INSIDER
'Ozempig' remains Minnesota baseball team's mascot despite uproar that name is form of fat-shaming
Read full article: 'Ozempig' remains Minnesota baseball team's mascot despite uproar that name is form of fat-shamingFor a Minnesota minor league baseball team known for a history of outlandish promotions, the idea of naming its longtime live pig mascot after the weight loss drug Ozempic made perfect sense.
Defending Super Bowl champion Rams open season as underdogs
Read full article: Defending Super Bowl champion Rams open season as underdogsMatthew Stafford, Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams will raise their Super Bowl banner Thursday night before kicking off the NFL season at home where they became the second straight team to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy in their own stadium.
Browns' C Tretter, Saints QBs test positive for COVID-19
Read full article: Browns' C Tretter, Saints QBs test positive for COVID-19Both Saints veteran quarterbacks, Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian, Minnesota star running back Dalvin Cook and Cleveland center JC Tretter, the NFL Players Association president, tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.
Record-setting Saints QB Brees announces retirement at 42
Read full article: Record-setting Saints QB Brees announces retirement at 42It marked the second straight season Brees had to miss part of a season with an injury after missing just one game because of injury in the previous 13. Saints coach Sean Payton said Brees had plenty of other injuries or ailments during his Saints tenure, but willed himself to play through them whenever possible. AdThe storm had forced the Saints to play all of their 2005 games outside New Orleans, and the Saints finished that season 3-13. That would be the first of nine seasons in which Brees led the Saints to the playoffs. Indeed, the hallmarks of Brees’ career have been his decision-making, timing and accuracy.
Gutsy or insane? Depends on the outcome of tough calls
Read full article: Gutsy or insane? Depends on the outcome of tough calls“My coaches were on board, they all did a great job with the spot, with the calls, everything — they were spot-on. It was a great job.”That play is part of a pick-6 of great jobs — and great flops — with gutsy calls. PHILLY SPECIALThe Eagles led New England by three points approaching halftime in the Super Bowl for the 2017 season. Philadelphia went on to win its first Super Bowl. The Packers then won their second Super Bowl.
The Latest: NFC East will produce sub-.500 champ next week
Read full article: The Latest: NFC East will produce sub-.500 champ next week(AP Photo/Mark Tenally)The Latest on Week 16 in the NFL (all times EST):___8 p.m.For the first time since 2014 there will be an NFL playoff team with a losing record. The winner will remain alive in the NFC East playoff race if Washington loses to Carolina. ___6:05 p.m.Washington is well on the way to blowing its first chance to clinch the NFC East. ___6 p.m.Eleven teams in the NFC are still harboring hopes of making a playoff run with Week 16 winding down. 1 seed in the NFC with a win Sunday night against the Titans and a Seattle loss or tie.
Struggling Steelers in midst of historic collapse
Read full article: Struggling Steelers in midst of historic collapse(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone from dreams of matching the perfect 1972 Miami Dolphins to searching for another win. After winning their first 11 games for the first time in franchise history, the Steelers were upset at home two weeks ago against Washington. The last team to start 11-0 and then lose three straight was the 1969 Rams in a 14-game season. The losing skid carried over to the playoffs with a 23-20 loss to Minnesota, a fate the Steelers would obviously like to avoid. Jackson leads the way with 828 yards rushing and seven TDs with Murray having 741 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Goodell: Forfeits possible for NFL virus protocol violations
Read full article: Goodell: Forfeits possible for NFL virus protocol violations(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is warning the league's 32 teams of penalties including potential forfeits of games for violations of COVID-19 protocols that force changes in the schedule. In a memo sent to the teams Monday after a conference call involving NFL and club executives, Goodell reiterated the need to adhere fully to all of the league's health and safety guidelines. “Protocol violations that result in virus spread requiring adjustments to the schedule or otherwise impacting other teams will result in additional financial and competitive discipline, including the adjustment or loss of draft choices or even the forfeit of a game,” Goodell wrote in the memo obtained by The Associated Press. Victory Monday.”The negative test results returned Sunday included New Orleans Saints fullback Michael Burton, who falsely tested positive on Saturday. The Saints learned of the positive test after leaving New Orleans for Sunday’s scheduled game in Detroit and ran another series of tests on players and staff overnight.
QB Bridgewater 'thankful' for injury, eager for 2nd chance
Read full article: QB Bridgewater 'thankful' for injury, eager for 2nd chanceFILE - Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater watches during an NFL football camp practice Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers invested $63 million over three years in Bridgewater, and the QB has proclaimed, “this definitely feels like my team." I remember everybody was hurting in practice," Diggs said. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who worked with Bridgewater while with the Saints, is confident Bridgewater can be thrive in Carolina. “Knowing what I know now, I would just go back and tell myself the moment I was on the ground screaming in pain, ‘life is just a race,’” Bridgewater said.
Brees' anthem comments draw backlash from teammates, others
Read full article: Brees' anthem comments draw backlash from teammates, othersNEW ORLEANS Drew Brees was sharply criticized by fellow high-profile athletes, including some of his own teammates, on Wednesday after the Saints quarterback reiterated his opposition to kneeling during the national anthem. In an interview with Yahoo, Brees was asked to revisit former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's 2016 protest of police brutality against minorities, in which Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem before games. I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States, Brees began, adding that the national anthem reminds him of his grandfathers, who served in the armed forces during World War II. Brees has said he supports those protesting police brutality but that he does not see the national anthem as the proper forum for that. In 2017, Brees participated with teammates who knelt before the national anthem, but then stood in unison when the anthem was played.