Tag Archives: NFL

Well Deserved Media Praise Follows Peyton Manning Throwing 500th Career Touchdown Pass

By Matt Rogers

During the Denver Broncos match-up against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Peyton Manning became one of only two quarterbacks in NFL history to throw at least 500 touchdowns, the other being Brett Favre.

Merely seconds after the play that resulted in Manning’s 500th touchdown, social media exploded with analysis from fans, professional journalists and even the Denver Broncos themselves. In this day and age, social media sites like Twitter and Facebook have become a popular source for getting news, especially when a milestone is reached in the NFL. Twitter is filled not only with fans of the NFL, but is used as a medium to deliver current news by the journalists that cover the league.

In the days leading into the Broncos’ game in Week 5, there were questions being posed on social media. “In what quarter will Manning achieve the milestone?” and “Which receiver will be the recipient of Manning’s 500th touchdown pass?” were two of the most prevalent. These types of posts have become a minute-by-minute occurrence, when Twitter was ushered in as a way to reflect on things that have happened in the sporting world that day or recently.

This could definitely be attributed to the expansion of media, especially as it pertains to how sports are covered. Without these social media sites, fans and followers would have either waited to find out happenings in the newspaper or wait to see the highlights on shows like ESPN’s SportsCenter. This can also be attributed to the rapid increase in the general public’s interest in sports.

Social media sites are not  the only type of media that continues to expand. Coverage of sports, mainly the NFL, has expanded to a point where all important weekend time slots are filled by most of the nationally televised networks, such as CBS, FOX, NBC and ESPN. Now, to find out about things like Peyton Manning’s 500th touchdown pass, a person can choose from so many different types of media that provide updates as frequently as every second.

Peyton Manning has become one of, if not the face, faces, of the NFL and one of the league’s most beloved players because of his personality and demeanor. He appears in various commercial ads for large companies, like Papa John’s Pizza, Nationwide and Buick. Anytime Peyton Manning reaches a milestone or breaks a record, which happens on a weekly basis it seems, the fans of the league are going to find out about it the second after it occurs.

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With the first pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans select…

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By Anthony Cornwell, Jr.

The media has made this upcoming draft and the #1 pick of the draft to be the most hyped and most interesting pick in NFL history. With so many athletes having number one overall talent, the question on everyone’s mind is, “Who will be the #1 pick?”

The names that are definitely being tossed out as candidates are Jadeveon Clowney, Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater (and arguably a couple others).

Tedy Bruschi, ESPN NFL analyst and former New England Patriot, believes that Clowney should be the first pick. “Turn in the card now to the commissioner,” he said. “Just turn it in, because he should be Houston’s.”

Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 275 pounds, while running a 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, it is safe to say that Jadeveon Clowney is a freak of nature. But not every analyst feels the same way that Bruschi does.

Skip Bayless, ESPN analyst, already believes that Manziel is better than some quarterbacks that already have starting jobs in the NFL. Bayless said that Manziel would be the best pick for Houston, but also making a suggestion that the Dallas Cowboys should consider trading away Tony Romo to land the incoming rookie.

As crazy as it sounds, what else could go wrong for Dallas? They have not been to the playoffs in seven years and have not won a playoff game in more than 15 years.

As good as Clowney and Manziel sounds, there are still others that disagree with these choices.
Emory Hunt, CEO/Founder & Analyst at Football Gameplan, believes that Bridgewater should be the number one pick. On Hunt’s Twitter account he mentions the similarity between Bridgewater and Colts’ Quarterback Andrew Luck.

“The funny part is that watching Bridgewater is the same as watching Luck,” Hunt tweeted. “Luck ran more, Bridgewater didn’t..that’s the only difference.“

Andrew Luck was the number one overall pick two years ago and has not yet disappointed.
Bortles, who has the characteristics of what Bill O’Brien looks for, already has the size of an NFL quarterback.

Chris Burke, journalist at Sports Illustrated says, “There is ample doubt that Bortles will be ready for a starting gig out the gate — remember, the key word with him is ‘potential’.”

As good as all the choices are, any of these four could be the pick. The media has hyped it up and there will definitely be plenty of viewers on May 3.

The NFL and Peterson Moving Forward

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BY CHELSEA VANASSCHE

One of the NFL’s most beloved and talented players, Adrian Peterson, is facing a tragic loss. The running back for the Minnesota Vikings, received the news that his 2-year-old son had passed away from an alleged assault.

Reports confirm that Peterson’s son suffered injuries from an alleged assault and later that day died of the injuries. A man identified as Joseph Patterson, the boyfriend of the son’s mother, is a suspect.

Through this tragedy we as fans see the NFL, other professional leagues, teams and players around the nation come to together to support this one player and his family. Peterson has tweeted numerous times his gratitude toward the NFL and its players. 

We can expect this to be a high profile case due to the fact Peterson is a public figure and this is an infant death involving assault. 

While right now it might be too early to talk about moving forward, I can see Peterson being an advocate for child abuse. I can see him donating money to child abuse organizations and really being a “face” for these non-profit organizations. 

We as fans hope the NFL does something to honor the child, Peterson, and the overall issue of child abuse. As much as Peterson does for the league, it’s the least they can do for him during this tragic time. The NFL does a good job of stepping up in times of tragedy and I expect nothing less from the league.

Peterson is known for his perseverance. NFL fans saw him dominate in the league in 2012 winning the Most Valuable Player award after coming off an ACL injury. We can only expect Peterson to come back stronger and ready to play harder, whenever that may be, and show us the definition of perseverance following his tragic loss.

23 Current & Former NFL Players to Participate in New “Sports Journalism & Communications Boot Camp” May 13-16 at Bowling Green State University

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Four-day program for current & former players includes “final exam” covering Toledo Mud Hens baseball game

Twenty three current and former NFL players — including 12-year NFL veteran CHARLIE BATCH, 2012 Patriots Hall of Fame inductee TROY BROWN, and 2001 Heisman Trophy winner ERIC CROUCH — will take part in the first-ever NFL Sports Journalism & Communications Boot Camp from May 13-16 at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. With the new longer offseason, the boot camp is one of a record 10 training programs for post-NFL careers that NFL Player Engagement offers to current and former players.

The four-day program will focus on improving each player’s writing skills for newspapers, radio, and the expanding digital media industry. A field exercise at a Toledo Mud Hens home game will include a mock press conference as part of the player’s game coverage.  Players will write and record their own radio commentary as part of one of the other planned exercises. 

Faculty for the boot camp will include ED BOUCHETTE (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), PETER KING (Sports Illustrated, NBC), and BARRY WILNER (Associated Press) as well as former NFL players-turned-journalists SOLOMON WILCOTS (CBS, NFL Network), MATT BOWEN (Chicago Tribune), MATT CHATHAM (Boston Herald), and BUCKY BROOKS (NFL.com and NFL Network). 

The boot camp is hosted by the BGSU School of Media and Communications and the Sport Management program and was developed with NFL Player Engagement, under the auspices of the Richard A. Maxwell Sport Media Project.

“BGSU is both honored and thrilled to welcome the inaugural NFL Sports Journalism & Communication Boot Camp to our campus. We have both highly skilled professors and alumni teaching interactive sessions and providing excellent instruction in the fast-changing sports media industry,” said DR. TERRY RENTNER, professor and director, BGSU School of Media and Communications. 

Player enrollment criteria include previous participation in NFL Player Engagement programs, prior media experience, essays, and NFL playing experience.

Following are the NFL players participating in the NFL Sports Journalism & Communications Boot Camp:

Player / Current/Former team(s)

Brendon Ayanbadejo / Free agent

Charlie Batch / Free agent

Ralph Brown / Former (NYG, MIN, CLV, ARZ)

Troy Brown / Former (NE)

LaMar Campbell / Former (DET)

Bryon Chamberlain / Former (DEN, MIN, WAS)

Eric Crouch / Former (STL)

Derrick Dockery / Free Agent

Leger Douzable / Free Agent

Jamie Duncan / Former (TB, STL, ATL)

Andre Fluellen / DET

Jay Foreman / Former (BUF, HOU, NYG, SF)

Nick Ferguson / Former (NYJ, DEN, HOU)

Kendall Gammon / Former (PIT, NO, KC)

Ken Hamlin / Former (SEA, DAL, BAL, IND)

Erin Henderson / MIN

Tyoka Jackson / Former (MIA, TB, STL, DET)

Austen Lane / JAX

Ovie Mughelli / Former (BAL, ATL)

Brady Poppinga / Free Agent

Denard Walker / Former (TEN, DEN, MIN, OAK)

Ellis Wyms / Former (TB, SEA, MIN)

Michael Young / Former (ARZ)

For further information, please visit https://www.nflplayerengagement.com/.

NFL Teams Question players’ sexual orientation

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BY LORI RAUDIO

The NFL Combine typically brings the excitement of scouting new players entering the draft. This year, however, multiple players who participated in the combine came forward with allegations that teams asked them questions about their sexual orientation. The stories quickly captured media attention and have led to an NFL investigation.

After the Manti Te’o scandal involving his fake girlfriend, he received a majority of the media’s attention at the NFL combine. It was widely reported teams wanted to know if he was gay, and it’s believed his scandal will affect his draft position. It is unknown if Te’o’s case is the cause, but reportedly teams have been asking players questions such as “do you like girls?” and “do you have a girlfriend?”

Colorado tight-end Nick Kasa, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, and Michigan State running back Le’veon Bell all came forward with similar stories about being asked questions about their relationship status and sexual orientation.

Multiple sport analysts have weighed in saying, if true, these NFL teams went too far. They also may have violated federal employment laws.

On  Sportscenter, analyst and former NFL coach Herm Edwards said teams “absolutely crossed a line.” He felt teams who asked these questions should be fined or lose their draft picks. ESPN Senior Writer John Clayton agreed lines were crossed. He said if Kasa and the others reveal what teams asked these questions, there could be penalties. Regardless, he expects NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell to issue a mandate saying teams need to comply with federal laws.

The NFL will be investigating the issue, and it will be interesting to see if punishments are handed out or what new procedures will be put into place.

As Edwards put it, it brings up the question: is the NFL ready for an openly gay player? Edwards thinks it is, but given their questions, it seems NFL teams are not. It’s bound to happen, and most likely sooner rather than later. Given this situation, the NFL still has a way to go before it embraces an openly gay player.

Media overanalyzes 40-Yard Dash times at NFL Combine

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BY STEVE KUBITZA

The NFL Combine is an annual event that brings with it a great amount of media attention.

One of the most talked about events of the Combine is the 40-yard dash. Each player has two attempts to get timed running 40 yards, and the times usually fall into the 4.3-5+ second range. The times are scrutinized heavily, as the difference between a time of 4.6 and 4.7 can be the difference between being a second-or third-round draft pick.

The infamous Manti Te’o was heavily criticized for his time. His “Catfish” story is beginning to die down, but as the draft approaches, it seems like there are still those who do not want to see him succeed.

Te’o ran his 40-yard dash in 4.82 seconds. This seems like a great time on paper, but he is surprisingly drawing criticism for this performance from the media. Chicago Tribune writer Dan Pompei wrote an article titled, “Te’o disappoints with 40-yard dash times.”

Speed is important, but it cannot determine the heart of a player, or the will to win. It does not account for the intelligence of a player, or how he will handle certain game situations.

It is time to stop overanalyzing small, trivial aspects of these men and focus on what matters, which is their performance on the field. Unfortunately, some members of the media forget about this, and nothing will change until these players are on the field for their NFL teams.

Behind the Scenes at Super Bowl XLVII: Direct TV Celebrity Beach Bowl Orleans

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BY ADAM SEHLMEYER

The Super Bowl comes around once a year and showcases two of the best teams in the NFL. Most of America watches the game, but many don’t realize there are many ancillary events that happen before the actual game takes place. One of those events is the Direct TV Celebrity Beach Bowl. This event involves a flag football game in the sand between former NFL players, celebrities, actors, musicians and other athletes.

Being able to experience this event first hand is something I won’t forget. With celebrities all around like Desmond Howard, Eddie George and Shawn Johnson, it would have been easy to get overwhelmed. But for us, eight Sport Management students from BGSU, it was just another day helping out in New Orleans. It was our duty to make sure the celebrities stayed on time.

This event started off with a red carpet walk where the celebrities would talk to various people from different media stations. After the red carpet, the celebrities moved to a gifting tent where many businesses were offering up their products. The celebrities were then told to wait around in a lounging area where they talked and ate food provided for them.

The game itself consisted of four quarters of fun flag football, where the celebrities showed off their skills. Warren Moon and Deion Sanders shined in the game, while the other players were more concerned with having a good time. This event is a fan favorite for people who witness it live and more than 10,000 people showed up to watch this event. After the game was over there was a Pitbull concert and a Justin Timberlake party at night.

With so many events going on in one day we got to see what it was like to manage an event of this magnitude. We also saw how quickly an area can be transformed from a flag football game in the sand to a pop concert.

Junior Seau Commentary

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BY DANE WINDISCH

Former NFL great Junior Seau and his tragic death have played out in the media since he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his home on May 2. For the media, it’s always a sensitive topic to cover when a death such as this one happens and on top of that, to a future Hall of Fame linebacker who was still playing five years ago. ESPN was one of the networks I covered to see how the reporters acted while discussing it and what the different NFL shows on the ESPN networks responded to the death.

Former NFL great Junior Seau and his tragic death have played out in the media since he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his home on May 2. For the media, it’s always a sensitive topic to cover when a death such as this one happens and on top of that, to a future Hall of Fame linebacker who was still playing five years ago. ESPN was one of the networks I covered to see how the reporters acted while discussing it and what the different NFL shows on the ESPN networks responded to the death.

During the ESPN’s NFL Live, there were former players coming on and talking about memories they’ve shared with Seau either personally or competing against him. This gave the audience a better understanding of just how Seau was as a person and player and you could see the emotion it brought to some players. No player showed more emotion on air then former teammate of Sea, Marcellus Wiley. Wiley, with tears rolling down his eyes, shared his moments with Seau and how he was as a friend and player.

When tragic events take place in sports it’s very important for all anchors and reporters to know the situation by having respect in their tone and actions while on air. ESPN’s reporters and anchors did a great job at capturing the special moments with the players being interviewed and having the utmost respect for Seau’s legacy.