All the goodwill and hope brought by a perfect preseason ended for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the terrible reality of their regular-season opener. Kenny Pickett and the Pittsburgh offense, which had high expectations after scoring on each of their preseason drives, were dragged in a Week 1 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers, 30-7; the most lopsided home defeat in the Mike Tomlin reign. While San Francisco left the game looking like an NFC Super Bowl contender, the Steelers walked away from Acrisure Stadium looking like preseason imposters. “We accept responsibility obviously for the outcome,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said after the game, via the team website. “We compliment those guys on the quality of work that they did. We absorb the negativity that comes with how we performed today, and we go back to work. We’ve got to prepare them better. They’ve got to play better. That’s just the reality of it. “We got kicked in the teeth today in a lot of ways.” The Steelers defense permitted Christian McCaffrey to run for 152 yards on the ground, CMC’s highest total as a 494er and since Week 5 of 2019.  Pittsburgh’s offense was truly disappointing to the tune of 239 yards of total offense (a meagre 3.9 yards per play). Pittsburgh dropped behind, 20-0, in the first half and got shut out in the second. The same way Pickett and Co. looked great weeks earlier, they looked sick on Sunday. “We didn’t win enough possession downs to be competitive,” Tomlin said. “You can’t start games 0-5 on third down and think you’re going to have the type of day that you desire. You’ve got to win the weighty downs.” Pittsburgh was 5-for-15 on third downs in the game with Pickett throwing a couple of interceptions (including a touchdown to Pat Freiermuth). Over his last eight matches of 2022, Pickett had just one pick.  Tomlin who coached the Steelers since 2007, had only two home losses of 15-plus points in his tenure before Sunday. Week 1 was a wake-up call for the team. “Disappointing day for us,” Tomlin said. “Not how we wanted to perform.” More From The NFL: New York Giants embrassed by 40-0 loss to cowboys on opening night.

The New England Patriots, held a special ceremony to honor the legendary quarterback during halftime of the team’s season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and there was no empty seat when Tom Brady addressed the teeming crowd at the Gillette Stadium. “This is an incredible celebration for me, for our family, for my teammates, for all of us to come back and thank you guys, for what you’ve done for us,” Brady said. “I was so fortunate to be drafted here two decades ago — 23 years, to be exact — not even knowing where New England was on the map. And not that we put it on the map, but I think a lot more people in the U.S. know where the New England Patriots play.” A sure first-ballot Hall of Famer, Brady will enter the Patriots Hall of Fame first, owner Robert Kraft announced on Sunday. Kraft announced that he was waiving the four-year waiting period for the team’s Hall of Fame, allowing Tom to be inducted next year. His induction is slated for June 12, 2024, inside Gillette Stadium. Tom Brady’s long dynasty in New England featured six Super Bowl championships, 17 division titles and 2019 regular-season wins. Wearing his legendary No.12 Patriots jersey, the former sixth-round pick raced out onto the field before addressing the crowd, shouting to the New England crowd once crossing the end zone as he had done for 20 wonderful seasons. “We had a culture of teammates and cared about two things,” Brady said. “They cared about each other and they cared about winning. And if you didn’t care about those two things, you did not last here very long. And we were very happy to play against you. So I think we proved to America what teamwork’s all about. We prove that believing in each other, believing in playing for this community, and believing in playing for a common mission, we were able to pull down six of those banners and celebrate them in this stadium.” This was the first time Brady appeared in New England since he announced his retirement in February. He finished a 23-season-long career after his third campaign in Tampa Bay, where he added a seventh Super Bowl ring and became the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. He finished his speech with an excellent summation of his legendary career and a proclamation that got a big cheer from the crowd.  “All our lives take us on different journeys,” Tom Brady said. “They take us to different places, they bring different people into our lives, but one thing that I am sure of — and that will never change — is that I am a Patriot for life.” Related News: Michael Irvin returns to NFL Network, settles $100 million misconduct allegations lawsuit with Marriott.

Former Dallas Cowboys star and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin settled his defamation lawsuit against Marriott and officially made his return to the NFL Network on Sunday morning, in time to begin the 2023 season. Irvin filed a $100 million lawsuit against Marriott and six others for defamation and tortious interference in a business relationship after a female employee accused him of making lewd and inappropriate comments in a hotel lobby in Arizona in February. He was removed from the NFL Network’s Super Bowl coverage in light of the incident and has been off since then. He and Marriott have settled that lawsuit since then, the Dallas Morning News reported on Sunday morning. However, the terms of the settlement are not known. “Michael Irvin has been reinstated and will be a part of the NFL Network’s coverage of the 2023 season,” NFL Media vice president of communication Alex Riethmiller said in a statement, via The Dallas Morning News. An employee of the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel accused Irvin of misconduct before the Super Bowl earlier this year. However, the specifics of the allegations were not made clear right away. In a legal motion, Marriot stated that he called the hotel employee, “appeared to be visibly intoxicated” and began “aggressive” behaviour toward her after returning to the hotel from dinner that night. Video of the event with the female employee was released in March, although Marriott wanted to prevent its release. Irvin was seen shaking hands with the woman, he touched her arm twice, and then they parted ways after a roughly two-minute encounter. He denied the allegations against him at every turn, saying he was “baffled’’ by it all. He told the Dallas Morning News that he had been drinking earlier that night at dinner and did not remember the details of the conversation. “This all happened in a 45-second conversation in the lobby,” he said earlier this year. “When I got back after going out … I came into the lobby, and I talked to somebody. I talked to this girl. I don’t know her, and I talked to her for about 45 seconds. We shook hands. Then, I left. … That’s all I know. “I don’t really recall that conversation, to tell you the truth. We were out drinking. It was just a friendly conversation. ‘What’s up?’ I don’t even know. … I am totally perplexed.’ More From The NFL: Michael Irvin returns to NFL Network, settles $100 million misconduct allegations lawsuit with Marriott.

Racing a former NFL running back is never a good idea, particularly if you are a 44-year-old comedian. Kevin Hart learned this lesson the hard way and is now in a wheelchair for the time being. Hart posted a video to Instagram where he explained his injury. He and Stevan Ridley got into an argument about who would win in a race, so they decided to settle it by running the 40-yard dash. As expected, it did not go well for him. Kevin said he tore multiple muscles in his abdomen, as he laid out his injuries in agonizing detail. He also said the incident was a clear reminder that he is no longer a spring chicken. “We get out there, we go run the 40-yard dash,” Hart said. “40-yard dash. Guys, I blew all my s–t. Tore my lower abdomen, my abductors. I don’t even know what that is, but I tore them. I tore those too. I can’t walk. Sit my ass down. This is 44.” Hart received a bit of feedback from other celebrities with stars like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Will Smith commenting on the video. Even if Kevin Hart had not gotten hurt, it would be hard to imagine the race turning out well for him. After a successful career at LSU, Ridley played eight seasons in the NFL, four of them with the New England Patriots. In 2012, Ridley rushed for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns. That is not the type of person to be challenged to a race, a mistake Hart will not be making again. See also: Caleb Farley’s father dies in home explosion.

The father of Tennesse Titans player Caleb Farley died in a massive explosion early on Tuesday at his North Carolina home, officials said. First responders found Robert Farley’s body after rummaging through the debris of the multimillion-dollar house. Caleb was not at home at the time of the explosion. The investigation is focusing on the property’s natural gas lines, no foul play is suspected. Christian Rogers, 25, a family friend who was also at the home, was taken to the hospital after sustaining non-life-threatening injuries, per a statement released by Iredell County. The 6,300 sq ft (585 sq m) lakeside property, in the Charlotte suburb of Mooresville, was reduced to rubble and all the cars parked outside the house were destroyed. “There’s a lot of devastation,” Iredell County director of fire services and emergency management Kent Greene told the Tennessean. “There’s nothing left of this structure except a partial wall.” Farley, 24, was spotted on the scene speaking to authorities after the blast on Tuesday morning.  Neighbours told local news outlet Queen City News that they had smelled gas and heard the explosion. “A loud boom, about five minutes to midnight,” said neighbour Clay Wild. “I can’t believe it.” Caleb Farley grew up in nearby Maiden, North Carolina, before joining American Football at Virginia Tech. He became the number 22 overall pick in the 2021 draft. Titans coach Mike Vrabel gathered the players after practice on Tuesday and they kneeled to pray for Farley. “What’s most important is that we do everything we can to support him emotionally,” Mr Vrabel said. “It’s shocking. We’ve got to focus on Caleb and his family, and how we can support him.” In 2018, Caleb lost his mother to breast cancer, Sports Illustrated reported. “I know he lost his mother at a young age as well,” his teammate Kevin Byard said. “He’s dealt with a lot of adversity. It’s very tragic. It’s an unimaginable tragedy.” Related News: Kevin Hart tears abdomen, ends up in wheelchair after racing ex-NFL RB Stevan Ridley.

Indianapolis took a huge chance signing quarterback Anthony Richardson with the No.4 overall pick in April’s draft and Colts owner Jim Irsay believes that the newbie should take the fielder soon for it to pay dividends. “As you guys know, Peyton (Manning’s rookie) year we were 3-13, the first year,” Irsay said on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday. “That’s a guy who played a lot of college games and was really prepared as much as he could be for the league. So, for Anthony Richardson, it’s going to be tough. We know that. But he has to play to get better. I mean, there’s no question. Gardner (Minshew) could come out and play better early on, him just being a veteran, but we have to get Anthony on the field. And that’s (head coach) Shane (Steichen’s) call when he decides to do it.” Although Irsay did not make any announcements or demands on Richardson being a Week 1 starter, instead leaving that decision to this new head coach, he made his stance on his rookie being tested by the fires clear. Richardson who has not signed his rookie contract yet, has 4.4 speed and a canon arm but lacks experienced. He was Florida’s full-time starter for only one season, his draft slot was hard to forecast until the Colts bought him. He enters the League with 215 completions in 393 attempts during his collegiate career, which summed up to 3,105 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. Richardson also had 1,116 rushing yards and 12 scores on the ground. Manning, comparatively, was a four-year starter at Tennessee with 380 or higher pass attempts in every of his last three seasons. He struggled in his first year at the helm, tossing a league-leading 28 interceptions, but he and the Colts became a formidable force with double-digit victories in 11 of his next 12 seasons. This is a future Jim Irsay hopes to witness behind his third first-round QB as an owner.  With Irsay’s support to start Richardson on time, it seems the Florida product already has an edge on his competition entering training camp. Anthony Richardson had 6,632 passing yards, 44 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, he has displayed signs of staying power in 24 career starts. He would probably be Indiana’s best shot at competing in the early quarter of 2023, but there is a chance the Colts take the long-view approach at the end of a 4-12-1 season. There will be growing discomfort when Richardson takes the lineup, especially since the offensive line permitted 60 sacks last season (second-highest in the NFL). But his legs give him the best shot of a Colts QB to create something out of nothing in case the O-line becomes porous again, and he will have excellent safety nets to aid his learning curve thanks to All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor and possession wide receiver Michael Pittman. Plus, the earlier Richardson takes the pitch, the sooner he can start playing for his lofty ceiling in earnest. Related News: Northwestern sacks head coach Pat Fitzgerald for hazing scandal.

Northwestern has fired head coach Pat Fitzgerald amidst a hazing scandal that questioned his ability to lead the program and tainted the university’s reputation after it mishandled its reaction to the accusations. Fitzgerald’s sack on Monday brought on a quick fall from grace for the ex-Northwestern linebacker. He had been deeply connected to his alma mater, a yearly on any list of college coaches with the best job security. “The head coach is ultimately responsible for the culture of his team,” Northwestern President Michael Schill wrote in an open letter. “The hazing we investigated was widespread and clearly not a secret within the program, providing Coach Fitzgerald with the opportunity to learn what was happening. Either way, the culture in Northwestern Football, while incredible in some ways, was broken in others.” Pat Fitzgerald will start his two-week suspension on Friday after the school announced that an investigation carried out by a law firm had not found “sufficient” evidence that the coaching staff was aware of the ongoing hazing, although there were “significant opportunities’’ to find out about it. The Daily Northwestern released a story on Saturday chronicling allegations from an ex-player who described specific hazing incidents and sexual abuse within the team. The report showed that Fitzgerald “may have known that hazing took place.” That caused Schill to write an open letter to the university community where he agreed that focusing “too much on what the report concluded (Fitzgerald) didn’t know and not enough on what he should have known.” He went on to say that he intends to meet with university leadership, members of the board of trustees and leaders of the faculty senate to decide his next steps. Related News: Colts owner Jim Irsay proposes early usage of QB Anthony Richardson: ‘He has to play to get better’

New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau announced on Monday via Twitter that he is in full remission from Hodgkin lymphoma.  Moreau was diagnosed with a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, in March after a physical with the Saints. He then took a break from football to focus on treating himself before signing on with the team two months later for a three-year, $12 million deal. The good news flowed in when Moreau was fit enough to participate in the Saints’ organized team activities at the end of May, with the best news coming at the outset of July. Foster is entering his fifth NFL season with 91 career receptions, 1,107 yards and 12 touchdowns. He set personal records in both catches (33) and yards (420) playing alongside Derek Carr last year, who he was reunited with in the Big Easy. Due to Moreau’s familiarity with Carr, he may play a prominent role in the offense, particularly in the early going while the quarterback gets his feet under him playing for a new franchise. New Orleans will benefit immensely from having Moreau to round out a cast of pass catches that include tight end Juwan Johnson and wide receivers Chris Olave, Michael Thomas and Rashid Shaheed. The most important thing, however, is that Foster Moreau now has a clean bill of health from cancer. Related News: Hassan Haskins Titans RB arrested, charged with aggravated assault by strangulationAndy Dalton Panthers QB declares himself ‘as a starter in this league’Bills Damar Hamlin throws first pitch for Yankees’ Hope Week Initiative