Colts' Coby Fleener fakes dunk over crossbar after TD (VIDEO)

Since dunking over the crossbar is banned in the NFL now, Colts tight end Coby Fleener put a new twist on the move Saturday: He fake dunked over the crossbar.

After catching a 21-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Luck, Fleener walked up to the crossbar like he was going to dunk it. The referee then stared Fleener down, as if he was daring Fleener to slam it down.

That's when Blue the Colts mascot trotted over to rein in Fleener and save him a hefty fine.

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham was fined $30,000 last week for his two rogue  touchdown celebrations — and that ain't horse feed.

But Fleener went to Stanford, so he knows better.

Nicks wants long-term contract, courts Colts, Chargers and Panthers: Report

Hakeem Nicks wants to clarify his earlier remarks about accepting a one-year, prove-it contract. What he really meant to say was that he wants a long-term deal before re-establishing himself on the free-agent market.

And he especially wants the Colts, Panthers, and Chargers to know about it.

Just one day after an ESPN report said the soon-to-be former Giants receiver was willing to accept a single-year deal so he could prove his market value, on Sunday, Nicks corrected himself and told ESPN, “I just want to make it clear that I want a long-term deal.”

He also wouldn’t mind getting it from the three teams he specifically mentioned, reports The New York Daily News.

“Ideally, this is what I want,” Nicks said. “I want to go to a team where I’m the missing link. There are a number of teams that I have my eye on once I hit the market. I know if I went to a place like Indianapolis I would be dangerous with a quarterback like Andrew Luck. I can see myself catching passes from Cam Newton or even Philip Rivers.”

He didn't even mention the Giants or Eli Manning. Not that it matters to them.

Nicks is almost definitely not going to re-sign with the Giants, the team that made him a 2009 first-round draft pick. There doesn’t seem to be any reason for the Giants to give the underachieving Nicks a lucrative, long-term contract, not after two subpar seasons and lingering questions whether he gave one-hundred percent last season.

Nicks figures to attract plenty of interest from other teams and likely will start setting up visits on Tuesday when teams can speak with him directly. Until then, the only contact interested teams can have is with Nicks’ agent.

“Players have already started to reach out to me from other teams saying they would love for me to come join them,’’ Nicks told ESPN. “I just want to make it clear that I want a long-term deal and I want to be happy. I’m excited about talking to teams and making it work.”

Colts punter fined for tweeting naked pic of Andrew Luck: Report

Taking photos in a locker room is never a good idea. And tweeting nude shots is always a bad decision. But tweeting out a naked picture of your star quarterback is absolutely forbidden and will now cost Colts punter Pat McAfee a little chunk of his Wild Card game earnings.

McAfee has been fined an undisclosed amount of money by the team for accidentally tweeting out a photo of Andrew Luck in almost all of his glory last weekend.

Luckily, for everyone involved, a guy strategically held a cell phone in the way; so it was more PG than X-rated.

"Yeah, I got fined," McAfee said, via the Indianapolis Star. "More than a dollar, less than $3 million, which is good news. But it was completely expected and completed warranted."

After tweeting out the picture to his 170,000 followers on Twitter, McAfee eventually realized Luck wasn't wearing any clothes and he immediately deleted the picture. 

"I didn't realize it until I was halfway home and my girlfriend got a text message," McAfee said of when he realized Luck was in his birthday suit. "I immediately started to sweat. I was disgusted. I was worried that Andrew was going to hate me because he's such a good person. The last thing you want to do is sell out a teammate. I felt like I did that."

Fortunately for McAfee, his quarterback took it all in stride.

"I called him like 400 times but his phone was off, his phone was off, his phone was off," McAfee said. "It was finally turned on and he answered. I said, 'Man, I am so sorry that happened.' He handled it so well, like the cool person he is. He said, 'No worries about it, dude.' I said, "If it means anything to you, you look good.' "

McAfee surely won't be posting any pics of Lucky's charms anytime soon, but that's only because he has moved on to tweeting out new flavors of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

“@CTCSquares: It's here! #chocolatetoastcrunch #choc #nom pic.twitter.com/jOn5IsfG9F”~ #GameChanger
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 8, 2014

[CBSSports]

Frozen Kansas City fountain dyed Chiefs red is being compared to a winter murder scene

A frozen Kansas City fountain covered with red dye to show support before the Chiefs AFC Wild Card game on Saturday is now being ridiculed for looking more like an blood-spattered arctic crime scene — after the team's shocking loss to the Colts — than a symbol of pride.

Kansas City officials eager for their home team's chance to get to the Super Bowl coated the Northland fountain, known for its beautiful winter ice formations, in blood-red dye.

Unfortunately for Chiefs fans, what started out as symbol of hope and solidarity has now taken a sinister form of murder and betrayal— just like in the film "Fargo" — and led to rounds of mockery from national media and the hometown fans alike.

"This is the first time we have attempted to dye a frozen fountain. #ChiefsKingdom," wrote the Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department on its Facebook page.

And as Facebook user Mark Frazier responded, "'Attempt' is the key word.'"

"Hope it's the first and last time," wrote another.

Photos on the city Facebook page show the steady progression of the fountain from crimson winter wonderland to an ominous shade of pink.

More than one commenter drew a cinematic comparison to the brilliant Coen Brothers film.

"Looks like the scene in Fargo were Steve Buscemi is going through the wood chipper..." wrote one woman.

National news outlets have picked up on the Kansas City fountain put-downs, as well.

USA Today wrote: "It just looks like there should be police tape around the whole thing' and said the fountain looked like 'something from a horror movie."

"It looks like something horrible happened here," wrote Deadspin.

While the widespread ridicule of its attempt at showing team pride undoubtedly hurts for the good people of Kansas City, the life-sucking loss probably cuts more.

And it sure looks like Andrew Luck holding that foot at the woodchipper.

Colts fan executes ultimate pregame photobomb (PHOTO)

As you can see from this photo, a bunch of Chiefs-attired fans had gathered for a group shot in front of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis before Saturday's wild-card game against the Colts. It was, however, photobombed by an opportunistic Indy fan who happened to be walking past at just the right time.

Gotta love the shocked expressions in the whole group —  and that was before the real Andrew Luck air-bombed the real Chiefs inside.

That's quality photobombing. #NFLPlayoffs #KCvsIND pic.twitter.com/DOuGaH842I
— NFL (@nfl) January 4, 2014

Colts' Andrew Luck has likeness created in Indiana cornfield maze (PHOTO)

One way you know you've made it in the mid-west is to have your image carved out in a cornfield. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is the latest middle-American star to be granted that honor.

This 12-acre corn field maze in Waterloo, Indiana with the Indianapolis QB's image gouged out of the 10-foot stalks will be open to the public on Sept. 21. According to Larry Smith, whose family runs the maze, the idea came about after a friend carved a Peyton Manning maze in Denver last year.

Smith said he got permission from Luck and the Colts to use their logo. He's also invited the second-year QB to the maze but hasn't heard anything yet.

The maze, which was tweeted out by ESPN’s Darren Rovell not only features the likeness of Luck (while in mid-pass), but has his name and a cut-out horseshoe resembling the Colts’ logo, none of which could have been easy to do. Aliens couldn't have done it any better.

Call it an amazing maize maze.

Joe Montana picks Luck over RG3 in the long run

Joe was on ESPN's "First Take" to promote the new Madden 13 game when the round table discussion inevitably came around to co-host Skip Bayless asking the four-time Super Bowl winner which rookie he would pick to have more long-term success as an NFL quarterback — Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III.

Montana  tried to dodge the question before a nagging Bayless said, "Close your eyes and pick."

The former San Francisco 49ers great shook his head and finally answered, "Luck.  Because he's more of a pro-style guy."

Joe Cool also said RG3 has a lot of upside, but warned him that a quarterback "learns how to slide."

"Guys like RG3 start running and get hit," said Montana.  "He's a big guy, dang, [but] you can't take a hit like a fullback."



The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins met over the weekend, in what was called just another preseason game, but was really a showcase for the top two quarterbacks in the 2012 NFL Draft.  Both signal-callers lived up to the hype and played to a virtual tie — even though the Redskins won the game 30-17.

Griffin III finished going 11-for-17 for 74 yards and a TD while Luck — the man he will be compared to for the next decade or so — completed 14 of 23 throws for 151 yards and a TD.

It's easy to see why Montana hemmed-and-hawed when he was put on the spot. It looks like both players could be headed for long and successful NFL careers.

Giants new LB Keith Rivers picks up woman in ER

Manhattan's Roosevelt Hospital was the site of another sports star sighting yesterday.  After Detroit Tigers outfielder Delmon Young finished detoxing  before his Friday morning arrest for assault,  New York Giants newest linebacker Keith Rivers was spotted carrying a sick female friend out of the mid-town hospital after a night of clubbing with Reggie Bush.

The New York Post reported that after sober-looking Rivers arrived at the hospital at 9:30 a.m. yesterday, he gave his name to security, walked inside and left with the woman.

Roosevelt is the same hospital where a "highly intoxicated" Young was treated early Friday morning after he went on his anti-Semitic rage and pushed some guy outside the Hilton hotel.

That same morning, at about 10:30 a.m., Rivers— who told reporters Young was not the reason he was there— was seen leaving the hospital with an attractive brunette in her mid-20's.  She was wearing high heels and a short skirt which looked like the the same clothes she was wearing the night before.

The unidentified young woman appeared haggard and her make-up smeared after a rough night.  Rivers protectively put his arm around her and walked here down the street said The Post.

When asked if he had seen Young in the ER, Rivers replied, "I am dealing with my own problems."  Then he and the woman jumped into a cab and sped away.

It seems like they all speed away.

A few hours earlier Rivers and a group of his friends had met up with Bush at celebrity hangout Lavo.  Both guys played football together at USC.

Bush and Rivers— who did not appear to be drinking— hung out at the club until 3 a.m. at tables near Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.  Luck was reportedly celebrating being the No. 1 pick of the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Welcome to New York City Keith and watch out for Kardashians.

Jets Players' Calls For Peyton To Replace Sanchez Getting Louder

The end of a disappointing season for the New York Jets has led players to point their fingers at one player for the epic fail— Mark Sanchez— and started  a rallying call inviting the services of a veteran quarterback to take the reins— namely Peyton Manning.

The consensus among unnamed players, according to a story in the New York Daily News, has been that if  Manning gets a clean bill of health, he would be the ideal solution to the inept Sanchez.

Those calls are getting real loud.

Key members of the Jets organization said Sanchez is a "polarizing" figure in the clubhouse and there are serious doubts he can lead the team to the Super Bowl.

The consensus among players, according to the Daily News, is that— at the least— the team must sign a legitimate veteran backup to push their young quarterback.


"We have to bring in another quarterback that will make him work at practice," said one unnamed player.  "He's lazy and content because he knows he's not going to be benched."

Sanchez has been inconsistent for three seasons and his deficiencies came to a head during the 19-17 loss against the Miami Dolphins. In the final game of the 2011 season, Sanchez's lackluster play helped put the kibosh on any playoff chances and was the final sour note on a season where head coach Rex Ryan was singing the Jets praises.

The inconsistent play of Sanchez over the final three games started his teammates dreaming about another Manning in MetLife Stadium.

The Indianapolis Colts are expected to take Stanford QB Andrew Luck with the first pick of the draft and there is speculation that the team will let Manning go.

The future Hall-of-Famer is still recovering from a pre-season surgery to his neck, is 35 years old and still waiting to be medically cleared before he can even suit up again.  That's a lot of ifs.

Whether it's in blue and white or green and white is any one's guess.

Asked if the Jets should make a move for the veteran Indianapolis Colts QB if he becomes available, several players told the Daily News they would welcome him with open arms.

"Come on.  That's a no-brainer," a Jets source said.  "If you have a chance to get a 36-year old Peyton Manning and you don't do it, then you're stupid.  If you get a healthy 36-year old Peyton Manning, then, hell yeah, I would trade Sanchez."

The chances Manning would make the switch from the Colts to the Jets are pretty good.

For one thing, at the core, the Jets are a good team and— if they keep Santonio Holmes— have plenty of targets for Manning to throw to.

Secondly, Ryan adores Manning and with all the problems with play calling from the sidelines, Ryan would relish having a real leader on the field to lead the team.

The trifecta payoff is the presence of Jets consultant Tom Moore who was Manning's offensive coordinator and mentor for over ten years in Indy.

"We already have his coach— Tom Moore," one well-respected player told the News.  "Plus, he's a field general and will get everyone lined up.  He will get his playmakers the ball.  We can win a Super Bowl with Peyton."

Manning already has a Lombardi trophy and the Jets are wondering if they can do it with Sanchez?


"How can we when he's not improving at all?" a Jets player said.  "He thinks he is, but he's not.  He has shown us what he's capable of."

Sanchez is only 25-years old and has two years left on his contract.

Some Jets players still think he needs another shot— god knows he's taken enough both on the field and off.

"When you get hit the way he got hit," another team source said, "there were some quarterbacks that wouldn't have made it through the season."

But others think their QB is being coddled by the organization.

"They see the organization babying him," said the source.  "They see him with a sense of entitlement.  He's been given all this and hasn't done anything.  They call him 'San-chise.'  They make him the face of the organization.  They gave him the captain tag.  He's not a captain.  He should have never been a captain."

Sanchez denies he is a victim being held accountable for failure after going to two AFC Championships and losing both.

"We hold ourselves to a high standard," he said.  "I don't want to feel like I'm a victim or anything like that.  We expect to win... I don't feel like we set the bar too high.  There is no way.  I don't feel like that."

"You go to back-to-back AFC Championship Games, and everyone thinks , 'OK, we'll get a little bit better and you are winning the Super Bowl," he told ESPN Radio.  "I don't want to make excuses at all.  That's not my style.  But we've been a victim of our success."

It all boils down to a lot of circumstances fro the Jets to land Manning.

Do the Colts draft Luck, does Manning heal, retire or does he even want to come to New York?

"I don't think he'll come here," a Jets source told the News.  "We have to change the perception of the Jets organization.  We're not the organization that players said they wanted to play for a year or two ago.  We're starting to come across a little flaky. We talk the talk.  We don't back it up. We're out of control.  There's no discipline.  It's a mess right now."

The NFL's biggest off-season story will be the Peyton Manning saga.

Just imagine though, Peyton and his little brother Eli sharing the biggest bedroom in the world— MetLife Stadium.

Who gets the top bunk?