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Sports

Tom Brady to join Fox Sports as lead NFL analyst – if and when he retires again

The recently unretired Tom Brady already has his next job lined up.The seven-time Super Bowl champion who retired at the end of last season and then took it back almost immediately has been hired by Fox Sports as its lead analyst whenever his playing career is done for real, Fox Corporation executive chairman and CEO Lachlan Murdoch announced during an earnings call Tuesday.Advertisement“It is entirely up to him when he chooses to retire and move into what will be an exciting television career,” Murdoch told investors, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “That is up to him to make that choice when he sees fit.”[ Tom Brady to star in road trip movie with Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda ]Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 28, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)Brady is also expected to serve as an ambassador for Fox Sports, “particularly with respect to client and promotional initiatives,” Murdoch said.AdvertisementThe 44-year-old quarterback is “excited,” he tweeted, but still has “a lot of unfinished business on the field.”Brady is set to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he won a trophy in 2021, for his 23rd NFL season in the fall.The Fox Sports booth has seen recent shakeups, with Troy Aikman and Joe Buck jumping ship to ESPN. Kevin Burkhardt, the former SNY Mets sideline reporter, was promoted to lead play-by-play announcer.

Sports

Liam Hendriks wants to pitch every day — but the Chicago White Sox closer ‘didn’t do my job’ in the 9th inning of a ‘brutal loss’

When he signed on as the Chicago White Sox closer in 2021, Liam Hendriks said he wanted to pitch every day.But he didn’t get the ball Sunday against the Boston Red Sox as manager Tony La Russa chose to rest him after a heavy workload over the past week, letting Bennett Sousa get the final out for his first career save.AdvertisementNo big deal. Hendriks obviously was embellishing when he said he wanted to pitch “every day,” right?“No,” he said before Monday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians. It was not an embellishment.AdvertisementThen how did Hendriks react to the forced day off?“I was upset because I wanted to play,” he said. “I’m extremely excited and happy for (Souza) getting his first career save. That’s something he’ll always cherish. I think the cameras showed me — I was pouting a little bit in the bullpen. They had told me (about the planned day off).”Hendriks got the ball against the Guardians on Monday night with a four-run lead in the ninth. He gave up a single and a game-tying grand slam to Josh Naylor to cap a six-run inning as the Guardians staged a stunning rally to tie the game.After the teams traded runs in the 10th, Naylor’s two-out, three-run home run off Ryan Burr in the 11th gave them the lead, and Trevor Stephan closed out a 12-9 win.“That’s just a brutal loss, to give up six runs like that and a couple chances to win offensively,” La Russa said. “It’s a tough loss. It’s as tough as you’re going to have.”Burr replaced Reynaldo López, who exited with lower back tightness at the start of the inning.“Right now it stings,” Hendriks said. “Burr should’ve never been in that situation. López should’ve never been in that situation. It should’ve been something I took care of. I was one strike away and I wasn’t able to get it done, and that stings the most.”According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Guardians were 1-626 when trailing by six or more runs in the ninth over the last 40 seasons.AdvertisementHendriks saved each of the first five games in the six-game winning streak that ended Monday, and the Sox had only one day off in that span. But La Russa told reporters Sunday: “We told Hendriks don’t even put your spikes on.”Hendriks did wear his spikes Sunday, hoping La Russa would change his mind.“I never go out there unprepared,” he said before Monday’s game. “And if anybody ever goes into our bullpen without their spikes, I’m going to send them running across the field to put them back on because that’s disrespectful.“No, I will always have my spikes on, but I was really hoping I could convince them to let me play. It didn’t come to fruition. I understand it. It’s still disappointing, but in saying that, we got it done and that’s all that really matters.”Fast forward to Monday night. Hendriks warmed up in the bullpen in the eighth with the Sox holding a 5-2 lead. AJ Pollock’s three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth seemingly put the game out of reach, so La Russa turned to left-hander Tanner Banks in the ninth.But errors by Yoán Moncada and Tim Anderson and some shaky pitching by Banks forced La Russa to turn to Hendriks with two outs, two on and the lead down to four. Hendricks gave up a single to Owen Miller to load the bases before Naylor grabbed hold of a 99 mph fastball on the first pitch and sent it into the right-field bleachers.AdvertisementWas getting up and down a factor?“Yeah, I got up in the eighth,” Hendriks said. “Yes, I got up in the ninth. Yes, I sat down and then got back up again. But that’s not an excuse to not get it done. At the end of the day you’re coming in there with a job to do, and I didn’t do my job tonight.”La Russa concurred that Hendriks was ready.“He got ready but he didn’t have to pitch,” he said. “You bring him in with the tying run on deck, there’s not much room for an error there. Give the hitters credit.”The Sox left the bases loaded in the ninth before Indians shortstop Andres Gimenez doubled home the go-ahead run in the 10th. The Sox tied it in the bottom of the inning when Adam Engel beat a throw to the plate on a dribbler to pitcher Emmanuel Chase, but they couldn’t push across another run with the bases loaded and one out.With the game tied in the 11th, La Russa considered walking Naylor with two out and two on.Advertisement“It doesn’t look very good right now,” he said. “We were going to pitch him tough and made a mistake.”Burr was glad La Russa let him challenge Naylor, even as he compared himself to a bug on a windshield that “got squashed.”“I don’t care who it is,” Burr said. “I made a pitch and he hit the ball. That’s the game of baseball for you. It went over the fence. We lost the game.”It wasn’t just that they lost but how they lost. Hendriks said the toughest part was that Michael Kopech’s “phenomenal” six-inning start was lost in the collapse.“He’s still decisionless this year,” Hendriks said. “And that’s another thing, we had an opportunity to give him his first win of the year, and that didn’t come to fruition because I didn’t do my job.”Before the game Hendriks discussed “old-school” relievers who pitched every day.Advertisement“Look, I’ll never ask for a day off,” he said. “I told the training staff, you have to tell me. I’m going to disagree with them most days, but I’ll never ask for a day because I don’t want to get in the mindset, like, ‘OK, I’m not feeling great today, so let me take a day.’“That’s the snowball effect that will make me complacent, and I just never want to let that in. I’ve got a little bit of an old-school mentality some days.”Hendriks’ wish was granted Monday, and he’ll no doubt want the ball again Tuesday.

Sports

Rookies Velus Jones and Trestan Ebner may be gearing up for a special competition to be the Chicago Bears kick returner

Trestan Ebner didn’t need long Friday to identify his favorite kickoff return from his five seasons at Baylor.“Probably Iowa State,” Ebner said with a grin. “Called it in the huddle.”AdvertisementIndeed, Ebner told teammates last September that Andrew Mevis’ third-quarter kickoff at McLane Stadium was coming to him and was about to go the distance the other way. A few moments later, he caught the football just outside the right hash marks at his 2-yard line and got rolling.Ebner angled toward the middle of the field, made one sharp cut inside, then found daylight to his left. When he stepped on the gas, the Cyclones coverage team was finished. Receiver Darien Porter may have gotten a fingertip on Ebner’s right ankle around the Iowa State 30. But otherwise, it was highlight-reel material. Called and delivered.AdvertisementThat proved to be a pivotal play in a 31-29 Baylor win and offered evidence of the confidence, speed and vision that make Ebner dangerous. Now he’ll try to use those talents with the Chicago Bears.[ [Don’t miss] Column: How Trestan Ebner’s fast-acting agent — and his sister’s cellphone — connected the Bears with the Baylor RB ]Velus Jones rewound a little further when asked to identify the moment he realized he had gifts as a return man. Pop Warner, Jones said, as a 10-year-old in Alabama.That’s when Jones, against a top-tier opponent that he said had lost only game in the previous half-decade, took a chance.“The ball was just rolling on the ground and I picked it up,” he said. “But I remember at one point that I was slow picking it up so I could bring (the coverage team) in a little more. Then I scooped it up and I knew I could get away with my speed.”[ [Don’t miss] 3 things we heard from Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, including his ‘tremendous’ dynamic with Justin Fields ]Jones used his blockers, found an opening and turned on the jets.End zone. Touchdown. Celebration.“I remember that like it was yesterday,” he said. “I realized sky’s the limit when it came to that. Ever since, I’ve just been perfecting my craft.”Now Jones, too, will work to use those special skills to help him break through in the NFL.AdvertisementExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 11 Meet the Chicago Bears’ 2022 NFL draft class. (Jae C. Hong/AP)As the Bears slowly make their way toward the starting line of the 2022 season with the team rebooting in so many ways, a special teams showdown between two explosive rookies should be fun to keep tabs on.“It will be an exciting competition,” special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said Saturday.Yes, general manager Ryan Poles drafted Jones and Ebner with visions of each carving out a significant role in the offense. But the two players’ special teams achievements also were circled and highlighted.[ [Don’t miss] Bears draft class is older with more college experience — a byproduct of COVID-19. Could it be deeper too? ]At Tennessee last season, Jones was the SEC’s Co-Special Teams Player of the Year after averaging 27.3 yards per kickoff return, including a 96-yard touchdown against South Alabama. He was also dangerous as a punt returner, finishing second in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 15.1 yards per return.Ebner, meanwhile, scored three touchdowns on kickoff returns in his Baylor career and last season was honored as the Big 12′s Special Teams Player of the Year.Baylor running back Trestan Ebner (1) leaps over TCU placekicker Griffin Kell (39) while returning a kickoff Nov. 6, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)Hightower has been quick to point out that the Bears’ bid to find a kick returner will include more than the two rookies. Running back Khalil Herbert and wide receiver Byron Pringle have NFL experience in that role and will get a look. Others could blend into the battle as well.AdvertisementBut there’s a lot to like about Ebner and Jones.Ebner brings an aggressive mindset to the role and was quick to identify his strengths as a returner.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Bears haven’t had 2 rookie DBs start Week 1 in 51 years. Could Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker end that streak? ]“It’s my vision to find the hole and hit it and the speed to pull it off,” he said.Jones complements his blazing speed with an impressive combination of physicality and fearlessness.“I’ve never, ever been afraid of contact,” he said. “Always run through the smoke. That’s a part of my DNA.”Tennessee’s Velus Jones Jr. (1) returns a kickoff against Florida on Sept. 25, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (John Raoux/AP)A think-big mentality is also part of Jones’ wiring. So while he wore No. 12 for rookie minicamp over the weekend, he has aspirations of switching to No. 23. Yep, for Devin Hester.Advertisement“It would be nice to put that number on,” Jones said. “It’ll put a little pressure on myself. But it’s the kind of pressure you want. I just hope I can be half of what he was.”So do the Bears.For now, Jones and Ebner will continue getting their feet on the ground. When training camp intensifies in August, the two rookies will have opportunities to step up in a big way on special teams. Both remain eager for what’s ahead.