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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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winter 2023 gift (eyebrow)

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Ray Ratto

INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 19, 2024: Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts after Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins (28) scored on a 34 yard touchdown to ice the win over the Denver Broncos at So-Fi Stadium on December 19, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Chargers vs Denver in Inglewood, CA.

Nothing Gets Jim Harbaugh’s Motor Running Like An Obscure Rule

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David Roth

Woody Johnson (center) and his sons attend the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas.

Super Bowl LVIII Pregame

Report: New York Jets Plagued By Woody Johnson’s Meddlesome Teen Sons

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


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Drew Magary

Automobile in a winter landscape with a man coming from Christmas shopping trip with packages, Christmas Tree, etc. Undated photograph circa 1911.

Man Returning from Christmas Shopping

Jamboroo

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 16, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Atlanta Falcons v Las Vegas Raiders

Falcons Choose Buyer’s Remorse Over Kirk Cousins

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Israel Daramola

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on December 15, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Kansas City Chiefs v Cleveland Browns

Even With Patrick Mahomes’s Injury, The Chiefs Feel Inevitable

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Barry Petchesky

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 15: Linebacker Nick Bonitto #15 of the Denver Broncos jumps backwards into the end zone for a pick six touchdown as wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. #11 and quarterback Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts look on during the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on December 15, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Indianapolis Colts v Denver Broncos

The Colts Gave Away Their Season

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook #4 runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

Buffalo Bills vs Detroit Lions

We’ll Take As Much Bills-Lions As You’ve Got

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Tom Ley

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 12: Head Coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels poses during a press conference on December 12, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

North Carolina Tar Heels Present New Football Coach Bill Belichick

College Football

It’s A Good Time Be One Of Bill Belichick’s Lackeys

Matthew Stafford hands the ball to Kyren Williams against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the game at Levi's Stadium on December 12, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. It is a low-angle shot and raining as hell.

Los Angeles Rams v San Francisco 49ers

That Was Just Awful

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 08: Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Atlanta Falcons v Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold Brought Me To Football Nirvana

Bill Belichick, former NFL coach, looks on during the game between the Washington Huskies and the Michigan Wolverines at Husky Stadium on October 5, 2024.

Michigan v Washington

Bill Belichick Isn’t The First Coaching Legend Who Doesn’t Know How To Quit

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 08: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets reacts on the field during the first half of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

New York Jets v Miami Dolphins

Funbag

Aaron Rodgers Is The Last Glory Boy Standing

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Samer Kalaf

Xavier Worthy celebrates a first down in the Chargers-Chiefs game.

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The Chiefs Can Make A Last-Second Win Less Exciting Than Filing Taxes

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Justin Ellis

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is taken off the field on a medical cart in the second quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengalsat Huntington Bank Field on October 20, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cincinnati Bengals v Cleveland Browns

NFL Quietly Drops Latest Investigation Into Sexual Assault Allegations Against Deshaun Watson

Green Bay Packers v Detroit Lions

The Lions Will Live Or Die Off Chance

C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans adjusts his helmet in close-up before taking the field for Houston's game against Jacksonville on December 1, 2024.

Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars

Podcasts

That AFC South Feeling, With Rivers McCown

Climate activists of Extinction Rebellion wearing masks of company CEOs including LVMH's Bernard Arnault (2nd L) Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg (C), Microsoft founder Bill Gates (2ndR) and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson (R) take part in a demonstration in Berlin on April 13, 2023. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

GERMANY-POLITICS-CLIMATE-PROTEST

The Price Of The American Dream Is Now $1 Billion

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
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Charles P. Pierce

FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 24: A pylon-camera is seen during an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium on October 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Chicago Bears v New England Patriots

Things We Actually Like

Blessed Be The Pylon Cam

Jameis Winston (5) of the Cleveland Browns reacts to missing David Njoku (85) for a first down during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos on December 2, 2024.

DENVER BRONCOS VS CLEVELAND BROWNS, NFL

There Are No Small Servings Of The Jameis Winston Experience

Matt Eberflus looking vaguely disheveled as he coaches the Bears

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Matt Eberflus Made Bears History In The Bad Way

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Aaron Rodgers Suffers Further Indignity

Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens reacts during the third quarter after missing a field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles on December 1, 2024.

Philadelphia Eagles v Baltimore Ravens

Justin Tucker Just Can’t Find The Range

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<p class="sc-77igqf-0 bOfvBY">Vince Guerrieri is an award-winning journalist and author in the Cleveland area. He likes Lake Erie perch sandwiches, Jim Traficant and long walks on the field at League Park. His website is <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://vinceguerrieri.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://vinceguerrieri.com/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">vinceguerrieri.com</a>, and you can follow him on Twitter <a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="https://twitter.com/vinceguerrieri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;https://twitter.com/vinceguerrieri&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]">@vinceguerrieri</a>.</p>
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Vince Guerrieri

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How The Art Modell Law Could Keep The Browns From Leaving Cleveland


<p>Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.</p>


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Diana Moskovitz

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is taken off the field in a medical cart during the second quarter of a game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Trevor Lawrence on medical cart

Azeez Al-Shaair Confronted And Ejected After Ugly Hit That Gave Trevor Lawrence Concussion

Alm Summer Livestock Herding Offers Relief To Stressed Urban Dwellers

Pass The Salt