Former NFLer: I Paid "Rathole Money" For Big Hits

This is an interview series in which we ask the plaintiffs of the NFL concussion lawsuit one question (and maybe a few more): Knowing what you know now, if you could do it over again, would you still play football? "Wild" Bill Cody was a fifth-round draft pick out of Auburn in 1966. He spent the vast majority of his pro career in New Orleans on defense and special teams, but played his first season with the Lions and his last, 1972, with the Eagles. Cody, now 69 years old, lives with his wife in Fairhope, Ala. He is one of the more than 4,500 former NFL players who filed suit against the league over concussions and other head injuries. We were taught back in those days to "put your bonnet on 'em." That was kind of a term that the defensive coaches liked to use.…

Why Your Team Sucks 2016: Cleveland Browns

Some people are fans of the Cleveland Browns. But many, many more people are NOT fans of the Cleveland Browns. This 2016 Deadspin NFL team preview is for those in the latter group. Read all the previews so far here. And buy Drew’s new book here. Your team: Cleveland Browns Your 2015 record: 3-13. But truthfully, every Browns season ends with an 0-16 record in spirit. It ends with you throwing up your hands and saying to yourself, “Jesus fucking Christ, what was the point of all that?” We do these previews every year, and every year the Browns manage to out-sad themselves. It brings me no joy to show you this again: Or this: Or this. Or this. Or this. It’s all part of the same progressively numbing existence. This team is a gulag. Its fans have been stripped of their cl…

Serena Williams Just Won the 2013 French Open

Top-seeded Serena Williams just beat Maria Sharapova in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-4, to clinch this year's French Open. It capped a ridiculous tournament for the 31-year-old champion, who mowed down her opponents en route to the second French Open win in her career. Sharapova put up a decent fight, but Williams has now won a career-best 31 straight matches, and she's only lost three of 77 matches since last year's French Open loss. Sharapova had her moments, but Williams eventually was able to overpower the second seed. She finished with 10 aces for the day. Williams served three aces in the final game alone, and powered a serve past her opponent on championship point. With the win, Williams now has 16 major singles championships to her name to go along with 13 dou…

World Temporarily Deprived Of President's Death Penalty Takes For Eleven Minutes [Updated]

For six or so glorious minutes this evening, the president’s personal Twitter account—@RealDonaldTrump—was gone. Whether he temporarily deleted it himself, intentionally or not, or was the subject of some weirdly brief disciplinary action from the platform (he did, after all, tweet about his wish for the New York City truck attack suspect to receive the death penalty earlier today), it was gone. And then it was back. We’ve reached out to Twitter for any more information, if they have it. Six minutes without the nation’s foremost purveyor of takes on Justin Verlander’s playoff performance and the proper way for football players to arrange their bodies during the national anthem and derisive names for North Korean leaders. What a blessing, however brief. Update (8:10 p.m…

Danny Ainge: Celtics Need to Play Harder

data-mm-id=”_v4y0r3nh6″>The Boston Celtics are in a slump. After kicking in Toronto's teeth on their home floor Christmas Day, the team has struggled against subpar teams; they barely scraped by the Atlanta Hawks, the worst team in the NBA by record, before fighting out an ugly win against the Hornets. They then lost to the Wizards absent both Bradley Beal and Rui Hachimura and were blown out by a Spurs team coming off an eight-game losing streak at home. Boston has struggled with injuries all season and still have yet to play a significant amount of games with their five best players healthy. This includes last night, when Kemba Walker wasn't himself after coming down with the flu (and was also ejected for the first time in his life). Despite all the caveats you can come up …

NFL's Complicated Offseason Is Putting New Head Coaches at an Impossible Disadvantage

data-mm-id=”_6j5935345″>The NFL season was kind of supposed to start today. April 6th was the date that teams with new head coaches were supposed to start workout programs. It would have been a chance for new coaches to meet the players they inherited. Instead, they're stuck doing important evaluations through phone and video calls. This is a big disadvantage for the new coaches heading into the NFL Draft.From @getupespn this morning on where things stand with plans for the NFL offseason. Teams with new head coaches could have started offseason programs today, but obviously circumstances have changed. pic.twitter.com/8TwctFps3R— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) April 6, 2020For coaches who have been with a team for a few seasons, this isn't that big of a deal. Bill Belichick…

Clayton Kershaw is Already Out With a Bad Back, Don't Crown the Dodgers Yet

data-mm-id=”_bo0ybn2wa”>Clayton Kershaw will open the season on the injured list as his balky back is already acting up. Despite a loaded offense and a newly locked-up Mookie Betts, we should probably hold off on crowning the Los Angeles Dodgers as 2020 World Series champs. The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw on the injured list with back stiffness and have recalled right-handed pitcher Dustin May.— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) July 23, 2020Let's be real, Kershaw isn't the Dodgers' ace anymore, that designation goes to 25-year-old Walker Buehler who has clearly surpassed him. But LA is thin beyond Buehler and Kershaw, especially after Hyun Jin-Ryu departed for the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason. Ryu went 14-5 with a 2.32 ERA in 2019. …

Noah from 'The Bachelorette' is a Strategic Genius

data-mm-id=”_9q2d229q6″>The Bachelorette is something on the television in my house Tuesday nights after the kids go to bed and summoning any energy to change the status quo feels like a Herculean feat. And that's not a complaint because it's a fascinating, artificial world that changes the people stuck in it more than the people could ever change it, early departures and guys named Dale notwithstanding. But every now and again, something new under the sun makes its way to the Bachelor Mansion — or extended stay La Quinta. This guy named Noah, who showed up after the original muse Clare departed after the top of the third inning, certainly qualifies as a unicorn. Last night, a clearly telegraphed yet no less brilliant masterplan quickened. It is at this point that I must be…

Virginia: Celebrate Commanders Sale with $200 GUARANTEED at Bet365! 

data-mm-id=”_lfdi6n8sw”>Commanders fans in Virginia can finally celebrate. The Dan Snyder era in Washington is officially over! New owners will be assuming control in D.C. and fans can get ready for the new regime with a guaranteed $200 win when they sign up with Bet365 Sportsbook. The only thing stopping you from boosting your bankroll today is completing a few simple steps we’ll explain below. Bet365 Virginia Bonus CodeCommanders fans in Virginia will win $200 in bonus bets when they sign up with Bet365, deposit $10 and wager $1 or more on any bet with -500 odds or longer! You should know this is an exclusive offer for you as Bet365 only operates in four states – Colorado, Ohio, New Jersey and Virginia – in the U.S.Here’s how you claim your $200 in bonus bets: Sign up fo…