Cornerback Josh Shaw was suspended indefinitely after he admitted he did not sprain his ankles while saving his nephew from drowning, according to the university. “We are extremely disappointed in Josh,” USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian said.

Josh Shaw (26) runs back an interception for a touchdown during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Aug. 29, 2013 in Honolulu.

AP Photo/Eugene Tanner

University of Southern California senior cornerback Josh Shaw, newly named a team captain, said he jumped from a second-story balcony at a family gathering when he saw his young nephew struggling in a pool. Shaw sprained both his ankles, but he said he managed to crawl to the water and help the boy to safety.

"That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside. But that's the kind of person he is," USC head coach Steve Sarkisian said in a statement Monday.

Police and fire agencies didn't receive a 911 call about the near drowning, TMZ reported. The Los Angeles Police Department did, however, have a police report about an attempted break-in. After hearing a description of the man seen climbing around her apartment balcony, the resident said it sounded like her boyfriend, Josh Shaw.

View Entire List ›

“We have to deal with those juxtapositions every day, but I’m glad you’re finally experiencing it as a white male.”

The always wonderful Amy Poehler sat down with comedian Neal Brennan for a segment during his new Sundance show The Approval Matrix and handed down some much-needed wisdom after Brennan discussed his frustrations of being a man in today's society, where being cool — in the traditional sense — is "passé."

Watch the video:

H/T: Vulture

“Michael Sam is gay, are we not over this yet?”

Last night, Jon Stewart discussed the constant coverage of out NFL player Michael Sam as he prepares for a possible upcoming season with the St. Louis Rams.

thedailyshow.cc.com

On Tuesday, ESPN SportsCenter aired a segment that focused not on Sam's football prowess – but his shower habits.

thedailyshow.cc.com

ESPN has since issued an apology for the cringe-worthy reporting.

thedailyshow.cc.com

*cringe*

thedailyshow.cc.com

View Entire List ›

Because who wants to get drunk with the enemy?.

NFL / sportslogos.net

google.com

View Entire List ›

Six games for the first offense, lifetime ban for second.

Janay Rice, left, looks on as her husband, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, speaks to the media. Rice was suspended for the first two games of the NFL season following an offseason arrest on assault charges stemming from an altercation with his wife.

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

The NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell received a substantial amount of criticism when the league suspended Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for only two games following his offseason arrest on assault charges.

Today, Goodell has responded to the backlash by announcing the NFL is changing its personal conduct policy and will issue a six-game suspension to any player, coach, or any other team personnel who commits "assault, battery, domestic violence or sexual assault that involve[s] physical force." A second offense will carry a lifetime ban from football.

Goodell announced the decision in a letter sent to all team owners Thursday, noting that the new policies are effective immediately.

In his letter, Goodell admits that he got the Ray Rice ruling wrong:

"At times, however, and despite our best efforts, we fall short of our goals. We clearly did so in response to a recent incident of domestic violence. We allowed our standards to fall below where they should be and lost an important opportunity to emphasize our strong stance on a critical issue and the effective programs we have in place. My disciplinary decision led the public to question our sincerity, our commitment, and whether we understood the toll that domestic violence inflicts on so many families."

TMZ obtained video of the alleged altercation between the couple.

In July, the NFL announced it was suspending Rice for the first two games of the 2014–15 season and fining him over $700,000.

TMZ

View Entire List ›

It’s that time of year again.

Justin K. Aller / Getty

Buy stock in Labatt — it’s going to be a long year.

Brody Wheeler / Getty

1. The preseason doesn't matter, right?
2. Marv Levy never cared about the preseason why should I?
3. Those fights during camp will only build chemistry.
4. Plus, the offense is probably saving all their real plays for the regular season.
5. They'll step it up when the season starts.
6. Dear God, I pray they wake up when the season starts.
7. We have too much individual talent to suck this year.
8. I mean, our receiving corp is deep, our running backs are the best in the division, and our offensive line is improved.
9. Plus Sammy Watkins is a pass-catching GAWD.
10. That is if anyone in Western New York can get him the football…
11. Without getting him killed.
12. Ugh, EJ Manuel's checkdowns keep me up at night.
13. Maybe Sammy can throw the ball to himself?
14. At least we have the best defensive line in the NFL..
15. That is as long as Marcell Dareus can stop smoking synthetic weed and drag racing.
16. I can't wait to wear my Zubaz in public.
17. Man, they're so comfortable.
18. Sammy Wakins choosing the No. 14 gave my Fitz jersey a second life and saved me 100 bucks — love that guy.
19. Hey, only 13 of our games are at 1 p.m. this season!
20. I wonder if we'll have another Sunday Night game before I die?
21. The fucking Jaguars even get Sunday Night games!
22. At least the game against Chicago is in September, maybe Jay Cutler will still be hungover from Labor Day weekend.
23. If I crush enough Blue Light I'll convince myself you don't need a quarterback to win football games.
24. This team will go as far as E.J. takes us…
25. I wonder is the Patriots will just give us Ryan Mallett? It's not like they need him.

Brody Wheeler / Getty

26. I don't wanna get my hopes up, but we look pretty promising.
27. There might be some meaningful games at the Ralph this winter.
28. This team is kind of exciting.
29. Why does everyone think we need a new stadium? We don't need a new stadium.
30. Fred Jackson has at least three more good years in him.
31. We really need to resign Spiller — when he's healthy he's one of the most electrifying RBs in the league.
32. I wonder if anyone sells a Chris Hogan jersey?
33. As long as we can get to nine wins before December I think we can win the Wild Card.
34. If we could control the clock we'd be winning the division right now.
35. Doug Marrone is like a more likeable Bill Belichick.
36. Fuck Bill Belichick.
37. Fuck the Patriots.
38. And fuck Bon Jovi.
39. I miss Ralph Wilson.
40. If he was my grandpa I sure as shit wouldn't sell the team.
41. I hope Jim Kelly is doing alright — I wonder if he could be a QB coach?
42. I'm gonna buy a Jim Kelly jersey.
43. If this team ever moves I'll never watch an NFL game ever again.
44. Remember when we beat the Patriots in 2011? That was fun.
45. I swear another three and out might make my eyes bleed.
46. E.J. Manuel may have usurped Trent Edwards as Captain Checkdown.
47. Remember when we traded up for T.J. Graham and drafted him in front of Russell Wilson and Nick Foles? That was fun.
48. Wow, Mondays suck.

View Entire List ›

The 24-year-old will have 24 hours to sign with another team.

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL, was released from the St. Louis Rams today, the team announced.

ESPN reports that Sam was cut at 4 p.m. Saturday, when the teams had to trim down their rosters to 53 players to comply with league regulations.

Any NFL team is free to sign Sam until noon ET on Sunday. If that doesn't happen, the Rams could sign Sam to their 10-man practice squad. At least one league source has told ESPN that's what the Rams would like to do.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher called the decision to release Sam "a football decision. It was a football decision back in May when we drafted Mike."

By nearly all accounts, Sam performed well throughout training camp and the preseason, but the Rams are particularly deep and talented at defensive end, Sam's natural position. The Rams kept nine players on the defensive line, including undrafted rookie Ethan Westbrooks. That means Sam essentially lost a tight competition with Westbrooks for one of the final spots.

Instead of waiting to learn if he'd made the team, Sam went to his alma mater, the University of Missouri, to attend its season-opening game against South Dakota State.

@dhester96

Sam later thanked the Rams for the opportunity in a series of tweets sent about an hour after he was reportedly released.

View Entire List ›

Since college football is starting and the NFL season is right around corner, a few things need to be addressed.

When people think you're only watching to look at the guys.

Don't get me wrong, a number of the players are attractive. But does attractiveness win championships? No.

The CW / Via fmgmoscatolife.com

When guys expect you to make or serve food during the game.

Jupiterimages / Via thinkstockphotos.com

Bravo / Via imnotfunnyimjustanasshole.com

Pink jerseys.

No. Just no.

NBC / Via leslieknopelifecoach.tumblr.com

View Entire List ›

Fantasy Football is upon us, and while you may have that giddy night-before-Christmas feeling, let’s not forget how frustrating it can get.

Benching a player who ends up having a career-high game.

Doug Martin has HOW MANY POINTS?

DreamWorks Pictures / Via reactiongifs.us

Having to rely on one player to carry your team.

“I’m a 50 point underdog. Peyton, you got this, right?”

Warner Bros. / Via imgur.com

Collecting money from your flaky league members.

The worst. Luckily, Tilt.com partnered with ESPN this month to make collecting league dues a Brees (pun INTENDED).

Funny or Die / funnyordie.com

One of your star players gets injured (or arrested).

Gronkowski breaks his arm blocking for an extra point with five mins left in the game…makes sense.

Universal Television / Via reactiongifs.com

View Entire List ›

But his NFL career isn’t over yet.

Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL, was not claimed by any NFL team after he was cut from the St. Louis Rams Saturday.

Getty Images / Marc Serota

Once the Rams dropped Sam from their final roster, he was on "waivers," meaning that other NFL teams had until noon today to take him. Based on last year's win-loss record, the worst team in the league had the first chance to pick him up, and the best team had the last chance.

Still, Sam can sign to the practice squad for any NFL team — and the Rams are expected to sign him to their 10-man practice unit, according to league sources cited by ESPN.

We will continue to update this post as the situation develops.

View Entire List ›

How embarrassing.

The NFL regular season is almost here. But there's one player you won't see on the sideline this year:

That's Michael Sam, formerly of the St. Louis Rams. But despite a strong preseason, Sam didn't make the Rams roster, wasn't signed by another team, and didn't even make a practice squad.

Jeff Curry/Usa Today Sports

He's the first SEC defensive player of the year to fail to make an NFL opening day roster in his first pro season — and he may go down in NFL history as the only winner of that award to ever fail to make a roster.

There are 1,696 NFL roster spots, and another 320 jobs on NFL practice squads, and Michael Sam apparently wasn't good enough for any of them.

When fans looked at Michael Sam, they saw a guy who racked up nearly a dozen sacks as a senior in the toughest league in college football, won All-American honors, and then produced another three sacks in three preseason games for the St. Louis Rams. The NFL saw a distraction, which is a polite dance around the truth: People like Michael Sam still aren't welcome in the NFL.

The NFL has just made it clear — on no uncertain terms — that it can afford to continue to be homophobic. Millions of Americans are still going to tune in on Thursday night to see the NFL season kickoff. Make no mistake: That's all that matters to the NFL: those eyeballs, and the dollars that come with them. That's what the NFL's sponsors want, and that's what the NFL wants. Nothing changes unless viewers like you decide to stop watching NFL games, stop playing fantasy football, and stop buying NFL merchandise.

The NFL doesn't care about what you care about. Not gun violence, not domestic abuse, not equal rights, not player safety. All of this is appalling, but the NFL has shown that it's not going to change anytime soon, especially not when it's making this much money without changing a thing. NFL teams split $6 billion in revenue last year — a league record. Commissioner Roger Goodell made more than $44 million in 2012. (And the NFL is a nonprofit, which means it saves millions of dollars each year in taxes.)

Ray Rice

Rice allegedly knocked his then-fiancée unconscious during an offseason altercation at an Atlantic City, New Jersey, casino. He'll be eligible to play in Week 3 against Cleveland when he returns from his two-game suspension.

Evan Habeeb/Usa Today Sports

View Entire List ›

Put down the heart monitor and take this quiz.

United Artists / Via youtube.com

BuzzFeed

ESPNW provides cryptic fantasy football player rankings designed to be “easily understood” by women. H/t Adweek .

Every year, various publications release their fantasy football seasonal rankings, which is a list of players ordered in accordance with their predicted fantasy value for the year.

NFL / Via fantasy.nfl.com

That is, except for ESPNW (ESPN "for women"), which compares player value to relationships.

ESPN / Via espn.go.com

"Her Fantasy Football's Top 200 Rankings For 2014," breaks what would ordinarily be a standard list into tiers named for relationship statuses. The top players: "Marriage Material."

ESPNW / Via espn.go.com

View Entire List ›

UPDATE: Cowboys coach Jason Garrett announces signing of Sam.

Usa Today Sports/Usa Today Sports

Michael Sam, the first out gay player drafted into the NFL, has signed with the Dallas Cowboys.

Sam was brought to Dallas for a physical on Wednesday and then assigned to the Cowboys' practice squad.

"This is about football. We evaluated him as a football player," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett told reporters during a press conference Wednesday. "We just want to give him a chance to come in and see if he can help our football team."

After a couple of follow-up questions about Sam, Garrett said: "We need to be careful about spending too much time on a practice squad player."

Sam, who met with the media earlier in the afternoon, thanked the Cowboys for giving him an opportunity in a series of tweets.

View Entire List ›

WARNING: You will never look at Johnny Manziel the same ever again. H/T Mandatory .

Last season, the folks at Mandatory photoshopped a few headshots of current NFL quarterbacks and showed us what they would look like if they were bald. Well, now they're back for part two, and it's just as amazing as part one.

Mandatory / Via mandatory.com

National Football League / Via mandatory.com

View Entire List ›

Fancy a ruck?

What do you get if you combine gay men + rugby + water? Only the greatest weekend of your life!

Bingham Cup

The Bingham Cup in Sydney last weekend saw the hottest gay men in rugby come together. Not literally, you pervert.

Coopers Photography

So let's take a tour around the world to find the hottest, starting with this tough old stalwart.

Coopers Photography

I'd like to put all my sporting dreams on your shoulders, good sir.

Bingham Cup

View Entire List ›

“Pull us, you flabby loser!”

In Aaron Rodgers' new State Farm® commercial, SNL alums Kevin Nealon and Dana Carvey reprised their roles of Hans and Franz to pump up the quarterback's workout regimen.

The ad, which debuts during tonight's Packers-Seahawks game, showcases Rodgers pulling a tank...

youtu.be

Towing Hans and Franz in a kayak...

youtu.be

Adjusting his diet, working out, and, of course, practicing his posing.

youtu.be

View Entire List ›

Welcome to my football fandom life.

Rejoice, the NFL is back.

giphy.com

Right now, EVERY team has a chance to win the Super Bowl — even my beloved Dallas Cowboys.

Matthew Emmons / USA TODAY Sports

I know what you're thinking. "Wait, what? You're a Dallas Cowboys fan? Didn't you grow up in New Jersey?"

MTV / Via gifrific.com

"Bro, how are you not a Giants fan?"

cdn.fansided.com / Via nflspinzone.com

View Entire List ›

Five giant stadium items. Nine innings of baseball. One man’s valiant quest for food immortality.

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

Let's get this out of the way up front: This is a bad idea. Possibly even a terrible idea. You're reading about the Citi Field Food Challenge specifically because it's a bad idea, and when you're done reading, maybe you'll consider taking the Challenge, too — again, because it's a bad idea, and what are we if not adventurers in the face of stupidly large food challenges?

And let's just acknowledge that, you and me: This is a bad idea, and it may or may not end with your head buried in a trash can outside the right field bleachers. Challenger, beware.

So onto the challenge. It's simple, really: We looked at the menu at Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, and dug up the best, the biggest, the most insane food that money could buy. And then we stuck it all on a Bingo card.

The outside edges of the card are the biggest foods: your mountains of ribs, your savory meatball sliders, your fully-stuffed Italian subs. We loaded the inside ring with more reasonably-sized food options: fried dough and bacon-on-a-stick and humongous milkshakes. (Your definition of "reasonable" may vary.) The free space is a Brooklyn Summer Ale, one of the many excellent local beers sold at the ballpark. Let no one say the stadium food gods are less than merciful.

The rules are simple:

1) Your first bite starts at the scheduled time for first pitch. (Rain delay? You can still take that first bite at 7:05.)

2) You've got 9 innings to finish five food items — any five, as long as they're in a row. No extra innings eating allowed, sorry!

3) You must hold your food down for at least 15 minutes after your last bite.

4) You accept the consequences and the punishment the Challenge will almost certainly dole out.

That clear?

So here's my attempt. The night? Aug. 12. The game? Nationals-Mets. The Challenge? A very bad idea.

Dan Oshinsky / BuzzFeed

View Entire List ›