Author: Michael

Arthur Smith runs a tight ship — even for reporters.
The Atlanta Falcons head coach fined a beat writer $500 for missing the first two days of Training Camp.
As a joke, of course.
Smith opened Friday’s news conference by handing D. Orlando Ledbetter — a writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution — a letter scolding him for his absence.

Here is the official fine for @DOrlandoAJC, I am CRYING that Arthur Smith actually made this letter https://t.co/jczH696v9A pic.twitter.com/KCP4Lc1tAX
— Sarah K.

After the Mets traded veteran starting pitcher Max Scherzer to the Rangers on Saturday, Justin Verlander admitted he’s reassessing his future with the organization.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday after throwing 5.1 innings in a win against the Nationals, Verlander addressed the team’s decision to offload Scherzer ahead of MLB’s trade deadline.
The 40-year-old admitted he was “a bit surprised” by the departure of both Scherzer, who agreed to waive his no-trade clause to join the Rangers, and veteran reliever David Robertson, who was dealt to the rival Marlins.

At a windswept, rain-soaked Royal Porthcawl that presented some of the most arduous conditions seen in elite competition in recent times, it seemed entirely appropriate that a man who fled communist Czechoslovakia in a treacherous escape when just nine years old won the Senior Open on Sunday.

The San Francisco 49ers might have the most fascinating quarterback room in the NFL. Brock Purdy, assuming he’s healthy, appears to be the starter. There’s a competition for the backup spot between Trey Lance and Sam Darnold.
The most interesting piece of that first paragraph is that Purdy is a second-year player drafted 262nd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Lance (2021) and Darnold (2018) are both former #3 overall picks. Coming out of college, clearly Lance and Darnold had pedigree that Purdy did not.
Yet, here we are. Purdy is the starter.

Aaron Rodgers says Sean Payton’s comments about Nathaniel Hackett “were very surprising” and out of character “for a coach to do that to another coach.

The Rangers continue to aggressively seek out pitching help ahead of the trade deadline and found some new additions from the Cardinals. St. Louis is trading starter Jordan Montgomery and reliever Chris Stratton to Texas in exchange for infielder Thomas Saggese, and pitchers Tekoah Roby and John King, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. 
This move comes just a day after the Rangers made headlines when they traded for star pitcher Max Scherzer. 
Montgomery is sporting a 3.42 ERA with a 6–9 record so far in 21 starts this season. Meanwhile, Stratton has a 4.

Fresh off a decisive victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 291, lightweight star Justin Gaethje didn’t hold back on his opinion of Conor McGregor after being called out by his rival following the match.
Gaethje (25–4) was the talk of the UFC world on Saturday after winning his rematch with Poirer (29–8) by way of an epic head kick KO to take home the BMF title. Shortly after the finish, McGregor took to Twitter to extend a challenge to the new champion.
“Justin, I’ll slap you around,” McGregor wrote.

The debut of Aaron Rodgers with the Jets will not happen this week after head coach Robert Saleh announced that the team will not play its starters in the Hall of Fame game vs. the Browns on Thursday, Aug. 3.
This means last year’s starter, Zach Wilson, who is expected to backup Rodgers, will start in the game.
It would have been more shocking if Rodgers did get the start on Thursday since coaches typically don’t play their starters in the Hall of Fame game. Saleh didn’t specify if he plans to play Rodgers during any Jets preseason games.

Four days ahead of their preseason opener against the Browns, the Jets hosted a special guest at Sunday’s practice: free-agent running back Dalvin Cook. And while the four-time Pro Bowler remains on the open market following his release by the Vikings last month, Jets fans in attendance made it clear what they wanted to see happen with Cook as he strode the sidelines.
The message was simple: Sign the contract.
Fans clearly would love to see Cook join the squad and give Aaron Rodgers another versatile offensive weapon.

Look out for New York Giants tight end Darren Waller this season.
In October, the new-look G-Men decided to unload former first-round pick Kadarius Toney in a three-team trade with the Chiefs and Raiders. Toney went to KC — eventually winning a Super Bowl.
By giving up one of their third-round picks received for Toney this offseason, the Giants received Pro Bowl TE Darren Waller in March.
READ: CHIEFS TE TRAVIS KELCE STUNNED THAT GIANTS TRADED KADARIUS TONEY
All the buzz of Giants training camp praises Waller’s elite speed, size and ability to catch touchdown after touchdown.