Sports
Surprising Saints hunting 3-0 start vs. Eagles
Sep 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Arguably no team has been a bigger surprise during the first two weeks of the NFL season than the New Orleans Saints.
The Saints (2-0) are one of nine undefeated teams as they prepare to host the Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) on Sunday afternoon.
Expectations for New Orleans (9-8 last season), which has missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons, were average at best before the current campaign started.
The Saints have defied the doubters so far with a 47-10 home win over the Carolina Panthers and a 44-19 road rout of the Dallas Cowboys.
“I think everybody took offense to how we were viewed, on the outside and in our own city,” New Orleans third-year head coach Dennis Allen said. “And rightfully so. We haven’t performed the way that I think we’re capable of and so it was really incumbent on us to make some changes and play better and that’s what we’re in the process of doing.”
Saints quarterback Derek Carr and the offense have thrived under first-year coordinator Klint Kubiak. New Orleans leads the NFL in scoring with 91 points, 22 more than the next closest team, the Arizona Cardinals.
Carr paces the league in passer rating (142.4) and running back Alvin Kamara is tops in scoring (five touchdowns) and yards from scrimmage (290).
The Saints’ defense has more than held its own, ranking fourth in scoring (14.5 points allowed per game), tied for fourth in yards allowed per play (4.5) and seventh in total yards allowed (273 per game).
“The focus for us is let’s not start patting ourselves on the back,” Allen said. “The focus for us is how are we going to improve because this is a long season and we’re only two games into it.”
While Allen is trying to prevent his players from feeling overconfident after just two games, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is trying to keep his team from dwelling on a lost opportunity in its last contest against the visiting Atlanta Falcons.
Philadelphia had a chance to take a two-score lead with less than two minutes remaining, but running back Saquon Barkley dropped a third-down pass. The Eagles settled for a field goal and a six-point lead, and Atlanta needed just 65 seconds to score the winning touchdown in a 22-21 victory.
“My whole thing is, OK, we’ve got some adversity right now, but let’s have the right mindset and work hard and prepare the right way,” Sirianni said. “Have a positive mindset and know you’re going to get better from the things that you went through.
“What is in the past is in the past, and we can’t change that, but you can control your daily habits and the way you approach your process and put yourself in position to win the next game.”
The dropped pass marred what has otherwise been a strong start to Barkley’s first season in Philadelphia. The former New York Giant is seventh in yards from scrimmage (248) and has scored three touchdowns.
This will be the Eagles’ first Sunday game of the young season. They held off the Green Bay Packers, 34-29, on Sept. 6 in San Paolo, Brazil, then played their home opener on Monday night.
Philadelphia wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring), who did not play against the Falcons, didn’t participate in the team’s walk-through Wednesday and he has said he expects to miss multiple games.
New Orleans tight end Taysom Hill (chest) missed practice Wednesday and cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) was limited.
–Field Level Media
Sports
LIV's Thomas Pieters: Rather retire than return to PGA Tour
Apr 4, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Thomas Pieters plays his shot from the 18th tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Miami golf tournament at Trump National Doral. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Belgium’s Thomas Pieters said he won’t return to the PGA Tour if the financially challenged LIV Golf League shutters its doors.
“I’m definitely never going back to the PGA Tour,” he recently told host Dan Rapaport of the “Dan on Golf” YouTube channel. “I’ve never liked that life. And that’s not me having a go at the PGA Tour, it’s not for me. I tried it and I just wasn’t happy there. If (LIV) goes away, I’ll probably try and play some on the European Tour or I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
Pieters, 34, joined the PGA Tour in 2017 and made 53 starts, with his best finish a runner-up effort at the Genesis Open in 2017. He has six wins on Europe’s DP World Tour.
He signed with LIV Golf in 2023 and currently plays for captain Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC. He finished T4 at the 2026 season opener at Riyadh in February and third at LIV Golf Hong Kong in March.
Pieters said he was “ready to retire” if LIV Golf had decided to “pull the plug” after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced plans to cut off funding.
“The atmosphere was really grim. I had enough of it after 3-4 hours, everybody talking about it,” he said. “I’m not fussed about it at this point because I feel like I still have a duty to focus on these next six, seven tournaments on LIV and then we’ll see. They’re obviously trying to get it together next year. We’ll see.”
Pieters, a member of the 2016 European Ryder Cup team, said he will make a decision about his future after he has more information from LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil.
“We are just guessing right now,” Pieters said. “But if we’re playing for $5 million next year or I could play on the DP World Tour for $3 million but be close to home that’s something I’d have to look at it when it comes. Possibly there’s guys going. But I think that’s up to Scott and his team to get this thing together and we’ll just have to find out.
“… Scott is telling us that he’s going to a broader market and trying to fund this for next year. I guess it’s a massive challenge. But we just have to wait and see.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lightning D Victor Hedman stepped away for mental health reasons
Mar 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) warms up before playing the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman announced Tuesday that his extended absence was a result of a need to address his mental health.
The 35-year-old defenseman missed the Lightning’s final 15 games of the regular season and all seven contests in a first-round playoff loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
“Over the past couple of months, I made the decision to step away and focus on my mental health,” Hedman said in a statement released by the Lightning. “It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one.
“I’ve always believed that being a leader means doing what’s best for the team. In this case, it also meant doing what was necessary to take care of myself, so I can be the best player, teammate, husband and father I expect to be.”
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) May 5, 2026
Hedman hasn’t played since exiting in the first period of Tampa Bay’s 6-2 road win versus the Vancouver Canucks on March 19 due to illness. Six days later, the Lightning announced he was taking a leave of absence for personal reasons.
“Obviously, after that first period in Vancouver, that was the final straw,” he told reporters Tuesday. “So, it’s something that’s been going on for a long time. I went through ways to get around it, but I wasn’t able to do that. So that’s where the decision came that I needed to take some time.”
Hedman also addressed his message to people dealing with mental health issues.
“Just don’t stick with your thoughts,” he said. “There are a lot of people out there that can help you and that’s what I found out. And like I said, it’s never too late, either.”
Hedman, 35, recorded 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) in 33 games this season. He endured extended absences due to an undisclosed injury in November and elbow surgery in December.
Hedman is a 2017-18 Norris Trophy winner as the best defenseman in the league, a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2020, 2021) and the 2020 Conn Smythe Trophy recipient as the playoff MVP.
The Sweden native has totaled 811 career points (172 goals, 639 assists), a plus-192 rating and 782 penalty minutes in 1,164 games since being selected by the Lightning with the second overall pick of the 2009 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Hall of Fame LB Lawrence Taylor discharged from hospital
St. Louis Rams vs New York Giants — The 1986 Giants were honored for their Super Bowl at halftime. Here is Lawrence Taylor at the conclusion of the ceremony, September 19, 2011. Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor has been discharged from a New Jersey hospital after more than a week’s stay.
Taylor, 67, was hospitalized with pancreatitis, TMZ Sports reported. He was released late last week from Morristown Medical Center, where initial reports said he was admitted on April 20 for a “stomach-related issue.”
“He is deeply grateful to the entire medical staff for their exceptional care and unwavering support,” attorney Mark Eiglarsh said in a statement Tuesday to The Athletic. “Also, he is grateful to now be on the road to recovery and hopes to be back on the golf course soon. He is returning home to Florida today.
“Mr. Taylor would also like to sincerely thank everyone for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers. Knowing that so many people were thinking of him and praying for his recovery gave him strength and helped carry him through a very challenging time.”
Considered one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, Taylor was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, eight-time All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowl selection during his 13-year career with the New York Giants.
In 1986, Taylor recorded 20.5 sacks en route to being named the NFL MVP.
Taylor, a key part of two Super Bowl championship runs for New York, was selected by the Giants with the second overall pick of the 1981 NFL Draft out of North Carolina.
After leaving the NFL, Taylor publicly battled substance abuse issues.
–Field Level Media
LIV's Thomas Pieters: Rather retire than return to PGA Tour
Lightning D Victor Hedman stepped away for mental health reasons
