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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

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Ray Ratto

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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David Roth

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

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

Former Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski, his wife Mickie, and Actor Ken Jeong look on in the final seconds of the Terry's Chocolate Vegas Showdown college basketball game between Duke Blue Devils vs Kansas Jayhawks on November 26, 2024.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NOV 26 Terry’s Chocolate Vegas Showdown – Kansas vs Duke

Staying Up Late And Being Stupid

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Lauren Theisen

Dallas Cowboys Jalen Brooks, left, celebrates Washington Commanders place kicker Austin Seibert (3) missed extra point

Washington Commander vs Dallas Cowboys

The Commanders Really Blew That One

The Pittsburgh Steelers line up against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter in the game at Huntington Bank Field on November 21, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Pittsburgh Steelers v Cleveland Browns

Steelers-Browns Was A Miserable And Majestic Classic Of Bad-Weather Football

The San Francisco 49ers looks on during the fourth quarter of a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on November 17, 2024. He looks kind of frustrated.

Seattle Seahawks v San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers Might Just Be Like This

Josh Allen runs the ball to score a touchdown

Kansas City Chiefs v Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen Ran Through Kansas City’s Perfect Record

NBA and FanDuel online sports betting signage is displayed on the side of a building in Phoenix, Arizona.

US-SPORTS-BETTING

Doing Cocaine In An MRI Machine, With Arif Hasan

Jared Goff walks off the field after a win

Detroit Lions v Houston Texans

Jared Goff Threw Five Interceptions And None Of Them Mattered

Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The image is blurry in an artful way.

Cincinnati Bengals v Baltimore Ravens

America Needs More Ravens/Bengals Football

Closeup of painted Oakland Raiders fans in Black Hole during game vs New York Jets in Oakland in 2003. They've got like weird helmets and skull stuff going on.

Oakland Raiders Fans, 2003 AFC Playoffs

A Taste Of That Football-Shaped Bread, With Ray Ratto

<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

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 15: San Diego Chicken (Ted Giannoulis) cooks up some chicken wings on his grill at his home nest, April 15, 1986 in San Diego, California.

San Diego Chicken cooking Chicken on BBQ

Funbag

Don’t Sauce My Fried Chicken If You Suck At It

Head coach Antonio Pierce of the Las Vegas Raiders yells during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season.

Las Vegas Raiders v Cincinnati Bengals

Raiders Fire Three Coaches For Lack Of Anything Else To Do


<p>Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.</p>


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Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 03: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles hurdles Jarrian Jones #22 of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 03, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Eagles Take One Giant Leap Backwards In Win Over Jaguars

Kamala Harris smiling out at the crowd at her big rally in Washington, D.C. on October 29, 2024. There's a bunch of people cheering behind her and she's wearing a suit.

US Vice President Kamala Harris campaign rally in Washington DC closing argument address

Watching The Game, With Denny Carter

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy speaks to media at a press conference after the game against the Detroit Lions on October 13, 2024. He is wearing a plaid Cowboys hat and looks exhausted.

Detroit Lions v Dallas Cowboys

Mike McCarthy Is Still Sitting In The Hottest Seat In Sports

Harrison Bader (left) and Jesse Winker (right) celebrate in the outfield at CitiField after the Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. Bader is yelling; Winker, also yelling, kind of looks like a snake a little bit.

Division Series – Philadelphia Phillies v New York Mets – Game 4

The Hazards Of Beef Tourism, With Rohan Nadkarni

Las Vegas Raiders owner and managing general partner and Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis (L) and Tom Brady attend Game One of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs finals between the Aces and the New York Liberty. Brady looks kind of gaunt and pointy; Davis looks like Mark Davis.

2023 WNBA Finals – Game One

As Owner Or Broadcaster, All Tom Brady Has To Do Is Show Up

Head coach Doug Pederson of the Jacksonville Jaguars adjusts his headset prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills. He looks pretty goofy, and the JAMBORAY badge is imposed over the Jags logo on his shirt.

Jacksonville Jaguars v Buffalo Bills

Jamboroo

A Bet You’ll Always Lose

Denver Broncos v New York Jets

The Jets Feel Forever One Poke Away From Collapse

Wide receiver Plaxico Burress #17 of the New York Giants warms up for the game with the Arizona Cardinals on November 23, 2008. It looks like he's looking at the Distraction logo at upper right of the frame.

New York Giants v Arizona Cardinals

The Plaxico Continuum

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce walks on the sidelines during the NFL game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens.

NFL: SEP 15 Raiders at Ravens

Antonio Pierce Abruptly Realizes He Is Coaching The Raiders

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) does an interview with FOX Sports Tom Rinaldi after the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints.

NFL: SEP 15 Saints at Cowboys

Derek Carr Is Officially Too Racy For The NFL

<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>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div class="author-header-shares"></div>


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Charles P. Pierce

LOGAN, UT - SEPTEMBER 14: Caleb Lohner #84 of the Utah Utes catches a touchdown pass over JD Drew #3 of the Utah State Aggies during the first half of their game at Maverik Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Logan, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

Football