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After an Emotional Week, the N.F.L. Returns to Something Like Normal

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After an Emotional Week, the N.F.L. Returns to Something Like Normal

LAS VEGAS — One of the traumatic weeks within the N.F.L. historical past ended a lot because it started: With followers tailgating and gamers clashing in extremely anticipated soccer video games full of touchdowns and bone-crunching hits.

In between, the league and the hundreds of thousands of followers grappled with their dependancy to soccer 5 days after Buffalo Payments security Damar Hamlin collapsed onto the sphere throughout a recreation in Cincinnati and went into cardiac arrest — a terrifying scene that stretched for 10 minutes as medical personnel repeatedly compressed his chest and teammates and opponents wept.

The N.F.L. has been thrust into many crises, together with after the assaults of Sept. 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina, which pressured the Saints to desert New Orleans. However the league has by no means needed to grapple with the sight of docs and paramedics attempting to save lots of a participant’s life on the sphere throughout a prime-time recreation with hundreds of thousands of individuals watching.

Hamlin stays in essential situation, however his respiration tube was eliminated on Friday, and on Saturday, he despatched his first posts on social media. His restoration has given license to the league, the gamers and the followers to focus once more on the game they love because the common season ends this weekend.

It was, with a slight twist on the outdated noticed, any given Saturday as Las Vegas hosted Kansas Metropolis and Tennessee traveled to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars. The few indicators of the pall that Hamlin’s damage has forged over the league had been largely seen solely earlier than the video games.

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In Las Vegas, Kansas Metropolis quarterback Patrick Mahomes warmed up in a cutoff hooded sweatshirt with a picture of Hamlin and the phrases “Hamlin Robust” on the again, one of many many tributes to Hamlin at Allegiant Stadium.

Most Raiders gamers wore black warm-ups that stated “Love For Damar” and had his No. 3 on the entrance. The No. 3 was outlined in darkish blue, Buffalo Payments colours, on every 30-yard line.

The scene was comparable in Jacksonville, with a twist. After each groups warmed up, each Jaguars and Titans participant and coach met on the 50-yard line, took a knee and prayed for about one minute. The followers in TIAA Stadium who had been cheering went silent.

Then it was again to soccer. In Las Vegas, Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson booted the ball 75 yards into the opposing finish zone for a touchback to open the sport, after which Mahomes and his offense spent 60 minutes tormenting their division rivals in a 31-13 victory.

In Jacksonville, linebacker Josh Allen returned a Titans fumble 37 yards for a landing with three minutes left to propel the Jaguars to a 20-16 win and their first A.F.C. South title since 2017.

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The Titans jumped out to a 10-0 lead behind working again Derrick Henry, however Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence responded by throwing a 25-yard landing rating to receiver Christian Kirk.

Within the third quarter, Lawrence overthrew receiver Zay Jones, who was large open ultimately zone, and settled for a discipline purpose. The Jaguars couldn’t muster a lot offense, however their protection pressured the Titans backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs, whose fumble was scooped up by Allen for a go-ahead rating.

The Jaguars (9-8) will now host a wild-card spherical recreation subsequent weekend.

And identical to that, the Nationwide Soccer League soldiered on after every week of anguish and unanswered questions.

It was simply two video games, however they had been vitally necessary ones for the N.F.L., which makes billions of {dollars} advertising and marketing a violent sport whereas hoping it by no means reaps the worst penalties of that violence. The gravity of the damage to Hamlin created a disaster for the league as a result of it starkly reminded followers of the likelihood that they may witness far worse than concussions and torn ligaments.

The sport in Las Vegas proceeded at the same time as gamers had been nonetheless processing what that they had witnessed Monday night time.

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Sporting a “Love For Damar” shirt after the sport, Mahomes stated it was “undoubtedly bizarre” to step again onto the sphere after Hamlin’s damage. “You’ve gotten that behind your thoughts,” he stated.

He stated Hamlin’s bettering situation made it simpler.

“That provides you slightly little bit of that closing factor that, all proper, that is what we’re purported to be doing, let’s go on the market and provides pleasure not solely to us, however the remainder of the world watching us,” he stated.

The video games appeared like every other N.F.L. video games. There have been spectacular performs, dangerous fumbles and halftime leisure offered by a band previous its prime.

Followers, too, appeared desperate to get again to soccer. In Jacksonville, tailgaters performed cornhole and beer pong, grilled burgers and combined cocktails. Contained in the stadium, a standing-room-only crowd waved white towels to pump up the Jaguars — frequent cellar dwellers — who had an opportunity to return to the playoffs for the primary time since 2017.

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The general public tackle announcer at each stadiums requested the group to “take part a second of assist and love for Damar” earlier than the nationwide anthem was performed.

Removed from the video games, Hamlin was on the mend. The Payments said Saturday that whereas he continues to make progress on the College of Cincinnati Medical Middle, he stays in essential situation. He’s respiration on his personal, nonetheless, and his neurological operate is “wonderful,” in line with the crew. On Friday, Hamlin spoke to a few of his teammates on a video chat.

“On a protracted highway preserve praying for me!” learn a brand new submit on Hamlin’s Instagram account Saturday, the primary direct communication from Hamlin since his damage.

Accidents are inevitable in soccer, and gamers are used to competing by way of ache that will sideline the typical particular person. They’re additionally accustomed to persevering with to play even after watching teammates get carted off the sphere. The Raiders had to try this Saturday, when linebacker Harvey Langi left the sport with a concussion.

Hamlin’s damage, although, which threatened his life, was not the sort of factor gamers might compartmentalize: It resulted within the recreation being postponed and finally canceled, each of that are practically with out precedent in N.F.L. historical past.

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“I don’t suppose it’s ever out of your thoughts as a participant, to expertise that,” stated Chris Jones, a Kansas Metropolis defensive lineman. “I believe you attempt to masks it with what’s occurring together with your environment.”

Whereas the N.F.L. engineered tributes to Hamlin, few followers in Las Vegas appeared to take action. There have been a handful of followers carrying Payments jerseys on the stadium, although there have been simply as many in gear representing the Cowboys, the Seahawks and different groups.

Frank Nostro, 54, who wore a Josh Allen No. 17 Payments jersey, stated he was watching as Hamlin received hit Monday night time. “I assumed it was only a common hit — you see a variety of guys go down with a concussion or one thing like that,” he stated. “However you see the replay and the panic in a few of the coaches and the workers on the market, and also you notice it was one thing actually dangerous.”

Nostro, who grew up in Buffalo and moved to Las Vegas 30 years in the past, was largely serious about seeing the Payments win a championship. “If the Raiders win immediately, that helps Buffalo,” he stated.

The Raiders didn’t assist the Payments. With the victory, Kansas Metropolis completed the common season with a 14-3 file and clinched a bye within the first spherical of the playoffs.

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Kevin Draper reported from Las Vegas and Ken Belson from Jacksonville.

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Overzealous Padres fan tackled by security trying to get a selfie with Manny Machado after walk-off homer

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Overzealous Padres fan tackled by security trying to get a selfie with Manny Machado after walk-off homer

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The San Diego Padres pulled off an incredible comeback victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in front of a record crowd at Petco Park on Friday night, and apparently one fan tried to join in on the celebrations happening down on the field. 

The Padres held on to a comfortable lead before the crowd of more than 47,000. But that all changed in the ninth inning, when the Diamondbacks orchestrated a comeback from a five-run deficit in the top of the inning to take an 8-7 lead. 

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Manny Machado, #13 of the San Diego Padres, celebrates with his teammates at home plate after hitting a walk-off home run in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on July 5, 2024, in San Diego, California.  (Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)

“This is a game of focus and refocus. It was a tough one, because you feel like 7-2, well played, well pitched . . . it’s never over until it’s over, obviously,” manager Mike Shildt said after the game. 

But the Padres responded with All-Star Jurickson Profar, who hit a tying home run, and Manny Machado, who sealed the win with his walk-off homer. 

“It just tells you about this team. We never stop fighting. We have that fight in us. Obviously, it was a tough ninth inning there for us, but we don’t stop the fight. We come in, and we continue to compete, and this team’s been doing that all year,” he said after getting doused in Gatorade. 

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Machado tipped his hat to the fans. The 47,171 people in Petco Park marked the largest crowd in stadium history. 

Manny Machado celebrates walk-off home run

Manny Machado, #13 of the San Diego Padres, celebrates after hitting a walk-off home run in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on July 5, 2024, in San Diego, California. (Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)

NATIONALS OUTFIELDER JAWS WITH 66-YEAR-OLD FAN OVER ‘BUSH LEAGUE’ PITCH

The crowd roared as Machado made his way back to the dugout to celebrate with his team, and that’s when the broadcast captured an overzealous fan who had managed to get on the field and attempt to take a selfie with Machado. 

For a brief moment, it appeared that Machado was celebrating with the man, seemingly unaware and caught up in the celebration. But just moments later, the fan was tackled to the ground by security. 

Manny Machado doused

Manny Machado, #13 of the San Diego Padres, is doused after hitting a walk-off two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Petco Park on July 5, 2024, in San Diego, California.  (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

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It was unclear whether the fan was arrested for storming the field, but the incident didn’t seem to bother Machado. 

“It was fun. This is what we play for right here,” he said. “This is what we play for, especially in front of this crowd coming back home. . . . It was a hell of a night.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Plaschke: Tyler Glasnow and the Dodgers' rotation are a midsummer mess in need of help

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Plaschke: Tyler Glasnow and the Dodgers' rotation are a midsummer mess in need of help

The Dodgers have a starting pitching problem.

They may not want to admit it, they certainly dread the thought of addressing it, but on a sweltering Friday night at Dodger Stadium, there was no escaping it.

Facing the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a statement weekend series, they needed their ace to be their ace.

For a second consecutive start, Tyler Glasnow failed them.

With their rotation fractured by injuries and frequented by recent ineffectiveness, they needed their $136.5-million offseason acquisition to begin answering career-nagging questions about strength and durability.

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For the third time in his last five starts, there were only more questions.

None of it seemed to matter at the end of the night, the Dodgers using three home runs by the incredibly unsung Will Smith and a dramatic two-run, two-strike eighth-inning single by Freddie Freeman to steal a late 8-5 victory amid familiar postseason roars.

But those “Fre-ddie, Fre-ddie” chants?

For the Dodgers to overcome past October hauntings, in three months those cheers need to be, “Ty-ler, Ty-ler, Ty-ler.”

They need Glasnow to be better. They need their entire rotation to be better. And barring that, they have barely three weeks to make it better, the July 30 trade deadline approaching and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman facing a task that for two years has been terribly left undone.

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The Dodgers need to make the one deal that could make the other $1.2 billion in deals worth it. They need to trade for the one thing that has eluded them for two collapses.

They still need to find one more starting pitcher whom they can trust to take the ball in October.

No more ignoring it. No more Lance Lynning it. No more counting on kids to suddenly grow up or injuries to miraculously heal.

As Friday night once again revealed, if Tyler Glasnow is The Guy, they might need a second guy.

Fighting through warm dead air and a pesky Brewers offense, Glasnow was an ace for five innings. Problem was, he pitched six.

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Glasnow was near perfect for those five innings, allowing only one base runner on an error. Problem was, in the middle of it all, he made a perfect mess.

Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow reacts after giving up a grand slam to Milwaukee’s Rhys Hoskins.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Clinging to a two-run lead in the fourth inning, Glasnow suddenly lost his grip and fell hard, allowing five runs in a span of six hitters.

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His overall line will show just three allowed hits in six innings. But the way he fell apart in giving up those five runs was startling, and something that will get this team beat in the playoffs.

It started with an infield single to Brice Turang, Glasnow’s first allowed hit. It seemed to rattle him. He then walked William Contreras.

One out later, he gave up a 15-hop single through the right side by Willy Adames to ruin his shutout, and now he really seemed hurried and distracted, walking Garrett Mitchell to load the bases for Rhys Hoskins.

One pitch later, Glasnow grooved a fastball down the middle and Hoskins punched it over the center field fence for a grand slam.

Glasnow settled down to throw two more hitless innings, but the damage had been done, both to the game and the perception that he can shoulder this heavy load.

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Their starting pitching starts with him, and the Dodgers have to wonder, will he be there for them when it counts?

He’s pitched 110 innings this season, only 10 shy of the most innings he’s pitched in any season in his nine-year career. He’s never worked this much, this consistently, this deep into the schedule. He’s never been this healthy for this kind of stretch. He’s basically never been here before.

And is it showing? You decide.

In his last two starts he’s allowed 10 runs in nine innings. In his last five starts he’s allowed 16 runs in 29 innings. His ERA has climbed from 2.53 in early to 3.47 after Friday night.

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“I thought Tyler was great all night outside of that inning where he gave up a couple of seeing eye grounders, the walks hurt us and obviously the Hoskins homer, but outside of that, he was good,” said manager Dave Roberts afterward.

Roberts won’t be so forgiving if this happens in October. It took Smith being only the fourth Dodger catcher in history to hit three homers in a game for the Dodgers to survive Glasnow, and chances are, that sudden power surge is not happening in October.

“I think the infield hit, the walk … I think he started getting a little frustrated, a little quick,” Roberts acknowledged. “I don’t know if it was losing command or just not making pitches when he needed to.”

Whatever it was, it will be tough to overcome in the playoffs, and, as Glasnow assuredly has learned by now, around here nothing else matters.

“That inning especially, the timing was a little weird and then not executing, kind of falling behind then just heater up and he put a good barrel on it,” said Glasnow.

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Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow blows out some air and holds the brim of his cap.

Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow reacts during a win over the Angels in June.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Give him credit for calming down long enough to finish with two strong innings.

“I didn’t have a choice, I guess,” he said. “I just had to go throw.”

Admire that, but feel free to worry that in the playoffs, he’ll be out of the game after giving up a five-spot, with no chance for redemption, not for him or a rotation that has recently done a pretty good imitation of him.

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In the Dodgers’ last seven games, their starting pitching has a 9.00 ERA, and all the Fre-ddies in the world can’t fix that.

Glasnow was pelted for five runs in three innings against the San Francisco Giants. James Paxton was pummeled for nine runs in four innings against the Giants. Gavin Stone allowed four runs in three innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Each of those three possible postseason starters have recently come up empty, and a fourth, Bobby Miller, has also struggled lately, sending the wrong message at the wrong time.

And those are just the healthy ones.

The Dodgers also can’t count on injured Yoshinobu Yamamoto, injured Clayton Kershaw, injured Walker Buehler or injured Dustin May.

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You know who they are counting on for Sunday’s series finale? A prospect named Justin Wrobelski, who will make his major league debut after two triple-A appearances.

Which brings the issue back to Glasnow. If he’s right, everything behind him will seem right. But, barring a trade, if he’s not working, nothing behind him will work.

Shohei Ohtani might be this team’s most valuable player, and Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts their most inspirational players, but make no mistake.

As of this harried moment, Tyler Glasnow is their most important player.

Roberts acknowledged they will watch his innings moving forward.

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“We’re monitoring it,” Roberts said. “I think more on the micro, in the sense of how he’s feeling, how he’s throwing the baseball, recovering versus a hard and fast, there’s a certain amount of innings that he can pitch this year. So I think that’s kind of the approach we’re going, but we certainly know he’s encroaching on that.”

However, before Friday’s game, when I asked Roberts if he held his breath with each Glasnow start, he adamantly said no.

“I don’t think there’s been anything for me up to this point that I’ve been with him that feels that I hold my breath,” he said.

Better start.

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Yankees manager Aaron Boone defends center fielder after lackadaisical effort leads to brutal error

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Yankees manager Aaron Boone defends center fielder after lackadaisical effort leads to brutal error

New York Yankees fans made their frustration with Trent Grisham known Thursday, but he didn’t get the same reaction from his manager — at least not publicly.

With their game against the Cincinnati Reds already a blowout and the Bombers trailing 8-4 in the ninth inning, Reds batter Jeimer Candelario hit a ball to center field. 

Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, a two-time Gold Glove Award winner in center, took his time to corral the ball and then fumbled it as he tried to set himself to throw it back to the infield. Candalerio made a heads-up move and advanced to second.

Manager Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees walks to the dugout after a pitching change during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field April 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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The boos rained down from Yankees fans, whose team has lost 14 of its last 19 games.

Aaron Boone admitted the error “[looked] bad in the moment, especially going through what we’re going through as a team right now.”

However, he chalked it up to how Grisham plays the position.

“It’s also the way Trent Grisham, a Gold Glover, plays center field, like that relaxed, easy nature,” Boone said after the game. “Do I want him to square up to it and tackle it like you and I might in a side game? Not really. I want him to catch the ball and get it in and keep that guy off second base.

“But he has a track record of outstanding play out there, and that’s kind of the way he does — kind of a slow heartbeat, motor and that when you’re through it doesn’t look great. I understand that.”

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Trent Grisham bobbles the ball

Trent Grisham of the New York Yankees commits an error against the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium July 4, 2024, in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

YANKEES ANNOUNCER LAMBASTES TEAM’S NATIONAL ANTHEM STANDOFF: ‘SOPHOMORIC NONSENSE’

Boone said Friday that he had spoken with Grisham but reiterated his stance.

“It’s a bad look,” Boone said Friday, “but, at the same time, one of the reasons he’s a Gold Glove center fielder is because of his heartbeat, the reads, the jumps, the ease with which he plays the position. So, you don’t want to lose that in there. But with that, just be mindful of certain routine things.

“If Grish makes a mistake in the field or if Gleyber (Torres) makes a mistake in the field, the way they play the game, it’s not going to have a good look to it,” Boone added. “It’s not going to look like you and me playing softball, where we’re going to take it off the chest and off the chin, but we suck.

“Believe me, that lackadaisical look sometimes is what makes Trent Grisham a Gold Glove center fielder. He plays the game with an ease and a flow. Now, catch the ball. We don’t want that guy on second. And it gets magnified a little bit when we’re going through a spell like this.”

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Trent Grisham runs the bases

The New York Yankees’ Trent Grisham tosses his bat after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning June 9, 2024, in New York.  (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Boone recently benched Gleyber Torres for a lack of hustle despite originally defending him because he had been dealing with a sore groin. But Grisham is in the starting lineup Friday. Although, with the team’s injuries, there isn’t much of a choice.

Grisham is hitting just .165 this season.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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