Partying With NFL.com Friends, Playing Fantasy Football

by Brad Wells on Aug 27, 2010 12:25 PM EDT in Comcast Sponsored Posts

When I wasn't pounding my fist into the table, cursing the stupidity of Brandon James while watching the Colts get blasted in their third preseason game, I was actually enjoying myself at he swanky Edison Ballroom in New York. The NFL, and NFL.com, had a big fantasy football draft party there last night, and they were kind enough to invite me, Jason Brewer of Bleeding Green Nation, and John Butchko of Gang Green Nation.

Of course, they just HAD to have this thing on the night of a Colts preseason game, didn't they.

I went to a party similar to this in 2007, where I met me good friend Brian Mermelshtein of NFL.com. Since then, NFL.com has always been a friend of Stampede Blue and SB Nation. I big reason we were able to cover the Super Bowl live from Miami this year was because of people like Brian. Same for our live coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft.

This year's party was a lot of fun. I stood in line for food with former Jets great Curtis Martin. Michael Strahan was also there. Michael looked good by the way. Looks thin, healthy, and could probably suit up if he wanted to.

Also present was NFL RedZone host Scott Hansen. He MCed the fantasy draft. The purpose of the party seemed to be the unveiling the NFL's new fantasy football game. You've seen the 'Goodbye Dots' commercials, I'm sure. The NFL is smartly getting into the FF game, and they are offering in-game highlights. Not to shabby.

While it is nice to see NFL.com's new FFL set-up, I like going to these things just to see people and say hi to people like NFL PR genius Brian McCarthy and NFL.com marketing mastermind Brian Fitzgerald. I joked with Jason Brewer that it seems everyone who works for NFL Media is named 'Brian.'

After the jump, more details on the party, including my run-in with someone from (gasp!) Kissing Suzy Kolber...

I had fun talking with Kissing Suzy Kolber's 'Monday Morning Punter.' He's from Cincy and we talked about everything from football to folks in southern Indiana or me and Mike Tunison smacking each other around back in February. Punter told me he got a kick out of that exchange. I won't share the rest of the conversation, but let's just say I feel better about the incident. Tunison now works for SB Nation, in case you didn't know.

No, he is not my boss and I do absolutely zero work with him. Probably best it stays that way.

Anyway, MMP was a cool guy and I enjoyed hanging out with him. Other people I got to chat with were Dan Shanoff (nice guy), the guys from JetsInsider.com, Gregg Rosenthal of PFT, and many others. Special thanks to the three Brians, in particular my friend Merm. Merm has been hitting the gym since 2007, when I called him '100 pounds soaking wet.' Now, I'd say he's a good 110 soaking wet, with the 10 being pure muscle (which is better than most of us).

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Dude

posts like these are the “I met the band!!!!” posts of the NFL world.

I’m not going to say “noone cares” because I’m sure many do… but there’s got to be a way you can name drop in a more subtle way. Or at least within a post with something resembling relevant content.

Apologies for being mean – I don’t mean it that way – but this post basically says nothing more than “look how special I am, I got to go to a party with all these famous people, and this is who I met! Also, I made a funny joke!” If it was written by someone else you’d mock them mercilessly.

Cookie Cookie Cookie starts with C!

by willyduer on Aug 27, 2010 3:55 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs

Agreed

Sometimes I feel this site has double standards…

I'm a Bruce

by AussieColtsFan on Aug 27, 2010 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah

It’s not a double standard. Any fan is free to post a sidebar post about meeting Peyton Manning or something. There’s nothing unfair about it. It’s just irrelevant and kind of high school-ish.

Cookie Cookie Cookie starts with C!

by willyduer on Aug 28, 2010 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

If you don't like it

Don’t read it. It’s fairly simple and no-brainer concept. Also, who is “name-dropping?” Talking with Dan Shanoff and Monday Morning Punter is name-dropping? Are you high?

The post is to give readers some idea of the background work we do to gain certain levels of access. It’s also a bit of a thank you post to the people who invited us.

Again, don’t like the post? Don’t read it. Fairly simple.

Oh, and the ‘double standards’ line is hilarious. We’re a Colts blog who talk Colts football. The only double-standard possible is if we start talking Patriots football more than Colts. We’re a sports blog guys. Calm down and enjoy it. If you can’t, there are other blogs out there that I’m sure you will enjoy better.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue and editor of SB Nation Indiana.

by Brad Wells on Aug 28, 2010 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Also, who is "name-dropping?" Talking with Dan Shanoff and Monday Morning Punter is name-dropping? Are you high?

I can only assume willyduer was referring to Curtis Martin and Michael Strahan.

Oh, and the ‘double standards’ line is hilarious.

Maybe double standards isn’t the term that I’m looking for… I was more referring to willyduers comment: “If it was written by someone else you’d mock them mercilessly.”

We’re a Colts blog who talk Colts football.

Exactly, not a blog to talk about who you met at a party (unless it actually happens to be a Colts player/ coach/ etc or is directly related to the Colts).

Calm down and enjoy it. If you can’t, there are other blogs out there that I’m sure you will enjoy better.

Haha I am calm and for the most part I do enjoy it. There are other blogs that I do enjoy much better for their insight and analysis, however none have the same type of community that we have here. I don’t want to leave this blog, but with posts like this, the gradual deterioration of quality analysis and the continual “if you don’t agree with me then you can go to hell” attitude, it makes it harder to enjoy and stick around.

I'm a Bruce

by AussieColtsFan on Aug 28, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

I think a middle ground is always hard to reach.

As far as writing and keeping everyone happy.

OH NO WE SUCK AGAIN!

by colts9318rock on Aug 28, 2010 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm perfectly calm, Dude.

Calmer than you are.

Relax and stop being so sensitive and save the cliche retorts. I can’t not read it, because I don’t know if I don’t like it til after I read it. You do offer some great content here otherwise, you know. I’m not going to just avoid the site.

Talking about talking to Shanoff, MMP, and seeing former non Colts is name dropping and bragging a bit, I think, but even if it’s not (I’m perfectly willing to agree to disagree), how is it relevant? If it’s about describing how you get certain levels of access, you did a really poor job in this post framing it that way. It’d be much better used in the context of a) what access you got b) what you did with it and c) how it helps you become a more capable and credible Colts writer.

So far, your press pass at the Super Bowl proved to be great for the site. The draft? Meh, maybe added a bit. This? Unless you got some good scoop, I’m not seeing the value. It just sounds a bit like you’re showing off.

Cookie Cookie Cookie starts with C!

by willyduer on Aug 28, 2010 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Speaking of Fantasy Football

When am I going to get my email invite? I’m pretty sure I’m in the lowest league and I know they get their email last. I’m just itching to get things started that’s all.

by MarkFive05 on Aug 29, 2010 12:19 AM EDT reply actions