Friday’s Hot Clicks: Browns Security Guards Practice Tackling Fan Running on the Field

Even the security guards do tackling drills.

Even the security guards do tackling drills

I probably shouldn’t be surprised that NFL security crews actually practice trying to tackle morons who run onto the field. The Browns squad seems to have things pretty well under under control, which is a good thing since Cleveland fans can be some of the rowdiest in the NFL. 

I also want to use this opportunity to share a fantastic story about a Browns fan running on the field that I just learned this morning. 

During a 41–0 loss to the Steelers in Week 16 of the 2005 season, a fan named Nathan Mallet ran out onto the field. Security was unable to tackle Mallet, so Steelers linebacker James Harrison did.

Mallet was apologetic, blaming his indiscretion on having had too much to drink. 

“Pretty stupid. Nothing I can say,” Mallet told a local news reporter. “It’s just, I hate losing to the Steelers.”

Despite his remorse, a Cleveland judge threw the book at Mallet. He was sentenced to probation, with the condition that he not attend any NFL games for five years, plus 150 hours of community service. He was also sentenced to three days in jail, to be served during Super Bowl weekend. Mallet was not allowed to watch the game on TV or listen to it on the radio. But that year’s Super Bowl was the Steelers vs. the Seahawks. Wouldn’t it have been a greater punishment to force him to watch the Steelers win?

Preseason football is such hot garbage

Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Last night’s game between the Browns and Eagles was framed by the Cleveland media as a great test of what this Browns team can do this season. And guess what? The Browns, winners of zero games last season, defeated the mighty defending Super Bowl champs. 

The score was 5–0. 

They really could have used a fan running on the field to liven things up. Instead, neither team averaged more than four yards per play, they combined for five turnovers and 495 yards of punts. 

Bits & Pieces

Saquon Barkley’s dad is a lifelong Jets fan, with a tatoo and everything. ... Penn State is offering an anthropology course on drinking that uses tailgating as a case study. ... The Ball brothers’ former Lithuanian coach talked a whole bunch of smack about them and LaVar. ... TMZ obtained the scary 911 tape from Richie Incognito’s arrest at a funeral home earlier this week. ... Police found a drug-smuggling tunnel inside a vacant KFC. 

Kobe celebrated his birthday in peak Kobe form

This shirt is the most Kobe thing ever 😂
(via vanessabryant/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/1C48WX2QFC

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 23, 2018

On 85 attempted years pic.twitter.com/1nDokk7DEL

— Tom Scocca (@tomscocca) August 23, 2018

Tim Duncan has never looked so cool

Ah, good, it’s still OK to hate the Red Sox

Only team with 90 wins & road trip fedoras. pic.twitter.com/6rVK21RnwI

— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 23, 2018

Is that... a golf ball that plays hockey in golf clothes?

Guess who we met on our way to see Chandler Stephenson? Gilbert! He always has a ball. 😉 Love that goalie stick! (Gilbert Plains, MB) #StanleyCup @Capitals @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/0rydnRXgbV

— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) August 23, 2018

Celebs aren’t really “just like us”—except David Cross

The Padres broadcast team lingered on these fans and were like "neat, Padres fans in Denver!" for a good 20 seconds while David Cross and Amber Tamblyn crushed beer and nachos behind them. pic.twitter.com/QUgnmXpKCn

— Tom Ley (@ToLey88) August 23, 2018

You never know who you’ll find walking on the side of the road

Singer Bryan Adams tried to take an Uber from the end of Long Island to Manhattan but the car broke down. Instead, he tried to walk to a train station. That’s when the cops noticed him and offered him a ride, not realizing he was a semi-famous singer. 

I need to know how this conspiracy theory started

A foolproof plan

ABC got the first American TV interview with the 12 Thai boys rescued from a flooded cave

Jaromir Jagr is 46, still playing hockey and still scoring goals

Jarda @68Jagr vsítil, přidal dvě asistence a #Kladynko zvítězilo... ✌️A tak to má bejt 😜 pic.twitter.com/OlE5iUI5wb

— Rytíři Kladno (@RytiriKladno) August 21, 2018

I’ve heard stories before of foxes doing this but never actually seen it

It’s interesting what other countries can accomplish!

A good song

Email dan.gartland@simail.com with any feedback or ping me on Twitter. Bookmark this page to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here. Visit our Extra Mustard page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.