Jayden Daniels is the Washington Commanders’ QB1 entering the 2024-25 season, coach Dan Quinn said in a news conference Monday. “As much as we knew Jayden would get there, (general manager) Adam (Peters) and I were most excited about watching how he would,” Quinn said. “The how has been absolutely outstanding. He went through the whole thing. He didn’t miss a beat. He hit the targets. “He’s ready, and he’s earned the right to do that.” Quinn has been mum on Daniels’ starting status the last month. On July 23, the day before Washington opened training camp, he said, “It is a journey and a process. So as we’re going, when (Daniels) is ready, we’ll know. And when he’s ready, he’ll also know.” Former Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman, NFL veteran Marcus Mariota and NFL journeymen Jeff Driskel and Trace McSorley are the other quarterbacks listed on the Commanders’ roster. Dan Quinn on officially naming Jayden Daniels QB1 and the fun of watching him develop all summer. pic.twitter.com/ARr4Q4jKfU — Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 19, 2024 The Commanders took Daniels with the second pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound QB started his career at Arizona State before transferring to LSU, where he played his final two seasons. Under coach Brian Kelly, Daniels threw for 3,812 yards in 2023, including 40 touchdowns against just four interceptions. He ranked first nationally in passing efficiency (208.01), second in passing touchdowns and points responsible for (302) and fifth in passing yards. The Tigers finished 10-3 overall, and Daniels concluded his college career with a Heisman Trophy. This story will be updated. Required reading Commanders’ front-office changes show GM Adam Peters’ fixer-upper plan Jayden Daniels, Commanders offense flash ‘attacking mentality’ in Miami Jayden Daniels stands tall — and kind of scares Dan Quinn — in Commanders’ preseason loss (Photo: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa described a stark contrast between the styles of his current head coach Mike McDaniel and his former head coach, current Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, on the Dan Le Batard Show on Monday. Tagovailoa was asked about the differences between the two coaches, and Tagovailoa bluntly described Flores’ style as an abrasive one. “Well, to put it in simplest terms, if you woke up every morning and I told you, ‘You suck at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this,’” Tagovailoa said. “And then you have somebody else come in (McDaniel) and tell you, ‘Dude, you are the best fit for this, like you are accurate, you are the best whatever. You are this, you are that.’ Like how would it make you feel listening to one or the other?” GO DEEPERLefty QBs used to be an NFL annoyance but Dolphins are flipping the script with Tua Flores coached the Dolphins from 2019 to 2021. He was fired in January 2022 — and McDaniel was hired in February 2022 — after posting a 24-25 record in three seasons at the helm. Tagovailoa entered the league in 2020, when he threw for 1,814 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 games. Tagovailoa threw for roughly 2 1/2 times that number of yards last season, adding 29 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. He helped lead Miami to an 11-6 record. Tagovailoa said that the coaching methods affected his confidence and over the last few years he’s felt like he regained confidence after being criticized so heavily during his time under Flores. “Regardless of what it is, the good or the bad,” he said. “You hear it more and more, you start to actually believe that.” “And so that’s sort of like what ended up happening. It’s basically been what two years of training that out of — not just me but, you know, a couple of the guys as well that have been here since my rookie year all the way till now.” The Dolphins recently signed Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension that makes him one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks. Required reading NFL Projection Model, AFC win totals: Can anyone dethrone the Chiefs? Lefty QBs used to be an NFL annoyance but Dolphins are flipping the script with Tua Who are the NFL’s top players 25 and under? How execs, coaches rank Stroud, Jefferson and others (Photo: Megan Briggs / Getty Images)

Former NFL offensive lineman Gosder Cherilus was arrested Sunday after he allegedly urinated on another passenger during a cross-Atlantic flight, according to multiple reports. Cherilus, 40, pleaded not guilty to interfering with the operation of an aircraft, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest at his arraignment Monday in East Boston District Court. According to the reports, he was released on a $2,500 bond. Cherilus declined to comment to reporters. He apologized in a statement posted to X on Monday. “The flight was unexpectedly delayed for approximately four hours, and it did not take off until after 12:30 a.m. In preparation for the unexpected overnight flight, I took a sleeping medication that I don’t normally use, which resulted in behavior that is not representative of my character, and I would like to apologize to the passengers and flight crew.” According to the reports, police said they were called to Logan Airport at 2 a.m. on Sunday after a Delta flight bound for Dublin diverted back to Boston because of an “unruly” passenger who urinated on another passenger. According to a police report obtained by WBZ News, Cherilus appeared intoxicated when he arrived at the airport. Cherilus then argued with another passenger about seating arrangements before the flight took off. According to the report per WBZ News, Cherilus later walked up to an elderly woman, roughly an hour after takeoff, exposed himself, urinated on her and became irate when the flight crew attempted to intervene. Police later escorted Cherilus off the flight, arrested him and charged him, per the reports. Cherilus was a first-round draft pick of the Detroit Lions out of Boston College in 2008. He spent five seasons with Detroit, two with the Indianapolis Colts and two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He started 116 games over that span. (Photo: Cliff Welch / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Lionel Messi has been left out of the Argentina squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Messi, 37, has not played since sustaining a right ankle injury in the Copa America final on July 14. Two days after the final, in which Argentina beat Colombia 1-0, Inter Miami announced that their player had sustained ligament damage and would be out indefinitely. Miami head coach Tata Martino said at the time that further testing was needed to determine the severity of Messi’s injury. Just after the hour mark in last month’s Copa America final, Messi appeared to slip on the Hard Rock Stadium pitch. He signalled for medical assistance after going down and was treated on the pitch before walking off and being substituted. After the game, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Messi was desperate not to come off but was left with no choice. Messi appeared emotional on the substitutes’ bench after being withdrawn but later was able to lift the trophy during Argentina’s celebrations. Messi’s ankle after he was withdrawn from the Copa final (Megan Briggs/Getty Images) Since the Copa America final, Messi has been a regular at Miami’s fixtures despite his injury. The former Barcelona forward has been pictured at Miami’s MLS game against Toronto FC, as well as their Leagues Cup matches against the Canadian side and Puebla. Miami are top of the Eastern Conference after 25 games and are five points ahead of second-placed FC Cincinnati. Messi has only featured in 15 games for Miami this season due to Copa America participation and injuries but has still registered 14 goals and 11 assists. Argentina, meanwhile, face Chile at home and Colombia away in 2026 World Cup qualifiers next month. Scaloni’s side are top of the CONMEBOL standings after six matches, having won five times and drawn once. GO DEEPERLionel Messi and the unmistakeable sense of an ending Argentina squad for September fixtures Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Walter Benitez (PSV), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Juan Musso (Atlanta). Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), German Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Valentin Barco (Brighton). Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Guido Rodriguez (West Ham), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Ezequiel Fernandez (Al Qadsiah), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico). Forwards: Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Matias Soule (Roma), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico), Valentin Carboni (Marseille), Julian Alvarez (Atletico), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Valentin Castellanos (Lazio). (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

The Las Vegas Aces and Los Angeles Sparks played for the fourth and final time of the regular season Sunday, but it was the first meeting since Dearica Hamby filed a lawsuit against her former team and the WNBA. After the game, Aces head coach Becky Hammon, who was the subject of several of the complaints Hamby alleged in the lawsuit, addressed the situation. As she did last season after the original league investigation in 2023 — when Hammon was suspended two games for violating workplace policies — Hammon insisted that her behavior was above board. “It just didn’t happen, … the bullying,” Hammon said after the game. “I spoke with her every day. If she wanted to practice, she practiced. If she didn’t, she didn’t. Over-the-top care, actually.” She also asserted she has kept a clean track record through an extensive Hall of Fame career. “Here’s some facts. I’ve been in either the WNBA or the NBA for now, 25 years. I’ve never had an HR complaint, never not once. I still didn’t actually, because Dearica didn’t file any,” Hammon said. “She didn’t file with the players union. She didn’t file with the WNBA. Those are facts. It’s also factual that nobody made a call about trading her until Atlanta called us in January.” During the game, in which the Aces won 87-71, Hamby was also booed by Las Vegas fans, to the point that it was audible on the television broadcast. Hamby learned she was pregnant in July 2022, while playing for the Aces. She later missed a month of the regular season and the start of the playoffs with a right knee bone bruise, but returned to play a pivotal role for the Aces off the bench in the franchise’s first title run. Hammon lauded Hamby as her “biggest, baddest beast” after Game 1 of the 2022 WNBA Finals when she was a plus-seven in 10 minutes off the bench. Hamby announced her pregnancy at the championship rally, at which point, she says her relationship with the franchise deteriorated. Upon being traded to the Sparks in January 2023, Hamby detailed the abuse she had suffered at the hands of the Aces on social media, prompting the league to launch an investigation. In May 2023, after her suspension was announced, Hammon said she didn’t recall her “relationship with Hamby being anything but on the up and up.” Required reading Dearica Hamby files federal lawsuit against WNBA, Aces alleging unlawful workplace discrimination, retaliation (Photo: Rich von Biberstein / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

By Sarah Jean Maher, Harman Dayal and Eric Stephens The Edmonton Oilers acquired forward Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round draft pick that was previously acquired from the Ottawa Senators, the teams announced Sunday. In a separate trade, the Oilers also acquired defenseman Ty Emberson from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Cody Ceci and a 2025 third-round pick. ? TRADE ? The #Oilers have acquired forward Vasily Podkolzin from Vancouver in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round draft pick that was originally acquired from Ottawa.#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/kS8aHMDpOl — Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) August 18, 2024 Podkolzin, 23, appeared in 137 career regular-season games with the NHL club and recorded 18 goals and 35 points, including two points in 19 games last season. The Canucks drafted Podkolzin with the No. 10 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. The Oilers obtained the Senators’ 2025 fourth-round pick along with forward Roby Jarventie in July for forwards Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson. Ceci, 30, played the last three seasons with the Oilers. In 2023-24, Ceci tallied five goals and 20 assists in 79 games played. Emberson, 24, recorded one goal and nine assists in 30 games played with the Sharks last season. “Cody is a solid, competitive veteran defenseman who brings a well-rounded skill set to our group,” said Sharks GM Mike Grier. “He’s a strong penalty killer who can also contribute offensively and he brings extensive playoff experience. We’re excited to have him join our organization.” ? TRADE ? The #Oilers have acquired defenceman Ty Emberson from San Jose in exchange for defenceman Cody Ceci & a 2025 third-round draft pick.#LetsGoOilers — Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) August 19, 2024 Edmonton must also decide ahead of Tuesday morning whether to match offer sheets tendered to defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway by the St. Louis Blues last Tuesday. What the Oilers are getting in Podkolzin Podkolzin has a strong, athletic frame, a high work rate and embraced a more physical role as he notched 71 hits in the 19 NHL games that he played last season. Those tools could help him develop into a useful bottom-six energy forward, but he struggled to carve out a distinct role/identity with the Canucks. Offensively, he’s produced at a pedestrian rate in the AHL and has only scored nine points in his last 59 NHL games. If a bottom-six forward can’t contribute offensively, they need to provide defensive value and that’s where Podkolzin failed to gain Rick Tocchet’s trust. Can a fresh start help Podkolzin hit the reset button on his confidence? That will be an intriguing angle to follow because Podkolzin appeared to lose confidence at times in Vancouver. Podkolzin plays timid and slow — as if he’s overthinking every play — when he lacks belief in himself or doesn’t feel trusted. When he’s feeling confident, he trusts his reads, puckhandling and plays a fast, assertive, physical style that could make him an effective NHL grinder. — Harman Dayal, Canucks staff writer What does Ceci do for the Sharks? The one thing you can say about Ceci is that he brings size at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds and has experience with nearly 800 games played. He’s also got 88 playoff games under his belt, including 24 for Edmonton during their run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Ceci doesn’t solve their need for another puck-moving defenseman and his playoff worth won’t help a Sharks club that will still lose often next season. But he’s largely stayed healthy throughout his career and could help in the short term as he only has the upcoming season left on his contract. That part is key as a useful right-hand shot defender that can chew minutes and kill penalties carries value at the trade deadline. Grier could have an asset to flip and the Sharks are still very much in a rebuild mode where accumulating draft picks should be an attainable goal. The 2025 third-round pick replaces the one they sent to Vegas as part of the Tomas Hertl trade that netted them prospect David Edstrom and the Golden Knights’ first-round pick next year. An effective few months from Ceci could net them another third-round pick or better. But it also feels like in parting with the 24-year-old Emberson and taking on Ceci’s $3.25 million cap hit Grier assisted the Oilers in their efforts to shed salary as they decide on matching the offer sheets to Broberg and Holloway. According to PuckPedia, the Oilers picked up $2.3 million in offloading Ceci for Emberson. Edmonton can go up to 10 percent above the $88 million cap number for 2024-25 but must be at that number or below on opening night. With the Oilers in a serious cap crunch, it felt like Grier and the Sharks could have squeezed them further for something better than a third-round pick they were replacing. Emberson, who’s also a right-handed shot, has some promise and looked like he might have a future with the Sharks after they claimed him off waivers. Injuries limited the former University of Wisconsin defender and Arizona Coyotes’ third-round choice in 2018 to just 30 games with San Jose. — Eric Stephens, NHL staff writer Required reading If the Oilers lose Philip Broberg, it might be time for a change with Evan Bouchard What led to Blues’ offer sheets for Broberg, Holloway and why Oilers made themselves susceptible Which Oilers have the most to gain from the Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway offer sheets? (Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

Hideki Matsuyama looked like he was on his way to a blowout victory when he drained a 40-footer on TPC Southwind’s 8th hole and a 20-footer on the 11th to maintain his five-shot lead. At that point, the Olympic bronze medalist’s chances to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship were 96.5 percent, according to DataGolf. Then the unraveling began. The 32-year-old proceeded to go bogey, par, bogey, double — with a water ball and two chunked chips — to drop back to 15-under-par for the tournament. The collapse brought Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns and Nick Dunlap into the mix within a 30-minute window. The tournament, which looked like Matsuyama’s from the get-go, was suddenly anyone’s. Somehow, amidst the chaos, Matsuyama still emerged on top. The 10-time PGA Tour winner shot a final round 70 to win the first FedEx Cup playoff event. Schauffele and Hovland tied for second place at 15 under, two shots back of Matsuyama, and Scottie Scheffler was fourth at 14 under. Matsuyama rebounded from his Sunday blip with back-to-back birdies on No. 17 and 18. He drained two more putts — once again leaning on the new Scotty Cameron putter he put into play just this week — to win his second PGA Tour victory of 2024. Matsuyama ranked first in strokes gained putting through four rounds, gaining a stunning 8.2 shots on the field throughout the week. Matsuyama’s victory at February’s Genesis Invitational was his first in three years. Now, Matsuyama will rise five spots in the FedEx Cup standings to advance to the second week of the PGA Tour playoffs in the No. 3 spot, behind Scheffler (No. 1) and Schauffele (2). Birdie-birdie finish to seal the deal! @HidekiOfficial_ earns his second win of the season @FedExChamp ?? pic.twitter.com/edkX5k5alx — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 18, 2024 But Matsuyama’s dramatic implosion will leave him with some work to do — including some adjusting to an unfortunate predicament — ahead of the BMW Championship. Matsuyama started the week in unusual fashion when he stepped onto tournament grounds in Memphis without his full team. While traveling back from the Olympic golf competition the former Masters champion and his crew were robbed at a restaurant in London. A bag, containing Matsuyama’s wallet and his coach and caddie’s passports and visas, was stolen. Shota Hiyato, Matsuyama’s caddie, and Mikhito Kuromiya, his swing coach, were forced to return to Japan to replace their passports and couldn’t make it to TPC Southwind with Matsuyama. Luckily Matsuyama’s passports — and his Olympic medal — were stored safely in his hotel room. Matsuyama used a temporary caddie, Taiga Tabuchi, in Memphis. Tabuchi is the former caddie of Ryo Hisatsune of Japan. “My job is the same,” Matsuyama said on Thursday. “It’s just play golf. I talk to my coach every night on the phone. I’ve got a great caddie…I’ve forgotten it completely. It’s not even an issue now.” Despite dismissing the setback early in the week, Matsuyama’s unusual situation could have contributed to his back-nine struggles. When he would have typically leaned on Hiyato’s experience and familiarity, the Japanese pro had a caddie who was still learning the ins and outs of his game. “There’s a learning curve when you have a new caddie and trying to work things out together,” Matsuyama said on Saturday. “But it hasn’t really affected my play. We’re a good team right now.” Memphis also marked a continuation of consistent play from Schauffele and Scheffler, in addition to a positive turn of events for Hovland. Hovland needed a flash of brilliance this week after starting the tournament at No. 57 in the FedEx Cup standings, in danger of missing the BMW and failing to qualify for next year’s signature events automatically. But a final round 66 saw Hovland shoot up the leaderboard and the points list, rising to No. 16. Who’s out of the playoffs? Jordan Spieth’s 2024 season is over. The three-time major champion finished in a tie for 68th place (with Rory McIlroy) in the 70-man field, two shots ahead of Max Homa, who came in last at 11-over-par. Upon finishing his round, Spieth immediately told media members that he needed surgery on his injured left wrist. “I’ve got to have it operated on ASAP,” Spieth said to reporters in Memphis, including the Associated Press, after posting a 2-over 74. “And then I’ll go through the process of what I’m supposed to do from there.” Spieth’s wrist has been injured since before the 2023 PGA Championship. He’s attempted non-surgical remedies since the issue began, but its condition has not improved. Spieth told reporters that he has a torn sheath, which holds his wrist tendon in place. Tom Kim’s season will also end after the St. Jude. The 22-year-old breakout star finished his Sunday round in Memphis with a bogey and back-to-back double bogeys, causing him to plummet in the FedEx Cup standings and slip out of the top 50. The costly compounded mistakes will mean Kim will not be exempt from the PGA Tour’s eight signature events in 2025. He finished the tournament at No. 51 in the standings. “This season has just been — it’s just been like this,” Kim said. “I’ve played really good golf, and then had some tough finishes. I feel like 2024 has really kicked me in the butt. But I’ve gotten so much better. I’ve fought really hard just to get myself in this situation. I was 90-something before we went on this run, and it looks like I’m going to miss by one. But it is what it is.” Required reading Hideki Matsuyama wins Genesis Invitational with dominant 62 after starting final round 6 shots back (Photo: Mike Mulholland / Getty Images)