Andrew Luck stuns the NFL by stepping away
ANDREW LUCK RETIRES
The NFL world was stunned Saturday night by the news that Indianapolis Colts star quarterback Andrew Luck was retiring at just 29 years old. A cycle of injuries and pain had sapped his joy for the game, the 2012 No. 1 overall pick said. So, he decided to walk away. It was a decision that showed a lot of strength, our Mike Jones writes, but clearly not all Colts fans get it – Luck was booed leaving the Lucas Oil Stadium field Saturday night.
Now, with the season opener two weeks away, the Colts look to Jacoby Brissett to lead the way at QB. And what's next for Luck? Who knows! Maybe he'll run for president one day.
TERRIFYING MOMENT AT TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Six fans were hurt Saturday afternoon at Atlanta's Eagle Lake Golf Club when lightning hit a maintenance area and struck a tree near the 16th hole. The PGA Tour said the fans were injured by debris caused by the strike but none of the injuries were life-threatening.
30-SECOND TIMEOUT
- Cry time: The LLWS coach gave a heck of a speech to his kids.
- Bunt. Bad throw. [something]. Home run!
- Tom Brady may indeed be terrific, but he's not 'Tom Terrific'™.
- The USA basketball team is not doing well.
- A sports power couple will soon tie the knot.
- Hey, Bears fans, like what you see from Carli Lloyd?
- Don't hustle, don't play. Even in the big leagues.
- Nice, uh, suit(?), Aaron Rodgers.
- Hue Jackson was depressed after the Browns fired him. Then Marvin Lewis swooped in.
- Always watch where you're going when arguing with an umpire from the dugout.
- Megan Rapinoe is confused by her father's political persuasions.
- Brett Gardner has really done a number on the roof of the Yankees dugout.
- Mother Nature got a hole-in-one!
WELCOME BACK, MEANINGFUL FOOTBALL!
After nearly 10,000 months, our long national nightmare has ended and football games that count have returned. (We'll have to run those numbers again, but that seems right.) College football kicked off its season with ESPN's College GameDay from Disney World, which was kinda weird, but who cares – football is back. And Saturday's game, despite its sloppiness, was plenty exciting as No. 8 Florida fended off in-state rival Miami. While the Hurricanes took the loss, they generated buzz with a new turnover chain and the debut of ... touchdown rings?
A full slate of games is on tap this week, and we've got you covered. Here's our 2019-20 season outlook.
- How Vanderbilt could win the SEC. (LOL.)
- Trevor Lawrence leads the preseason All-America team.
- Auburn will start a true freshman at QB in its opener for the first time since 1946. No pressure, Bo.
- Texas QB Sam Ehlinger is ready to bring the Longhorns back to national prominence.
- There's a Tony the Tiger Bowl now. Yes, THAT Tony the Tiger.
- The best games of opening weekend(s).
- Which coaches have the hottest of hot seats?
- The 10 games that will determine the College Football Playoff field.
BEHOLD, YOUR ROBOT-UMPIRE OVERLORDS
Robots, which will one day come to dominate the entire world, probably, are attempting to begin their takeover by first taking the jobs of baseball umpires. Major League Baseball is using the Atlantic League as a testing ground for the robo-umps, and it's going well! Mostly, at least. The League is also trying out some new wacky rules, like stealing first base and a three-batter minimum for pitchers.
Baseball lifers probably won't like the changes, but they already don't like today's game, anyway.
AS JERRY'S WORLD TURNS
So Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked last week about Ezekiel Elliott's holdout. His response? "Zeke who?" ZING!!! Except Elliott and his agent weren't laughing. Jones shot back that he'd earned the right to joke with Elliott, whatever that means. In any event, Elliott still isn't at Cowboys camp. In fact, he's in Cabo. Jarrett Bell caught up with Marshall Faulk, who visited Zeke in paradise. Faulk shared his plans and what he expects from Elliott.
Exclusive to the Paste BN Sports Network
From original reporting to some of the nation's best columns, these are stories you can only get from the Paste BN Sports Network:
- If you were wondering how a goose in a diaper came to rule an Indiana high school gym, well, wonder no more.
- John Dillinger, one of America's most notorious gangsters, was once a promising semi-pro baseball player.
- Our Jim Reineking with the greatest NFL player for every uniform number.
- Position players are taking the mound at a historic rate.
- We listed the biggest villains in sports, from Tom Brady to John Calipari.
- Steve Spurrier says the AAF title is just as important to him as his ACC and SEC titles. OK.
- Meet the quarterback coaches who resent being called "gurus."
- New Maryland coach Mike Locksley has formed a bond with the father of Jordan McNair.
- Sister Jean knows how to party.
- The incredible story of Blair Cobbs, a boxer who learned the sport in Mexico while his family was on the run.
- With the U.S. Open starting Monday, all eyes will be on 15-year-old tennis sensation Coco Gauff.
- What does college recruiting cost? A LOT.
SOME CHATTY BROWNS
The lion's share of offseason chatter has been about the Cleveland Browns, with much of that chatter coming from the Cleveland Browns. Last week was no different. First, Odell Beckham Jr. took a shot at his old team, saying the Giants sent him to Cleveland "to die." We think he means metaphorically. Then, Baker Mayfield had some confusing comments about Giants QB Daniel Jones, saying that it blew his mind that the Giants took Jones at No. 6 in the draft.
Mayfield then took the predictable route of claiming his quote was taken out of context. In the end, Mayfield reached out to Jones to clear the air.
ICYMI
- Not sure who needs to hear this, but Roger Clemens will not be seeking public office.
- Jacob deGrom struck out 13 and hit a home run. Impressive. More impressive? This is the second time he has accomplished this very feat.
- Someone painted a Larry Bird mural in Indianapolis. Larry Bird did not really like it.
- Daryl Morey says it's a fact that James Harden is a better scorer than Michael Jordan.
- It wasn't a great second outing for fan-turned-professional-pitcher Nathan Patterson.
- Brooks Koepka thinks other golfers are just jealous.
- News flash: MLB players are hitting lots and lots of homers.
- Several players from past Little League World Series title games have gone on to play professionally. And some in sports other than baseball.
- The Indians lost to Noah Syndergaard twice in one day.
***
MORE NEWSLETTERS!
Want more content like this in your inbox? Sign up for Paste BN Sports' daily sports newsletter, where you'll get the biggest news and trending topics delivered each morning. And we also have exclusive NFL (4th & Monday) and NBA (Click & Roll) newsletters to satisfy your inbox's appetite.
SEE YOU ON SOCIAL
And for more great sports stories from across the Paste BN Network, check out sports.usatoday.com daily. And don't forget to follow Paste BN Sports on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.