Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

The Madden Curse: A History

Calvin Johnson, please be careful. The Lions’ wide receiver is the latest athlete to grace the cover of the Madden NFL video game, an honor fraught with peril.

ESPN / Screenshot

Carnegie Deli Debuts ‘Jetbow’ Sandwich for Tebow’s N.Y. Arrival

It’s an estimated 3.5-pound behemoth, piled high with ingredients that represent Tebow’s “all-American boy” personality.

Paul Sancya / AP

Bradying: The Poor Man’s Tebowing

We can all admit the whole Tebowing phenomenon was getting pretty stale. But just in time, the Internet has discovered a new sports meme and a new NFL quarterback to mimic.

YouTube

Breaking: Kelly Clarkson Doesn’t Mess Up National Anthem at Super Bowl

All Clarkson had to do was get the words right. That’s how low our expectations are for Super Bowl singers.

Jim Young / Reuters

Numeral Nuisance: NFL Concerned About Super Bowl 50, or ‘L’

The league is concerned about 2016, when the Roman numeral representing the 50th anniversary of the game will be one solitary “L.” Like that hand-signal for “loser.”

Animal Planet

Puppy Bowl 2012: Meet Your Starting Lineup

Not a fan of pigskin? Prefer to watch cuter, though somewhat less-coordinated mammals on the football field? Fear not — the eighth annual Puppy Bowl will be on hand for your alternate programming from 3-5 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday. Here’s who to watch on the field.

Screenshot

Old Spice Guy Terry Crews Invades Kinder, Gentler Commercials

Old Spice’s brash branding has gotten so loud that it’s started to spread to other commercials.

NBC

Psychic Puppies? Jimmy Fallon’s NFL Sketch May Have Predicted Super Bowl Winner

The late-night comic’s puppy race predicted the Patriots would win the Super Bowl back in September. Could it be a sign?

Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images

Football Players Can Tweet During the 2012 Pro Bowl

The NFL is relaxing its strict social media policy for the Pro Bowl, allowing players to post updates from the sidelines.

Adam Hunger / Reuters

Give Me an A: CNBC Picks the 10 Best NFL Cheerleading Squads

As this year’s NFL playoffs wind down, it’s time to take a look at the teams that create the biggest buzz year-round: The cheerleaders.