This is the first edition of The Lineup, an all-new newsletter recapping many of the most important developments in the world of sports.
Weeks One and Two of NFL Football
Marist in the Pros, by Aidan Lavin
Seattle Seahawks and former Marist kicker Jason Myers started hot to begin the football season. In week one, Myers accounted for eight total points, nailing two field goals and two extra points in the Seahawks win over the Denver Broncos. He then proceeded to play hero in week two against the New England Patriots with a 31-yard kick.
The game-winner was a part of Myers’ 11-point performance, going three-for-three on field goals and two-for-two on extra points. At 33 years old, the two-time Pro Bowler enters his 10th season in the National Football League. Myers began his career with a three-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, followed by one year with the New York Jets, and has been with the Seahawks since 2019. His next appearance will be against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. Eastern.
Marist football alumni Clay Fields III had an exciting summer following his graduate season at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Fields III, an essential defensive back for the Red Foxes during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, earned himself a contract with the Indianapolis Colts. Following a minicamp tryout, Fields III signed a one-year, minimum contract with the Colts on July 6, 2024. The NFL stint only lasted a little over a month, though, being waived on Aug 25, 2025–two days before the 53-man roster deadline.
At Marist, Fields III earned three first-team All-PFL selections and an Associated Press Third Team FCS All-American Selection in two seasons. Fields III transferred to Chattanooga following the 2022 season, leading the Mocs in pass breakups and recording an interception during the 2023 season. Most recently, former Chattanooga guard, Cole Strange, was drafted in the first round by the New England Patriots. More notably, the university is where Hall of Fame receiver, Terrell Owens, played collegiately.
Aaron Rodgers’ Monday Night Return, by Patrick Sypher
Jets fans entered last season with something they have not had in a long time: legitimate optimism. This optimism sprouted because they traded for a future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. It quickly came to an anticlimactic end when Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in just four snaps. Rodgers ultimately stuck around for the 2024 season and is currently the oldest active player in the NFL.
Rodgers’ last full season was in 2022, during which he took a major step back from the MVP form we saw in 2021 and 2020. He is a 41-year-old quarterback coming off a major injury and playing with a new supporting cast, but he is still one of the smartest quarterbacks in the league who has the arm to fit the ball into any window.
In the first two games, he looked comfortable, although it was a priority for him to get the ball out quickly. Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s scheme encourages quick decision-making and Rodgers doesn’t want to get hit at his old age, resulting in a total win-win.
The Jets did not win against San Francisco, yet Jets head coach Robert Saleh put things into perspective, saying “We’re at a better spot now at 0-1 than we were last year at 1-0.”
After a 7-point win over the Titans, the Jets are currently 1-1 and are set to face a couple of strong defensive lines over the next few weeks, like the Keion White-led Patriots and Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy Vikings. Keeping Rodgers upright will be difficult, yet crucial to this team rewarding fans for their optimism.
Rookie Quarterbacks, by Michael DeJesus
The National Football League (NFL) welcomed three new faces as starting quarterbacks of their respective franchises to begin the 2024 season. A record-setting six quarterbacks were drafted in this year’s first round and three earned the starting job for week one.
The Chicago Bears drafted USC quarterback Caleb Williams number one overall to take over after trading former starting quarterback Justin Fields. Williams, considered a generational talent, had a highly anticipated debut against the Tennessee Titans, with many eager to see what the former Heisman winner could offer with a reloaded Chicago offense.
Like many quarterbacks selected number one overall, Williams struggled in his debut. He was limited to 93 passing yards, completing just under 50% of his passes with no touchdowns against new coach Brian Callahan and the Tennessee Titans. The game was decided by a late pick-six, giving the Bears a 24-16 victory at home in Williams’ debut. This marked only the fourth time in the common draft era that a number one pick won their season opener.
Ex-Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn joined division rival Washington Commanders as their new head coach. With the number two overall pick, the Commanders selected Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels from LSU to lead the team against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to start the season. Daniels completed 17 passes for 184 yards and no touchdowns in a 37-20 loss to Tampa Bay.
Oregon standout quarterback Bo Nix was the last quarterback selected in the first round at pick 12 for the Sean Payton Denver Broncos, who released former starting quarterback Russell Wilson. Nix opened his NFL career on the road against the Seattle Seahawks, throwing for 138 yards and 2 interceptions in a 20-26 loss.
One Surprising, One Disappointing Team, by Tommy Jacobellis
Pittsburgh Steelers: Every year they are projected to fall off, and it just never happens. Mike Tomlin has coached the Pittsburgh Steelers for 17 full seasons now and has never finished under .500. If there is a year to do it, it is this 2024 season with a big question mark at quarterback.
Going into the year Russell Wilson was marked in to be the starter, but an injury has given former Chicago Bear Justin Fields an opportunity. Although he did not play his best game the Steelers went into Atlanta and beat the revamped and hyped-up Falcons. At the end of the day, the Steelers will be in most games this season led by their elite defense and edge rusher TJ Watt.
Watt had 2 strip sacks taken away by penalties but finished with a PFF grade of 95.6 and ended the Falcons’ final drive with a sack. The Steelers have some favorable matchups in the front half of their schedule which can set them up nicely and prepare them for another playoff push.
Cincinnati Bengals: Starting 0-2 the previous two seasons the Bengals wanted to get off to a fast start, and not find themselves in a hole early in the season. Luckily for them, week 1 gave the inexperienced, and lackluster New England Patriots. The Patriots came off a 4-13 season obtaining the third overall pick. Career journeyman backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett earned the starting jobs for New England; Joe Burrow and his entourage were expected to roll over this Patriots team.
Rookie head coach Jarod Mayo silenced the critics quickly as the Patriots looked like the Pats of old, defeating the Bangles 16-10. Burrow did not play to his standard, and star wide receiver Jamar Chase, who sat out much of the off-season over a contract extension looked invisible. Then in week 2, Cincinnati traveled to face the defending Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs and lost in a nail-biting game 26-25 on a last-second Harrison Butker field goal.
Resolutions of Contract Disputes, by Sierra Fisher
Several key players have ended their respective contract sagas in the first few weeks of the NFL season. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk made headlines for their ongoing disputes with their teams and the growing agony inside each fan base.
Prescott has been with the Cowboys since being selected in the fourth round in 2016. Prescott quickly became the starting QB during in his rookie season due to an injury with former QB Tony Romo. He has led the team for almost 10 seasons and has recently become the highest-paid NFL player with his new contract. The contract guarantees him $231 million and a four-year extension to his original contract, which in its totality will be $240 million.
The bar set for Prescott now that he is the highest-paid NFL player is only going up as he must prove this decision was worth the wait and the Cowboys are investing in the right person to lead the team.
So far this season, Prescott and the Cowboys have started unevenly with a strong 33-17 road win over the Cleveland Browns, but followed that with an embarrassing 44-19 home loss to the New Orleans Saints. The question now is how will Prescott respond and get the team back on their feet and play like a cohesive group as they host the Baltimore Ravens in week 3.
Brandon Aiyuk was in no rush to get a contract signed with the 49ers this season as he held out hoping to be traded, and could have been with the Pittsburgh Steelers if the situation had not been resolved in San Francisco.
Aiyuk signed a four-year contract, which guarantees him $71 million and $120 million after the four years. This dispute may have been resolved, but Aiyuk missed out on crucial practice time in training camp that ultimately showed in week one when the 49ers faced the Jets. While the 49ers won their first game 32-19, Aiyuk was off-kilter with quarterback Brock Purdy for the majority of the game.
While players are advocating for themselves more and demanding what they deserve to be fair for what they are putting themselves through every day, the question arises of when to put yourself first or the team first. Ultimately, the disputing of contracts impacts the team’s momentum and how a player will perform when it counts. Looking ahead, as everything has been resolved, the players who are now making the most money are under a microscope and have the pressure to perform and truly live up to the hype they have created for themselves. NFL contract disputes are only becoming more common and it is up to the organization and players to resolve these issues promptly so that the team can be locked in when the football season kicks off.
MLB Playoff Race
The Mets Keep Moving, by Jonathan Chernin
The New York Mets are currently making a run for the final wildcard spot in the National League while remaining close in the standings with the Atlanta Braves. As of May 29, the Mets were 11 games under .500 and had the fifth-worst record in all of Major League Baseball.
The players called for a players-only meeting to discuss how to turn the season around. The main points were holding each other more accountable, playing loose and taking advantage of the low expectations to try to make something happen. After that, the Mets realized they had to have more fun. After calling up veteran infielder turned Latin pop star Jose Iglesias, they rallied around his newest hit single “OMG” which got all the players excited. The Mets then started holding up that sign after each home run they hit.
The Mets also could not have turned the season around without strong campaigns from shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitcher Sean Manaea. Since moving to the leadoff spot on May 18th, Lindor has been one of the best players in Major League Baseball with a .300 batting average, 24 Home Runs, and an OPS of .920. After suffering a back injury on Sept. 13, the Mets hope he can return quickly to help their final playoff push. Sean Manaea, on the other hand, has stepped up big time for the Mets leading the team in wins (11), ERA (3.26) and strikeouts (177).
Their remaining schedule is one of the most difficult in Major League Baseball featuring matchups against the Phillies (1st in NL East) and rival Atlanta Braves during a consequential time in the season where either team could gain ground in the Wild Card standings; they currently lead Atlanta by two games for the final NL playoff spot.
Race to the Finish in the A.L. East, by Tommy Mullen
The race for the American League East has been one of the most competitive races fans have seen in its history. For years, the A.L. East was controlled by one team for most of the season but this year the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles are in a dogfight for the division crown.
In 2023, The Orioles had low expectations, but young stars in catcher Adley Rutschman and shortstop Gunnar Henderson helped them win the division with a 101-61 record after being one of the worst teams in baseball since 2018. The Yankees’ season was derailed by an Aaron Judge injury, finishing 82-80, their worst finish since 1992.
Entering the offseason, both teams needed to make major moves to compete for a championship. The Yankees brought in superstar outfielder Juan Soto and the Orioles acquired former CY Young winner Corbin Burnes. Going into 2024, this race was thought of to be and has been, a battle for the top.
In the first 2.5 months of the 2024 season, both teams had strong starts as the Yankees were 50-22 and the Orioles were 45-24 on June 14. Both have played mediocre down the stretch, as the Yankees are 37-41 and the Orioles are 39-42 since then.
While Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have both been playing at an MVP level, the rest of the offense has given little production. As for the Orioles, they have had trouble with clutch hitting all season, preventing them from overtaking the Yankees for more than three days.
Now, New York has a 5-game lead and Baltimore leads the season series 6-4. The two face off for three games in the Bronx, starting Sept. 24. Even though the Yankees have a cushion now, anything can happen in these final 2 weeks.
MLB Historic Seasons
Two Coasts, Two Historic Seasons, by Andrew Caruso
Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays, Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson. These are just a few duos throughout baseball history known for simultaneous historical and memorable performances. They’ve all long since retired, with their names now mentioned among the greats. But for fans eager to experience the magic of that bygone era today, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers are the closest equivalent, with their outstanding production making headlines across the league almost daily.
In 149 games this season through Sept. 18, Judge leads the league in several offensive categories, including home runs (53), runs batted in (136), and slugging percentage (.692). With his 50th and 51st home runs on Aug. 25, he not only notched his 39th career multi-home run game but also became just the fifth player in MLB history to hit 50 homers in three different seasons. With 15 games left, his bat will be a valuable asset to a Yankees team looking to clinch a competitive American League East division.
Meanwhile, Ohtani in the first season of a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, has served exclusively as a hitter this year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. With 48 home runs and 48 stolen bases as of Sept. 18, the 30-year-old phenom is looking to become the first player in MLB history to join the 50-50 club. Adding another historic accomplishment to his already unprecedented resume not only places him among those legends but in uncharted waters too.
As the regular season winds down and the playoffs begin, Judge and Ohtani lead their teams to October, defining themselves as generational talents. They’ve continued down the path blazed by the many greats before them while leaving their mark on the game.
White Sox Misery, by Max Moughan
The 2024 MLB regular season is drawing to a close, and it has certainly been one to remember—unless you’re a White Sox fan.
The modern MLB record for losses in one season is held by the 1962 New York Mets, an expansion team that finished 40-120. As of Sept. 18, Chicago has 116 losses, with 10 games left in their season. With a season-winning percentage of .233, the record is theirs to lose.
How did the White Sox get to this point?
Some blame Pedro Grifol, the now former manager of the team. On Nov. 1, 2022, Grifol joined a White Sox team that missed the playoffs following two straight appearances. Their former manager, four-time Manager of the Year Tony La Russa, retired after two seasons with the team.
He left his first retirement in 2021 as a favor for longtime White Sox owner and friend, Jerry Reinsdorf. Grifol’s stint with the Sox ended following a 21-game losing streak, an American League record, finishing with a total record of 89-190 while in charge. The White Sox replaced him with Grady Sizemore, a former player well-respected by the team.
“The amount of respect, it almost seemed instantaneous,” said GM Chris Getz in an interview with WGN. But the problem clearly goes beyond the management. Several of the White Sox’s best players got injured, like Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, and others. That led to a domino effect of flawed trades further debilitating the team. Despite some good prospects, the future is bleak, with new rules adopted by the league disallowing them a pick higher than 10. It has been a depressing season for Chicago fans, and there is no end in sight, as the franchise plans to cut payroll this offseason.
NBA Updates
76ers Potential Move to NJ, by Stephen Zaglin
The Philadelphia 76ers, looking for a place to build a new arena, have agreed with Philadelphia mayor Cherlle Parker on plans to build a new arena in the City Center; the plans will now head to the Philadelphia City Council for final approval. But before this agreement was reached, the 76ers flirted with the idea of moving to New Jersey as a potential new home, perhaps as a way of applying pressure on the city of Philadelphia to act after talks of a new arena had stalled.
In a Sept. 2 letter, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority outlined a multibillion-dollar infrastructure plan, which involved a new stadium located next to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Camden, NJ, which connects directly with Philadelphia. The Authority’s CEO, Tim Sullivan, said that as much as $400 million in tax credit could be awarded.
The 76ers themselves called the offer “thoughtful and compelling,” as well as saying that they have to “take all offers seriously.” The 76ers, established as the Syracuse Nationals in 1946, have been in Philadelphia since 1963. A move would mark their first relocation since then. If a move were to take place, the Sixers would become the first current professional Philadelphia sports team to not currently play in the state.
The Eagles, Flyers, and Phillies all play in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, while the Union (MLS) play in the nearby city of Chester. For die-hard Sixers fans born in Philadelphia, losing a team to New Jersey would be a tough pill to swallow. Even though their training facility has been in Camden since 2016, it would be odd for fans to have to drive to New Jersey every time they want to see a game. With that being said, a move would make sense from New Jersey’s perspective. Since the Brooklyn Nets left the area prior to the 2012-2013 NBA season, New Jersey has not had a team. Many people there are Sixers fans due to the close proximity of the team. Yet despite the Garden State’s wishes, it now appears as though the Sixers are closer than ever before to remaining in their namesake city.
Recent Tragedies in Sports
Johnny Gaudreau, by Tommy Tricoli
As a sports fan, it is often easy to forget that behind the incredible displays of athleticism are normal people with normal lives; with that, we all face the same issues. On the morning of Aug. 30, 2024 sports fans were reminded that the athletes we expect to watch for years can unfairly be taken away in just an instance. Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau were killed in a crash.
On the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding, the brothers were cycling just mere miles from their childhood hometown when an intoxicated driver swerved into the shoulder striking the pair. The Gaudreau family immediately received immense support as former teammates, competitors, friends, and coaches grieved the two young men.
Johnny was preparing for his 11th season in the NHL. Matthew was a standout player at Boston College alongside his brother and played for several professional clubs before beginning a career in youth hockey coaching.
Johnny leaves behind his wife Meredith and his two daughters. At the funeral service, Meredith said, “John and I had the best six months as a family of four. These will forever be the best six months of my life.”
Matthew and his wife, Madeliene, were expecting their first child. Two days after the tragedy she took to Instagram to write, “I know you are watching down in just as much pain as I am looking up. I will keep going for you and our son,” she continued. “I love you so much, Matthew.”
The deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were completely senseless. The incredible loss that the entire hockey community is experiencing cannot be understated. In the year 2024, there is absolutely no excuse to get behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated. The alleged killer of Johnny and Matthew has robbed a father and mother of their sons, wives of their husbands, and children of their fathers.
To support the Gaudreau family, a GoFundMe was created for Madeliene and her unborn baby.
Ricky Pearsall, by Nate Shoemaker
Three months after the NFL draft the San Francisco 49ers first-round draft pick was shot in the chest during a robbery.
Ricky Pearsall played for the Florida Gators and had a breakout year during his senior year with almost 1,000 receiving yards, looking to be one of the top receivers going into the draft.
Pearsall was taken 31st by The 49ers and he was shocked thinking he may drop into the second round. Pearsall struggled with a lot of injuries during training camp and throughout college but things took a drastic turn on Aug. 31.
Pearsall was walking around near Union Square when suddenly a 17-year-old approached him and tried to steal his Rolex watch. The two got involved in an altercation which resulted in three bullets being shot from the 17 -year -olds gun.
Pearsall was shot in the chest but was very lucky the bullet exited out his back. The suspect also suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Pearsall went to the hospital that day but was released by the next morning.
The wideout’s teammates were nervous about Pearsall after the shooting because of the little information they were given. Coaches and teammates were very happy to see Pearsall back with the team during a week win vs the New York Jets 32-19.
Pearsall considered himself very lucky and said he would be ready to play by the next week. The wideout may think he is ready for next week but he will not be able to return until week five because he was placed on the NFL’s reserve/non-football injury list.
US Open, by Chris Dodway
The U.S. Open down in Flushing, New York concluded Sept. 8 by crowning a new men’s champion with a drama-filled tournament.
A prevailing theme of this year’s tournament was the upsets. On the women’s side, heavy favorite and world number one, Iga Świątek of Poland was taken out in the quarterfinal by American, Jessica Pegula.
Coco Gauff, the rising American star, had another disappointing major falling to fellow American, Emma Navarro. The two most recent champions on the men’s side, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, were eliminated early, coming as a shock to many.
Djokovic, now entering the dawn of his career, will have his next opportunity to bounce back at a major tournament in 2025 at the Australian Open in January. With the early departures of two favorites, a way was paved for a strong tournament from the American men.
Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe met in the semifinals. Fritz, the world number seven, advanced to face Jannik Sinner in the final. He lost in the end to the world number one, but it was an impressive path to the finals from Fritz. For the first time since Andy Roddick in 2006, an American man has set foot on the stage of a U.S Open final. It has been a long time coming for the American men and the stage seems finally set for a resurgence for them. Currently, there are five young players in the top 20 pushing each other past their limits every tournament. It’s becoming almost hard to imagine an American man won’t soon break through and claim a grand slam title.
Making a Connection to Marist, by Aidan Lavin
The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, fell a game short of the 2024 South Atlantic League Championship, losing the decisive game three 4-1 on Sept. 18. The Renegades faced the Tampa Bay Rays High-A affiliate, the Bowling Green Hot Rods, and lost the series 2-1. The championship featured both first-place teams of their respective six-team divisions.
The Renegades finished the regular season with a 40-26 record, securing first place in the North Division. The Bowling Green Hot Rods, meanwhile, were atop the South Division, boasting a 39-24 regular season record.
The Renegades playoff road began with a 2-1 division series victory over the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Their series win was highlighted by a game one shutout leading to the championship series.
The Renegades pitching staff, headed by starting pitcher Baron Stuart, carried the load throughout the regular season. They entered the postseason play finishing first in team earned run average (ERA), walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) and batting average allowed (BAA) in the South Atlantic League.
After falling in game one of the championship, the Renegades forced a game three on the back of a two-strike, two-out fifth-inning grand slam. In game three, the Hot Rods took a 2-0 lead in the fourth and maintained the lead the rest of the game. The Renegades’ offense was stymied, striking out 14 times leading to the 4-1 defeat and falling a game short of being champions.
Former Marist rower, Chris Carlson, made his Olympic debut this summer in Paris. Not only did Carlson, a member of Marist rowing from 2015-2017, debut in the Olympics, he also medaled.
As the fifth seat of the USA Heavyweight Eight, Carlson and his crew won a bronze medal in the men’s eight rowing competition. The United States finished with a 5:25.28 behind Netherlands (5:23.92) and Great Britain (5:22.88).
At Marist, Carlson was a part of three first-place and two third-place finishes his sophomore year. He then transferred to the University of Washington during his junior year, winning PAC-12 Newcomer of the Year and gold in the varsity eight at the 2018 PAC-12 Championships.
Edited by Marley Pope and Luke Sassa
Graphic by Jaylen Rizzo, Photos from Creative Commons and Adobe Stock
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