-watched Super Bowl of All-Time?

The most recent Super Bowl pitting the Chiefs vs. 49ers had the most viewers via TV.

The 2023 Super Bowl featuring the Chiefs vs. the Eagles had 115 million viewers across all platforms. It is the second-most watched Super Bowl of all-time.

In 2015, 114.4 million people watched the Patriots defeat the Seahawks in Super Bowl 49, making it the most watched Super Bowl in history per Nielsen at the time.

To visualize it another way, over 77% of households using television were tuned in to the Big Game at the time of the broadcast.

The 2015 Super bowl is now the 4th most-watched broadcast in US television history, behind the Super Bowl 2024 and the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing.

What is the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime Show of All-Time?

Usher’s Super Bowl halftime performance averaged 129.3 million viewers — the most-watched Super Bowl halftime on record and a 7% increase from Rihanna’s last year (121 million).

Why doesn’t the number of people who watch the Super Bowl increase every year?

The zillion-dollar question. If the NFL could figure this out they’d probably just microchip us all just to make sure we get the push notification.

You would guess a lot of it is determined by matchup, thought the stats below don’t necessarily support that.

It has to bother the league that even though the NFL continues to become more and more popular, that that popularity is not reflected in a year over year increase.

For example, the 2022 Super Bowl featuring the Rams defeating the Bengals averaged 101 million total viewers.

That was up from Super Bowl 2021 which featured the Chiefs vs. the Buccaneers with 95.8 million.

The 2021 Super Bowl was the lowest watched Super Bowl since 2007’s Super Bowl matchup between the Colts and Bears (93.1 million).

If the NFL is a quarterback driven league, why wouldn’t a matchup of Tom Brady versus Patrick Mahomes attract more viewers?

Weirder still, why would a matchup of Mahomes vs. Jimmy Handsome aka Jimmy Garoppolo in the previous year beat PM15 vs TB12?

The 2020 Super Bowl, featured the Kansas City Chiefs rally against the San Francisco 49ers in a fourth quarter comeback, was watched by 102 million viewers in the United States.

The 2019 Super Bowl between the Rams and Patriots was watched by 98.9 million people. 98.9 million was the lowest since 2008 (Patriots lose to Giants on Tyree Helmet Catch), when 97.4 million tuned in.

The 2017 Super Bowl Patriots vs Falcons attracted 111.9 million viewers. But took a dip in 2018 when 104 million viewers watched the Eagles defeat the Patriots in Super Bowl 53.

When you see the data laid out like this, you can see why the NFL has a problem on their hands in regards to growth.

4 of the last 5 years have recoiled to 2009 levels.

Queue Travis Kelce + Taylor Swift “romance” and inject a ton of Swifties! It makes a lot of sense.

Is the number of people who watch the Super Bowl cannibalizing itself/a catch-22 for the league?

And I’m not coyly making a smooth allusion to two-time Super Bowl champion and Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith. Ok, yes I am.

The improvement of the home viewing experience of NFL games has been a growing concern for the league.

As a fan, why invest four to five hours of your life and several hundred dollars into leaving the comfort of the couch, to ultimately interact with bathrooms, and people, that feel like they haven’t been appropriately cleaned in decades?

Like this man falling asleep at the 2020 Super Bowl:

The continuous shift in fan viewership will only become more of a threat to sports stadiums if they don’t improve the fan experience to keep up with evolving fan needs.

The University of Florida’s Sport Management program, created this infographic, which outlines changing fan preferences and the ways that stadiums across major sports leagues are working to meet these needs by undergoing major upgrades to their infrastructure and amenities.

But honestly how many of the people who attend the Super Bowl and watch it in person are actual fans?

Aren’t they all just corporate executives at this point?

Case in point: the average price of a ticket for this year’s Super Bowl 58 is $8,000 for a single ticket, which is 35 percent more expensive than the $5,997 “get-in” price of the Super Bowl this time last year.

Which is pretty sad when you consider the humble beginnings of the game.

So humble in fact it didn’t even sell out. The passage of time illustrated by this side by side photo comparison.

Some Random Factoids To Consider While You Are Watching The Super Bowl:

• The Super Bowl has never reached less than 61% of U.S. television viewership.
• Super Bowl 50 is the only game that has not used Roman numerals because NFL designers disliked how the Roman numeral for 50 – an L – looked.
• Super Bowl halftime performers don’t get paid. The NFL only covers production costs. but, most acts receive a huge boost in sales. For example, Justin Timberlake’s music sales rose 534% following his 2018 halftime performance.

More NFL:

• NFL Players By College – What College Has The Most NFL Players?
• Best NFL Players That Played In The CFL
• List of All NFL Teams

The post How Many People Watched The Super Bowl? appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

We can’t tell you what the meaning of life is but we can at least tell you what all the little things on an NFL jersey, particularly the helmets, stand for.

There are so many branding design elements at work on the current NFL uniform that it is difficult to keep up.

This piece aims to break down all elements of the NFL uniform from head to toe.

Helmets – NFL Decals and Stickers Explained

The Green Sticker on the Back of The Helmet and its Meaning

This little green circle worn on the back of the helmet near the top of the head indicates the player that has a radio communication device in his helmet. The radio only works one way; so the coaches talk and the players listen, unlike how they behave on social media.

The green sticker player was an offense only tool that started in 1994. You will only ever see the quarterback with the sticker on his helmet because he is calling the plays and making adjustments – it would make no sense to waste it on a player who barely sees the field in every sense.

In 2008, the league allowed defenses to assign the radio to one defensive player on the field. As of 2024 the defense can have three players with the green dot, because the nature of defense is more fluid. But, only one can be on the field at a time.

Cleveland Browns coach and NFL icon Paul Brown is credited with this invention in the 1950s during his dynastic run as NFL champions.

The Different Country Flags Decals on Back of Helmet and What They Mean

This started in 2022 as part of the NFL’s effort to “celebrate the growing number of nationalities and cultures that make up the fabric of the League with an initiative that will see players take the field with international flags on their helmets.”

Today, fans will see over 50 nations and territories represented. Here are the stipulations (in a league run by lawyers you know there have to be some):

Players can choose to wear alongside the American flag, the flag of an international country or territory if:

– They lived there for two years or more, or
– Have a parent or grandparent who were born there.

The league started its’ globalization efforts back in the early 1990’s during NFL Europe – which was awesome, YouTube it, kids. With international games now a fixture of regular scheduling, you will see a continued rise in international awareness to grow the audience.

The NFL Shield Stickers on Helmets

The first appearance of the NFL shield on a uniform was in 1969 as a celebration of the league’s 50th anniversary. But it was just on the uniforms as a patch and not a decal on the helmets.

Believe it or not the NFL shield on the helmets did not start until 1991. From Paul Lukas’ wonderful blog Uni Watch:

“The league logo didn’t reappear on NFL uniforms until the start of the 1991 season, when it was added to the base of the jersey collar, the upper-left pant leg, and the back-left base of the helmet.

This means, among other things, that the last NFL game without the league logo on the uniforms was Super Bowl XXV, and that the last play without the league logo on the uniforms was Scott Norwood’s infamous missed field goal attempt.

Memorial Decals on NFL Helmets

When important historic figures associated with the league, or individual teams passes away, the NFL lets them honor a person with a memorial decal.

I am not a fan of former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle and neither should any NFL fan be, as he undercut the American Football League and usurped the title of “commissioner” during a negotiating session to merge the AFL and NFL from the Raiders” AL Davis while he was using the restroom. But his memorial decal was one of my favorites. The NFL actually allows the designers some creative freedom in the design.

My favorite all-time “memorial decal” was courtesy of the 1989 Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles QB Coach Doug Scovil passed away midseason one day before a game with the hated Cowboys aka Bounty Bowl II. The Eagles would don a black strip of electrical tape over their helmet wings in honor of their fallen coach for the rest of the season.

The most recent example or variation of this was the black background, white typeface “MLK” stickers worn to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his eponymous day.

NFL Man of The Year Sticker on Helmets

The brown sticker of a man wearing a cap that looks like John Bender from The Breakfast Club is actually the logo for the NFL Man of the Year award. Talk about a LOAD of pressure; man of the year?!

Each team nominates a player at the beginning of the NFL season. That sticker is given to each team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and they wear it on their helmet for the duration of the season.

The artwork is pretty cool. From the Internet:

“The NFL Man of the Year trophy was created in 1969 by artist Daniel Bennett Schwartz, depicting a nondescript caped lineman standing alone on the sidelines, outside of game action; it symbolizes that the award is intended to recognize any player, including one who may perform in a lower-profile playing position outside of the spotlight, whose humanitarian contributions and efforts are worthy.”

NFL Uniforms – Patches Explained

What Is The C on NFL Jerseys and What Does It Mean?

The “C” stands for Captain. The “C” patch (not to be confused with c-pap) on NFL players’ jerseys signifies their role as team captains. 

The team captain designation is a team-appointed position that designates certain players as leaders on and off the field. The NFL started allowing teams to add the C to their uniforms in 2007.

What do the Stars Mean Under the C on NFL Jerseys?

The number of gold stars on the patch represents the number of years that player has been named captain by a team. If he has been named captain for longer than four years, the “C” on the patch is gold.

The white stars represent an empty placeholder for the gold stars. For example, if a player has two gold stars and two white stars, that represents that player has been a captain for that team for two years.

How Many Captains are on an NFL Team?

No more than 6 can go out to midfield for the coin toss. The maximum number of captains the NFL allows to dress and wear the C on their jersey during a game is 8. In 2023, the Giants had 10 captains which seems like a boatload. And means they had one less captain than they did losses (11). By comparison, the 2023 Steelers had 4.

What do NFL Team Captains do?

Not much other than “morale” and being a “leader on and off the field.” Captain’s duties take place before the coin toss. The NFL spells this out in the rulebook, under Rule 18.

Coin toss procedures – Each team can send as many as six team captains to the center of the field. On each team, one captain is designated the “speaking captain” of the delegation. The visiting team or the team designated “visitor” by the referee (if no team is declared ‘visitor’) shall choose “heads or tails” or in the case of a special ceremony coin, the options on the face and rear of that coin.

Seems simple enough, but it can get sticky and really screw the team if a captain isn’t paying attention or doesn’t know what they are doing. Case in point: the Packers Jaire Alexander during the 2023 season.

Alexander was suspended for one game because he went out for coin toss on Sunday even though he was not a captain, and then nearly botched the call.

From the Internet:

“For people that didn’t know Jaire went out as a captain when he wasn’t supposed to, and after the Packers won the toss he said they wanted to play defense. Luckily the ref was chill and let him change his answer or else the Panthers would’ve gotten the ball to start both halves! Suspension is absolutely valid as he’s purposely defying what the coach wants.”

What Is The Brown Cape on NFL Jerseys and What Does it Mean?

One of my favorite questions I’ve heard about the NFL Man of the Year patch on NFL uniforms is, “Why is Darth Vader on NFL jerseys?”

While it make look like Lord Vader, it is actually a patch that signifies the player wearing it has been named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

As long as that player is active he will wear that on his jersey. The NFL started adding this patch to jerseys in 2017.

The post NFL Uniform Breakdown – What Do All The Things Mean? appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

Scanning through a list of Super Bowl Winners and Losers is like a time capsule.

List of Super Bowl Winners and Losers | Who Has Won The Most Super Bowls
What Team Has Won The Most Super Bowls | How Many People Watched The Super Bowl?

At any point in the last 40 years, mention a game and I can tell you exactly where I was, the Super Bowl MVP, and what I was doing in my life during the game.

RELATED – NFL Standings and Records Year by Year

Like so many things, the Super Bowl sells nostalgia and history as much as the current game.

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, Quarterbacks dominate the Super Bowl MVP award, having won 31 of 55 times. Running backs and wide receivers have each won the award seven times. On the defensive side of the ball, linebackers (four) have won the most times.

RELATED – List of ALL Super Bowl MVPs Year By Year

The Super Bowl was named after Lamar Hunt’s children’s toy, the “Super Ball.”

The name “Super Bowl” was going to simply be the working title as the owners discussed the merger of the AFL and NFL.

Pete Rozelle initially referred to it as “The AFL-NFL World Championship Game.” The NFL didn’t even start referring to the Championship Game as the “Super Bowl” until Super Bowl III.

Here is a list of year by year Super Bowl winners and losers:

Who Has Won The Most Super Bowls?

Tom Brady has won seven Super Bowl rings, the most of any player in NFL history.

Bill Belichick, is the only individual in NFL history to win eight Super Bowl rings.

Defensive end Charles Haley won five Super Bowl rings with the 49ers and Cowboys for the
second most:

Player | Total Super Bowls Won | Position | Team

Tom Brady 7 QB Patriots (6), Buccaneers (1)
Charles Haley 5 LB 49ers (2), Cowboys (3)
Marv Fleming 4 TE Packers (2), Dolphins (2)
Ted Hendricks 4 LB Colts (1), Raiders (3)
Matt Millen 4 LB Raiders (2), 49ers (1), Redskins (1)
Bill Romanowski 4 LB 49ers (2), Broncos (2)
Adam Vinatieri 4 K Patriots (3), Colts (1)
Joe Montana 4 QB 49ers
Keena Turner 4 LB 49ers
Eric Wright 4 DB 49ers
Mike Wilson 4 WR 49ers
Ronnie Lot 4 DB 49ers
Jesse Sapolu 4 OL 49ers
Terry Bradshaw 4 QB Steelers
Franco Harris 4 WR Steelers
Lynn Swann 4 WR Steelers
John Stallworth 4 WR Steelers
Mel Blount 4 DB Steelers
Jack Ham 4 LB Steelers
Mike Webster 4 C Steelers
Donnie Shell 4 DB Steelers
LC Greenwood 4 DE Steelers
Rocky Bleier 4 RB Steelers
Gerry Mullins 4 G Steelers
Larry Brown 4 TE/T Steelers
Mike Wagner 4 DB Steelers
JT Thomas 4 DB Steelers
Loren Toews 4 LB Steelers
Jon Kolb 4 T Steelers
Sam Davis 4 G Steelers
Steve Furness 4 DT Steelers
Dwight White 4 DE Steelers
Randy Grossman 4 TE Steelers
Joe Greene 4 DT Steelers

What Team Has Won The Most Super Bowls?

The Patriots and Steelers have won the most Super Bowls ever, tied with 6.

Team | Appearances | Wins | Winning Seasons | Losses | Losing Seasons

New England Patriots 11, 6, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018, 5, 1985, 1996, 2007, 2011, 2017
Pittsburgh Steelers 8, 6, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, 2008, 2, 1995, 2010
Dallas Cowboys 8, 5, 1971, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1995, 3, 1970, 1975, 1978
San Francisco 49ers 7, 5, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994 2 2012, 2019
Green Bay Packers 5, 4, 1966, 1967, 1996, 2010 1 1997
New York Giants 5, 4, 1986, 1990, 2007, 2011 1 2000
Denver Broncos 8, 3, 1997, 1998, 2015 5 1977, 1986, 1987, 1989, 2013
LA/Oakland Raiders 5, 3, 1976, 1980, 1983 2 1967, 2002
Washington Redskins 5, 3, 1982, 1987, 1991 2 1972, 1983
Miami Dolphins 5, 2, 1972, 1973 3 1971, 1982, 1984
Chiefs 4, 3, 2023, 2020, 1970
Colts 4, 2, 1970, 2006 2 1968, 2009
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2, 2 2002, 2021

Image Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pro_Football_Hall_of_Fame_(23945679037).jpg

The post List Of Super Bowl Winners And Losers appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

The reason this post exists was to find our where Bryce Young’s rookie season stacked up historically.

I was shocked to not find a simple list of all quarterbacks drafted #1 overall in the NFL Draft. So I made this.

Through the 2023 NFL Draft, 88 players have been selected first overall. 35 quarterbacks have been selected as the first overall pick. 40% of the time a QB has been selected #1.

A quarterback was not selected as the #1 pick until 1944.

There are two things you will notice about this list immediately:

1) The same teams draft QBs #1 overall consistently.

The Colts have done it 5 times.
The Rams have done it 4 times.
The Browns have done it 3 times.
The Patriots have done it twice.
The Bengals have done it twice.
The Falcons have done it twice.
The Panthers have done it twice.
The Buccaneers have done it twice.
The Boston Yanks did it twice.

2) The phenomenon of drafting a quarterback number one overall is a recent trend.

As noted above it took 8 drafts for a QB to go #1.

In the span of the last 25 years from 1998 to 2023, QBs were selected first overall 19 times. 76% of the time.

Here are the 35 QBs that have been drafted #1 overall:

1944 — QB Angelo Bertelli, Boston Yanks
1946 — QB Frank Dancewicz, Boston Yanks
1952 — QB Bill Wade, Los Angeles Rams
1954 — QB Bobby Garrett, Cleveland Browns
1955 — QB George Shaw, Baltimore Colts
1958 — QB King Hill, Chicago Cardinals
1959 — QB Randy Duncan, Green Bay Packers
1963 — QB Terry Baker, Los Angeles Rams
1970 — QB Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers
1971 — QB Jim Plunkett, New England Patriots
1975 — QB Steve Bartkowski, Atlanta Falcons
1983 — QB John Elway, Baltimore Colts
1987 — QB Vinny Testaverde, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1989 — QB Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys
1990 — QB Jeff George, Indianapolis Colts
1993 — QB Drew Bledsoe, New England Patriots
1998 — QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
1999 — QB Tim Couch, Cleveland Browns
2001 — QB Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons
2002 — QB David Carr, Houston Texans
2003 — QB Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals
2004 — QB Eli Manning, New York Giants
2005 — QB Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers
2007 — QB JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders
2009 — QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
2010 — QB Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
2011 — QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
2012 — QB Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
2015 — QB Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2016 — QB Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
2018 — QB Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
2019 — QB Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
2020 — QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
2021 — QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
2023 — QB Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Random NFL Draft Quarterback Factoids

The first NFL Draft after the NFL and AFL merger was in 1970. From 1947 through 1958 the first selection was awarded by a random draw.

The NFL Draft started in 1936. The first overall draft pick ever was running back Jay Berwanger. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles.

3 first overall draft pick quarterbacks have been named NFL Rookie of the Year: Sam Bradford (2010); Cam Newton (2011); and Kyler Murray (2019).

The Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Rams have each made the most first overall selections in history with seven.

The post List of Quarterbacks Drafted #1 Overall in NFL Draft by Year appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

Believe it or not, there WAS a time when “James Harden with beard” was “James Harden without beard.”

One look at James Harden without beard reveals why he grew the beard.

What in the world did we ever do prior to the existence of GIFs? Harden’s beard looks so life-like, you’d swear it was a living entity.

Check out this James Harden Beard GIF that details the growth of the most famous facial hair in the NBA and potentially in the world of sports.

And yes, I’m including former Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brian Wilson in that statement, even though you probably forgot about him.

Actually the weirdest beard in all of sports probably belongs to Ohio State football coach Ryan Day. It looks like a glued a muskrat to his chin and dyed it in motor oil.

Harden’s beard has gotten progressively weirder, (detailed nicely by Yahoo here) to the point where it is now, akin to an overgrown jungle canopy.

RELATED – How Much Does Russell Westbrook Make – Per Game, Per Season, Per Minute?

Meanwhile, Harden’s beard is 100% natural a devoid of beard PED’s, something his MLB counterparts would have a hard time claiming.

At the same time his beard has taken shape, Harden’s faux-hawk has also progressed nicely, giving him a head shape that most of us would be proud to call our own.

There is a “Samson” joke in here somewhere, because the longer Harden has grown the beard, the more success he has enjoyed in his NBA career.

EXCEPT, in the playoffs when James Harden annually converts to his alter ego, James Soften:

Harden set a new standard of style with his beard. And he’s followed that up in ensuing years with fashion-forward/weird clothes and outfits that only Cam Newton can really appreciate.

What’s interesting though is the domain of the beard really belongs to Harden. Name another NBA player with a well-known beard? Or even facial hair.

Probably have to lump the Lakers’ Anthony Davis into this mix and his unibrow that he literally trademarked.

The Birdman Chris Anderson had a beard for a while. As did Dirk Nowitzki. But that’s really it.

But do you know what ISN’T over? James Harden’s career.

Since he forced his way out of Philadelphia via a trade to the Clippers, the former little brother of NBA basketball teams, the Clippers are currently a game out of the #1 seed in the Western Conference.

Harden discussed his fit with the Clippers back in November, which was a hot-button topic following the trade, infamously stating, “I’m not a system player, I am a system.”

Harden is playing 34 mpg which is the lowest since his OKC Thunder days.

But, he is contributing across the board with 17/8/5/1 and shooting a career-high 40% from three.

And most importantly, and surprisingly, teaming up (rather than ‘teeming’) with Russell Westbrook has exceeded anyone’s expectations other than their own.

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The post James Harden Without Beard (GIF) appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

To find the dirtiest NBA team and players we looked at personal foul data for the last 5 seasons. And it turns out the Detroit Pistons are the most foul/dirty team in the NBA.  #BadBoys

The average NBA player commits a foul every 13 minutes and five seconds, which means 11 fouls are committed each game.

We analyzed NBA teams’ performance over the past five years to identify who committed the most personal fouls, and divided this against playing time to reveal the dirtiest of the dirty.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Detroit Pistons committed the most violations, with a foul recorded once every 11 minutes and 19 seconds.

This is significantly higher than the league average offense frequency (one every 12 minutes) and is a far more disruptive performance when compared to the Pistons’ rivals the Chicago Bulls, who committed a foul once every 12 minutes and 17 seconds.

A personal foul is caused when a player makes illegal contact with another player on the court to block their movement, such as charging and blocking.

According to the NBA, infractions of the rules are taken very seriously and can lead to a loss of ball possession or free throws. If a player accumulates six personal fouls in a game, he will be disqualified from the game.

It’s also interesting to see which team is likely to be most affected by the NBA’s recent attempts to cut down on ‘flopping’, which sees players try to draw a charging violation on an opposing team. Those suspected of flopping will be penalized and fined up to $2,000.

The Phoenix Suns come in as the second most badly-behaved team with a personal foul every 11 minutes 24 seconds. The team have never won a championship, but with the removal of Deandre Ayton, who commits a foul on average every 10 minutes, they may have a shot.

Fans of the Minnesota Timberwolves will be disappointed to learn that after averaging a personal foul every 11 minutes 25 seconds they’re the third most disruptive team.

Interestingly, the Golden State Warriors – who won the 2022-23 NBA title- are in the top five teams for the unruliest players, reporting an offense every 11 minutes and 27 seconds.

The Top Ten Dirtiest Teams in the NBA

On the other end of the scale, the NBA’s best-behaved team is the Milwaukee Bucks, with a personal foul committed once every 12 minutes 59 seconds.

Following closely behind the Bucks is Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs as the second and third most not dirty teams, with a foul committed once every 12 minutes 58 seconds and every 12 minutes 57 seconds.

Who is the Dirtiest Player in The NBA?

We used the same methodology as we did for the dirtiest NBA team; the total personal fouls committed by each player divided by their playing time.

The worst-behaved NBA player is Dewayne Dedmon causing the most disruption over the last five seasons.

The former Philadelphia 76ers center committed a foul every 6 minutes and 27 seconds – compared to the NBA average of every 13 minutes

This is significantly higher than the average offense frequency committed across the NBA (once every 13 minutes and 5 seconds) and is more disruptive than the 76ers’ average offense rate of once every 11 minutes and 49 seconds.

The second most badly-behaved player is JaVale McGee who plays for the Sacramento Kings with a foul once every six minutes and 55 seconds.

The third-worst came out as Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid, with a foul every 7 minutes and 3 seconds.

Surprisingly, notorious bad boy Dillion Brooks only ranked as the 20th dirtiest player in the NBA.

The Top Ten Dirtiest Players in the NBA

Who Is The “Nicest” NBA Player?

The NBA’s best-behaved player is Tyus Jones, who plays for the Washington Wizards who reports 81% fewer personal fouls than NBA bad boy Dewayne Dedmon.

Following closely is Harrison Barnes who plays for the Sacramento Kings, while the third-least troublesome player is Derrick Rose of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Top 10 Cleanest NBA Players

The post The Dirtiest NBA Team And Player appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.

We tabulated the win and loss totals for each of the NFL’s 32 teams from week 1 of the 2013 season until Week 3 of 2023.

The Kansas City Chiefs rank in first place, winning 118 out of the 164 games they have played in the past ten years, including their most recent victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Chiefs have won 72% of all games played in the past ten years, ranking as the team that has won the most NFL games since 2013.

The Kingdom’s best year was 2022, when they won 14 games, including the Super Bowl. The Chiefs have lost just 46 games over the past ten years, the lowest number of losses out of all NFL teams.

In second place is the New England Patriots, who have won 111 games out of 164 total games. Even though they have had a rough couple season since TB12 departed, the Patriots are the second-most successful team over the last decade. The Patriots most victorious year was 2016, when they won 14 games, including the Super Bowl. The team has lost a total of 53 games since 2014.

In third place, the Seattle Seahawks. The ‘Hawks won 104 games out of the 164 games played. The team’s most successful year was 2013, when they won 13 games and the Super Bowl. The following season in what looked to be a fledgling dynasty they lost the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots thanks to Malcom Butler’s incredible game-sealing INT.

Tying in fourth place are the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams have won a total of 101 games and lost a total of 61 games.

The Packers last won the Super Bowl in 2010, where they played against the Steelers. The Steelers last won the Super Bowl in 2009 when they defeated the Arizona Cardinals.

The Saints rank in fifth place, winning 99 games of the 164 games played. The team’s most successful year was 2019, when they won 13 games. The Saints won the Super Bowl in 2010 when they defeated the Indianapolis Colts. The first and only SB victory in their long history of losing. #Aints.

Surprisingly, the Dallas Cowboys, also known as ‘America’s Team,’ do not rank in the top five. The team ranks in sixth place, winning 96 games since 2013.

Rounding out the top 10:

– The Baltimore Ravens in seventh place, winning a total of 95 games
– Philadelphia Eagles in eighth place, winning 94 games
– Buffalo Bills in ninth place, winning 93 games
– Minnesota Vikings in tenth place, winning a total of 90 games.

Now, let’s talk LOSERS. Which NFL team has lost the most games over the past 10 years?

You can’t spell “losar” without “Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jags lost 114 games out of 164 games played since 2013. 2020 was a the worst year ever for the team, losing 15 games and only winning once. The team’s most successful year was 2015, winning ten games and losing to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game.

The second biggest loser are the Cleveland Browns, who have lost 108 out of 164 games since 2013. Aided hugely by a 2016 season where they did not win a single game under Hue Jackson.

Following their most recent loss against the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Jets ranked third. The team has lost a total of 107 games since 2013. The team’s most successful year was 2015, when they won 10 games. In 2020 the the Fighting Zach Wilson’s went 2-14.

The New York Giants rank as the fourth team with the most losses over the past ten years. So far in 2023 it looks as though Danny Dimes aka Danny Pennies will add double digit “Ls” to this total.

The G-Men have lost a total of 101 games since 2013. 2021 was their most brutal year, where they lost 13 games. The team has also not played in the Super Bowl since 2012, when they defeated the New England Patriots.

The fifth team with the most losses is the Chicago Bears. As covered previously here, they should be called the Chicago Beers because you need a lot of that to watch them play.

The team has lost a total of 100 games since 2013. Last year was the most challenging year for the team since 2013, losing 14 games. Speaking of 14 the Bears have lost 14 games in a row in every conceivable fashion. Da Beers last played the Super Bowl in 2007, where they were defeated by the Indianapolis Colts.

Rounding out the top 10 losers are:

– The Houston Texans, who have lost 98 games
– Washington Commandos, who have lost 97 games
– Las Vegas Raiders in eighth place, who have lost 96 games.
– Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers both tie in ninth place, having lost 92 games since 2013

In tenth place is the Atlanta Falcons, who have lost 72 games since 2013.

The post NFL Team with the MOST WINS Over the Past Decade Is… appeared first on I-80 Sports Blog.