Joe Mazzulla declares Payton Pritchard will be key to Jayson Tatum-led Celtics' success originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
When you lose a key player in the offseason, the question remains: who fills that production hole? The Boston Celtics do not seem to worry about this conundrum at all. With Jaylen Brown gone, they have filled all the gaps by committee. Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman get to play both ends with hustle. Paul George still has that fringe NBA All-Star quality and can shoot the lights out. However, Coach Joe Mazzulla is looking at a key player. It's none other than Payton Pritchard. The Celtics head coach has all the belief in their guard and even noted specific traits that will make him helpful to the squad led by Jayson Tatum.
For a long time, a few monoliths have described Payton Pritchard. He's been seen as the Celtics' offensive spark plug, or the guy you give the ball to in the clutch. Now, he will be up for bigger roles in Coach Joe Mazzulla's system due to the Jaylen Brown trade.
There are obviously a lot of doubts about Pritchard. Much of it stems from the fact that he's an undersized guard and the running belief that he could be a defensive liability. Coach Mazzulla does not think that way at all. In fact, the Celtics head honcho outlined what made their veteran guard special. Those same traits could also make a big difference on a team centered around Jayson Tatum, according to Jay King of The Athletic.
"He just plays with a chip on his shoulder, but doesn't have an ego. And I think that's a balance that's difficult for people to be able to have. Like, if you tell him he's starting, if you tell him he's coming off the bench, if you tell him he's playing 20 (minutes), if you tell him he's playing 30, the chip on his shoulder never changes. He doesn't need the affirmation to be an elite competitor. And so I think a coach that gives you the freedom to just do what makes the most sense at that particular time," the Celtics head coach declared.

#payton #tatum #guard

Valkyries' Gabby Williams shows support for Warriors before WNBA Finals Game 2 appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Golden State Valkyries have been on fire as of late, as their 68-64 win in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream marks their fifth-consecutive victory in the playoffs — putting them to within just three wins away of a championship in just their second season of existence. At the very least, the Valkyries' existence is keeping the good basketball vibes alive in the Bay Area now that the Golden State Warriors are on the decline.
Game 2 of the Valkyries' Finals clash against the Dream will be on Monday night at 8:00 PM E.T.; during their off-day on Sunday, the Valkyries' biggest star from Game 1, Gabby Williams, was in attendance for the Warriors' open practice ahead of the start of their new campaign on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Gary Payton II 🤝 Gabby Williams
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#state

NFL fans are in a tizzy trying to figure out if CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson smacked Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen on the ******* after their on the field interview after the Bills win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6.
We can't see exactly where her tap landed because the camera shows us only the front of both of them. It is also worth noting that she is considerably shorter than he is so the slap may not have been intended for the ******* but landed there.
Regardless, it is an odd look on the same week that Charissa Thompson was kissed by Broncos Coach Sean Payton in a pregame exchange likely not intended for the camera and millions of eyes to see.
MORE: 49ers reporter accuses competitor of hugging players too much
Dec 15, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) talks with CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson after the Bills win over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

#allen #detroit #credit #reuters

Jessi Draper officiated her sister Kiera Draper Lewis' two wedding ceremonies to Payton Lewis
The couple were legally married in early August before their destination wedding in Tuscany, Italy, later that month
The second ceremony included a blood-sharing ritual
Jessi Draper officiated her younger sister's wedding — twice!
Kiera Draper Lewis and Payton Lewis were legally married by The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 34, on Aug. 1, ahead of their destination wedding in Tuscany, Italy, on Aug. 26. Jessi also officiated the second ceremony, but this time the couple exchanged more than just vows.

#payton #couple

ESPN's Adam Schefter dropped a bombshell just before the Denver Broncos' matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on "Monday Night Football", reporting that some members of the Broncos staff explored the idea of bringing in former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees for the AFC Championship Game in January.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton didn't know Denver's then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive ***** istant Pete Carmichael were talking about Brees joining the team after Bo Nix suffered an injury in the Broncos' overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional round.
The Broncos were set to turn to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham to lead the offense against a stiff New England Patriots defense in snowy conditions at Empower Field at Mile High.
Denver wasn't sure if Brees would make the start over Stidham, a 2019 fourth-round pick by the Patriots who had only made four career starts before the AFC championship.
A Broncos source told Schefter that Brees was confident he knew how to win that type of contest.

#Broncos #denver #round

If you thought Philip Rivers' return to become the Colts' starting quarterback last season was a shocking development, Purdue football great Drew Brees reportedly discussed an even more improbable return.
ESPN reported Brees and Denver Broncos coaches discussed Brees returning to play for the franchise in last year's AFC Championship Game. The Broncos lost quarterback Bo Nix to an ankle injory in their AFC Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Brees, 47, had not played a game since his retirement from the New Orleans Saints after the 2020 season. According to ESPN, he wanted to work out prior to making any commitments. After doing so, he said he encountered wrist pain and decided against pursuing a return.
ESPN's report said even Broncos coach Sean Payton -- Brees' coach with the Saints -- did not know of the discussions until the summer.
The Broncos instead went with their actual backup, Jarret Stidham, in a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots.

#espn #saints #quarterback #discussed

It looks like the Denver Broncos were this close to seeing their 2025 season take an eye-popping turn. On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees had considered coming out of retirement to join the Broncos in the postseason last year.
Per Schefter, Brees had conversations with the team's then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive ****** istant Pete Carmichael about the quarterback potentially playing in the AFC championship. The Broncos had lost starting QB Bo Nix to a broken ankle in the final plays of the divisional win over the Buffalo Bills, leaving an opening at QB1 that was being filled by backup Jarrett Stidham.
The 47-year-old Brees said that he wanted to work out first to see how his body was doing, but "discomfort" in Brees' wrist led him to turn down the offer, per Schefter.
Lombardi and Carmichael, along with Broncos head coach Sean Payton, all worked with Brees during his time with the New Orleans Saints. However, Payton only heard about the plot to entice Brees back to the NFL this offseason, with the plan leaving him "both fascinated and flabbergasted," per Schefter
However, Denver maybe could have used Brees in the ****** le game, as the team lost 10-7 to the New England Patiotrs; Stidham made crucial mistakes in the loss.

#brees

Drew Brees went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, but he considered coming out of retirement with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. The former New Orleans Saints quarterback explored joining the Denver Broncos ahead of January's AFC Championship Game, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
The conversations followed Bo Nix's fractured ankle in Denver's Jan. 17 playoff victory over the Buffalo Bills. Then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive **** istant Pete Carmichael, two of Brees' longtime coaches in New Orleans, contacted him about a potential return.
Brees had turned 47 just two days before Nix was injured. He wanted to test his body before committing to a comeback, but wrist discomfort during his workout ended the possibility, Schefter reported.
The initial talks happened without Sean Payton's involvement. Lombardi and Carmichael first wanted to see whether Brees was interested, and Payton didn't learn about their conversations until the offseason, according to Schefter.
Had Brees felt ready to return, Denver would've signed him and evaluated whether he or Jarrett Stidham would start, Schefter noted. One Broncos source explained to ESPN how the team viewed the possibility: "At a minimum, you sign (Brees), he's 1A or 1B. And Drew's point was: 'I know how to win a game like that.'"

#brees #orleans #Broncos

The Denver Broncos were in a desperate situation entering the 2026 AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. With starting quarterback Bo Nix injured and missing the game, the team reportedly reached out to Hall of Famer Drew Brees to see if he was interested in what could have been one of the most surreal moments in the sport's history.
The Broncos had homefield advantage, but were dealt a cruel blow with Nix breaking his ankle late in their Divisional Round overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. Backup Jarrett Stidham started the game and in blizzard-like conditions, could only muster seven points as the Patriots won 10-7 to advance to the Super Bowl.
But what if it was one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time under center for the Broncos that day?
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Broncos did indeed reach out to Drew Brees to gauge his interest in an improbable comeback. Considering that Sean Payton coaches the Broncos and the pairing is one of the most successful in NFL history while winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints, it's easy to see why Denver made the call. Brees and Payton are the second-winningest QB/Coach combo in NFL history, only behind Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
Of course, there would have been one major obstacle to overcome. Drew Brees had just turned 47 and hadn't played a competitive NFL game since January 17, 2021 in a playoff loss to Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Brees wouldn't have been alone in making an incredible return as Philip Rivers had come out of five years of retirement to play three games for the injury-plagued Indianapolis Colts. While Rivers went 0-3 as a starter, he completed 63% of his passes and threw 4 TDs to 3 INTS.

#super #payton

The Kansas City Chiefs are welcoming the Denver Broncos for the season opener, a "Monday Night Football" battle between AFC West contenders. Head coach Andy Reid is looking to bring his team back to the playoffs after a 6-11 record last year, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be making his triumphant return from knee surgery last December.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton's team is the reigning AFC West champion, finishing last season 14-3 and losing in the AFC Championship. Quarterback Bo Nix is recovered from fracturing his ankle in the Divisional round win, looking to lead the Broncos into Arrowhead Stadium and pull an upset. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Chiefs are 2.5-point favorites.
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#west #quarterback #coach

Celtics rumors: Payton Pritchard contract extension could reach $22 million annually appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
On the heels of trading Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics could bet on Payton Pritchard to help fill the void left in the wake of the All-NBA forward's departure. Pritchard's expected to ascend following Brown's shocking exit, which should lead to a significant pay raise.
With two years left on his four-year, $30 million contract, Pritchard is in line for a hefty contract extension, according to Boston Globe's Gary Washburn.
"If you look at the salaries, Payton is next in line, and I think he's one of the league's bigger bargains," Washburn said. "He's making $7.7 [million] this year, $8.3 [million] in 27-28. He's due an extension that's going to be about $22 million a year. And I think it could be what he decides to produce this year, but I also think he has shown enough where you do give him that $22 million per year. That's still, in today's NBA, a very tradable contract.
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#million #payton

Maryland basketball: Buzz Williams, Terrapins land 1st 2027 recruit in exciting guard appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Maryland Terrapins are coming off their first season under new head coach Buzz Williams, a season in which they finished 12-21 overall, 4-16 in the Big Ten Conference and missed the NCAA tournament for the third time in five years. As Williams is tasked with building up his program, Maryland landed their first recruit of the class of 2027 with a commitment from point guard Payton Jones, as per Joe Tipton of On3 and Rivals.
Payton Jones' commitment gives Maryland a top-60 recruit and one of the best guard prospects in the country. The Texas native will play his senior year in high school at Dynamic Prep while joining the Terrapins for the 2027-28 season.
For Jones, his budding relationship with the Maryland coaching staff was a big reason why he made the decision to commit.
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#clutchpoints

When the NFL released its season schedule in May, the league's calculated risk flashed.
In a vacuum, scheduling the Denver Broncos to face the Kansas City Chiefs for the "Monday Night Football" season opener made perfect sense. Two competitive teams with star quarterbacks and Super Bowl-winning coaches playing a division game? The intrigue was obvious.
But zoom out, and zoom back to May: The schedule-makers were banking on answers yet undelivered. The Chiefs' quarterback, two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes, was still rehabilitating from tearing his left ACL and LCL on Dec. 14. The Broncos' quarterback, Bo Nix, had undergone one surgery after a Jan. 17 ankle fracture and another in April to clean up bone spurs.
Neither injury seemed likely to threaten the quarterbacks' careers. But starting Week 1? Back in May, banking on that was more optimistic than certain.
Fast forward to now, and both Nix and Mahomes are on track to start Monday night after fully participating in their respective training camps. Nix dissolved concerns about his limitations early in camp when throwing a 48-yard pass on the run, Broncos head coach Sean Payton told Yahoo Sports. Nix also played in the preseason.

#chiefs #season #quarterbacks

The Denver Broncos have named their team captains for the 2026 season and, in doing so, have followed the same approach that they took in the offseason: sticking with what worked.
The Broncos made few changes to their roster this offseason, believing the group in place was good enough to win a Super Bowl and wanted to keep as much of that intact as possible. The same can be said for the team captains.
The Broncos chose the same eight team captains that they had last season, with one addition. Special teams ace and reserve safety Devon Key was added as a special teams captain.
"He was a[n All-Pro] special teamer a year ago, and I think it's the respect of his teammates," coach Sean Payton said of Key being voted a captain. "He's someone that he'll play on defense as well, but just his production I think and his consistency."
Denver quarterback Bo Nix echoed his coach's remarks.

#season

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Notre Dame tight end James Flanigan knew exactly how he wanted to celebrate scoring his first career touchdown in the stadium where his father and grandfather played.
Flanigan's father and grandfather, both named Jim Flanigan, each played for the Green Bay Packers. After scoring on a 3-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter of No. 4 Notre Dame's 41-13 victory over Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, Flanigan pumped his fist in the air just as his dad used to do during his own playing days.
"I saw some clip of my dad, there's like this highlight reel out there I've watched before," Flanigan said. "I used to make fun of him for doing it, but now it's kind of become my thing, I guess. It's just super fun."
Flanigan's father also played at Notre Dame before launching a 10-year NFL career as a defensive tackle with the Chicago Bears (1994-2000), Packers (2001), San Francisco 49ers (2002) and Philadelphia Eagles (2003). He won the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2000.
Flanigan's grandfather, who died last year at the age of 80, played linebacker for the Packers from 1967-70 and New Orleans Saints in 1971. His 1967 Packers team won Super Bowl II.

#packers

Although the top choice as the most anticipated young player to watch was not MY choice, I applaud the outcome on this week's SBNation Reacts Poll all the same.
Because who isn't excited about a running game that could be revived by a rookie?
So Jonah Coleman it is as the top choice for favorite young player to watch.
No doubt we've been excited for this many seasons before. And it often depends on the scheme and how much an offensive play caller is willing to stick with the run game (ahem), but the preseason definitely brought us hope.
Even Sean Payton thinks the run game is ahead of where it has been.

#although #sbnation

Here at Over The Monster, we like to ask a topical question of the day; but on this dreary morning, we might as well be asking the question of the month. Very simply: If the Wild Card series started today, who would you want starting those three games?
Of course, the Wild Card series doesn't start today, and Red Sox haven't officially punched their ticket into the dance yet. But with FanGraphs giving them a 97.1 percent chance to make the playoffs and only 0.3 percent chance to win the division as of this morning, it seems pretty darn likely they're going to be playing baseball on September 29th (and playing it somewhere other than Fenway Park).
The Red Sox know this as well and have already reshuffled their rotation to pitch Sonny Gray on Saturday (September 5th) and Payton Tolle on Sunday (September 6th). With off days for the month already scheduled for the 10th, 14th, 17th, and 28th (assuming they make the playoffs), this means Gray and Tolle could pitch with an extra day of rest every start from here to the end of the year in a normal five man rotation and be perfectly lined up to pitch Game 1 and Game 2 of the Wild Card series. (September 11th and 12th against the Royals, September 17th and 18th against the Rangers and Rays, September 23rd and 24th against the Guardians, and September 29th and 30th against the Wild Card opponent.)
So the Red Sox have already told us who they believe will start the first two games of the playoffs indirectly, but third option is far more complex. Historically, Ranger Suarez would be the best man for the job. Not only did they just give him a $130 million contract in January, but he also has a 1.48 career ERA in the playoffs. However, the Sox might not be too pleased with the way he threw the ball in Sunday's start against the Yankees with the tiebreaker on the line, and they might not want to set things up that way again for a potential winner take all game on October 1st.
So what about tonight's starter Jake Bennett? He just might be pitching for a postseason starting job over the next few weeks. If he does well and ****** ody steps up, the Sox could end up sending a rookie to the mound to start and do or die game in Yankee Stadium for the second year in a row.

#game #might #series

The Baltimore Ravens announced the signing of offensive tackle A.J. Arcuri and tight end Nick Vannett to their practice squad on Tuesday.
Arcuri and Vannett completed the team's initial practice squad. However, veteran offensive lineman Chuma Edoga is expected to join the group after a successful workout on Wednesday, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The Ravens will have to clear a spot on Thursday to formalize the move, either by releasing a player or placing on on injured reserve.
Vannett, 33, has played for nine teams in his career, including a 18-month stint with the Saints in 2021 and 2022 while now-Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle was serving as an offensive ****** istant on Sean Payton's staff. Doyle became the Broncos' tight end coach in 2023, so he likely worked closely with Vannett in New Orleans.
The familiarity between the two likely brought about this reunion in Baltimore, where the Ravens are short on experienced tight ends. Rookies Matt Hibner, Josh Cuevas, and Ty Pezza (practice squad) all flashed as pass-catchers in the preseason, but left plenty to be desired in the run game. Vannett brings a decade of experience as a blocker, though he only appeared in 10 games last year (four for the Vikings, six for the Rams) with 131 total snaps.
Arcuri, 29, was a Rams seventh-round pick in 2022 who appeared in eight games as a rookie and two in 2024. The Michigan State product has only played left tackle during the regular season with a Week 12 start against the Chiefs during his rookie year, but he has taken snaps at left guard and right tackle in the preseason, per Pro Football Focus. Arcuri's experience in McVay's system aligns with what the Ravens have been prioritizing along their offensive line this year.

#arcuri #practice

Bring on Monday Night Football.
After setting their 53-man roster and 17-player practice squad, the Denver Broncos are now fully focused on preparing for their Week 1 road showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 14.
Denver swept Kansas City last season, but Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes missed one of those games due to injury, and KC is considered a favorite going into Week 1.
"We know we're playing a really good football team, a divisional opponent, Monday Night Football," Broncos coach Sean Payton said after practice. "It's not like Andy [Reid] and I have to go in and give our teams a pep talk. So you really focus on the process leading up to the game and how you handle the unique week that's ahead with the weekend, and then the bonus practice day Monday, and then the lead in.
"With a Monday night game, I spend more time thinking about the schedule to make sure that we're ramping up to play our best and it doesn't get stale because we're not playing on Sunday, if that makes any sense. But our players will know the significance of the first game, and I think it's the process and the details."

#practice #denver #kansas

The NBA world wants to see Stephen Curry continue contending for championships. Unfortunately for Curry, the Golden State Warriors are not considered competitive in the 2026-27 season. The Warriors retained their core from the previous season and did not add a new star player.
Golden State retained veteran big men Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Draymond Green. They also re-signed De'Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II on short-term deals. Guard Brandon Williams and seasoned forward Georges Niang joined the Warriors this summer.
Because of the team's near-passive offseason, former six-time NFL Pro Bowl star Chad Johnson suggested Curry should move on. On Tuesday's episode of "Nightcap," Johnson said the NBA star should end his career on a high note.
Apr 1, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) talks with guard Gary Payton II (0) during a timeout against the San Antonio Spurs in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
"Are you sure he's a one-jersey guy?" he said. "Knowing you don't have a chance, don't you want to finish your career with the opportunity to win a ring again? Why not end it on a high note? Golden State is not prepared to compete in the West, let alone win a championship."

#Warriors #star #gary #johnson

The Denver Broncos have set their 53-man roster, and all eyes are now set on Arrowhead Stadium for a Monday Night Football clash with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. But the news that Jonathon Cooper was placed on the commissioner's exempt list is a bit of a hurdle, even if it was expected.
Cooper will be unable to practice with or play in any games for the Broncos as long as he is under that status, raising a critical question: Do the Broncos have enough in the pass-rushing department?
Nik Bonitto remains one of the league's best pass-rusher, but the Broncos will have to turn to Jonah Elliss until Cooper is able to rejoin the team. Behind them, the only other edge rushers on the roster are Dondrea Tillman and second-year player Que Robinson.
Former Broncos star Von Miller was available for quite some time and many fans wanted to see that reunion. Instead, the Dallas Cowboys signed Miller. Should the Broncos consider another option before the season kicks off?
The Broncos led the league in sacks last season and were able to generate pressure from all over the defensive alignment. It's likely that coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph are highly confident in the players they have, but a veteran option should at least be considered.

#Broncos #cooper #option

Now that the dust has settled from NFL teams setting their 53-man rosters and creating their practice squads for the 2026 NFL season, we can start to look back at some of the moves that were made to get there.
For the Denver Broncos, what seemed like an easily predictable 53-man roster took some twists and turns in the final hours before the rosters needed to be locked in. Will the team regret any of those decisions?
Fans are never 100 percent in agreement with a team's front office, but teams aren't always right all of the time, either. In the NFL, there are often just as many bad moves in terms of personnel as good ones. Here, we'll take a look at some moves that could come back to bite general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton.
This was a predictable decision the moment the team used a fourth-round pick on Jonah Coleman, but aside from being smaller in stature and not playing special teams, there is no reason to cut Jaleel McLaughlin. Sadly, not playing special teams and being a victim of the numbers game caught up to him.
Payton made it clear that the team went with Tyler Badie over McLaughlin for his work on special teams. It's very reminiscent of when the Broncos moved on from another terrific undrafted running back, Phillip Lindsay, in favor of Mike Boone, who did next to nothing for the team.

#Broncos

Payton Tolle is one of the best stories of the 2026 season. A thoughtful prospect writer brought him to my attention early last year, knowing my affinity for a good four-seamer, a thick 'stache and a mien that would be equally at home on a small fishing boat off the coast of Bangor in 1890 as he is on a pitching mound. Tolle wears his emotions openly across his face and through his body; the joy, the devastation, the playfulness. To be pitching at the level that he is requires skill and effort, but part of Tolle's charm is the authenticity woven within all that baseball work. Maybe this won't resonate to anyone else, but there are a lot of guys who present as baseball players first and humans as a secondary classification. Tolle is distinctly a human playing baseball, and it's one of the highest compliments I can pay (see also: Gutierrez, Franklin or Wilhelmsen, Tom, among others).
It came as little surprise, then, when Tolle cited the Turnpike Troubadors as one of his favorite musical acts. There's the Oklahoma connection, of course, with both hailing from the Sooner State, but that same authenticity runs through every song Turnpike performs. And that's courtesy of Evan Felker, the band's lead singer and one of the finest songwriters of the generation.
No one here needs to read any more about the Seattle Mariners today. Honestly, we're all probably good for the rest of the year on consumption of Mariners content, but regardless of their record this is still a community, and community means continuing showing up for one another. In gratitude for you all, I offer a selection of some of my favorite Turnpike Troubadors lyrics and songs. I hope that in the ragged place baseball usually occupies, maybe they'll prompt that thrum of recognition in your chest that only good art can inspire.
"Come back from the dark somehow
Finally living in the here and now
No sign of a thundercloud following you
Don't take it personal, the world don't turn around you
Hold on to the moment like it's heaven passing through" – Heaven Passing Through
View Link

#good #troubadors

Tonight's game at Fenway Park was capital-B Baseball. Yesterday the Red Sox lost 16-1 to the Yankees in ways that were humiliating in line wit what losing to the Yankees naturally implies, especially around Labor Day. Just over a day later, they won as good a regular season game as you'll ever seen. It was a 9-8 extra innings walk-off after several comebacks against the Mariners generally but specifically Randy Arozarena, who had a Randy Arozarena Game, and overtook all of Boston's leads but the last one. The last one came on a Trevor Story single in the bottom of the 10th to end it. Before that, they played the hits: Mickey Gasper went deep again, because of course. Jarren Duran did too, because why not? Payton Tolle hugged a dude!
And yet all these feats were repeatedly and rudely refuted by the M's, not just Randy but Cal Raleigh, whose sleeves are too short and seemed to have put it out of reach at 8-5 in the 7th:
But no. The Sox would and could not be denied. Story didn't just have the hit to end it, he had the critical slap in the 8th to bring it within a run. After Aroldis did his thing in the top of the ninth (scare the ******* out of us while being objectively impressive but [redacted]) Roman Anthony came out and hit a leadoff triple and scored on a sac to left to tie it. Once the Sox dispatched the top of the 10th and came back up, they moved the fake runner to 3d and the M's walked 'em loaded and went to a 3-1 count before this happened:
"Nine-eight in 10." That's great stuff, Obie. I can't lie.

#went

16-1, Flemmingate, the whole Yankees nonsense? That's yesterday's news. Tonight (well in 30 minutes) the Sox will host the Mariners and look to get back on the schneid. It's Payton Tolle against George Kirby, pictured. Adley's sitting this one out. Here you go:

#whole

The Denver Broncos' initial 53-man roster came down to the wire, having cut down from 91 players to 53 on Sunday afternoon. There were several surprises from the initial roster, from cutting fan-favorite draft picks to veteran playmakers. We take a more in-depth look at the winners and losers from the first iteration of the 53-man roster.
Ehlinger made a push for the backup quarterback position against Jarrett Stidham this summer. Stidham ended up starting two of Denver's preseason contests, giving him a leg up on Ehlinger. What sealed Ehlinger's spot on the 53-man roster was his performance on Friday against the Minnesota Vikings. Ehlinger went 15-of-20 for 233 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. General manager George Paton said that the team "didn't want to lose him" after a very competitive summer.
McLaughlin was the "last decision we made," according to Paton in a post-cut presser. The writing began to be on the wall when the Broncos put McLaughlin on the practice squad in 2025. McLaughlin became expendable when the Broncos drafted Jonah Coleman in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft.
Conversely, Badie was named to the 53-man roster ahead of McLaughlin. Badie struggled in the preseason, but was one of those players who coach Sean Payton apparently couldn't live without. Badie saw action in 15 of Denver's games, so the trust is there. The fact that Badie made the roster in place of McLaughlin tells a story of the skill set difference between the players.
"Mr. Irrelevant" showed his potential throughout the preseason, making tackles and even forcing a fumble. One could have made a strong case for Murdock, who played his ***** off in camp and the preseason. He was calling plays for Vance Joseph's defense and was one of the biggest surprises of the entire cut process. Hopefully Murdock clears waivers and will be on the practice squad. He was a likeable player, with an even better story.

#made #players #paton

Denver, New England, Jacksonville, Chicago and Pittsburgh were among the NFL's biggest surprises in 2025. Carolina snuck into the playoffs on a Week 18 tiebreaker with a losing record. Many thought they'd improve, but each franchise overperformed based on early expectations and made the postseason. With that in mind, some might argue these teams are overrated entering 2026.
All six now face a harder road in 2026, whether from a brutal new schedule, an aging quarterback, injury attrition or a defense that can no longer paper over the same problems.
Here are the most overrated NFL teams that are headed for a worse win-loss record this fall.
MORE: 6 NFL teams most likely to improve their record in 2026
Head coach Sean Payton during the first quarter of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Buffalo Bills.

#teams

Last week, Denver Broncos head coach went scorched earth on FS1's Geoff Schwartz for his Bo Nix take on First Things First. After a few days of reflection, Payton addressed the situation once and for all after the Broncos' final preseason game, a win over the Minnesota Vikings on Friday night.
"That was crazy, wasn't it?" Payton said of the viral exchange. "I can't help myself, though. When I see something like that, I'm sorry. It's just, I have a pause and then it's like, 'What are you watching?' Just watch the tape."
Payton defended Nix once again, something he has found himself doing often since first drafting Nix in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. "Everything was the opposite of what he was saying and the worst part was he played at Oregon," Payton said of Schwartz.
Payton compared Schwartz's take with the first time he ever saw former Vikings stars Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson: It's completely different to see a player in-person than it is to watch a player on tape from the comfort of your home. Payton took one last shot at Schwartz in his post-game remarks. "You've got the basement podcast with the beer logo and I just couldn't help myself with that one," Payton said. "It was silly."
You can see Payton's full comments on the situation below.

#schwartz #Vikings #take #game

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Austyn Modrzewski set the South Dakota single-game record with six touchdown passes in his first college game and the Coyotes rolled past Central Connecticut 59-20 on Saturday in the season-opener for both teams.
Modrzewski, a redshirt freshman, completed 16 of 20 passes for 304 yards and carried twice for 81 yards, which included another touchdown.
It was Matt Vitzthum's first game as coach of the Coyotes, who are ranked No. 12 in FCS.
South Dakota's Charles Pierre Jr., a Walter Payton Award candidate, returned from an injury that sidelined him for all but the first two games of last season. The senior running back gained 77 yards on 10 carries. Keyondray Jones-Logan caught two passes for 103 yards with one touchdown.
After going three-and-out on their first offensive possession, the Coyotes scored touchdowns on their next eight. Six of them came in the first half, leading to a 42-10 halftime advantage. The onslaught included Modrzewski's 68-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter that was followed by his 61-yard touchdown pass to Jones-Logan on the second play of the Coyotes' next drive.

#modrzewski

Now that the Philadelphia Eagles' preseason schedule is over, the team's focus shifts to cutting their roster down to the regular season 53-player limit before the 6:00 PM Eastern deadline on Sunday, August 30. Here's our best effort at projecting what the INITIAL roster is going to look like. The Birds will likely make some tweaks (injured reserve placements, trades, waiver claims, etc.) before they actually play the Washington Commanders in Week 1. Note that this activity is about predicting what the Eagles WILL do as opposed to what we necessarily think they should do.
QUARTERBACK: Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Cole Payton (3) [3]
Hurts threw a lot of interceptions this summer, yes, but I challenge you to find a daily practice observer who feels like he had a bad camp. On the whole, the good outweighed the bad. It seems like he's embracing the new offensive direction. The Eagles are hoping Hurts doesn't get, well, hurt … because the depth behind him is very uninspiring. There was no clear winner from the Eagles' training camp backup quarterback battle. McKee somehow looked worse than ever after previously showing encouraging signs in previous years. Dalton looks somewhat physically diminished, which tracks for a quarterback entering his age 39 season. Maybe he gets traded … but what price is he even fetching at this point? I wonder if the Eagles might trade both Dalton (for very meager draft pick compensation) AND McKee (included in a deal for another team's quarterback, such as Anthony Richardson or J.J. McCarthy)? Payton has shown some promise but the Eagles didn't really do a good job of getting him more action in the preseason. Utilizing him on special teams in the final preseason game points to them trying to find a role for him. This is a tough position to figure out.
OUT: Andy Dalton
RUNNING BACK: Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley (3) [6]

#payton