John Madden: “During these playoffs, Mr. Madden said San Diego used to be a running team but is now a passing team. In fact, San Diego called running plays this season about 5% more often than the average NFL team. In a December game, Mr. Madden saw the Giants execute several running plays out of the shotgun — a formation that has long signified a pass play — and said NFL teams in general now run the ball from the shotgun as often as they throw it. In fact, NFL teams ran from the shotgun this season just 17% of the time. During the same game, Mr. Madden said the Giants had planned to run the ball at an undersized Carolina defensive lineman, Tyler Brayton, and also that in recent games, Giants quarterback Eli Manning had automatically audibled, or switched, from run plays to pass plays whenever he counted eight defenders on the line of scrimmage. After the game, Giants players said neither statement was true.” There’s much, much more. (Wall Street Journal)