Michael Lombardi, Vegas Stats & Information Network Journalist Profile

Articles

Dyspnea, Decompression & Pandemic Dividends

Feb 19, 2025 | indepthmag.com | Michael Lombardi |Andy Pitkin

A diving industry response to the COVID-19 pandemic shows that the sea will continue to bring us life saving and transformative gifts By Michael Lombardi. Images courtesy of the author unless noted. It’s a horror that especially resonates with all of us as divers, and it was a desperate reality for millions of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many, I watched the horrors unfold on nightly news in early 2020, though I did so through a unique lens as a career diving contractor.
Michael Lombardi: Replacing an NFL coach isn't always the answer

Dec 10, 2024 | vsin.com | Michael Lombardi |Cleveland Browns

At a team meeting before Thanksgiving, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin instructed his team “that if they need a place to go tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner, his home is open to any and all of them.” Besides understanding how to strategize his team towards winning each week, Tomlin also knows how to create a powerfully strong team bond. Opening his home to team members exemplifies how Tomlin connects—and still leads. He isn’t labeled a “player-friendly” NFL coach.
Michael Lombardi: A look ahead to Week 14 in the NFL

Dec 6, 2024 | vsin.com | Michael Lombardi |Cleveland Browns

Even though the Detroit Lions are wounded from all the injuries they have sustained during the NFL season, they still have incredible grit. And grit is what makes champions. Angela Duckworth wrote a book about Grit, explaining the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but grit: a special blend of passion and persistence. Grit is about having passion and perseverance for long-term goals.
Michael Lombardi: The Philadelphia Eagles are gonna fly now

Dec 3, 2024 | vsin.com | Michael Lombardi |Cleveland Browns

I live near the City of Brotherly Love. So, wherever I go, someone is wearing a Philadelphia Eagles jersey or some type of Eagles paraphernalia representing the team. In my hometown, Eagles hysteria is out of control, and for good reason. The Birds are legitimate. They have a Super Bowl-caliber team playing its best football at the best time.
Michael Lombardi: A look ahead to Week 13 in the NFL

Nov 29, 2024 | vsin.com | Michael Lombardi |Cleveland Browns

The Thanksgiving meal didn’t disappoint, and neither did the Giants or the Dolphins in terms of predicting their bad outcomes. Frankly, the Cowboys were in line with our thoughts. So were the Lions until the fourth quarter. Most of all, Matt Eberflus was exactly who we thought he was as a head coach: incapable of winning close games. In one-score games, Eberflus is 5-19, which qualifies him for the worst mark of any NFL coach who has coached in 20 games or more.
Michael Lombardi: Will the Miami Dolphins' playoff hopes get frozen in Green Bay?

Nov 26, 2024 | vsin.com | Michael Lombardi

We all love Thanksgiving for different reasons. Even if you are not a turkey enthusiast, the long weekend combining family, football and food make this holiday the best. Since the NFL decided to add a third game to the normal rotation, we can overindulge on leftovers as we drink our way into the night watching football. Who has it better than us at holiday time? This year, the NFL provided us with a great backdrop by setting the evening game in Lambeau Field, as the Packers face the Miami Dolphins.
Michael Lombardi: A look ahead to Week 12 in the NFL

Nov 22, 2024 | vsin.com | Michael Lombardi |Cleveland Browns

When the clock ticked down to 00, and Al Michaels gathered his gear to head back to Los Angeles. there was optimism in Baltimore for the first time all week. The Ravens, coming off their loss to Pittsburgh, received a gift from the Browns, who ended the Steelers’ five-game win streak. The loss made Pittsburgh vulnerable, creating a wonderful opportunity for the Ravens to win the North.
Michael Lombardi: Turn out the lights for the Dallas Cowboys

Nov 19, 2024 | vsin.com | Michael Lombardi |Cleveland Browns

If Dandy Don Meredith were still alive, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Monday Night Football star announcer would be singing, “Turn out the lights, the party’s over,” the classic Willie Nelson song he would sing on the broadcast when he decided the game was over, regardless of the time remaining on the clock. Meredith was a classic entertainer. With great one-liners, he was a quick wit that made boring Monday night games like last night fun to watch.
Michael Lombardi: A look ahead to Week 11 in the NFL

Nov 15, 2024 | vsin.com | Michael Lombardi |Cleveland Browns

The NFL football world has lost their minds. It’s been happening for some time, as analytics, with full support from the national media, has taken over the game. Passing up points is now acceptable. Who wants three points? The only coaches who are willing to kick are the ones winning Super Bowls. Don’t let facts get in the way of the decisions, keep passing up points. The ESPN chart always says “GO.” Last night was the ultimate.
Michael Lombardi: Why the Chicago Bears keep sinking

Nov 12, 2024 | vsin.com | Michael Lombardi |Cleveland Browns

When the anniversary of the tragic sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald arrives, many of my NFL friends text one another to say the real season has started. It’s a tradition. Every November 10th is the date we all believe the new season begins for some teams and ends for others. If a team isn’t playing well when the church bells ring twenty-nine times, their season’s end is a formality.