Jeff Hart: Friday Linkfest for November 4, 2011

By: Jeff Hart | Posted: November 04, 2011

Let the image makeover begin!

NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus jokingly took Steelers linebacker James Harrison to task for trying to reform his image. Harrison has gone so far as to hire a social media strategist to help him sack Twitter, Facebook, and maybe Tumblr if his “linebackers with puppies” meme takes off. Harrison didn’t take too kindly to being called a wimp for caring about his image, and Steelers fans responded as expected.

In celebration of Harrison’s kinder and gentler image, which I’m totally buying into, here’s my favorite clip of him body-slamming a fan. This could be you, Hanzus!

Not so interested in reforming his image? Terrell Suggs. Check out Suggs’ trash talk opus going into this weekend’s explosive match-up with the Steelers.

Maybe he’s not as good at smack-talk as Suggs, but Peyton Manning didn’t back down from burning Phil Simms after the analyst posited that Manning wouldn’t allow the Colts to draft Andrew Luck. So, wait, would he? Because in all his talk about how lousy Simms’ show is, I never hear a denial from Manning. Is he cool with his replacement being drafted? Or with being traded?

LaDanian Tomlinson was asked to weigh in on Philip Rivers’ lackluster performance so far this season. Tomlinson gave what seemed to me like a fairly neutral and reasonable response about Rivers being distracted and it being difficult to be “the guy.” The Chargers fired back on LT with both barrels. Maybe a little too close to home, Phil?

Speaking of lackluster, Chris Johnson was on Jim Rome yesterday to remind everyone that he’s “still the same guy.” So, we can rule out body-snatching as a cause for Johnson’s abysmal season.

After getting sacked 10 times in last week’s game against Buffalo, it looks like a publicity savvy condom company thought John Beck could use some extra protection.

Earlier this week, I linked to a Cold Hard Football Facts piece about Eli Manning’s half-season drop off. The CHFF crew has expanded this research to its nerdy apex, breaking down 100 QBs past and present to see how they perform after the midway point. It’s great stuff and, if you’re a stat lover, it should keep you busy right until Sunday’s games start. 

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