Free Republic

PARIS — To accommodate modern French sensibilities, the NFL has announced that their first ever game to take place in Paris will include special endzone messaging by having "Allahu Akbar" painted onto the field. While not unusual for the NFL to paint social justice-oriented political messages into the endzone, such as "Inspire Change," "End Racism," and "Vote," this will be their first overtly religious message. The upcoming game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints will be the first time the NFL has played a game Paris, so they wanted the message to be more suitable for the...

NFL legend Marshall Faulk revealed that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but has remained in a “good place” after doctors caught it early. Faulk, 53, announced the diagnosis this week on an episode of “Caring Neurologist” with Dr. Sandeep Thakkar and has been dealing with the disease, which is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system that impacts the body’s movement, for roughly 18 months. His first signs of Parkinson’s appeared while playing golf, Faulk revealed on the podcast, telling his doctor during a physical after having the issue when he wasn’t on the golf course. “I...

Fool's Ball, Week Seven, Pigskin Pickem ThreadYour home for all things Fool's Ball! In Memoriam Danny Lee (BENDER2)

The National Football League says it is continuing forward with plans for the upcoming Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints game in Paris, amid ongoing unrest in the French capital. The Steelers and Saints are poised to play the first-ever NFL regular-season game next weekend in Paris, at the Stade de France. Ongoing protests over school conditions in recent weeks have led to violent clashes with police. The movement, which began in the Paris region and rapidly spread nationwide, has seen teenage students in their final years of high school block access to buildings and clash with law enforcement.

Fool's Ball, Week Six, Pigskin Pickem ThreadYour home for all things Fool's Ball! In Memoriam Danny Lee (BENDER2)

Legendary Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka has died at 86

Another NFL star is raising questions about the U.S. moon landing. In a recent interview, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye shared he’s unsure if the United States really landed on the moon in 1969. Maye made his comments during a recent radio interview where he stated, “I’m not really sure 200% if we went there or not.” Boston 25 News was the first to report on Maye’s comments on the moon landing: New England Patriots QB Drake Maye has revealed he isn’t quite sure a famous touchdown really happened. During an appearance on WEEI on Monday, the topic of...

He says that “no fewer than 26" past and present team owners have documented ties to the gambling community and/or organized crime. Moldea also contends that, as of 1989, “no fewer than 70 NFL games have been fixed.”Moldea’s claim was bolstered by bookmaker Don Dawson admitting to participating in the fixing of no fewer than 32 games. Dawson told Moldea that he rigged the final scores by working with the quarterback.Moldea says that his book names players who were involved in fixing games, and that it identifies eight specific 1979 games that were fixed by two referees who were later...

Fool's Ball, Week Five, Pigskin Pickem ThreadYour home for all things Fool's Ball! In Memoriam Danny Lee (BENDER2)

In spring of 1975, Washington coach George Allen hatched a plan to keep his NFL team in the headlines in the dead of the offseason.A llen spread word that he was interested in signing professional wrestling behemoth Andre the Giant and developing him into a specialist at swatting field goals and extra points out of the air. Washington quarterback Joe Theismann recalls being asked to pose for publicity photos beside Andre at a press luncheon organized by the team that July. The most famous photo features the 7-foot, more-than-400-pound wrestling icon effortlessly cradling Theisman like a toddler. Said Theismann with...

Fool's Ball, Week Four, Pigskin Pickem ThreadYour home for all things Fool's Ball! In Memoriam Danny Lee (BENDER2)

This video from Black Conservative Perspective discusses the controversy surrounding a social media post by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (2:15 - 8:05). The DHS used footage of Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins—renowned for his aggressive style of play—to promote their immigration enforcement stance in response to reports of a migrant caravan heading toward the U.S. southern border. Key takeaways from the discussion: The Controversy: The NFL and Brian Dawkins requested that the DHS remove the video, citing that no permission was granted for the use of the footage or his image (8:17 - 8:27). DHS...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The NFL fined San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk $14,926 on Thursday for "engaging in offensive demonstrations." According to the league, Juszczyk violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, when he did an "imitation of chugging a beer" with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter of the Niners' win against the Miami Dolphins. Juszczyk immediately pushed back against the fine on social media before holding a brief, three-minute media session at his locker following practice Thursday. Before that began, Juszczyk took the time to place a jug labeled in big letters "Not Beer"...

Fool's Ball, Week Three, Pigskin Pickem ThreadYour home for all things Fool's Ball! In Memoriam Danny Lee (BENDER2)

Pop star Macklemore has generated quite a buzz recently with his "Free Palestine" messaging while on Ed Sheeran's "Loop Tour." The 43-year-old musician was kicked off the tour following backlash from his pro-Palestine stance, but there have been a few "woke" celebrities who have come to Macklemore's defense. Following the Seattle native's pledge to donate $1 million to Palestinian aid organizations, children's YouTube star Ms. Rachel said she would match his donation and urged "every wealthy White celebrity" to do the same. Ms. Rachel isn't the only one to throw her public support behind Macklemore, though, as Formula One driver...

The NFL not only allows but also supports writing slogans unrelated to football in its end zones. But the league has a major problem with allowing players to write their own slogans on their eye black. Arizona Cardinals cornerback Kei’Trei Clark was fined “6,651 for writing “Glory Be 2 God” on his eye black, violating the league’s rules about not wearing or displaying personal messages either in writing or via illustration on game day. Clark’s message also included a peace symbol between the “Be” and “2.” “During the Arizona Cardinals-Los Angeles Rams game on September 13, 2026, you were in...

Fool's Ball, Week Two, Pigskin Pickem ThreadYour home for all things Fool's Ball! In Memoriam Danny Lee (BENDER2)

You know him. He wears Jesus sandals, drinks Hennessy, still smokes menthol Kools, and has been saying “How ’bout them Cowboys?” since Jerry Jones had hair. The Cowboys aren’t just his favorite football team. They are part of his identity. And he is not alone. The Undefeated noted that the Cowboys’ iconic brand was “largely bolstered by their Black fans,” particularly through stars like Bob Hayes, Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith. But we need to have a family meeting. Because, Black folks, it is past time ya’ll break up with the Cowboys.

The most off-putting thing about the NFL asking two teams to fly 16 hours to the other side of the world and play a key division rivalry game in Australia the first week of the season was the league agreeing to give the performative antics of some lady named Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin a stage during its pregame ceremony. Aunty Joy, as she is affectionately called by her followers, which include people in the Australian government, is an Indigenous Australian and Senior Wurundjeri elder of the Kulin Alliance, Victoria. And what that title means is that she is often tasked...

Fool's Ball, Week Pigskin Pickem Thread, Week 1 Your home for all things Fool's Ball! In Memoriam Danny Lee (BENDER2)