sport.ddtor.com: 09/10/21

⚜️ Saints Looking To Bring Excitement (And a Win) To A City In Need

In today’s FOX Sports Insider with Martin Rogers: In moments of struggle, the city of New Orleans has leaned on its football team as a point of focus, a beacon of support and something to rally around ... we take a look at the story of Stanley Jefferson, a former New York Met and NYC cop who is still dealing with the pain of 9/11 ... and the Buffalo Bills win the FOX Sports Ultimate NFL Fan Bracket.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, the New Orleans Saints have stepped up.

Alvin Kamara and Jameis Winston personally called the mayor of New Orleans to ask what they could do. A group of Saints team captains linked up with United Way to mobilize aid for those in need. Owner Gayle Benson donated $1 million.

In the days leading up to the team’s first game of the 2021 NFL season, Winston paused his press conference to pay appropriate tribute to first responders and aid workers and to vocalize support to those affected by a tropical storm that had by Wednesday caused 82 deaths and caused billions of dollars of damage in Louisiana.

And yet, as Sunday’s clash with the Green Bay Packers – which will be played in Jacksonville, Florida – looms large, there is a general level of understanding in the group that one of the best ways they can assist a suffering community is to do their darndest to win football games.

Ida, thankfully, wasn’t Katrina, but it was strong enough that several areas are still without power and will remain that way for some time. New Orleans didn’t flood but nearby Grand Isle was rendered uninhabitable and for some towns and parishes, the impact has been devastating.

In moments of struggle, most particularly through the crisis of 2005, the region has leaned on its football team as a point of focus, a beacon of support and something to rally around.

“The players are trying to focus on the job but they are human too, and this affects them,” Amie Just, Saints writer for NOLA.com and the Times-Picayune, told me via telephone. “It is hard to stay focused when there is a bigger thing going on but through football they are trying to give people some positive distraction. They are hoping to win this weekend to give people a sense of hope.”

It takes a lot for a team to leave its home for a home game, even just for one. That’s the reality for the Saints right now. A return does soon beckon, with mayor LaToya Cantrell announcing on Wednesday that after going on the road in Weeks 2 and 3, the team should be back at the Caesars Superdome by Week 4.

“You can't imagine having to leave home to come to another state and basically do the same thing, but first, we have a roof under our heads and us and our families are safe,” wide receiver Marquez Callaway told reporters. “Football is a game played and we just go where it takes us. I think this trip has made us come closer together. I think we're bonding a lot more and just having to test our adversity, willing to adapt and keep the same mindset for this first game.”

The Saints have set up temporary headquarters at TCU in Dallas and had to perform a feat of logistical gymnastics at rapid speed to make it happen.

When Sean Payton spoke to the media following practice at 11.30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 26, he didn’t even know about the storm, which at that point had started to pick up force but didn’t yet have a name.

By the next day, plans to go to Dallas were in place after other options, such as a move to the team’s offseason site in Oxnard, Calif. were ruled out. By Saturday, more than 300 people had fully relocated, while a preseason matchup against the Arizona Cardinals was called off, having originally been moved up by several hours. Such was the flux of the situation, the Cardinals were in mid-air when the decision came and their plane turned around in-flight.

“It breaks my brain to think of an undertaking like the Saints pulled off,” Just added. “Maybe if you had a month. They didn’t even have a week. You are talking about two planes, hotels rooms for everyone, meals set up, families to consider.”

The Saints have had to move on the fly before due to weather considerations and general manager Mickey Loomis has been part of the organization since before Katrina, so there is some institutional knowledge. But still, such upheaval requires a mighty effort – and represents a major headache.

However, most players echo Callaway’s remarks that the experience has solidified them as a group. A further challenge, as if one was needed, may come in the reality that despite Sunday’s clash being a “home” game at TIAA Bank Field, there are likely to be more Packers fans in attendance than those rooting for the Saints.

Per FOX Bet, the Saints are at +160, with Green Bay, led by Aaron Rodgers after a summer impasse between the star QB and the organization, at -188.

In the first-year post-Drew Brees, the Saints are not expected to be front-runners and a worthy goal is simply to make the playoffs. As things get started they have a bunch of potholes to deal with, but one key thing is in their favor – an abundance of inspiration.

“(The people) are being resilient and persevering right now,” Winston said. “We have to do the same. There's a lot more people that are in way more difficult situations than we are in.

“Our objective is to go out and bring some excitement to the city of New Orleans by going out there and winning a football game. That would do a lot for the city.”

Here’s what others have said ...

Malcolm Roach, New Orleans Saints Defensive Tackle: “One thing about my state, we’re going to shake back from it. We always do. It’s never stopped us before. It’s not going to stop us now.”

Billy Nungesser, Lt. Governor: “Clearly, that is not the team’s first option as they prefer to play in front of all of their fans – the WHO DAT Nation. However, they are doing the right thing since accommodations and resources are severely limited as a result of Hurricane Ida. Everyone is putting their best efforts forward as we work to recover and restore the devastated areas of our beloved state.”

Gayle Benson, New Orleans Saints Owner: “It is never easy to make a decision that involves not playing a Saints home game in the Caesars Superdome, but I am confident that this is the right decision for our city at this juncture. Collectively, we have a monumental task ahead of us in cleaning up the after effects left by Hurricane Ida, but it has been inspiring to see people getting right to work and starting the process.”

Who will win the Chiefs-Browns matchup? Who are the rookies to watch? FOX Sports NFL Analyst Peter Schrager has answers with his Week 1 cheat sheet.
Stanley Jefferson was a New York Met and then an NYC cop, which is why he’s still dealing with the pain of 9/11. Alex Coffey has the story.
Patrick Mahomes has started for three seasons, but Joe Pasnanski has seen enough to put him on his list of the best ever.

Congrats to the Buffalo Bills and their fans! For the second year in a row, the Buffalo Bills have won the FOX Sports Ultimate NFL Fan Bracket. After totaling 177,000 votes in the final round, the Bills defeated the Cleveland Browns’ fan base and claim the title of having the best fan base in the NFL. Congrats to #BillsMafia!

Friday Night SmackDown (FOX, 8 p.m. ET)
SmackDown returns to MSG with the return of The Beast and Edge vs. Seth Rollins.

Oregon at Ohio State (Saturday, FOX, 12 p.m. ET)
Anthony Brown and the No. 12-ranked Oregon Ducks travel to Columbus to take on C.J. Stroud and the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes.

Iowa at Iowa State (Saturday, ABC, 4:30 p.m. ET)
Tyler Goodson and the No. 10-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes battle Brock Purdy and the No. 9 Iowa State Cyclones in a much-anticipated in-state clash.

New York Yankees at New York Mets (Saturday, FOX, 7:30 p.m. ET)
Corey Kluber takes the mound for the New York Yankees, who go up against Trevor Williams and the New York Mets.

Seattle Seahawks at Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Russell Wilson leads the Seattle Seahawks into Indianapolis to take on Jonathan Taylor and the Colts in a Week 1 season-opener.

Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints (Sundays, 4:30 p.m. ET)
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers open the 2021 NFL season against Jameis Winston and the New Orleans Saints in Jacksonville, Florida.

Odds provided by FOX Bet
Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals +3

The Minnesota Vikings head to Paul Brown Stadium to take on the Cincinnati Bengals as 3-point road favorites in Week 1.

FOX Sports personality Colin Cowherd offers his take:

"I didn't love what I saw from Minnesota in the preseason. With Cincinnati, if they can solve one issue, which is to give Burrow a little more time, they are a fairly potent offense. I go back to that Bengals game against Cleveland last year. They lost, but it was a complete shootout. I watched that entire game and I thought, 'This team – they've got a fight in them.'

"I think Burrow is a special player, and they went out and got wide receiver, Ja'Marr Chase. I like their tight end, wide receiver, running back talent, and they did try to elevate their offensive line. They are not a great defensive team, and they are still in the middle of a defensive rebuild. But, this is too many points."

"I hear that Zimmer is a very good coach, but he's more of a coaches' coach than a players' coach. He doesn't have a great relationship with players. I don't know what to make of Minnesota, and they are trapped for two years with this Kirk Cousins contract. And, I don't think everyone in the locker room buys into that, so I'll take the points and Cincinnati."

PICK: Bengals (+3) to lose by fewer than 3 points or win outright

“When you wake up, think about winning the day. Don't worry about a week or a month from now -- just think about one day at a time. If you are worried about the mountain in the distance, you might trip over the molehill right in front of you. Win the day!” — Drew Brees

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Djokovic Continues Historic Run Into U.S. Open Semis

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Kevin Sweeney

You know the NFL is back when you say to yourself "_______ left Tom Brady too much time." That's exactly what happened last night to the Cowboys in what was about as good a season opener as I can remember. Brady and Dak Prescott traded punches all night, but Brady had the ball last and made the Cowboys pay. Let's hope that game sets the tone for a great sports weekend, with Week 2 of CFB, Week 1 of the NFL season and much more.

Here's what I'm watching tonight.

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MUST WATCH

U.S. Open Men's Semifinals

The women's singles semifinals lived up to the hype last night with a pair of highly entertaining matches that saw teenagers Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu advance to the final. The men's side features more established stars: Novak Djokovic is slated to take on Alexander Zverev at 7 p.m. ET, while Daniil Medvedev faces off with Felix Auger-Aliassime in the earlier semifinal at 3 p.m. ET. Zverev reached the final at last year's tournament before falling to Dominic Thiem, and he'll have his hands full today against Djokovic. Zverev, though, has won 16 matches in a row, a streak that includes a win over Djokovic at the Tokyo Olympics. On the other side, Medvedev has been dominant this tournament, losing just one set so far.

3 p.m. ET, ESPN, watch on fuboTV

READ MORE:

Mailbag: Dealing With Gamesmanship in Tennis (Jon Wertheim)
U.S. Open Midterm Grades: Mother Nature Wreaks Havoc As Youngsters Shine (Jon Wertheim)

LINEUP

CFB: Kansas at Coastal Carolina | Kansas fans stormed the field after beating FCS foe South Dakota. If that doesn't tell you where this program is right now, nothing will. Let's see if the team can put up a fight on the road against 2020 darling Coastal Carolina. 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, watch on fuboTV
CFB: UTEP at Boise State | College football on the blue turf in front of a packed house of fans is a great way to kick off a full weekend of football … even if UTEP can't hang with the Broncos. 9:30 p.m. ET, FS1, watch on fuboTV
Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros | We won't get too many more chances to watch Shohei Ohtani pitch and hit this season. Enjoy it while you still can tonight against the division-leading Astros. 8:10 p.m. ET, Bally Sports West/SportsNet SW, watch on fuboTV
San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers | The last Dodgers-Padres series featured a 16-inning thriller. It's always fun when these two squads face off, and it could wind up being a preview of the NL wild-card game next month. 10:10 p.m. ET, Bally Sports San Diego/SportsNet LA, watch on fuboTV
Orlando City SC at Atlanta United | Atlanta has slowly climbed the table thanks to four wins in its last five matches after a disastrous start to the year. Beating second-place Orlando will be a tall order, though. 7 p.m. ET, FS1, watch on fuboTV

Hidden Gem

Women's College Volleyball: Kentucky at Wisconsin

This matchup of heavyweights in the world of college volleyball should be a fun watch tonight. Kentucky won the national championship this spring and sits No. 8 nationally, while No. 2 Wisconsin is off to a strong start this season and has national title aspirations. The crowd in Madison should be rocking for this big-time showdown.

9 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network, watch on fuboTV

Think we missed something worth watching? Reply to guide@si.com and let us know what we should be looking out for and why.

Happy streaming!

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9/11 Changed Muslim American Athletes' Lives

'Things Are Going to Be Different Now'

The lost story of September 11 is the story of September 12, the day Muslims in America—from Hakeem Olajuwon on down—woke up to a new reality.


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