The Lead

The San Francisco 49ers are 2-0, and looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender, heading into a matchup with the Giants on Thursday Night Football. And on a roster filled with stars, the guy who’s in charge of keeping the high-powered offense running is the former Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy. Today, we look at why Purdy has given himself a chance to stick as San Francisco’s long-term QB when so many others have failed to live up to Kyle Shanahan’s lofty standards...

Five years ago, almost no one in basketball knew the name Austin Reaves. Now, the 25-year-old is an extremely rich and extremely popular member of the world’s most famous basketball team. Today, we look at Austin Reaves' unlikely and sudden rise to stardom and fame, why he has become so beloved, and whether or not he could become the third star the Lakers have been seeking. Guest: Jovan Buha, The Athletic Read Jovan's recent feature about Austin Reaves here See Privacy Policy at https://art19...

Two weeks into the college football season, it's fair to say that the most intriguing — and polarizing — team in the sport is Coach Prime's Colorado Buffaloes. Today, we look at how Deion Sanders has transformed Colorado — seemingly overnight — into arguably the most entertaining team that college football has ever seen. It's the story of a landscape-altering roster makeover, a team that is "unabashedly flashy", and grudges that seem to be leading directly to victories...

The Georgia Bulldogs are aiming for some rare history this season — college football’s first three-peat since the 1930’s — and Kirby Smart's team has handed the keys to this emerging dynasty to a relative unknown at quarterback: Carson Beck. Today, we break down why Beck stayed with the Bulldogs for three years when he easily could have entered the transfer portal...

Perhaps the biggest story of the NFL offseason has been star running backs trying – and failing – to get the big contracts they feel they deserve. That, plus the ever-shortening careers of running backs, has led some people to declare that we have reached the end of the NFL's star running back era. Today, a look at how we got here and what the changes we’re seeing in football could mean for the future of the sport...

The last time the New York Jets made the NFL playoffs, Mark Sanchez was their quarterback, LaDainian Tomlinson was their leading rusher, and The Social Network was about to come out on DVD. Now, 13 years later, the Jets finally believe they’ve found the right guy to lead them back. Today, we look at the events that led Aaron Rodgers and the Jets to each other, and whether this football marriage — in a pressure cooker — is built to go the distance...

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball lately, thanks in large part to a lineup featuring two front-runners for MVP: seven-time All-Star Mookie Betts, and their veteran first baseman with an unmistakable swing, Freddie Freeman. Today, we trace Freeman’s origin story as a hitter all the way back to his dad’s office overlooking a baseball field, and the family tragedy that made him dive even deeper into the sport...

This summer, an eye-popping number of global soccer stars have signed huge contracts with teams in an unlikely place: Saudi Arabia. Today, we dive into the chaos of the Saudi soccer gold rush, the ways in which it has turned world football upside down, and why the league might be here to stay. Guest: Tariq Panja, The New York Times Read Tariq's original story here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Twenty years ago, ESPN premiered a television drama called 'Playmakers'. It dove into a lot of edgy issues in football, and it was an instant hit with viewers. But after just one season, ESPN pulled the show from the airwaves, reportedly because the NFL was upset about it. Today, we bring you the story of a TV show that in many ways was ahead of its time, the role the NFL played in its demise, and think about how it should be remembered today...

This past December, the Mississippi State football program and the college football world were hit with a tragedy, when head coach Mike Leach — the mastermind who made the ‘Air Raid’ offense famous — died at the age of 61. Today, we look at how Mississippi State is moving forward after the sudden loss of the larger-than-life coaching icon. Plus, the aspects of Mike Leach's legacy the team plans to carry with them, and what they've decided to leave behind...