NFL Playoff Schedule 2013: HotTrend

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Monday, December 30, 2013

Hot Trends: NFL 2013 AFC Playoff schedule and predictions

LOS ANGELES, December 30, 2013-The 2013 NFL regular season is now in the history books. The AFC playoffs are set.

1.) 13-3 Denver Broncos

2.) 12-4 New England Patriots

3.) 11-5 Cincinnati Bengals

4.) 11-5 Indianapolis Colts

5.) 11-5 Kansas City Chiefs

6.) 9-7 San Diego Chargers

How we they here: While their could has been plenty of movement among the top four seeds, no changes took place. They all won in Week 17 by double digit margins and held serve. Kansas City was locked into the five seed and the only team in either conference who had the option to rest starters.

The San Diego Chargers had all of the football gods smile upon them. Had either the defending champion Baltimore Ravens or Miami Dolphins won, San Diego would have been out. They both lost. Chiefs Coach Walrus Lite Andy Reid did bench his starters, and San Diego barely survived beating the Chiefs' backups in overtime.

Had San Diego lost, the Pittsburgh Steelers would have been in the playoffs. Instead, the Ravens, Dolphins, Steelers, and previously eliminated New York Jets all finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs. The January 4 and 5 wildcard matchups:

San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts

The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos have first round byes and the week off. Denver has home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

January 11 and 12 are the divisional matchups:

If San Diego wins, they are at Denver. If Cincinnati wins, they are at New England. The winner of the other wildcard game would not know their opponent until this wildcard is settled.

Predictions: The bottom four seeds are tomato cans. There are upsets every year, but this is a year to go with the favorites. New England and Denver are on a collision course to meet in the AFC Title Game on Sunday, January 19th. The football world wants to see Peyton Manning and Tom Brady duel again, and this year it will happen. Follow Eric Golub on Twitter @TYGRRRREXPRESS Eric Golub is an independent writer for the Communities. Read more from Eric at his TYGRRRR EXPRESS blog. Follow us on Twitter @wtcommunities

This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING TWTC CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.

Eric Golub is a politically conservative Jewish blogger, author, public speaker, and comedian. His book trilogy is "Ideological Bigotry," "Ideological Violence," and "Ideological Idiocy."

He is Brooklyn born, Long Island raised, and has lived in Los Angeles since 1990. He received his Bachelors degree from the University of Judaism, and his MBA from USC. A stockbrokerage professional since 1994, he began blogging on March 11th, 2007, the three year anniversary of the Madrid bombings and the midpoint of 9/11. He has been inflicting his world view on his unfortunate readers since then. He blogs about politics Monday through Friday, and about football and other human interest items on weekends. Contact Eric Golub

Hot Trends: NFL Playoff Schedule: Chiefs-Colts will kick off Wild Card Weekend

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will host the 49ers on Sunday. (USATSI)

The NFL has announced the dates and times for this weekend's wild card games. The NFL postseason will kickoff in Indianapolis on Saturday with the AFC South champion Colts hosting the fifth-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.

Peyton Manning and the Broncos will be the last playoff team in action this postseason. After taking Wild Card Weekend off, the Broncos will open postseason play in Denver at 4:40 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 12 in a game that will be televised on CBS.

Here's the complete wild-card schedule: Saturday, Jan. 4

No. 5 Kansas City at No. 4 Indianapolis, 4:35 p.m. ET (NBC)

Regular season result: Colts 23, Chiefs 7 at Kansas City in Week 16.

No. 6 New Orleans at No. 3 Philadelphia, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)

Regular season result: N/A Sunday, Jan. 5

No. 6 San Diego at No. 3 Cincinnati, 1:05 p.m. ET (CBS)

Regular season result: Bengals 17, Chargers 10 at San Diego in Week 13.

No. 5 San Francisco at No. 4 Green Bay, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)

Regular season result: 49ers 34, Packers 28 at San Francisco in Week 1. Divisional Round Schedule Saturday, Jan. 11

Green Bay/San Francisco/New Orleans at No. 1 Seattle, 4:35 p.m. ET (Fox)

Kansas City/Indianapolis/Cincinnati at No. 2 New England, 8:15 p.m. ET (CBS) Sunday, Jan. 12

Philadelphia/Green Bay/San Francisco at No. 2 Carolina, 1:05 p.m. ET (Fox)

San Diego/Indianapolis/Kansas City at No. 1 Denver, 4:40 p.m. ET (CBS)

Hot Trends: NFL Playoff Schedule: Chiefs-Colts will kick off Wild Card Weekend

Hot Trends: Michael Schumacher still in critical condition

PARIS -- Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher was in critical condition after undergoing brain surgery following a weekend skiing accident that has stunned drivers, fans and athletes around the world.

The Grenoble University Hospital Center said the retired racing driver arrived at the clinic in a coma on Sunday and underwent immediate surgery for a serious head trauma.

It was not clear whether the 44-year-old Schumacher was still in a coma but the hospital statement, which was signed by a neurosurgeon, an anesthesiologist and Marc Penaud, the hospital's deputy director, said "he remains in a critical condition."

Schumacher fell while skiing off-piste in Meribel in the French Alps on Sunday morning and hit his head on a rock, according to a statement from the resort. Resort managers said he had been wearing a helmet and was conscious when rescuers first responded to the scene.

The Meribel resort initially said Schumacher had been taken to Grenoble for tests and authorities said his life was not in danger.

But the situation began to appear more serious when the resort said that orthopedic and trauma surgeon Gerard Saillant had traveled from Paris to the hospital in Grenoble to examine Schumacher. German news agency dpa said it was Saillant who operated on Schumacher when he broke his leg during a crash at the Silverstone race course in 1999.

In an email to The Associated Press, Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm, said the champion German driver was on a private skiing trip and "fell on his head."

"We ask for understanding that we cannot give running updates on his condition. He wore a helmet and was not alone," Kehm said. Schumacher's 14-year-old son, Mick, was skiing with his father when the accident happened, the resort said.

ESPN F1 reported that Schumacher's wife and children were at the hospital, along with Jean Todt, his former Ferrari team boss and now president of motorsport's governing body, the FIA. Ross Brawn, who worked with Schumacher at Ferrari and Mercedes F1 teams, was reportedly also at the hospital, where a gathering of media and fans was swelling.

As news of the accident spread, Formula One drivers used social media to wish Schumacher a quick recovery.

His former Ferrari teammate, Felipe Massa, who himself recovered from life-threatening head injuries sustained at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2009, wrote on Instagram, "I am praying for you my brother!! I hope you have a quick recovery!! God bless you Michael."

British former world champion Jenson Button said posted that his "thoughts are with Michael Schumacher at this tough time. ... Michael more than anyone has the strength to pull through this."

Romain Grosjean of Lotus tweeted: "All our thoughts to Schumi and his family! Hope you will recover soon #legend #Schumi."

Support also came from leading German sports personalities, ranging from the NBA to soccer. Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki said his thoughts were with Schumacher, while Lukas Podolski, who plays for Arsenal in the English Premier League, tweeted: "Bad news from Switzerland: please get well soon, Michael Schumacher. All the best for you, my friend! #getwellsoon #MichaelSchumacher."

Boris Becker, the retired tennis champion now working with Novak Djokovic, posted: "Let us all pray for realschumacher michael for a full and speedy recovery!!!"

In addition to the crash at Silverstone, Schumacher was hurt seriously in a motorcycling accident in February 2009 in Spain when he suffered neck and spine injuries. Those injuries prevented him making a shock comeback that year to stand in for the injured Massa, however he came back to the sport full time in 2010.

Schumacher is the most successful driver in Formula One history, with seven drivers' championships and 91 race wins. After initial success with the Benetton team, he moved to Ferrari and helped turn the Italian team into the sport's dominant force. After initially retiring in 2006, he made a comeback in 2010 and raced for three years with Mercedes

Hot Trends: Formula 1's Michael Schumacher in critical condition after skiing accident

(CNN) -- Michael Schumacher, the most successful driver in Formula 1 history and one of the world's highest-profile athletes, is in critical condition after suffering severe head trauma in a skiing accident in the French Alps on Sunday, hospital officials said.

The 44-year-old German, who retired from the elite motorsport for the second time in 2012, fell and hit his head on a rock, said the director of the Meribel resort where Schumacher was skiing.

Schumacher was in a coma when he arrived at the University Hospital Center of Grenoble and required immediate brain surgery, hospital officials said in a written statement.

Doctors haven't so far released further details about his injuries or prognosis, but an update is expected Monday.

Schumacher won a record seven world titles during his spectacular Formula 1 career and "also holds nearly every scoring record in the book by a considerable margin," according to the motorsport's official website.

He dominated the competition for the best part of a decade, winning five world championships in a row between 2000 and 2004.

Schumacher suffered serious injury once during his career in the high-speed sport, breaking his leg in a crash at the British Grand Prix in 1999. Wearing a helmet

His skiing accident happened while he was off-piste (on unmarked slopes) Sunday morning in the mountains between Georges Bauduis Piste and La Biche Piste, said resort director Christophe Gernignon-Lecomte.

Reputed to be a strong skier, the motor-racing star was wearing a helmet when he hit his head, Gernignon-Lecomte said. Rescuers reached him minutes later and airlifted him to a nearby hospital, he said.

The cause of the accident, which is being investigated by police, remains unclear, according to Gernignon-Lecomte.

Schumacher "was not alone" when he fell, his spokeswoman Sabine Kehm said in a statement. But nobody else was involved, she said.

The accident took place just days ahead of his 45th birthday on Friday. 'A great champion'

Former French Formula 1 driver Olivier Panis visited the hospital in Grenoble but was not able to see Schumacher, CNN affiliate BFM TV reported.

"I will come back tomorrow. Yes, I am worried," Panis told the affiliate

"I know that his family has arrived," he said. "As I am here in Grenoble, I want to come to him and say hello, for old times' sake. He is a great champion and someone very loved in Formula 1."

Schumacher has a wife, Corinna, and two children, Gina-Maria and Mick. His brother Ralf was also a Formula 1 driver.

Schumacher made his Formula 1 debut in 1991 and had won a record seven world titles -- five of them with Ferrari -- by the time he retired for the first time at the end of the 2006 championship.

During that period of temporary retirement, he was involved in a motorcycle crash in Spain in 2009 but escaped without serious injury.

He returned to the Formula 1 track with the revived Mercedes team in 2010, but struggled to repeat his earlier glories.

His best finish was third place at last year's European Grand Prix in Valencia, his only podium position in three seasons with the German manufacturer. 'A very good skier'

Sunday's accident occurred at a popular ski resort in an area known for its challenging slopes above the tree line.

"If you are anything less than a really experienced skier, it's very easy to lose your bearings, because you don't see much in the way of vegetation around you or anything else," said Paul Hochman, a former contributing editor at SKI Magazine. "It's just literally all white, all snow."

British journalist Kevin Garside told CNN that Schumacher is "a very good skier" but acknowledged that he is "fearless" -- like most Formula 1 drivers.

"These people don't recognize fear like you and I do. There is no gene in their body that lets them go slow," Garside said.

"Schumacher wasn't a skier when he joined Ferrari (in 1996), but by the end he was excellent," he said. "Each year Ferrari used to have a media week in the Alps in Italy and they would always have a race -- and it was always Schumacher who won. He was a genuinely quick skier.

"But he was always very mindful of the danger around him," Garside added. "I approached him for an interview at the top of the slope, and he said it would have to be quick as he wanted to check the piste. That meant he wanted to make sure he understood the slopes, the cambers, even though it was only a fun race."

CNN's Elwyn Lopez, Jonathan Mann and Christina Macfarlane contributed to this report.

Hot Trends: Kyle Orton: “I just threw a bad pass”

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 30, 2013, 6:32 AM EST

Cowboys quarterback Kyle Orton threw an interception to seal a loss - and end Dallas's season - late in the fourth quarter on Sunday night. Afterward he said no one deserves blame but himself.

Orton said his pass to Miles Austin at the end of the game was the same play the Cowboys had just run on a touchdown pass to Dez Bryant. But this time it didn't work.

"I just threw a bad pass," Orton said. "Miles ran a great route. It was the same play we scored on the play before, went to Miles this time. I just threw it behind him and the guy made a nice catch of the ball."

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he thought Orton played well, overall, although Jones is obviously not pleased with the end result.

"It's extremely disappointing for our fans," Jones said. "I thought Kyle Orton, even though he ended up with the two interceptions, I thought if he could play a game, the way Kyle played tonight, I thought we had a good chance to win it, especially backed up by the kind of defense we played tonight. This is very disappointing."

It's very disappointing to everyone in Dallas that the Cowboys are, for the third straight year, 8-8.

Hot Trends: Rapper Kayo Redd, Waka Flocka Flame's Younger Brother, Dead

Rapper Kayo Redd, younger brother of hip-hop star Waka Flocka Flame, died yesterday in Atlanta.

Redd recently released a mixtape, Redd Kisses, and promoted it just hours before he died. The cause of his death has not been officially released; conflicting reports pin it to a shooting in his old neighborhood or suicide. The latter has been reported with an alleged, distraught tweet from Waka that is no longer visible in his feed. Waka Flocka Flame's Home Raided

Waka Flocka took to Twitter yesterday to mourn his sibling, first posting, "God please bless me." About seven hours later, he added, "Ya Big Brother love you Kayo" and posted a 15-second photo montage of Redd. Their mother, Debra Antney, also eulogized Redd last night with a single post: "I just lost another son."

The personal tragedy is the latest in a series for Waka Flocka, who lost another brother in a car accident when he was 13; Antney told that the loss caused the future rapper to act out and blame himself. In 2011, Slim Dunkin, a member of Waka's Brick Squad Monopoly crew and a frequent collaborator, was murdered during an argument in a recording studio.

member of Waka Flocka Flame's Brick Squad crew

member of Waka Flocka Flame's Brick Squad crew

member of Waka Flocka Flame's Brick Squad crew

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Hot Trends: Chiefs should have gotten another chance to boot Steelers into playoffs

Posted by Mike Florio on December 30, 2013, 12:18 AM EST

At a time when plenty of Steelers fans are griping about the decision to wipe what would have been a game-clinching fumble return off the scoreboard in overtime of the contest between the Chiefs-Chargers, all Steelers fans should be complaining about the failure of the officials to miss a blatant foul as the Chiefs tried to win in regulation.

As kicker Ryan Succop lined up on the right hash mark to try a 41-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, seven Chargers positioned themselves on the line of scrimmage to the left of the long snapper. But a new provision added this year by the NFL to Rule 9, Section 1, Article 3 states that "[n]o more than six Team B players may be on the line of scrimmage on either side of the snapper at the snap" when Team A lines up in a conventional field goal formation.

Per a league source with knowledge of the situation, the NFL believes a flag should have been thrown. The league office could acknowledge the error publicly as soon as Monday.

The seven Chargers lined up to the left of the Chiefs snapper in plain view of at least two members of referee Bill Leavy's crew. If the officials had called a penalty for illegal formation, the Chiefs would have had another chance to make what would have been the game-winning kick.

Succop's shot at immediate redemption would have come from 36 yards out, with four seconds on the clock. If good, the Chargers most likely would have had no time left for a Stanford-band attempt to win the game.

While it's impossible to know whether Succop would have made his Mulligan, the point is that he should have had a second chance, due to the San Diego penalty that somehow wasn't called. If Succop had converted, the Steelers would be celebrating one of the most unlikely playoff berths in franchise history, courtesy of Week 17 losses by the Ravens, Dolphins, and Chargers.

Instead, Steelers fans will spend the offseason wondering whether their team could have replicated what the Steelers accomplished in 2005, when Pittsburgh parlayed the No. 6 seed into the long-coveted One for the Thumb.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Hot Trends: Former F1 champion Michael Schumacher critically injured while skiing

FILE: Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher of Germany speeds down a course in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy in 2006.AP

FILE - In this Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012 file photo, Mercedes Grand Prix driver Michael Schumacher of Germany, looks on ahead the Belgium Formula One Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps circuit , Belgium. French radio says retired Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has been injured in a skiing accident. RMC radio reported Sunday Dec. 29, 2013 that the seven-time champion had fallen while skiing off-piste at the French Alpine resort of Meribel. The radio quoted resort director Christophe Gernigon-Lecomte as saying that Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he fell and hit a rock.(AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)The Associated Press

FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006 file photo provided by the Ferrari press office, Formula One driver Michael Schumacher of Germany speeds down a course in the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort, in the Italian Alps . French radio says retired Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has been injured in a skiing accident. RMC radio reported Sunday Dec. 29, 2013 that the seven-time champion had fallen while skiing off-piste at the French Alpine resort of Meribel. The radio quoted resort director Christophe Gernigon-Lecomte as saying that Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he fell and hit a rock. (AP Photo/Ferrari, File)The Associated Press

Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is in critical condition after he suffered a head injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps Sunday.

The hospital where he is being treated, The French Mountain Gendarmerie, said the 44-year-old arrived in a coma and underwent brain surgery after sustaining a serious head trauma.

The hospital said Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he had a hard fall at the Meribel resort. In a statement, the resort said Schumacher was conscious when rescuers arrived on the scene.

Additionally, orthopedic and trauma surgeon Gerard Saillant had traveled from Paris to the Grenoble hospital to examine Schumacher. German news agency dpa said it was Saillant who operated on Schumacher when he broke his leg during a crash at the Silverstone race course in 1999.

In an email to The Associated Press, Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm said the retired driver was on a private skiing trip and "fell on his head."

"We ask for understanding that we cannot give running updates on his condition. He wore a helmet and was not alone," Kehm said. Schumacher's 14-year-old son was skiing with his father when the accident happened, the resort said.

In addition to the crash at Silverstone, Schumacher was hurt seriously in a motorcycling accident in February 2009 in Spain when he suffered neck and spine injuries. He recovered sufficiently from those injuries to make a comeback in F1.

Schumacher retired in 2006 after winning five straight titles with Ferrari following two earlier ones with Benetton. He came back to the sport in 2010 and drove for three seasons for Mercedes without much success before retiring again last year. The Associated Press contributed to this report

Hot Trends: Kyle Orton throws interception in final minutes as Eagles beat Cowboys to win ...

Orton's second interception of the night allowed the Eagles to escape with a 24-22 win in a thrilling winner-take-all contest. The Eagles will host the Saints in the first round of the playoffs next Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field.

Tony Gutierrez/AP

Kyle Orton throws an interception with 1:43 remaining as the Cowboys fall short of winning the NFC East in Week 17 for the third straight year .

EAGLES 24, COWBOYS 22

ARLINGTON, Tx. - Different quarterback, same result, right down to the final, agonizing interception.

Tony Romo couldn't have thrown the ball any better than Kyle Orton did Sunday night at AT&T Stadium. But in the end, after coming so close to leading the Cowboys into the playoffs, there was no preventing the familiar futile finish to another Cowboys season.

Orton's second interception of the night allowed the Eagles to escape with a 24-22 win in a thrilling winner-take-all contest. The Eagles will host the Saints in the first round of the playoffs next Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field.

With one last chance to take lead the Cowboys to victory, Orton threw behind Miles Austin and Brandon Boykin sealed the NFC East for the Eagles with the interception at the Cowboys 40 with 1:43 left in the game.

Bryce Brown put the Eagles ahead, 24-16, on a six-yard run with 6:09 left in the game after the Cowboys were stopped on a fourth and one at the Eagles' 40. It was a matter of finally breaking Monte Kiffin's much-maligned defense, which had played valiantly until the Eagles started pounding away at them with their running game.

Before the fatal INT, Orton (30-46-358, 2 TDs) looked totally comfortable as he played within the offense. Down by eight, he led the Cowboys 80 yards in six plays and hit Dez Bryant on a slant, with Bryant pulling away from the tackle of Patrick Chung for a 30-yard TD pass on a fourth and nine with 3:50 remaining in regulation.

But Orton's two-point conversion try was incomplete.

Chip Kelly's offense set a team record for yards and TDs in a season while McCoy set the Eagles' single-season rushing record to become the first Eagle in 64 years to lead the league in rushing.

The Cowboys settled for field goals on their first two possessions of the second half, the second following a Foles sack/fumble forced by Jason Hatcher and recovered by DeMarcus Ware. Then after the Eagles had marched the length of the field to the Cowboys' one, they stopped a Foles quarterback sneak on fourth and goal just before the third quarter ended to keep it a one-point game.

But the Eagles returned the favor. Orton moved the Cowboys from their one to a fourth and one at the Philly 40. He faked to Murray and rolled out, looking for Dez Bryant in the flat but Connor Barwin made a great play to knock the ball down.

Two Cowboys turnovers were the difference in the first half, handing the Eagles 10 points for a 17-10 lead.

DeMarco Murray's first lost fumble of the year, with the Cowboys driving on their first possession, set up an Eagles field goal while an Orton interception allowed the Eagles to tack on a TD before the Cowboys answered with a 44-yard Dan Bailey FG with :18 left.

The INT came just after the 2:00 warning with the Cowboys at midfield in position to put together a game-tying drive. But Orton threw a poor pass behind Jason Witten, who would normally catch the ball even though he had to reach behind him. Instead, the deflection went to LB Mychal Kendricks.

Chip Kelly immediately seized the momentum to attack the Cowboys' defense with a one-on-one matchup down the field as TE Brent Celek made a great catch, falling backwards, with DeVonte Hoffmann lost in coverage. The 35-yard gain to the Cowboys' 14 was followed immediately by a 14-yard TD pass to Celek, who was left all alone.

It was similar to the way the Eagles scored their first TD. Jason Avant went high in the air to take the ball away from safety Jeff Heath, an undrafted rookie who was promptly benched on the next series. LeSean McCoy was left alone off a bootleg by Foles for the three-yard TD.

The Cowboys' first-half TD narrowed the lead to 10-7 with 8:21 left in the half. Rookie tight end Gavin Escobar took a 17-yard pass from Orton and went into the end zone head first over an Eagle defender. The score was set up by a great throw from Orton for a 30-yard gain to Terrance Williams on third and long.

Hot Trends: Steelers take care of business but still miss playoffs

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PITTSBURGH (AP) - Le'Veon Bell ran for 90 yards and a touchdown and Pittsburgh maintained its unlikely pursuit of a playoff berth, drubbing the lifeless Cleveland Browns 20-7 on Sunday. BOX SCORE: Steelers 20, Browns 7

Ben Roethlisberger passed for 179 yards and a touchdown against two interceptions as the Steelers (8-8) won their third straight to avoid the franchise's first losing season since 2003. The victory also continued a furious second-half rally by the Steelers, who went 6-2 over the season's final eight weeks to fuel an improbable run at the AFC's final postseason spot. Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Jason Campbell completed 23 of 40 passes for 240 yards with a touchdown, but the Browns (4-12) lost their seventh straight, fueling speculation first-year coach Rob Chudzinski's job could be in jeopardy. Related Video

2013-14 bowl game viewing guide

Hot Trends: F1 icon Schumacher in critical condition after skiing accident

EPA/ERCOLE COLOMBO

Michael Schumacher carves a turn while skiing in 2000 at the Italian resort of Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. According to reports, Michael Schumacher suffered a head injury Sunday while skiing in Meribel, France.

Formula One icon Michael Schumacher is in a coma after undergoing neurosurgery for a brain hemorrhage at a French hospital after a skiing accident in the French Alps, according to according to the French Radio station RMC.

Schumacher, 44, one of the greatest race car drivers of all time, fell and hit his head against a rock Sunday morning while skiing in the French resort of Meribel, where he owns a chalet.

The seven time Formula One world champion, who retired from the sport last year for the second time, was wearing a helmet at the time of the fall.

He was airlifted to a hospital in Moutiers before being transferred to another in Grenoble, reported French station BFM TV.

The French Mountain Gendarmerie said Schumacher sustained a "relatively serious" head injury.

"We ask for understanding that we cannot give running updates on his condition. He wore a helmet and was not alone," Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm said, without giving further details.

Christophe Gernignon-Lecomte, director general of Meribel ski resort, told the radio station Schumacher was "shocked, a little shaken but conscious."

The gendarmerie said the accident occurred while he was skiing on a trail.

Other drivers and fans raced to Twitter to offer their sympathies and prayers.

My thoughts are with Michael Schumacher and his family. If anyone can pull through this though it's him. #positivethinking #fighter - Dario Franchitti (@dariofranchitti) December 29, 2013

Schumacher is a married father of two who currently lives in Switzerland, according to his website. In his career he has 91 total victories and 155 podium finishes in 308 Grand Prix races.

The legendary driver and ski enthusiast raced for a total of 19 years with a brief first retirement from 2006 to 2010.

With News Wire Services and Michael Walsh

jlandau@nydailynews.com Follow on Twitter @joelzlandau

Hot Trends: Tony Gonzalez admits pushing off is a big part of his success

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 29, 2013, 8:01 AM EST

As Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez prepares for the final game of his Hall of Fame career, he attributes some of his success to something that drives opposing players nuts: Pushing off.

Defensive players routinely complain that big, physical receivers like Gonzalez get away with offensive pass interference. Gonzalez admitted to ESPN.com that pushing off is a part of his game.

"I think I've always done that, and I still do it," he said. "If you ask any defender in the league, they say I'm the 'Push-off King,' but it's just creating leverage."

Smart players figure out where the lines are between what the officials will allow and what will draw a flag, and keep their play on the legal side of the line. Gonzalez has always been a smart player, and that's part of what has made him a great player.

Hot Trends: Reports: Former Formula One champ Michael Schumacher in “critical” condition

LYON, France - Retired seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher is in "critical" condition following a fall while skiing off-piste in the French Alps resort of Meribel, Sky Sports News reported on Sunday.

The 44-year-old German was taken to hospital in Grenoble and placed under the care of Professor Gerard Saillant, a brain and spine injury expert.

Schumacher was wearing a helmet and was conscious while being transported to a local hospital in Moutiers, the resort director, Christophe Gernigon-Lecomte, told Reuters.

Schumacher was transferred to a better-equipped medical unit in Grenoble for further examinations and an FIA source said.

Saillant is a close friend of Schumacher's and his former Ferrari team chief Jean Todt, who is now President of the FIA.

Le Dauphine Libere newspaper reported on its website that Schumacher's condition had worsened and that his life was now endangered. It did not disclose its sources.

Schumacher's spokeswoman Sabine Kehm was unable to give any further information about his condition but confirmed he was on a private ski trip and had not been alone.

Gernigon-Lecomte said Schumacher, who has a vacation home in Meribel, had been skiing off piste.

"He fell around 11:00 am and hit a rock with his head," he added.

"It seems that he has suffered a head trauma, but I would not say how serious it is. He was conscious but very agitated while being taken to hospital."

Schumacher, whose birthday is on Jan. 3, is the most successful Formula One driver of all time with a record 91 victories among his achievements. He won his titles with Benetton and Ferrari.

He left the sport last year after a three-year comeback with Mercedes following an earlier retirement from Ferrari at the end of 2006. The German lives in Switzerland with his wife and two children.

Hot Trends: 49ers beat Cardinals, set up playoff trip to Green Bay

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 29, 2013, 7:45 PM EST

For the second consecutive season, the 49ers and Packers will meet in the playoffs.

San Francisco finished at 12-4 with today's win over Arizona, earning the NFC No. 5 seed. That means they'll travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers, the NFC No. 4 seed.

Last year's playoff game was something of a coming out party for 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who had the greatest rushing game by a quarterback in NFL history against the Packers' defense. Green Bay will need to be a lot better than that this time around.

The 49ers' win ended a solid 10-6 season for the Cardinals, who deserve a lot of credit for being a much more competitive team this season than most people expected. But in the end, the Cardinals were eliminated even before losing to the 49ers today, as the Saints took the sixth and final NFC playoff spot.

Now we can get ready for another 49ers-Packers game. These two teams have a history, and some bad blood from this year's Week One meeting, which the 49ers won in San Francisco. All fans should look forward to seeing these two teams meet again in Green Bay.

Hot Trends: Michael Schumacher in critical condition after skiing accident

Sebastian Vettel is proving to be a worthy successor to fellow German driver Michael Schumacher (right) as the biggest star in Formula One.

(CNN) -- Michael Schumacher, the most successful driver in Formula One history, is recovering in hospital after suffering a head injury while skiing in the Alps on Sunday, according to French media reports.

The 44-year-old German, who retired from the elite motorsport for the second and final time in 2012, fell and hit his head on a rock, said the director of the Meribel resort where Schumacher was skiing.

"He was airlifted and taken to hospital in Moutiers," Christophe Gernignon-Lecomte told CNN affiliate BFM TV.

"He was shocked, a little shaken but conscious. It may be a head injury but it is not very serious."

Mentoring Vettel and Schumacher

Gernignon-Lecomte said the incident happened just after 11 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and Schumacher received help just minutes later.

Schumacher made his F1 debut in 1991, and had won a record seven world titles by the time of his first retirement in 2006 -- five of those with Ferrari.

He returned to the track with the revived Mercedes team in 2010, but struggled to repeat his earlier glories.

His best finish was third place at last year's European Grand Prix in Valencia, his only podium position in three seasons with the German manufacturer.

Hot Trends: Chargers catch a break: Chiefs deactivate their top players

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 29, 2013, 3:11 PM EST

The San Diego Chargers just caught a huge break.

Faced with a must-win game against the Chiefs today, the Chargers found out that the Chiefs (who are locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC) decided to rest their top players. The Chiefs have officially announced that quarterback Alex Smith, running back Jamaal Charles, receiver Dwayne Bowe, linebacker Tamba Hali, linebacker Derrick Johnson, offensive tackle Branden Albert and defensive tackle Dontari Poe are all inactive today.

The Chargers will go to the playoffs if they beat the Chiefs, and the Ravens and Dolphins both lose. The Ravens are currently tied with the Bengals, while the Dolphins trail the Jets. The Chargers can still be eliminated before kickoff, in which case the Chargers-Chiefs game would be meaningless for both teams. But at the moment the game is still very meaningful for the Chargers, and the Chiefs have just done San Diego a favor.

Hot Trends: Zac Efron Shows Off 6 Months Sobriety Chip From AA Post-Rehab at a ...

He may have his head in the game, but fans were focused on what was hanging around 's neck at a Laker's basketball game on Dec. 20. The former High School Musical star wore his blue AA sobriety chip around his neck while cheering for the Los Angeles team. PHOTOS: Zac Efron's buff body

The blue chip implies that Efron, 26, is six months sober. The actor secretly completed a rehab stint in April 2013, which he managed to keep quiet for five months. PHOTOS: Disney stars through the years

Efron seems to be keeping busy post-rehab. His film That Awkward Moment hits theaters on Jan. 31, 2014. The former child star broke his jaw in November after a fall at home and had his mouth wired shut. PHOTOS: Zac's Disney evolution

But it seems to have healed, and on Dec. 15 he was all smiles at a Colts game while posing with Colts player Matt Overton.

Hot Trends: Rapper Doe B. shot dead Saturday in Montgomery, Ala.

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A young rapper that was a member of T.I.'s Grand Hustle was killed in a shooting at a bar in Montgomery, Ala., Saturday morning.

Doe B, born Glenn Thomas, and Kimberle Johnson, 21, also of Montgomery, died after gunfire erupted at the bar around 1 a.m., police said.

The 22-year-old rapper signed with superstar T.I.'s, Grand Hustle label just this summer.

"RIP to my lil brother Doe B. We gon miss u," the rapper tweeted early Saturday morning. "U'll never be forgotten & U WILL NOT DIE IN VAIN. We Love U champ. Always." RELATED: WEIRDEST RAP BEEF IN HISTORY PITS KANYE WEST AGAINST A POLICE CHIEF

On behalf of doe b's management i would like to thank all of his fans and say Rest in Peace my brother Glenn thomas aka @CBMDOEB - DOE B. (@CBMDOEB) December 28, 2013

Thomas was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Cops are still investigating the incident and had yet to release further details Sunday.

Six other people were wounded by gunfire and are in stable condition.

The tragedy could have been prevented - but security guards failed to checked for weapons. RELATED: RAPPER THE GAME RAISING MONEY FOR FAMILY OF SLAIN 7-YEAR-OLD TALAIB PECANTE

Centennial Bar and Grill owner Nicole Bankhead told the Montgomery Advertiser that standard procedure is to check all patrons for firearms on entry. There are signs at the establishment's entrances that says all weapons are banned from the premises, she added.

The bar and the surrounding area have had multiple shootings in the past seven years, the newspaper reported.

CBS News

RIP DOE B. - Mike WiLL Made It (@MikeWiLLMadeIt) December 28, 2013

Bankhead said she does not plan to reopen the business, which was closed by police after the shooting. RELATED: BEYONCÉ CLAMPED TOP-SECRET RULES ON HER NEW RELEASE

Mayor Todd Strange said there is "clear evidence that continued operation of this establishment poses an imminent threat to the public's safety," in a statement.

DJ Frank White of Montgomery, who managed Doe B.'s career, said the entertainer wasn't performing at the time of the incident.

RIP Doe B .... #NeverForgotten - B.o.B (@bobatl) December 28, 2013

The musician wore an eye patch due to being shot in the eye several years ago. He drew a lot of attention this summer after releasing his "Baby Je$us" mixtape.

Thomas had two young children and a third on the way, White said.

R.I.P. Doe B , so sad , my prayers go out to his family & friends - juicy j (@therealjuicyj) December 28, 2013

The other victim, Johnson, was a junior at Troy University majoring in social work, according to a statement from the school.

With News Wire Services

jlandau@nydailynews.com Follow on Twitter @joelzlandau

Hot Trends: Zac Efron Broke Jaw During Sex After Failing to Please Girl, Friends Claim

Zac Efron's broken jaw has been wired shut since November, and as a result, he hasn't exactly been able to explain what caused the injury in detail.

The actor's rep claimed Zac slipped in a puddle, though the lack of any 911 call and the absurdity of that scenario in general cast doubt on his story.

Thankfully, his That Awkward Moment co-stars Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan have released a video explaining what really happened to Efron:

"Zac was at home with a girl, giving her the worst sexual experience of her life - absolute worst," the stars say, trading off lines as Zac sits silently.

"But she was getting into it, until she realized that you were finished, so early."

"And this poor girl's pent up sexual energy, which you failed to satisfy, made her angry. So she picked up a book, a heavy book, and slammed it into your beautiful face."

"Case, closed," Miles and Michael say, trading high fives.

The video is hilarious, in particular because Efron is forced to sit there with his jaw wired shut and let his friends tell this horrible tale about him.

By the end, he looks like he wants to scream and silence them, but can't. Clearly he's a good sport to play along here ... but the question remains:

Is their story actually true? Or at least partially so?

Obviously it sounds like a joke at Efron's expense, and more than likely it is just that, but it's actually a more believable story than his actual excuse.

If you take out the book-to-the-face part, getting injured in a sex accident seems plausible, due to the potential contortions involved. The puddle slip?

Unless he were highly intoxicated, which also seems unlikely given that he was just seen with his six month sobriety chip, we just don't see it happening.

Something doesn't add up here, people! Discuss!