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MEGATRON CONFIRMS HE PLAYED WITH BROKEN FINGERS LAST SEASON - Detroit Lions star Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson put up amazing numbers last season, despite being double teamed on what seemed to be every play. Defensive game plans were structured around stopping him, and he still dominated. He had his most impressive season to date.

If you didn’t respect Johnson from his numbers alone, maybe this will give you that final reason — he played most of last season with 3 broken fingers.

Johnson said Monday that no surgery is needed, but he’s still trying to straighten out his fingers. He also had a knee injury and some ankle issues, but that wasn’t enough to keep him from playing in all 16 games. Even more shocking, Johnson even admits to toiling with a concussion last season. The Lions franchise denies knowing about that last one.

With injuries that would have left lesser men floored, Johnson didn’t skip a beat and led the NFL with 122 catches for 1,964 yards. His toughness is not up for debate. (Photo via Zimbio.com)

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DID YOU KNOW?

The first playoff game in NFL history was very unique. It happened in 1932 between the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans, who later became the Detroit Lions. The game was also for the NFL Championship Title.

The Bears had a record of 6-1-6, while the Spartans had a record of 6-1-4. The game was scheduled to be at Wrigley Field in Chicago, but due to nasty weather, the game was moved indoors at the Blackhawks hockey arena.

Because the field was only 80 yards deep and 10 yards narrower than the regular field, the ball was automatically re-spotted 20 yards back any time a team crossed the 50 yard line.

The Chicago Bears went on to win the game by a score of 9-0.

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- CHARLES WOODSON TO VISIT WITH RAIDERS ON TUESDAY -

Free agent defensive back Charles Woodson is getting a lot of attention from several teams now. Woodson’s agent, Carl Poston, reports that the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year will visit with the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

Woodson, 36, is already in Oakland after meeting with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday, but can’t meet with the team until next week because he has a charity obligation this weekend to support Mott Children’s hospital.

Poston says the Giants and Panthers are also interested in talking with Woodson. If he were to sign with the Raiders, it would be Woodson’s second stop in Oakland. He spent the first eight seasons of his career there. (Photo: USA Today Sports)

kickoffcoverage:

Who is the #1 QB in the NFL?

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- REPORT: GIANTS SHOWING INTEREST IN DB CHARLES WOODSON -

Free agent defensive back Charles Woodson left Denver Wednesday without a contract. But he is getting interest from another Manning-led team.

Josina Anderson of ESPN reports the New York Giants “have just put their toe in the water again” in regards to signing Woodson. The Giants did have Woodson on their radar when he first hit the free agent market.

The Giants could definitely use the versatile Woodson in their defensive backfield. At 37, he would just be a role player, but with his ability to cover multiple positions, Woodson could see plenty of action in the Giants three-safety system.

The Oakland Raiders are still the best option for Woodson. He has back tracked on his Super Bowl comments, saying he would consider signing with a team in a rebuilding year. He began his career in Oakland and they fit the bill of rebuilding. While he has not taken an official visit out to the Raiders, the team does have a deal on the table for Woodson. The size of the contract is unknown, but both parties have mutual interest. His career could end in the exact place it began.

If Woodson continues to remain patient a contract will come. As of now, the Giants, Raiders and some interest from the Carolina Panthers are all swirling around him. A contract is likely to come soon. (Photo: US Presswire)

kickoffcoverage:

- RICHARD SHERMAN HIRES REPLACEMENT REF WHO BLEW CALL DURING SEAHAWK / PACKERS GAME - Last season the NFL started the season in a labor dispute with NFL officials. So they kicked off the season with replacement officials. The replacement crews had a few bad calls during that time, but the biggest controversy happened during the Seahawks - Packers match up on Monday Night Football. After that debacle, the replacements were booted and the regular officials returned to work.

Now one of the officials from that game will be working with the Seahawks again as cornerback Richard Sherman has hired one of them to umpire his charity softball game in July. 

Sherman wrote on the Facebook page for the Richard Sherman Celebrity Softball Game that the umpire will be Lance Easley, one of the replacement refs who handed the Seahawks a win over the Packers last season by ruling that Seattle had scored a Hail Mary touchdown as time expired.

“Remember the Ref who called TD during the Green Bay Game Monday Night??? His name is Lance Easley and he is going to Umpire for us July 7th! Don’t be surprised if a few flags are thrown,” Sherman wrote.

I’m not sure why flags will be thrown during a softball game, but it sounds like it should be a fun time.

Lol this is funny.

I’m most excited for the rematch against the 49ers. 

I can’t stand these guys, or a majority of their fans.

fyeahclaymatthews:

Woodson is meeting with the Broncos…

Don’t get me wrong, I really want him to get signed but….I’m NOT a Bronco fan….

UGH. Those were my thoughts exactly.

aaronrodgersbitch:

Happy Birthday to Clay……again:P

(via fyeahclaymatthews)

fyeahclaymatthews:

cbssports:

We ranked the 100 best players in the NFL and Aaron Rodgers topped the list.

WOOT WOOT! We also have Clay Matthews in at number 18

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Check out Derrick Rose email. The one from Jay Cutler made me laugh out loud.

Jay Cutler: Tip- “Chicago fans like hurt people to act hurt…”

Haha.

fyeahgreenbaypackers:

Packers CB Casey Hayward hasn’t slowed down much since his rookie season ended.

Shortly after the Packers were eliminated from the playoffs last January, Hayward returned to Vanderbilt University for his final semester of college, and Hayward graduated last week with his degree in sociology.

Needing just 13 hours, including one more class in his major, to finish his degree, Hayward decided not to wait to go back to school. Having skipped the last semester he needed to graduate in order to go through the pre-draft process last year, Hayward didn’t want to put it off any longer.

Congratulations Casey!

What’s going on, guys? Anything new?

mysweetjupiter:

devil2lestat:

This is my “Damn, I forgot to shave!” face!

Teee heee

(via fyeahclaymatthews)

The Green Bay Packers have signed nine of their draft choices and nine rookie free agents. The signings were announced Friday by Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations.

Draft signings:

Rd-Pos-Name-Ht-Wt-College-HS Hometown
4a, T David Bakhtiari, 6-4, 300, Colorado, San Mateo, Calif.
4b, T JC Tretter, 6-4, 307, Cornell, Akron, N.Y.
4c, RB Johnathan Franklin, 5-10, 205, UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif.
5a, CB Micah Hyde, 6-0, 197, Iowa, Fostoria, Ohio
5b, DE Josh Boyd, 6-3, 310, Mississippi State, Philadelphia, Miss.
6, LB Nate Palmer, 6-2, 248, Illinois State, Chicago, Ill.
7a, WR Charles Johnson, 6-2, 215, Grand Valley State, Erlanger, Ky.
7b, WR Kevin Dorsey, 6-1, 207, Maryland, Forestville, Md.
7c, LB Sam Barrington, 6-1, 235, South Florida, Jacksonville, Fla.

Rookie free agent signings:

No-Pos-Name-Ht-Wt-College-HS Hometown
#1, QB Matt Brown, 6-3, 225, Illinois State, Marion, Ill.
#60, C Patrick Lewis, 6-1, 311, Texas A&M, Reserve, La.
#46, LB Andy Mulumba, 6-3, 260, Eastern Michigan, Montreal
#39, RB Angelo Pease, 5-10, 211, Kansas State, Cairo, Ga.
#63, DT Gilbert Pena, 6-2, 330, Mississippi, Yonkers, N.Y.
#40, FB Ryan Roberson, 6-0, 240, Texas, Brenham, Texas
#45, TE Jake Stoneburner, 6-3, 249, Ohio State, Dublin, Ohio
#65, G Lane Taylor, 6-3, 324, Oklahoma State, Arlington, Texas
#19, WR Myles White, 6-0, 182, Louisiana Tech, Livonia, Mich.

Brown, 22, was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2012 after setting single-season school records for completions (272), attempts (439), completion percentage (65.0), passing yards (3,370) and passing touchdowns (27). He started the final 45 games of his career and was the only QB in school history to throw for more than 2,000 yards in four consecutive seasons (2009-12).

Lewis, 22, started all 13 games at center as a senior for an Aggie offense that ranked third nationally in total offense and scoring. He earned honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition three times during his career, at guard as a freshman and sophomore and at center as a junior. Lewis played in 51 games during his career at A&M with 48 starts.

Mulumba (muh-LUM-buh), 23, played in all 48 games with 31 starts during his career and earned second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors in 2012. He registered 73 tackles (27 solo), including seven tackles for loss, a sack and two forced fumbles as a senior. As a junior, Mulumba recorded 51 tackles (19 solo), 7½ tackles for loss, 3½ sacks and two forced fumbles.

Pease, 21, played in 21 contests during his two seasons (2011-12) at Kansas State and rushed for 477 yards and two TDs on 96 carries (5.0 avg.). He posted 333 rushing yards on 60 carries (5.6 avg.) as a senior. Pease played two seasons at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College (2009-10), rushing for 834 yards and nine TDs on 155 carries (5.4 avg.) in 2010.

Peña, 26, appeared in all 13 contests with six starts as a senior in 2012 and registered 34 tackles (14 solo), including 6½ tackles for loss, and two sacks. Pena played in 10 games as a junior and posted 11 tackles (five solo). He earned first-team All-Northeast Conference recognition at ASA College (N.Y.) in 2010 after recording 41 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss, and five sacks.

Roberson (ROB-er-son), 23, played in 52 games at Texas and saw time at fullback, linebacker and on special teams. As a senior in 2012, he caught eight passes for 34 yards (4.1 avg.) and a TD and rushed once for 4 yards. Roberson helped the Longhorns average 35.7 points per game and 434.6 yards per game in 2012.

Stoneburner, 23, appeared in 48 games with 23 starts during his career and caught 53 passes for 714 yards (13.5 avg.) and 13 TDs. As a senior in 2012, he posted 16 receptions for 269 yards (16.8 avg.) and four TDs. In 2011, Stoneburner earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition after catching seven TD passes on the season, good for No. 4 nationally among tight ends.

Taylor, 23, played in 50 games during his career with 47 starts and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior from both the league’s coaches and media. He started all 24 games at right guard over his final two seasons and did not allow a sack over that span. Taylor earned honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition from the league’s coaches and media as a junior.

White, 23, played in 22 contests during his two seasons at Louisiana Tech and earned second-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors as a senior after catching 56 passes for 718 yards (12.8 avg.) and six TDs. White caught 30 passes for 414 yards (13.8 avg.) and three TDs as a junior in 2011. He began his career at Northwest Mississippi Community College, where he led the team in catches (53), receiving yards (712) and receiving TDs (six) in 2010.

** This was copy pasted directly from the Green Bay Packers website packers.com none of this is this blogs wording or original work.