How will the Patriots win without filming sidelines from the press box?

Forget losing Tom Brady. How are the Patriots going to win without the massive advantage of filming sidelines from the press box? The NFL's harsh and absolutely not ridiculous punishment of the Patriots came down today. But worse than the fine and the forfeited draft pick is the impact the lack of press box sideline footage will have in the win-loss column.

When Tom Brady's DeflateGate suspension was first announced, I remember laughing hysterically at how absurdly severe it was. And now I can't even take the NFL seriously enough to laugh at it when it tries to act like it cares about its rules when it over-punishes the Patriots for doing something that was as close to nothing as something can be.

And of course, the same old crew of people will emerge from the woodwork and get on their well-worn soapboxes to preach about the moral uprightness of their teams and the debauched wickedness of the evil Patriots. By this point, these aging crusaders of football ethics will have hoarse voices as they try to remember their rehearsed streams of bullshit occasionally peppered with half-truths and innuendo. They'll likely be doing so while wearing the jersey of a team with cap violations, rampant PED use, or coaches who block kick returners.

Most importantly, the NFL has sent a message to everyone far and wide: don't film a team's sideline from the press box. The sideline, which is visible to 60,000 people, is being filmed by TV networks and NFL Films, and is often full of microphones attached to coaches and players, must not be filmed from the press box. This is too much of an advantage for one team to have.

Patriots-Jets Drinking Game: Christmas Eve Edition

Ho Ho Ho!!! Merry Christmas!!! And what better way to celebrate the holidays than to imbibe some Christmas spirits while watching the Patriots (hopefully) ruin yet another Christmas for the Jets. By playing this game you will ensure that you will be given a massive hangover as a present from Old St. Nick, and perhaps some severe liver damage or a trip to the hospital for a stomach pump. 

Here's a drinking game to play while watching the Patriots steal Christmas from the Jets, Grinch style. And similar to the Grinch, if you play this game your liver will grow three sizes this day...

Everytime a commentator says:

"Happy" or "Merry" = take 1 drink from a beer

"Holidays" or "Christmas" = 1 drink

"Hanukkah" = take 8 drinks

"Rivalry" = 1 drink

"New" (as in New York and New England) = 1 drink

"AFC East" = 1 drink

"Holly" = 1 drink

"Jolly" = 1 drink

"Rain" = 1 drink

"Snow" = 1 drink

"Brandon" = 1 drink

"Malcolm" = 1 drink

"Marshall" = 1 drink

"Jones" = 1 drink

"Tis" = 1 drink

"The season" = 1 drink

"Season's greetings" = 1 drink

Anytime this is on screen:

Video of the Jets losing = 1 drink

A Santa hat = 1 drink

Santa = 1 drink, 2 cookies, glass of milk

Snow (fake or real) = 1 drink

Christmas tree = 1 drink

Wreath = 1 drink

Ugly Christmas sweater = 1 drink

A fireplace = 1 drink per log

A player or coach's family = 1 drink per family member

Christmas lights = 1 drink

Candle = 1 drink per candle (lit candles only so watch those Menorahs)

Reindeer = 1 drink per reindeer

Grinch = 1 drink

Darelle Revis = 1 drink (bonus points if you're drinking an island/tropical drink)

Bill Belichick = 1 drink and last person to say "Bah Humbug" has to finish their beer

Rob Gronkowski = finish your beer and spike the container (bonus points if it's glass)

Robert Kraft = 1 drink

Robert Kraft talking to someone = drink the entire time he's talking

Anytime this happens:

The Jets do something stupid = 1 drink

Cyrus Jones does something stupid = 1 drink

Cyrus Jones isn't on the field at a time he had been in the past = 1 shot of liquor

Cyrus Jones is actually on the field = entire beer + 2 shots of liquor

Touchback = 1 drink

Kickoff return = drink during entire return

Matthew Slater makes a special teams tackle = 1 drink

Brady throws to Edelman = 1 drink

Gostkowski misses a kick = 1 shot of liquor

A runningback catches a pass = 1 drink

LeGarrette Blount runs the ball = 1 drink + 1 hit from a blunt

Malcolm Butler breaks up a pass = finish your beer

Devin McCourty makes a big hit = finish your beer

Patriots go no huddle = drink each snap

Tom Brady points out the "Mike" = 1 drink (bonus points for drinking Mike's Hard Lemonade but only if you're a girl, negative points for guys)

Brady says "Alpha milk" = 1 drink (bonus points if you're drinking a White Russian)

So get lubed up, enjoy the game, Merry Holidays to all and to all a good night!!!!!!

Texas Hires Charlie Strong, Three Quick Thoughts

1. Texas can't wait a day or two? They have to announce this hiring when the college football world is focused on Florida State and Auburn?

2. Mack Brown + Charlie Strong = Charlie Brown. Good grief.

3. Texas seems to like coaches with short, powerful names. Mack Brown leads to Charlie Strong. Another coach with a short, powerful name: Rex Ryan. Is sexy Rexy next in line for the job in Austin? As an Oklahoma fan, I sure hope so. As a Patriots fan, I hope Rex stays with the Jets for life.