Michael Sam to 'step away' from football citing mental health: Report

Michael Sam, who last year became the first openly gay player drafted by a National Football League team, said on Friday he was stepping away from football, citing concerns over his mental health.

The Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes, with whom he signed a contract in May, said on its team website that Sam had left the team for personal reasons and as a result had been placed on the team's suspended list.

"The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health," Sam wrote on his Twitter account. "Because of this I am going to step away from the game at this time."

"Thank you all for your understanding and support," he added.

The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health. Because of this I am 1/3

— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) August 14, 2015

going to step away from the game at this time. I thank the Alouettes for this opportunity and hope to be back on the field soon. Thank 2/3

— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) August 14, 2015

The St. Louis Rams selected Sam in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft but waived him in the final round of cuts. He was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys but they released him from their practice squad in October.

Sam agreed to a two-year deal with the Alouettes this summer. It also reported that he sat out the team's first five games and that he failed to record a tackle during his team debut on August 7.

Jeff Fisher: Giants to blame for sideline melee: Report

St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said his team did not instigate what turned into a wild second-quarter brawl (video at bottom) in the Giants' 37-27 win at St. Louis. Fisher pinned the blame squarely on the way the Giants responded after receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was thrown down out of bounds by Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree.

"To buy into all of our friskiness or all this stuff that they're referring to, I think it would be good if they look themselves in the mirror," Fisher told the St. Louis Post Dispatch . "They beat us physically in a number of instances, but I don't think we had a lot to do with those things on the sideline other than the attempt to break things up."

Fisher went as far as saying he would be surprised if any of his players got fined or disciplined for their actions leading up to or in the brawl. One of his players, defensive end William Hayes, was ejected along with two Giants, Preston Parker and Damontre Moore.

The Rams coach accused Beckham of pulling Ogletree down by grabbing his facemask. Replays seem to indicate it was Ogletree who, with a pile-driver move, knocked Beckham down well out of bounds — sparking the wold brawl.

“When you look at it really close, Odell has [Ogletree’s] facemask and he’s pulling him out of bounds, so it’s hard for [Ogletree] to let up.’’ Fisher said.

Giants safety Antrel Rolle said it was “very unfortunate that it had to come down to that’’ but had no problem with the response from the Giants.

Giants' Josh Brown mule-kicks Rams' Cody Davis in the face (VIDEO)

A kicker's greatest weapon is his foot and St. Louis Rams' Cody Davis found that out the hard way when he he ventured too close to New York Giants kicker Josh Brown while in a pile-up on Sunday.

The result: Brown's mule-kick caught the special team's player right in the face.

Brown was penalized for unnecessary roughness on the play.

Rams executive denies apologizing to police for Ferguson protest by four players: Report

After five St. Louis Rams teammates joined in a "hands up, don't shoot" Ferguson protest before Sunday's home game at the Edward Jones Dome, a team executive appeared to apologize to police for the controversial moment.

But that executive, VP of football operations Kevin Demoff, later denied he said he was sorry.

The Rams issued a statement later on Tuesday to say there were "positive discussions" with Belmar and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Sam Dotson, though as FOX Sports' Mike Garafolo pointed out, there was no "apology" mentioned:

Here's the Rams' statement. The word you won't find is "apologize." Dunno what Demoff said to Dotson privately. pic.twitter.com/U0jC4iqfXa
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 2, 2014

The original report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch included an email from St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar in which he said Demoff "[took] the opportunity to apologize to our department on behalf of the Rams for the 'Hands Up' gesture that some players took the field with yesterday."

Regarding statements on an "apology" from Rams COO Kevin Demoff: Chief Belmar was contacted today by St. Louis... http://t.co/8pF5QAIi87
— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) December 2, 2014

On Tuesday, the NFL said the four players wouldn't be disciplined for their actions. So don't expect this issue to just go away.

Sleeping Jo-Lonn Dunbar wakes up 'dead' in elaborate Rams prank (PHOTO)

Rams linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar must have been in for the shock of his life when he woke from a massage table nap and discovered he was the center of a wake.

Dunbar's teammates played an elaborate prank on the Rams' defensive star by creating a slightly morbid final resting place around Dunbar after he dozed off during a rubdown. The Rams players even crafted a makeshift headstone for the sleeping linebacker. The sign read “Jolon [sic] Dubar 1986-2014: They don’t make ‘em like me anymore.”

Chris Long posted this photo on Instagram with the caption: "I'll miss you @dunbar58.

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I'll miss you @jdunbar58

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Jason Peters gives Trent Cole sweet birthday cake with knife on it (PHOTO)

Eagles linebacker Trent Cole celebrated his 32nd birthday on Sunday with a sack, a tackle, and a win over the St. Louis Rams.

And teammate Jason Peters gave his busy teammate a birthday cake — a sweet gift that highlighted the linebacker's love for hunting.

Great win today! Thanks to Jason Peters for birthday cake. Friend for life. @UAHUNT @BlitzTVshow @Eagles @MossyOak pic.twitter.com/pJug2SAIcS
— Trent Cole (@Pro_Hunt58) October 6, 2014

Hope the defensive duo ate it fast before the do-gooding PC police find some sort of offense with the frosted knife.

[via NJ.com]

Ferguson demonstrators threaten to shut down Cowboys-Rams game on Sunday: Report

Lost in all of the headlines of the domestic abuse charges involving NFL players are the demonstrations surrounding the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. this summer.

Now, those Ferguson demonstrators — who once had a stranglehold on media coverage — plan on bringing their issues back to the forefront by threatening to shut down this week's St. Louis Rams game.

The threat to get into Edward Jones Dome and stop Sunday's Cowboys-Rams game was first announced at a St. Louis County Council meeting Tuesday night. 

"It's not going to be a fun day Sunday at your beautiful Rams game," one protester reportedly shouted.

KMOX reports that St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson is doing whatever he can to stop those threats from becoming  a reality.

"We are having extra resources in the downtown area for this weekend to address any eventuality," he said.

Dotson said that if a peaceful demonstration was held the police would not interfere, but if things get out of hand, the he will shut them down.

Besides threatening this weekend's game, protesters said they would disrupt grocery stores as well as hold an even bigger demonstration if the St. Louis Cardinals make it to this year's World Series. 

A video posted on YouTube titled "St. Louis Rams: No Justice, No Football," is even asking for donated tickets so more demonstrators can get into the game.

"So all of those St. Louis Rams fans who love justice, I will ask you to contact me and to donate your St. Louis Rams tickets so protesters can get in the dome," says activist Umar Lee in the video.

Bills' Eric Wood blames ESPN as reason no NFL team has picked up Michael Sam: Report

After Michael Sam was cut by the St. Louis Rams Saturday and wasn't picked up by another team, one NFL player put the blame for the openly gay Sam being passed over by the other 31 teams on the reporting of the sports network ESPN.

Eric Wood, an offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills tweeted "blame that on ESPN" in response to a reporter wondering why Sam was passed over after a solid preseason, reported ProFootballTalk.com.

Ross Tucker, an analyst for NBC and Sirius XM NFL Radio, wondered aloud via Twitter: "Michael Sam performed much better than most expected and still isn't even on a practice squad?" 

Wood tweeted in response: "blame that on espn. No one wants the distraction."

@RossTuckerNFL blame that on espn. No one wants the distraction
— Eric Wood (@EWood70) August 31, 2014

Last week ESPN apologized for a report that quoted an unnamed Rams player as saying that Sam hadn’t showered with teammates in training camp. The story even had perturbed head coach Jeff Fisher reluctantly addressing the situation at a press conference.  

So maybe Wood’s opinion is a logical explanation for why Sam still isn't even on some team's practice squad — although ESPN isn't the only offender. 

Rams tweet about pop star Harry Styles wearing Michael Sam jersey (VIDEO)

Pop singer Harry Styles was photographed performing while wearing a St. Louis Rams jersey at Edward Jones Dome Wednesday night.

No big deal except this jersey displayed player Michael Sam's name and No. 96.

The choice of fashion was observed as Styles and his One Direction bandmates performed for thousands of swooning, teen-aged female fans — who probably know way more about "Sam and Cat" than Sam the defensive end.

But the British singer's attire didn't go unnoticed by the player or the team.

The team tweeted: Check out @onedirection's @Harry_Styles rocking a @MichaelSamNFL #Rams jersey at the Edward Jones Dome last night.

Check out @onedirection's @Harry_Styles rocking a @MichaelSamNFL #Rams jersey at the Edward Jones Dome last night. pic.twitter.com/jgqK75MzNC
— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) August 28, 2014

Sam — who became the first openly gay man drafted in the NFL — tweeted Wednesday '@Harry_Styles thank you for your support!!! #RamNation.'

It's been quite a week for Sam. First, his sack of Johnny Manziel. Then, making the cut down to 75 players. And now, being introduced to a whole new audience. Quite a week.

Rams offer free tickets to high schools near Ferguson riots: Report

There doesn't seem to be anything that anyone can do to ease the tension in Ferguson, Mo. right now, but one NFL team has made a small attempt at bringing normalcy back for some school kids in the nearby area.

The St. Louis Rams organization is offering free tickets to Saturday’s preseason game to area schools overwhelmed by the riots which followed the police shooting of an unarmed man and set off days of protests and mayhem in the streets.

Whether or not you consider it a generous offer to help bring sanity back to kids confused by the current state of affairs or a blatant PR attempt conveniently combining national news with something far less important like sports, three local high schools will each receive 75 free tickets to see the home team play the Cleveland Browns, reported SI.com.

Rams manager of fan development and alumni relations Kyle Eversgerd contacted coaches at McCluer High, McCluer North and McCluer South; offering the free tickets to each team if they wanted them.

“In light of everything going on it just kind of hit me,” Eversgerd said. “I can’t imagine with all that stuff going on, how tough it must be to practice. We were able to get them away from it all.”

It’s a nice gesture for a suburban town gripped by uncertainty and, hopefully, the payoff will be peace of mind for a couple of hundred teenagers — and that they can pay it forward.

Michael Sam gets his own reality TV series to be produced by Oprah's OWN network: Report

You can bet this is exactly what the St. Louis Rams didn't want when they selected Michael Sam in the NFL Draft last week. 

Sam, the first openly gay player to be picked by an NFL team, has landed his own TV deal for a reality series.

The seventh-round choice will be the focus of a new multi-part documentary series to air on Oprah's OWN network, produced by the same crew that filmed Lindsay Lohan's cancelled reality show.

"We are honored that Michael is trusting us with his private journey in this moment that has not only made history but will shape it forever," Oprah Winfrey said in a statement. 

"I am proud of the focus on authentic storytelling in our new documentary series format. The next real-life story we follow in 'The Untitled Michael Sam Project' promises to spark valuable, important discussion on life in America today. Acceptance and illumination start here," Winfrey added. 

The announcement might come as somewhat of a shock to the Rams since Sam said at a press conference one day earlier that he just wants to focus on training. 

When asked what it felt like to the the first openly-gay draftee, Sam bluntly stated: "I guess it's great." 

"I'm determined to be great so I'm going to train hard and try and make the team," he added.

Shooting has already begun on the as-yet untitled project. Camera crews were reportedly in the room (apparently unbeknown by the Rams) when Sam found out he had been selected by St. Louis and celebrated by kissing his boyfriend. It's uncertain how much access the NFL and Rams will grant them now that Sam is in training.

Looking forward to sharing my life and journey on @OWNTV with friends, family , and my faithful supporters
— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) May 14, 2014

The series will follow Sam as he trains to make the St. Louis Rams 53-man roster for next season — which will come with a lot of challenges.

The SEC Defensive Player of the Year is considered too small to be an NFL defensive end and, most likely, he'll have to focus on learning a new position if he wants to make the team.

But in a Tuesday press conference, Sam said the attention he's received will only help his training.

"Thank God for you guys making this all a big deal, because it’s just going to make me a better player than I am now," Sam said.

Let the circus begin.

Former Giants RB Derrick Ward slams ESPN for airing Michael Sam kiss: Report

Former New York Giants running back Derrick Ward, a member of the team’s Super Bowl championship team in 2007, slammed ESPN for showing Michael Sam kissing his boyfriend after he became the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team.

Ward, who retired from the Houston Texans in 2012, said the sports network’s decision to run footage of the kiss after the St. Louis Rams selected Sam on Saturday set a bad example for children.

“Man U got little kids lookin at the draft,” Ward griped on Twitter Saturday. “I can’t believe ESPN even allowed that to happen.”

Man U got little kids lookin at the draft. I can't believe ESPN even allowed that to happen.
— Derrick Ward (@derrickward32) May 10, 2014

Sam broke down in tears when the Rams made him the 249th overall pick in the draft. Like many drafted players do, Sam celebrated by kissing his significant other — Vito Cammisano.

Ward sparked outrage with his tweet. But he didn’t back down.

“Everyone who comments on my page saying what dude did was fine is getting blocked,” Ward tweeted. “So far I’ve blocked 10 people.”

He went on to tweet that putting “your tongue into the other person’s mouth is a little overboard. But people seen that as oh i’m bashing him because he’s gay. Who cares!!!”

The paring your tongue into the other persons mouth is a little over board. But people seen that as oh I'm bashing him because he's gay. Who
— Derrick Ward (@derrickward32) May 11, 2014

At least Ward won't have to whip out his checkbook like Miami Dolphins player Don Jones who also expressed his disdain for Sam’s on-air smooch by calling it "horrible."

Jones was fined an undisclosed amount by the Dolphins for his thoughts.

Mark Sanchez tells Jets fans ‘I’ll miss the good times’ via Twitter

The New York Jets and Mark Sanchez finally parted ways on Friday, and the much-maligned quarterback took to Twitter this morning to bid his fans farewell and say he'll "miss the good times we shared."

                        

Anyway, we'll always have The Buttfumble.

Chris Long apologizes to Rams fans, denies giving middle finger to crowd

Sunday's Panthers-Rams game featured Rams defensive end Chris Long getting ejected after throwing a punch during the game. As he was being escorted out of Bank of America Stadium, Long gestured to the Carolina crowd with his hand— after at least one Panthers fan rudely threw a bottle his way — that appeared to include his middle finger. He's since apologized to Rams fans for getting tossed and pointed out that it was not a middle finger he flashed.

Long delivered his apology via Twitter on Sunday afternoon:

Apologies 2 fans 4 losing my cool. Hard 2 watch from the locker room. Will always defend a tmmate + play w emotion but I need 2 reel it in.
— Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) October 20, 2013

The Rams defensive end pointed out that there is "no chance" he gave the bird to fans and that he was "pointing to the individual who tossed a bottle."

Thanks Carolina fans 4 the flipped birds+few bottles to the head. Sticks n stones may break my bones but aluminum zimas will never hurt me.
— Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) October 20, 2013

Either way, the "aluminum zimas" reference was a nice touch.

Rob Ryan reportedly close to deal with Rams

It looks like New York is only big enough for one of the Ryan twins after multiple reports Friday said  that Rob Ryan was nearing a deal with the St. Louis Rams as their defensive coordinator.

Rob Ryan was the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator until he was fired Tuesday.  Ryan's dismissal, along with the New York Jets canning of defensive coordinator Mike Pettine and linebackers coach Bob Sutton prompted speculation that he might join twin brother Rex in New York.

Instead, reports now claim that he will join Jeff Fisher's team in St. Louis.

Rob preferred a defensive coordinator job with a team but that plan was unlikely with the Jets because defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman is expected to take that position.

Too bad.  The Rex and Rob show would have been a nice followup to Tebowmania next season.

Tebow sounds 'ready' for anonymous role with Jets

This just might be the last week you hear about anything having to do with Tim Tebow — after the New York Jets put an end to one of the most excruciating three-game losing streaks ever.  And you know who sounds like he doesn't mind being a footnote to one of the most tumultuous times in the team's history — Tebow himself.

If you believe any of that, I've got an NHL season to sell you.

Tebow came in on the third play and had just three snaps on offense during Sunday's 27-13 win over the St. Louis Rams after a week that a group of unnamed teammates ripped the backup quarterback's skills and labeled him "terrible."

On Sunday, Tebow was the one who became anonymous after having his role on the team reduced to a season-low.

"I think it was just a game-plan thing and whatever they're comfortable with," he said after the game.

Mark Sanchez (15-of-20, 178 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT) finally showed why he has been hanging on as the Jets starter just in time for a now meaningful Thanksgiving Day game against the New England Patriots.

Tebow, on the other hand, had just two runs for minus-5 yards and a handoff that did nothing.  On a failed fake punt, Tebow's shovel pass to Lex Hilliard lost a couple of yards. That's the source of a net gain of minus-7.  I doubt if Tebow wants to put his name on that.

Asked how he felt about being used so little during the Jets victory, Tebow, always the good soldier, said, "I'm just ready to do whatever they ask me and want me [to do]."

Rex Ryan, still smiling over Sanchez's sizzling 118.3 quarterback rating, had a Meh explanation for Tebow's scaled down role.

"We had planned for Tim to have a big part of the game," the head coach said.  "They really gave us some looks that we really weren't expecting.  They kind of maybe shut that down a little more than we had originally planned.  I think that was part of the reason you never saw a whole lot of Tim."

There's this bridge over the East River for sale too.

'No Fun League' Was Pretty Funny During Week Six

The NFL entertains millions of fans every season but is sometimes about as humorous as "The View." The "No Fun League" commissioner Roger Goodell will never be confused with Louis C.K. but this week's NFL story lines seemed like they written for a few episodes of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

It looks like Goodell will have his hands full following the escapades of Week Six.

The week began with Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall saying he was going to play like a "maniac" against the New York Jets on Monday night.  The All-Pro player tried to rally his lowly team by going as far as to announce that he was going to get thrown out of the game by the second quarter and might even punch out Jets defensemen Antonio Cromartie or Bart Scott.  Goodell was surely listening.

The fun continued in the second quarter of the St. Louis Rams-Green Bay Packers game when A.J. Hawk sacked Rams QB Sam Bradford and rubbed it in by flipping the bird towards his own bench and the Packers fans in Lambeau Field.

Hawk, who might have been angry at wearing the ugly Packers throw-back uniforms or celebrating the fact that it was his first solo-sack in nearly two years, later apologized.  He claimed it was a "running joke" and didn't intend for "anyone to see it."  Okay.  You can't make these things up folks.

The "Lambeau Flip" was ignored by the officiating crew but lambasted by the game announcers on TV and it's a good bet the Commish will be pointing his own accusing finger at the linebacker.

The bizarre episodes continued with a near cage-match between head coaches Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz after an exciting game between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.  The two surprising teams exchanged six lead changes throughout the game and, during the mandatory mid-field after game handshake, Harbaugh's overenthusiastic grip and greet with a hard pat on the back riled losing coach Schwartz.

The Lions coach didn't take kindly to his exuberant counterpart and he chased Harbaugh down and started yelling at him.  To paraphrase Mel Brooks: May the Schwartz be on you.

The two coaches had to be separated by staff members and the tussle got the surrounding players pumped up and a few more scuffles broke out at mid-field.

Harbaugh later accepted the blame and said, "I was really revved up.  That wasn't me, I just shook his hand too hard."

It was even kind of comical-- in a Farrelly Brothers, ball-to-the-groin way--  seeing Saints head coach Sean Payton  coaching from the bench in a leg brace after getting run over by his own player and breaking his knee cap.  Sometimes humor hurts.

The only thing missing this week was a rant by the Sam Kinison of the NFL-- Rex Ryan.  I guess three straight losses don't lead to a very funny punchline, but there's still one day to gather some material.

It looked like there was little too much frat-boy for the NFL's blood this week.  Forget a finger, it's looks like Goodell will lay down his fist.

Ex-Giants Linebacker Says Fewell Taught Flopping To Players

The New York Giants are being taught how to fake injuries by the team's defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, former Giants linebacker Bryan Kehl told Howard Balzer of The Sports Xchange.

"Perry Fewell coaches that," Kehl told Balzer.  "He's their D.C.[defensive coordinator].  He coaches that."

Call it the Fewell Flop.

Kehl was a little-used linebacker who played a couple of months with the Giants when Fewell started in 2010.  Kehl was waived after week 1 and picked up by the Rams-- where he is still on the roster.

While Kehl didn't perform for the Giants, it sounds like he got some free acting lessons as a parting gift.

The NFL might be  interested in what Kehl allegedly learned from Fewell.  The league released a statement to all 32 teams warning of fines, suspensions and even loss of draft picks if it is determined that someone took a dive on the field during a game.

The bad taste surrounding Giants safety Deon Grant and linebacker Jacquain Williams' "injuries" during the team's 28-16 win over the St. Louis Rams during Monday night's game won't wash away.

If you haven't heard, as soon as the Rams got into the red zone with their hurry-up offense and the winded Giants defense unable to make quick substitutions, Grant and Williams both dropped like fainting Justin Bieber tweens to stop the drive.

It looked like Williams saw Grant was down and he miraculously hopped right up while Grant waited for medical attention.  The Rams drive stalled and they settled for a field goal.

The Rams are still miffed over the incident.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford said he heard Giants players telling one another to "Go down,' after Grant tackled running back Cadillac Williams on the Giants 7-yard line late in the first quarter.

Grant continues to declare his innocence and showed reporters his swollen right knee and said he hasn't missed a game in 12 pro seasons.  On videos, Grant is shown holding his left knee.

"You go and check my medical report," Grant said Wednesday.  "I have the injuries to speak for it... two torn MCL's that I never had surgery, wrist surgery, shoulder surgery, a broken hip with a metal plate and screws in it.  How can another person that's not in your body tell you you are faking an injury?"

Grant conceded that he heard the "Go down" yells, but said it was because he couldn't get up and off the field.

In the memo sent to each team, the NFL said they will  punish future bad acting jobs.

The memo stated: "Those found to be violators will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action for conduct detrimental to the game."

Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka thinks accusing injured players of flopping could lead to trouble.

"I think it's a really dangerous path to go down," said Kiwanuka.  "If you start letting referees decide whether a player is hurt or not, it might come back to bite them big time... it might lead to lawsuits."

An NFL spokesperson said no punishment could be handed down without solid proof-- like an admission of guilt.

Lady Gaga Spotted Dumping Champagne On Fans At Giants Game

Lady Gaga was seen dumping champagne over a V.I.P. railing at the end of last night's New York Giants game and, according to the New York Post, it dripped into a section of MetLife Stadium reserved for disabled fans.

It's just one more occasion where the meat-wearing singer has shown up at a New York sporting events and created a scene, or more accurately, annoyed the fans.

 There were no reports of anyone being showered by the bubbly, but it's the third arena where she's worn the home team's hat and acted like a monster.

She has a habit of showing up at New York venues and pulling some stunt, safely, from the security of her luxury box.

Last summer she even riled Jerry Seinfeld enough, after she flipped the bird to fans while sitting at a Mets game at CitiField, that he went public with his annoyance.

The comic was probably thinking: "You ever notice that people who wear food as clothing shouldn't be allowed into sporting events?"

Gaga better not wear the flank steak outfit in the Giants parking lot before a game or it'll end up on some one's grill.

A week after the Mets spectacle, the "Born This Way" singer invaded the Yankees clubhouse swilling whiskey and talking with the players.

At last night's game Gaga wore a bright blue Giants cap to go with her tutu skirt and giant sunglasses.

Apparently, she was celebrating some one's birthday and tweeted about her night.

"@#Giantsgame watching them win like Champions.  Touchdown Baby!#GoBlue," she pecked.

The Giants beat the St. Louis Rams, 28-16.

First CitiField, then Yankee Stadium, now MetLife Stadium... Lady Gaga coming to Madison Square Garden soon... and not to sing.

Giants Michael Boley Spikes Football Into Face Of A Fan

Maybe, because it was his first NFL touchdown, New York Giants Michael Boley can be forgiven for performing one of the worst football spikes in recent memory during last night's game.  If the score doesn't leave an imprint in NFL history, the torpedo-like ball left one in some poor fan's face.

Boley, after scooping up a fumbled screen pass to St. Louis Rams running back Cadillac Williams, raced 65 yards to score a second quarter TD then, after the Giants linebacker crossed the goal line, he spiked the ball directly into the face of a fan standing behind the end zone.

It doesn't look like Boley intentionally drilled the ball into the unsuspecting man, but the horizontal toss was a direct hit to the nose and had enough power to ricochet off the guy's face into the back of a cameraman's head.

Boley's first NFL score came after being at the right place at the right time, with the Giants leading 7-6 early in the second quarter, and the defense was struggling.  The Rams were marching to what looked like at least a field goal when Rams QB Sam Bradford threw a screen to Williams in the left flat.

The ball which went backwards slipped through the running back's hands and fell to the ground. Williams made no attempt to grab it, so Boley picked it up and raced down the sideline.

Suddenly the Giants lead was 14-6 and the team went on to a 28-16 win in their home opener at MetLife Stadium.

"The Boley play was big, no question," said Giants coach Tom Coughlin.  "When you score on defense, that's a huge play."

Next time, Boley scores, fans might want to move out of spiking distance.