The World of Sports

New on Sports Illustrated: Ian Desmond to Sit Out 2020 Season: 'Home Is Where I Need to Be'

<a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/06/30/ian-desmond-skip-2020-season-coronavirus-family-concerms">
Desmond: "With a pregnant wife and four young children who have a lot of questions about what's going on in the world, home is where I need to be."
Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond
</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCCp7aSptTr/">announced on Monday</a> he will sit out the 2020 season, citing family concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic. 
Desmond's post also included his "thoughts and experiences as a biracial man in America," noting his responsibility to answer questions from his children regarding "coronavirus and civil rights and life."
"The COVID-19 pandemic has made this baseball season one that is a risk that I am not comfortable taking,” <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCCp7aSptTr/">Desmond wrote</a>. "With a pregnant wife and four young children who have lots of questions about what's going on in the world, home is where I need to be right now."
"Home for my wife, Chelsey. Home to help. Home to guide. Home to answer my older three boys' questions about Coronavirus, Civil Rights and life. Home to be their dad."
<iframe width="320" height="320" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCCp7aSptTr/embed" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Desmond, 34, signed a <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2016/12/07/colorado-rockies-sign-ian-desmond-free-agency-contract">five-year, $70 million contract with the Rockies</a> in 2016. He is a two-time All-Star, hitting 181 home runs in 11 seasons.

New on Sports Illustrated: Ian Desmond to Sit Out 2020 Season: 'Home Is Where I Need to Be'

Desmond: "With a pregnant wife and four young children who have a lot of questions about what's going on in the world, home is whe...

New on Sports Illustrated: Hawks to Use State Farm Arena as Georgia Polling Station For 2020 Elections

<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/06/30/hawks-use-state-farm-arena-polling-location-2020-election">
State Farm Arena will serve as a polling station for Georgia's primary runoff election on Aug. 11.
The Hawks will use State Farm Arena as a polling station for Georgia's primary runoff election on Aug. 11, according to ESPN's
</a><a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29384837/hawks-approved-turn-state-farm-arena-huge-voting-station-upcoming-elections">Kevin Arnovitz</a>.
State Farm Arena will also serve as a polling station for early voting before the general election in 2020. 
"We were casually brainstorming since our whole world turned about what we can do internally as an organization," Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce told <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29384837/hawks-approved-turn-state-farm-arena-huge-voting-station-upcoming-elections">Aronvitz</a>. "We were trying to figure out how we can take care of home first, and [Atlanta CEO Steve Koonin] pitched the idea."
Pierce plans to "encourage" coaches and organizations across the NBA to consider using their arenas as polling stations ahead of the 2020 election. The second-year head coach is a member of the National Basketball Coaches Association's committee on racial injustice and reform.
"The focal point tonight is what the coaches can do in Orlando to keep this conversation alive and use our voice and our platform in unity," <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29384837/hawks-approved-turn-state-farm-arena-huge-voting-station-upcoming-elections">Pierce said</a>. "But being able to address the group and show them this initiative was really not hard to process. We reached out to the county and they were on board. The next thing you know, we're the first city to have an arena host a voting site. So I really want to encourage all the other 28 other coaches."
Pierce and Hawks point guard Trae Young are among <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/hawks/news/lloyd-pierce-atlanta-hawks-are-fighting-racial-injustice-police-brutality">numerous NBA players and coaches to join protests and rallies</a> after <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/george-floyd-investigation.html">George Floyd</a> was killed on May 25. Floyd was stopped by Minnesota PD officer Derek Chauvin, who <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/george-floyd-autopsy-michael-baden.html">pressed his knee on Floyd's neck</a> for nearly nine minutes. Floyd can be heard saying "I can't breathe," numerous times on video before his death. 
Chauvin has been <a href="https://www.startribune.com/protests-build-anew-after-fired-officer-charged-jailed/570869672/">charged with second-degree murder</a>. Three other officers have been charged with aiding and abetting murder for their roles in Floyd's death.
The NBA is working to support social justice initiatives in Orlando when the 2019-20 season resumes on July 30. Players will be allowed to replace the last name on their jerseys with a <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/06/28/nba-allowing-social-justice-statements-jerseys-orlando-restart">message about social justice</a>, and all three courts in Orlando will reportedly <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/rockets/news/black-lives-matter-painted-court-sidelines-orlando">have "Black Lives Matter" written on the sidelines.</a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Hawks to Use State Farm Arena as Georgia Polling Station For 2020 Elections

State Farm Arena will serve as a polling station for Georgia's primary runoff election on Aug. 11. The Hawks will use State Farm Arena...

New on Sports Illustrated: Could the 2011 Lockout Give Us One Hint Why The Patriots Wanted Cam Newton?

<a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/06/30/cam-newton-bill-belichick-theory-johnny-manziel">
Does 2011 offer a hint about Bill Belichick's interest in Cam Newton? Plus, notes on the QB market, the Patriots' latest penalties, Colin Kaepernick's Netflix doc and Johnny Manziel's comments.
Camp opens for most teams a month from yesterday. Or at least it’s supposed to. Here’s what we’ve got for you this afternoon. …
<figure><img height="345" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTczNjIxNTk2NzU2Mzg3NjA1/cam-newton-bill-belichick-johnny-manziel-maqb.jpg" width="620" /></figure>
• Someone who has worked in New England made a pretty interesting point to me about
</a><a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/06/29/nfl-let-bill-belichick-patriots-sign-quarterback-cam-newton">the Cam Newton signing</a>, as it relates to Bill Belichick’s brand of logic. He told me that in 2011, Belichick told everyone that the one thing that would kill the team early on, post-lockout, was being out of shape, and giving up big plays as a result of it. This guy then said, regarding Newton, “So what better way to pressure on a tired defense than have Cam back there?” And then there’s this—if the Patriots feel like they needed to be a little simpler to play fast on offense, Newton can facilitate that in allowing New England to build more off its run game. Now, I think the primary reason to sign here is giving yourself multiple shots at getting the quarterback position right, post-Tom Brady, and the signing absolutely fits Belichick’s pattern of buying low on prodigious talents (Randy Moss, Corey Dillon, Chad Ochocinco, Albert Haynesworth, etc., etc.) But the stuff specific to 2011 sure is a nice side benefit.
• I also think the contract terms Newton agreed to say more about this offseason than anything else. Spending is always craziest over the first wave of free agency. After that, there were a pretty high number of high-profile quarterbacks available—Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco and Jameis Winston among them—who were waiting for a market out that never heated back up for them. Guys like Teddy Bridgewater, Nick Foles and even Chase Daniel benefitted from coming off the market early on, while the market was hot. After that, the reality became clear, and that’s that for the first time in forever quarterback supply overwhelmed quarterback demand.
• One addendum to <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/06/29/cam-newton-new-england-patriots-team-doctors-covid">my MMQB take</a> on <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/06/29/nfl-penalty-new-england-patriots-filming-cincinnati-bengals">the Patriots’ penalties for their media crew videotaping the Bengals’ sideline</a>—that third-round pick they lost is significant, and because of more than just the blown draft capital. New England was cooperative and apologetic about the violation, but had hoped it would be assessed as a non-football misstep. The inclusion of the draft-pick penalty is the NFL implicitly holding Patriots football ops accountable.
• With the NFL football ops <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLFootballOps/status/1277724402650505216">tweeting out</a> July 28 as the start date for training camp, it’s worth noting that the Chiefs and Texans open earlier—the rule under the new CBA is teams can start 47 days before their opener. Since Houston and Kansas City are playing in the kickoff game, both will start camp on July 25. The Texans are welcoming in their rookies on July 18, and have the quarterbacks coming in on July 20. Chiefs QBs and rookies report on the 22nd.
• I’d love more from Colin Kaepernick on 2015-17 in <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLFootballOps/status/1277724402650505216">his new Netflix doc</a>, but it doesn’t sound like that’s going to be a part of it. He’s got an executive producer credit in the announcement, which means if he wants to keep that stuff out of there, that stuff will be kept out of there.
<iframe height="482" width="100%" src="https://playlist.megaphone.fm?p=DGT4935950864" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
• Johnny Manziel told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal that, for him, he views football as “<a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/06/29/johnny-manziel-football-career-in-the-past">in the past</a>.” And that’s too bad. It’s been lost in the mess his life became, but Manziel was electric as a player and competitor, and he’s still just 27 years old. Because he was such a unique player, I always thought Doug Flutie was a good comp for him. It’s a shame we never really saw what he might’ve become over time.
• Bucs LB Shaq Barrett <a href="https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNFL/status/1277648411110580225">told SiriusXM radio</a> Monday that he plans to sign his franchise tender if he doesn’t get a long-term deal by the July 15 deadline, and that raised an interesting X-factor for the others tagged but still unsigned—Bengals WR A.J. Green, Chiefs DT Chris Jones, Jaguars DE Yannick Ngaukoe and Broncos S Justin Simmons. Given all of the COVID-related issues, would it make sense for those guys to stay away until Week 1 to avoid getting infected, or being around those who come in with the virus? I think it’s a sort of interesting question, given the likelihood that some teams will have a significant number of cases through training.
• While we’re there, I thought <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffSkversky/status/1277414986722271234">Eagles OT Lane Johnson explained</a> what players will be facing next month well: “Ultimately, it’s a risk that we’re all willing to take to go outside your house or whatever you’re doing, going shopping. I’ve been doing a pretty good job of staying in the house, doing my social distancing protocols. Yeah, with everybody it’s going to be a risk that we’re going to have to take and see what happens.” Really, it’s not unlike what many in America are facing (without the risk of having to physically run into your co-workers over and over again, of course).
• Just to update something we’ve been keeping an eye on, five of the NFL’s 32 first-round picks have signed. Last year at this juncture, 26 had signed. And there are veterans who still haven’t actually signed their deals either, because they can’t take physicals yet. Which, as you might imagine, has led some to be very careful about how they’re working out ahead of camp.
• All the best to long-time agent Paul Sheehy and his family. Per long-time Broncos beat man <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeKlis/status/1277668363557273602">Mike Klis</a>, Sheehy is battling COVID-19 and has been on a ventilator on Friday, which is another reminder of the seriousness of the virus, and the fact that we’re not nearly out of the woods with it yet as a country.
• Question or comment? <a href="mailto:gary.gramling@si.com">Email us</a>.

New on Sports Illustrated: Could the 2011 Lockout Give Us One Hint Why The Patriots Wanted Cam Newton?

Does 2011 offer a hint about Bill Belichick's interest in Cam Newton? Plus, notes on the QB market, the Patriots' latest penalties,...

New on Sports Illustrated: Johnny Manziel Admits His Football Career is Probably "in the Past"

<a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/06/29/johnny-manziel-football-career-in-the-past">
Manziel last played football with the AAF's Memphis Express in 2019 before the league folded.
Johnny Manziel's days as Johnny Football are likely over. Although he has not officially retired, Manziel
</a><a href="https://www.lubbockonline.com/sports/20200627/williams-column-johnny-manziel-says-his-football-career-is-rsquoin-pastrsquo--and-hersquos-ok-with-that">told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal</a> over the weekend that he may never play football again.
"In the past, probably, is the way I'd characterize it,” Manziel said of his career. "I've finally got to a point where I'm trying to achieve happiness in life, not happiness on the football field.
"I know a lot of people probably want me to come back and play and give it another chance, but I don't know, as far as being a person and figuring out life as a young adult—trying to make it and figure it out—if I've ever been in a better place than I'm in right now. I can honestly say I'm happy and I'm doing the right things to try and put a smile on my face every day, and that means more to me than going out and grinding on a football field."
Manziel, 27, last played professional football with the Alliance of American Football's Memphis Express in March 2019 before the league folded. He joined the Express after the <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/27/johnny-manziel-released-montreal-alouettes-cfl">Montreal Alouettes released him</a> and the Canadian Football League banned him from playing with another team.
Before the CFL and AAF, Manziel spent two seasons with the Cleveland Browns in 2014 and 2015. However, inconsistent play and a string of off-field issues, including a <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/11/30/johnny-manziel-misdemeanor-assault-charge-dismissed">domestic assault charge against him that was later dismissed</a>, led to the Browns cutting Manziel in 2016.
In his two NFL seasons, Manziel appeared in 14 games. The former Heisman Trophy winner threw 1,675 yards for seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.
"During that time when I got drafted, I didn't put in the time that I needed to be a great player and I don't think my heart was in it," Manziel said. "And I think when I went back to Canada, it was the same way. I truly believed and truly thought it was what I wanted to do, and my heart wasn't in it, and it worked out the way it did."
Manziel currently lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., and is spending lots of time playing golf. He said he was "humbled" during his football career and he's content with how it played out.
"People can call me whatever they want, but at the end of the day, I'm proud of what I did. I'm proud of what I accomplished. I bettered myself. I bettered my family's life. I got a chance to play amazing college football, and it didn't work out in the NFL and that's OK."

New on Sports Illustrated: Johnny Manziel Admits His Football Career is Probably "in the Past"

Manziel last played football with the AAF's Memphis Express in 2019 before the league folded. Johnny Manziel's days as Johnny Foot...

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Lakers Expected to Sign J.R. Smith Ahead of NBA Restart

<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/06/29/jr-smith-lakers-sign-deal-nba-restart">
The Lakers reportedly have targeted Smith to replace Avery Bradley, who decided to opt-out of playing in the NBA's July restart.
The Lakers are expected to finalize a deal with free-agent shooting guard J.R. Smith ahead of the NBA's resumption in Orlando next month,
</a><a href="https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1277632764783796225">according to The New York Times' Marc Stein</a>.
Stein reports the deal is expected to happen before the NBA's "transaction window" closes at 11:59 p.m. ET Tuesday. Rosters for the NBA restart at Walt Disney World must be submitted to the league office Wednesday.
Smith <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/06/24/jr-smith-lakers-target-nba-restart-bradley">became a rumored candidate to replace Avery Bradley</a> after he said he decided to opt-out of playing in the NBA's July restart, citing family concerns. The deal would reunite Smith with his former Cavaliers teammates LeBron James. 
Smith has gone unsigned this season and played in just 11 games during the 2018-19 season. He and James played together for 3.5 seasons during James' second stint in Cleveland. During Smith's time with the Cavaliers, he averaged at least 28 minutes per game each year.
Smith, 34, was a first-round pick in the 2004 NBA draft. He is set to turn 35 this September.
Throughout the NBA's hiatus, Smith was seen in Los Angeles <a href="https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/lebron-james-anthony-davis-and-j-r-smith-went-for-a-bike-ride-then-smith-had-his-own-adventure-01e9nvppmrrr">biking alongside James and Lakers star big man Anthony Davis.</a>
The Lakers (49-14) held the best record in the Western Conference when the NBA halted play March 11. The league plans to resume the 2019-20 season on July 30.

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Lakers Expected to Sign J.R. Smith Ahead of NBA Restart

The Lakers reportedly have targeted Smith to replace Avery Bradley, who decided to opt-out of playing in the NBA's July restart. The L...

The World of Sports

New on Sports Illustrated: Ian Desmond to Sit Out 2020 Season: 'Home Is Where I Need to Be'

New on Sports Illustrated: Hawks to Use State Farm Arena as Georgia Polling Station For 2020 Elections

New on Sports Illustrated: Could the 2011 Lockout Give Us One Hint Why The Patriots Wanted Cam Newton?

New on Sports Illustrated: Johnny Manziel Admits His Football Career is Probably "in the Past"

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Lakers Expected to Sign J.R. Smith Ahead of NBA Restart

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