The great American philosopher — and Hall of Fame slugger — Reginald Martinez Jackson once contemplated the road from controversy to baseball redemption and opined: “If you have a bat in your hands, you can change the story.”
And while what Javier Baez and Francisco Lindor encountered the past few days was the size of a thumb compared to the skyscraper-level outrage and uproar that enveloped Reggie in his New York heyday, both of those players and the Mets were sure in need of a rewrite.
Baez and Lindor apologized prior to the first of two games Tuesday against the Marlins for their involvement in Thumbgate. But in baseball, atonement will not come in words or tweets or thumbs pointed in one direction or the other. It will only come with skill and winning — sports most enduring deodorant.
“In short,” Michael Conforto said following a five-run ninth-inning rally for a 6-5 triumph, “I think winning cures everything.”
The antidote carried over to the second game, a seven-inning affair won 3-1 by the Mets. But if this day of two victories sparks a return to serious contention, it will be the opener that carries the most meaning. For that victory was touched by the bizarre even by Mets standards, including that it was resuming a game that had begun 142 days earlier before being suspended.
Francisco Lindor hugs Javier Baez after Baez scored the game-winning run in the Mets’ 6-5 comeback victory over the Marlins in Game 1 of a doubleheader.Robert Sabo
About an hour before first pitch, Baez and Lindor stood outside the Citi Field home dugout and expressed regret for the juvenile thumbs-down gestures, which Baez revealed Sunday were designed as symbolic boos back at the home fans who were booing the players. Minutes after the game, Mets team president Sandy Alderson was among a search party foraging near home plate for a diamond earring that had popped off when Baez plunged headfirst with the winning run.
In between the Mets mostly played a boo-worthy game. The Marlins ran on Dom Smith’s arm to score two early runs. They went 4-for-4 in stolen base tries — one of which came when Patrick Mazeika moved for a pitchout and Heath Hembree, unaware, threw toward the plate. The Mets went hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position through eight innings. They trailed 5-1. Even Luis Rojas would admit afterward how listless the club was.
But Brandon Nimmo hit a two-run homer to cut the deficit in half. With two outs, Smith squibbed a single to left and Pete Alonso doubled. The tying runs were in scoring position for Baez, who had been booed to the plate when he pinch hit for Jeff McNeil in the eighth. And booed more even after being hit by a pitch.
Baez, though, had a bat in his hand. He had a chance to change the reaction — and the story. He grounded to the shortstop hole and easily beat it out. Smith scored. Alonso went to third. Baez was at first with the winning run.
After Baez had been hit in the eighth, Conforto had popped out foul with two men on. In the dugout he slammed his bat and his helmet. But an inning later, he also had a bat back in his hand. A chance for a rewrite. He slithered a single to left that delivered Alonso for the tie. Perhaps no major leaguer has better instincts for baserunning than Baez — which contributes to his “El Mago” nickname; for there is magic within his game.
The play was in front of Baez as he went from first to third. So he saw converted catcher Jorge Alfaro bobble the ball in left. Fill-in third base coach Tony Tarrasco was pointing to third, but Baez never broke stride, rounding toward home. Conforto credited Baez with “incredible awareness.”
Baez dove in safely as the ball zoomed by catcher Alex Jackson. The Mets piled out of the dugout. Lindor and Baez held a long victorious embrace. The crowd that had booed Baez and mocked with thumbs-down signals was now cheering with uplifted thumbs. Baez, Lindor and the rest of the Mets should understand now. The booing is about investing so much in the team (and not just financially). They want to cheer. They need a reason.
So, this is how you stop the booing. This is the best apology. You get a bat in your hand. You use your legs like a baserunning genius. You win.
Tory Barron is a Bristol-based writer and editor for ESPN.com. After retiring from playing lacrosse at UConn, the DC native decided to try her hand at writing about people playing sports.
For those of you not well-versed in the college football world -- that's three-fourths of the 2018 Alabama QB room (Layne Hatcher is now the starting quarterback at Arkansas State). The phrase "Roll Tide" comes to mind.
Baltimore Ravens cornerback and former Crimson Tide and Hoover high school standout (remember MTV's "Two-A-Days"?) Marlon Humphrey used the news of the three newly minted QB1s to send a message to recruits ... on the off chance they needed more convincing to join the 18-time national champions.
Recruits...Dont let competition at Bama scare you! You can still all end up right where you want to be🤷🏿♂️ https://t.co/smwUSXrbXQ
To make things even more Bama-centric, Week 1 will pit two of the aforementioned quarterbacks against one another as Tagovailoa faces off with his Alabama successor, Jones, when the Dolphins take on the Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Hurts' Eagles will travel to Atlanta to play the Falcons.
Jones, who was the fifth QB selected in the 2021 NFL draft, was announced as the Patriots' Week 1 starter on Tuesday after a strong preseason -- a move that coincided with New England's decision to release 2015 MVP Cam Newton.
In the last 39 seasons, no quarterback drafted out of Alabama has won more than seven starts in a single year. If Jones, Tagovailoa and Hurts have anything to say about it, this season could bring a nice change of pace.
One of the voices of the Mets has addressed the elephant in the room at Citi Field.
During Tuesday afternoon’s opening game of a twin bill with the Marlins, SNY’s Gary Cohen — speaking with analysts Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling — had some candid thoughts over the Mets stars, including Javy Baez and Francisco Lindor, giving their fans the thumbs-down.
Cohen started the conversation in the second inning by saying how the culture current players have grown up with is very different from previous eras, noting that coaches and managers hardly yell now and are more positive all around.
Partly because of this, Cohen said, the current situation potentially “leaves players less prepared for the negativity that exists in society, and negativity that gets expressed now with more vitriol than ever on social media.”
Francisco Lindor, Javier Baez and Gary Cohen.USA TODAY Sports; SNY
He added that it can be difficult for players to discern the difference between the online browbeating with more “measured” criticism from the media and level-headed fans.
Part of Gary, Keith, and Ron's ongoing conversation on the broadcast today:
"Sometimes, it could be hard for a player to separate the nastiness that comes your way on social media from the more measured criticism that comes your way" pic.twitter.com/Zlhty2Sq5W
The Mets’ play-by-play announcer also made the point of saying that now that players are more distanced from the world than ever — especially in a world where Zoom interviews dominate the pandemic landscape — there becomes more of an “us against the world,” mentality.
Baez made a pinch-hit appearance in the eighth inning and was met with a round off boos and thumbs-down gestures from the crowd as he walked to the plate. However, he was hit by a pitch and then was received sarcastic cheers and some thumbs-ups from fans.
This year's final cutdown day was already going to be different. Typically, the NFL's deadline for teams to announce their 53-man rosters took place on the Saturday before the first week of the regular season. By the time most NFL fans had finished their first cup of coffee, teams would make their initial cuts before releasing their first 53-man roster sometime in the mid-afternoon.
Things are different in 2021. With the advent of the 17-game season, the NFL's final cutdown day was moved to a weekday. Instead of Saturday morning mayhem, NFL fans experienced their version of Super Tuesday, a term usually reserved for election Tuesdays. Several teams made moves that made national headlines, while other teams managed to mostly stay out of the limelight. No team, however, was able to avoid making at least one or two tough decisions. Players who did not make their team's roster will now look to either find a spot on another roster or find a home on a practice squad.
Now that the 4 p.m. deadline has passed, let's take a look at each team's most notable roster cut. We've also included several trades that went down throughout the course of the day.
The Cardinals officially placed cornerback Malcolm Butler on the team's reserve/retired list. On Monday, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network reported that the former Super Bowl hero is dealing with a "personal situation" while adding that stepping away from football is "on the table." A Pro Bowler in 2015, the 31-year-old Butler picked off four passes as a member of the Titans last season.
Atlanta notably kept three quarterbacks -- Matt Ryan, Josh Rosen and rookie Feleipe Franks -- on the 53-man roster. Rosen, who signed with Atlanta last week, went 9 of 18 with 118 yards and a touchdown during his preseason debut with the Falcons.
Despite a strong preseason, Jake Verity was unable to unseat four-time All-Pro Justin Tucker, who will return for his 10th season in Baltimore. Baltimore had reportedly received interest about a possible trade for Verity before ultimately waiving him.
Veteran tight end (and Aaron Rodgersfavorite) Jake Kumerow was part of Buffalo's initial 53-man roster following an impressive camp. Not as fortunate was quarterback Jake Fromm, as the former Georgia standout was part of Buffalo's roster cuts.
In Charlotte, former XFL star PJ Walker beat out 2019 third-round pick Will Grier as Sam Darnold's backup. With Grier's release, defensive end Brian Burns and offensive lineman Dennis Daley are the only Panthers left from the team's 2019 draft class.
In a bit of a surprise, the Bears waived receiver and sixth-round pick Dazz Newsome. Newsome had recently returned to practice after breaking his collarbone during OTAs. The Bears are reportedly hoping to re-sign Newsome to the practice squad if he manages to clear waivers. A bigger surprise was the team's release of cornerback Desmond Trufant, who left the Bears on August 13 in order to deal with a personal family matter. A 2015 Pro Bowler, Trufant is still owed $3.5 million from the Lions, who released him in March.
The Bengals parted ways with rookie running back Pooka Williams, who had just one carry for eight yards during the preseason. Williams, whom the Bengals will reportedly try to sign to their practice squad if he clears waivers, rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons at Kansas. He opted out of the 2020 season after Kansas' first four games. Cincinnati also waived defensive tackle Mike Daniels -- a former Pro Bowler who started 11 games during the 2020 season -- and former starting offensive guard Michael Jordan.
Cleveland had several notable cuts, but the biggest one was the release of receiver KhaDarel Hodge. Hodge, whose prowess special teams was recently praised by Cleveland special teams coach Mike Priefer, caught two touchdown passes during the preseason that included a 22-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Baker Mayfield on Sunday night. The emergence of Donovan Peoples-Jones and rookie Anthony Schwartz apparently made Hodge expendable.
In a close competition, Cooper Rush beat out Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci for the job as the Cowboys' No. 2 quarterback behind Dak Prescott. Rush, who served as Prescott's primary backup from 2017-19, went 29 of 46 for 272 with two touchdowns and zero interceptions during the preseason. Gilbert was 28 of 50 for 301 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions. DiNucci was 35 of 66 passing for 348 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions.
Denver released two of the four "quarterbacks" who started under center for them in 2020. The team released Brett Rypien and receiver Kendall Hinton, who started at quarterback against the Saints when Drew Lock, Rypien and Blake Bortles were placed on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list. The Broncos will reportedly sign Rypien to their practice squad if he clears waivers.
Detroit Lions
As of 4 p.m., the Lions did not have a kicker after waiving Randy Bullock and Zane Gonzalez. Detroit also waived cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman less than a month after acquiring the veteran defensive back.
Green Bay Packers
The biggest headline out of Green Bay was the news that All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari would start the 2021 season on the team's physically unable to perform. Filling in for Bakhtiari will be Elgton Jenkins, a Pro Bowl guard who has temporarily moved over to tackle. The Packers also waived receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, who caught 28 passes in 24 games in Green Bay.
A week after acquiring him via trade, the Texans released cornerback Ka'Dar Hollman. The Packers' sixth-round pick in 2019, Hollman appeared in 18 regular season games (with one start) during his first two seasons. Houston gave up a seventh-round pick in the 2022 draft to acquire Hollman. The Texans also made headlines by cutting former starting receiver Keke Coutee.
The Colts' most notable roster cut was rookie safety Shawn Davis, a fifth-round pick who became the second-highest pick cut before his rookie season began in Chris Ballard's time as general manager. The Colts instead decided to keep Andre Chachere, a more versatile defender who is coming off of an impressive camp.
For the first the first time as Chiefs general manager, Brett Veach has released one of his draft picks before the start of the regular season. That player is receiver Cornell Powell, a fifth-round pick who caught 53 passes for 882 yards and seven touchdowns during his senior season at Clemson. Powell caught just four passes during the preseason.
Las Vegas granted receiver John Brown's quest to be released. The Raiders had signed Brown to replace Nelson Agholor, who signed with the Patriots during the offseason. Las Vegas also released strong safety Karl Joseph, the team's 2016 first-round pick who spent the 2020 season with the Browns.
The Chargers bid adieu to kicker Michael Badgley, who lost his position battle against Tristian Vizaino. The team's kicker since 2018, Badgley made 80% of his field goal attempts and 95.3% of his point-after attempts over that span. He struggled in 2020, however, as he made a career-low 72.7% of his field goal tries and 92.3% of his point-after attempts.
After trading punter Corey Bojorquez to the Packers, the Rams restructured the contract of JK Scott. The team's starting punter since 2018. Scott averaged 45.5 yards per punt last season, a 1.5-yard improvement from the previous season.
Miami Dolphins
Miami's roster cuts included linebacker Shaquem Griffin, who will reportedly be signed to the Dolphins' practice squad assuming he clears waivers. The former Seahawk and UCF standout was signed by the Dolphins on July 23.
Minnesota addressed its need at tight end by trading for former Jet Chris Herndon in exchange for draft pick compensation. A fourth-round pick in the 2018 draft, Herndon caught 71 of 103 targets for 796 yards and seven touchdowns in 33 games with the Jets. The Vikings' most notable cut was defensive end Everson Griffin, who was recently re-signed by the club.
No one saw New England releasing Cam Newton on Tuesday. But given Mac Jones' preseason success, Bill Belichick decided to end any speculation about the team's plans at quarterback entering Week 1. In 15 series, Jones went 36-of-52 passing for 389 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions during the preseason. In seven series, Newton went 14 of 21 for 162 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Jones' first regular-season start will take place at home against the Dolphins on Sept. 12.
Shortly after Sean Payton confirmed that Jameis Winston would be the Saints' starting quarterback, the team released Trevor Siemian, who went 4 of 8 for 59 yards in his only preseason appearance. The team is not done with Siemian, as NFL Network's Tom Pelissero has reported that the Saints are planning to re-sign him later this week. The plan is for Siemian to be the Saints' No. 2 quarterback, with Taysom Hill expected to be used in a multitude of ways while also serving as one of Winston's backups.
For the second straight day, the Giants traded for an offensive lineman. One day after they traded for former Bengals offensive lineman Billy Price, the Giants have acquired interior lineman Ben Bredeson via a trade with the Ravens. The Giants will receive a 2022 fifth-round pick and a 2023 seventh-round pick after sending the Ravens a fourth-round pick. The move comes after New York released several offensive linemen on Tuesday that included center Jonotthan Harrison, guard Kenny Wiggins, tackle Jackson Barton and center Brett Heggie.
New York Jets
Among the Jets' notable roster cuts included rookie quarterback James Morgan, receiver Vyncint Smith, cornerback Lamar Jackson, linebacker Noah Dawkins and defensive lineman Ronald Blair, who played for Robert Saleh in San Francisco. Dawkins, who appeared to be in the mix for a starting job, could be back with team once they place players on injured reserve.
Philadelphia parted ways with Travis Fulgham, its leading receiver last season. The Lions' sixth-round pick in the 2019 draft, Fulgham caught 38 of 67 targets for 539 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games last season. But Fulgham -- who caught 29 passes for 435 yards and four touchdowns over a five-game span -- saw his production fall off after suffering a foot injury. An inconsistent training camp ultimately led to his release.
As expected, Dwayne Haskins made the Steelers' initial roster following a solid preseason. Notable players who did not make Pittsburgh's roster included running back Jaylen Samuels and reserve offensive lineman B.J. Finney. A 2018 fifth-round pick, Samuels tallied 1,009 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns during his three seasons in Pittsburgh. The team's top backup interior lineman from 2016-19, Finney returned to Pittsburgh this offseason after spending the 2020 season in Seattle and Cincinnati.
Former first-round pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix failed to make the 49ers' roster despite having a pick-six during the team's preseason finale. San Francisco also parted with veteran receiver Travis Benjamin.
After recently acquiring him via a trade with Houston, Seattle waived cornerback John Reid. The Seahawks will reportedly try to sign Reid to their practice squad if he clears waivers. The 141st overall pick in the 2020 draft, Reid made just one start during his rookie season while appearing in 13 games.
It's hard for a rookie to make any roster, let alone the roster of the defending Super Bowl champion that kept each of its 22 starters from the previous season. Despite this, six of Tampa Bay's seven rookies managed to make the team's 53-man roster, with the exception being seventh-round cornerback Chris Wilcox. Rookie quarterback Kyle Trask managed to make the cut, as he will play behind Tom Brady and Blaine Gabbert.
Tennessee Titans
With Julio Jones, A.J. Brown and Josh Reynolds manning the Titans' top-three receiver spots, fourth-round pick Dez Fitzpatrick didn't do enough during camp to secure his spot on the roster. Fitzpatrick, who could be re-signed to the Titans' practice squad if he clears waivers, caught 154 passes for 2,589 yards and 21 touchdowns in four seasons at Louisville.
Washington Football Team
By making Washington's roster, tight end Sammis Reyes became the first Chilean-born NFL player. Reyes, who will play alongside fellow tight ends Logan Thomas and John Bates, is considered the team's best blocking tight end. Reyes was signed by the Football Team in April after participating in Florida's pro day.
At 32 years old, Newton will look to join his third NFL team.
Cam Newton is looking for a new landing spot. Jim Davis/Globe Staff
The Patriots moved on from the Cam Newton era on Tuesday — cutting the veteran in a surprise move that officially made Mac Jones the team’s new starting quarterback with the season looming.
So what’s next for Newton? The 32-year-old will likely have a hard time securing a starting job, but he should have options if he’s willing to accept a back-up role. As ESPN noted, Newton has 45 wins as a starter since 2015 and while his accuracy left a lot to be desired last season, he was a useful player for the Patriots in several ways. According to ESPN, teams around the league believe that Bill Belichick appreciated Newton so much, he gave the veteran the choice to back up Jones or look for a new opportunity.
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If he was indeed given that option, Newton clearly chose to look for a new opportunity. Here are a few of the teams that might be interested in offering him one.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have a run-first offense tailored for Lamar Jackson, which could benefit Newton if Jackson suffers an injury. Newton averaged 4.3 yards per carry and nearly 40 yards per game last season with the Patriots — down from his career average of 5.0 yards per carry but still productive.
Houston Texans
The Texans were almost immediately connected to Newton after news broke that he would be available. Another team with a dual threat at QB, the Texans need to consider the implications of Deshaun Watson’s legal problems. Bringing in Newton would give them a starting-caliber back-up who also provides a positive locker-room presence — something Houston might value greatly if their season is as tumultuous as it appears.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Per ESPN, a few league executives floated the Steelers as a possibility. Mason Rudolph struggled to fill in for Ben Roethlisberger, and the Steelers’ weren’t certain about their back-up quarterback situation in recent weeks. Roethlisberger is 39, and Pittsburgh might appreciate a seasoned veteran on its bench in case of emergency.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings were another team mentioned by executives speaking with ESPN. Kellen Mond — currently the QB2 in Minnesota — was a third-round pick, and executives aren’t certain he’s ready yet.
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One potential hang-up: If Newton is indeed unvaccinated against COVID-19, he would join both Kirk Cousins and Mond. Mond recently recovered from a bout with COVID.
Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has had injury issues in recent years, and the only back-up on the roster is Cooper Rush. Per reports, the Cowboys do indeed plan to take a closer look at the viability of bringing Newton aboard.
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Javier Baez’s game-winning run may have been an expensive one.
Not long after Baez crossed home plate to secure a 6-5 walk-off win for the Mets on Tuesday afternoon, team president Sandy Alderson, pitcher Carlos Carrasco and the Citi Field grounds crew were left scouring the area around home plate, looking for a diamond from the earring that Baez lost either on his head-first dive or during the celebration.
Javy Baez looks for his earing during the Mets’ celebration.Robert Sabo
“I tried to help for a little bit when I was out there and I did tell some of the grounds crew to see if they could help too with one of those blowers, see what they could do,” manager Luis Rojas said.
Javy Baez slides into home for the game-winning run.Robert Sabo
Baez had been mobbed at home plate by Francisco Lindor and other teammates after he scored from first base on the game-winning single by Michael Conforto — with some help from a fielding error by Marlins left fielder Jorge Alfaro.
Alderson and Carrasco eventually left the scene nearly an hour after the diamond went missing, though the grounds crew kept searching as they prepared the field for the nightcap of the doubleheader.
NFL cut down day is not fun for hundreds of players around the league. That took place on Tuesday, roughly a week before the 2021 regular season gets going with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosting the Dallas Cowboys.
As is usually the case, there were some pretty big surprises as NFL teams cut their rosters down to 53. Below, we look at the 10 biggest surprises from around the league.
Dazz Newsome, wide receiver, Chicago Bears
Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Two of Chicago’s 2021 NFL Draft picks ended up not earning a spot on the team’s 53-man roster. Regardless of how this turns out, that’s not a great look for embattled general manager Ryan Pace. In addition to seventh-round pick Thomas Graham, the Bears opted to release this sixth-round selection.
A star for North Carolina during his four-year college career, Newsome recorded north of 1,700 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns over his final two seasons with the Tar Heels. He was slowed down by a shoulder injury during camp and the preseason. Let’s hope for Chicago’s perspective that he lands on the practice squad. If not, this is a wasted pick.
Travis Fulgham, wide receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
How often does a team move off its leading receiver from a season ago? Well, that’s the case with the Philadelphia Eagles as they look to upgrade at this position. Fulgham, 25, recorded 38 receptions for 539 yards and four touchdowns during the 2020 NFL campaign. However, he also caught a mere 57% of his targets. That could have been a sign of things to come.
For Philadelphia, it’s now clear that 2020 first-round pick Jalen Reagor will be relied on a lot behind rookie Devonta Smith on its depth chart. It’s also somewhat of a surprise that J.J. Arcega-Whiteside earned a spot on the 53 over Fulgham. The former Stanford star has recorded a mere 14 catches in two seasons and was seemingly on the outside looking in throughout the summer.
Tyrell Crosby, offensive tackle, Detroit Lions
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
“We didn’t feel like he was one of the best guys.”
These are some very interesting comments given that Crosby is still only 25 years old and boasts a tremendous amount of upside. It’s hard to imagine why a rebuilding team like the Lions would move off someone of this ilk.
A star with Oregon during his college days, Crosby was a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He started 11 games at right tackle for the Lions in 2021. Even with rookie Penei Sewell set to start at right tackle, there didn’t seem to be much of a reason to move off Crosby. That’s magnified by Sewell struggling in first-team reps during the preseason.
Jimmy Moreland, cornerback, Washington Football Team
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Defense is obviously a strength for the Washington Football Team heading into the 2021 NFL season. That’s also pretty true at corner where the likes of veterans William Jackson III and Kendall Fuller are slated to start on the outside.
None of this explains why Ron Rivera and Co. moved off Moreland after exhausting a draft pick on the James Madison product back in 2019. The slot cover guy started 10 games in his first two seasons, registering five passes defended an interception. In his stead, Troy Apke will transition from safety to take over as Washington’s top slot guy. That should get interesting.
Jacob Hollister, tight end, Buffalo Bills
Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Given Buffalo’s struggles at the tight end position during the 2020 NFL season (40 receptions), we were shocked to learn that it opted to move off this veteran. After all, Hollister recorded a combined 66 catches for 558 yards while hauling in 67% of his targets with the Seattle Seahawks over the past two seasons.
Could the Bills make a renewed play for Pro Bowl Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz? If not, they will be relying on Dawson Knox and Tommy Sweeney to be Josh Allen’s top targets from the tight end position in 2021. That’s not ideal.
A two-time Pro Bowl performer during his days with the Atlanta Falcons, Freeman is just one season removed from tallying north of 1,000 total yards while averaging 4.4 yards per touch. Despite his relatively advanced age of 29, it seems that the dual-threat back can still be productive in the NFL.
Apparently, New Orleans didn’t think so after signing him during the offseason. The team opted to move off the veteran and will rely on Latavius Murray to be Alvin Kamara’s primary backup in 2021. Freeman now joins other high-profile veteran backs such as Adrian Peterson, Frank Gore, Todd Gurley, Le’Veon Bell and LeSean McCoy on the market. Boy, how times have changed.
Desmond Trufant, cornerback, Chicago Bears
Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
A Pro Bowler during his days with the Atlanta Falcons, Trufant has fallen on hard times recently. He struggled in six games with the Detroit Lions a season ago, ultimately ending up signing a one-year contract with Chicago during the spring.
Unfortunately, the 30-year-old corner remained away from the Bears during training camp and the preseason due to the death of his father. This prevented the veteran from putting tape out there. Even then, it’s surprising that Chicago would simply move off someone with this pedigree. With depth issues at corner, look for some more moves ahead of their Week 1 opener against the Los Angeles Rams. As for Trufant, he still plans on playing in 2021.
Peyton Barber, running back, Washington Football Team
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Washington loves what it has in young back Antonio Gibson after he put up north of 1,000 total yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie. It also has depth with J.D. McKissic. Even then, Barber’s previous success seemed to suggest that he was a lock to remain in the nation’s capital. Obviously, that did not happen.
Barber, 27, will now look to latch on with a new team after the Auburn product averaged north of 600 yards and six touchdowns over the past three seasons. This also means that record-breaking former Buffalo Bulls running back Jaret Patterson will earn a spot on the 53 after going undrafted this past spring.
Pernell McPhee, EDGE, Baltimore Ravens
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
One of the most-productive players to receive his walking papers on Tuesday, McPhee saw the Ravens move off him despite the fact that the veteran recorded 15 quarterback hits and three sacks in limited action last season.
McPhee, 32, will likely latch one with another team here given his previous success. After all, the veteran has recorded 115 quarterback hits and 37 sacks throughout his 10-year career. As for the Ravens, it’s clear that they are going with the youth movement from a pass-rush perspective.
Cam Newton, quarterback, New England Patriots
Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Well, that was a pretty big shock to wake up to Tuesday. For pretty much the entire summer and training camp, it was a foregone conclusion that Cam Newton would be New England’s starter Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins over rookie Mac Jones. Instead, the Patriots surprised everyone by releasing Newton outright.
It’s not like the former NFL MVP is the same player he was during his heyday with the Carolina Panthers (eight touchdown passes, 10 interceptions in 2020). Even then, he had seemingly improved with a full offseason in New England under his belt. It also remains to be seen if a recent violation of NFL COVID-19 protocols led to Newton’s release. The Patriots were said to be unhappy about the situation. Regardless, this former top-tier quarterback now finds himself on the open market with pretty much only backup jobs available.
Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley each received seven figures for their eight rounds of boxing this past Sunday night.
Paul, who earned a split decision win, and Woodley earned $2 million each for their main event matchup in Cleveland, the Ohio State Athletic Commission revealed to MMA Fighting on Tuesday.
The YouTube star improved to 4-0 in his young boxing career, while the former UFC welterweight champion has lost his last five fights—four of which took place inside the UFC’s octagon.
In addition, commission officials confirmed to MMA Fighting that both Paul and Woodley were drug tested on Sunday, although the results of the tests haven’t been made public as of yet.
Heavyweights Daniel Dubois, who earned a first-round stoppage win, and Juiseppe Cusumano were the other two fighters on the card to earn at least $100,000 on the card, while Amanda Serrano earned a $75,000 purse for her unanimous decision win over Yamileth Mercado in the co-main event.
Check out the full purses from Sunday night’s event below:
Jake Paul: $2 million
Tyron Woodley: $2 million
Amanda Serrano: $75,000 ($3,000 deduction — sanctioning fee for WBO and IBO)
Yamileth Mercado: $45,000 ($2,250 deduction — sanctioning fee for WBO and IBO)
Naomi Osaka celebrates against Marie Bouzkova during their Women's Singles first round match on Day 1 of the 2021 U.S. Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, N.Y., on Monday. Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
The U.S. Open is underway with plenty of fans and without a few key players.
Lines were massive for ticket holders, who were required to provide proof they had been vaccinated against COVID-19 before entering the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, N.Y. Fans were barred from the tournament last year because of the pandemic.
"It's just disappointing because I feel it influenced the outcome of the match," Murray said. "I think he's great for the game. But I have zero time for that stuff at all, and I lost respect for him."
The Patriots released quarterback Cam Newton on Tuesday and rookie Mac Jones will be the starter, according to a league source.
Newton, who missed three days of practice last week because of COVID protocols, was the presumed starting quarterback throughout training camp and the Patriots’ three preseason games. Instead, the Patriots will go with Jones, who was drafted in the first round out of Alabama in April.
Jones finished the exhibition season 36 of 52 for 388 yards and a score, but was diplomatic when asked about the starting job after Sunday’s victory over the Giants.
“I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities to play and I can improve on everything I want to improve on. So I think just learning from [Brian] Hoyer, Cam, Jarrett [Stidham], any one I can, and listening to Josh [McDaniels] and his coaching, there’s a lot of work to do but I think I’ve made progress,” Jones said. “But, honestly, the only thing that matters is today.”
Newton was 14 of 21 for 162 yards with a TD and an interception in the Patriots’ three preseason games. After the Patriots drafted Jones, coach Bill Belichick immediately called Newton “our quarterback” and Newton played with the starting units in his preseason appearances.
In March, the Patriots signed Newton to a one-year deal with the Patriots worth a maximum of $13.6 million. Only $3.5 million was fully guaranteed, per a copy of the contract obtained by the Globe. His salary cap number was be about $5.4 million.
Newton received a $2 million signing bonus and had a fully guaranteed base salary of $1.5 million. He also had a $100,000 offseason workout bonus. He could have made up to $1.5 million in per-game roster bonuses (over $88,000 for every game he is active).
The Patriots also have quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham on the roster, which must be trimmed to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
The 2020 champion is one step closer to defending her title. Naomi Osaka, in her first Grand Slam appearance since the first round of the French Open, defeated Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.
Osaka, who wore a New York Liberty "Equality" jersey during her pregame warmup, wasn't at her tip-top best after playing very little over the past few months. But as the match wore on she looked more and more like herself. Her footwork got quicker, her serve got better and her forehand looked fantastic.
Bouzkova was a worthy opponent. Coming into this match, she'd lost in the first round of the nine main draws she'd been in, but she didn't play like it Monday night. Bouzkova was daring, standing close to the baseline and taking the full brunt of Osaka's tremendous first serve. She elevated her game to face Osaka, and stayed with her throughout the first set.
Then Osaka's game began to really come together. She got the first break point of the night on the point that won her the first set.
After a first set battle, Osaka began to get even more confident while Bouzkova started struggling. Osaka had set a blistering pace, whipping the ball across the court. Her firepower had worn Bouzkova down.
Osaka won seven games in a row, spanning the end of the first set and most of the second, before Bouzkova broke through and won a game. Osaka was dominating, but she opened the door just enough for Bouzkova to sneak through and get rid of that big zero on the scoreboard.
On Monday night, Osaka was inevitable. With the crowd fully behind her, she took the match 93 minutes and is moving on to the second round.
Jake Paul had the combat sports world buzzing after his latest victory on Sunday night. Paul defeated former UFC champion Tyron Woodley by split decision in Cleveland, moving to 4-0 as a professional boxer and raising his profile as a fighter once again. Paul, despite tweeting that he's a "retired boxer" on Monday, is expected to return to the ring later on this year, but is his biggest challenge at this point finding the right opponent? He's clearly a draw in the pay-per-view space, but staying there will require the right balance of appeal and challenge in an opponent.
While this weekend saw the boxing world's attention turn toward spectacle, Teofimo Lopez -- one of the sport's most promising young champions -- will make his debut in the pay-per-view space this October against George Kambosos. The fight for Lopez's four belts will take place on a Tuesday night at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, as Triller faced numerous challenges in rescheduling the event after Lopez contracted COVID-19 earlier this summer. The IBF has mandated that both fighters be vaccinated with hopes of avoiding another delay to this bout. So is this the direction boxing is heading? And if so, is it good for the sport?
On Saturday, Josh Warrington hopes to rebound in a rematch against Mauricio Lara after a shock ninth-round knockout loss. Warrington still has title aspirations, but is a win enough to get him back on track? Before Warrington enters the ring, Katie Taylor makes another defense of her undisputed lightweight championship on the undercard. After Amanda Serrano's win Sunday, does Taylor have something to prove in terms of pound-for-pound supremacy?
Marc Raimondi, Mike Coppinger, Ben Baby, Mike Rothstein and Nick Parkinson separate what's real and what's not.
Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley was a win for the sport of boxing
Raimondi: I was sitting on press row, floor level at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland on Sunday night for the Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley fight. During the undercard, a young spectator -- he couldn't have been more than 16 years old -- came over to the reporters seated there and asked, flashing a $10 bill, if he could buy a bottle of water from one of us. The concessions stands, he said, did not take cash and he did not own a credit card. A few minutes later, a baby-faced, 21-year-old YouTuber who goes by the handle ConnorTV sauntered over with his father to ask if we had a USB-C cord he could use to charge his video camera.
For nearly a decade, I have covered combat sports as a full-time living. The first fight I ever covered was in 2006. I've been at fights in dozens of cities, countries and a few different continents. And Paul vs. Woodley had by far the youngest crowd I have ever seen in MMA or boxing. ConnorTV told me this was his first boxing show and he had started gaining interest in combat sports because of Paul, the YouTube-sensation-turned prizefighter.
It might be difficult for some of us who have been around for a while to understand, but what Paul and his team are saying is true. He really is bringing younger eyes to boxing and there's no way to see that other than it being a win for the sport. So, I will say "real" to this statement, absolutely.
There's another key here that must be mentioned. The crowd in Cleveland did not fill in for the main event between Paul and Woodley or the co-feature, which pitted pound-for-pound women's great Amanda Serrano against Yamileth Mercado. That would be the norm for a boxing card of this magnitude. No, the arena was almost full for the prelim fight between Charles Conwell and Juan Carlos Rubio at 7 p.m. local time.
By the time Tommy Fury walked out to open the pay-per-view portion of the proceedings, the crowd was large enough to give him an enormous pop. Fury had never even fought in the United States before, but he was positioned as a star by Showtime, Paul and his team last week. And he was treated as such. Of course, his family name and status as a former cast member of Love Island in the United Kingdom didn't hurt. But normally, at that point in a boxing show, the venue is half full at best and there is little interest in the fights in the ring.
Paul brought a young and captive audience to Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Sunday night -- young men and women. His main event fight with Woodley was not the best presentation of boxing possible. Both are neophytes in that world and, frankly, it just did not at all look like a high-level fight. But the fans there treated it like it was. And they were brought to their feet by the likes of Fury, Cleveland prospect Montana Love and Serrano.
Half the battle in entertainment is just getting people in the door and get eyes on the product. Say what you will about Paul, but there were plenty of teenagers and young 20-somethings who left the building Sunday night entertained by a night of boxing. For a sport with a fanbase that skews on the older side, that's a win. Regardless of how you feel about Paul, his personality and his antics.
Mandated vaccination for fighters is good for boxing
Baby: Real. Big fights are already a risky proposition. All it takes is an injury and a fight is either scrapped or devalued (see Pacquiao-Ugas). And a fighter contracting COVID-19 and delaying a fight could be have serious financial repercussions -- a situation that a vaccine can mitigate in short order, or outright prevent. Look at what happened with Triller in regards to Lopez-Kambosos. After winning the purse bid, Triller was left holding the bag when Lopez tested positive for COVID-19 just days out from the fight. Now the IBF has stated that both Lopez and Kambosos will need to be vaccinated ahead of their bout in October.
A quick glance at major sports and big companies should tell people all they need to know: When big money is involved, vaccines are required. Sure, there might be a legitimate reason someone doesn't want the vaccine under specific circumstances, but the larger debate over vaccinations is often thrown out when that becomes a threat to profit margins.
It's worth noting that Lopez also took a potential long-term financial hit as well. Initially, Triller was selling the pay-per-view with a price tag that reached $60. After the postponement, the price dropped to $20 for a one-time purchase, the fight will be on a Tuesday instead of a Saturday, and the venue went from inside Miami's Marlins Park to the side theater at Madison Square Garden.
It's a branding hit and a career heat check that Lopez could have avoided if he didn't contract COVID-19 and fought Kambosos in June. Instead, he's relegated to a mid-week card with significant questions about his drawing power moving forward.
Even with his KO streak over, Edgar Berlanga is still must-see TV
Coppinger: Real. Even in his first fight that went the distance -- his first time even experiencing Round 2, for that matter -- Berlanga proved his power is genuine with four knockdowns over eight rounds. Nicholson was his toughest foe on paper, and as the competition continues to stiffen, the knockouts will be harder to come by.
Still, Berlanga will always present danger in the ring, making him must-see TV. If he wants to maintain that status, he'll need a KO of Marcelo Esteban Coceres on Oct. 9. He'll return on Dec. 11 if all goes well, before another fight in March. If he can get back to knocking opponents out, the June fight, which is expected to be a major step up in competition and promotion, could be the bout that catapults him to stardom.
There are already plans underway to match him with a former champion on the Puerto Rican Parade Weekend in New York next summer.
One thing is clear: Berlanga knows how to market himself outside the ring.
Katie Taylor is the most entertaining fighter in women's boxing
Rothstein: Not real. Amanda Serrano -- who fought Sunday night -- remains the most entertaining fighter in the sport. The best? That remains to be seen. But the way she fights is incredibly watchable. That's not to dismiss Katie Taylor, who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. She beat Jessica McCaskill. She beat Delfine Persoon twice. She has really good speed and stamina. But from a pure entertainment factor, no one surpasses Serrano.
The reality is a fight between Serrano and Taylor, as long as Taylor beats Jennifer Han this weekend, is the fight to make. Serrano told me last month she wanted to unify her division first before taking the fight against Taylor, but at this point it might be worth it to fight Taylor next.
Women's boxing could use a superfight like that, and it would be an incredibly entertaining fight between two of the best in the sport.
Josh Warrington will regain his title contender status with a win over Mauricio Lara
Parkinson: Real, providing Warrington's promoter Eddie Hearn can convince Gary Russell Jr to defend his WBC world featherweight title against Warrington in the next six months.
Warrington (30-1, 7 KOs) feels aggrieved that the first defeat of his career -- a shock ninth-round stoppage loss to unheralded Mexican Mauricio Lara in February -- would be so costly. Warrington, 30, went into the fight with Lara, which was supposed to be a warm-up for a bigger assignment this summer, as ESPN's No 1 featherweight. But that defeat, after he decided to voluntarily give up the IBF world featherweight title in January so he could pick his own fights, has left Warrington out of reach for a title shot. The Leeds boxer trails in the governing bodies' rankings: He is No 6 with the WBC, and does not feature at all in the other three bodies' lists of contenders.
Warrington has watched with frustration at how his English rival Kid Galahad went straight into an IBF world title eliminator, after losing by split decision to him for the IBF world title in Galahad's previous fight in June 2019. Warrington feels that victory over Lara should catapult him back into title contention, perhaps occupying one of the IBF's top two spots, which are currently vacant.
However, Warrington has no interest in a rematch with Galahad -- it was one of the reasons he vacated the IBF belt at the start of the year. He's more likely to pursue a title shot with one of the division's other champions: Russell Jr. or Emanuel Navarrete. ESPN's Mike Coppinger recently reported that Los Angeles-based Navarrete (34-1, 29 KOs) has agreed terms with Joet Gonzalez for a defense of his WBO featherweight title on Oct. 16, which rules out Navarrete for Warrington until 2022.
But Russell would be available for this year, and as he has not fought since February 2020, it would stand to reason that he would be receptive to offers. Russell (31-1, 18 KOs), 33, a 2008 U.S. Olympian, has not been a busy fighter, after making one appearance per year from 2015 to 2020. He has yet to announce an opponent for 2021 and would be Warrington's best hope -- and first choice -- for a title fight.
