Sports Al Dente

Alonso was shocked as the New York Mets were knocked out, leaving him uncertain about his future as he approaches free agency

Post author By Ritik
Post date October 22, 2024
No Comments on Alonso was shocked as the New York Mets were knocked out, leaving him uncertain about his future as he approaches free agency

Pete Alonso reacts after getting hit with a foul ball in the 8th inning

Pete Alonso seemed shocked that this season had come to an end, and he might be ending his time with the New York Mets as well.

“I’m just kind of shell-shocked that the season’s over, because once you get on this postseason run, you kind of don’t really think that it’s going to end ever because we overcame so much and we perform really well in big spots,” Alonso said after the Mets lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-5 in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series.

Alonso had a batting average of .273 with four home runs and 10 RBIs during the postseason. After making $20.5 million this year, the first baseman is now eligible for free agency for the first time and will turn 30 in December.

“I love this team. I love this organization. This fanbase has treated not just myself, but my family so, so well,” Alonso said. “I love New York. I love this team. I love playing in Queens.

This group is really special and the memories that we’ve created together are just, like, wow. This is why we play baseball, to be able to get to have that togetherness, to be able to go far, face adversity and overcome it. … I want more and more moments like this.”

The season started tough for New York, as they began 0-5 and were 22-33 before a players-only meeting in late May after being swept by the Dodgers. The Mets turned things around and finished the season 89-73, clinching the NL’s final wild card spot with a win in Atlanta on the last day of the regular season.

They rallied in the ninth inning of Game 3 to win the NL Wild Card Series and then upset the NL East champion Philadelphia in the Division Series, reaching the LCS for the first time since 2015.

“It’s not easy to come through so much adversity, but we kept finding ways to get the job done,” first-year manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case this series. Now we’re going home. But, like I said, this should be our expectations moving forward every year; we should be playing games deep into October.”

In the fourth season after Steve Cohen purchased the Mets from the Wilpons, New York had the highest payroll in Major League Baseball at $332 million and is expected to pay a $96 million luxury tax.

Pitchers Jose Quintana and Luis Severino could also become free agents, and Sean Manaea has a player option that he might decline to become a free agent.

“It was an amazing roller-coaster,” shortstop Francisco Lindor said. “We accomplished a lot as a team, as individuals. We became family. We overcame a lot of things and we stuck together, so I truly believe there is something good happening here. It doesn’t feel good to lose. It’s going to sit here with me for a while, but I feel like this year made me a better person, a player, and I’ve grown a lot.”

Lindor is signed through 2031, and outfielder Brandon Nimmo is signed through 2030. Nimmo hopes Alonso will sign a new contract with the Mets.

“He means a lot to the fanbase and to this team, and we’d love to see him back here,” Nimmo said, “but also going through that process, I understand that it is a business and he will end up doing what’s best for him and his family.”

Nimmo mentioned that having stability with president of baseball operations David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza in their second year will help compared to last offseason.

“I really think that this is kind of the jumping-off point. We want to set this as a standard now,” Nimmo said. “There’s no surprising people.

I think people are going to be a little more wary of us next year to start things off, and that comes with its own territory, where everybody’s going to have their A-game on to try and beat you.”

J.D. Martinez, another possible free agent, looked forward to the main group returning. When asked about his future, the 37-year-old simply replied, “Pickleball.”

MLB (Baseball)

Ohtani reaches the World Series for the first time, fulfilling a dream he had when joining the Los Angeles Dodgers

Post author By Christopher Harris
Post date October 22, 2024
No Comments on Ohtani reaches the World Series for the first time, fulfilling a dream he had when joining the Los Angeles Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani celebrates after the win in the game

Shohei Ohtani achieved his goal of reaching the World Series after signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I really feel like we finally arrived. I finally arrived at this stage,” Ohtani said through a translator after the Dodgers beat the New York Mets 10-5 in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series.

Ohtani batted .364 with two home runs, six RBIs, nine walks, and a 1.184 OPS against the Mets, contributing two hits and an RBI in Game 6. In his first postseason, he has a .286 average with three homers and 10 RBIs over 11 games, heading into the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday.

When he signed his record $700 million, 10-year contract last December, Ohtani agreed to defer $68 million each year to give the team more payroll flexibility. The Dodgers used this flexibility to sign pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, trade for pitcher Tyler Glasnow, and add outfielder Teoscar Hernández.

“The goal was to get to this far,” Ohtani said, “and I also pictured myself getting this far with the contract that I’ve signed.”

Shohei Ohtani hits a single in the 6th inning

Ohtani didn’t pitch this year while recovering from elbow surgery, but he batted .310 with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases, becoming the first player to achieve a 50-50 season. He is likely to win his first NL MVP award after previously winning two AL MVPs.

“He’s the world’s biggest baseball star. Not just the game, the world,” teammate Max Muncy said.

“He shows up every day, you expect him to do something incredible, and he very rarely disappoints. He works hard, and he’s a great teammate. We’ve loved having him in the clubhouse, and being his teammate all year long has been a real treat.”

Ohtani has been successful with runners in scoring position, going 18 for his last 23 in such situations since his 10-RBI game on September 19. He did have an 0-for-22 stretch without any runners on base.

“There’s nothing in particular that I changed,” Ohtani said. “Obviously when there are situations, I do adjust how I swing. But in terms of my approach, I’ve kept it the same the whole time. I think part of it is just a small sample size.”

MLB (Baseball)

Nestor Cortes is expected to return to the New York Yankees’ pitching rotation for the World Series

Post author By Christopher Harris
Post date October 22, 2024
No Comments on Nestor Cortes is expected to return to the New York Yankees’ pitching rotation for the World Series

Nestor Cortes is expected to come back to the New York Yankees’ pitching team for the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 29-year-old left-handed pitcher hasn’t played since September 18 due to a strain in his pitching elbow.

“There’s a good chance of it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Monday. “He’s set to throw another live batting practice tomorrow, so if that goes well, I would say there’s a decent chance he could be on the roster, yes.”

During the season, Cortes had a record of 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA.

Boone mentioned that Gerrit Cole will be the starting pitcher for Friday’s first game at Dodger Stadium.

Carlos Rodón is expected to pitch in Game 2 in Los Angeles, followed by Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil for Games 3 and 4 at Yankee Stadium next week.

“We haven’t finalized that. I can tell you Gerrit will pitch Game 1 and there’s a good chance … we’ll follow that plan,” Boone said. “We’re still enjoying the moment of making it and haven’t really started our preparations yet, so I don’t want to get ahead of myself.”

MLB (Baseball)

Michael Kopech will start the bullpen game for the Dodgers in Game 6 against the New York Mets. Freddie Freeman will not be playing for Los Angeles Angeles

Michael Kopech pitches in the 5th inning

Michael Kopech will start Game 6 of the National League Championship Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who plan to use multiple relief pitchers to try to win their 25th NL pennant.

The right-handed pitcher begins Sunday’s bullpen game at Dodger Stadium against the New York Mets, who are down 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

“Just feel that it’s the best chance to put up a zero in the first inning and then move forward,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “We’re going to deploy a lot of different guys.”

Kopech last pitched on Wednesday in Game 3, where he had a successful outing, getting the win by striking out one batter in one scoreless inning.

He has played in five playoff games, allowing just one hit and walking two while striking out six in 4 1/3 scoreless innings.

Kopech joined the Dodgers from the Chicago White Sox during a three-team trade at the July deadline. In his 24 games with the Dodgers, he has a 4-0 record with a 1.13 ERA, 29 strikeouts, and six saves in 24 innings.

Kopech is among several well-rested Dodgers relievers heading into the game.

All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman will not be in the lineup. He has been dealing with a sprained right ankle and will be replaced by Max Muncy, who will bat fifth.

“He just felt, we felt, that giving him another day is best for him,” Roberts said. “Just doesn’t feel like himself.”

WNBA

New York Liberty claims their first WNBA championship, marking the conclusion of a lengthy journey

Post author By Ritik
Post date October 22, 2024
No Comments on New York Liberty claims their first WNBA championship, marking the conclusion of a lengthy journey

The NY Liberty holds up the winning trophy

As confetti fell and Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” played loudly, the New York Liberty celebrated the end of a long journey.

The team that often fell short, from their time at Madison Square Garden to stops at Radio City Music Hall and Westchester County Center, finally reached the top.

It’s time to share the news: New York has a pro basketball champion again after a 67-62 overtime win against Minnesota in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday night.

“I’ve been manifesting this moment for a while. There’s no feeling like it,” Breanna Stewart said. “Credit to Minnesota, they gave us a tough series. The fans have been amazing everywhere we’ve gone. Bringing a championship to New York, the first ever in franchise history, is an incredible feeling. I can’t wait to continue to celebrate with the city. It’s going to be bonkers.”

Jonquel Jones led New York with 17 points. The Liberty, one of the original teams in the league, had lost in the WNBA Finals five times before, including last season. This time, they wouldn’t be denied, even though it took an extra five minutes.

Napheesa Collier is stripped of the ball by Leonie Fiebich and Breanna Stewart in the 3rd quarter

With stars Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu struggling on offense, other players stepped up. Leonie Fiebich began overtime with a 3-pointer, and Nyara Sabally, who finished with 13 points, made a steal and scored to put the Liberty ahead 65-60, energizing the sold-out crowd.

“Whoever scores in overtime first usually wins,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said.

Minnesota didn’t score in overtime until Kayla McBride made two free throws with 1:51 left. The Lynx missed all six of their shots in overtime. After Ionescu missed a shot with 21 seconds remaining, making it 18 misses on 19 attempts, the Lynx had one last chance, but Bridget Carleton missed a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left.

Stewart, who missed a free throw with 0.8 seconds left in the first game, made two free throws with 10.1 seconds remaining in overtime to secure the win.

As the final seconds counted down, players embraced and streamers fell from the rafters at Barclays Center. Stewart and Jones hugged. The two star free agents, signed two years ago, played a key role in helping the team win its first title.

New York was down by two points in regulation when Stewart was fouled with 5.2 seconds left.

After a long video review, Stewart calmly sank two free throws to tie the game at 60. Minnesota challenged the foul call, and coach Cheryl Reeve continued to question it after the game, claiming the title was stolen from her team.

McBride, who scored 21 points, had a chance for a 3-pointer, but it bounced off the rim, sending the game into overtime.

Many former Liberty stars were in the crowd, including Teresa Weatherspoon, who made a half-court shot in the 1999 WNBA Finals to force a deciding Game 3. That was the last time New York had a chance to play in a championship game until this year.

Jones, the only Liberty player to have previously played in a Game 5 while with Connecticut in 2019, received MVP honors. “I could never dream of this. You know how many times I’ve been denied. It was delayed. I am so happy to do it here,” she said.

Napheesa Collier scored 22 points to lead Minnesota before fouling out with 13 seconds remaining in overtime.

The Lynx were aiming for a record fifth WNBA title, which would have set them apart from the Seattle Storm and Houston Comets. Minnesota won four championships from 2011 to 2017, thanks to key players like Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Sylvia Fowles, and Maya Moore. This was the team’s first time back in the WNBA Finals since then.

“Congratulations to the Liberty on their first championship,” Reeve said. “It took them 28 years, congrats to them. We were that close to our fifth, it just didn’t happen.”

This is the first time since 2019 that the WNBA Finals went to a Game 5. Since the league changed to a best-of-five format in 2005, seven other series have reached a Game 5, with the home team winning five of those previous matchups, including in 2019.

The series has marked a fitting end to a record-breaking season for the league. All five games were decided in the final moments and featured two overtime games and a last-second shot, leading to record ratings.

The first three games each attracted over a million viewers on average, with the audience increasing for each match. They also had large crowds in attendance.

Liberty fan Spike Lee was courtside over an hour before the game, talking with the media while wearing his Ionescu jersey. After Ionescu finished warming up, they shared a brief exchange and hugged. Lee was part of a sold-out crowd of 18,090 that helped set both the overall attendance record for a WNBA Finals and the average attendance mark.

WNBA

Jonquel Jones steps up with a WNBA Finals MVP performance, saving the day for the struggling Ionescu and Stewart

Post author By James Brown
Post date October 22, 2024
No Comments on Jonquel Jones steps up with a WNBA Finals MVP performance, saving the day for the struggling Ionescu and Stewart

Sabrina Ionescu started off poorly, missing her first shot, which hit the side of the backboard, and another attempt that went nowhere. After hitting a famous game-winning shot in Game 3, she struggled significantly afterward.

On Sunday, Ionescu ended up making just 1 out of 19 shots, and Breanna Stewart didn’t perform much better. Fortunately for the New York Liberty, Jonquel Jones stepped up with a standout performance, helping her teammates.

Jones scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds in the Liberty’s 67-62 overtime win against the Minnesota Lynx, earning the WNBA Finals MVP award.

“Her dominance in the paint, on the boards, help-side defense, everything that we needed, she was there,” Stewart said. “She had to wait a while to get to this point, to get to the finals to win a championship. But the wait was worth it.”

Ionescu finished with five points but also had eight assists and seven rebounds. Stewart managed to score 13 points and secured 15 rebounds, shooting 4 for 15.

Sabrina Ionescu puts up a shot against Natisha Hiedeman in the 4th quarter

“Just did whatever it took to win,” Ionescu said during the trophy presentation. “Believed in my teammates, believed in this entire organization. It takes everyone. You don’t do this alone, and we did it in New York.”

The Liberty aimed to create a super-team capable of winning titles by bringing in Stewart from Seattle, where she was a two-time WNBA Finals MVP, and Jones from Connecticut, who had previously lost in the 2019 finals, to join Ionescu, their first-round pick from the 2020 draft.

The Liberty reached the WNBA Finals last year and had the best record in the league this season, but it looked like they might miss out on a title as Ionescu and Stewart struggled with their shots.

Ionescu started the game by missing her first 13 attempts, making it 15 misses in a row since Game 4, before finally scoring with a 3-pointer that put the Liberty ahead 56-52 with just over three minutes left.

However, when Minnesota took a 60-58 lead, it seemed like the stars’ difficulties would cost the Liberty the game. Stewart missed two free throws with 38 seconds left, but the Liberty grabbed the rebound. Ionescu then missed a 3-pointer and another shot after New York regained the ball.

The game went to overtime after Stewart made two free throws with 5.2 seconds left in regulation. Remembering her earlier misses, she thought, “No, I can’t do this again, I can’t. I have to be here.”

Sabrina Ionescu battles for a rebound against Napheesa Coiller in the 4th quarter

In overtime, New York secured the win with baskets from Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally.

The Liberty had hoped to avoid a Game 5 after Ionescu’s long shot led them to victory in Game 3. However, she shot 5 for 16 in Game 4, missing all five of her 3-point attempts, and Stewart only managed 11 points on 5 for 20 shooting.

Jones, who went 6 for 6 in Game 5, was the key player for the Liberty, averaging 18 points and eight rebounds in the series. She scored 10 points in the first half on Sunday, helping keep the Liberty competitive while Ionescu and Stewart only combined for five points from Stewart.

“What makes her difficult is you’re spending a lot of time guarding Sabrina and Stewie in some of those schemes that created mismatches,” said Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve. “But we’re going to live with some of that.”

NFL (American Football)

Minnesota Lynx come up short as Napheesa Collier pushes them close to winning their fifth WNBA championship

Post author By Ritik
Post date October 22, 2024
No Comments on Minnesota Lynx come up short as Napheesa Collier pushes them close to winning their fifth WNBA championship

Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx, both ranked No. 2 in the regular season, were close to becoming No. 1 when it really counted.

The Lynx were just seconds away from winning their fifth WNBA championship, with Collier possibly on track to earn the WNBA Finals MVP award after a strong finish that put her team ahead in the last minute.

However, they couldn’t maintain their lead.

The New York Liberty came back to win 67-62 in overtime, stopping the Lynx from achieving what would have been a record fifth championship.

Collier, who was the runner-up to unanimous MVP A’ja Wilson during the regular season, scored 22 points but had to watch the closing moments from the bench after fouling out in a game Minnesota seemed ready to win just minutes earlier.

Like coach Cheryl Reeve, who claimed the game was “stolen” from the Lynx, Collier felt frustrated with the officiating and believed she was held at times, though she acknowledged the Liberty for making good adjustments.

“They turned up the pressure,” she said. “It’s the end of the game. Of course we are both trying to win. They turned up the pressure, and we got a couple turnovers.”

The Lynx had a strong first half but found themselves trailing 56-52 after Sabrina Ionescu hit a 3-pointer with 3:10 left. Then Collier, who started off strong, began scoring again. She made Minnesota’s next three baskets, including a drive past Breanna Stewart that put the Lynx ahead 60-58 with 1:04 remaining.

But Minnesota wouldn’t score again until New York had put up the next seven points, tying the game with Stewart’s free throws with 5.2 seconds left and then taking the lead 65-60 in overtime.

Collier ended the game with seven rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. The WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year played almost the entire 45-minute game, missing just 35 seconds, mostly due to a foul that stopped the clock with 13 seconds remaining in OT.

It was clearly an outstanding season for the forward, who averaged 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in her sixth year after playing at UConn. She also won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team and helped the Lynx achieve a franchise-record 30 wins and secure the No. 2 seed.

However, if Game 5 had gone differently, she might have also earned a WNBA Finals MVP trophy, joining other elite Lynx players from the past who have received the honor.

Sylvia Fowles won it in 2015 and 2017 after the Lynx’s last two championships. Seimone Augustus, who was honored last week in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, won it in 2011, and Maya Moore did so two years later.

The Lynx believe Collier could achieve similar honors in the future.

“We just have so much confidence in who she is on and off the court, and I’m lucky to be alongside her. I’m just in awe,” said Kayla McBride, who scored 21 points. “She’s had an amazing season and amazing postseason obviously. Can’t wait to see what she does in the future.”

WNBA

Coach Cheryl Reeve claims the WNBA championship was ‘taken’ from the Minnesota Lynx amidst concerns about officiating

Post author By Ritik
Post date October 22, 2024
No Comments on Coach Cheryl Reeve claims the WNBA championship was ‘taken’ from the Minnesota Lynx amidst concerns about officiating

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve reacts during the third quarter of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series against the New York Liberty

Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve stated that the WNBA championship was “stolen” from the Lynx while expressing her complaints about the officiating on Sunday night.

The New York Liberty defeated the Lynx 67-62 in Game 5, which went into overtime. The game tied after a controversial foul gave Breanna Stewart two free throws with just 5.2 seconds left in regulation.

“We know we could have done some things right, but you shouldn’t have to overcome to that extent,” Reeve said. “This s—- ain’t that hard. Officiating is not that hard.”

Reeve, who has led the Lynx to four WNBA championships and coached the U.S. women’s team to an Olympic gold medal this summer in Paris, acknowledged that her complaints would attract attention.

“Bring it on,” she said, “because that s—- was stolen from us.”

The Liberty shot 25 free throws, while the Lynx made 7 out of 8. Minnesota committed 21 fouls compared to New York’s 17, with All-Star forward Napheesa Collier, the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, fouling out.

Reeve specifically criticized the foul called on Alanna Smith when Minnesota was ahead 60-58. Stewart drove into the lane and seemed to shoot before any contact was made. The Lynx challenged the call, but it was confirmed after a video review.

Reeve described the contact as “marginal at best.”

“This sucks,” she said, referring to past officiating issues during Minnesota’s loss in the 2016 WNBA Finals. “This is for a championship, for both teams. Let them decide it. What contact is legal should be the same for both teams.”

WNBA

New York Liberty captures their first WNBA title, with the possibility of more championships ahead

Post author By Christopher Harris
Post date October 22, 2024
No Comments on New York Liberty captures their first WNBA title, with the possibility of more championships ahead

Breanna Stewart joined the New York Liberty two years ago with a clear goal: to help the struggling franchise win its first championship.

WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones soon came on board, and together they achieved their aim, following a disappointing loss in the Finals to Las Vegas the previous year.

“The wait was so, so, so worth it,” Stewart said. “We talked about it two years ago when it was free agency, and we wanted to come together. You look back and me, JJ, (Courtney Vandersloot), we all came together to win a championship. Last year we lost in the Finals. But look at us, now we’re here.”

With the main group still mostly the same, winning more championships could be on the horizon for Stewart and the Liberty after their 67-62 overtime win against the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals.

She had previously won two titles with Seattle, but this victory felt special since she is the only player from New York on the team.

“This is more personal because I’m from New York. I’m from upstate,” she said. “I came here for a reason, and that’s to win a championship.”

With Stewart, Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, and other important players signed for next year, there’s no reason to doubt that the Liberty could win again.

“I think it’s been fun. Hey, let’s not stop at one, though. Let’s go for two,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “It’s hard to win because this league is so good. You need a little bit of luck on your side, but you also need talent. You also need talent, the right talent to put together.”

It won’t be easy. The league will change with Golden State joining as the 13th team. Teams like Minnesota, Las Vegas, and others will be eager to take the Liberty down. In the past 20 years, only the Aces have repeated as champions, winning in 2022 and 2023.

This series wrapped up a record-breaking season for the league. All five games were close, with two going into overtime and one having a last-second shot, leading to record viewership.

The five games also had the highest attendance ever for a WNBA Finals. Many fans from New York, eager for a championship in a city known for winning in other sports, will celebrate with a parade later this week.

It will likely take place in the Canyon of Heroes in downtown Manhattan, just across the bridge from Barclays Center where the Liberty play.

Then it’s on to the offseason, and the first thing for the league and players to discuss is whether either side will opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement. They have until Nov. 1 to decide.

For now, the Liberty can enjoy their first-ever title. They had reached this point five times before but lost each time, including last season’s defeat. Some of the great Liberty players from the past, like Teresa Weatherspoon and Sue Wicks, who didn’t win a championship in their time, were in the sold-out crowd on Sunday to see the team succeed.

“I told her I hope you enjoy this because this is for you,” Vandersloot said she told Weatherspoon. “You laid the foundation and, you know, sometimes it doesn’t show right away. … I hope she feels appreciated because, you know, she kind of started this and now the city has won, and that can never be taken away.”

WNBA

Bigsby finds the end zone twice as the Jacksonville Jaguars battle hard for a 32-16 victory against the New England Patriots in London

Tank Bigsby ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns, while Parker Washington returned a punt 96 yards for a score in Jacksonville’s 32-16 comeback victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday at Wembley Stadium.

Rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. caught a touchdown pass as the Jaguars (2-5) came back from an early 10-0 deficit.

In his second start, Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye led one scoring drive in the fourth quarter but couldn’t create another, leading to New England’s (1-6) sixth straight loss.

Bigsby scored on a 4-yard run after the Patriots turned the ball over on downs following the two-minute warning.

This win should help relieve some pressure on Jaguars coach Doug Pederson for now.

The Jaguars scored on four straight possessions after falling behind early.

Trevor Lawrence and Drake Maye after the game

Thomas caught a 6-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal to put the Jaguars on the scoreboard and then helped set up Jacksonville’s go-ahead score by catching a 58-yard pass to the New England 21.

Four plays later, Bigsby’s 1-yard run gave the Jaguars a 14-10 lead.

Washington’s record-setting 96-yard punt return for a touchdown made it 22-10. Lawrence passed to Thomas for the 2-point conversion after the Patriots were offside on the extra point attempt.

Lawrence completed 15 of 20 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown, while Thomas had five catches for 89 yards.

NFL (American Football)

Nick Chubb returns to the Cleveland Browns after a severe knee injury cut his 2023 season short

Post author By James Brown
Post date October 22, 2024
No Comments on Nick Chubb returns to the Cleveland Browns after a severe knee injury cut his 2023 season short

Nick Chubb made a full comeback—just as he promised.

Cleveland’s star running back, whose 2023 season ended with a serious knee injury in Week 2, returned to the field on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, giving a boost to Browns fans and a team that needed inspiration.

Chubb received a huge cheer during the pregame introductions, which helped balance out the boos for quarterback Deshaun Watson as he ran out onto the field at Huntington Bank Field.

Last season, Chubb, one of Cleveland’s most beloved athletes, was taken off the field on a cart after a hard hit by Pittsburgh safety Minkah Fitzpatrick injured his left knee, the same knee he hurt while playing at Georgia.

Earlier this week, Chubb wrote an essay expressing his fear that his football career might be over as he was being taken off the field.

After the Bengals returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Chubb got his first carry in more than a year on the third play and gained 2 yards.

In his five-plus seasons with the Browns, who drafted him in the second round in 2018, Chubb has rushed for 6,511 yards and scored 48 touchdowns.

NFL (American Football)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Watson is believed to have suffered an Achilles injury that could end his season

Post author By James Brown
Post date October 22, 2024
No Comments on Cleveland Browns quarterback Watson is believed to have suffered an Achilles injury that could end his season

Deshaun Watson is carted off the field after an injury

Deshaun Watson’s troubled time with Cleveland has taken another major turn. It looks like his third season is over.

The struggling quarterback was taken off the field on a cart after injuring his right Achilles tendon on a noncontact play against the Cincinnati Bengals.

After Cleveland’s 21-14 loss, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned that it “looks like” Watson’s injury is serious and will end his season. The team was still waiting for test results, but it seems unlikely that Watson will play again in 2024.

Watson, who hasn’t met expectations in his two-plus seasons with the team, fell without being hit on a second-down play with 1:26 left in the first half. He dropped back to throw at the Cincinnati 21-yard line, and when he planted his foot, his right leg buckled, causing him to collapse.

Watson quickly put his hands on his head while lying on the ground in clear pain. Cleveland’s trainers hurried to help him, soon joined by all of the Browns’ players and some Bengals players who came over from their sideline to show their support.

As he was taken off the field, Watson, whose arrival in Cleveland has divided fans, covered his head with a towel while some fans cheered.

However, when he first fell, there were fans who applauded. Some even chanted for the Browns to bring in backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Deshaun Watson is carted off the field after an injury in the 1st half

Myles Garrett, the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, was appalled by the fans’ reactions. “We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans to boo anyone and their downfall,” Garrett said. “No one deserves that.

Third-string quarterback Jameis Winston expressed his strong feelings about the reaction to Watson’s injury.

“I’m very upset with the reaction to a man that has had the world against him for the past four years,” Winston said. “He put his body and life on the line for this city every single day. I know the standard that hungry fans want, but the way I was raised, I would never pull on a man when he is down.”

Cleveland signed Watson to a fully guaranteed, $230 million contract in 2022. He faced an 11-game suspension by the NFL in his first year with the team, and his second season was cut short after just six starts due to a shoulder injury that needed surgery.

Watson has struggled this season, leading to calls for coach Stefanski to bench him. He was booed during the pregame introductions.

Before getting hurt, Watson completed 15 of 17 passes for 128 yards and was sacked twice. Thompson-Robinson took over but hurt his finger in the fourth quarter after being chosen over Winston for the first time this season.

The Browns gave up a lot for Watson, trading three first-round draft picks to Houston for the three-time Pro Bowler. The 28-year-old has made more news for off-field issues than for his play.

He has been accused of sexual assault and harassment by over two dozen women for inappropriate behavior during massage therapy sessions in Texas. Watson settled many civil lawsuits that were filed against him.

The league is still looking into a recent claim against Watson made by a woman who accused him of sexual assault. Watson recently reached a confidential settlement to resolve that case.