Weather permitting, the Boston Red Sox will have a chance to earn another series victory against the struggling Toronto Blue Jays.
The two American League East squads are scheduled to square off at Fenway Park in the final game of their three-game series Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. ET, which probably won’t seem like a lot of time between matchups after the teams’ 19-inning marathon the previous night.
The Sox will have Rafael Devers, who started the first two games against the Blue Jays on the bench, back at third base and batting seventh, while Eduardo Nunez and Dustin Pedroia will shift to second base and designated hitter, respectively. Mitch Moreland will man first base and bat fifth, while Sandy Leon will be behind the plate catching right-hander Doug Fister.
Here are the complete lineups for Wednesday’s Red Sox-Blue Jays game.
RED SOX (78-61)
Eduardo Nunez, 2B
Dustin Pedroia, DH
Andrew Benintendi, LF
Mookie Betts, RF
Mitch Moreland, 1B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Rafael Devers, 3B
Sandy Leon, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Doug Fister, RHP (4-7, 4.19 ERA)
BLUE JAYS (64-75)
Ezequiel Carrera, RF
Teoscar Hernandez, CF
Justin Smoak, 1B
Kendrys Morales, DH
Michael Saunders, LF
Miguel Montero, C
Darwin Barney, 3B
Ryan Goins, 2B
Richard Urena, SS
Joe Biagini, RHP (3-9, 5.01 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports Images
New England Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell’s status for Week 1 is up in the air as of Wednesday afternoon.
Mitchell, who is slotted to be the Patriots’ No. 3 or No. 4 receiver this season, is questionable to play Thursday night in the NFL Kickoff Game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brandin Cooks and Chris Hogan will be the Patriots’ No. 1 and 2 receivers this season. If Mitchell can’t play, then Danny Amendola and newcomer Phillip Dorsett could see more playing time.
Here’s the rest of the Patriots’ Week 1 injury report.
DOUBTFUL
DT Vincent Valentine (knee)
QUESTIONABLE
DL Adam Butler (knee)
DB Nate Ebner (shoulder)
OT Cameron Fleming (ankle)
LB Harvey Langi (concussion)
WR Malcolm Mitchell (knee)
WR Matthew Slater (hamstring)
Thumbnail photo via Stew Milne/USA TODAY Sports Images
Danica Patrick’s Instagram account garners lots of attention. One recent post, however, stood out among the pack.
Back on June 20, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver shared side-by-side body photos that, while seemingly taken at the same, looked noticeably different. Patrick accompanied the post with a message reminding her followers to not let other people’s seemingly perfect pictures discourage them, as those photos often are manipulated and/or misleading.
So why did the post hit home for so many people?
“I think there’s a yearning in the world for real,” Patrick recently told PEOPLE. “People really want to know the truth.
” … (Social media) gives me the opportunity for it to come straight from me and be real. I follow tons of people on social media who you feel envious of; they have the perfect life or they look perfect all the time, and it just seemed like the right thing to do.”
Patrick uses Instagram to provide an unfiltered glimpse into her busy life; shenanigans on yacht trips, workouts before races and riding tractors on vineyards all are on the table. And while she, and the life she leads, might seem perfect, Patrick wants people to know that things might not always be as they seem.
“We can work out to make ourselves look as good as possible — and there’s nothing wrong with that — but the reality is I can hold a camera out in front of me and turn in a circle until I find the right lighting and find my best angle,” Patrick said. “And I can adjust my clothes to make sure that I just look as good as possible.”
Patrick added: “I think being confident in your own skin is something that is probably one of the longest transition periods in your life that you have to come to grips with.”
That last part might be true. Still, Patrick is doing her best to help facilitate the process for her many fans.
Thumbnail photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
The NBA is a business. Isaiah Thomas knows that.
Thomas, who was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason in a deal involving fellow All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, opened up about the blockbuster and his love for the city of Boston in an essay published Wednesday on The Players’ Tribune.
Thomas, who is entering the final year of his contract, opened the essay by detailing how Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge informed him that he’d been dealt to the Cavs for Irving.
Apparently, Thomas had just returned from celebrating his one-year anniversary with his wife, Kayla, when he got a text message from Ainge, who asked I.T. to call him.
Here’s how the conversation went, according to Thomas:
“He knew I’d been on my trip, so he asked me a few questions about it. I’m sure I asked him how he was, maybe how the family was doing. Again, you know, just that normal sort of talk.
And then somewhere in there, it was just like … it was barely anything. This little pause in the conversation. And that’s when he told me.
‘I just traded you.’
Simple as that. No big words, no big speech. Though I guess when it comes to shit like that, there’s not much more to say.
‘To where.’ That’s all I could manage.
‘To the Cavaliers, for Kyrie.”‘
Thomas, who led the Celtics to the 2017 Eastern Conference finals, understandably was shaken by the news.
“Danny started going on about everything I’ve done for the city of Boston, and for the Celtics organization, both on and off the court,” Thomas also wrote in the essay. “About what a great player I am, and how I’m going to be great in Cleveland. You know, telling me that type of stuff. And it was just like … at that point in time? I definitely didn’t want to hear none of that.”
So, Thomas cut off Ainge, thanked him for the sentiment and hung up.
There’s no telling when Thomas will return from the hip injury that sidelined him for the final three games of the Celtics’ playoff series loss to the Cavs, but he’s ready to help LeBron James and Co. vie for another NBA title.
“I’mma just say this here, point-blank, to get it over with — and then you can go ahead and post it on whatever bulletin boards you want to: You are not going to want to mess with the Cavs this year,” Thomas wrote.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
Denny Hamlin’s drive in the Bojangles’ Southern 500 was one that people will be talking about for a while, though not for the reasons he might’ve hoped.
Hamlin’s win from Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race has been encumbered, after the No. 11 team failed post-race inspection, NASCAR announced Wednesday. Furthermore, Hamlin’s Xfinity Series win from Darlington Raceway also has been encumbered for failing inspection.
Both violations pertained to the Joe Gibbs Racing cars’ rear suspension.
The 36-year-old driver still is locked into the playoffs thanks to his July win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and is ineligible for the Xfinity playoffs, so the lost victories won’t hurt him, though he also has been docked 25 championship points. In addition, JGR will lose 25 owner points in both Xfinity and Cup, the No. 11 crew chief, Mike Wheeler, has been fined $50,000 and the No. 18 crew chief, Eric Phillips, was fined $25,000 — both Wheeler and Phillips also received two-race suspensions.
Team Penske’s No. 22 Xfinity team violated the same rule as the No. 18 team. As a result, Joey Logano’s second-place finish is encumbered, Penske has been stripped of 25 owner points and crew chief Greg Irwin has been fined $25,000 and suspended for a pair of races.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief, too, has been hit with a fine and suspension, as the No. 88’s lug nuts were found to have been improperly installed. Greg Ives will have to pay $20,000 and miss Saturday’s race at Richmond Raceway. Hendrick Motorsport reportedly announced it will not appeal that penalty.
Thumbnail photo via Adam Hagy/USA TODAY Sports Images
The days are a bit shorter, the air is a little cooler and the kids are back in school.
But most importantly, football is back.
Week 1 of the NFL kicks off this week and the fine folks at NESN.com are here to get you ready on this week’s episode of “The Hurry-Up” presented by MyBookie.AG.
Mike Cole offers his locks and upsets for the week, Zack Cox and Doug Kyed preview the New England Patriots showdown against the Kansas City and Ricky Doyle plays America’s favorite prop game: “Show and Tell.”
Watch the entire show in the video above.
Will Johnson’s problems at home might have an adverse effect on his soccer career.
Orange County, Fla., police arrested the Orlando City SC midfielder Wednesday morning on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge, according to The Orlando Sentinel’s Alicia DelGallo. Johnson allegedly tackled his wife, Caroline Childs Johnson, during an argument at their home, causing her to hit her head on the ground and suffer cuts and bruises to her hands and knees. Childs Johnson refused medical assistance.
Orlando City and Major League Soccer said Wednesday in a statement they’ve suspended Johnson, pending results of their and authorities’ investigations.
Johnson and his wife of five years are going through a divorce. They have two children together.
Johnson has played 10 seasons in MLS. He won MLS Cups with Real Salt Lake in 2009 and the Portland Timbers in 2015.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
Fantasy football defenses are like the youngest child of a large family: They’re often forgotten, but you’d be surprised at what they can accomplish.
The 2017 fantasy season kicks off this weekend, which means it’s time to set your first lineup. And whether you spent a probably-too-high draft pick on a defense or didn’t select one at all, it’s important to consider which defenses can put up the most points in Week 1.
The highest-projected defenses mostly are elite units, sure, but there are a few great streaming options that are there for the taking on the waiver wire.
Here are five defenses that you definitely should start in Week 1.
Houston Texans (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
The Texans were the No. 3-ranked defense on our preseason draft board, and they have a golden opportunity to prove their worth on opening weekend. The Jaguars enter this road matchup with a rookie running back (Leonard Fournette) and a beleaguered quarterback (Blake Bortles) who didn’t exactly inspire much confidence this preseason. Houston will be playing inspired as the city recovers from Hurricane Harvey and should rack up the fantasy points against Jacksonville’s dysfunctional offense.
Buffalo Bills (at New York Jets)
Speaking of dysfunctional offenses… The Jets will trot out 38-year-old journeyman quarterback Josh McCown for their season opener in Buffalo and have virtually no offensive weapons of note. That’s a recipe for success for the Bills’ defense, which lost some key players this offseason but still should be able to pressure the quarterback and create turnovers. Buffalo is owned in just 40 percent of Yahoo! leagues, too, so grab this unit while you can.
Pittsburgh Steelers (at Cleveland Browns)
Browns fans might tell you DeShone Kizer has potential, but a 21-year-old quarterback making his NFL debut against a potential playoff contender sounds like a recipe for turnovers. Even if Kizer doesn’t implode, the Browns’ offense is mediocre at best, so the Steelers are a very safe bet here.
Denver Broncos (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
Yes, the Chargers have given the Broncos trouble in the past. But consider these two stats: Denver ranked seventh in the NFL last season with 27 takeaways, while the Chargers led the league in turnovers with 35. The Broncos are an elite defense worth starting in nearly all situations, especially at home. This is no different.
Los Angeles Rams (vs. Indianapolis Colts)
The Rams aren’t a great football team, but they have several playmakers on defense, especially if Aaron Donald ends his holdout before Sunday. The Colts will be led by the indomitable Scott Tolzien and an offensive line that can’t seem to keep its quarterbacks out of trouble. At 59 percent owned in Yahoo! leagues, Los Angeles’ defense is another solid waiver wire pickup.
Thumbnail photo via Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports Images
Fair or not, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell almost is universally despised by people in Boston. However, he recently gave Beantown natives a reason to like him — if only for a day.
Ahead of Thursday’s NFL season opener between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, Goodell joined members of the Patriots and the University of Washington to do community service in the Boston suburb of Brighton, Mass., on Wednesday. The group worked on the completion of a new home for Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a non-profit organization which provides services for in-need youth and young adults in the Boston area.
.@Patriots @NFL & @UW volunteers finish new @BridgeOTW home in Brighton, MA for homeless youth & families https://t.co/NH5FgUhgzW pic.twitter.com/Y2aJKWpMKD
— NFL345 (@NFL345) September 6, 2017
The oft-criticized Goodell took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the work.
It was great to be in the Boston area today to help out @BridgeOTW w/ @Patriots & @UW #Kickoff2017 https://t.co/cZEtSpKqCD
— Roger Goodell (@nflcommish) September 6, 2017
While Goodell likely felt some love during his visit, an onslaught of ridicule and scorn looms on the horizon.
The commissioner, who hasn’t been to Gillette Stadium since Deflategate-launching 2014 AFC Championship Game, will be in attendance for Thursday’s game in Foxboro, Mass. And, whether he likes it or not, he’ll be greeted by 70,000-plus Barstool Sports Goodell Clown towels.
Nobody likes getting scratches on their car, but protecting your paint can be a bit of a catch 22. Car bras technically protect your bodywork, but in doing so, they also hide it.
Thankfully, there is another option that doesn’t make your ride look hideous: protective films. These wraps protect your paint, but are clear, so your car looks the way it was intended to.
What’s more, protective films apparently can heal themselves if they get scratched. In Engineering Explained’s latest video, Jason Fenske shows that one brand’s wrap eliminates any visible scratches, and all you need to do is apply heat to it.
It’s hard to blame Fenske for being unnerved about taking a steel brush to the hood of his own Subaru, but the second demonstration on a piece sheet metal was something to behold. In that situation, he didn’t hold back at all, and the gouges still vanished once he aimed a heat gun at them.
We don’t recommend intentionally defacing your own vehicle if you get protective film, but it’s still cool to know that you could.
Isaiah Thomas seeks fresh eyes to help make his next move his best move.
The Cleveland Cavaliers guard is parting ways with his current agent and is in the process of recruiting a new one ahead of the final season of his existing contract, ESPN’s Chris Haynes reported Wednesday on Twitter, citing sources.
Sources: Isaiah Thomas in the process of parting with representation, Excel Sports Management. To seek new agent to handle 2018 free-agency.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) September 6, 2017
Onto his third agent since he signed his current contract https://t.co/PMPWWCJ47I
— Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) September 6, 2017
Thomas, whom the Cavs acquired last month from the Boston Celtics via trade, can become a free agent after the 2017-18 season.
He’s set to earn just $6.2 million next season under terms of his existing deal, which he signed with the Phoenix Suns in 2014. After scoring 28.9 points per game last season while leading the Celtics to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, he now wants a max contract and apparently believes new representation will help convince interested teams to give him just that.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
Isaiah Thomas only was in Boston for two-and-a-half years, but he made some pretty powerful friends in that span.
Near the top of that list, of course, was New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who stayed connected with Thomas as the Boston Celtics point guard ascended to stardom with his stellar play.
It turns out Brady’s bond with Thomas was more than just lip service, too. In an emotional first-person essay published Wednesday in The Players’ Tribune, Thomas revealed that Brady was among those who reached out to him after his shocking trade from the Celtics to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving.
Here’s their exchange, as told by Thomas:
Brady: What’s up, IT, I heard about the news. You good?
Thomas: I’m alright. I mean, it’s crazy. It’s a cold game.
Brady: Yes it is. Best of luck. You’re gonna do great. Keep in touch.
The exchange was short and sweet, but it left a lasting impression on Thomas. His first reaction admittedly was “bittersweet:” After all, the All-Star point guard had hoped to follow in Brady’s footsteps and carve out a similar legacy in Boston’s sports pantheon.
“That’s the career that I had started to map out for myself,” Thomas wrote. “In my mind, I wanted to be the Celtics version of Brady and (former Boston Red Sox slugger David) Ortiz. I wanted this next era of Celtics basketball to go down in history — and I wanted to go down in Boston sports history with it. So when I got that text from Tom, you know, there was part of me that felt a little down.”
After further thought, though, Brady’s message made Thomas realize just how much he had accomplished during his short tenure in Boston.
“But then I thought about the text some more … and I think I changed my perspective a little,” Thomas wrote. “I think I realized that, like, Yo — that’s Tom F****** Brady. And I was only here for two and a half years.
“Tom Brady isn’t sending a text like that to guys who played in Boston for only two and a half years — unless they did something very special.”
Thomas certainly has that last part right.
Thumbnail photo via Andy Marlin/USA TODAY Sports Images
You wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at Sebastian Vettel or Kimi Raikkonen’s cars, but Scuderia Ferrari apparently still is sponsored by Philip Morris International.
Ferrari announced this weekend that it had extended its deal, which was set to expire after 2017, with Marlboro’s parent company, according to Autoweek.
The Italian Formula One team used to have Marlboro branding on its race cars until the FIA banned tobacco advertisements after the 2006 season. The Scuderia in 2010 had its single-seaters adorned with a barcode livery, which the European Public Health Commissioner claimed was subliminal advertising for Marlboro, and forced the team to remove it.
“The agreement continues the collaboration of over 40 years between Philip Morris International and Scuderia Ferrari,” the team said, via Autoweek.
The fact that Ferrari continually renews its partnership with PMI might not surprise some, as team principal Maurizio Arrivabene formerly was the tobacco firm’s vice president of marketing — in fact, that’s how he formed a relationship with Ferrari. Still, it’s a bit baffling considering the team is forbidden from promoting the products, on or off track.
Thumbnail photo via Flickr/formulanone
Isaiah Thomas has spoken.
The All-Star point guard was noticeably silent in the days following his shocking trade from the Boston Celtics to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving, which was announced Aug. 22 and finalized eight days later. That all changed Wednesday, though, when Thomas bared his soul in an emotionally charged article published on The Players’ Tribune.
In the piece, which is lengthy but absolutely worth your time, Thomas recalled the moment he learned of the trade: When Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge called him and said, point-blank, “I just traded you.”
Thomas also expressed what many already thought: He wasn’t too happy with the move.
“Yeah, I’ll just say it: That s*** hurt,” Thomas wrote. “It hurt a lot. And I won’t lie — it still hurts.”
The 28-year-old guard, who earned a permanent place in Celtics folklore thanks to an incredible 2016-17 campaign, explained that he understands the business of the trade and that he doesn’t hold a personal grudge against Ainge or any member of the C’s.
He did add this little dig at Ainge and Co., though: “I don’t agree with it, just personally, and I don’t think the Boston Celtics got better by making this trade. But that’s not my job. That’s Danny’s.”
Thomas always has been free with his opinions and emotions, and he devoted much of the piece to Celtics fans, who he believes helped him develop into the player he is today by embracing his desire to “win now” rather than continue a slow and steady rebuild.
“It’s almost like me and the city, my Celtics teams and these Celtics fans, we both shared the same heart, that same mentality,” Thomas wrote. “We both just wanted to win — now — and neither of us had any time for our critics.
“It was like, Man, f*** the (NBA Draft) lottery.”
He also described in emotional detail how Boston fans helped lift him up in the playoffs after his sister, Chyna, died one day before the team’s first postseason game.
“People had these signs they made, and I can still see them: THIS IS FOR CHYNA. WE <3 ISAIAH. That sort of thing,” Thomas wrote. “Then they did a moment of silence, the whole arena, in Chyna’s honor. And it was like … man. I just realized, in that moment, that I didn’t need the court to shield me.
“I didn’t need to block it all out, and pretend I wasn’t grieving. I didn’t have to be alone in this. The whole arena was right there with me. Honestly, it felt like the whole city of Boston was with me.”
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
Get your popcorn ready, Terrell Owens fans.
The legendary NFL wide receiver will compete on the 25th season of “Dancing With the Stars,” he revealed Tuesday during an appearance on “Good Morning America.” Owens’ dancing partner will be Cheryl Burke, who will be participating in her 20th season of “DWTS”
“I’m hoping to put up some big numbers with this lovely lady right here,” Owens said on “GMA.”
The 43-year-old shared a photo of him and Burke in an Instagram post Tuesday.
Owens never has lacked confidence, but he’s aware of how challenging “Dancing With the Stars” can be. In preparation for the show, he spoke with former NFL wideout Chad Johnson, who worked with Burke during the 10th season of “DTWS,” back when he was known as “Chad Ochocinco.”
“He said it’s going to be a lot of work but I expect nothing different,” Owens said of his conversation with Johnson. “This is going to be a challenge for me, definitely. (It’s) definitely not in my wheelhouse. I danced as a little kid but this is nothing like what I’m going to expect, I’m sure.”
Owens isn’t the only well-known athlete who will appear on this season of the popular television show.
Five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher, Paralympic swimming gold medalist Victoria Arlen and WWE wrestler Nikki Bella also will join the cast, according to ESPN.
Colin Kaepernick doesn’t need to be on a NFL roster to stand with a football family member.
The free-agent quarterback reacted to news of Michael Bennett’s arrest Wednesday, calling the incident an injustice, and pledging his support to the Seattle Seahawks defense end and the American people.
This violation that happened against my Brother Michael Bennett is disgusting and unjust. I stand with Michael and I stand with the people. pic.twitter.com/TqXFiso6lk
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 6, 2017
Bennett used Twitter on Wednesday to reveal details of his arrest, which occurred Aug. 26 in Las Vegas following the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor boxing match. Bennett claims police targeted him because he’s a black man and used excessive force against him.
TMZ published video of Bennett’s arrest later Wednesday.
But Kaepernick, a high-profile critic of police violence against minorities, probably didn’t need video evidence to decide to back Bennett.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports Images
With Hurricane Irma fast approaching, Atalanta Motor Speedway is doing its part to help out.
AMS announced Wednesday that anybody displaced by the storm will be allowed to stay at the track’s RV and tent campgrounds, according to a press release. The facility will begin accepting Hurricane Irma evacuees Sept. 7.
“Those interested in RV or tent camping at Atlanta Motor Speedway should enter the facility at Entrance ‘E’ off GA Highway 19/41,” AMS said in a statement. “The Unreserved Campgrounds will be on the left. From I-75 and GA Highway 20, campers should see signs to AMS and follow Lower Woolsey road to Entrance ‘H’ and the Speedway Credential Building. Make a right into Speedway property and then another immediate right onto Richard Petty Boulevard.”
In addition to the camping grounds, evacuees will have access to The Rinnai Shower Station so they can take hot showers during their temporary stay at AMS.
Thumbnail photo via Shanna Lockwood/USA TODAY Sports Images
A vast majority of bird logos in sports feature winged predators facing either left or right. And the Seattle Seahawk’s primary logo is no different.
The team’s alternate logo, on the other hand, is a different story.
The Seahawks on Wednesday unveiled their new alternate logo, and there’s really only one way to describe it: aggressive. Instead of the Seahawk looking at you through the corner of its eye, it now will look directly into your soul. See the new forward-facing logo in the Facebook post below:
There’s no word yet on when or where the Seahawks will unleash the new logo. But when they do, CenturyLink Field likely will be even more intimidating for opposing teams.
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images
Wednesday’s major NFL news was a sobering reminder that football is just a blip on the radar compared to Mother Nature.
The Miami Dolphins’ Week 1 matchup against Tampa Bay Buccaneers in South Florida on Sunday has been postponed until Week 11, due to the havoc Hurricane Irma is expected to wreak on the region this weekend. Considering the potentially disastrous circumstances, it’s the right move for the safety of everyone involved.
The unprecedented move still leaves players in a tricky spot, though, as the Dolphins and Bucs both will lose their midseason bye and play 16 consecutive weekends of football starting in Week 2.
To that end, the postponement also has plenty of ramifications for fantasy football owners as they enter their season. Here a few important factors to consider in the wake of Wednesday’s rescheduling.
1. The points from the Dolphins-Bucs game ONLY will count toward your Week 11 matchup.
This seems simple, but it bears mentioning: Any stats from this game won’t be retroactively counted toward your Week 1 total. Think of this as Miami and Tampa Bay having a Week 1 bye: Any player from either team should be out of your starting lineup before action begins Sunday, as they won’t garner any fantasy points, period.
That means quarterback Jameis Winston, running back Jacquizz Rodgers, wide receivers Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson and tight end Cameron Brate on the Bucs; as well as QB Jay Cutler, RB Jay Ajayi, WRs Jarvis Landry and DaVante Parker and TE Julius Thomas on the Dolphins all should be replaced.
2. Doug Martin now won’t be eligible to play until Week 5.
Martin is suspended for the first three games of the season, but since the Bucs are on a “bye” of sorts, Week 1 doesn’t count as one of those games. He’ll still sit out Weeks 2, 3 and 4 before returning to the field in Week 5. That’s a tough break for Martin owners, as his first game back is a tough matchup against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
3. Jacquizz Rodgers owners should be in the market for a fill-in.
Fantasy owners will be scrambling to replace big names like Ajayi and Evans in their starting lineups. But Rodgers was a popular starter as the Bucs’ interim No. 1 back with Martin on suspension, so if he’s in your lineup, you’ll need to scan the waiver wire for a replacement. We’d still advise holding onto him, though; Tampa Bay has a juicy matchup against the Chicago Bears in Week 2.
4. Bucs and Dolphins players could see a late-season drop in productivity.
Believe it or not, NFL players are human, and 16 games in a row is a LOT.
Clearly no one is thinking about #playersafety no one knows how it feels to medicate yourself all week to just to play on Sunday 😡😡😡
— Chris Baker (@cbakerswaggy) September 6, 2017
We’re not saying you should steer clear of top-tier guys like Evans or Ajayi, but it’s worth keeping in mind: These guys could wear down by the end of the regular season after playing so many consecutive games, which could impact their fantasy outputs. Conversely, it might be smart to take advantage of late-season offensive matchups against the Dolphins or Bucs defenses if fatigue or depth becomes an issue there.
Thumbnail photo via Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports Images
Jimmie Johnson learned the hard way that if you want your friends to keep hush-hush, you probably should start by telling them that something’s a secret.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted Tuesday to tell his 12.2 thousand followers about the Sept. 12 opening of his Hendrick Motorsport teammate’s new restaurant — but there was one small problem with that. Johnson didn’t want people to know that South Bound was his restaurant.
The seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion quoted Earnhardt’s tweet Wednesday, revealing that his part in the venture was supposed to be kept under wraps.
Don't say that too loud, we were going to wait to announce my involment until after it was up and running. Thankfully nobody follows you. 😁 https://t.co/MEyHBJtXiu
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) September 6, 2017
Earnhardt understandably responded by quoting the great Homer Simpson.
Doh!!! My intentions were good 😣 https://t.co/tTLcKVabTp
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) September 6, 2017
Although it might seem odd for Johnson to want the restaurant to open its doors before he attached his name to it, it’s fairly common practice when celebrities branch out. If he had publicized that fact ahead of time then people likely would perceive South Bound as an attempt to capitalize on his fame, rather than a legitimate place to get “made-from-scratch Southern California street food,” as the eatery’s website refers to it.
This is the same reason that Danica Patrick doesn’t plaster her name on the wine that her winery sells. It’s also the same reason that actor Keanu Reaves was hesitant even to get involved with Arch Motorcycles.
Thumbnail photo via Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports Images
FOXBORO, Mass. — Adam Butler stood nervously on the New England Patriots’ sideline with his hands grasping the inside neck of his shoulder pads, helmet nowhere to be found, as his final opportunity to prove he deserved to make the team was passing by before his very eyes.
The undrafted free agent defensive tackle assumed the worst when informed he would suit up but not play in the Patriots’ final preseason game of the summer against the New York Giants. As the Patriots’ defense took the field for the game’s first series, in his place were Darius Kilgo, Geneo Grissom, Woodrow Hamilton and Michael Bart on the defensive line.
Standing next to the rookie out of Vanderbilt were Trey Flowers, Dont’a Hightower, Alan Branch and the rest of the Patriots’ defensive starters. And as they came up to Butler, the look on his face turned from concern into a proud ear-to-ear smile.
“I was alarmed, because at first I thought it was a bad thing,” Butler told NESN.com on Tuesday. “I thought that they had seen what they wanted to see, and it was like, ‘Eh, we aren’t going to take this guy.’ I wasn’t sure. But after some of the older guys came up to me and told me ‘congratulations,’ I was like, ‘What? How do you know before me?’ But they’re vets.”
Suddenly, he looked like the younger brother asked to play pickup hoops with the older kids. Butler never entered the game, because he already had made the Patriots’ 53-man roster. It’s customary for NFL starters and roster locks to remain on the bench for the final preseason game.
Butler’s inclusion on the initial active roster was more than well-deserved. Butler ripped through Patriots training camp, seeing snaps on the first-team defense by the sixth practice of the summer. He handily beat Patriots offensive linemen in 1-on-1s and Jacksonville Jaguars blockers in joint practices. In three preseason games, he recorded three QB hits, five hurries and drew a hold as a pass rusher. He was similarly disruptive in the run game, bursting through the line with regularity.
If fans of Vanderbilt suddenly didn’t recognize this Adam Butler, it was understandable. Butler went to Vandy as a 320-pound offensive lineman. He got fired up during a rib-eating contest — no, seriously this is true — and was moved to defensive tackle.
When Butler came to the Patriots, he weighed 305 pounds. Fast-forward four months and Butler now weighs 280 pounds.
“It was probably a combination of stress and hard work through OTAs,” Butler said.
The initial plan after meeting with Patriots head strength and conditioning coach Moses Cabrera was to drop Butler’s body fat. It came in at 26 percent. It’s now down to 19.6, and Butler suddenly has a lot more quickness and versatility. Now he can start adding more muscle to his frame and bulk back up with “quality weight.”
“I’d say his weight now is better than what it was,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said last month. “Could it be more? Maybe. We’ll train and see, but he has a good frame so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him add on some quality weight. It’s hard to add it during training camp, but once the training progression changes a little bit during the season or certainly in the offseason that there will be an opportunity for that to happen.”
At 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, Butler has the length, strength and quickness to play inside at defensive tackle or outside at defensive end. He manned both roles in preseason and could be used as the Patriots’ top interior pass rusher in 2017.
And even though he trusted his veteran teammates that he had made the roster last Thursday, Butler still was overtaken by emotion when he officially found out he made the team Saturday.
“Man, I was in my room, and I just dropped down to my knees, and I just thanked God,” Butler said. “It was a lot of work, a lot of sweat, blood and even tears. And it paid off.”
Thumbnail photo via Raj Mehta/USA TODAY Sports Images