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Newsweek
20 minutes ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Why Tom Brady Takes Issue With Scottie Scheffler's 'What's the Point?' Comments
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Two weeks after Scottie Scheffler went off about his motivations and priorities, these comments continue to generate buzz, and not just in the golf world. As you may recall, Scheffler gave an extensive reflection before the start of The Open Championship about the role golf plays in his life. "I'm not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world because what's the point?" Scheffler said back then, according to the transcripts of his pre-event presser. "This is not the be all, end all. This is not the most important thing in my life." he added. "That's why I wrestle with, why is this so important to me? Because I'd much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer. At the end of the day, that's what's more important to me." Former NFL player Tom Brady plays during the Pro-Am prior to The RSM Classic 2024 at Sea Island Resort on November 20, 2024 in St Simons Island, Georgia | Scottie Scheffler of the United States... Former NFL player Tom Brady plays during the Pro-Am prior to The RSM Classic 2024 at Sea Island Resort on November 20, 2024 in St Simons Island, Georgia | Scottie Scheffler of the United States plays a tee shot on day four of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. More Mike Ehrmann |Among the most recent reactions to these comments was that of legendary former NFL's New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, who doesn't see the matter the same way Scheffler does at all. "Scottie (Scheffler) said he'd rather be a better father and husband than a good golfer. And my question is: why are those mutually exclusive?" Brady wrote in his weekly newsletter. "Sure, they're different blocks on the pyramid, but they're part of the same pyramid. They're connected!" Brady revealed that at the age of 27, and already with three Super Bowl titles under his belt, he had similar feelings to those described by Scheffler at Royal Portrush. However, he later discovered new meanings for his victories. "My dedication to the sport, the hours of practice, the moments when I was laser-focused — those were times when I believe I was doing the best possible thing for my family and my kids, by prioritizing my profession and teaching, by example, what it takes to be really good at your job, what it takes to follow through on commitments, what it takes to be a great teammate; and showing them, also by example, that work is a big part of all our lives," he added in the newsletter. Given the widespread impact these comments have had, Scheffler himself has addressed them on several occasions. As he said on the "Pardon My Take" podcast, the message he tried to convey is that he has other important things in his life besides golf, but that his professional career remains very important to him. More Golf: Rory McIlroy Issues Clear Message On What PGA Tour Must Learn From LIV
San Francisco Chronicle
22 minutes ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans eager to 'put on a show' as he seeks record-setting season
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Mike Evans streaked into the secondary, cut outside and leaped to catch a perfect post-corner toss from Baker Mayfield. Fans at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' indoor practice facility roared. They're used to Evans making all the plays but No. 13 still manages to impress everyone watching. The six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver makes it look so effortless the way he glides after the ball. His routes are smooth and precise, his hands soft. At 6-foot-5, 231 pounds, he has a powerful frame so he can outmuscle defenders or outfinesse them when he needs to. Evans is the only player in NFL history to start his career with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Only Jerry Rice had that many at any point. Evans is aiming for 12 in a row in a year when the Buccaneers celebrate the franchise's 50th season. There are no signs the 31-year-old is slowing down and his team goals are bigger than his personal ones. 'I'm just happy that we have a really great team and we're using this training camp to put everything together to have one of the best seasons for the 50th,' Evans said Tuesday. 'I'm excited to put on a great show for y'all.' At a position known for players with look-at-me personalities — Tyreek Hill, Michael Irvin, Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson — Evans lets his performance do most of the talking. He's quiet, humble and community-oriented. Evans is a four-time NFL Walter Payton Man of The Year nominee for the work he does along with his wife, Ashli, through their foundation, which empowers youth, encourages education and stands against domestic violence. Evans joined the Buccaneers in 2014 as the seventh overall pick and has become one of the greatest players in franchise history. Evans and Chris Godwin were a big reason why Tom Brady chose Tampa Bay in 2020 and the Buccaneers ended up winning a Super Bowl that season. From catching passes from Josh McCown and Mike Glennon as a rookie to Jameis Winston to Brady to Baker Mayfield, Evans continues to produce. He has 836 career catches for 12,684 yards and 105 touchdowns. Evans missed three games last season due to injury and didn't reach 1,000 yards until he caught a 9-yard pass on the final play of a 27-19 victory over the Saints that the Buccaneers needed to secure their fourth straight NFC South title. The reaction from Evans' teammates and the fans after that catch showed how much he's loved. 'He always has (put the team first),' Mayfield said afterward. 'That's why you love him. That's why we appreciate having him. We're lucky to have him and he's underappreciated throughout the media, the league and he's one of one. He deserves that. Obviously, you saw the stadium erupt, the sideline erupt. You can tell how much people care about him and what that means for everybody around him.' Some veteran players are careful about mentoring young guys who will eventually replace them. Not Evans. Or Godwin for that matter. The Buccaneers drafted wideout Emeka Egbuka in the first round out of Ohio State. They selected Tez Johnson from Oregon in the seventh round. 'It's constant. They're just so fortunate from Tez to 'Mek' (Egbuka) to Garrett (Greene) to be able to learn from them,' Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard said. 'We just had a walk through this morning and we can coach it up, but Chris and Mike were coaching up the concept just as much as myself and (wide receivers coach) 'B-Mac' (Bryan McClendon) were. And that's just on the field — I can't imagine what they talk about off the field on how to be a pro and how to conduct themselves. They couldn't have come into a better environment for people to learn from.'
USA Today
22 minutes ago
- Sport
- USA Today
George Pickens could be explosive for Cowboys – one way or another
OXNARD, CA – It was the last play of practice. George Pickens, running a sharp comeback route, snagged Dak Prescott's short pass to the left flat and urgently juked a defender near the sideline. Then he cut against the grain and streaked across the field for at least another 50 yards with a purpose. The crowd roared. Pickens didn't stop until he crossed the goal line. Then he added theatrics. The wide receiver stretched both arms toward the sky and crashed on his back. It was also significant that two of his new Dallas Cowboys teammates – Cee Dee Lamb and tight end Jake Ferguson – sprinted downfield to join Pickens in a celebration. What a snapshot of training camp bliss. Big play, big celebration. 'Team brotherhood, yeah,' Pickens told USA TODAY Sports a few minutes later. 'Really, I'm just embracing it. And it's about them embracing me, too.' Welcome to the next chapter of Pickens' NFL career. The Cowboys obtained the fourth-year pro from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a post-draft trade in May and there are grand visions of the big plays he can produce as another target for Prescott, opposite the All-Pro Lamb. Since he entered the NFL as a second-round pick from Georgia, only Justin Jefferson and A.J. Brown have produced more receptions of at least 25 yards than Pickens (41). Last season, Pickens' 14 catches in that category were topped only by Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase. And Pickens, 24, is clearly elite when it comes to hauling in contested catches. Then there's the reason the home run threat was available in the first place. Too often, Pickens was his own worst enemy with the Steelers, a headache waiting to happen. Being explosive, it seems, is a double-edged sword. There were hotheaded scuffles with opponents. During at least one game, he argued with fans. He was also criticized for lacking professionalism while dodging the media. After Pickens drew two unsportsmanlike conduct flags during a game at Cincinnati with fits of immaturity, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of the receiver: 'He's got to grow up in a hurry.' Undoubtedly, the Steelers embraced the idea of moving on from Pickens. Hello, Dallas. 'The issues, they don't deter me at all,' Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told USA TODAY Sports in May, shortly after the trade. Dallas sent a third-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-round choice in 2027 to Pittsburgh for Pickens and a sixth-round pick in 2027. 'You get these guys that are really in the right place, that makes a big difference,' Jones said. Jones has a history of taking chances on players who either fell out of favor elsewhere, or carried baggage related to off-the-field issues. Some cases worked out, while others flopped. The former category would include Hall of Famer Charles Haley, who became a key cog in three Super Bowl championship teams after he was obtained in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers in 1992. The latter category would include Adam 'Pacman' Jones and Greg Hardy, whose legal issues didn't end when they joined the Cowboys. 'The biggest issue of all is that I've never met a human that didn't have frailties,' Jones said. 'As a matter of fact, someone once said, 'Jerry might be the most flawed individual I've ever met.' As one flawed person to the other, I look forward to working with George.' Pickens is well aware of the reputation he hopes to leave behind with his fresh start. 'You can push a certain narrative. I know, personally, myself, that I'm not an issue,' Pickens said. 'Now, I'm just following the Cowboys way. They always want to win a Super Bowl. So, I'm on their agenda now.' Time will tell whether Pickens is a good fit for the chemistry of a franchise that is, well, working with a 29-year Super Bowl drought. Since his arrival, coaches, teammates and others connected to the team have raved about Pickens' approach and demeanor. So, that's a great sign. Ferguson, the tight end, recalled a good first impression in meeting Pickens during the draft process in 2022. 'Seeing the locker room, it was right back to normal, right back to chatting it up,' Ferguson said. 'I'm excited to see what he can do. And yeah, he gets on the field and he's explosive. It's just going to open up that many more things.' Pickens won't deny that his demeanor has become more upbeat since the trade. 'Yeah, it's a huge change from the last couple of years,' he said. Then came a swipe at the Steelers. 'It was all a big circus,' he says. 'When I was at the Steelers, the team wasn't as fun.' Stay tuned. While Pickens (who led Pittsburgh with 59 catches for 900 yards in 2024) clearly carries a competitive edge, it will be interesting to see how well he handles a complementary role in a passing game that revolves around Lamb. What's the reaction if Lamb puts up a monster game with, say, 10 catches for 150 yards and two TDs, while Pickens chips in with four receptions and 60 yards? Of course, that's hypothetical. Yet it's fair to wonder whether Pickens, after being the Steelers' undisputed No. 1 receiver, would be fazed by the prospect of not being the top option. 'I accept it as huge,' he maintained. 'I look at it as better. I don't know if other people see that. I can only think for myself, but I look at it as a way for a great chance. Because you have Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (with the Bengals). You have A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith (with the Eagles). Look around the league. When you've got those two-headed weapons, those are the guys going to the playoffs, close to or in the Super Bowl. I embrace it a lot, honestly. Whether it's 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A. See what I mean? It don't matter.' Mention the X's and O's and Pickens lights up. Clearly this is a man stoked about the designs of an offense that has the fingerprints of new coach Brian Schottenheimer, promoted from coordinator to replace Mike McCarthy. Pickens isn't shy in expressing that he felt stagnated in Arthur Smith's offense with Pittsburgh last season. 'Man, I was super limited,' he said. 'I came out of college running posts, go-balls, comebacks, digs. And then I got to the Steelers and I was only running go-balls. And screens. It was limited from low to high.' He continued grumbling about a lack of intermediate routes in Pittsburgh. 'Now I'm running digs,' he added. 'I ran like three digs today. I ran a comeback on the last play. I didn't run one comeback my whole career with the Steelers. That should show you a lot. And that's just today. Yesterday, I ran three other comebacks. See what I mean?' Pickens is surely heard, loud and clear. Although he insists he was 'kind of surprised' when the trade happened, it was hardly a secret that he wanted out. 'When you see better for yourself … you're going to have to take it,' he said. 'And that's what your family is going to want you to do. So, I kind of felt like it was better somewhere else.' Is Dallas a long-term destination? That's TBD. Pickens is on the final year of his rookie contract, with a base salary of $3.65 million, eligible to become a free agent in March. The Steelers, who added DK Metcalf in an offseason deal, were wise to get something in return for a player they had no interest in signing to a long-term extension. Now that looms as an option for the Cowboys – and incentive for Pickens to prove that he's a good fit in more ways than one. 'I think we're in total agreement,' Jones said. 'Let's see how this year goes and go from there.' In other words, Pickens could explode in Dallas – one way or another. Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@ or follow on social media: On X: @JarrettBell; On Bluesky:
USA Today
22 minutes ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman joins Madden NFL's 99 overall club
Former Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Lane Johnson is having a pretty incredible year in 2025. First, he won his second Super Bowl ring in February with the Philadephia Eagles. Johnson helped pave the way for fellow former Sooner Jalen Hurts and the rest of the Philly offense in a Super Bowl LIX rout of the Kansas City Chiefs. Next, Johnson signed a contract extension to stay with the Eagles through the 2027 season. He'll make over $20 million a year. Then on Monday, Johnson found out that he is a member of EA Sports and Madden NFL's 99 overall club. The members of the club are players who earned a 99 overall rating in EA Sports' Madden NFL video game series, the highest overall rating a player can attain. Johnson will be a 99 overall in "Madden NFL 26" after receiving the news from fellow Eagle Saquon Barkley. He's been holding it down at right tackle in Philadelphia for over a decade, also helping the Eagles win Super Bowl LII following the 2017 season. Johnson began his college football career at Kilgore College, a junior college in East Texas, in 2008. He transferred to Oklahoma in 2009 and spent the next four years with the Sooners. Over his five collegiate seasons, Johnson played quarterback, tight end, defensive end, and finally, offensive lineman. During the 2011 season at OU, Johnson made the switch from defensive end to offensive tackle due to injuries to o-line starters that year in fall camp. He impressed coaches with his natural ability to play the position. He wound up starting 12 games at right tackle that season and 11 games at left tackle the next year as a senior in 2012. He protected quarterback Landry Jones, opened up holes in the "Belldozer" formation with quarterback Blake Bell, and was a third-team All-American after his last season. Johnson has been with the Eagles for his entire career, after they drafted him fourth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. He has switched back to right tackle and is one of the league's most dominant forces on the offensive line. He's now the elder statesmen on a Philly team that looks to go back-to-back in 2025, with Johnson playing a pivotal role in the team's success. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
Winnipeg Free Press
22 minutes ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans eager to ‘put on a show' as he seeks record-setting season
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Mike Evans streaked into the secondary, cut outside and leaped to catch a perfect post-corner toss from Baker Mayfield. Fans at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' indoor practice facility roared. They're used to Evans making all the plays but No. 13 still manages to impress everyone watching. The six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver makes it look so effortless the way he glides after the ball. His routes are smooth and precise, his hands soft. At 6-foot-5, 231 pounds, he has a powerful frame so he can outmuscle defenders or outfinesse them when he needs to. Evans is the only player in NFL history to start his career with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Only Jerry Rice had that many at any point. Evans is aiming for 12 in a row in a year when the Buccaneers celebrate the franchise's 50th season. There are no signs the 31-year-old is slowing down and his team goals are bigger than his personal ones. 'I'm just happy that we have a really great team and we're using this training camp to put everything together to have one of the best seasons for the 50th,' Evans said Tuesday. 'I'm excited to put on a great show for y'all.' At a position known for players with look-at-me personalities — Tyreek Hill, Michael Irvin, Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson — Evans lets his performance do most of the talking. He's quiet, humble and community-oriented. Evans is a four-time NFL Walter Payton Man of The Year nominee for the work he does along with his wife, Ashli, through their foundation, which empowers youth, encourages education and stands against domestic violence. Evans joined the Buccaneers in 2014 as the seventh overall pick and has become one of the greatest players in franchise history. Evans and Chris Godwin were a big reason why Tom Brady chose Tampa Bay in 2020 and the Buccaneers ended up winning a Super Bowl that season. From catching passes from Josh McCown and Mike Glennon as a rookie to Jameis Winston to Brady to Baker Mayfield, Evans continues to produce. He has 836 career catches for 12,684 yards and 105 touchdowns. Evans missed three games last season due to injury and didn't reach 1,000 yards until he caught a 9-yard pass on the final play of a 27-19 victory over the Saints that the Buccaneers needed to secure their fourth straight NFC South title. The reaction from Evans' teammates and the fans after that catch showed how much he's loved. 'He always has (put the team first),' Mayfield said afterward. 'That's why you love him. That's why we appreciate having him. We're lucky to have him and he's underappreciated throughout the media, the league and he's one of one. He deserves that. Obviously, you saw the stadium erupt, the sideline erupt. You can tell how much people care about him and what that means for everybody around him.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Some veteran players are careful about mentoring young guys who will eventually replace them. Not Evans. Or Godwin for that matter. The Buccaneers drafted wideout Emeka Egbuka in the first round out of Ohio State. They selected Tez Johnson from Oregon in the seventh round. 'It's constant. They're just so fortunate from Tez to 'Mek' (Egbuka) to Garrett (Greene) to be able to learn from them,' Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard said. 'We just had a walk through this morning and we can coach it up, but Chris and Mike were coaching up the concept just as much as myself and (wide receivers coach) 'B-Mac' (Bryan McClendon) were. And that's just on the field — I can't imagine what they talk about off the field on how to be a pro and how to conduct themselves. They couldn't have come into a better environment for people to learn from.' ___ AP NFL:
