You can bet Bill Belichick has already stuck his Tecmo Bowl game cartridge inside is Nintendo Entertainment System and is spending every waking moment trying to figure out a way to stop this play.  And while most of you would probably suggest that the simple answer would be to simply “make a tackle,” we should remind you that performing such a simple task hasn’t exactly been an easy thing to do for the Patriots’ defense this season.

Right now, I think we’re all probably getting a little spoiled by all this awesome football. So I thought that, before the buzz wears off, I’d do a list of the greatest non-Super Bowl upsets in the history of the NFL playoffs. Yes, that’s right. We’re not going to look at the Big Game just yet, but the games that get teams to the Big Game.

So check it out and, as always, let us know what you think.

The play occurred when the Steelers faced a fourth-and-10 from their own 40-yard line with 22 seconds remaining, no time-outs and trailing 7-6.  Quarterback Terry Bradshaw dropped back to pass and under great pressure threw up a ball intended for halfback John Fuqua.  Oakland safety Jack Tatum collided with Fuqua just as the ball arrived, which sent Fuqua to the ground as the ball rebounded back in the other direction.  Being in the right place at the right time, Pittsburgh running back Franco Harris scooped up the ball just before it hit the ground and ran it in for a touchdown to give the Steelers the 13-7 victory.

The play is regarded as one of the greatest and most controversial in all of sports history.  NFL Films agreed, naming it both the greatest and most controversial play in NFL history.

Here is the infamous “Immaculate Reception.”

Notable Birthdays

Jim Harbaugh, NFL – Born December 23rd 1963 (age 48) in Toledo, Ohio

Scott Gomez, NHL – Born December 23rd 1979 (age 32) in Anchorage, Alaska

Hanley Ramirez, MLB – Born December 23rd 1983 (age 28) in Samana, Dominican Republic

Thankfully, the game was able to resume on both occasions after power was restored through the use of an alternative power source.  And with the lights shinning bright in Candlestick Park, the fans were able to get a good view of the 49ers defense, as they turned the lights out on Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ offense.

Here is the view from above the stadium just before the lights went out prior to the game.  You can see the transformer blowing at the four second mark in the bottom left hand corner of the screen.

With the Browns driving down the field in the fourth quarter in search of the go-ahead touchdown, quarterback Colt McCoy was looking to escape the pressure by scrambling out of the pocket, but one man who he couldn’t get away from was Harrison, who proceeded to drive the crown of his helmet into the chin of McCoy.

The hit left McCoy on the ground in pain.  He had to be taken out of the game, but much to the surprise of everyone who witnessed the hit, McCoy was able to return to the game just in time to throw a game-clinching interception in the end zone.

During a post-game interview Harrison claimed that he felt the hit was legal, stating the following:

“From what I understand, once the quarterback leaves the pocket, he’s considered a runner.  All the defenseless[ness] and liberties that a quarterback has in the pocket are gone and you can tackle him just as he’s a running back. The hit wasn’t late, so I really don’t understand why it was called.”

Don’t worry James.  If you still don’t understand why your hit was penalized, I’m sure commissioner Roger Goodell will be explaining it to you in the very near future.

Here is a look at the hit that will likely cause James Harrison’s bank account to take a hit of its own.

If you would like to watch Troy scare opposing offensive players on the gridiron, all you have to do is tune in to watch the Steelers play on Sunday.  If you would like to watch him scare regular people in Hollywood, check out the video below.

Hat Tip – [CBS News]

The NFL players may be locked out at the moment, but James Harrison’s big fat mouth appears to be in mid-season form. The Steelers linebacker went off during an interview with Men’s Journal, calling NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a “faggot,” “punk,” and “dictator,” among other things.  He also took the time to criticize others, including his own quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger; Steelers running back, Rashard Mendenhall; members of the New England Patriots, both past and present; Clay Matthews; Brian Cushing; and a few other members of the NFL’s front office.

Although Harrison has since claimed that his comments were taken out of context, it is hard to believe that he didn’t mean every word he said.  After all, it is hard to take a comment like, “If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn’t do it” out of context.

Either way, the most controversial player on the field now appears to be the most controversial player off of it as well.  You can find the full interview in the August issue of Men’s Journal, which is set to hit newsstands this Friday.  In the meantime, here are five great quotes from the article, which will definitely leave you wanting more.

5.  “My rep is James Harrison, mean son of a bitch who loves hitting the hell out of people.”

4.  On NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell: “If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn’t do it. I hate him and will never respect him.”

3.  “I should have another ring. We were the best team in football in 2004, but the Patriots, who we beat during the regular season, stole our signals and picked up 90 percent of our blitzes [in the AFC title game].”

2.  On Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger:  “Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again. Or hand the ball off and stop trying to act like Peyton Manning. You ain’t that and you know it, man; you just get paid like he does.”

1.  On Texans linebacker Brian Cushing: “That boy is juiced out of his mind.”

Hat Tip – [Men's Journal]

Hines Ward

Ward and his partner Kym Johnson sambaed their way to the title, as the Steelers receiver became the second football player to win DWTS (Emmitt Smith was the first, during Season 3).  They endured some rather painful moments throughout their journey to the finals, but in the end it was worth it, we think.

As for the next season of “Dancing With The Stars,” I’m putting my money on Mike Tyson.

Here is a look at Ward and Johnson’s final dance, followed by the announcement of the winners.

While most people in America were busy cheering and celebrating the news that Osama Bin Laden had been killed by U.S. military forces, Rashard Mendenhall took a different standpoint on the event.

Rather than celebrate the occasion, the Steelers’ running back questioned those who had been doing so via his Twitter account.  He also questioned whether 9/11 was in fact the work of Bin Laden, or a conspiracy:

“What kind of person celebrates death? It’s amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We’ve only heard one side…”

“We’ll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style.”

The last comment has since been deleted from his twitter account.

As you would expect, these comments have caused quite the uproar among the American media and citizens.  As a result, Mendenhall felt the need to start up his own blog, titled “Clarification.”  And much like the title indicates, he has used it in an attempt to clarify the comments made on his Twitter account.

Here is a look at some of Mendenhall’s “clarification.”  You can see the entire post here:

This controversial statement was something I said in response to the amount of joy I saw in the event of a murder. I don’t believe that this is an issue of politics or American pride; but one of religion, morality, and human ethics. In the bible, Ezekiel 33:11 states, “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!…”. I wasn’t questioning Bin Laden’s evil acts. I believe that he will have to face God for what he has done. I was reflecting on our own hypocrisy. During 9/11 we watched in horror as parts of the world celebrated death on our soil. Earlier this week, parts of the world watched us in horror celebrating a man’s death.

I must say, the man may actually have a point…Then again, F*ck Bin Laden!  It’s a celebration b*tches!

The Tennessee Titans’ Justin Gage has given a whole new meaning to the term “ball tease” in this clip.  Did that Pittsburgh Steelers fan really think he would be the recipient of a souvenir from a member of the opposing team?  If so, I’d say he got what he deserved.