Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>New England PatriotsQuick-hit thoughts and notes around the and NFL:1. Closer look at 2019: One of the hot-button questions after quarterback s free-agent departure to the is how much the Patriots' offensive struggles last season were a result of subpar weapons around him -- or more because of Brady himself.Pro Football Reference's approximate value (AV) metric, which puts a single number on the seasonal value of a player at any position from any year, supports those who lean toward a lack of talent around Brady.Player , PositionAV, WR10, RB7,...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>New England PatriotsQuick-hit thoughts and notes around the and NFL:1. Closer look at 2019: One of the hot-button questions after quarterback s free-agent departure to the is how much the Patriots' offensive struggles last season were a result of subpar weapons around him -- or more because of Brady himself.Pro Football Reference's approximate value (AV) metric, which puts a single number on the seasonal value of a player at any position from any year, supports those who lean toward a lack of talent around Brady.Player , PositionAV, WR10, RB7,...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The ' home opener against the on Monday night has been postponed, as coronavirus cases continue to pop up among the team.Eight more players and two coaches with the Marlins have tested positive for the coronavirus, as an outbreak has spread throughout their clubhouse and brought the total cases in recent days to at least 14, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.The Marlins remain in Philadelphia and continue to undergo testing after their weekend series there. Baltimore general manager Mike Elias confirmed that the game in Miami was...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The ' home opener against the on Monday night has been postponed, as coronavirus cases continue to pop up among the team.Eight more players and two coaches with the Marlins have tested positive for the coronavirus, as an outbreak has spread throughout their clubhouse and brought the total cases in recent days to at least 14, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.The Marlins remain in Philadelphia and continue to undergo testing after their weekend series there. Baltimore general manager Mike Elias confirmed that the game in Miami was...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>general manager Jared Porter sent explicit, unsolicited texts and images to a female reporter in 2016, culminating with a picture of an erect, naked penis, according to a copy of the text history obtained by ESPN.The woman, a foreign correspondent who had moved to the United States to cover Major League Baseball, said at one point she ignored more than 60 messages from Porter before he sent the final lewd photo. The text relationship started casually before Porter, then the director of professional scouting, began complimenting her appearance,...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>general manager Jared Porter sent explicit, unsolicited texts and images to a female reporter in 2016, culminating with a picture of an erect, naked penis, according to a copy of the text history obtained by ESPN.The woman, a foreign correspondent who had moved to the United States to cover Major League Baseball, said at one point she ignored more than 60 messages from Porter before he sent the final lewd photo. The text relationship started casually before Porter, then the director of professional scouting, began complimenting her appearance,...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>EXCLUSIVE CONTENTplayed in his 14th conference championship game , and two weeks from now he'll play in his 10th Super Bowl. Bill Belichick, still stuck on 13 and 9, was watching from home Sunday and won't be coaching in . If you're among those inclined to take the Brady side in the Brady vs. Belichick debate, this qualifies as significant supporting evidence.If you're inclined toward common sense, you realize it's not.The debate, such as it is, seeks to determine which actor was most important in the staggering two-decade run of success the had...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>EXCLUSIVE CONTENTplayed in his 14th conference championship game , and two weeks from now he'll play in his 10th Super Bowl. Bill Belichick, still stuck on 13 and 9, was watching from home Sunday and won't be coaching in . If you're among those inclined to take the Brady side in the Brady vs. Belichick debate, this qualifies as significant supporting evidence.If you're inclined toward common sense, you realize it's not.The debate, such as it is, seeks to determine which actor was most important in the staggering two-decade run of success the had...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- quarterback expressed his gratitude on Monday to the fan base, whose donations have reached $360,000 to one of his favorite charities."Appreciate that Bills Mafia," Jackson . "Means a lot not to only me but those kids as well."The outpouring of support to the "Blessings in a Backpack" Louisville chapter began Saturday night, after the Bills' 17-3 victory over the visiting Ravens in their AFC divisional playoff game, during which the reigning NFL MVP was ruled out late in the third quarter with a concussion.As of Monday,...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- quarterback expressed his gratitude on Monday to the fan base, whose donations have reached $360,000 to one of his favorite charities."Appreciate that Bills Mafia," Jackson . "Means a lot not to only me but those kids as well."The outpouring of support to the "Blessings in a Backpack" Louisville chapter began Saturday night, after the Bills' 17-3 victory over the visiting Ravens in their AFC divisional playoff game, during which the reigning NFL MVP was ruled out late in the third quarter with a concussion.As of Monday,...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The past few days have been a reminder -- not to go all serious on you -- of our own eventual mortality. will hold a news conference today to announce he has , as his second neck surgery in three years ends his career at age 32. This is indestructible Prince, the man who once missed just 13 games over eight seasons and just one over a five-year stretch. How can his career be over already? It doesn't seem right.Fielder will finish with 319 home runs, the same number as his father. Cecil Fielder was another larger-than-life figure, a player who...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The past few days have been a reminder -- not to go all serious on you -- of our own eventual mortality. will hold a news conference today to announce he has , as his second neck surgery in three years ends his career at age 32. This is indestructible Prince, the man who once missed just 13 games over eight seasons and just one over a five-year stretch. How can his career be over already? It doesn't seem right.Fielder will finish with 319 home runs, the same number as his father. Cecil Fielder was another larger-than-life figure, a player who...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>When president Gersson Rosas set about assembling a front-office staff in Minnesota in 2019, he was insistent that the group include a doctor who specialized in medicine and technology. Rosas was looking for someone analytical who could help the Timberwolves use data to optimize the health of players.Rosas eventually hired Dr. Robby Sikka, who has a background in anesthesiology, sports medicine research and returning to play after injury."Whenever I got a job, that was the type of guy that I wanted in my front office," Rosas said. "He allows us...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>When president Gersson Rosas set about assembling a front-office staff in Minnesota in 2019, he was insistent that the group include a doctor who specialized in medicine and technology. Rosas was looking for someone analytical who could help the Timberwolves use data to optimize the health of players.Rosas eventually hired Dr. Robby Sikka, who has a background in anesthesiology, sports medicine research and returning to play after injury."Whenever I got a job, that was the type of guy that I wanted in my front office," Rosas said. "He allows us...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The fired general manager Jared Porter on Tuesday, a day after to a female reporter in 2016 while working for the Chicago Cubs in their front office.Owner that the Mets "have terminated Jared Porter this morning," less than 12 hours after ESPN's Mina Kimes and Jeff Passan reported that Porter sent graphic uninvited text messages and images to the reporter."In my initial press conference I spoke about the importance of integrity and I meant it," Cohen tweeted. "There should be zero tolerance for this type of behavior."Mets president Sandy...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The fired general manager Jared Porter on Tuesday, a day after to a female reporter in 2016 while working for the Chicago Cubs in their front office.Owner that the Mets "have terminated Jared Porter this morning," less than 12 hours after ESPN's Mina Kimes and Jeff Passan reported that Porter sent graphic uninvited text messages and images to the reporter."In my initial press conference I spoke about the importance of integrity and I meant it," Cohen tweeted. "There should be zero tolerance for this type of behavior."Mets president Sandy...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>A federal judge in North Carolina has granted partial judgment in his lawsuit against a former marketing agent who sued the star for $100 million in damages claiming breach of contract.In Wednesday's ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Loretta C. Biggs voided Williamson's marketing agreement with Gina Ford and Prime Sports Marketing because it didn't meet the requirements of North Carolina's Uniform Athlete Agents Act.Specifically, Biggs ruled that Williamson was a student-athlete at when he engaged with Ford's company; he had not been declared...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>A federal judge in North Carolina has granted partial judgment in his lawsuit against a former marketing agent who sued the star for $100 million in damages claiming breach of contract.In Wednesday's ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Loretta C. Biggs voided Williamson's marketing agreement with Gina Ford and Prime Sports Marketing because it didn't meet the requirements of North Carolina's Uniform Athlete Agents Act.Specifically, Biggs ruled that Williamson was a student-athlete at when he engaged with Ford's company; he had not been declared...WW…