US Open 2020 LIVE updates: Alex de Minaur vs Dominic Thiem

From the courts of southern Sydney to Arthur Ashe Stadium, Alex de Minaur takes on world no.3 Dominic Thiem in the US Open quarter-finals.

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Myer swings to $172m loss as it takes huge pandemic hit

Struggling department store Myer has swung to a heavy loss after the retailer was forced to write down the value of its brand names after being battered by the COVID-19 crisis.

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Good Samaritans stabbed with scissors, punched in the face in brutal Perth attack

When a man and a woman went to check on a man who was lying in their front yard in inner-city Perth a brutal attack on the pair ensued, police claim.

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Dinghy skipper dies after falling overboard near South Stradbroke Island

The 51-year-old man was pulled from the water by witnesses, who tried to revive him on their way back to land.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Indonesia to US and China: Don't trap us in your rivalry

JAKARTA - Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi cautioned the United States and China on Tuesday (Sept 8) not to entangle her country in their regional struggle for influence, telling the two superpowers: "We don't want to get trapped by this rivalry." Ms Retno, the chief diplomatic envoy for South-east Asia's largest country, made the comment in an interview with Reuters ahead of a series of key meetings of regional foreign ministers this week, some of which will include their US and China counterparts. Military activity in the South China Sea has increased this year alongside hostile rhetoric and antagonistic policy moves from China and the United States, raising concerns among some South-east Asian states that the risk of armed conflict is rising. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have ratcheted up their diplomacy in the region in an effort to persuade members of Asean to be more sympathetic to their positions. As well as Indonesia, Asean comprises nine other states: Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.

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BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: Oxford University vaccine trial paused after participant falls ill

AstraZeneca describes the pause in its keenly-awaited final clinical trials as routine.


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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-54082192

BBC NEWS - Amazon: In the cross-hairs of coronavirus and forest fires

People living in the Brazilian Amazon are facing the twin dangers of the coronavirus and forest fires.


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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-54071411

BBC NEWS - How Sudan's rebel deal offers lifeline for peace

Promises to end the devastating wars in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile come with a price tag.


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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-54071959

BBC NEWS - US election 2020: Has Trump kept his promises on the military?

The president pledged to increase military funding and bring US troops home. What has he achieved?


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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2020-54060026

BBC NEWS - Nord Stream 2: Why Germany may pull plug on Russian pipeline

The controversial pipeline could be at risk after Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned.


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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54070046

BBC NEWS - India coronavirus: Rumours stall testing in Punjab

People are refusing to get tested in India's Punjab state as rumours fly about the coronavirus.


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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-54068007

Trump is taking credit for the Fed's work on the economy

President Donald Trump is using the pre-pandemic economy to make a case for his reelection, but his story is leaving out a crucial detail.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lakers' Anthony Davis Highlight All-Defensive Teams

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lakers big man Anthony Davis highlight the league's All-Defensive teams, which were released Tuesday.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lakers big man Anthony Davis highlight the league's All-Defensive teams, which were released Tuesday.

76ers guard Ben Simmons, Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Marcus Smart round out the league's All-Defensive First Team. 

Clippers forward, Kawhi Leonard, Bucks center Brook Lopez, Heat forward Bam Adebayo, Clippers guard Patrick Beverley and Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe highlight the league's Second Team. 

In late August, the league announced that Antetokounmpo had won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award. 

The anchor of Milwaukee's stellar unit had 75 first-place votes, 18 second-place votes and three third-place votes. Lakers big Anthony Davis finished second in the voting while Jazz center Rudy Gobert, 76ers guard Ben Simmons and Heat forward Bam Adebayo finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively. 

Only Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon won both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year award in the same season. Just five players in league history have won both awards in the same career. 

Davis has now made the league's All-Defensive First Team for the second time in his career. He also has made two Second Team appearances. Gobert has made four straight All-Defensive First Team appearances, and has won two Defensive Player of the Year awards. 

Smart has made First Team for the second straight season while Simmons is a First Team All-Defensive player for the first time in his career. 

September 09, 2020 at 05:03AM
Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lakers' Anthony Davis Highlight All-Defensive Teams

New on Sports Illustrated: Atlanta United-Inter Miami Preview

It is amazing what a little maturity in the midfield can provide.

After an impressive debut by World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi, expansion side Inter Miami attempt to secure their first three-match unbeaten streak in club history Wednesday night when they host Atlanta United.

Inter (1-6-2) clearly have made the most of their time following a three-and-out performance at MLS Is Back in July. They gave claimed five points from their four matches and played out back-to-back scoreless draws in the last two, first against Atlanta United on Sept. 1 and then versus fellow expansion side Nashville SC on Sunday.

The latter was Matuidi's first time wearing Inter Miami colors, with the France international finally cleared to play following completion of self-quarantine regulations following his arrival from Juventus. Matuidi played 79 minutes, completing 90 percent of his 52 passes that included 31 in the opposing half, and he also registered two key passes and six possession wins.

"I was expecting probably closer to 60 minutes, but with coach we decided to keep pushing a bit further. I have a very good first impression of the league, this is definitely a league that requires a lot from us," Matuidi told the team's official website. "The players show a lot of effort and a lot of intensity. I will myself have to continue giving my 100% to help the team win, because that is ultimately the goal for any team.

"My role is very much like what I have been used to in my career, it is to help organize the team, push us forward, find the way to move us forward and set up players in attack, and help out pressing. Nothing has really changed from what I've been used to in my career which makes me really happy."

The one thing that will change, though not as much in the short-term with Phase One of the MLS schedule is the grind of travel in the United States, though Juventus offered some of those similarities with its Champions League schedule. Still, the early positive returns from the 33-year-old Matuidi were readily apparent.

Inter's biggest challenge is similar for most expansion sides - scoring goals. They have gone 311 minutes without scoring since Rodolfo Pizzaro bagged the eventual match-winner in a 3-2 victory over Orlando City SC on Aug. 22. Inter, though, has also not conceded 217 minutes since Anibal Godoy's strike consigned them to a 1-0 defeat to Nashville SC on Aug. 30.

Atlanta United did not have those offensive issues in large part due to striker Josef Martinez, who had 88 goals across the team's first three seasons in the MLS. But the Venezuela international is sidelined for the season through injury, and the Black Stripes (3-4-2) are in the midst of a rework under interim manager Stephen Glass.

Atlanta United has also recorded consecutive draws and coming off a 1-1 stalemate versus Orlando City on Saturday. Adam Jahn's stoppage-time header nicked a point for Atlanta as Glass' substitutions made a difference late. Jahn entered the contest in the 71st minute while Jake Mulraney, who provided the cross for Jahn's header, was inserted in the 84th minute.

"You saw a real resolve in there and a determination not to get beat," Glass said. "The group of players that were on the pitch at the end, they injected some energy and pace and in general in the second half, I think we deserved what we got."

Glass has been trying to get his team to start better, which has been a season-long problem as Atlanta United have bagged only one first-half goal. That may be a challenge following the departure of Pity Martinez, but the second half of Saturday's draw was one of the best 45-minute stretches the Five Stripes have played all season.

September 09, 2020 at 04:35AM
Atlanta United-Inter Miami Preview

New on Sports Illustrated: Clippers look to put Nuggets on brink in West semis

The Los Angeles Clippers look to seize control of their Western Conference semifinal series against Denver when they oppose the Nuggets in Game 4 on Wednesday night near Orlando.

The Clippers are in position to take a 3-1 series lead after outplaying the Nuggets down the stretch in Monday's Game 3. Los Angeles turned a seven-point, fourth-quarter deficit into a 113-107 victory to avoid falling behind in the series.

Denver coach Michael Malone knows the importance of Wednesday's game, and he also recalls that his club overcame a 3-1 deficit in the first round to slay the Utah Jazz.

Being written off in the opening round was annoying to Malone and he is tired of hearing people denigrate his team again.

"No one gives this team a chance to do a lot of things," Malone told reporters. "We don't really care what anybody thinks about us, especially outside of Colorado. It's the belief that we have in the locker room. It's been there since day one."

The Clippers had the stronger will in Game 3 behind the duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

George was just 13 of 32 from the floor in the first two games in the series before breaking out with 32 points on Monday. He was a stellar 12-for-18 shooting and knocked down 5 of 7 3-point attempts.

Leonard recorded 23 points, 14 rebounds and six assists on a night in which he was just the club's second-best offensive player.

"I've got to help him," George said of taking more of the scoring load to take pressure off Leonard. "Kawhi's done more than enough down this stretch. Some nights it's not going to be his night and I have to be myself. I have to help him, pull the weight, make plays, make shots.

"Give him credit, getting us this far, but he can't go into every game with that pressure that he's got to be great on both ends."

Leonard made the defensive play of the contest when he rejected a dunk attempt by Denver guard Jamal Murray with just 1:47 remaining. Replays displayed that the bulk of the block was done by Leonard's outstretched left middle finger.

"I didn't know it was one finger. It was a heck of a play," Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "It was impressive. I didn't even know where he came from. It was a heck of a play."

That play summed up a tough night for Murray, who had just 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting.

Since scoring 50, 42 and 50 in three straight games in the Utah series, Murray has scored 17 or fewer in three of Denver's last four games. That includes a 12-point showing in Game 1 of this series.

"Jamal had some wide-open looks, and I could tell he was starting to get down on himself," Malone said after Game 3. "I'm just trying to uplift him. We're going nowhere without Jamal Murray and his offense, and I know he'll be better come Game 4."

So far, Murray has connected on 20 of 53 shots (37.7 percent) in this series, including 7 of 23 from 3-point range.

"It wasn't really anything that they did -- not at all," Murray said. "I just missed so many shots," Murray said. "I just got to be better. I feel like if I just make a couple of those or get my percentages up a little bit, it can change the game, so I put that game on me. I got to give my team a little more help than that."

Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic was superb in Game 3 with 32 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists despite playing with a sore right wrist.

The Clippers will try to slow Denver's big man on Wednesday while also vowing to step up their defensive intensity.

And Leonard said that means everyone stepping it up.

"It's a team effort," Leonard said. "You can't win a basketball game with just one player."

--Field Level Media

September 09, 2020 at 04:23AM
Clippers look to put Nuggets on brink in West semis

Queensland detects eight new COVID-19 cases

Queensland has recorded 8 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, including two more health workers. 

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
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'Hundreds could have been infected': Sydney pub the first to be shut after repeated breaches

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has condemned the Unity Hotel in Balmain for repeatedly ignoring COVID-19 rules.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
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Electrical shark repellent devices considered after fatal Gold Coast shark attack

Nick Slater, 46, was fatally mauled on the leg off Greenmount Beach in Coolangatta just after 5pm on Tuesday.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
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Queensland detects eight new COVID-19 cases

Queensland has recorded 8 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, including two more health workers. 

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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'Hundreds could have been infected': Sydney pub the first to be shut after repeated breaches

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has condemned the Unity Hotel in Balmain for repeatedly ignoring COVID-19 rules.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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What to expect from Apple's September 15 event

The 5G iPhone 12 is unlikely to make an appearance, but expect to see new watches and potentially new iPads.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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AstraZeneca puts COVID-19 vaccine trial on hold over safety concern

AstraZeneca has put a hold on the trial of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate being developed with Oxford University after a suspected serious adverse reaction in a study participant

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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ABC's presidential podcast moves past Russia in new season

America, If You're Listening dives deep on the last four years of Donald Trump.

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AFL club membership tally falls for first time in 20 years

AFL club membership has fallen for just the second time in 30 years but five clubs have still managed to break their all-time records despite the hit of COVID-19.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Electrical shark repellent devices considered after fatal Gold Coast shark attack

Nick Slater, 46, was fatally mauled on the leg off Greenmount Beach in Coolangatta just after 5pm on Tuesday.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Race-by-race preview and tips for Canterbury on Wednesday

Everything you need to know to find a winner at the mid-week city meeting.

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Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

Follow news and events as they happen.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Offense the focus for Golden Knights in Game 2 vs. Stars

The Vegas Golden Knights are looking to find their offense as they head into Game 2 of the Western Conference finals with the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night in Edmonton.

The top-seeded Golden Knights were shut out for the second time in three games in Sunday night's Game 1 as Dallas goaltender Anton Khudobin stopped 25 shots while picking up his first career playoff shutout in a 1-0 victory.

Vegas, which managed just one shot on goal during one 15 1/2-minute stretch in the second period, has prided itself on rolling out four productive lines and got off to high-scoring start to the postseason, scoring 15 goals in three round-robin wins and 15 more in its five-game first round series victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Golden Knights then followed that up with another 15 goals while taking a 3-1 series lead in their second round matchup with Vancouver.

But dating back to William Karlsson's goal at the 8:29 mark in the third period of a 5-3 win over the Canucks in Game 4, Vegas forwards have only managed two empty-net goals -- both at the end of Friday's Game 7 against Vancouver -- over a span of 251 minutes and 31 seconds. Meanwhile, defenseman Shea Theodore scored twice during that span.

Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer believes goals will continue to be at a premium in what figures to be a physical and tight-checking series with the Stars.

"They were exactly what we expected them to be," DeBoer said. "They were one or two in the league in all the defensive analytics all year. They play a hard, heavy game. They make you work for your offense.

"This is going to be a different series, and we're going to have to get our head around that and find a way to create offense. It's not going to look or feel like the Chicago series or the Vancouver series."

Although both teams were coming off emotional Game 7 second round victories on Friday -- Dallas defeated Colorado, 5-4, in overtime while Vegas blanked Vancouver 3-0 -- the Stars looked like the fresher team in Game 1. Dallas held Vegas to just 12 shots on goal and 20 shot attempts over the first two periods.

"It just took us too long to get into the game, took us too long to get that energy, that fire, that bravado that you need to play in these types of games," Vegas defenseman Nate Schmidt said. "You're in the final four. Every team is good."

The Golden Knights could get a lift with the return of Ryan Reaves. The fourth-line forward served a one-game suspension in Game 1 for his illegal check to the head of Canucks forward Tyler Motte in the Game 7 win on Friday.

"He brings physicality, but he brings energy to our group too," DeBoer said.

Dallas scored on its first shot on goal when defenseman John Klingberg scooped up a loose puck in the slot and fired a wrist shot past Marc-Andre Fleury for his third goal of the playoffs. That was all Khudobin, who turned aside 13 shots in the third period, and the Stars needed.

"(Khudobin) stepped up today and played a great game for us," Klingberg said. "He won the game for us. I think we gave them a little too much life in the third period, but we'll take it. We'll move on and we're up 1-0."

"I know we only scored one goal, (but) we had lots of opportunities tonight and Fleury was outstanding for them as Khudobin was for us," said coach Rick Bowness. "But that's Dallas Stars hockey."

--Field Level Media

September 08, 2020 at 04:13AM
Offense the focus for Golden Knights in Game 2 vs. Stars

New on Sports Illustrated: FC Dallas-Minnesota United Preview

Following a much-needed victory, Minnesota United FC finally has something positive to build on.

United (4-3-2) aims to win consecutive matches for the first time upon the resumption of the regular season on Wednesday night when they look to avenge an earlier loss to banged-up FC Dallas.

Mired in an 0-3-0 rot since the league returned from the MLS is Back Tournament, Minnesota broke out for a 4-0 rout of Real Salt Lake on Sunday. Robin Lod recorded a brace while Chase Gasper and Jacori Hayes each posted a goal as United did all of its scoring in the second half.

"It was a huge game for us," coach Adrian Heath told Minnesota's official website. "We're a little bit fragile at this moment in time, so (the victory) might have been a game changer. If ever a team needs some luck here, we deserve some."

While the offensive burst was welcomed after totaling two goals in the previous three contests, earning a clean sheet might have been the most important aspect of Minnesota's recent triumph. United had conceded three goals in each of its previous two contests and eight total during the three-game slide.

Minnesota now hopes for a better overall effort against Dallas after it fell 3-1 away from home on Aug. 29. Hassani Dotson tallied United's lone goal in that match, while Fafa Picault, Jesus Ferreira and Reto Ziegler each scored for FCD (2-1-4).

Dallas finds itself amid a 1-0-3 stretch following a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City last Tuesday. Franco Jara put FCD up 1-0 on nine minutes, but host SKC leveled the match just before halftime.

While Dallas has not tasted defeat of late, it's still below the playoff line in the Western Conference. More pressing, the club is dealing with a rash of injuries. Midfielder Bryan Acosta, defender Matt Hedges and keeper Jimmy Mauer each left the Kansas City contest, and their status for Wednesday is uncertain.

Picault's fitness level also remains an issue while budding star Paxton Pomykal is expected to miss the rest of the season following hip surgery.

"We have to just keep moving forward, and that's what having a full roster and team is all about," coach Luchi Gonzalez told FC Dallas' official website. "We've got a very competitive team. I'd say we have two to three players in every position. And that's what we're all about. We're planning on having guys step up now."

Dallas is 5-2-0 all-time against United, but only one of those victories have come in three trips to Minnesota.

September 07, 2020 at 09:23PM
FC Dallas-Minnesota United Preview

'One million per cent committed': Barrett won't back out of Bulldogs deal

Phil Gould has warned against it, but Trent Barrett remains committed to coaching the Bulldogs for the next three years.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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When money dies, it's gold's time to shine

In uncertain times, gold comes into its own as a means of defending wealth.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Essendon's Conor McKenna retires

Essendon star Conor McKenna has retired effective immediately.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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The French Open will have crowds but it won't have Ashleigh Barty

Australian Ash Barty won't be defending her French Open title in Paris, the world No.1 has announced.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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The latest illustrations from artist Andrew Dyson

Some of his best work

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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The latest illustrations from artist Cathy Wilcox

The latest work by Sydney Morning Herald editorial cartoonist Cathy Wilcox.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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The latest illustrations from artist Matt Golding

Illustrations by the artist from The Age.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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AFL boss reads the riot act to clubs over COVID breaches

It's not only the teams in club hubs that are on notice about restrictions. Four hundred people including AFL top brass, club executives, families of players and media representatives in the league's quarantine hub on the Gold Coast are subject to strict rules. 

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Exhausted Indian doctors battle surging Covid-19 cases

NEW DELHI - Doctors at one of the largest private Covid-19 facilities in the Indian capital say they are exhausted and facing staff shortages after nearly six months of relentless work. India’s total cases of the novel coronavirus crossed 4.2 million on Monday, overtaking Brazil as the second worst-hit country after the United States. The federal government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given states more freedom to reopen their economies after a 3-month shutdown that saw unemployment surge and growth contract by a quarter. After dipping under 1,000 cases per day in the summer, New Delhi is now reporting more than 3,000 per day as the city opens up, including restarting its metro system on Monday for the first time since March. Hospitals in the capital are under additional pressure as patients from other states travel into the city to seek better healthcare.

from Asia
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Thai court releases key anti-government activists

BANGKOK  - Two prominent Thai activists arrested last month for their roles in anti-government rallies were released on Monday (Sept 7) after spending five days in prison for bail breaches, after police told a court there was no grounds to detain them. Human Rights lawyer Anon Nampa, 36, and student activist Panupong Jadnok, 24, were sent to a Bangkok remand prison last week when a court ruled their recent political activities were against their bail conditions, which the pair rejected. But police from the precinct that initially arrested the pair revoked the detention request, saying an investigation into their conduct while on bail showed there was no need to hold them, a Criminal Court statement said on Monday. "The court considered this and issued an order for their release," it said. Both have participated in near-daily protests in the past two months to demand the military steps back from politics and the removal of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who first came to power in a 2014 coup. Mr Prayut last month begged protesters "not to create chaos"and said problems can he solved together.

from Asia
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BBC NEWS - Australian journalists flown out of China 'amid diplomatic standoff'

The two journalists from different organisations left due to diplomatic tensions, local media report.


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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-54066869

BBC NEWS - EU demands release of Belarus political prisoners and warns of sanctions

The strong statement comes after the disappearance of leading opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova.


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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54066464

BBC NEWS - World Trade Organization: How an African head could make a difference

An African has never been at the helm of the global trade body, but that could soon change.


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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-54058640

BBC NEWS : Government pledges to increase number of affordable homes

A new shared ownership model has been launched to help more people onto the property ladder.


September 08, 2020 at 05:08AM

from BBC News - Business
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54062721

New on Sports Illustrated: MAQB: Cam Newton Remains Misunderstood; Lions May Extend Adrian Peterson's Career; More

Cam Newton's coaches and teammates swear by him; at some point people should listen.

Three days left!

• It was interesting to see Cam Newton say what he said on Boston radio this morning, because it lines up with a belief I’ve had for a good five years now: that he’s among the most misunderstood athletes in American sports. His teammates swear by him, and you can ask first-class guys like Thomas Davis, Luke Kuechly, Ryan Kalil and Greg Olsen. His coaches love him. And really, the problem has been that the narrative out there pre-draft continued post-draft, and Newton never cared to correct it. So it’s just sort of sat there forever, and it’s something that actually makes me really respect the 31-year-old quarterback. He’s so comfortable in his own skin, that what everyone else thinks doesn’t matter even a little to him. It’s something I brought up to Ron Rivera, when Rivera and I were talking about how his experience with Newton informs him on developing Dwayne Haskins, and Rivera was pretty quick to agree with the idea. “I used to tell the guys, ‘Hey, if you can live your life within certain parameters, a certain set of rules, then do so. But don’t lose your personality,’” said Rivera. “And that was one thing Cam took to heart, he never lost his personality. He was true to who he is, and because of it, he was truly misunderstood.” Hopefully, that changes over time. And if it doesn’t? It sure seems like Newton’s fine with that, too.

• Oregon LT Penei Sewell declaring should surprise no one—he may have been the first tackle taken in last year’s draft, had he been eligible to go pro. As it stands now, while I did get a little pushback on Monday in declaring him the next Anthony Munoz, the 6' 6", 331-pound monster is the leader in the clubhouse to be the first non-quarterback taken in April. Sewell won the Outland Trophy last year as college football’s top lineman and, get this, he doesn’t turn 20 for another month. Even at that size, one AFC executive referred to him, via text on Monday, as an “easy athlete.” Another scouting director said he, “really has everything you’re looking for. … Thick-bodied blocker that is consistent, good in both phases of the game, and has the physical traits of size and strength to go along with really good tape.” The delay in the Pac-12 season, no doubt, was a factor in Sewell’s decision to go pro. And he’s one of the few where there really shouldn’t be much argument over the decision he made.

• While we’re on college football, that season is underway. And with NFL kickoff coming in three days, I figured it made sense to check in with one of SI’s college football insiders. Ross Dellenger was at Southern Miss/South Alabama on Thursday, and he’s going to BYU/Navy tonight. So I asked him to explain what being at a COVID-era game was like, to give you an idea on what’s coming. Here’s what Ross sent me on the experience: The pageantry of college football is what makes it so special. The roar of tens of thousands of fans. A campus buzzing with life. Fight songs from the marching band. But the FBS kickoff last Thursday in Hattiesburg, Miss. had none of that. No band. An empty campus. Fewer than 10,000 fans. It was weird, but we'd all better get used to it, right? This is football in 2020: masked fans seated six feet apart watching what could be some very awful play in stadiums nearly empty. So what was it like? We sat down with the fans for a full quarter and that produced some interesting moments. Sideline noise was clearer than normal. Individual voices could be heard echoing across the stands. But, still, football fans did their thing. A 13-point favorite, Southern Miss found itself down 13-0 in the first 12 minutes of the game against South Alabama, triggering frustration from the stands. One USM fan, clutching a Michelob Ultra in each hand, proclaimed, “They’re whipping our ass!” Ah yes, college football is back!

• Would you believe me if I said the situation in Detroit gives Adrian Peterson a shot to really extend his career? Follow me here … Decisions by New Orleans and Washington to let him go were made, in part, because he would’ve been a role player—part of a rotation at the position—and there was some doubt over how he’d handle being in the kind of spot. Well in Detroit, early on at least, he’ll probably have a shot to be the guy. But the Lions have a couple of young guys they really like at the position, in Kerryon Johnson and D’Andre Swift, and if those guys get healthy and get going, that would put Peterson in a platoon. And if Peterson shows he can produce in that sort of spot, and be good for the young guys around him, then I do think the league would start to look at him in a little different light—just look at how helping young guys along helped extend Josh McCown’s career.

• Shout out to my old colleague Ian Rapoport for his story on the discussed Saints/Browns swap. I love the idea of it, and if you follow the league closely you probably remember Cleveland doing something similar in 2017 with Brock Osweiler. The Browns got a 2018 second-rounder and 2017 sixth-rounder, and sent a 2017 fourth-rounder to Houston for taking on Osweiler’s outsized contract. That second-round pick wound up being Nick Chubb, who rushed for 1,464 yards last year while making less than $1 million. So I’d say that one worked out for Cleveland. And the team’s director of player personnel at the time was … Andrew Berry, who’s now the Browns’ GM. I applaud his effort on this one. He’s got a league-leading $34.74 million in cap space. Turning some of that into a second-round pick would’ve been a coup, and he deserves credit for trying.

• The Dolphins tabbed Ryan Fitzpatrick as their starter, officially, on Monday. But the truth is, the writing had been on the wall for a while. As coach Brian Flores explained in his presser, the absence of spring and preseason games, and the truncating of training camp, really forced teams’ hands on these sorts of things. Really, for most in this sort of spot, it was only fair to have a starter at the position in mind, in order to use the time they did have to build toward the season. And really, the Dolphins handled this the same way the Chargers did in going with Tyrod Taylor and the Bengals did in going all-in with Joe Burrow from the start—giving one guy a great majority of the reps through camp. The Bears, this year, were the outlier in that they had a true competition at quarterback. So how Mitchell Trubisky plays will be interesting.

• The Texans’ spending over the last year is worth noting. They got a lot of attention for declining to acquiesce to the demands of Jadeveon Clowney and DeAndre Hopkins, but they’ve hardly shied away from paying their own. These six deals are on the team’s ledger, all done in the last 12 months.

• QB Deshaun Watson, $39.0 million APY
• LT Laremy Tunsil, $22.0 million APY
• ILB Zach Cunningham, $14.5 million APY
• OLB Whitney Mercilus $13.5 million APY
• C Nick Martin $11.0 million APY
• ILB Bernardrick McKinney $10.0 million APY

All but Tunsil are homegrown, and even Tunsil didn’t get paid until he got a year in the organization under his belt. In doing all this, the Texans, under their new structure (with coach Bill O’Brien as GM, and Jack Easterby as EVP of football ops), have defined what sort of players and people they reward, and also gave a pretty clear indication of how they believe a team should be built (all six of those guys play pretty close to where the ball is snapped).

• It took no time for NFL teams to take advantage of the new injured reserve rules. The Patriots (Damien Harris), Colts (Trey Burton) and Raiders (Marcus Mariota), among others, put significant players with relatively minor injuries on IR on Monday, saving roster spots for now with the knowledge they’ll be able to have those guys back, if they’re healed up, three weeks from now. Putting a guy on IR used to be a massive decision. This year, it won’t be. And while this is a COVID-19 measure, you have to wonder if the NFL will look at this as a dry run for greater reform to the IR rules. The league has loosened the rules progressively over the last few years, via the designated-for-returned tweaks (which allowed players to come back off IR). This is a much more drastic change, of course. But it’s not like these sorts of rules are foreign in other sports—baseball has different levels of its injured list—and you can bet teams are going to like having the flexibility to move guys on and off the list.

• Six of the top eight picks from 2016 are all on rich second contracts, and the two that aren’t certainly have a case to get paid. So it’ll be interesting to see how the Rams handle Jalen Ramsey and the Ravens handle Ronnie Stanley, as they enter the option years on their rookie deals. Also, that all eight stand to get top-of-the-market veteran contracts (eighth pick Jack Conklin is the only who’s had to go to free agency to get his) shows a pretty remarkable hit rate for that class.

• While we’re on the topic of second contracts—corner Tre’Davious White was the second player from the Bills’ 2017 draft class to score his, joining left tackle Dion Dawkins. Linebacker Matt Milano is in line for one too. And that the team got three foundational pieces in one draft cycle is absolutely noteworthy. As is the fact that coach Sean McDermott basically ran that draft, with outgoing GM Doug Whaley overseeing the scouting department at the time. The Bills have a bright future for a bunch of reasons. But there’s no question that it started with hitting big on three of the six picks they had that year. The downside? Well, the downside is that they traded out of 2017’s 10th pick as part of that maneuvering—which set them up to get both Josh Allen and Tremaine Edmunds in 2018, but also means they vacated a slot where some quarterback named Patrick Mahomes happened to get drafted. 

September 08, 2020 at 05:18AM
MAQB: Cam Newton Remains Misunderstood; Lions May Extend Adrian Peterson's Career; More

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