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Sports Then and Now



“The Boys of Fall” Brings Back Football Memories Comments

Posted on August 29, 2010 by Dean Hybl

Country singer Kenny Chesney's new song harkens back to his days playing high school football.

It isn’t often that we use this site to promote or rave about a current movie, book or song, but my wife recently shared with me a great song and video that I think will bring back some fond memories for anyone who ever played little league or high school football or who has followed college or professional football.

Country singer Kenny Chesney was a high school football player and his new song “The Boys of Fall” recaptures the memories and feel of putting on shoulder pads and a helmet and squaring off against a rival school on a Friday night.

While the song itself is nice, it is the accompanying video that really brings things home and will jar your memories.

It starts with current New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton back at his old high school talking about how he remembers the smells and emotions of playing under the lights. Read the rest of this entry →

AFC East: Patriots No Longer Big Dog Comments

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Joe Gill

Tom Brady and the Patriots are in for a dogfight in the AFC East.

It looks like the Patriots will be in a dog fight this year in the AFC East, the division that New England has dominated over the last decade. The Pats have captured the AFC Crown seven of the last ten seasons, but a changing of the guard is looming on the horizon.

The Patriots are looking more like the least than the beast of the AFC East.

The New York Jets are getting better every day it seems. The team that went to the AFC Championship last year on the shoulders of rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez is loading up their arsenal.

On the offensive side of the ball they acquired disgruntled Cleveland Browns wide out, Braylon Edwards last season. A talent for sure, but has consistency issues and a chronic case of the drops. However, he showed sparks of what he is capable of when he is focused. In 12 games with New York, Edwards caught 35 catches for 541 yards with 4 td’s.

This off season the Jets have been very busy signing former San Diego and fantasy football stud, LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson replaces the productive Thomas Jones who was unsigned before landing with the KC Chiefs. A puzzling signing considering Jones was more productive than LT. Jones had 1400 yards and 14 touchdowns in comparison to Tomlinson’s 730 yards and 12 touchdowns.

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Time For Brett Favre To Hang ‘Em Up Comments

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Matthew Engelbert

Courtesy of Engy’s

Favre was beaten and battered by the Saints.

Favre was beaten and battered by the Saints.

The popular question following the victory by the New Orleans Saints over the Minnesota Vikings to clinch the NFC Championship and the right to play in the Super Bowl has been, “Are you happy now?” Happy is not the word I use.

Watching Sunday’s game I grimaced at every painful hit given by the Saint defense onto the Viking quarterback. Every tackle that was borderline late, I winced at. But each time the veteran QB got up off the Superdome turf and returned to the huddle. Every time but one, then he was helped off the field at the end of a possession. While watching the trainers and doctors of the Vikings checked him out and re taped his ankle, many wondered if he would answer the bell. But like a great title fighter he came back in to take his licks and fight his team one more time.

But was I happy the Vikings lost? No, I was relieved.

I was relieved that the one time QB of my favorite team, the Green Bay Packers wasn’t able to take the division rival to the Super Bowl. Throughout the year all Packer fans were expecting the “old” Favre to come back. We were waiting for Brett to begin forcing the ball, being intercepted and costing the Packers a possible victory. Green Bay fans would shrug it off as “Brett being Brett.” We felt that is what made him the QB that Packer fans fell in love with.

But the divorce wasn’t pretty and eventually Brett wanted to prove to the administration of the team that he parted ways with that he could still play. He did take Green Bay to the NFC Championship game in his last year in Wisconsin just two years ago and he knew there were still many touchdown throws left in that right arm.

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ESPN Sportsnation’s Site We Like For 1/28/10 Comments

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Joe Gill

ESPN's Sportsnation chooses ST&N as the "Site We Like."

Sports Then And Now, was chosen as the “Site We Like” by ESPN’s Sportsnation today. Hosts, Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle, showcased the site especially the post, Ranking The Super Bowls.

This is an incredible honor and deserved recognition for all the folks who put in the effort and long nights to make the Sports Then and Now family successful. Thanks to you and all of our readers!

Brady or Manning: Who Is The Best All Around QB? Comments

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Joe Gill
Who is the best all around qb?

Who is the best all around qb?

This is the debate that may never be answered.

The arguments of all arguments.

Who is the best quarterback in the NFL today?

Is it Tom Brady? Peyton Manning?

Some can even make an argument for “Big Ben” Roethlisberger. However, I think Roethlisberger needs about four more years to add to his body of work before he can be held in the same breath as Brady and Manning.

So how do we make the determination of who is the best all around quarterback? What variables will be used to measure both quarterbacks?

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New Dawn For Browns: Mike Holmgren Speaks Comments

Posted on January 05, 2010 by Joe Gill
Browns team president, Mike Holmgren addressed the media for the first time today.

Browns team president, Mike Holmgren addressed the media for the first time today.

New Cleveland Browns President, Mike Holmgren addressed the media for the first time today.  This is his first day on the job and he hit the ground running.

He has a lot of work ahead of him.

Decisions on his coaching staff especially head coach Eric Mangini.

The signing of Josh Cribbs.

Bringing the Cleveland Browns back to respectability and to a Super Bowl.

Holmgren brought the cities of Green Bay (1-1) and Seattle (0-1) Super Bowl appearances and has one Lombardi trophy on his resume.

He has rebuilt franchises and there is no reason he can’t do it in Cleveland.

As a team executive, you need to be able to speak to the media and keep them abreast of the workings of the team.

He did a stellar job in his first press conference. Holmgren had the media in the palm of his hand.

As a Cleveland Browns fan, he is making me drink the kool aid.

Read the rest of this entry →

  • Vintage Athlete of the Month

    • Pat Summerall: A Broadcasting Legend
      September 2, 2010 | 6:15 am

      Pat Summerall

      Our Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the month for September had very long associations with two of the sports that make headlines each September. Pat Summerall played in the NFL for 10 years before becoming one of the most recognized announcers in the sport. He also served as the voice of the U.S. Open tennis championships for CBS for more than two decades.

      After playing college football at Arkansas, Summerall was drafted by the Detroit Lions, but a broken arm ended his first season in the league. He was traded to the Chicago Cardinals and spent five seasons with them primarily as a placekicker.

      Read more »

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  • Enter The “Top The Zultan” College Football Contest

    The Sports Then and Now College Football Zultan is back and ready to again prove his prognosticating power in 2010.

    Each week during the 2010 season you can show your football knowledge by competing against the Zultan. Anyone who beats the Zultan will earn a chance to win a $100 Amazon.com gift card or one of two $50 Wal-Mart gift cards, all of which will be awarded at the end of the season.

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