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Good morning! Would you turn down $500 million?
While You Were Sleeping: Sure, let Bailey Zappe cook
First, I must apologize for saying last night’s Steelers-Patriots game “will, bluntly, be ass.” I am dumb, because this game was somehow awesome. Quickly:
- Bailey Zappe was great in 3-10 New England’s surprising 21-18 win. He threw three touchdown passes — all in the first half — while resuscitating a Patriots offense that’s been lifeless for most of the year. He’s probably not an NFL starter, but he sure looked a lot better than Mac Jones.
- Pittsburgh is 7-6 and just endured one of the most surprising two-game stretches of the season: losing to Arizona and New England, who — even after the wins — combine for a 6-20 record. Yes, Kenny Pickett is out, but still.
And a reason to never bet: That historically low total? It went over in the first half. Tough.
Don’t miss Robert Mays and Nate Tice breaking down whatever this game was. We need guidance after that.
Backtracking: Rahm’s seismic about-face
Jon Rahm is considered by some to be the best golfer on planet Earth. Rahm is now a LIV golfer, months after publicly saying — multiple times — that he’d never join the rogue outfit. It is another volcanic moment for a sport that’s seen a few of them in the last two years.
How did we get here? Three important facets:
- Rahm has consistently said the big-money payouts from LIV don’t matter to him, and he always backed the PGA Tour — until the Tour announced over the summer a framework agreement to merge with the PIF, which funds LIV. Many, including Rahm, were kept in the dark about these plans. They were mostly angry. Rahm’s tenor toward the PGA Tour, despite some further public assurances, changed after that.
- That agreement, by the way, set a December 31 deadline for completion, and we have no indication the two sides are even close to finalizing terms. Either LIV just poached one of the PGA Tour’s brightest stars at the worst time, or adding Rahm could be a leverage play to get a deal done.
- The money is absurd, according to multiple reports. ESPN says it’s worth over $300 million. The Telegraph reported $566 million. Rahm will be a part owner in a new LIV team to which he hopes to add more current PGA players.
I thought Brody Miller’s column on the whole situation was smart. As he argues, the period of moral outrage about LIV is officially over. This is just the sport’s reality. Brody also pointed out a key part of Rahm’s calculus: He has exemptions for all four majors through 2031, so he’s not endangering much with this move.
The only real question I have left: Will LIV stick with 54-hole competitions? Rahm has been quite vocal about loathing the format.
Maybe the sport will be completely different in six months’ time. We’ll circle back.
News to Know
McDermott addresses 9/11 commentsBills coach Sean McDermott confirmed he made some frankly bizarre comments about 9/11 during a team meeting years prior. In 2019, as reported yesterday by Go Long, McDermott lauded the way hijackers were able to “get on the same page” during the worst terrorist attack in American history. Yesterday, McDermott said he “regretted” using the example and apologized for it in 2019. Read the full comments here.
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Bronny plots debutBronny James is expected to play his first USC game this Sunday against Long Beach State, Trojans coach Andy Enfield said yesterday. His return comes four months after James, son of LeBron James, suffered cardiac arrest during a practice. More details here. (The Lakers are off Sunday, so LeBron can attend without missing any time.)
NCAA sued yet againSeven states, ranging from North Carolina to Colorado, filed suit against the NCAA in federal court yesterday, arguing the organization’s transfer eligibility rule violates antitrust law. The rule in question allows NCAA athletes one penalty-free transfer, but attaches stipulations to anyone transferring multiple times. This adds to the growing litany of lawsuits filed against the NCAA in recent months.
More news
- Hope for Deion? Five-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton picked Colorado over Alabama, Ohio State and others.
- The 2024 Copa America draw took place last night. USMNT drew Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia. See the full bracket here.
- The attorney for that Jaguars employee who allegedly stole over $22 million from the team says his client suffers from “a serious gambling addiction.”
Rings? The GOAT vs. the upstart
We’ve all feted the unexpected success of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament. It’s been a lot of fun, especially during a time when most of the country usually ignores basketball.
- For Tyrese Haliburton’s Pacers, this feels important, not just some new thing to try. Haliburton, at just 23, has become a superstar on this new stage, collecting All-Star bounties along the way. On Tuesday, it was Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Last night, it was Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, 128-119. Without the IST, Haliburton would’ve put up these numbers while toiling away on games broadcast regionally, with national media largely ignoring him. Now, he’s gaining an audience — and real-time, playoff-like experience.
- Up next: LeBron James and the Lakers, who walloped the Pelicans last night, 133-89. This might just be fun for the accomplished James, but it sure doesn’t seem like it. The nearly 39-year-old legend looked like Heat LeBron last night, scoring 30 points on 9-of-12 from the field in just 23 minutes. This game was over quickly.
Pacers play the Lakers at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC tomorrow night, on maybe the worst IST court of all. I’m legit excited for this.
I wonder if either of these teams will hang a banner or make a ring for the IST title. Haliburton is in favor, while the Lakers apparently have no plans to. I think they should.
Watch This Game
After surveying the landscape, we’re officially condoning a Friday night off from sports, if you wish. Two more Saturday contests worth your attention:
NCAAF: Army vs. Navy3 p.m. ET on CBSNo matter how bad either team is — both outfits are 5-6 this year — this game is always a spectacle. The stakes always feel bigger than a bowl game, and instead of painted chests in the crowd, you’ll see full military uniforms. Just a cool game.
MLS: Columbus vs. LAFC4 p.m. ET on Apple TV (free) and FOXLeague championship. Reminder to brush up on our big preview here. Watch out for Denis Bouanga.
Pulse Picks
Kalyn Kahler has a really interesting story this morning on the two wolves inside Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy: the guy who embraced analytics before many, but the guy who famously kicked two field goals from the one-yard line in an NFC Championship game. His struggle embodies what most NFL coaches go through, too.
Chris Kirschner takes us inside how the Juan Soto trade happened. The process started months ago, actually.
Speaking of Juan Soto trades: Did the Nationals win last year’s Soto deal? Maybe, as Brittany Ghiroli and Cody Stavenhagen write.
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Syracuse transfer Leon Lowery committed to Wisconsin, decommitted and recommitted — all in about half a week. What happened in those four days is a tale about the perilous side of NIL in college sports right now.
Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst suffered a brutal concussion a month ago, bad enough to incur a post-traumatic amnesia diagnosis afterward. Mark Puleo has a helpful explainer on the condition and when Hurst could return to the field.
It’s already time for NHL panic meters. Harman Dayal and Murat Ates rate concerns for all five Eastern Conference teams out of the playoff picture.
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