Tag: Fans

Commanders’ fans react to Ben Johnson’s playcalling in the NFC Championship

The Lions may have lost, but Washington fans were watching their offensive coordinator and excited about Ben Johnson potentially becoming the Commanders next head coach.

The Detroit Lions looked well on their to the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, holding a 24-7 lead over the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game.

Unfortunately for the Lions, a series of mistakes, from dropped passes and dropped interceptions to head coach Dan Campbell taking one too many gambles, doomed Detroit’s chances. The 49ers came back to win 34-31.

What did go right for the Lions? Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Johnson had the 49ers on their heels throughout the first half, whether through the running game, passing game, trick plays, or other means. Johnson played a pivotal role in helping Detroit jump out to a big lead.

While the Lions lost, Washington fans watched in anticipation. Johnson is considered the favorite to become the next Commanders’ head coach.

We look at some of the top Twitter reactions from Washington fans/media regarding Johnson potentially coming to the Commanders.

 

Jerry Jones’ touching gesture for grieving family of Cowboys fan

From @ToddBrock24f7: Jerry Jones sent a care package and a personal note to the family of a fan who passed away just before seeing his first Cowboys game.

The public perception of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones often paints a very specific picture. The glistening stadium. The high-level business dealings and sponsorships. The top-dollar real estate sprawl surrounding the team’s headquarters. Helicoptering in for games. Vacationing on the mega-yacht. Rolling up to the combine in his own luxury tour bus. The nonstop merchandising juggernaut behind the most valuable franchise in sports and one of the most recognized brands on the planet.

But every once in a while, a story comes to light that shows just how much the team- and its legions of faithful fans- really mean to the 81-year-old billionaire.

Veteran Cowboys insider Ed Werder brings us one such story this weekend, sharing via social media what Jones did for the family of a lifelong Cowboys fan who tragically never made it to his very first Cowboys game.

Timothy Washington was a hardcore Cowboys fan who, at 64, had never seen an NFL contest in person. His son, Timothy Jr., sought to change that earlier this month, taking his father to the Cowboys’ regular-season finale, their Week 18 road game versus the Commanders at FedEx Field.

Sadly, the elder Washington collapsed about 100 yards from the stadium on Jan. 7 and passed away.

Back at home in New Jersey after handling his father’s arrangements, the younger Washington received a care package from the Cowboys and a letter from Jones himself. Timothy Jr. shared the letter on his own Facebook page.

“Timothy’s support humbles me, and he is an inspiration,” Jones’s letter read, in part.

“We are grateful to have played a small part in Timothy’s life and appreciate his enthusiasm and love of the Dallas Cowboys!”

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It is perhaps a small gesture in the grand scheme of things, but one that deeply touched the grieving family and perhaps puts the game and the big-business team we all love into a different perspective, if only for a moment.

“Special thanks to Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys for reaching out to our family and recognizing my Dad,” Tim Washington Jr. wrote on Facebook. “He would be so proud.”

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Now entering Year 3, Greg Penner a proponent of ‘constant learning’ with Broncos

“I’m a big proponent of constant learning,” Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner said.

After the Walton-Penner family purchased the Denver Broncos in 2022, Greg Penner was named the team’s chief executive officer. 

As the CEO, Penner handles the team’s day-to-day ownership duties. Denver’s ownership group includes six members, but none of them are as hands-on as Penner, who has the biggest role. After Rob Walton transferred part of his ownership stake to his grandchildren last fall, Penner also became the team’s new majority owner.

Penner and Co. took over the team in late summer 2022 just before the season started, so they did not experience free agency or the NFL draft in Year 1. After having gone through a full offseason and season in 2023, Penner is now entering Year 3 as the Broncos’ owner.

During his end-of-season press conference on Jan. 9, Penner was asked what he learned from his first to second season in the NFL.

“First and foremost, what our fans deserve and expect here is a very high standard,” Penner said. “That was reinforced again in the second year. I would say that I’m a big proponent of constant learning. Sam Walton would always say, ‘Once you think you’ve got it all figured out, that’s about when you’re ready to fail.’ When we’re here Year 19 [or] 20 and we’re having this conversation, I’ll still be learning.”

Penner believes he’ll never stop learning on the job. Last year, he spoke with head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton throughout the season to continue learning about the ins and outs of an NFL team.

“For me personally, practice is a great opportunity,” Penner said. “I get a chance to visit with Sean about plays he’s running. I talk to George about what’s going on with different players. I’ll have a conversation with Beau [Lowery] on the medical side. [Mike] Westhoff will tell me how he’s teaching kickers how to kick. It’s a lot of those little things. I’m not a big believer in that there’s one ‘ah-ha’ moment where you have it figured out. It’s a lot of those little things that give you perspective. Once you have that perspective, you get experience, and you can make better decisions.”

Penner, 54, serves as the chairman of Walmart and he is a board member of companies including eHarmony and Hyatt Hotels. Penner’s had plenty of success in the business world and he’s now aiming for success in the NFL. After improving from 5-12 in 2022 to 8-9 in 2023, Denver will attempt to show more improvement in 2024. The fans — as Penner noted — deserve and expect better on-field results going forward.

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PGA Tour caddie has hilarious interaction with fan, says be quiet in the most polite way possible

“We’re playing golf over here.”

Professional caddies have a nearly impossible job, even when done right.

Although they’re not the ones hitting the shots, they’re in charge of helping players dial in a yardage, figure out where the wind is coming from and how a certain slope is going to affect ball flight.

And sometimes, caddies have to perform crowd control.

Enter Aaron Flener, caddie for two-time PGA Tour winner J.T. Poston, who is in the field at this week’s 2024 American Express in La Quinta, California. Poston carded a 5-under 67 on Thursday, but on his final hole of the day at PGA West’s Pete Dye Stadium Course, he found the bunker on the par-4 18th.

As Poston lined up for his second shot, cameras panned to him waggling in the bunker, but a fan close by was having a phone conversation. That’s when Flener put a swift end to it in the most polite way possible.

“Sir, can you hang up the phone, please? We’re playing golf over here.”

The comments brought a chuckle from the announcers, and even Poston stepped off his ball and put his hand up to his ear, making a phone gesture with his fingers.

American Express: Photos | Friday tee times

No need to fret, however. Poston was able to get out of the bunker and make par to finish his day strong.

And for Flener, it was just another day on the job.

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LOOK: Social media reacts to Alabama hiring Kalen DeBoer as head coach

Fans were quick to react to the news of Alabama hiring Kalen DeBoer as the Crimson Tide head coach. See what they had to say.

Nick Saban retired from coaching not even two days ago and the Crimson Tide already has his replacement. After 17 years and a half-dozen national championships, Saban won’t be on the sidelines for Alabama. Now, it’ll be Kalen DeBoer.

DeBoer joins the Crimson Tide program after coaching at Washington for the previous two seasons. In 2023, the Huskies made it all the way to the national championship game, but fell short against Michigan.

Fans had thrown around a handful of high-profile names over the last tow days as potential candidates for the Alabama head coaching job. We now have our answer and it’s DeBoer, who will head to Tuscaloosa with an impressive head coaching record of 104-12.

Here’s what fans had to say about the latest Alabama hire.

Sky Sports wants to create the ‘Greatest Track on Earth’ with new fan survey

Formula 1 broadcaster Sky Sports is looking to create the ‘Greatest Track on Earth’ as part of a new fan survey it has launched. The digital project will encompass iconic bends, straights and attractions from various grand prix venues to create the …

Formula 1 broadcaster Sky Sports is looking to create the ‘Greatest Track on Earth’ as part of a new fan survey it has launched.

The digital project will encompass iconic bends, straights and attractions from various grand prix venues to create the ideal circuit.

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It will come from the results of a 13-question survey, which can be taken here, covers everything from viewing habits to favorite teams and drivers from F1’s history, as well as all-important choices of specific track elements, weather, and fans at the venue itself.

Twelve corners can be chosen from the survey, including the likes of the tunnel into Nouvelle chicane in Monaco, Eu Rouge and Raidillon at Spa, Degner at Suzuka, the high-speed Maggots, Beckets, and Chapel complex at Silverstone, Circuit of the America’s tight Turn 1, and the high speed Parabolica at Monza.

The opening straights of COTA, the Red Bull Ring, Baku, and Zandvoort are also on the table, along with Hangar Straight at Silverstone and Kemmel Straight at Spa among others.

The survey will run for the next week.

Fans react to Kevin Kisner’s PGA Tour broadcasting debut at The Sentry in Hawaii

Safe to say fans love having Kisner in the booth.

Kevin Kisner struggled with his game last season, so he didn’t qualify for the first signature event of the year, The Sentry. However, Kisner did make the trip to Kapalua’s Plantation Course in Maui. Why?

To make his broadcasting debut with NBC.

Kisner has long been a fan favorite, known for his great sense of humor, incredible interview moments and lack of pretentious attitude that can be found with some on Tour.

His first appearance in the booth came during the second round Friday, and he’ll be back on the call Saturday and Sunday. NBC’s coverage over the weekend runs from 4-6 p.m. ET before Golf Channel/Peacock takes over until 8 p.m.

The Sentry: Jason Day’s Malbon look | Photo gallery

Here’s what fans had to say on social media about listening to Kisner call the action in Hawaii.

Twitter reacts to Broncos fans taking over Chargers’ stadium

Broncos fans were out in full force at SoFi Stadium for Denver’s “road game” against the Chargers on Sunday.

Denver Broncos fans showed up in strong numbers for the team’s “road” game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Here’s a sampling of how Twitter/X reacted to the Broncos having so many fans in attendance against their division rival.

Once famous, the Saints’ ‘Domefield advantage’ is a thing of the past

Once famous, the Saints’ ‘Domefield advantage’ is a thing of the past. New Orleans doesn’t have a team worth showing up for:

There was a lot of Detroit Lions blue in the stands for Sunday’s game at the Caesars Superdome, which saw cheers for the New Orleans Saints drowned out by visiting fans.

It’s a real shame. The Saints cultivated a strong “Domefield advantage” for years when Sean Payton and Drew Brees were running the show, making the historic venue one of the NFL’s toughest environments to play in. Derek Carr and Dennis Allen don’t bring the same inspiring presences those two future Hall of Famers once did.

That strong and reliable home crowd is no longer here. And no one knows that better than veterans with local ties like Tyrann Mathieu, who noted the boos from Saints fans when Carr took the field after an early interception. That kind of negative feedback is unpleasant, but it’s what they’ve earned by playing poorly.

“Obviously it’s disappointing. I think we all need to play better. I think growing up in this city, it’s no secret that we’re all invested. Obviously they have a right to apply pressure, so to speak, but at the end of the day we’re one family. One community. It’s going to take all of us,” Mathieu said in his postgame press conference.

He later added, “Obviously we have to play better. We have to give them something to cheer for. We have to give them something to be proud of. And so I think that responsibility falls on us as players.”

Mathieu is right. The Saints haven’t defended their home turf well enough in recent years; they won nearly as many games in 2020 alone (6) as in the last three years combined (8). And that’s creating opportunities for visiting fans to take over games and make their presence felt. Check out the sights and sounds from the game for yourself:

Who Dat Nation boos Derek Carr coming back on the field

Saints fans haven’t been happy with Derek Carr this year. Frustrations reached a season-high as they booed Carr returning to the field:

New Orleans Saints fans have completely turned on Derek Carr. This is evidenced by the fan base’s reaction to Carr coming back on the field after a snap with Taysom Hill running for positive yardage early against the Detroit Lions, which followed Carr’s ugly interception on the opening drive.

Fans have been upset with Carr for weeks, but this feels like a season-low. The team struggled to move the ball early and ended the first quarter having been outgained by 148 yards for Detroit to 33 for New Orleans. Deeper than just one game, the fans’ reaction is indicative of this season’s offensive struggles. Carr has a lot of work to do in winning back their support.

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