The Final Cuts

September 1, 2021

By: Carlos Alvarez

Good Morning,

It’s the mid-week recap, but it’s also the final Sportsletter of the week (see below). The holiday weekend brings college football back to the spotlight. Let’s have some fun.

Letter Rip!

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The Sportsletter team is taking a break for the next five days before the beginning of football season. The newsletter will not be published Thursday (Sept. 2) — Labor Day, Monday (Sept. 6). We’ll return to your inbox on Tuesday (Sept. 7) to jumpstart five months of football. Plus, we’re unveiling exciting new changes and additions to enhance your reading experience.PROGRAMMING

 

You can catch an extended Labor Day Weekend Must-Watch List at the bottom of today’s edition. Stay tuned and enjoy the opening slate of college football!

 

The Sportsletter Team

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NFL

The Final Cuts 

Photo: Boston Herald / Getty Images

QB Cam Newton Headlines NFL’s Most Notable Roster Cuts in Final Reduction to 53-Man Squads

 

Tuesday was a good and bad day for players on the cut line across the NFL when the league required teams to submit their final 53-man roster for the 2021 season. And final cuts mean surprising names on the waiver wire, including former MVP QB Cam Newton (Patriots). Rookie QB Mac Jones officially won the starting job in Foxborough, but Cam’s departure is just one of many surprising releases across the league. Here are the most notable players who are now free agents.

 

NFL’s Biggest Roster Cuts

QB Cam Newton (Patriots)

DL Ifeadi Odenigbo (Giants)

WR Travis Fulgham (Eagles)

LB Bernardrick McKinney (Dolphins)

WR Keke Coutee (Texans)

WR Dez Fitzpatrick (Titans)

WR John Brown (Raiders)

CB Desmond Trufant (Bears)

DE Everson Griffen (Vikings)

RB Devonta Freeman (Saints)

WR KeeSean Johnson (Cardinals)

S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (49ers)

DL Robert Nkemdiche (Seahawks)

 

Additional Storylines

B/R: Best Potential Landing Spots for Cam Newton After Patriots Release

SI: Cam Newton on Patriots Release: ‘Don’t Feel Sorry for Me’

ESPN: NFL Roster Cuts Tracker: Every Cut Player for All 32 Teams

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TENNIS

Djokovic Begins Calendar Slam Quest

Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images

1-Seeds Novak Djokovic & Ashleigh Barty Victorious in Beginning of U.S. Open Pursuit

 

Day 2 of the U.S. Open brought the opening-round matches for each of the No. 1 seeds, but a pair of early tests didn’t stop Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty from cruising. Djokovic dropped his second set before smashing his opponent in sets three and four, and he’s well on his way to a fourth slam title in 2021. Barty went to a tiebreaker in her second, but it was still a straight-set victory in Round 1. You can see all of Tuesday’s U.S. Open highlights below.

 

Men’s Singles Highlights

(1) N. Djokovic def. H. Rune (6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-1)

(4) A. Zverev def. S. Querrey (6-4, 7-5, 6-2)

(6) M. Berrettini def. J. Chardy (7-6, 7-6, 6-3)

(7) D. Shapovalov def. F. Delbonis (6-2, 6-2, 6-3)

M. Cressy def. (9) P. Carreno (5-7, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6)

(10) H. Hurkacz def. E. Gerasimov (6-3, 6-4, 6-3)

 

Women’s Singles Highlights

(1) A. Barty def. V. Zvonareva (6-1, 7-6)

(4) K. Pliskova def. C. McNally (6-3, 6-4)

(6) B. Andreescu def. V. Golubic (7-5, 4-6, 7-5)

(7) I. Swiatek def. J. Loeb (6-3, 6-4)

(10) P. Kvitova def. P. Hercog (6-1, 6-2)

(11) B. Bencic def. A. Rus (6-4, 6-4)

 

Wednesday’s schedule features Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff and Sloane Stephens. You can see the full schedule of today’s matches here.

 

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Despite Struggle, Novak Djokovic Keeps Cool Under Pressure in Round 1

USOpen: Bianca Andreescu Remains Undefeated at New York City in Her Career

Yahoo! Sports: American Qualifier Maxime Cressy Upsets Pablo Carreno Busta in 5-Set Thriller

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MLB

Snell-Shocked

Photo: Mark Brown / Getty Images

Padres Manager Jayce Tingler Pulls P Blake Snell After 7 No-Hit Innings

 

Blake Snell did his job for the Padres on Tuesday night, but a focus on the bigger picture may have robbed him of a historic night. The lefty pitched a no-hitter through seven innings against the Diamondbacks while striking out ten batters. Snell’s gem came to an end in the seventh-inning stretch after he threw 107 pitches, but he tossed a career-high 122 in his previous start. Two batters after Snell’s exit, Pierce Johnson gave up the first hit, and the no-hitter was no more. The Padres got the win over the D-backs (3-0), and they’re now tied with the Reds for the second wild card spot in the NL. But the record-setting ninth no-hitter of the MLB season will have to wait.

 

Watch: Blake Snell Ks 10 in 7 No-Hit Innings

 

MLB Quick-Hitters

 

Wandering Into History: Rays rookie Wander Franco extened his on-base streak to 31 games, passing Mel Ott. Mickey Mantle (36 games) is the only AL player with a longer streak before the age of 21. The Rays beat the Red Sox on Tuesday, 8-5.

 

Toro Takes Astros Hearts: The Mariners and Astros were deadlocked in a 0-0 game before Abraham Toro crushed an 8th-inning grand slam. Mariners won, 4-0.

 

Vlad Cracks No. 39: One night after a 2-HR performance, Vlad Guerrero Jr. smacked his 39th homer of the year to take solo second behind Shohei Ohtani (42) in the home run race. The Blue Jays lost to the Orioles, 4-2.

 

BONUS: Shohei Ohtani Steals Home on Angels’ Successful Double Steal

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🗓️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The Labor Day Weekend Must-Watch List

Reminder: The Sportsletter will not be published Thursday (Sept. 2) — Labor Day, Monday (Sept. 6). Below you’ll find all the exciting must-see events over the next five days. We’ll return to your inbox on Tuesday (Sept. 7). Enjoy the holiday weekend!

 

U.S. Open

Full Schedule & Bracket

 

PGA Tour (FedEx Cup Playoffs)

Tour Championship (Thursday — Sunday)

 

College Football (Week 1)

#4 Ohio State at Minnesota (Thurs. 8:00 pm)

#10 N. Carolina at Virginia Tech (Fri. 6:00 pm)

#2 Oklahoma at Tulane (Sat. Noon)

#19 Penn State at #12 Wisconsin (Sat. Noon)

#1 Alabama at #14 Miami (Sat. 3:30 pm)

Miami (OH) at #8 Cincinnati (Sat. 3:30 pm)

#17 Indiana at #18 Iowa (Sat. 3:30 pm)

Northern Iowa at #7 Iowa State (Sat. 4:30 pm)

#23 Louisiana at #21 Texas (Sat. 4:30 pm)

#3 Clemson vs. #5 Georgia (Sat. 7:30 pm)

Kent State at #6 Texas A&M (Sat. 8:00 pm)

#16 LSU at UCLA (Sat. 8:30 pm)

#9 Notre Dame at Florida State (Sun. 7:30 pm)

Full College Football Week 1 Schedule

 

MLB (Regular Season)

Mets—Nationals Series

Dodgers—Giants Series

Astros—Padres Series

Cardinals—Brewers Series

Athletics—Blue Jays Series

Full Upcoming MLB Schedule

 

Soccer (FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)

USMNT vs. El Salvador (Thurs. 10:00 pm)

 

NASCAR Playoffs (Race 1)

Darlington Raceway (Sun. 6:00 pm)

 

*All Times Eastern

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