Scott Hanson is mostly known to sports fans through their NFL viewing experience.

He helps take NFL watchers through the witching hour during their “seven hours of commercial free football” on the “NFL Red Zone” each Sunday in the fall and winter.

This time around, Hanson got the opportunity to send Paris Olympic viewers in and out of several different sporting events throughout the two weeks of coverage as part of the “Gold Zone.” On Monday, things appeared to get a little too intense.

Hanson posted a photo on X showing his bloodied finger.

“I was pounding the desk on Gold Zone when Team USA was winning a medal,” he wrote. “I’m designated ‘likely’ to return.”

Scott Hanson speaks on stage during round four of the 2022 NFL Draft on April 30, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (David Becker/Getty Images)

PARIS OLYMPICS SWIMMERS NOTICING POOL IS ‘SLOW’ AS GOLD-MEDAL TIMES DON’T COME NEAR WORLD RECORDS

Hanson and Olympic viewers got to watch the Americans take home several medals on Monday.

Skateboarders Jagger Eaton and Nyjah Huston won silver and bronze medals respectively in men’s street. Team USA men’s gymnastics secured a bronze medal in the team final. Katie Grimes, Emma Weyant, Luke Hobson and Ryan Murphy won medals in the pool. Fencer Nick Itkin won bronze in the individual foil.

Stephen Nedoroscik of United States, Frederick Richard of United States, Brody Malone of United States, Paul Juda of United States, Asher Hong of United States pose for a photo with their bronze medal during the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

It was a solid day for the United States with a big Tuesday ahead for some of the stars in the Olympics. Simone Biles is expected to compete in the team final in gymnastics.

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No elbow problem. No money-related hold-in.

Just a scheduled day off.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford did not practice Monday — the team’s first in pads — but coach Sean McVay shut down speculation quicker than a Stafford-delivered pass during a two-minute drill.

“This was part of the plan all along,” McVay said, adding, “There’s nothing wrong with him. He’s good.”

Jimmy Garoppolo took Stafford’s place with the first-team offense and Stetson Bennett worked with the second team.

Although both excelled at times, there is no replacing Stafford. The 16th-year pro is the key player for a team that will enter the season with far greater expectations than the 2023 version that finished with a better-than-anticipated 10-7 record and made the playoffs.

So managing Stafford’s workload, and keeping the 36-year-old injury free, remains paramount.

In 2022, after the Rams’ victory in Super Bowl LVI, Stafford did not throw passes during the offseason and was limited in training camp because of right elbow tendinitis. Midway through a lost season, he sustained a concussion that forced him to sit out a game and then a spinal injury that sidelined him the last seven games .

Last season, Stafford returned to an elite level. After sitting out one midseason game because of a thumb injury, he led the Rams’ second-half surge to the postseason.

During the offseason, Stafford surprised the Rams by asking for a contract adjustment. The Rams finally gave in last week and resolved the situation as players were reporting for training camp.

Stafford looked sharp throughout the first week of workouts, delivering passes from all angles to Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and other Rams receivers. But after a day off Sunday, he was not in his jersey Monday.

McVay said the decision to sit Stafford was made because of the amount of throws he made and because Monday’s practice would be heavy on running plays.

Stafford will practice Tuesday, McVay said.

“We have a much better grasp of … just where he’s at in this part in his career,” McVay said. “You don’t ever want to have any of those elbow issues creep up again.”

Garoppolo, 32, has his own history of injuries, but the 11th-year pro — who signed a one-year contract with the Rams — got through offseason workouts unscathed and passed well during the first week of camp.

On Monday, his experience and increasing comfort in the offense showed.

A touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Long in the back of the end zone harked to throws Garoppolo made with the San Francisco 49ers against the Rams while forging an 8-0 record in regular-season games.

“He’s got great command,” McVay said. “You can see he’s played a lot.”

Garoppolo must sit out the first two regular-season games against the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals because of a suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.

So if Stafford were to be sidelined before or during those games, Bennett would be in line to replace him.

Bennett, a second-year pro, spent all of last season on the non-football injury/illness list. Monday marked his first extended work in team drills since the summer of 2023.

Bennett made several outstanding passes, one on a sideline route to receiver Xavier Smith and another on a touchdown pass to receiver Tyler Johnson. He also made some mistakes.

“He had some really good reps; some things where we can be a little bit cleaner,” McVay said, “But what you do see from Stetson is the athleticism. The ability … if we lose contain up front, he can break it and make plays with his legs.”

Bennett enjoyed his first opportunity in full-team drills.

“It went pretty well,” he said. “There were some mistakes, but made some good plays too.

“Just learn from it.”

Etc.

Left tackle Alaric Jackson was sidelined after he sustained an ankle injury early in practice. “I think he’s going to be fine,” McVay said. … Rookie defensive tackle Braden Fiske stood out on a day that featured an emphasis on the rushing attack. “He showed up in a big way,” McVay said. “We had some things in that were in alignment that fit his skillset to allow him to really thrive and he took advantage of it.” … Nacua made a spectacular one-handed catch. … The Rams will practice in pads again Tuesday.

MARSEILLE — To be in the mixed zone at Stade de Marseille following an Olympic soccer match is to witness an impromptu tap show. As each player enters the small maze of ropes to meet their tournament obligations, their cleats create a chaotic rhythm punctuated by their laughs or sighs, depending on which side of the result they’re on.

For the U.S. women’s national team on Sunday night, fresh off a dominant 4-1 win over Germany, the good vibes kept rolling on. Center-back Naomi Girma giggled as she took baby steps through the press area, as her fellow defender Jenna Nighswonger offered to help keep her balance. Some simply stopped, untied their cleats and opted for socks. No matter what method they used, everyone shared the same buoyant, if still determined, mood.

After all, while the USWNT may be sitting in control of Group B with six points through their two games so far and guaranteed a quarterfinal spot at the 2024 Olympics, this is still just the beginning. A win or a draw against Australia assures first place in the group and a trip to Paris later this week to begin the knockout rounds.

“We’re playing with more structure and discipline, and then I think we’re having fun too,” midfielder Rose Lavelle said when assessing the difference in the start between these games and last summer’s World Cup. “We have a lot of really special players and we’re finally starting to connect. But we know we still have another level in us.”

At the World Cup last year, the U.S. scored four goals through three group stage matches before getting bounced from the tournament by Sweden on penalties during the round of 16. During this summer’s Olympics, the U.S. already has seven goals through two games, including four against Germany alone.

And on those special players — with the starting forward line of Sophia Smith, Mal Swanson and Trinity Rodman all now having scored, with Smith getting her turn in the spotlight on Sunday thanks to a brace — there was a theme in the mixed zone:

“That’s classic Mal.”

“Soph being Soph.”

“Give Trinity the ball and let her do her thing.”

The way the players talk about their teammates is more than just a casual acceptance of the talent level at play and an assumption that it will make itself known, but a reminder of the depth of trust that they have in one another to produce in the biggest moments, as well as a level of selflessness.

“Any way I can contribute to this team, I’m going to do it,” Swanson said. “It doesn’t matter who’s scoring, as long as we’re getting the results that we need. That’s what matters. What’s going on in the training ground is paying off, and you’re seeing that.”

There are bigger tests that await. It’s clear the USWNT feels ready for them, despite still thinking they have not yet reached their full potential.

“This is probably only game six or seven of us playing up front together,” Smith said after the game. “We’re clicking really well, really fast. I think this is only like 70 percent of what we can do.”

Compared to last summer, when the USWNT had strong defensive performances, including a breakout World Cup from Girma in the center-back position and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher doing her best to carry the team, and compared to the lackluster send-off games, the team has found its offensive firepower and found it early at these Games.

“You’re seeing a collective effort from top to bottom,” Naeher said Sunday. “You know the defensive mentality from the group, then four goals on top of that is huge for us, to be able to find the back of the net, especially early on; set the tone right from the beginning.”

The early leads have been important but it might have been Lynn Williams’ second-half goal that felt the most like a breakthrough for the U.S. on Sunday, her team finally showing a necessary ruthlessness through the entirety of the game via that late finish.

GO DEEPER

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Emma Hayes was particularly pleased with that one, especially after the U.S. failed to produce a second-half goal against Zambia.

“That was just validation: one of the importance of the squad and the importance of finishers coming onto the pitch,” Hayes said. “You’ve got to take chances when they come. This is top level.”

But, just like the players, Hayes went beyond the goal from a result point-of-view, speaking about Williams the person in addition to Williams the player.

“A player who epitomizes everything you want in a squad, someone who cares, someone who trains with great intensity, someone who’s intentional, and everything she does is deserving of what she got tonight,” Hayes said. “She doesn’t give up on herself but most importantly, she’s the best teammate you could possibly have.”

Williams was originally an alternate on the USWNT roster (Getty Images)

Maybe that was best illustrated by the fact that Williams, when asked how she felt about her goal, immediately replied that she was more excited about the win.

“There were times where we had to weather a storm, especially in that second half,” the U.S. defender said. “I think that’s what’s really cool about this team and what’s great is that nobody looks frightened in those moments. Every single person is doing their role defensively, offensively. I don’t know if it’s another gear — it’s just more of a belief that no matter what somebody throws at us, we’re going to get the job done.”

Hayes said she learned things about the team on Sunday, things she had wanted to see in terms of character and resilience: conceding a goal to Germany, then an immediate answer, and big stops from Naeher but defensive contributions across the board.

She saw lapses too, of course. Lavelle said the team were their own harshest critics, so she’ll have company there, but Hayes saw the USWNT out of its comfort zone thanks to the ‘top-level opponent’ Germany provided in Marseille, and she saw the team from all sides. She’s ready to work with that.

“The front three, in general, were dynamic as hell, really fun to watch. Most importantly, they enjoyed themselves,” Hayes began, before offering up an apology for what came next. All they did on Sunday was secure three points.

“We’re not here to wow everyone for a game and not do it again. We have to build the momentum,” she said. “First of all, recovering from this type of game — you can imagine the adrenaline — that’s probably my biggest concern now.

“You get so high, the comedown is like any hangover. We have a day and a half to recover before we go on the training pitch. We have to analyze the things that are within our control and we have to win against Australia. Simple as that.”

The players will have a rest day on Monday without any travel but a rest day doesn’t necessarily mean a full 24 hours off. Not in a tournament like the Olympics.

“We’re gonna be happy tonight,” Lavelle promised, “then we have another game in two days.”

(Top photo: Getty Images)