data-mm-id=”_7a02a6av8″>Mike Vrabel did not find himself holding a gig as the NFL head coaching carousel went round and round this winter. Which could be see a surprise considering the success he's had with the Tennessee Titans and his ability to instill legitimate toughness and physicality. It seems like that type of power and presence would speak volumes and get a team to bite because an established track record feels so much safer than the unknown. On the other hand, Vrabel is very large because he played linebacker in the NFL. At 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds he's going to be the most physically imposing person in most rooms. In fact, pretty much anywhere except … an NFL team facility. Speaking on The Athletic Football Show, Dianna Russini relayed some information gleaned from an NFL general manager who believed Vrabel's girth and elevation could have been seen as a negative. Full quote for context pic.twitter.com/ZsFNaVwIPK— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) February 5, 2024"I don't think there was a fit for him," she said. "I don't think he sat in front of any owner who thought that his style was going to work for what they were looking for. I had a GM at the Senior Bowl who mentioned to me Vrabel's physical build. That he's a very large human being. And can be very intimidating to people in an organization that are going to be part of these decisions. And that is a factor."Okay. Maybe this is problematic. No one wants to sit in a meeting and hear some big ol' hoss' bad ideas and then be dared to say something about it as they stare daggers into the soul. That's a very human thing. Yet … it also seems a bit incredible. Why would a person who doesn't want to be around massive human beings want to work in the NFL? Why would they think that's a good fit for their skill set and personality? Continuing the hypothetical, I might suggest that the general manager of an NFL team staffing up their organization with shrinking violets who cannot handle going toe-to-toe philosophically with some tight end or defensive tackle born in the aughts has simply made a tactical error. It feels like an odd interview question yet it's obviously non-trivial.And look, there's probably more to it and everyone having the same dumbfounded reaction to finding this out is actually wrong. What works for one organization does not work for them all. Dan Campbell is 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds. DeMeco Ryans is listed on Pro Football Reference at 6-foot-1 and 247. Doug Pederson at 6-foot-3, 220. Andy Reid is not a small individual. Neither is Brian Daboll. Antonio Pierce coaches the Raiders. Jerod Mayo the Patriots. You're getting the picture. It's a lot harder to find an NFL head man who isn't an impossible physical presence outside of a rogue Mike McDaniel. Maybe that's all changing, though.
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data-mm-id=”_uw7v8s6vr”>Just three years after winning the NFC Championship, an Atlanta Falcons team with nine-digit wide receiver Julio Jones and former MVP Matt Ryan started the 2019 season with a 1-7 record, their worst start in 17 years. When a team with so much talent falls apart in such a short time, the blame has to start at the top, and the top is head coach Dan Quinn.At first, the question of whether Quinn would lose his job at the end of the season seemed less like an "if" rather than a "when". From out of nowhere, the Falcons stormed back to win four of their next six, including road wins over two of the league's top teams (New Orleans and San Francisco), making the first half of the season seem even more like a bizarre aberration.Falcons fans may lo…
data-mm-id=”_52611nz8n”>For all the changes and loosening of ties in the world of on-air fashion, it is still quite rare to see a sports media member showcasing their tattoos while doing a studio show, simulcast, or live hit. Even in the year 2020, with so much changing, visible ink stands out, especially on exposed arms. The list is growing but it is still a select club. I reached out to several personalities whose artwork caught my eye during their shows to ask them about something that can be at times both intensely personal and what they want to speak about the most. They told me behind-the-scenes stories of their decisions to take the plunge — and in many cases continuing to take it over and over again. They opened up about the meaning behind their pieces, the oft-meandering rela…
data-mm-id=”_94qd35lxk”>Throughout his time as NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver has built a nearly-infallible reputation both within the league and in public perception. According to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, that persona will be put to the test over the coming weeks. Appearing on Golic and Wingo, Wojnarowski discussed some of the tougher decisions Silver faces in the coming weeks as the NBA tries to figure out how/if it can resume its season following the coronavirus shutdown. Silver was praised for his decisive decision to shut the league down after Rudy Gobert tested positive (the NBA was the first major professional sports league in the US to halt play), but he could ruffle some feathers when he announces how the league will resume, so saith Woj. “He’s going to start ma…
data-mm-id=”_93erm0g31″>Major League Baseball's players are set to report to training camps this week, but the business of the league didn't stop during the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, Pittsburgh Pirates righty Edgar Santana and three minor leaguers were suspended 80 games for performance-enhancing drug use. Pittsburgh #Pirates pitcher Edgar Santana now is out for the season after receiving an 80-game suspension after testing positive for Boldenone.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 28, 2020Santana was expected to be on the Pirates's roster this season, but now he'll miss all 60 games this season and 20 in 2021. He tested positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid. Santana last pitched in the major leagues in 2018, and was out all of the 2019 MLB season…
data-mm-id=”_ioctthnsd”>Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn willingly gave possession of the football back to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs instead of attempting a fourth-and-one on his own 34 yard-line in overtime on Sunday. On paper, it was a difficult decision, with the win probability extremely similar no matter the choice made. In reality, it was objectively insane to punt to the scariest quarterback alive and things predictably backfired. Harrison Butker, who may be our hunkiest kicker, ended up booting a 58-yarder to seal a Kansas City victory and ensure the Chargers and first-time starter Justin Herbert never saw the football again. Lynn explained his puzzling decision this way:”“I considered going for it,” Lynn said, via the Los Angeles Times. “It was a …
data-mm-id=”_6kz8uxin2″>Here is a video that perfectly captures America in 2020. Failure, pain, Jeff Bezos making money. It has it all. And it has a message, about getting back up, no matter how bad things look on replay. We could all learn something from this guy.??? I would've called my job and said I'm done for the day. pic.twitter.com/uhJI4dj48d— Mike (@ogmike) October 25, 2020So to recap, an Amazon driver slips and hurts himself. After bending his legs in ways that Odell Beckham Jr. would commiserate with, he lays down on the customer's porch in pain while he determines that he isn't seriously injured. He then gathers himself, decides he's not at the right door anyway and proceeds to slip on the same spot and falls on his back with someone now watching.I…
data-mm-id=”_quepc7lfu”>Indiana's search for a new men's basketball coach has continued this week with few leaks, only baseless reports. As focus on the NCAA Tournament takes a breather during a few off-days, it's natural that speculation around the Hoosiers would pick back up. ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla stepped into the void and offered his two cents. While appearing on Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre, Fraschilla said he believed Indiana should offer $5 million to Baylor head coach Scott Drew and get a deal done. He thinks it would be a home run hire, though he also said Loyola-Chicago's Porter Moser would be great at Indiana. The full episode of the podcast is below and Fraschilla's entire interview with McIntyre is excellent, as the tw…
data-mm-id=”_vep2xjcec”>Tom Brady retired from football and decided to take a gap year before diving into a lucrative broadcasting career, but don't worry, he's going to find a way to make ends meet. Brady appears to be expanding his brand rapidly in 2023. Today it was announced that his name would be on a car at Le Mans. BRADY™ will provide the official @Hertz Team @JotaSport kit, as well as travel & leisure apparel highlighting signature BRADY™ quality, durability and comfort. Hertz Team JOTA will debut at the 1000 miles of Sebring, the first round of the 2023 @FIAWEC in Florida on 03.17. https://t.co/12g4RT6DTZ pic.twitter.com/9cGxxoII94— BRADY (@bradybrand) March 1, 2023If you aren't going to be driving in a 24-hour endurance sports car race anytime soon, y…
data-mm-id=”_f62dcj30e”>The MLB season is very, very long and the last month of the year can feel even longer when a team is out of contention. Fans everywhere feel this way and it is obvious that broadcasters do, too. They're human just like the rest of us and get a bit bored when work is slow. Counter-intuitively, this often leads to some of the more entertaining conversations you'll hear all season in the booth. Which brings us to last night's utterly meaningless contest between the New York Mets and Washington Nationals. A battle between the bottom two teams of the NFC East. Not the most thrilling affair. With the score tied in the top of the eighth, the SNY production team was goofing off a little and zoomed in on a bat that had taken up residence on the net behind …
data-mm-id=”_qbw8hv6q5″>NBC relived a classic before the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders played on Sunday Night Football. The program's intro featured actress Jennifer Edwards, who played the title role in the 1968 film Heidi. She reminded the world of the famous "Heidi Game" between the two teams and promised it wouldn't happen again. In November of 1968, the Jets and Raiders were two of the AFL's best teams and faced off in what was destined to be a classic. The back and forth contest lived up to its billing but, unfortunately, NBC turned away from its coverage to start its presentation of Heidi on time. East Coast markets missed the Raiders' comeback, as they scored two touchdowns in the final minute to win 43-32. Almost exactly 55 years later, here…