After Prescott said he would undergo another MRI exam on the shoulder injury he suffered on July 28, the Cowboys’ Twitter editorialized the team’s press release by saying: “It’s not a setback. And it’s not a reason to worry. But QB Dak Prescott is planning on getting another MRI.”

It’s hard to fault the Dallas fans for worrying. Prescott is coming off a season where he suffered a brutal compound fracture in his ankle, ending his season and requiring multiple surgeries in the offseason.

He is fully recovered from that injury, but during a training camp practice on July 28 – shown in the premiere of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” – he felt discomfort in his throwing arm and immediately took himself out of practice.

The original MRI exam revealed no serious issues other than a strain, to heal through rest. It’s clear why one would assume a second MRI would be linked to a setback, but Dallas insists that is not the case.

The Cowboys play the Cardinals in their second preseason game on Friday night. Prescott is not expected to play.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

Tierna Davidson was called for a foul in the penalty area on Deanne Rose, and Fleming put the penalty kick away for the goal on Adrianna Franch.

Franch was in for US goalie Alyssa Naeher, who was injured in the first half of the game and didn’t come back out for the second.

It was a revenge game for Canada, who fell to the US in a controversial 2012 semifinal match at the London Olympics.

The US will now face the loser of Australia vs. Sweden for the bronze medal Thursday at 4:00 AM.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

The former Cubs slugger spoke to reporters after news of the trade surfaced on Thursday. While Rizzo did admit he would be sad to leave Chicago, he sounded excited to join an explosive lineup as the Yankees chase a playoff spot.

“All good things come to an end,” Rizzo said, per MLB.com. “To be able to go to another historic franchise like the Yankees, it’s unbelievable. Getting all the calls and texts, how excited they are, how excited I am. My family is all from New Jersey and New York. Emily’s family is up in Connecticut. It’s going to be a really special opportunity for me these next three months. I’m just going to enjoy it all.

“I’m just focused on going to be a Yankee now. It’s just another really cool opportunity to play for another historic franchise. This will always be home for me, but like I’ve said, my best friend leaving, Jon Lester, he did the same thing. He has two special places in his heart. But for these next three months, it’s going to be fun. You go right into a race. Seeing the Yankees pull the triggers like this – get (Joey) Gallo, me now, obviously – that’s what they do. And they’re excited.”

The 31-year-old has been a crucial part of the Cubs’ success over the past several seasons, helping lead Chicago to a World Series title in 2016. He has made three All-Star Games and has four Gold Gloves to his name.

In return, the Yankees sent two prospects to Chicago – pitcher Alexander Vizcaino (the Yankees’ No. 9 prospect) and outfielder Kevin Alcantara (No. 12).

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported via Twitter that the deal is “close,” minutes after MLB Network’s Jon Morosi said that talks had “intensified.” It was not immediately clear what the compensation would be.

Scherzer was taken out of his start with the Nationals on Thursday after throwing six innings of one-run ball, and was seen giving hugs and handshakes to his teammates after coming off the mound.

The Padres have already acquired star infielder Adam Frazier from the Pirates, and look to be going all-in for a potential title by acquiring the three-time Cy Young winner.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

After months of speculation and a near-daily media firestorm surrounding Aaron Rodgers’ status with the Packers, the reigning NFL MVP officially arrived in Green Bay late Monday.

Local media snapped pictures of his private plane arriving at the Green Bay airport. He was later seen arriving at Lambeau Field in video shared by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

His arrival seemingly puts an official end to the possibility he would hold out from the team or retire. Rodgers made his frustration with the team known months ago, and sources reported all throughout the offseason that he would not return to the Packers. The Broncos were floated as a possibility, as was a full-time “Jeopardy!” hosting gig.

But after everything, No. 12 is back. Hopefully things won’t be awkward.

ESPN reported Monday that the Packers had crafted a list of concessions in order to get their star quarterback to return to the team — notably, the freedom for Rodgers to pick where he plays in 2022. If Rodgers agrees, it appears possible that 2021 will be his final season in Green Bay.

Rodgers leaving in 2022 would open the door to Jordan Love — the player Green Bay infamously traded up in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft to select — taking over as starting quarterback for the Packers. Most reports suggest it was the move that alienated Rodgers in the first place.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

The four-time NBA MVP caused a scene at his son Bronny’s prep basketball game on Saturday, interrupting the game to yell at the PA announcer over a comment he didn’t appreciate.

During the final minutes of the game – which took place at LeBron’s alma mater St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High School, at the aptly named LeBron James Arena – the Lakers star took issue after a PA announcer said Bronny got a foul call because he was playing in a gym with his father’s name on it, according to the broadcast.

The 36-year-old got up and started yelling at the announcer, interrupting the game in the process. It took LeBron a minute or so to calm down before he ended up walking back to his seat.

Bronny’s Strive for Greatness team ended up losing the game in overtime, 73-69. The game was a part of the “Battle Summer Showcase,” a tournament highlighting some of the best high school talent in the Midwest.

This is just the second time in the past 11 years, James is not a part of the NBA Finals. His Lakers were beaten in the first round of the playoffs by the eventual Western Conference champion Suns, who will take on the Bucks for the championship.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

Donaldson came up to bat against Giolito in the first inning of the Twins-White Sox game and launched a home run to left field, giving Minnesota an early 2-0 lead. After he crossed home plate, he appeared to yell “hand’s not sticky anymore!” as he headed toward the Twins’ dugout.

Donaldson has been one of the league’s most outspoken figures amid the crackdown on pitchers using sticky substances. After homering off Giolito, the slugger appeared to implicate him in the scandal.

The 26-year-old pitcher was none too pleased, and unloaded on Donaldson after his White Sox won the game, 7-6.

“He’s a f–king pest,” Giolito said of Donaldson. “That’s kind of a classless move. If you’re going to talk s–t, talk s–t to my face.”

“We won. The ‘W’ is next to my name. They’re in last place,” Giolito added.

Giolito is not the first pitcher Donaldson has gone after since the MLB announced their crackdown on illegal substances. Earlier in June, he called out Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for a decreasing spin rate since the scandal came to light.

Giolito is not the first pitcher Donaldson has gone after since the MLB announced their crackdown on illegal substances. Earlier in June, he called out Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for a decreasing spin rate since the scandal came to light.

“Is it coincidence that Gerrit Cole’s spin rate numbers went down (Thursday) after four minor-leaguers got suspended for 10 games?” Donaldson told The Athletic. “Is that possible? I don’t know. Maybe. At the same time, with this situation, they’ve let guys do it.”

Giolito’s spin rate has dropped since the league announced the crackdown, so it will be interesting to see if anything comes of this feud.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

The 22-year-old Hawks star provided one of the most disrespectful moments of the NBA playoffs Wednesday night when, after being left alone for a wide-open three, he provided a brief shoulder shimmy before taking the shot.

The shot went in – and quickly went viral.

“I had a lot of time,” Young said, smiling, after the game. “I had a lot of time, and I was kind of tired, so I got a little second to get a deep breath and knock it down.”

His superstar opponent on the other side was less than thrilled by it. During the next time out, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was seen on camera chiding his teammates over the shimmy and mimicking it. Milwaukee would then rally to take the lead – but the Hawks ended up pulling out a 116-113 victory.

Young scored 48 points in the game, and became the first player in NBA history to log 45+ points and 10+ assists in a conference finals game.

After the game, the shimmy heard ’round the world was a popular topic of conversation among Young’s Hawks teammates.

“I was like wow, he’s going to make that, too?” Clint Capela said. “When it splashed, I was like, oh wow.”

“I’m not doing that in the conference finals,” Kevin Huerter said. “That might be the second game of the year next year. That’s not me.”

Young did well to establish himself as a villain in the Hawks’ first round series against the Knicks, when “F–k Trae Young” chants broke out at Madison Square Garden. As his origin story continues, it’s hard to imagine the fans at Fiserv Forum will be any less hostile.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

The mercurial official became a highly visible part of the Western Conference Finals showdown, which the Suns won 104-103 on a last-second alley-oop.

The last minute of the game was slowed to a crawl by multiple lengthy reviews. First, as Suns star Devin Booker was dribbling the ball down the court, Clippers guard Patrick Beverley swatted the ball out of play. But a video replay changed the call, showing the ball barely touching Booker’s fingers as it went out of bounds.

By the letter of the law, the rule states that if the ball touches any part of an offensive player’s body last, it goes to the other team – even if the defensive player caused it. But it’s a mockery of common sense: Beverley clearly caused the ball to go out of bounds. Announcer Jeff Van Gundy proclaimed the call as “bad for the game.”

Perhaps it’s hard to fault Foster for making the technically-correct call, but the reviews kept coming. After Mikal Bridges missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer with under a second remaining, the Clippers’ Terrance Mann appeared to touch the ball out of bounds, giving the Suns one last chance to win the game.

Foster and his crew initiated another replay just to be sure. The Suns were out of time outs and the review gave plenty of time for Suns coach Monty Williams to consult with his team. After the lengthy replay, Jae Crowder perfectly lobbed an inbounds pass to Deandre Ayton, who slammed it home for the game winner.

An awesome play, but one the team technically shouldn’t have had time to draw up. Then, for one last bit of poetry, Foster initiated a review to determine how much time was left on the clock after Ayton’s slam. Players had already stormed onto the court, and the review took several moments as they ushered people off.

It all culminated in a thrilling final minute of a game made less so by the constant stoppages and momentum-killers.

“Adam Silver [has] gotta do something about these reviews,” the Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor tweeted. “Hire however many people it takes to make the process go quicker. Casual NBA fans just tune out. To make them hardcore fans, there can’t be these long reviews. And stop rewarding players who flop and whine. Ruins the product.

“Suns-Clippers was an unbelievable game, aside from the reviews. I loved watching it, but as a hardcore fan, I choose to deal with the downsides. Casual fans just tune out. You want them to watch and stick around? Make the product better. No one wants to watch Scott Foster.”

Foster, already one of the NBA’s biggest villains, certainly didn’t help his case Tuesday night, either.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

In the clip, Brady – who will be a guest on Friday’s episode – was recalling his 2020 free-agency journey when he threw serious shade at a team who pursued him, but decided to stick with their incumbent quarterback instead.

“One of the teams, they weren’t interested at the very end. I was thinking, ‘You’re sticking with that motherf–ker?’” Brady says in the clip.

The question on everyone’s mind is: who is the “motherf–ker” in question? Based on what we know about Brady’s free-agency courtship – which ended with him signing with the Buccaneers – we can narrow it down to a few suspects:

Jimmy Garoppolo

Twitter really seems to think Brady’s former teammate and one-time heir apparent is the target of his scorn. The 49ers were linked to Brady throughout his search in 2020, and at one point there were rumors San Francisco was interested in moving Garoppolo to New England if they were able to land the future Hall of Famer.

Brady grew up in the Bay Area as a 49ers fan, and there was obvious mutual interest. So for his hometown team to then decide to stick with the guy the Patriots tried to replace him with a couple years earlier? One can understand why Brady would call him a “motherf–ker.”

Ryan Tannehill

The Titans were quite publicly in the running for Brady’s services. The quarterback has a close relationship with Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel, as they were former teammates with the Patriots. Vrabel was caught on camera FaceTimeing Brady at the Syracuse-North Carolina basketball game last March, just days before free agency began.

However, the Titans locked up Ryan Tannehill on March 17, three days before Brady signed with the Buccaneers. It’s quite possible Brady used the phrase in jest to his friend Vrabel for going with the former Dolphins QB instead. You can’t really blame him: Tannehill was unquestionably excellent in 2019, leading Tennessee to the AFC Championship game, and followed it up with another playoff season in 2020.

Mitch Trubisky

A surprise piece of news came out right around the beginning of the 2020 season, saying the Bears were one of the finalists for Brady’s services. Dan Patrick reported that Chicago was in the running until the very end, along with the Chargers and Buccaneers. The Bears ended up giving Mitch Trubisky one last year before letting him walk in 2021.

Could Trubisky be the “motherf–ker?” Bears fans have certainly called him similar things on more than one occasion, as the team infamously took him over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. The same report said Brady didn’t go to Chicago because he preferred not to play in cold weather, but one can imagine a world where the seven-time Super Bowl champion didn’t take the team seriously for its questionable quarterback decisions.

Drew Brees

A wild card was thrown into the equation on Tuesday morning, when ESPN’s “Get Up” had a panel discussing this very topic. Insider Jeff Darlington waited until the last possible moment to reveal that Brady nearly signed with one of the Bucs’ biggest rivals.

“I think that people still underestimate how close Tom Brady was to signing with the New Orleans Saints up until he ultimately decided on the Bucs,” Darlington said, per NESN. “I know that that’s gonna be a statement people try to question. It’s the truth.”

If Brady were indeed calling Brees a “motherf–ker,” it would be a term of endearment, as Brees is one of few QBs in NFL history that rivals Brady in terms of career accomplishments. But it’s an interesting revelation, and a fascinating what-if for the balance of power in the NFC South (and the NFL as a whole.)

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

Safety Kareem Jackson, who was Watson’s teammate with the Texans in 2017 and ’18 and now plays for the Broncos, went on Aqib Talib’s “Catchin’ Fades” podcast and revealed some new information about where the quarterback would like to play.

“I’ve got a great relationship with Deshaun,” Jackson said. “I’ve been talking to him the last couple of weeks, man, and like, all he’s been telling me is like, ‘Jack, just tell ’em, like, that’s where I want to be.’ … He’s like, ‘I want to be in Denver.’ “

Of course, there are countless obstacles in the way of a reunion between the two players. Watson is currently the subject of more than 20 lawsuits accusing the quarterback of sexual assault and misconduct. He has denied all of the allegations, but it could be months – if not longer – before the situation is sorted out.

Additionally, Watson is still under contract with the Texans after signing a four-year extension in 2020. Houston has maintained it has no interest in trading Watson.

The Broncos appear to be a quarterback away from being a contender, and Watson would certainly fit the bill. Their current signal callers, Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater, have reportedly struggled in their OTAs.

Aaron Rodgers, a quarterback whose staredown with his own front office has recently overshadowed Watson’s, has been linked to Denver as well.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

It appears now he is at best an old racehorse, as no one appears to be interested in his services.

The 25-year-old former Knick is reportedly on his way out with the Mavericks, but he still has at least two years left on his contract, with a player option for a third season. He is owed more than $31 million in 2021-22 and $33 million in 2022-23, and his player option goes up to $36 million in 2023-24.

It’s unclear if Dallas is officially shopping Porzingis, but there may not be any takers if so, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.

“The trouble here is that the Dallas Mavericks are facing a challenge to make massive changes to the roster. Porzingis has two seasons left, plus a player option for a third year left on his contract, and teams don’t want him if they try to trade him,” O’Connor said on Monday’s episode of “The Void.” “Mark Cuban denied previous reports that the Mavericks shopped Porzingis, but at the least, league sources have told me interest in Porzingis is minimal.

“Teams are scared off by the money, the health and possibly his diminishing production, and because of the picks owed to the Knicks, Dallas can’t deal another first-round pick until at least 2025. Not only that, aside from Jalen Brunson, Dallas’s young players haven’t shown much, so the team has limited trading power in terms of its draft picks and players.”

Porzingis has also reportedly had “dust-ups” with Mavericks star Luka Doncic. He appeared to be unsure of his future with the team after it lost in seven games to the Clippers last week, saying “good question” when asked how he thinks he fits with the team going forward.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

The 40-year-old was at a press conference coming off a first-round loss to Ekaterina Alexandrova at Roland Garros, and was asked how she coped with speaking to the media throughout her career. Osaka was originally fined for skipping her first post-match presser, and ended up withdrawing for the tournament as attention over her media boycott intensified.

“For me personally, how I cope, how I deal with it, was that I know every single person asking me a question can’t play as well as I can and never will,” Williams said. “So no matter what you say, or what you write, you’ll never light a candle to me.

“That’s how I deal with it. But each person deals with it differently.”

Osaka revealed she has suffered anxiety and “bouts of depression” since bursting onto the tennis scene with her win at the 2018 US Opener over Serena Williams. A large part of it has come as a result of dealing with scrutiny from the press. Many fellow pros have backed Osaka – including Venus’ sister, Serena – and the Grand Slam committee released a supportive statement on Tuesday after originally taking a much harsher tone.

Venus Williams’ reaction, however, might be the fan favorite so far – a true “mic drop” moment.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

Rodgers spoke publicly for the first time about his feelings towards the Packers franchise, which have reportedly soured to a point of no return since the 2020 season ended. He told Kenny Mayne – who was making his final appearance on the ESPN program – that his frustrations aren’t necessarily about the team drafting Jordan Love, but more how GM Brian Gutekunst handled things afterwards.

“With my situation, look it’s never been about the draft pick, picking Jordan,” Rodgers said. “I love Jordan; he’s a great kid. [We’ve had] a lot of fun to work together. Love the coaching staff, love my teammates, love the fan base in Green Bay. An incredible 16 years.

“It’s just kind of about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go. It’s about character, it’s about culture, it’s about doing things the right way.”

Through earlier reports, Rodgers has allegedly said he does not intend to return to the Packers, and while he didn’t exactly say he will never play for them again, he did confirm that he skipped the team’s OTAs this week.

Through his words, it did become clear that his annoyance is directed towards Gutekunst and the front office. He praised just about everyone else in the organization – stretching back for years.

“I think sometimes people forget what really makes an organization,” Rodgers said. “History is important, legacy of so many people who’ve come before you. But the people, that’s the most important thing. People make an organization, people make a business and sometimes that gets forgotten. Culture is built brick by brick, the foundation of it by the people, not by the organization, not by the building, not by the corporation. It’s built by the people.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to play with a number of amazing, amazing people and got to work for some amazing people as well. It’s those people that build the foundation of those entities. I think sometimes we forget that.”

The question now becomes whether or not Rodgers will report to the Packers at all. Their mandatory minicamp will take place in June, and the reigning MVP will be fined nearly $100,000 for not showing up, per ESPN. If he misses training camp, it’s $50,000 per day.

The Packers appear committed to Gutekunst, who has maintained that he will not trade Rodgers. If one side cracks, it will be interesting to see who does so first.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

The incident is purported to have happened early Thursday morning, when three of his dogs, including a Rotweiler, escaped his home in Frisco, Texas. The dogs then allegedly bit two bystanders, who were taken to the hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The report says Elliott was issued three counts of “Dog at Large” violations, one for each dog, and police have launched an investigation into the Cowboys star.

It’s not the first time the 25-year-old’s dogs have gotten him into hot water. In 2020, his dogs allegedly attacked a pool cleaner, who sued him for more than $200,000.

The case is still playing out, and Elliott’s lawyer has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

The Falcons’ star receiver has been rumored to be on the trading block for weeks, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reporting the interest around the NFL Draft and NBC Sports’ Peter King following the report up in early May.

A new report in The Athletic confirmed the sentiment, while also laying out some harsh realities for the Falcons that got them to the point where they must consider trading the future Hall of Famer.

Atlanta is in a major cap crunch, even after cutting a number of veterans and restructuring quarterback Matt Ryan’s contract to push money into the future. According to Over The Cap, they are less than a half million dollars under the cap, and they have yet to sign any of their draft picks.

They likely will need around another $8 million to do so, and trading Julio Jones would free up the cap space they need to sign those picks, which include stud tight end prospect Kyle Pitts.

The Athletic reported that their only other option to free up cap space would be through defensive tackle Grady Jarrett’s contract, who is another one of the team’s best players. They could restructure him or give him an extension, but they already pushed money into the future with Ryan and GM Terry Fontenot would prefer not to add to it.

The report mentioned that the market for Jones’ services could be limited due to his $23 million cap hit and recent injury history, but that the Ravens, 49ers, Patriots, Colts and Chargers would all make sense as targets. Any trade would likely need to be a post-June 1 designation, as Jones’ cap hit can be split over two seasons after that point. The Falcons will be looking for a first-round pick, but may be unlikely to get it.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

In the days after manager Tony La Russa ripped Yermin Mercedes for hitting a home run on a 3-0 pitch he was told to take while up 15-4 – then said he “didn’t have a problem” with the Twins throwing at him in retaliation – the 76-year-old doubled down on his stance against breaking baseball’s “unwritten rules.”

“Do you think you need more [runs] to win, you keep pushing,” he said, via Bob Nightengale. “If you think you have enough, respect the game and opposition. Sportsmanship.”

La Russa added, “If you’re going to tell me that sportsmanship and respect for the game of baseball and respect for your opponent is not an important priority, then I can’t disagree with you more.”

It became very clear that his players disagreed. Pitcher Lance Lynn made it clear after Tuesday’s game, telling 670 The Score that “there are no rules” when a position player is pitching and “the more I play this game, the more those (unwritten) rules have gone away.”

La Russa’s response?

“Lance has a locker. I have an office. … I don’t agree.”

If La Russa was hoping his other players would back him, he would be wrong. White Sox star Tim Anderson has taken to multiple social media to express his support for Mercedes, posting on an Instagram (captured via screengrab on Twitter): “The game wasn’t over! Keep doing you big daddy.”

Mercedes responded with, “Yes sir, let’s do it baby!”

Anderson also appeared to back up the 28-year-old catcher by tweeting, “don’t see and don’t hear… keep pushing.”

Mercedes came back with, “Yeah, yeah brotha.”

La Russa was a surprising choice to manage the young White Sox in the offseason, as he had not managed professionally since 2011 with the Cardinals. His old-school mentality was always viewed as an odd fit with the Sox’s young roster, and he was also arrested for DUI around the exact time he was hired, generating more controversy.

It appears those concerns are playing out before our eyes, as La Russa appears to be on the verge of losing the locker room.

The White Sox still sit atop in the American League at 25-16 despite the whirlwind of drama surrounding their manager.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

In the ninth inning of the White Sox’s victory over the Twins on Monday night, position player Willians Astudillo was on the mound with Minnesota trailing 15-4. On a 3-0 count, rookie Yermin Mercedes swung at a 47 mph pitch from Astudillo, and launched it over the fence for his sixth home run of the season.

Chicago’s 76-year-old manager Tony La Russa – baseball’s elder statesman and premier traditionalist – was none too pleased with Mercedes’ choice to swing at the pitch.

“Big mistake,” La Russa said on Tuesday, per ESPN. “The fact that he’s a rookie, and excited, helps explain why he just was clueless. But now he’s got a clue.”

“I was upset because that’s not a time to swing 3-0. I knew the Twins knew I was upset. … He missed a 3-0 take sign. With that kind of lead, that’s just sportsmanship and respect for your opponent.”

Ah yes, the “unwritten rules” we hear so much about in baseball. Don’t flip your bat, don’t admire a home run, don’t swing up 3-0 with a healthy lead. In other words, don’t have fun on the baseball field. (Curiously missing from these rules: don’t publicly ridicule one of your young star players in the media.)

“I’m going to play like that. I’m Yermin. I can’t be another person because if I change it, everything is going to change. … We’re just having fun. It’s baseball,” Mercedes said.

On Tuesday night, Twins pitcher Matt Duffey retaliated by throwing a fastball behind Mercedes when he came up to bat, resulting in his ejection. In other words, he threw a hard object at a dangerous speed at another human being for having fun on the baseball field.

Asked about the Twins incident after the game, La Russa said, per NBC Sports Chicago: “I don’t have a problem with how the Twins handled it.” Yes, La Russa had no problem with an opposing pitcher whipping a fastball at one of his players, because, the rules that are not in the rulebook.

That came one day after Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar was beaned in the face accidentally in a frightening and bloody scene.

MLB has tried a variety of ways to make the game more accessible over the past few years, trying to make the games shorter by limiting mound visits and imposing seven-inning double headers. However, some see La Russa’s outdated mentality as part of the issue the sport still faces.

Even pitchers around the sport backed Mercedes in the fight against baseball’s unwritten rules.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

Jones went on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Thursday to discuss the Packers’ offseason, and was predictably asked several questions about Aaron Rodgers, who reportedly wants out of Green Bay. In a bit of a twist, Jones dished on Rodgers’ surprisingly close relationship with Jordan Love, the quarterback the Packers drafted to replace him (and has ostensibly been the source of Rodgers’ discontent).

“You see him working with Jordan every day, all day, trying to teach him as much as he can,” Jones said. “That’s the cool thing about A-Rod.

“Maybe it might be a play, and what he saw if it was the first read or the second read or the third read, maybe a little bit on the mechanics side of it, he just goes into so many different things. Or, it could be the sound of the cadence, trying to get them jumping off sides, little things. He’s just trying to better the players around him, truly.”

Rodgers has reportedly been frustrated with Packers GM Brian Gutekunst for many reasons, one of them being the Love draft pick. According to Jones, though, his frustration hasn’t stopped him from getting close to his heir apparent.

Jones said he had been in touch with Rodgers when he signed his deal, and that Rodgers had also checked in on him at another point in the offseason. As for whether or not the reigning MVP will return to the Packers in 2021, however, Jones is just as in the dark as everyone else.

“I’m just sitting back, I see what everybody else sees, I haven’t heard from Aaron or anybody so I’m going to wait until I get up to Green Bay and see for myself or hear it from him myself,” Jones said. “I don’t get caught up in reading articles and things like that, I’ll just wait until it plays out and control what I can control.”

“We all want A-Rod back in Green Bay, I think that’s obvious. He’s a great leader, a great player, and a great person off the field, just somebody to learn from. He probably believes in you more than you believe in yourself when you first come in. He just helps players develop. I love having him around, and I hope he continues to be my quarterback.”

“So what the hell is happening?” Eisen asked Jones. He responded aptly:

“I have no clue.”

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton

Bridgewater was a guest on the “All Things Covered” podcast with Patrick Peterson and Bryant McFadden, and shared some interesting parting thoughts about the Panthers and offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

“One of the things we didn’t do much of when I was there, we didn’t practice 2-minute really, we didn’t practice red zone,” Bridgewater said on the show.

“We didn’t practice on Fridays, but we would walk through the red zone stuff, and Saturday we would come out and practice red zone. But you would only get 15 live reps.”

Darnold’s failures with the Jets were somewhat linked to the incompetence of fired head coach Adam Gase. Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady has been touted as a guru that could help reinvigorate Darnold’s career, though Bridgewater’s comments are not promising.

“I’ll just say this, for Joe Brady’s growth they’ll have to practice different things in different ways,” Bridgewater said.

The comments surprised McFadden, who mentioned that most teams do a whole day on red zone. Bridgewater clarified that a lot of it was to keep guys healthy, and reiterated that he didn’t want to throw anyone under the bus.

Unsurprisingly, however, Carolina was 28th in the NFL in red zone efficiency, scoring touchdowns on just 50.88 percent of their trips in 2020. Bridgewater threw just 15 touchdowns on the season, compared to 11 interceptions.

Brady has been one of the hot names in the NFL coaching circuit, but this is a questionable piece of information about his strategy.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton