Caitlin Clark with Cathy Engelbert, WNBA comimissioner
WNBA players and their union have criticized Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for her recent remarks on a TV show, where she did not address the racist and harsh criticism from fans directed at the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry.
Engelbert appeared on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” on Monday, where anchor Tyler Mathisen asked about the negative tone from fan bases on social media, including race and sometimes sexuality.
Mathisen asked Engelbert, “How do you try and stay ahead of that, try and tamp it down or act as a league when two of your most visible players are involved — not personally, it would seem, but their fan bases are involved — in saying some very uncharitable things about the other?”
Engelbert replied, “There’s no more apathy. Everybody cares. It is a little of that Bird-Magic moment if you recall from 1979, when those two rookies came in from a big college rivalry, one white, one Black.
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark in the WNBA Draft
And so we have that moment with these two.
“But the one thing I know about sports, you need rivalry. That’s what makes people watch. They want to watch games of consequence between rivals. They don’t want everybody being nice to one another.”
WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson responded on Tuesday, stating that Engelbert should have answered the question about racism, misogyny, and harassment by saying, “There is absolutely no place in sport — or in life — for the vile hate, racist language, homophobic comments, and the misogynistic attacks our players are facing on social media.”
The union’s statement continued, saying that fans should “lift up the game, not tear down the very people who bring it to life.”
Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. drive during a NASCAR Cup
Rick Hendrick, who has the most wins as a NASCAR owner, explained on Tuesday that he was “just tired” of the prolonged discussions over a new charter agreement, which influenced his choice to accept NASCAR’s final proposal.
NASCAR set a deadline for teams to sign by last Friday night, and 13 out of 15 teams agreed to the new deal, which will last until 2031. The two teams that did not sign are Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.
During a news conference to announce that Kyle Larson will compete in the Indianapolis 500 in 2025, Hendrick said that the two years of negotiations with NASCAR had been exhausting.
“We worked really hard for two years, and it came down to the point where you can’t make everyone happy. I was just tired,” Hendrick said.
“You’re not going to get everything you want in any negotiation. I felt it was a fair deal.
Racers in the NASCAR Cup Series auto race
We protected the charters, which was our top priority, got an increase in revenue, and a lot of things we didn’t like were removed. So, I’m satisfied with the outcome.”
Charters ensure that teams have access to all important Cup Series races. There are currently 36 charters used by 15 teams.
During the talks, teams wanted four main things: a bigger share of the revenue, a role in decision-making, a share of business deals that use team or driver images, and most importantly, permanent charters to ensure stability.
NASCAR was not willing to make the charters permanent, and the final offer did not include that provision. The new deal also includes terms that could allow the France family, who own NASCAR, to hold charters and field their own teams.
23XI Racing, which is co-owned by Jordan, Denny Hamlin, and Curtis Polk, led the push for changes, and unexpectedly, Bob Jenkins from Front Row Motorsports also refused to sign the agreement. Hendrick is uncertain about what 23XI and Front Row hope to achieve by not signing, as their charters could expire and be canceled in December without a deal with NASCAR.
Denard Robinson and Braylon Edwards, along with other former Michigan football players, are suing the NCAA and the Big Ten Network.
They claim they missed out on over $50 million during their college careers because of the association’s former ban on paying athletes for their name, image, and likeness.
The federal class-action lawsuit, filed on Monday in the Eastern District of Michigan, represents all Michigan football players who were active before 2016. It also includes former players Mike Martin and Shawn Crable.
The NCAA and major college conferences are trying to resolve three antitrust lawsuits about athlete compensation for name, image, and likeness. They have agreed to pay $2.78 billion in damages to many college athletes, dating back to 2016.
In 2021, the NCAA changed its rules to allow athletes to earn money from sponsorships and endorsements after years of prohibiting it.
Braylon Edwards waves at the crowd
Last week, a federal judge overseeing these cases did not approve the settlement and sent it back to the attorneys for revisions.
Additionally, a new lawsuit was filed against the NCAA challenging the settlement agreement. The South Dakota attorney general’s complaint, representing South Dakota State and the University of South Dakota, argues that the proposed settlement unfairly burdens smaller schools with too much of the cost.
The Michigan lawsuit seeks to recover what stars like Robinson and Edwards lost while they played and argues that players should be compensated for the highlights and replays of their performances that are still shown on television.
Jam Miller runs the ball against Jamie Pettway in the 1st half
Alabama center Parker Brailsford understands that offensive linemen often get noticed mainly for mistakes like penalties and sacks.
This week, the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide’s blockers are definitely in the spotlight for such reasons.
Due to injuries to tackles Kadyn Proctor and Elijah Pritchett, the offensive line had to make changes. They allowed four sacks against South Florida and committed nine penalties, with two of them nullifying touchdowns.
Brailsford and his teammates are eager to return to being less noticed, starting with Alabama’s first road game on Saturday against Wisconsin.
“To be honest, when you guys (reporters) don’t mention us, that’s the best outcome,” said Brailsford, who transferred from Washington with coach Kalen DeBoer.
Kalen DeBoer talks to the media after the practice
“When our running backs, quarterback, and receivers get attention, I see that as our success too, because we need to do our job to let them do theirs.”
Alabama hopes the poor performance in their 42-16 win, which was a close game until the fourth quarter, was just a temporary issue and not a sign of things to come. The starting unit had only practiced together a few times before this game.
The statistics were rough for the offensive line: six holding penalties (one was canceled out by a defensive penalty), an illegal block in the back, and two false starts.
Proctor, who played as a freshman last season, has been out for the first two games with a left shoulder injury. DeBoer expects Proctor to be nearly ready to play by the end of the week.
Pritchett was initially held out to recover from a minor injury but was put in at the end of the game. The Tide managed to score 21 points in the last 5:50, including two long touchdown runs.
Alabama moved Tyler Booker from left guard to left tackle, and he was replaced by Michigan State transfer Geno VanDeMark, who started six games last season for the Spartans. Wilkin Formby, a redshirt freshman from Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa, started at right tackle.
Instead of discussing Colorado’s recent loss to Nebraska, Deion Sanders used his weekly news conference to address a different topic: the school’s fight song.
Sanders started by tackling a report from local radio station 104.3 The Fan, which claimed he asked the school band not to play the fight song after his son, Shedeur Sanders, scored, so that his son’s theme music could be played instead.
“That’s ridiculous,” Sanders said about the report. “Check the facts before spreading false stories.”
The university also denied the claim, explaining that the fight songs, “Glory, Glory, Colorado” and “Fight CU,” have been played after scores for years and were played as usual during the season opener against North Dakota State.
Deion Sanders and Sheduer Sanders on the sidelines
The stadium played other music briefly before the band played the fight songs.
Sanders mentioned that such reports are common for him, but he is concerned when they involve others, like the band. He urged people to be more responsible with their reporting and avoid making things personal.
He added that he could make things personal but chooses not to, as it’s not right. “We were raised to love thy neighbor as much as we can,” he said.
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne has faced criticism from an unexpected group after a poor performance in a loss to California: upset sports bettors.
Thorne mentioned on The Next Round podcast Tuesday that he’s been contacted by fans both in person and online. Some have even sent him Venmo requests.
“They’re definitely not sending cash,” Thorne said, referring to the four interceptions he threw in the 21-14 loss on Saturday. “It’s amusing that when they lose money, they want it back, but when they win money, no one offers to share their winnings.”
In the game against Cal, Thorne completed 14 of 27 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown. One of his interceptions led to the Golden Bears’ go-ahead score early in the second quarter.
In May, the NCAA reported that one in three high-profile athletes received abusive messages related to betting, according to a study by the AI service Signify Group during the NCAA basketball tournaments.
Payton Thorne is tackled by Teddye Buchanan in the 2nd half
The study showed that during the tournaments, athletes got over 540 abusive messages about betting. Of 1,000 Division I basketball players, 280 coaches, and 120 NCAA game officials, more than 54,000 posts or comments were flagged, with 4,000 confirmed as abusive or threatening.
The NCAA has called for states where sports betting is legal to ban prop bets on college athletes.
Prop bets, or proposition bets, allow gamblers to bet on a player’s performance stats during a game instead of just the final score.
As for Thorne, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze hasn’t ruled out the possibility of replacing him with backup Hank Brown for the game against New Mexico on Saturday. Freeze mentioned that he doesn’t like benching players who have been strong in practice but will make a decision later in the week.
“Having said that, you know, you have to carry that over into the games,” Freeze said. “You have to. I saw Thorne play really well in some big games last year, but we’ve also seen the opposite in other games.”
Terence Crawford mentioned that leading the Nebraska Cornhuskers onto the field felt just like walking from his dressing room to the boxing ring for a world championship fight.
However, last Saturday night, instead of entering a boxing ring, Crawford was guiding the team from their locker room to the field for the Tunnel Walk before their 28-10 victory over Colorado.
“It was electrifying,” the undefeated four-division world champion told The Associated Press. “I felt nervous and then excited. I was really pumped. Walking out of the tunnel felt like I was about to fight. I kept telling the team, ‘We’re doing this together. I’m with you every step of the way.’”
Crawford, a lifelong resident of Omaha and a devoted Nebraska sports fan, wanted to be at the game due to all the excitement around the match against Colorado.
Dylan Raiola celebrates with Marques Buford Jr. after the win
He had one of his assistants contact coach Matt Rhule to see if he could meet the team before the game.
Crawford said he spent a few hours with the coach and players on Friday night and was with them in the locker room before and after the game. Rhule invited him to speak to the team and lead the Tunnel Walk.
“I told them that many people were doubting them, but they are talented and need to believe in themselves, hold each other accountable, and maintain high standards,” Crawford said. “I just told them they were the better team and that they should use the Buffs as a stepping stone, hitting hard from the first play to the last.”
Rhule noted that the players seemed to really connect with Crawford’s message.
“I think Bud Crawford could say something I’ve said a hundred times, and it would resonate more because it’s coming from him,” Rhule said. “He had a significant impact on the game this week.”
Deshaun Watson stands on the field after throwing a pass
Deshaun Watson is once again facing attention off the field.
The NFL announced on Tuesday that it is looking into a new civil lawsuit against the Cleveland Browns quarterback. The lawsuit involves an alleged sexual assault that reportedly occurred in 2020 while Watson was with the Houston Texans.
On Monday, a woman in Texas accused Watson of sexually assaulting her at her apartment four years ago. She alleges that Watson forced himself on her for several minutes and is seeking $1 million in damages, according to the lawsuit.
“We are reviewing the complaint and will investigate the situation under the personal conduct policy,” said league spokesperson Brian McCarthy. “We are not considering placing him on the commissioner’s exempt list at this time, as there are no formal charges and our review has just started.”
The commissioner’s exempt list allows Roger Goodell to place a player on paid leave while the league reviews his case or other unusual circumstances.
For example, Browns rookie defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. has been on the exempt list while his domestic violence charge is being resolved.
Deshaun Watson throws in the NFL football practice
Watson, now in his third season with the Browns, was previously suspended for 11 games in 2022 after over two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior during massage sessions. He was also fined $5 million.
In 2022, Watson settled 23 of 24 civil lawsuits filed by the women before the league took disciplinary action.
It is unclear if Watson informed the league or the Browns about this new allegation before the lawsuit was filed in Harris County, Texas. The woman’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, also represented most of the other women in their claims against Watson.
The Browns, who traded five draft picks, including three first-round picks, to the Texans for Watson, released a statement saying:
“We will respect the due process provided by our legal system regarding the recent civil suit and follow the NFL’s guidelines on this issue.” Watson’s career with the Browns began with a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
The Browns’ plans for Deshaun Watson to be their long-term solution at quarterback have been disrupted by his legal troubles, a lengthy suspension, and a shoulder injury that kept him to just six starts last season.
Watson also has not met expectations in his 13 starts. The Browns made the playoffs last season after bringing in free agent Joe Flacco for the last month.
Deshaun Watson is helped by his teammates
On Sunday, the 28-year-old Watson had a tough game in his first appearance since breaking a bone in his throwing shoulder in November and having surgery.
Watson, who did not play during the preseason, completed 24 of 45 passes for 169 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions in a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He was sacked six times and took several hard hits.
Currently, Watson is expected to play this week when the Browns face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. He usually speaks to the media on Wednesdays during game week.
Watson’s poor performance against the Cowboys did not ease worries that the Browns made a mistake by signing him. He was also dealing with personal difficulties after the recent deaths of his biological father and a former Clemson teammate before the opener.
Despite these challenges, coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that he doesn’t think Watson has lost any confidence.
“Deshaun’s played at a very, very high level,” Stefanski said. “He’s won at every level of football. He does not lack for confidence.”
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned that All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey could have played in the 49ers’ season opener if it had been a playoff game. However, the team decided to keep him out to prevent his Achilles tendinitis from worsening.
The choice to rest McCaffrey during Monday night’s 32-19 win against the New York Jets surprised many and disappointed fantasy football players who had drafted him early.
McCaffrey was listed as questionable on the injury report but had indicated on Friday that he expected to play. The situation became more confusing when Jordan Mason, who filled in for McCaffrey, mentioned in a postgame interview that he was informed on Friday that he would start.
Christian McCaffrey runs to the end zone
Shanahan clarified that the decision to hold McCaffrey out was made on Monday. He had only told Mason to be ready for a larger role due to McCaffrey’s injury.
The NFL often reviews injury reporting for possible violations and can impose fines if a team is found to have misrepresented a player’s status.
A league spokesman declined to provide details about McCaffrey’s case on Tuesday.
Shanahan stated on Tuesday that McCaffrey is still considered day-to-day, but the decision to sit him for the opener was straightforward. McCaffrey had injured his Achilles early in training camp and missed four weeks of practice before returning last week.
“The Achilles is tendinitis and that stuff comes and goes,” Shanahan said. “When it flares up, you have to be very cautious. Christian is very careful with it. He made it clear he thought he could play if it were a playoff game.”
Jordan Mason celebrates with Colton McKivitz after scoring
The San Francisco 49ers quickly demonstrated that their challenging training camp, marked by contract disputes and concerns about a Super Bowl hangover, would not hinder their performance this season.
In their season opener, the 49ers delivered a dominant performance even without their injured All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. With backup Jordan Mason stepping up, the 49ers ran effectively against the strong defense of the New York Jets and kept Aaron Rodgers under control, securing a 32-19 victory on Monday night.
This win followed a summer filled with discussions about star receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s contract issue, All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams’ contract holdout, and the challenge of being only the second team in the last 50 years to win a Super Bowl the year after losing in the NFL title game.
“We have great leaders in this locker room and we have people who follow the leaders and we have leaders that echo what the coaches are preaching,” Williams said. “I think that’s the reason the locker room is able to stay focused.”
Trent Williams looks to block in the 2nd half
After a three-and-out on their first drive, the 49ers scored on eight consecutive possessions, thanks to 147 rushing yards from Mason and a flawless performance from Brock Purdy.
The defense forced three three-and-outs and had two takeaways in the first six possessions, showcasing a strong performance that did not surprise coach Kyle Shanahan given the way his players prepared.
“I’m with our team every day, so I know there’s lots of news stories and stuff with holdouts and things like that and when are people coming back, but our guys have been awesome in practice,” he said. “They’ve been very focused.”
During the NFL’s opening week, the league averaged 21.0 million viewers per game, making it the most-watched Week 1 in history.
On Wednesday morning, the NFL and Nielsen reported that this average viewership across TV and digital platforms was a 12% increase from the previous year.
In total, 123 million people watched at least part of a game, the highest number for an opening week since 2019.
“It was a great start with the viewership. It was great to be back and there’s a lot to be excited about,” said Hans Schroeder, the executive vice president of NFL Media.
NBC had the highest-rated game with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City’s 27-20 win over Baltimore last Thursday.
This game averaged 29.2 million viewers on TV and digital, making it NBC’s second-largest regular season game since it started airing “Sunday Night Football” in 2006. The Sunday night game between Detroit and the Los Angeles Rams, which Detroit won 26-20 in overtime, averaged 22.7 million viewers, a 3% increase from last year.
Josh Allen waves at the crowd after the game
Tom Brady’s debut game as Fox’s top analyst — Dallas’ 33-17 victory over Cleveland — averaged 23.93 million viewers. The six games that were part of Fox’s doubleheader (four early, two late) averaged 18.64 million viewers, the best start for the network since 2020.
This was the first time since 2020 that Fox had the Sunday afternoon doubleheader exclusively for Week 1. For the past three seasons, both CBS and Fox each broadcast two games on the opening Sunday.
CBS averaged 17.79 million viewers for its six games, the highest viewership for a Week 1 singleheader since CBS regained NFL rights in 1998.
Most of CBS’ affiliates broadcast games in the 1 p.m. EDT slot, but in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh, viewers saw Jim Harbaugh’s first game as coach of the Los Angeles Chargers against the Las Vegas Raiders at 4:05 p.m. EDT.
In New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh, CBS couldn’t show games in the early window because of a league rule preventing games from airing opposite local teams’ games.
Greg Rousseau celebrates his sack against AJ Epensa in the 2nd half
Greg Rousseau felt uncertain as he entered his redshirt freshman college season in 2019 because he was unsure about why then-Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Blake Baker began calling him “Groot.”
The nickname, referring to the Marvel Comics character with spiky hair and long arms, was unfamiliar to the 19-year-old defensive end at the time, even though the similarity is still clear today.
Rousseau, now a Bills edge rusher, keeps his spiky hairstyle and has a significant wingspan to match his 6-foot-6, 266-pound build.
“I was never self-conscious about my size. I just hadn’t seen the movie, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ so I didn’t know what that was,” Rousseau said on Tuesday as the Bills get ready to play at Miami on Thursday night. “Then I watched it. It’s a good movie, and I liked the character. He’s pretty cool.”
Russell Wilson is sacked by Greg Rousseau
He quickly embraced the nickname when teammates and fans began chanting “Grooooooooot!” during a season in which he led the ACC with 15 1/2 sacks.
Drafted 30th in 2021 after missing the previous year due to COVID-19, Rousseau spent his first three seasons with the Bills showing his potential, but was criticized for inconsistency, totaling 17 sacks in 46 games.
Then, on Sunday, Rousseau had what might be a breakout performance, recording a career-high three sacks, with the last one forcing a key fumble, helping Buffalo win 34-28 in their season opener against Arizona.
“We all kind of fed off his energy and the vibe,” defensive tackle DaQuan Jones said. “Seeing him out there with growing confidence, I’d say he really energized our defense.”
Rousseau’s first sack occurred when he chased Kyler Murray out of bounds for no gain during the first half, in which Arizona took a 17-3 lead by scoring on each of its first three drives.
