Actor Matt Damon, who grew up in Cambridge, Mass., is a huge fan of the New England Patriots, especially their quarterback Tom Brady.
"I know if you don't live in New England, he's hard to root for because he's just so good," Damon told USA Today's Bryan Alexander during an interview last week promoting Damon's latest movie, Jason Bourne. "For us, we'll never have another athlete like that come through. He's just been a once-in-a-lifetime guy. He takes it so seriously and puts everything he has, and everything he is, to help the team. It's just an awesome message for our kids."
"He's the man."
Brady, who was suspended for four games in the wake of the Deflategate investigation, announced last month that he wouldn't appeal the suspension set down by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, saying on Facebook that he will "no longer proceed with the legal process" after a "challenging" 18 months.
Damon went on to issue a warning to Patriots's opponents in Week 5 and beyond. He said he expects Brady will be a man on a mission when he makes his return, sporting the same "killer face" as Damon's signature character, a rogue government assassin out for revenge.
"He will have Jason Bourne face in a very, very big way," Damon said.
DeAngelo vs. Goliath
Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams, of Wynne, learned many lessons with the Carolina Panthers during the early part of his career.
As a rookie, he found it wasn't wise to run in the direction of defensive tackle Kris Jenkins in a story he narrated as a cartoon for ESPN.
"He's 6-4, 375 pounds of pure, mean, gladiator, running back-eating, quarterback-sacking, offensive lineman-tormenting man. I'm 5-9, close to 216 pounds.
"I would call him out every day at practice to get him going because I didn't have to face him, my O-line did."
It wasn't long before the offensive line, Williams said, arranged a meeting between the running back and Jenkins.
Williams got the ball, and Jenkins was there to greet him.
"It's just me and him in the hole," Williams said. "So I hit him, BOW!
"I wake up a couple minutes later. ... It was kind of like tetherball. He hit me, I hit the ground."
Williams said his coaches praised his heart, but suggested he choose his battles more carefully.
"After that little ordeal," Williams said, "I didn't stop messing with him [Jenkins], I just stopped going in his direction."
Smart move, rookie.
Trump trumped
Up next for presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are a series of debates on national television, two of which fall on the same nights as NFL games.
Trump's not happy about it.
"I'll tell you what I don't like," Trump said, "It's against two NFL games. I got a letter from the NFL saying, 'this is ridiculous.' "
Yeah, not so much. According to NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, that never happened.
"While we'd obviously wish the Debate Commission could find another night," McCarthy said via Twitter, "we did not send a letter to Mr Trump."
Probably a smart move. The last time Trump got involved in a professional football league, as owner of the USFL's New Jersey Generals, the league folded after three seasons.
Sports on 08/01/2016