Report reveals why Kawhi Leonard’s trade is still on hold
The Los Angeles Clippers received word on their punishment in the Kawhi Leonard investigation nearly a week ago, but the trade sending Leonard to the Toronto Raptors still has not been made official. As it turns out, the Clippers may be more to blame for that than the Raptors are.
One key reason for the delay, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, is that the Clippers are still trying to decide who is running the front office. Owner Steve Ballmer and president Lawrence Frank were both suspended for their roles in the Leonard scandal, thus depriving the organization of their top two decision-makers.
Prime among reasons why Kawhi Leonard's trade to Toronto has yet to be finalized: Sources tell @TheSteinLine and me the Clippers are still working through their new front office structure after NBA suspensions for Steve Ballmer, Lawrence Frank.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) September 8, 2026
More NBA: https://t.co/DA9iabgPaL pic.twitter.com/Sgv14NuUj4
Ballmer has been suspended for a full year, while Frank’s suspension will last six months. Obviously, that leaves both unavailable at the moment, but someone has to officially sign off on the deal sending Leonard to Toronto.
The Clippers and Raptors initially came to terms on the deal in late June. However, as a result of the NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap to pay Leonard additional money, the two sides held off on finalizing the deal due to the Raptors’ unwillingness to put themselves at risk of punishment.
By all accounts, the Leonard trade will still be completed as previously agreed. At this point, no one seems to know when.
Rams make decision on Aaron Donald’s status for Week 1
The Los Angeles Rams have made a decision on Aaron Donald’s status for Week 1.
Rams coach Sean McVay announced Tuesday that Donald will not play in the team’s Week 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport reported that Donald is not even making the trip to Australia with the team.
Sources: Rams standout DT Aaron Donald will not travel to Australia for Thursday night’s opener against the 49ers and will be inactive, per me and @rapsheet. The Rams want to give Donald more time to ramp up before making his much-anticipated return after two seasons of… pic.twitter.com/avAbPTtPUA
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 8, 2026
This news does not come as a huge surprise. It was reported earlier in the week that Donald’s status for the game was up in the air, as the defensive tackle has had a very limited preseason and will need time to get back up to game speed.
Other reports have suggested that it might not be until Week 3 that Donald makes his return to action. The 49ers game that he is already certain to sit out is the biggest one on the team’s early-season schedule, so there is no advantage to rushing him back.
Even without Donald, the Rams have an embarrassment of riches on their defensive front. Myles Garrett will anchor the group along with Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, Kobie Turner, and Byron Young.
Dabo Swinney goes off on bizarre rant toward reporter
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney lost his cool at a reporter on Monday over a fairly innocent question about his team.
At Swinney’s Tuesday press conference, Chapel Fowler of The State asked the coach if Saturday’s blowout loss to LSU left him with any regrets about his offseason roster construction. Swinney’s response was to dismiss Fowler as a “gotcha guy” and treat the question as unfair.
“Chapel, you come with all these questions. You’re the gotcha guy. No, I don’t. I don’t, man. I regret being 0-1 right now,” Swinney said. “Can you ask me that at the end of the season? The season ain’t over. We got one game, we got 11 more. What if we go 11-1?
“I’m not answering questions like that, Chapel. I know that’s your role in this environment, to be the guy that wants to create all the controversy and ask the controversial questions. If that’s who you are, it’s fine. I get it. But I’ll answer that at the end of the season. … Did you play football? They give you 12 games, and at the end of the year, you count them up. That’s when those types of questions are fair to me. Not after one game to maybe the best team in the country.”
Full response from Dabo here: https://t.co/1Xpau77Yv3 pic.twitter.com/WaITowkb11
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) September 8, 2026
There was not anything terribly unfair about the question. Swinney’s team lost 51-10 to LSU and was never even in the game. The coach very easily could have said no and moved on, but he really was genuinely bothered to be asked this.
Swinney is known for being very defensive about his program. That was fine when they were succeeding, but he is coming off a pedestrian 7-6 season. In addition, he has been widely criticized for his refusal to adapt to the changing environment of college football.
One might interpret Swinney’s comments as evidence that he is feeling the pressure after such an ugly loss. Next week’s game against Georgia Southern should provide him with a respite, albeit a temporary one.
MAC appeals to NCAA over Western Michigan-Michigan ending
The Mid-American Conference is taking an aggressive attitude toward how Saturday’s game between Michigan and Western Michigan ended.
In a statement, MAC commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said it was “evident” that replay protocol was not properly followed in the final moments of Michigan’s controversial 13-12 victory at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Saturday. Replay protocol states that the game clock used by the broadcast feed should be used on time decisions, while the Big Ten relied on the clock within its own replay system.
“The Mid-American Conference has submitted formal appeals to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff. The MAC is requesting that those bodies recognize Western Michigan as the actual winner of the game for purposes of their respective rankings, evaluations and selection deliberations, and take such other corrective action as may well be within their authority,” the statement read.
Official Statement Regarding Western Michigan – Michigan Football Game
— MACtion (@MACSports) September 8, 2026
🗒️: https://t.co/eYw49T9ABR pic.twitter.com/LKXQ0qm5s9
The MAC’s request might not necessarily overturn the result of the game in the record books. However, this suggests that they would like the game to be treated like a Western Michigan win for purposes of rankings and College Football Playoff selection, however unlikely that outcome may be.
Notably, the MAC appears to be taking a different approach than Western Michigan itself. The school indicated that it would not appeal the outcome, though that was largely because they did not see any mechanism through which they could do so.
The Big Ten released the communications from its replay system that showed how the decision was ultimately made to put one second back on the clock in Saturday’s game, which allowed the Wolverines to score on a game-winning Hail Mary. That was not enough to silence the critics who feel that the Broncos were robbed of an upset victory by behind-the-scenes machinations.
Texans have big plans for newly-acquired wide receiver
The Houston Texans clearly believe they have pulled off something of a heist with their trade for wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC reported Tuesday that the Texans have “big plans” for Boutte and intend to utilize him immediately in the team’s season opener against the Buffalo Bills. The wide receiver already has some familiarity with the team’s offense, as Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley is a former New England Patriots assistant whose scheme is not dissimilar to that of Josh McDaniels.
The expectation is that Boutte may serve as something of a big-play receiver and a significant downfield threat for Houston.
The #Texans have big plans for new wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 8, 2026
Immediate plans, not in the distant future.
That's why the Texans traded for the former New England #Patriots starter in exchange for hard-hitting safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round draft selection.
The… https://t.co/ptalU8Snop
The Texans made a fairly aggressive trade for Boutte in late August. The fourth-year receiver has demonstrated that he can certainly contribute at the NFL level, as he caught six touchdowns for the Patriots last season. He added one more in the playoffs that might have been the best catch of the entire postseason.
Boutte is coming off a strong training camp, but the Patriots felt he was expendable after they acquired AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs in the offseason. The Texans, whose wide receiver corps have been hit hard by injuries, clearly think he can be a major contributor.
2-time Eagles Super Bowl champion is officially retiring
Longtime Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Brandon Graham is retiring, and this time he says it will stay that way.
At Tuesday’s “Breakfast With The Birds” event, Graham said he was “officially done” with his playing career. He added that he will still be around the organization, but his playing career is finished.
“I’m still around giving wisdom and helping the guys. It’s an adjustment for me, but it’s a great adjustment because it’s all about my kids and my family, trying to make sure I’m there for that,” Graham said.
At today’s Breakfast with the Birds @brandongraham55 says he’s “officially done” pic.twitter.com/rnLv02yHFp
— rob kuestner (@rkuestnernbc10) September 8, 2026
Graham initially retired after the 2024 season in which the Eagles won a Super Bowl. However, he made a comeback midway through 2025, and collected three sacks in nine games for the team.
A former Pro Bowl selection, Graham was a part of two Eagles Super Bowl winners. Eagles fans will best remember him for his strip sack of Tom Brady during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LII, which played a major role in wrapping up the game for Philadelphia.
For his career, Graham collected 79.5 sacks over the course of 16 seasons. The Eagles will remain the only organization he ever played for.
NBA insider makes prediction about the Kawhi Leonard trade
Even though the NBA has concluded its investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers, the long-agreed Kawhi Leonard trade has yet to officially be consummated. That has led to speculation that either the Clippers or Toronto Raptors might seek to make changes to the deal.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said in the latest episode of “Brian Windhorst and the Hoop Collective” that he has been cautioned against implying too strongly that the Leonard trade is a certainty to go through. However, he also predicted that the deal would go through without changes.
“Well, this is Monday night. We’ll see what happens on Tuesday. In talking to people, I think that trade is going to go through and I think it’s going to go through as is,” Windhorst said, via RealGM. “I was scolded for implying. Or maybe not implying, or wondering whether the terms could get altered.
“People say in the NBA your word is important. They have agreed on this trade and I think they’re going to go through with it as constructed.”
The Clippers had agreed to trade Leonard to Toronto at the end of June. The deal was not made official, however, because the Raptors did not want to be on the hook for any punishments that came out of an investigation into the Clippers’ circumvention of salary cap rules to pay Leonard extra money.
The NBA announced their findings in that investigation last week, but the Leonard trade still has not been completed. The Raptors have kept quiet about the status of the deal during that time.
SEC files lawsuit threatening to expel LSU from league
The SEC is seeking the authority to expel LSU from the league as part of a new amendment to its federal lawsuit against the school.
In a filing, the SEC said it was seeking a temporary restraining order to “protect the right of the Conference and its member institutions to govern themselves.” The league confirmed that member CEOs will meet Thursday in order to decide whether to expel LSU from the conference.
SEC statement on its amended complaint in its federal lawsuit against LSU, in which it reveals the conference CEOs will meet Thursday to decide whether to expel LSU from the conference. pic.twitter.com/MsH9isKGxq
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) September 8, 2026
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the SEC is not actually expected to go as far as to expel the Tigers. However, it underlines how serious the league’s efforts are to secure the authority to enforce their rules and keep member institutions in line.
LSU is at odds with the SEC over the school’s efforts to use players who previously signed NFL contracts. The conference is adamantly opposed to such efforts, but courts have so far ruled against that stance. The league has opted to sue LSU in an effort to secure the necessary authority to enforce rules against such players taking part in games.
So far, LSU has been defiant, though they did take one cautious move by holding two of the players in question out of Saturday’s season opener against Clemson out of an abundance of caution.
LSU has leaned on the court order as evidence that they are not breaking any rules, betting that it supersedes any of the SEC’s guidance. That stance has not been popular, but Lane Kiffin has made it abundantly clear that that is of no concern to him.
Fans flame Isaiah Thomas after he revealed his next goal
Isaiah Thomas’ confidence in his game is still through the roof, but many fans aren’t buying that he could dominate overseas like he seems to believe.
The two-time NBA All-Star recently opened up about his desire to continue his playing career outside the NBA. Thomas, who hasn’t seen action in the NBA since the 2024 playoffs with the Phoenix Suns, said he’s interested in playing abroad, confident he could “cook” anyone over the Atlantic – or somewhere else.
I want to hoop overseas for a year!!! I want that experience! And to cook them boys over that water 😂
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) September 6, 2026
Several fans who saw Thomas’ post flamed him for his overt braggadocio.
They actually play defense overthere and u washed af ma boy
— NVO (@Kevdrian_) September 6, 2026
Love the confidence, IT. Delusional, but still love it. I hope someone gives you a chance.
— Bertuğ (@BertugUtku) September 7, 2026
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA you would maybe get 8 mpg in a mid table team brother you SUCK 🫵🫵🫵
— tolgs (@tolgsing) September 7, 2026
You’re not like that buddy 😂😂🫵🏼
— Geo (@Flawwsin) September 6, 2026
Kemba was way better that you and was completely irrelevante overseas.
— Đorđe Deset (@DirtGeorge) September 7, 2026
Thomas’ best days are way behind him now. At 37 and with a notable injury history, the former Washington Huskies star could have already played his last game in the NBA, but overseas leagues offer him a chance to play competitive basketball.
He probably also has enough marketability for a top team in Europe or elsewhere to try to sign him and fill the stands.
Thomas has played in 556 NBA games with career averages of 17.5 points, 4.8 assistsa nd 2.4 rebounds. His best years in the league were with the Boston Celtics. During a stretch from 2015-16 to 2016-17, Thomas averaged 25.5 points on 44.6% shooting from the field and 37.1% from behind the arc, 6.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds over 158 games with Boston.
Steve Sarkisian draws laughter with opinion on Michigan’s win
Even Steve Sarkisian was left surprised by what happened in Saturday’s game between the No. 15 Michigan Wolverines and the Western Michigan Broncos at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
But more than the controversial call to add a second to the game clock that ultimately allowed Michigan to win on a Hail Mary throw by quarterback Bryce Underwood, it was what happened right after that seemingly surprised the Texas Longhorns head coach more.
“There’s a lot of moving parts that I’m not going to pretend to know everything about, but wow, what a finish,” Sarkisian told reporters during a press conference on Monday, via CJ Vogel of OnTexasFootball.
“You know, my biggest thing was, like, I was shocked they stormed the field. That was probably a surprise.”
Many believe it was beneath Michigan fans to celebrate the win in that manner, especially against a team the Wolverines were supposed to beat by nearly 30 points, according to the betting spread.
At the same time, it was clearly just a sigh of relief masquerading as a wild celebration by Wolverines fans, as a loss to Western Michigan would have significantly tanked Michigan’s College Football Playoff chances.
Meanwhile, Sarkisian and the No. 5 Longhorns easily passed their light test on Saturday, crushing the Texas State Bobcats at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, 59-7.
MLB game sets season record with remarkably quick finish
Time flew by like a Jesus Luzardo fastball during Monday’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves.
Thanks in large part to Luzardo efficiently mowing down batter after batter, the Phillies won the game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa., and it took them just 1 hour, 51 minutes to dispatch the visitors for a 1-0 victory.
Through Monday, that’s the fastest game in the 2026 MLB season, according to ESPN Insights.
Imagine going to the ballpark on Labor Day ⚾
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) September 7, 2026
You're expecting to be out for the day, gonna grab a couple dogs and drinks and then… the game is over in 1 hour, 51 minutes — the fastest game in MLB this season.
That's what just happened in the Phillies' 1-0 win over the… pic.twitter.com/iARlcnpGfi
In addition, the game is the fastest one involving the Phillies since 1989.
Luzardo was incredible, pulling off his first complete game. He surrendered just two hits and walked one, while recording 12 strikeouts. His signature sweeper was on point throughout his start, as he struck out six Atlanta hitters with that pitch and five with his four-seamer. The other was via a sinker.
The best part of it all is that he needed just 109 pitches to finish off the Braves.
Atlanta’s pitching was also remarkable, with Grant Holmes and Didier Fuentes combining for 10 strikeouts and only four hits allowed. It was not until the eighth inning that a run was scored in the game, with Kyle Schwarber launching a 415-foot solo blast off Fuentes.
Derrick Henry had a strong message on Super Bowl goal with Lamar Jackson
There is only one outcome and one outcome only that Derrick Henry wants to see in his tenure with the Baltimore Ravens, and it’s none other than raising the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
After 10 years with the Tennessee Titans, Henry decided to take his rushing prowess to the AFC North, signing with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024.
Since then, however, Baltimore has won just one playoff game despite the terrifying combo of Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Henry and the Ravens will try again in 2026, with the five-time Pro Bowl running back underscoring his desire to avoid ending his partnership with Jackson without a ring.
“It would be crazy for me to say I played with Lamar Jackson, and we didn’t win no championships,” the former Alabama Crimson Tide star RB said on a recent appearance on “The Lounge” podcast.
“I cannot have that. I do not want that to be a thing. We’ve got to do it.”
With a new head coach in Jesse Minter, the Ravens are hoping they can get over the hump and make a deep playoff run. Henry’s window as an elite running back is also closing as he will turn 33 in January, adding more pressure for Baltimore to win it all before his football powers begin to fade significantly.
In his first two seasons with Baltimore, Henry racked up 3,516 rushing yards with 32 touchdowns on 632 carries through 34 games.
Report: Bucks player ‘floated’ as Nuggets target before Peyton Watson trade
The Denver Nuggets ended their offseason saga with Peyton Watson by sending the guard-forward to the Cleveland Cavaliers via a complex five-team trade in August that also involved the Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets.
According to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post, as the Nuggets began exploring sign-and-trade options with Watson, the Bucks were among the teams that contacted Denver about a possible deal.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. appeared to pique the Nuggets’ interest, but Milwaukee ultimately did not make an offer to Denver for him. One interesting note about Watson and Jaquez is that they were former college teammates during their time with the UCLA Bruins.
Jaquez himself was involved in a huge trade in the offseason. The biggest of them all, in fact. The Miami Heat sent him to the Bucks as part of a package in exchange for two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo and veteran forward Bobby Portis.
The Clippers, Atlanta Hawks and the Portland Trail Blazers were the other teams that reached out to Denver about a potential sign-and-trade with Watson as the centerpiece. But at the end of the day, the Cavs won the Watson sweepstakes, as Cleveland looks to stay competitive in the East.
WNBA legend defends Caitlin Clark after Team USA close call
WNBA legend Tina Charles does not feel it’s fair to single out Caitlin Clark’s struggles in a recent close call by Team USA against Italy.
On Sunday, the Americans were nearly upset by Italy, with the tournament favorite USA coming away with a 55-52 victory.
The Indiana Fever star point guard Clark was held by Italy to just 1 point and a salty 0/6 shooting from the floor. For what it’s worth, she’s never failed to get a bucket in a college or WNBA game. The former WNBA Rookie of the Year received plenty of criticism for her forgettable performance, but Charles didn’t like hearing much of the derision focused on Clark.
“I think it’s a little bit unfair to isolate Caitlin Clark from Team USA,” she said on TNT’s pregame show before Monday’s game between Team USA and Czechia.
“Clark had the rhythm in the first game, so did Team USA. Clark struggled to find that rhythm (on Sunday), and so did Team USA. I think the lesson for Team USA and Clark, is okay, ‘What I’m used to doing is not available, or I’m not able to do that; what is the second thing I’m gonna do to impact this game? Like, what am I gonna do during this possession? What does this possession need from me?’”
Tina Charles on Caitlin Clark’s performance yesterday:
— Kyle Ingram (@SnapshotKyle) September 7, 2026
“I think it’s a little bit unfair to isolate Caitlin Clark from Team USA… pic.twitter.com/WYI5UWxs7a
To Charles’ point, none of Team USA’s players had a great game against Italy. Paige Bueckers scored 7 points on 2/5 shooting, while Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier combined for only 11 points on 3/14 shooting. For all the talent on the team, the Americans made only 28.6% of their field-goal attempts.
But Team USA bounced back against Czechia, finishing group play unscathed with a 105-64 win. This time around, the Americans shot 52.5%, with Clark scoring 9 points on 3/8 shooting.
Miami dunks on Florida State after power outage mishap against SMU
The University of Miami’s social media team is already in midseason form when it comes to trolling rivals.
Florida State University’s game on Monday against SMU was compromised by a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. The two squads had to play in unusual conditions, such as reduced lighting, no scoreboards, and, most significantly, compromised coach-to-player communication.
Players and coaches had to go old-school with signals replacing in-helmet audio and no iPads available on the sidelines.
Miami took the opportunity to tout that the Hurricanes’ home venue, Hard Rock Stadium, actually has working electricity sufficient to host a college football game.
“The lights are ON at our house,” the caption read. “See YOU at Hard Rock on Thursday.”
The lights are ON at our house 😉
— Miami Hurricanes (@MiamiHurricanes) September 8, 2026
See YOU at Hard Rock on Thursday 🙌 pic.twitter.com/DRElnDpKWU
On top of rival Hurricanes dunking on them on social media, the Seminoles also lost the actual football matchup to the Mustangs 27-24. Florida State benefited from four SMU turnovers but still succumbed to a go-ahead field goal with under 30 seconds left.
The “ACC Huddle” crew pointed out before the game that SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings would have an advantage amid the game’s unusual circumstances, given that he already had three years of experience under head coach Rhett Lashlee. That proved to be the case, as Jennings was unafraid to let it fly without the assistance of helmet audio. He went 26/34 for 430 yards with 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Jennings outperformed counterpart Ashton Daniels, who was only playing his second game in a Seminoles uniform. The Florida State QB went 12/25 for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Patriots sign Christian Gonzalez to historic new contract
The New England Patriots have gone all-in on cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Several reporters confirmed on Monday that the Patriots have agreed to sign Gonzalez to a historic 4-year, $135 million contract extension. According to NFL reporter Jordan Schultz, the deal includes $102 million in guaranteed money. The agreement makes Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in the history of the NFL.
BREAKING: The #Patriots and All-Pro CB Christian Gonzalez have agreed to a 4-year, $135M extension with $102M guaranteed, per multiple sources.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 8, 2026
The deal, done by @WinSportsGroup, makes Gonzalez, who earned Pro Bowl honors last season, the NFL’s highest-paid CB in history. pic.twitter.com/gJF9WLNPDD
Per Schultz, negotiations on a Gonzalez extension “had gone dead” before the Patriots “suddenly got serious” about striking a deal before the start of the 2026 season. New England brass did not want to go into a new campaign with arguably the team’s best defensive player unhappy with his contract.
Gonzalez earned his first Pro Bowl nod last season, tallying 69 combined tackles and 10 passes defended across 14 games. He was also named 2nd-team All-Pro during his sophomore campaign in 2024.
The signing ensures Gonzalez is mentally unencumbered for Wednesday’s Super Bowl rematch against the Seattle Seahawks.
Shohei Ohtani shares major update on his pitching outlook for 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers fans may need to say goodbye to pitcher Shohei Ohtani for the rest of the year.
Ohtani’s struggles at the plate continued Monday as he returned from a four-game absence against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. The MVP slugger went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in a 6-3 win.
After the game, Ohtani told reporters through his interpreter that he planned to focus primarily on hitting for the rest of the year, all but confirming that he will not try for a comeback as a pitcher this season. The two-way superstar has not pitched since July 3 due to lingering bicep and knee injuries.
Last month, the Dodgers sounded much more encouraged about Ohtani’s recovery progress as a pitcher. The team was even providing target return dates until Shohei suffered a setback during his rehab.
Ohtani has been fantastic as a pitcher this season, posting a 1.79 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 14 starts with an 8-2 record.
With Ohtani mired in a hitting slump, both he and the Dodgers may have felt that having him focus on one side of his game is better than him playing while compromised in both.
It’s worth noting that Ohtani also pitched in just 14 regular-season games last year, but went on to make four postseason starts. He even had arguably the greatest playoff performance in modern MLB history in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Since August 19, Ohtani has gone just 6-for-49 (.122) at the plate without a home run or RBI in 13 games.
Red Sox are considering a risky move with 1 injured All-Star
The Boston Red Sox may be feeling like gambling men.
Boston could potentially trot out injured star pitcher Garrett Crochet in the first round of the playoffs, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reported on Monday. Healey notes that Crochet is progressing towards a postseason return … despite likely not appearing in a single game (majors or minors) before then.
“I’ve done crazy things before,” Crochet was quoted as saying of the possibility. “I’m not Joe Schmoe. I’ve done impressive things. I think that that would be a big ask for some people, but I don’t think it’s a crazy ask for me.”
Crochet, 27, has not pitched at all since late April due to shoulder inflammation. He then suffered multiple setbacks in his recovery, including being diagnosed with a separate lat strain in June.
The lefty Crochet does have an impressive resume as a two-time All-Star as well as Major League Baseball’s strikeouts leaders in 2025 (with a whopping 255 of them). He also signed a six-year, $170 million extension with the Red Sox in 2025, meaning that the team has a whole lot of money invested in him.
But there would obviously be immense risk with turning to a rusty Crochet (who has not pitched in a real game for more than four months and couting) in an extremely high-leverage playoff situation. The 80-65 Red Sox will almost certainly be facing the rival New York Yankees in a three-game AL Wild Card series, and it looks like they could be rolling the dice there with Crochet, who has a reputation as a real gamer.
ESPN crew baffled by ‘insane’ decision amid power outage at Florida State-SMU game
Jimbo Fisher and his huddlemates were not fans of the decision to push through with Monday’s Florida State-SMU game amid a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla.
The lights in the venue went out shortly before the game’s original kickoff time of 7:30 p.m. E.T. Power eventually returned, but only in a limited capacity. Some of the lights were still non-operational, and the teams would need to deal with several issues, most notably a lack of coach-to-player communication. There would also be no scoreboards, no iPads on the sidelines, and no P.A. system.
Power outage in Tallahassee 👀
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 7, 2026
No. 19 SMU vs. Florida State has been delayed. pic.twitter.com/yDOpe1KNwE
The game had been delayed for about an hour when league and team officials announced they would continue with the contest.
The “ACC Huddle” crew of Fisher, Eddie Royal, Eric Mac Lain, and Taylor Tannebaum was incredulous once the game was confirmed to be pushing through, calling the decision “insane” to begin play under the strange circumstances.
The 'ACC Huddle' crew couldn't believe the decision to play Florida State-SMU with significant limitations amid power outage.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 8, 2026
"This is insane." pic.twitter.com/tSMjWods0A
“What gets me is no helmet-to-helmet communication,” Fisher said. “Those guys haven’t been signaling. They haven’t been doing that, the communication between quarterback and playcaller.
“Ashton Daniels, the biggest game of his life. Mike Norvell’s fighting his tail off to make Florida State relevant again. That communication is so vital. That’s unbelievable.”
The panel pointed out that SMU has an advantage in such a scenario because head coach Rhett Lashlee and quarterback Kevin Jennings have already been together for three years, while Daniels and Norvell entered Monday with one game of previous experience.
Royal stated he would rather they cancel altogether to ensure the contest was a “fair fight” that wouldn’t result in any excuses or complaints after the game. Fisher emphasized the game’s stakes for every player and coach fighting with their “lives, careers, and jobs on the line.” To Fisher, playing the game while heavily impaired was unfair for everyone involved.
Despite the pleas from the “ACC Huddle” contingent, the game kicked off at 9:30 p.m. E.T.
Notable update emerges on Ronald Acuña Jr’s future
Ronald Acuña Jr. may be nearing the end of his shelf life in Atlanta.
The Atlanta Braves star outfielder Acuña would welcome extension talks with the team this offseason, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Monday. Rosenthal adds though that the Braves are hesitant to give Acuña such an extension due to his injury concerns.
Acuña, 28, has been with Atlanta for his entire MLB career since 2018 and emerged as an incredible homegrown success story for the Braves. The righty-hitting Acuña has now made five All-Star teams, won three Silver Slugger Awards, and taken home an NL MVP Award in 2023.
But the other side of the coin for Acuña has been his lack of availability over the last several years. Acuña first suffered a torn right ACL in 2021 and then suffered a torn left ACL in 2024.
While Acuña has managed to avoid any other major injuries in the last couple of seasons, he has still been limited to 91 of a possible 144 games played for Atlanta this year due to hand and hamstring issues. Acuña has not even been particularly productive when in the lineup this season, batting .255 with 16 homers, 45 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases.
What works in Atlanta’s favor is that Acuña is still on a very affordable contract for the next two seasons (with successive $17 million team options in 2027 and 2028). Acuña would obviously like some longer-term financial security, and that is not an unreasonable stance given that he is still good for some highlight-reel moments. But it sounds like the Braves would prefer to simply play out the remainder of Acuña’s deal and perhaps consider a trade if the Venezuela native starts to get restless.
