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    Why Glazers ‘feared a MUTINY from Man Utd stars’ as reason club never visits US city on pre-season tour revealed

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    MANCHESTER UNITED stars were stopped from ever visiting the Glazer-owned Tampa Bay Buccaneers over fears of a MUTINY, it has been claimed.The Red Devils have been owned by the Glazer family since an £800million ($984m) leveraged buyout in 2005, leaving the club with a huge level of debt.The Glazers have owned Man Utd since 2005Credit: GettyBut Man Utd have not been allowed to visit their sister team Tampa Bay BuccaneersCredit: GettyIt has been revealed this is down to owners fearing a ‘mutiny’ among playersCredit: GettyTampa opened a £57m new training centre in 2022Credit: GettyThe Florida-based American family are also the owner of NFL franchise the Buccaneers.Man Utd have often toured around the US for pre-season, but have never been near Tampa.However, it has now been revealed United were stopped from visiting their sister team over fears it would spark a player revolt.ESPN’s Mark Ogden explained it was believed if players from United saw the training facilities in Tampa they would then rebel due to their own relatively poor facilities.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOgden told the Football Reporters podcast: “I was told a story by somebody who worked at United, and it’s the elephant in the room that we haven’t really discussed: It’s the Glazers. It’s the Glazer family and their ownership of the club.”I asked this person, I said, when United go to America, why do they never go to Tampa? “Arsenal will do a link-up with the LA Rams or with whoever [owner Stan] Kroenke’s team are. Liverpool did it with FSG in Boston, they spent a lot of time there. “United have never gone anywhere near Tampa, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that the Glazers own in the US (are). Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS”I was told it’s quite simply because the owners didn’t want the United squad to see how good the Tampa Bay facilities were. “They didn’t want them to see the training ground because the training ground at Tampa is meant to be state-of-the-art. Reasons to be positive under Ruben Amorim”The stadium is a top stadium. The Glazers have put a lot of money into the facility at Tampa and if the players had gone to Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ training ground and realised what they had and what United don’t have, there might have been a mutiny at the club.”Tampa opened a state-of-the-art £57million ($70m) training facility in 2022.Man Utd’s own Carrington training complex is finally undergoing some much-needed TLC of its own in a £50m project.But this only came after the issue was highlighted by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming the club had not evolved since he first left to join Real Madrid in 2009.In his infamous 2022 bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, he said: “The progress was zero. Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed.”He [Ferguson] knows better than anybody that the club is not on the path they deserve to be. He knows. Everyone knows.”The people who don’t see that… it’s because they don’t want to see it. They are blind.”I think the fans should know the truth. I want the best for the club. This is why I came to Manchester United.”But you have some things inside that don’t help [us] reach the top level as City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal.”A club with this dimension should be top of the tree, in my opinion, and they are not, unfortunately.”The architectural team responsible for the new Wembley Stadium and Lusail Stadium in Qatar, Foster + Partners, is in charge of making the new facilities.Over the summer, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: “We want to create a world-class environment for our teams to win.”When we conducted a thorough review of the Carrington training facilities and met with our men’s first team players, it was clear the standards had fallen below some of our peers. “This project will ensure Manchester United’s training ground is once more renovated to the highest standards.”However, Ratcliffe and his lieutenants now running the football operations at the club drew criticism as they decided to prioritise the men’s team by moving them into the newly-built women’s training facilities.The women’s team were in turn moved into temporary buildings despite the £10m facilities being purposely built for them and the academy teams.Figures revealed last year that the much-maligned Glazers had invested just £45m ($55m) of their own money into the club since their takeover two decades prior. READ MORE SUN STORIESMeanwhile, 2021 figures revealed that more than £1BILLION ($1.23bn) had been lost by the club through dividends payments, interest payments and debt repayments.And it was not until the arrival of the Ineos group that plans to upgrade the club’s stadium were finally put in place, with the plan currently torn between an Old Trafford upgrade or a new build.What we know about the ‘new’ Old TraffordMANCHESTER UNITED plan to build a new stadium rather than redevelop Old Trafford.The decision was made after a number of fact-finding missions to other stadiums including the Bernabeu and Nou Camp.The cost of the project is expected to be a staggering £2billion.A capacity of 100,000 is expected.It is felt that a club of United’s standing should have a new state-of-the-art facility.The new stadium will be built on land adjacent to the Red Devils’ current home.United are looking to not only build a stadium but regenerate the area of Trafford where the ground will stand.There had been plans to KEEP Old Trafford rather than demolish it, and use it as a scaled down second venue.However, it’s looking increasing likely that it will in fact be entirely demolished.The club consulted with 30,000 fans about what to do and believe there is roughly a 50-50 split on staying or moving.The club have appointed the architects Foster + Partners to come up with a “masterplan”. The company were behind Wembley Stadium.Old Trafford has been United’s home since 1910.The target is for completion by 2030. More

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      Meet Edward Glazer: Director of Man Utd, co-chairman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers & co-president of his family foundation

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      THE Glazers are a family of billionaires who run multiple companies and invest in sports teams on both sides of the Atlantic.Here we take look at the life of Edward Glazer — as well as the businesses he heads.Edward Glazer looking on before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium on September 9, 2021 in Tampa, FloridaCredit: GettyWho is Edward Glazer?Edward Glazer was born on December 15, 1969.He has four brothers, Avram, Joel, Bryan and Kevin, and a sister named Darcie.Edward graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College in 1992.A proud alumnus of the school, he later opened the Edward and Shari Glazer Arena on the school’s campus.read more on the glazersThe Man Utd director shares three daughters with his wife Shari.How long has Edward Glazer been a director of Man Utd?Looking to expand his business portfolio in the UK, Malcolm Glazer purchased a majority stake in Premier League outfit Manchester United.He gradually bought out shareholders between 2003 and 2005, ultimately acquiring ownership of the club in a £790m takeover.Edward was first appointed as a director of United in 2006.Most read in FootballHe is currently a director at both both Red Football Limited and Manchester United Limited.In February 2024, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group bought a quarter of the Glazer family’s 68 per cent stake in the Red Devils.Plane flies ‘Glazers Out’ banner over NFL clash as Man Utd fan protest hits the US amid takeover uncertaintySince then Ratcliffe has been in charge of “football operations” at the club — the Man Utd board asked the businessman to assume control of that side of the business.A statement released at the time read: “As part of the transaction, Ineos has accepted a request by the board to be delegated responsibility for the management of the club’s football operations.”The Glazer family’s ownership of the Premier League team over the past 20 years has been a point of controversy.Ever since the American family took charge there have been repeated fan protests, with many supporters feeling that the club has moved away from its traditional values.How long has Edward Glazer co-chaired Tampa Bay Buccaneers?The Glazer family bought the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995, with American tycoon Malcolm paying a then-record $192million for the outfit.The franchise is now worth an estimated $4billion (£3.1m), according to Forbes.Edward has been the co-chairman of the NFL outfit since 1994, along with his brothers Bryan and Joel.He oversees many aspects of the team’s day-to-day business operations.Under the siblings’ tenure, the Bucs won their first Super Bowl in 2003 — going on to lift the game’s biggest title once again in 2021.They also opened an impressive new stadium, where home team touchdowns are celebrated by numerous cannons firing from a 103-foot replica pirate ship.What else does Edward Glazer do for a living?Edward is the president of the Glazer Family Foundation, which is dedicated to helping children in the Tampa Bay community.Among the charity’s many achievements is the construction of the Glazer Children’s Museum in downtown Tampa, which opened in 2010.Along with his brothers Bryan and Joel, Edward is a co-owner of First Allied Corporation — a real estate holding company that owns and rents out US shopping malls.Reports that emerged in July 2024 revealed that the Glazer family is looking to invest in the UK cricket market.According to the Telegraph, the Glazers could get involved with a Hundred franchise.READ MORE SUN STORIESA specific team they’re interested in buying isn’t mentioned, but there’s been speculation that they could throw their support behind the Manchester Originals.The team plays out of the Old Trafford cricket ground, situated only 800 metres from the football stadium. More

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      Who is Man Utd and Tampa Bay Buccaneers co-chairman Bryan Glazer?

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      THE Billionaire Glazer family is best known for investing in sporting franchises in the US and UK.Here’s everything you need to know about Malcolm Glazer’s second-born son — Bryan.Bryan Glazer standing in front of his brothers Avram and Joel during the Champions League qualifier between Man U and Debreceni on August 9, 2005Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdWho is Bryan Glazer?Brian Glazer was born on October 27, 1964, in Rochester, New York, US.He has four brothers — Avram, Joel, Kevin and Edward — and a sister named Darcie.Joel attended the American University in Washington DC, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast communications and was the leader of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.He is married to Shanna and the couple has two children — but they prefer to keep their personal information out of the public spotlight.READ MORE ON THE GLAZERSHow long has Byran Glazer co-chaired the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United?American tycoon Malcolm Glazer bought the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for $192million in 1995 — a record sum at the time.The Glazers have owned the NFL outfit ever since, and according to Forbes it’s now worth an estimated $4billion.Since 1995, Bryan has been the co-chairman — along with his brothers Joel and Edward — and vice-president of the franchise.The club won its first Super Bowl in 2003 under the siblings’ tenure, before repeating the feat in 2021.Most read in FootballThey also opened an impressive new stadium, where touchdowns by the home team are celebrated by a cannon salute — firing from a 103-foot replica pirate ship.Bryan was a key player in the design, construction and development of the new stadium, as well as re-designing the franchise’s logo.Plane flies ‘Glazers Out’ banner over NFL clash as Man Utd fan protest hits the US amid takeover uncertaintyHis father Malcolm also bought a controlling share in Manchester United between 2003 and 2005 in a £790m takeover, gradually buying out shareholders.Bryan was appointed co-chairman of the club, as well as non-executive director of the United board, by his dad in 2005.He was instrumental in signing American International Group (AIG) as the club’s shirt sponsor for the start of the 2006-07 season in a record-breaking deal worth $100million.. UK billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group bought a quarter of the Glazer family’s 68 per cent stake in the Man Utd in February 2024.Ratcliffe has been in charge of “football operations” at the club since then.Following the buyout, the Red Devils’ board asked the businessman to assume control of the footballing side of the business.A statement released at the time read: “As part of the transaction, Ineos has accepted a request by the board to be delegated responsibility for the management of the club’s football operations.”The Glazer’s ownership of the Premier League team has been a point of controversy over the past 20 years, with repeated protests by fans over the family’s running of the club.Bryan Glazer (centre) with brothers Avram (left) and Joel (right)Credit: APWhat else does Bryan Glazer do?Bryan was a director of the Zapata Corporation — which was founded by George W Bush — between 1997 and 2009.Along with his brothers Joel and Edward, Bryan is also a co-owner of First Allied Corporation.The business is a real estate holding company that owns and rents out US shopping malls.Reports emerged in July 2024 that the Glazer family is looking to invest in the UK cricket market.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe Glazers could invest in a Hundred franchise, according to The Telegraph.The report doesn’t mention a specific team they’re interested in buying, but they could throw their support behind Manchester Originals as the team plays at the Old Trafford cricket ground — only 800 metres from the football stadium. More

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      Man Utd owners the Glazer Family blasted for ‘smelly’ facilities and ‘bugs in showers’ as damning report published

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S owners have been blasted for “smelly” facilities at their NFL franchise in a damning report.The Glazer Family own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers alongside their majority stake in the Red Devils.The Glazers have been blasted in a new survey by the NFL Players AssociationCredit: GettyThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ facilities are ‘smelly’ with ‘bugs in showers’ the report claimsCredit: GettySince the Glazers’ takeover in 1995, the Buccaneers have won two Super Bowls, the only NFL championship triumphs in their history.However, an NFL report has now laid bare their alleged failings in Florida.It comes after regular criticism in recent months for neglecting United’s facilities.A survey conducted by the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) exposed the shortcomings within the Buccaneers’ facilities.READ MORE MAN UTD NEWSNFLPA members were surveyed by members to gauge their thoughts on how their teams operate.Joel Glazer was given a rating of 6.1/10 for his willingness to invest in facilities, placing him 29th out of 32 franchise owners.Players claimed the locker room are left unclean, constantly smell and the showers have a persistent bug issue.Meanwhile, it was also revealed that the team’s saunas are mouldy.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe survey highlighted the Buccaneers as one of 12 teams that do not provide a family room during games.Whilst the Bucs do offer day care, it comes at a price of $90 per child.Inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans to replace Old Trafford with a ‘Wembley of the North’A summary of the NFLPA survey read: “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finish the year ranked 24th overall [from 32 teams]; the ranking could have been lower if the staff had not earned high marks among respondents.”The dietician, training staff and strength coaches all received solid grades from the players.”Club owner Joel Glazer ranks 29th across the league when it comes to the question about a perceived willingness to invest in the facilities, and the reason for assessment is reflected in the data collected across categories.”The players described the locker room as ‘unclean’ and ‘smelly’, and they even cited seeing bugs consistently in the showers. Respondents also described the team sauna as ‘dirty’, ‘small’ and ‘broken down’.”Younger players must have roommates on work travel, unless they pay the team more than $1,750 for their own room each season.”They do have a daycare room on gamedays, but charge players’ families $90 per child, which most other teams offer for free.”Outdated facilities are one thing, but providing clean showers and workspaces, and not charging players to have their own hotel room on work trips should be basic standards for a multi-billion-dollar professional sports enterprise.”Joel Glazer ranked 29th out of 32 NFL franchise owners for his willingness to invest in facilitiesCredit: The Mega Agency More

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      Tom Brady Sets N.F.L. Career Passing Record in Return to New England

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      Brady, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback, returned to New England for the first time since leaving and surpassed Drew Brees’s mark on a first-quarter play.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady became the N.F.L.’s career passing leader on Sunday in his first game back in New England to face his former team, the Patriots.In the first quarter, Brady completed a 28-yard pass to receiver Mike Evans to reach 80,359 yards and surpass the record of 80,358 yards set last year by Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints quarterback who retired at the end of the season.The Patriots flashed the record on the stadium video screen and announced it to the crowd, which cheered, but they did not stop the game for a ceremony. Heading into the game, Brady needed just 68 yards to pass Brees. Brady will likely hold onto the record for several years. Among active players, Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers has the second-most career yards, but he trails Brady by about 20,000 yards.Brady’s record-setting throw was just one of many highlights in one of the most anticipated regular season games in years, as the Buccaneers sought to improve on their 2-1 record and the Patriots, at 1-2, struggled to get a foothold in their second season without Brady as their leader.Much of the drama before the game focused on the showdown between Brady and Patriots Coach Bill Belichick, and who was responsible for Brady’s departure after two decades, 249 wins and six Super Bowl championships together.One fan bought a billboard not far from the stadium that all but blamed Belichick for Brady’s decision to move to Tampa. Fans tailgating before the game at Gillette Stadium did not begrudge Brady for leaving.“I’m grateful for everything Tom did, but that’s in the past,” said Randy Greeley, a longtime season ticket holder who wore the jersey of Mac Jones, the team’s new quarterback. “My loyalty is to the Pats.”When the Buccaneers took the field to warm up about 50 minutes before kickoff, fans gave Brady a standing ovation and chanted his name. Before the game, the Patriots played a short video tribute on the stadium scoreboard that showed Brady’s exploits in New England. But when Brady took the field for Tampa’s opening drive, he was booed.Brady has been restrained about his relationship with Belichick and his reasons for moving to Tampa. But his father and trainer, interviewed separately, were more blunt, claiming that Belichick did not value Brady’s input and felt, at 44, that his best days were over.When he was in New England, Brady had said he wanted to play until he was 45. Tampa gave him a two-year contract. Having led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title last season, and already off to a fast start this year, Brady has mused about potentially playing until he is 50.Local television stations and national networks like NBC’s “Today” show broadcast from the stadium parking lot days before the game, while one website listed the top 10 sports homecomings in Boston area history before Brady’s return.Brady’s fans greeted the quarterback at the airport in Providence, R.I., when the Buccaneers’ team plane arrived on Saturday. The team now includes cornerback Richard Sherman, the free agent former 49ers corner whom Brady recruited to the Buccaneers despite being mired in legal trouble stemming from an arrest this summer and five misdemeanor charges, including two for domestic violence. The Buccaneers were without tight end Rob Gronkowski, another former Patriots player, who has a rib injury. More

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      NFL Week 4 Predictions: Our Picks Against the Spread

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      Tom Brady faces Bill Belichick, the Rams and the Cardinals fight to stay undefeated, and the Browns’ pass rush travels to Minnesota to try to end Kirk Cousins’s interception-less streak.Guess what? Tom Brady heads to Foxborough, Mass., to play the Patriots this weekend. You probably already knew that, though.Brady’s return to New England pits him against Coach Bill Belichick, with whom he won six Super Bowls over two decades. Brady is back in town with a freshly acquired Super Bowl ring and needing only 68 yards to break Drew Brees’s N.F.L. record for career passing yards. But there are other grudge matches around the N.F.L. in Week 4, including an N.F.C. West showdown between the unbeaten Rams and Cardinals and a scary Browns pass rush traveling to Minnesota to try to end Kirk Cousins’s interception-less streak.Here’s a look at N.F.L. Week 4, with all picks made against the spread.Last week’s record: 12-4All times Eastern.Here’s what you need to know:Thursday’s MatchupSunday’s Best GamesSunday’s other gamesMonday’s MatchupHow Betting Lines WorkThursday’s MatchupJacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m., NFL NetworkLine: Bengals -7.5 | Total: 45.5The Jaguars’ streak of allowing an average of 302.3 passing yards per game should continue this week against the Bengals (2-1) as Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase seem to have rediscovered their college chemistry in the pros.Burrow and Chase have connected for touchdown passes in each of their three games, including two last week in the 24-10 dismantling of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Trevor Lawrence’s acclimation to the league has been rough; the rookie has thrown seven interceptions compared with only five touchdowns. Expect Burrow and the Bengals to score at will while the Jaguars (0-3) struggle to respond. Pick: Bengals -7.5Sunday’s Best GamesTampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots, 8:20 p.m., NBCLine: Buccaneers -6.5 | Total: 49After the pomp and circumstance around Tom Brady’s return to Gillette Stadium as a visitor dies down, the game itself should be competitive. The Buccaneers (2-1) will have Antonio Brown back from the reserve/Covid list, but the team will be without slot receiver Scotty Miller, who has a toe injury, and potentially the pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul, who sat out against the Los Angeles Rams with hand and shoulder injuries. The veteran free-agent cornerback Richard Sherman will join the team as its secondary battles injuries, though Coach Bruce Arians said he doubted Sherman would play on Sunday.Teams have not run effectively against Tampa Bay’s front seven and have instead exploited its defensive backs. The Bucs’ secondary has allowed opponents to throw for over 300 yards twice, including in a loss to the Rams last week, when Matthew Stafford tossed for 343 yards and four touchdowns. Brady will be motivated to win, and the Bucs most likely will, but the secondary’s struggles give Mac Jones and the Patriots a chance to cover the spread. Pick: Patriots +6.5Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m., FoxLine: Rams -6 | Total: 54.5Matthew Stafford’s connection with Cooper Kupp has made the receiver a fantasy football must-have. Kupp leads the N.F.L. in receiving yards (367) and touchdown receptions (5) and is tied at first for catches (25).Their chemistry will test the Cardinals’ defense, which has yet to face an offense as dynamic as the Rams’ (3-0). Though both teams are undefeated, the Cardinals (3-0) were saved from a loss to the Vikings in Week 2 by a shanked field-goal attempt and played down to the lowly Jaguars last week. Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey are unlikely to allow Kyler Murray to again put up video game numbers — he’s averaging 335 yards per game — and Rams Coach Sean McVay has never lost to the Cardinals. He is likely to keep that streak alive. Pick: Rams -6Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett, who had 4.5 sacks last week against the Bears, will hound Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins on Sunday.Kirk Irwin/Associated PressCleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., CBSLine: Browns -2 | Total: 53Kirk Cousins has yet to throw an interception this season, but the Browns (2-1) are the most complete defense the Vikings (1-2) will have seen.Cousins has thrown for more than 300 yards twice, including last week while running back Dalvin Cook was out with an ankle injury. Cook’s replacement, Alexander Mattison, rushed for 112 yards in his absence. It’s unclear whether Cook will play on Sunday, but if Cook returns or Mattison starts, the Browns’ defense will be up for the challenge. The unit ranks fifth in the league against the rush (201 yards allowed) and second in sacks (14). Meanwhile, Cleveland’s offense last week welcomed back receiver Odell Beckham Jr. from his knee injury. Those factors make betting with the Vikings tough, and the spread may honestly be too low. Pick: Browns -2Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m., FoxLine: San Francisco -2.5 | Total: 52Hello, defense? Is anyone home? Pete Carroll must be asking his team that question after the Seahawks (1-2) allowed opponents to amass over 450 yards of offense in each of the last two games. No amount of Russell Wilson magic can save a game with those defensive performances.The 49ers (2-1) will be eager to play again after narrowly losing to the Packers on a last-second field goal. But they continue to battle injuries on both sides of the ball, with important players like tight end George Kittle (calf) and Josh Norman (lungs) listed as day-to-day. If Seattle can muster some sort of respectable defensive outing for pride’s sake, then the Seahawks could manage to be competitive and cover the spread. Pick: Seattle +2.5Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m., CBSLine: Broncos -1 | Total: 44Their undefeated record has come against winless opponents, so the Broncos (3-0) will try to get a statement win over the Ravens (2-1), who last week struggled before closing out the Lions. Denver quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be without receiver K.J. Hamler, the Broncos’ No. 3 receiver, who tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in another big loss to the receiving corps after Jerry Jeudy was placed on injury reserve earlier in the season.After an overtime loss to open the season, the Ravens have closed out thrilling victories at home and on the road. They should be able to ride that momentum to give Denver its first loss. Pick: Ravens +1Sunday’s other gamesCarolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m., FoxLine: Cowboys -4 | Total: 50Losing running back Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) and cornerback Jaycee Horn (foot) should devastate the Panthers (3-0) and their chances of remaining undefeated. With McCaffrey out for “a few weeks,” according to Coach Matt Rhule, receiver D.J. Moore is the Panthers’ best offensive weapon. He is likely to be shadowed by the Cowboys’ top cornerback, Trevon Diggs, who has had an interception in every game this season.The Cowboys will keep up an aggressive offensive attack as the offensive coordinator Kellen Moore tries to exploit a secondary that hastily added C.J. Henderson via trade during the week. Until proven otherwise, expect the Panthers’ offense to backslide and struggle without McCaffrey as its workhorse. Pick: Cowboys -4Washington’s defense has underperformed so far this season. Led by defensive end Chase Young, it could bounce back against the Falcons.Andrew Harnik/Associated PressWashington Footballers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m., FoxLine: Footballers -1.5 | Total: 48Oddsmakers are essentially predicting a tossup, largely because Washington has not played to its potential. The Footballers’ defense, in theory, should overpower the Falcons (1-2), as Atlanta has rushed for 100 yards only once and is still heavily relying on Matt Ryan’s arm at the ripe age of 36. But the Footballers (1-2) failed to sack Bills quarterback Josh Allen last week, and he dissected them for four touchdowns. Against a weaker offensive line, Washington should find more success. Pick: Footballers -1.5.Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m., CBSLine: Bills -17 | Total: 48The line on this game is absurdly lopsided and rightfully so. The Bills’ defense generated three turnovers in each of the last two games. It is likely to feast on Davis Mills of the Texans (1-2), who threw for 168 yards and was sacked four times in his first N.F.L. start last week against Carolina. Mills is likely to do more to limit the production of Texans receiver Brandin Cooks than the Bills (2-1). Expect the score to get ugly quick. Pick: Bills -17Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m., CBSLine: Bears -3 | Total: 42.5This could finally be the one.The Lions (0-3) have played competitively in first halves against playoff-caliber teams, and Ravens kicker Justin Tucker had to convert a 66-yard field-goal attempt to rob Detroit of a win last week. That evasive W may come against the Bears (1-2), who posted 1 net passing yard (yes, you read that correctly) and allowed the rookie Justin Fields to take nine sacks against the Browns. Coach Matt Nagy said Fields, Andy Dalton and Nick Foles are all under consideration to start. The Lions could capitalize on that dysfunction. Pick: Lions +3Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., CBSLine: Dolphins -1.5 | Total: 43.5Injuries continue to plague the Colts (0-3), most recently with the All-Pro offensive guard Quenton Nelson spraining his ankle and needing to be carted off the field last week. Coach Frank Reich did not rule out Nelson, but said his chances of playing were “not looking good.” Nelson’s availability would help against the Dolphins (1-2), who feature an aggressive and opportunistic defense. Miami’s backup quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, completed over 65 percent of his passes in an overtime loss to the Raiders in Week 3, showing he can manage the offense efficiently while Tua Tagovailoa’s ribs heal. If that responsible play continues and the defense generates pressure and turnovers, the Carson Wentz experiment in Indianapolis could remain winless. Pick: Dolphins -1.5Giants at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., FoxLine: Saints -7.5 | Total: 43.5Giants receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton injured hamstrings in Week 3, potentially removing two of Daniel Jones’s favorite targets. He’ll need every asset the Giants (0-3) can offer to combat the inevitable deafening noise in the Superdome for the Saints’ first true home game of the season. The Saints (2-1), whose defense collected three interceptions last week against the Patriots, could produce a similar outing as Jones throws to receivers on the bottom of the depth chart. Pick: Saints -7.5Tennessee Titans at Jets, 1 p.m., CBSLine: Titans -7.5 | Total: 46Receiver A.J. Brown’s hamstring injury should not stop the Titans (2-1) from winning this game easily, given the team’s other formidable stars, running back Derrick Henry and receiver Julio Jones. The Jets, however, lack such options. The rookie quarterback Zach Wilson has thrown seven interceptions to two touchdowns, and the Jets (0-3) have rushed for more than 100 yards only once. Even a developing defense like Tennessee’s should be able to contain the Jets’ attack. Pick: Titans -7.5Kansas City at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m., CBSLine: Kansas City -6 | Total: 54.5Kansas City (1-2) has had back-to-back losses only three times since 2018, making this uncommon territory for a perennial Super Bowl contender. They are likely to bounce back against the Eagles (1-2), who took a beating from Dallas on Monday and had a short week to prepare.Kansas City Coach Andy Reid reportedly returned to work Tuesday after being treated for dehydration after Sunday’s game. He will most likely preach ball security to his team, which committed six total turnovers in losses to the Ravens and the Chargers. If the Chiefs can fix those issues, their firepower should be too much for the Eagles’ young offense to respond. Pick: Kansas City -6Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m., CBSLine: Steelers -6.5 | Total: 45.5The Steelers’ pedestrian offense has been a problem and now faces a Packers team (2-1) that is beginning to click. Pittsburgh’s quarterback weakness has been well documented, but Ben Roethlisberger ranks third in the N.F.L. in passing attempts in large part because the team has yet to rush for more than 75 yards in a game this season and its defense has given up first-quarter leads.The Steelers (1-2) are hopeful outside linebacker T.J. Watt (groin) will be available after missing last week’s loss to the Bengals, but Aaron Rodgers’s output should still far exceed that of the Steelers’ offense. Pick: Packers -6.5Monday’s MatchupThe Chargers’ offensive line has allowed only five sacks of Justin Herbert this season, but Los Angeles’s offense leads the league in penalty yards (243), which could put it in a bind against defensive end Maxx Crosby and the Raiders.Kyusung Gong/Associated PressLas Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 p.m., ESPNLine: Chargers -3.5 | Total: 52.5With Kansas City figuring out how to end its rut and the Broncos facing their first winning opponent, the Chargers or the Raiders will gain valuable ground in the A.F.C. West. The outcome will come down to whether the Chargers’ new-look offensive line can hold its own against the Raiders’ improved pass rush. The Chargers (2-1) have allowed only five sacks, but Los Angeles’s offense leads the league in penalty yards (243), including notable flags for illegal shifts in a loss to the Cowboys and a narrow win over the Chiefs.This one will have exceptional player matchups to watch — between the Chargers rookie tackle Rashawn Slater and Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, and Chargers safety Derwin James against Raiders tight end Darren Waller — but the Raiders (3-0) may have the edge if running back Josh Jacobs returns after missing two games with an ankle injury. Pick: Raiders +3.5How Betting Lines WorkA quick primer for those who are not familiar with betting lines: Favorites are listed next to a negative number that represents how many points they must win by to cover the spread. Steelers -4.5, for example, means that Pittsburgh must beat Cincinnati by at least 5 points for its backers to win their bet. Gamblers can also bet on the total score, or whether the teams’ combined score in the game is over or under a preselected number of points. More

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      Richard Sherman Joins the Buccaneers After a Call From Tom Brady

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      Sherman is facing criminal charges for five misdemeanors, including two for domestic violence, from an arrest this summer. The free agent cornerback was recruited to Tampa Bay by his former rival.Richard Sherman, who is mired in legal trouble stemming from an arrest this summer and five misdemeanor charges, including two for domestic violence, has agreed to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, becoming the latest high-profile free agent to join quarterback Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champions.One of the best known cornerbacks in the league, Sherman, 33, announced his arrival in Tampa on his podcast Wednesday morning. The team confirmed the news by posting to Twitter a photo of Sherman signing his contract, reported by the NFL Network to be worth $2.25 million, only $500,000 of it guaranteed. Coach Bruce Arians said Sherman would not play this weekend against the Patriots unless there were injuries to other cornerbacks.“I finally had enough conversations and came to a decision that I’m going to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Sherman said, adding a shout. “All the craziness and then all the hate and all the tweets, and then everybody’s mad because I didn’t go to their team. I’m sorry.”Whatever his contributions on the field may be, Sherman’s arrival in Tampa raises fresh questions about the N.F.L.’s handling of players accused of domestic abuse and other violent crimes and about Brady’s role in lobbying the Buccaneers to sign two free agents, Sherman and receiver Antonio Brown, while they were in the midst of criminal and league investigations.In 2020, N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Brown for eight games while the league investigated his role in a reported assault on a moving company employee, an allegation that emerged after Brown was accused of sending threatening texts to a woman who accused him of sexual misconduct. At the time of the suspension, Brown was an unrestricted free agent.Brady, who played with Brown briefly in New England in 2019, courted the All-Pro receiver to Tampa before he finished his suspension at the end of Week 8 last season. Brady invited Brown to live in his home in Tampa before Brown signed with the Buccaneers at the end of October 2020.Concurrently, Brown also faced a lawsuit that claimed he sexually assaulted his former trainer in 2017 and 2018. Brown and his accuser reached a settlement in April this year. He pleaded no contest to battery in the moving company dispute and his probation in the case was terminated in June ahead of schedule.Sherman was arrested this summer after police said he tried to break down the door to his in-laws’ house, several hours after a dispute between him and his wife, Ashley, who eventually tried to remove their children from the couple’s home, according to audio recordings of 9-1-1 calls. He was accused of “burglary domestic violence,” the police said, because he knows the people at the home, and there was no indication that he physically harmed any of its occupants. Sherman has pleaded not guilty to five misdemeanors, including two counts of domestic violence and one of driving under the influence. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday.Sherman said on his podcast that Brady had reached out in hopes of bringing him to Tampa.“He reached out initially and just checked to see if I was in shape,” Sherman said. “He and I have had a relationship over the years. He’s a great guy. Very encouraging.”Sherman’s arrival comes just days before the Buccaneers travel to Foxborough, Mass., to play the Patriots on Sunday in the widely anticipated face-off between Brady and the Patriots, their first meeting since Brady left New England as a free agent in the spring of 2020. He and Patriots Coach Bill Belichick won six Super Bowls in 20 years together, but their relationship deteriorated as they sought to determine Brady’s future with the team.Brady and Sherman’s pairing comes in contrast to their past rivalry. Sherman, a three-time All-Pro, spent his first seven seasons in Seattle as a key to the defensive backfield known as the Legion of Boom for its hard-hitting style. After the Seahawks upset the Patriots in a 2012 regular season matchup where Sherman intercepted Brady, Sherman antagonized Brady after the game.The pair faced off in Super Bowl XLIX after the 2014 season, when the Patriots beat the Seahawks, 28-24.Sherman spent three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played in just five games during the 2020 season because of injuries.The Buccaneers, whose defense propelled them to a Super Bowl title last season, lost cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting to injury. Cornerback Jamel Dean’s status is also questionable. After three games this season, Tampa Bay’s pass defense ranks last in the N.F.L.Brady left New England after two decades reportedly because he wanted more input into the composition of the Patriots. Since joining Tampa Bay in March last year, Brady helped lure tight end and former teammate Rob Gronkowski out of retirement, and persuaded the team that Brown was worth the gamble. Now the Buccaneers and the rest of the N.F.L. will get to see if Sherman was worth the effort as well.Kevin Draper contributed reporting. More

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      Matthew Stafford Wanted Big Games. Against Tom Brady's Bucs, He Got One.

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      After 12 seasons in Detroit with no postseason wins, the quarterback longed to play in big games. On Sunday he delivered, beating Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in Los Angeles.INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Matthew Stafford said he wanted these moments.After 12 seasons at quarterback in Detroit, where his biggest platform was the annual Thanksgiving afternoon game and his performances played second fiddle to TV viewers’ turkey dinners, Stafford, 33, asked to be traded. He wanted to play against quality competition in games that mattered.Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Stafford got that opportunity. Billed as a prospective preview of the N.F.C. championship game and contested in front of celebrities like Mike Tyson and Jason Sudeikis, Stafford faced the ferocious pass rush that fueled the Bucs’ Super Bowl win last season and Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback of all time.Stafford outshone them all. The Rams beat the Buccaneers, 34-24, thanks to his strong arm and smart decisions, along with a stout performance by Los Angeles’s defense. Granted, Stafford’s showing — 343 passing yards, four touchdowns and zero turnovers — came against a secondary handicapped by injuries.But in front of more than 73,000 fans, Stafford showed he could make the throws necessary to make playing a Super Bowl at home in SoFi Stadium this season a reality. Afterward, he downplayed the significance of the win.“Every time we go out there it is a big one,” Stafford said in a postgame news conference. “It was a big challenge for us but it was nice for us to go out there and play our game.”His flatline response was a stark contrast to the ballast from both teams leading into a game players called a barometer to determine their standing in the league. Both were undefeated, viewed as among the best in the conference and the N.F.L. When they met last November, Brady and the former Rams quarterback Jared Goff attempted a combined 99 passes and racked up 592 yards in the air as the Rams barely won a shootout, 27-24.Their 2020 seasons diverged. Tampa Bay won eight of its last nine games en route to the Super Bowl. The Rams, bitten by irresponsible play from Goff, wasted the effort of the league’s top-ranked defense toward the end of the season and exited in the divisional round of the playoffs.But the Rams did not have Stafford last season, and his play offered glimpses of what Coach Sean McVay’s offense could achieve with a quarterback capable of placing the ball anywhere on the field.Stafford completed a 75-yard touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson, the veteran receiver, in the third quarter, and connected on two touchdown passes to receiver Cooper Kupp and one to tight end Tyler Higbee. After the scoring throw to Jackson, whom Stafford had missed connecting with twice earlier in the game, McVay became so excited that he sprinted down the sideline to greet Jackson in a stadium tunnel.But perhaps Stafford’s most important throw did not directly account for any points.Midway into the third quarter, Brady orchestrated a 75-yard touchdown drive to cut Los Angeles’s lead to 21-14. Facing third-and-10 from the Rams’ 25-yard line, Stafford fired a pass to receiver Robert Woods for 20 yards, converting on a crucial play instead of giving the ball back to Brady with an opportunity to tie the score.Three plays later, Stafford connected with Jackson for a 40-yard catch and run to set up Kupp’s second touchdown, a 10-yard catch.The Rams often failed in long-yardage situations last season in part because they lacked an explosive deep threat at receiver and because Goff struggled when defenses did not need to respect the run or play-action. Now, with Stafford at the helm, McVay can unleash a variety of play calls he could not in 2020.“As an offense, you always don’t want to be stagnate,” Kupp said of the unit’s design with Stafford. “Our job as an offense is to not be stuck doing the same thing over and over again but be able to have answers off it and make things look the same but be different.”Still, the Buccaneers played competitively, considering how short-handed they were. Receiver Antonio Brown was not available after testing positive for the coronavirus this week. Pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul also did not play because of hand and shoulder injuries.The secondary lost cornerback Jamel Dean in the first quarter to a knee injury, a blow to a position group that had already been depleted with starter Sean Murphy-Bunting on injured reserve. McVay and Stafford exploited those absences early as receivers slipped past coverages and behind defenders with ease.Brady, a California native who had never played an N.F.L. game in Los Angeles, finished with 432 yards and one touchdown pass. He also rushed for a score. The Rams’ defense hit Brady five times and sacked him three times, including a tackle by Aaron Donald that forced a fumble that the Buccaneers recovered. Though at times it gave up chunk plays, Los Angeles’s defense generally rallied to ball carriers for tackles and ultimately limited Tampa Bay to only 35 rushing yards. Brady led the team with 14.“They played the kind of game they wanted to play,” Brady said. “If we’re going to be a team like that, we have to play well in all phases.”Stafford and the Rams enter a critical stretch of the schedule, facing two N.F.C. West rivals, the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, in Weeks 4 and 5. Those matchups will matter for playoff seeding in the new 17-game regular season. After that, Stafford will be the one ensuring that he and the Rams have even bigger games in which to play. More

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      Tom Brady Out-Duels Dak Prescott and the Cowboys in Opener

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      Tom Brady connected with Rob Gronkowski for two touchdowns on Thursday night, out-dueling Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys in a season opener that felt like old times.TAMPA, Fla. — The N.F.L. loves its quarterback duels, and Tom Brady and Dak Prescott attacked and riposted over and over on Thursday night. In the season opener, Brady, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Super Bowl title last season, and Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, who signed an eye-popping contract extension in the off-season, traded touchdowns in a compelling if sometimes sloppy game that was decided on the final drive.The Buccaneers held on for a 31-29 victory as Brady and Prescott combined for 782 passing yards and seven touchdowns. Brady landed the last punch, leading the Buccaneers 57 yards downfield in less than 90 seconds so Ryan Succop could kick the winning field goal with two seconds left.“There was no doubt we were going to go win that game” because Brady was at the helm, Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said.But the final score and specific statistics were almost irrelevant to the pass-happy affair that swooned on big plays and miscues. The game was a reminder of the entertainment value of the N.F.L. and was welcomed by football fans who haven’t seen a game since the 2020 season that was distorted by the coronavirus pandemic.The game also took place in the same stadium as the last game of last season, Super Bowl LV. The Buccaneers looked the same, too. They brought back all 22 of their starters to defend their title — a rarity in the free-agent era.Attendance, which had been capped at 22,000 spectators for the title game, finally looked normal, too. Few fans wore masks, since they are no longer required there, and every seat in Raymond James Stadium was filled, in fulfillment of Commissioner Roger Goodell’s March promise. Back then, however, vaccination rates were rising nationwide and the number of infections was plummeting.Six months later, the Delta variant of the virus has turned into a delta for the N.F.L., just like the rest of the country.“Our challenge right now, and it’s something we discuss with the ownership, is certainly that we are in a major surge,” Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, said last month. “It is no secret to any of you, nor is it a secret to any of us in medicine what the impact of the Delta variant is having. It is a very different disease in many ways.”More than 90 percent of N.F.L. players and all coaches and staff are vaccinated, yet dozens of them have tested positive for Covid-19 since training camps opened in July. Some of the league’s biggest stars, including quarterbacks Carson Wentz of the Colts and Kirk Cousins of the Vikings, have declined to get vaccinated.“We’re certainly at more risk this year than we put ourselves in last year,” Brady told reporters this week. “I mean, just look at all the things that we’re doing differently from last year at this time. So I would definitely say the risk is up for everybody.”The 65,000 fans sitting cheek-to-jowl at the game were happy to be back. They posed for photos near a Super Bowl LV metal sculpture in front of the stadium and downed beers by the replica pirate ship near the north end zone. But some said the pandemic still loomed large.“It feels good to be vaccinated” and to be able to move more freely, said Winford Artis, a Buccaneers season-ticket holder who went to just two games last year. “But in the back of your head, you think of things because this is the new normal. But it feels better.”Brady and Prescott looked strong in their return from injuries. Brady, who repaired an injured knee in the off-season, looked comfortable in the pocket. He completed 32 of 50 passes for 379 yards and four scores.Two of those touchdown passes were thrown to tight end Rob Gronkowski, Brady’s teammate for nine seasons in New England before the pair moved to Florida in 2020. They became only the second quarterback-receiver pair in league history to combine for 100 touchdowns, and their familiarity with each other was on display all evening.Midway through the third quarter, the Buccaneers took over the ball at the Dallas 35-yard line after cornerback Carlton Davis intercepted Prescott. Brady found Gronkowski with a 20-yard strike on first down. Three plays later, Brady seemed to anticipate a Cowboys blitz, dropping back several steps to buy time, as Gronkowski bounced off Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and slipped untouched into the middle of the field. As if running a pick-and-roll play in basketball, Brady got the ball to Gronkowski on the fly and, a few strides later, the tight end was in the end zone.“It’s unbelievable, the chemistry they’ve had for a long time,” Arians said.Prescott, who missed most of last season with a significant leg injury, completed 42 of 58 passes for 403 yards and three touchdowns and one interception. Under pressure often, Prescott also ran four times but took only one sack from the vaunted Tampa Bay pass rush. Dallas largely abandoned the run, rushing for 60 total yards, 13 of which came from Prescott.But Prescott and the Cowboys were unable to do much after recovering two turnovers deep in the Buccaneers’ half of the field. And Brady, who was recovering from a knee injury he played through last season, made the Cowboys pay for their mistakes, which included a pair of missed field goals from kicker Greg Zuerlein, who is recovering from an off-season back surgery.It was another fitting highlight for a league built on heaps of hyperbole.That hyperbole has made the N.F.L.’s team owners loads of money. After losing $4 billion last year because of attendance restrictions, the league in May signed a 10-year deal with its biggest media partners worth more than $100 billion. It also added a 17th regular-season game, which will generate yet more revenue.The N.F.L. will no doubt face hurdles as it navigates its expanded season through the persistent pandemic. But for one night, anyway, the N.F.L. felt normal again. More