Founder and CEO of SportsAlDente.com & LAFBNetwork.com. Grew up in Denver with a passion for all sports and an emphasis on the NFL. Moved to Los Angeles where I graduated from Long Beach State with a degree in Leisure Services (Yes the Van Wilder degree). My opinions are my own, but they should be yours too.
Speaking in a pre-season news conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Castroneves opened up about his loss – as he himself transitions from being a full-time IndyCar driver to a team co-owner with Meyer Shank Racing in 2024.
“Yeah, I sort of lost my consultant, my advisor in being a team owner,” an emotional Castroneves said as he fought back his tears. “Certainly, we’re going to miss him for sure.
“My memories with Gil is from the beginning of our era with Team Penske, [it] was us having our first meeting, which took us about an hour and 45 minutes, which means Gil was [talking for] an hour and 40, and mine was five minutes.
Castroneves (Credits: Motorsport)
“Certainly, his personality was completely different than mine. Even though he’s trying to be funny, which he wasn’t funny, he became funny. He was one of those guys – big heart, very, very intense, incredible knowledge, and yeah, we had a lot of good moments, myself, Gil and [Team Penske president Tim] Cindric.
“We were called the Three Musketeers. Nothing could stop us.”
Castroneves and de Ferran teamed up at Team Penske in 2000, and from then until de Ferran’s IndyCar retirement in 2003, the duo scored 20 race wins and 25 pole positions between them, with de Ferran claiming back-to-back CART championships in 2000 and 2001.
Castroneves became the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 in his first two starts (2001 and 2002), and de Ferran won the 2003 edition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ to make it three in a row at Indy for Team Penske.
“For sure, there were a lot of memories,” added Castroneves. “He’s the first guy or first person actually that close in my life that is not going to be with me or with us anymore.
“But yeah, we’ve just got to keep it going, and I’m sure he is up there right now redesigning the gates of heaven, so trying to make a modernized [version] or electric or whatever it is. I’m sure he’s having fun up there.”
Castroneves stopped competing full-time in IndyCar at the end of last year, as MSR changed its line-up to field Tom Blomqvist and Felix Rosenqvist in 2024, but will continue his bid to become the first-ever five-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26.
“The new role will be very interesting, a learning curve with MSR,” he said of his new arrangement. “We are working already intensively, our group. At MSR, a lot of the people from [IMSA] sportscars ended up being on my side for the third Indy car.
“The last two 500s basically were interesting. I felt that we worked well as a team but, unfortunately, weren’t able to execute with speed. We didn’t find what we are looking for, and I feel that now we are definitely on the right track, which I’m very happy to say.”
“A meticulous selection process,” affirms Dave Robson, Head of Vehicle Performance for the Williams Formula 1 team, describing the journey to determine the recipient of the Autosport Williams Engineer of the Future Award. The prestigious competition underwent significant enhancements in 2023 after its revival post-pandemic in the previous year.
Michael Preston, the 2022 award winner, transitioned into the role of a judge for the 2023 edition, participating in narrowing down the initial pool of over 200 candidates. Notably, this year marked a shift as the competition was open to all current engineering degree students in the UK, expanding the talent pool.
The Williams team meticulously reviewed applications, reducing the contenders to 60, and subsequently, 20 candidates participated in an assessment day, collaborating with Williams’s Esports team. From this stage, the top 10 engineers advanced to the final selection for an extensive eight-month process.
David Crespo (Credits: Autosport)
The journey commenced with virtual work in April and May, contributing to Williams Esports activities alongside academic commitments. The highlight was their victory in the 2023 iRacing Nurburgring 24 Hours. After this phase, the field narrowed to five candidates, who returned to Williams’s Grove headquarters for assessment days in early September, focusing on F1 race strategy and driver-in-the-loop (DIL) simulator work.
Robson noted the development of a camaraderie among candidates, adding a friendly rivalry to the intense process. Ultimately, only two finalists emerged: David Crespo and Riccardo Calzetta, both pursuing engineering degrees at esteemed universities.
The finalists faced two remaining challenges, including working with the Rodin Carlin squad during a GB3 single-seater series race weekend and delivering presentations on hypothetical motorsport-related engineering problems in mid-November. Crespo presented a new Formula E race strategy model, while Calzetta explored wet-weather wheel guards for F1 cars.
Judges, including Robson and Preston, evaluated presentations alongside experts from Williams and Autosport. Three weeks later, David Crespo was declared the winner at the 2023 Autosport Awards.
Crespo’s success hinged on his comprehensive efforts in both the F1 race simulation task and the final presentation. His adept handling of a virtual race strategy for Suzuka, considering tire degradation, and presenting with precision demonstrated his prowess. Crespo’s thoroughness and innovative approach to motorsport problems secured his victory.
Looking ahead to 2024, Crespo is engaged with the ERT Formula E squad and will participate in an F1 test day with Williams. Reflecting on his win, Crespo expressed satisfaction and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Dave Robson commended the overall process as an opportunity to observe young engineers in action and assess their ability to handle stress. In close competition with Calzetta, Crespo’s meticulousness and skill in executing tasks set him apart.
The article also touches upon the challenge of limited track time for junior engineers and the evolving landscape of opportunities in Formula 1. Robson emphasizes the importance of seeking track experience in other formulas and suggests a need for the sport to rethink strategies for nurturing the next generation of engineers amid changing dynamics in track operations.
New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale wasn’t happy with recent personnel changes, and he reportedly didn’t hold back his thoughts toward head coach Brian Daboll.
According to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, after Daboll fired outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins, Martindale was so angry that he “cursed out Daboll, said his piece, got up, slammed the door, and walked out of the building.” He reportedly has “notified those close to him he planned to resign,” though the team has yet to be notified of his resignation.
Wink Martindale
Schwartz noted that Martindale is under contract for the 2024 season with a salary of $3 million, which he would forfeit if he resigned. Daboll said during his press conference on Monday that his “expectation” was that Martindale and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka would return in 2024, but that was before he met with Martindale.
Wilkins was described as Martindale’s “most loyal confidant.” In addition to his firing, his younger brother Kevin, a defensive assistant, was also let go. Schwartz illustrated how important Wilkins was to Martindale’s game plan.
“On the sideline, it is Drew Wilkins helping Martindale with the personnel groupings and directing traffic for him,” Schwartz stated. “Drew Wilkins helps Martindale devise the defensive schemes.”
However, there was reportedly a feeling within the Giants organization that “Martindale and Drew Wilkins were creating their own fiefdom within the coaching staff, at times bypassing Daboll and believing they had to answer only to each other and, ultimately, ownership.”
Special teams coach Thomas McGaughey and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson were also dismissed after a disappointing season for the Giants in which they finished with a 6-11 record.
All signs point to Martindale joining them in their departures from New York, but it remains to be seen when the move will be official.
Middlesex were hoping for a spicy wicket for their penultimate match of the season to stave off Division Two. They might have got more than they bargained for. After 15 wickets fell on the first day against Lancashire – including ten of their own – they must ensure they can emerge on the right side of an inevitable black-and-white result here at Lord’s.
The tops and tails of the day were bleak for the hosts. Opting to bat first on a pitch worn by a season’s graft that they felt would get worse, they were reduced to 28 for 4 as Ryan McLaren and Tom Bailey ran riot. Then, with three overs left in the day, Toby Roland-Jones trudged off, unable to complete his 11th over. The groans from the pavilion, stocked as full as you would expect for the last match of the season at Lord’s, could be felt from the other side of the ground.
Roland-Jones
Adam Voges, Middlesex captain for this match after James Franklin took the decision to drop himself, left the dressing room with Roland-Jones receiving treatment on the physio’s table to speculate that it was “lower back stiffness.” Thankfully for him and Middlesex, the bitterness bookended a virtuoso display from the England seamer.
Roland-Jones’s first contribution was with the bat, firefighting some outrageous movement through the air and off the surface with the abandonment of a man who had never been burned before. That he came in at 81 for 6 – soon after 89 for 7, when John Simpson was caught behind for 29, at which point Voges began regretting his decision to bat after winning the toss – seemed at odds with his approach: hitting through the ball, picking up length early and ticking along at almost a run a ball to bring up his fifty from 58, featuring 10 fours.
The pitch was green and played to type, but with the pitch already in a state where “plates” were evident on the first morning, Voges decided he would rather bat first than last. The eighth-wicket stand ensured that was still likely to be the case.
Crucially, Ollie Rayner matched Roland-Jones’ valor at the other end in a 102-run stand that arrived in 20.5 overs. The appreciation of their work came when the scoreboard moved on to 178 for 7, with applause ringing out for doubling the score that they met.
A questionable lbw decision ended Roland-Jones’ stay and gave Kyle Jarvis a deserved wicket, but Rayner was able to complete his half-century with a neat four through cover from his 72nd ball. Eight down, Middlesex brought up their 200 for a bonus point that momentarily took them out of the relegation places before Somerset did the same in south London to switch positions back.
No. 11 Tim Murtagh, who played all of his 17 balls from somewhere near square leg, slapped a quick 18 before becoming the last wicket to fall to see Middlesex bowled out for 233 in two sessions. Bailey finished with the season’s best figures of 5 for 54 – his fourth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
Naturally, Lancashire started steadily, and when Alex Davies was dropped by Simpson for 9 in Roland-Jones’ first over – the very next ball flew through third slip – Middlesex feared the worst. But, as per the morning, a flurry of wickets up front soon arrived: Roland-Jones trapping Haseeb Hameed lbw for a 30-ball 3 at the end of the eighth before Davies left a straight one from Murtagh at the start of the ninth. Dane Vilas was then bowled for Murtagh’s second before Steven Finn was given a gift by Liam Livingstone, who slapped a long-hop straight to Nick Compton at point.
Out strode Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 43-years-savvy, eyeing up 27,000 first-class runs. Middlesex’s insecurities came to the fore: they have spoken openly about an odd blindspot in their game – a struggle in dismissing left-handers and overseas batsmen. Dean Elgar and Kumar Sangakkara have already frustrated them this summer. There were 164 tests worth ready to do the same. However, returning for a final spell, Roland-Jones, from around the wicket, was able to draw a false stroke from Chanderpaul, caught by Voges at first slip, and Lancashire were 95 for 5.
Roland-Jones (Credits: Sky Sports)
Two overs later, Roland-Jones appealed for a caught behind off McLaren and stopped short of making it all the way down the pitch. He was bent over, wincing, as Finn walked in from mid-off to check on his well-being. Rayner completed his over. Promisingly for Middlesex and England – Roland-Jones is expected to make the Ashes touring party – he felt able enough to field but was advised by Voges to leave for treatment. An assessment will be made in the morning, but Middlesex hopes he will have more cameos to play before this game is over.
It is almost a year to the day since Roland-Jones sealed Middlesex’s first Championship in 23 years with a hat-trick at Lord’s. It seems longer given that the same side is battling against relegation and doing so while the captain who delivered them that success watches, fully fit, from the sidelines.
It was in a toilet cubicle that Franklin thrashed out the details of a final-innings run chase with Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale for the Championship. A deal was struck, and one thrilling finish later, the title was theirs. Then, Middlesex was drinking to Franklin. Today, he was carrying the drinks.
It cannot have been an easy decision for Franklin or the club. Granted, his numbers have not been great – 12 wickets in nine innings, 296 runs at an average of 22.09, with 112 coming in one knock – but Franklin is the type of character to want to drag Middlesex out of this mess. But with Murtagh returning from Ireland duty, Roland-Jones available, and James Harris impressing, along with Dawid Malan returning to strengthen the batting stocks, there was only one decision to make.
He kept a low profile throughout, even choosing to train in the indoor center during the tea break when the nets out in the open on the Nursery Ground were free. Such a powerful move leaves him in an agonizingly powerless position for the next three days.
Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris is thinking outside the box as he and the organization embark on a full coaching search.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Adam Schefter reported the Commanders hired former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers and former Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman to aid in targeting candidates to replace Ron Rivera, who was fired Monday.
Myers specifically “will take a lead role in identifying and coordinating interviews with candidates for both the top football operations and head coaching jobs—with Spielman set work so closely with him, officials said,” per the report.
Harris issued a statement confirming Rivera’s exit along with the roles Myers, Spielman, and limited partner Magic Johnson, among others, will have on the advising committee:
Myers is a two-time NBA Executive of the Year who built a dynasty in Golden State, one that captured four titles over an eight-year span. The 48-year-old had worked as a player agent for Wasserman Media Group before entering the front-office ranks.
Hiring an executive with no NFL experience for such a prominent role will naturally be met with a level of skepticism.
The Cleveland Browns did something a little similar when they hired Paul DePodesta, who worked for multiple MLB teams, as their chief strategy officer in 2016. The Browns have made the playoffs twice since his arrival, but the Deshaun Watson trade might come to define DePodesta’s tenure.
With Myers, the Commanders are hiring a proven winner who possesses skills that translate beyond basketball.
Andrew Brandt @AndrewBrandt
Josh Harris hiring former Warriors GM Bob Myers to an executive role.
First outgrowth of leveraging his ownership/experience in other sports, bringing in a proven talent from the NBA.
Don’t need a “football guy” for team-building and culture change.
David Aldridge @davidaldridgedc
I think you can expect Myers to be around the Commanders for a while, not just during the search process. Not to run the team, but to be a part of how Harris puts his football operations group together.
David Aldridge @davidaldridgedc
I’ve rarely been around someone who connects disparate people like Myers does. He had great relationships with Draymond Green, Steve Kerr, Steph Curry AND Joe Lacob, and you can’t find four more different people than them. The Warriors came alive under Myers’ stewardship.
Based on Wojnarowski and Schefter’s reporting, the Commanders aren’t empowering Myers to make every football-related decision, either. That will be left to the new coach and head of operations.
Grant Paulsen @granthpaulsen
A lot is being made of Bob Myers crossing over sports. He’s not not calling plays. He’s ADVISING on the search.
He’s going to help them assemble an organizational structure and find the right football people to run this thing. He’ll sit in on meetings with GM, HC candidates.
Spielman’s involvement also shouldn’t be overlooked. A former GM for the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings, he helps to balance out Myers’ inexperience and should prove helpful in identifying prospective candidates in the early stages of the search.
The success or failure of this experiment could have a domino effect on the NFL. If this works, other owners will almost certainly look to copy the blueprint and reimagine how the organization is structured.
The Carolina Panthers are now looking for a new general manager along with a head coach.
Team owner David Tepper announced Monday he fired GM Scott Fitterer.
“As we move forward with the new direction for our franchise, I have made the decision that Scott Fitterer will no longer serve as our general manager,” he said. “I appreciate Scott’s efforts and wish the best for him and his family.”
The move comes a day after a 9-0 loss that relegated Carolina to a league-worst 2-15 record.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday that Fitterer was expected to be let go. Few Panthers fans will look back fondly on his tenure, which began in 2021.
David Tepper (Credits: NBC Connecticut)
Carolina has little to show from his work in the draft so far.
Cornerback Jaycee Horn, the No. 8 overall pick in 2021, has appeared in just 22 games through three years. Wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., a second-round pick that year, has caught 64 passes for 767 yards and a touchdown in 36 games.
In 2022, Fitterer traded up to take quarterback Matt Corral, who’s no longer with the team. Using a top-10 pick on offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu didn’t stop the team from allowing the second-most sacks (65) this year.
Then there’s the Bryce Young pick. On its own, taking Young might be viewed as a mistake in retrospect, and it will be compounded by the fact the Panthers lost what proved to be the No. 1 overall pick for 2024 in the process.
ESPN’s David Newton also wrote, “Fitterer will be remembered as much for the trade he didn’t make as for the big trade he made.”
The Christian McCaffrey trade has aged slightly poorly but isn’t working out terribly for the Panthers. Declining an offer of two first-round picks for pass-rusher Brian Burns, on the other hand, remains an almost unforgivable error.
Overall, it’s fair to question how much of the blame for Carolina’s personnel missteps lays at the door of Fitterer, though.
Tepper has already earned a reputation for being a meddlesome owner whose impatience is hurting the franchise.
The owner was ultimately the one who signed off on not only hiring Matt Rhule but also handing him a seven-year, $62 million contract. In addition, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported in November some around the NFL believe “the Panthers drafted Bryce Young because Tepper wanted him.”
Tepper pushed back on that idea in his press conference after firing head coach Frank Reich:
NFL on CBS 🏈 @NFLonCBS
Panthers owner David Tepper was asked if it was true that Frank Reich wanted C.J. Stroud over Bryce Young.
“In the case of Bryce, it was almost- I believe it was a unanimous decision by the coaches and the scouts.”
Panthers owner David Tepper was asked if it was true that Frank Reich wanted C.J. Stroud over Bryce Young.
"In the case of Bryce, it was almost- I believe it was a unanimous decision by the coaches and the scouts." pic.twitter.com/1AgYuNQarN
Two things can be true. Fitterer left the Panthers in a worse state than he found them, but he was dealt a difficult hand from the start, thanks to the ownership situation.
Between getting to hire both a head coach and a lead decision-maker on football matters, Tepper will, for better or worse, get to reshape the Panthers how he sees fit.
Jerry Jones has expressed a willingness to make strategic changes to enhance the Dallas Cowboys before the upcoming trade deadline. However, he isn’t keen on initiating trade discussions, preferring other teams to approach first.
“It will have to come our way. I don’t want to preclude it in any way, but it always does. … The initiation of an opportunity to make a trade that would help us principally has to start over on the other end. That’s not showing a lack of aggressiveness, it’s just how it starts,” Jones mentioned during his recent interview on “Shan & RJ” aired on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.
With the trade deadline set for Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. ET, the Cowboys, currently at a 4-2 record, trail the Philadelphia Eagles. Notably, the Eagles recently made a significant trade, bringing in safety Kevin Byard from the Tennessee Titans.
Jones is content with his team’s current lineup, stating, “I like where we are with our personnel today. I’m not thinking in any way that we need to upgrade our roster.” However, he also emphasized his readiness to make enhancements, noting, “I would really extend to improve our team right now. … Because I think we have a team that is a contender. So, I would do it right now.”
Jones described his trade strategy as “laying in wait,” implying that he’s ready to seize opportunities when they present themselves. “Your best chance to get it done is when it comes by you and you grab it,” he added.
Although pleased with the Cowboys’ 4-2 record, Jones admitted that the 42-10 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 lingers in his mind. He believes there’s room for improvement, especially in red zone offense and defense. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic about the team’s progress, saying, “we’re going to get better.”
Jones confidently places the Cowboys among the top NFL teams. “Well, we belong in the upper echelon. I’m not going to say that we belong on the field with San Fran, and we haven’t played Philly, but I’m anticipating Philadelphia being what they look like. So, I don’t want to go that far, but we’re in the upper echelon.”
The Minnesota Vikings, having let several potential wins slip away this season, knew they needed an unexpected victory to revive their 2023 prospects. They achieved this feat on Monday Night at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The night turned out to be a spectacular showcase for the young wide receiver, Jordan Addison. Against all odds, the Vikings triumphed over one of the NFC’s top contenders, the San Francisco 49ers, with a final score of 22-17.
The match began with both teams erring early on. Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a pass meant for Addison, only for it to be intercepted by Charvarius Ward. However, the Vikings soon retaliated. Harrison Smith forced a fumble from Christian McCaffrey, allowing Dean Lowry to recover the ball and halt the 49ers’ momentum.
Seizing the opportunity, Minnesota marched down 89 yards in 10 plays, culminating in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to Addison. This gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead nearing the end of the first quarter.
Following a missed field goal by the 49ers, Minnesota’s Greg Joseph netted a 21-yard field goal, pushing their advantage to 10-0 by mid-second quarter. The 49ers responded with McCaffrey’s 3-yard touchdown run, narrowing the gap to 10-7. In a crucial play, Addison managed to snatch what seemed to be an inevitable interception from Cousins’ throw, transforming it into a 60-yard touchdown.
Despite a missed extra point, the Vikings entered halftime leading 16-7.
The Vikings increased their lead in the third quarter, settling for a Greg Joseph field goal after a missed touchdown opportunity. The 49ers struck back quickly with a 35-yard pass from Brock Purdy to McCaffrey, trimming the lead to 19-14, indicating a potential shift in momentum.
Minnesota managed to stretch their lead to eight with another field goal, setting the score at 22-14 as the final quarter began. A 55-yard field goal by the 49ers reduced the gap to 22-17.
A pivotal moment arrived when the Vikings’ defense, led by Camryn Bynum, intercepted a pass from Purdy, halting the 49ers’ advance. The Vikings then missed a 50-yard field goal attempt, giving the 49ers a glimmer of hope. However, Bynum’s second interception of the evening sealed the victory for Minnesota.
With this win, the Vikings improve to a 3-4 season record, aiming for equilibrium when they face Green Bay next Sunday. The 49ers, experiencing their second consecutive loss, now hold a slender lead over Seattle in the NFC West.
In a dramatic Monday Night Football showdown, the Minnesota Vikings clinched a notable 22-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. We thank all our readers for following this week’s action with The Daily Norseman.
Christian McCaffrey gave a commendable performance for San Francisco, but it wasn’t sufficient on Monday evening.
The Minnesota Vikings narrowly clinched a victory, stunning the 49ers with a 22-17 win at U.S. Bank Stadium during their “Monday Night Football” encounter in Minneapolis. This defeat marked back-to-back losses for the 49ers, following a strong 5-0 start to the season.
McCaffrey notched his first touchdown right before the halftime whistle with a 3-yard dash, pushing his consecutive scoring streak to 16 games. He’s now only behind Lenny Moore, who holds the NFL record with scores in 17 consecutive games.
With slightly over a minute remaining in the second quarter, McCaffrey’s touchdown narrowed the Vikings’ lead to a mere three points. However, Jordan Addison managed a remarkable 60-yard touchdown, turning a potential interception into points. A missed PAT left the Vikings ahead 16-7 at halftime.
Addison’s earlier 20-yard touchdown catch had kickstarted the scoring in the opening quarter.
In the third quarter, as the Vikings were on the brink of scoring at the 1-yard line, the 49ers’ defense held firm, limiting them to a field goal. Shortly after, McCaffrey showcased his prowess with a 35-yard touchdown run, his second for the night, reducing the deficit to just five.
The 49ers had opportunities to regain the lead after both teams exchanged field goals. However, quarterback Brock Purdy’s ill-timed pass was intercepted by Camryn Bynum. Purdy’s second interception to Bynum, with the clock ticking down to the final 30 seconds, sealed the Vikings’ five-point victory.
Purdy completed 21 of his 30 pass attempts, throwing for 272 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. McCaffrey accumulated 45 yards on the ground from 15 attempts and added 51 receiving yards from three receptions. George Kittle contributed with 78 receiving yards from five catches.
On the Vikings’ side, Kirk Cousins had an impressive 35 completions out of 45 attempts, racking up 378 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Addison made significant contributions with 124 yards and two touchdowns from seven receptions, while T.J. Hockenson added 86 yards from 11 catches.
Stay updated with Yahoo Sports for all the latest developments, highlights, and injuries as the 49ers battle the Vikings in “Monday Night Football” during Week 7.
As the 49ers prepare to face off against the Vikings for “Monday Night Football” in Week 7, they’ll be missing two key players from their offensive lineup.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel, with a shoulder injury, and left tackle Trent Williams, sidelined by an ankle issue, have both been declared out for the game. On the brighter side, Christian McCaffrey is set to play despite nursing an oblique injury, having practiced in a limited capacity on Saturday.
Since joining the 49ers nearly a year ago, McCaffrey has consistently been on the field, avoiding any injury-related absences.
Samuel’s condition seems concerning. He’s not only missing the Vikings’ game but is also ruled out for the Week 8 clash against the Bengals, as confirmed by coach Kyle Shanahan.
Given the 49ers have their bye in Week 9, Samuel is projected to return in Week 10 for the game against the Jaguars on Oct. 12. The receiver suffered a setback in Week 6 against the Browns, leading to a diagnosis of a minor shoulder fracture.
In the meantime, Williams’ position as left tackle will be temporarily filled by a replacement. Despite his Pro Bowl status, Williams hasn’t completed a full season in ten years, often missing a couple of games annually during his three-year tenure with the 49ers.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who was uncertain for the Monday game due to a hamstring issue, has been cleared to play.
During a recent segment on The Pat McAfee Show, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers playfully dubbed Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce “Mr. Pfizer” in reference to Kelce’s advertisements for flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Kelce lightheartedly fired back, framing the jest as a face-off between “Mr. Pfizer” and “The Johnson & Johnson family”, nodding to the Johnson family’s ownership of the Jets.
However, the playful banter escalated during Rodgers’ subsequent appearance on the show, when he proposed a vaccine debate with Kelce. He went further, suggesting that they each have a sidekick for this debate: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic, for Rodgers; and the former White House medical advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, for Kelce.
This whole interaction, to me, shows exactly why the Pat McAfee show will not work on ESPN in the long run. https://t.co/rBGghQrDyD
Upon airing, the clip was immediately shared on social media by McAfee’s official account. Additionally, ESPN NFL analyst Adam Schefter highlighted the exchange, branding it as “the potential next great American debate.”
Many criticized ESPN for giving attention to a debate that might revolve around debunked theories. Dustin Gouker, a gambling reporter, commented, “ESPN should be ashamed of promoting this charade. It’s veering into OutKick territory.” Schefter also faced scrutiny for amplifying the segment.
Football fans might get a familiar feeling watching Mushin Muhammad’s son on the field, just like the former NFL star, as he plays for Texas A&M in the SEC.
Mushin Muhammad III, who now goes by “Moose” just like his dad did, is doing well as a receiver for the Aggies. So far in 2023, he’s caught the ball ten times, moved 70 yards, and scored once.
Back in 2020 when colleges were looking for new players, Muhammad from North Carolina got a lot of attention. Big schools like Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, and even Michigan State (where his dad played) wanted him. But after visiting some close-by schools like Tennessee and North Carolina, he decided to play for the Aggies.
In 2021, as a new player, he caught the ball ten times, ran 153 yards in total, and scored four times. The next year, he did even better with 38 catches, 610 yards, and four more scores. Now, starting his fourth year, Muhammad is hoping to get noticed by the NFL, just like his dad did back in 1996.
Football has changed a bit since his dad played in college, but Moose has a good chance to do even better than him if he keeps it up. To compare, his dad caught the ball 60 times, ran 969 yards, and scored four times when he was in college.
But trying to match what his dad did in the NFL will be hard. Over 14 years, playing for teams like the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears, his dad caught the ball 860 times, ran 11,438 yards, and scored a big 62 touchdowns. In 2004, he had a great year catching the ball 93 times, moving 1,405 yards, and scoring 16 times.
Even with all that history, Muhammad at Texas A&M is showing that he’s making his own way and doing well in college football.
