Breaking down NFL roster cuts and Jonathan Taylor’s powerful state of affairs. Plus, U.S. Ryder Cup staff is right here

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🏌 Good morning to everybody however particularly …

JUSTIN THOMAS AND THE U.S. RYDER CUP TEAM

On a day when NFL groups needed to slender down their roster, golf reminded us its staff choices will be dramatic, heartbreaking and controversial, too. U.S. captain Zach Johnson made his six captain’s picks to spherical out the roster he’ll deliver to Italy in lower than a month:

• Brooks Koepka 
• Jordan Spieth 
• Collin Morikawa 
• Rickie Fowler 
• Sam Burns 
• Justin Thomas

They be part of computerized qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark and Max Homa because the U.S. seems to be to win in Europe for the primary time since 1993.

The primary 5 captain’s picks have been fairly simple. The sixth was something however. Thomas, frankly, has performed poorly this season. He missed the lower in three of the 4 majors, did not even make the FedEx Cup playoffs and did not win a single occasion for the primary time since 2014-15. Evaluate that to …

• Keegan Bradley, who received twice this yr and doubled Thomas’ high 10s (6-3), or …
• Lucas Glover, additionally a two-time winner this yr, or …
• Cameron Younger, who had two top-10s at majors and 5 total …

… and the Thomas choice is a big threat.

However Thomas can be 6-2-1 in his Ryder Cup profession and, greater than that, “has been, with out query, the center and soul of Crew USA at Ryder Cups” in accordance with Johnson. The U.S. captain additionally mentioned Thomas was “born for this” and added, “You simply do not depart J.T. at residence.”

As Kyle Porter opines, Thomas fills an important position the staff wants to finish its shedding streak.

• Porter: “Go up and down the roster. Who’s rallying the troops on Saturday evening when the U.S. trails by three and Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm are working downhill searching for the dagger? There’s not a participant who can fill that position. Loads of golfers on this staff have expertise. A lot of them are main champions. However there isn’t any lightning rod — somebody who needs to be seemed to when it turns bleak late. … All that issues is whether or not you need to be within the enviornment. They usually picked one of many few guys who actually does.”

👍 Honorable mentions

😐 Not such an excellent morning for …

JONATHAN TAYLOR

There was loads of curiosity in Jonathan Taylor — simply not sufficient within the Colts‘ thoughts to warrant a commerce. Now, not solely is Taylor caught in Indianapolis in the intervening time, however he will not even be capable of show his price for some time.

After Taylor was not traded earlier than the team-instituted 4 p.m. ET deadline Tuesday (identical because the 53-man roster deadline), the Colts saved their star working again on the bodily unable to carry out listing, which means he’s out till not less than Week 5.

Cody Benjamin has extra on what this implies for the Colts and for Taylor shifting ahead.

👎 Not-so-honorable mentions

🏈 NFL lower day: Most shocking cuts and most closely fits

NFL roster lower day is arguably the worst day on the sports activities calendar. For the entire preseason standouts who overcame odds to make squads, there are various who are actually searching for a brand new job on a observe squad, elsewhere within the NFL, in one other league or not within the sport in any respect. With roughly 1,000 cuts coming in, it was a tricky — and in some circumstances, shocking — day.

Some names and strikes have been extra notable than others. For instance, after waiving Bailey Zappe, Hint McSorley and Malik Cunningham, the Patriots have only one quarterback on the roster: Mac Jones. Tyler Sullivan has the greatest names searching for new properties … and the place these new properties may be, together with Jones’ potential new backup.

• Sullivan: “Whether or not it is bringing again one (or extra) of these gamers through the observe squad or not, New England will, after all, add a quarterback to the roster. If the Patriots go exterior of the group, Colt McCoy could be a stable veteran to pair with Jones in Invoice O’Brien‘s offense.”

This makes a ton of sense to me. McCoy would assistance on the sector and off it, too. It seems like Jones might actually profit from the presence of a veteran within the quarterbacks room, particularly after his disastrous second season.

We additionally obtained a ton of trades, together with…

• The Dolphins and Cowboys swapped cornerbacks.
• The Panthers added Chiefs preseason Ihmir Smith-Marsette.
• The Giants acquired Boogie Basham from the Payments.
• The Broncos have been ready to waive Albert Okwuegbunam earlier than the Eagles swooped in and traded for him.
• Kickers rely, too: The Saints despatched Wil Lutz to the Broncos (reuniting him with Sean Payton) and the Titans acquired Nick Folks from the Patriots.

Cody has 20 massive takeaways from a busy day.

⚾ Angels lower a half-dozen gamers in wage cap dump

Tuesday was clearly a giant day for groups to eliminate gamers. And for the Angels, whose season has gone utterly (and sadly) off the rails, that meant six gamers heading to the waivers.

• SP Lucas Giolito
• RP Matt Moore
• RP Dominic Leone
• RP Reynaldo López
• OF Hunter Renfroe
• OF Randal Grichuk

Now, when you’re pondering, “Wait a minute, did not a few of these guys simply get there?” you are proper. Giolito, Leone, López and Grichuk have been all trade-deadline acquisitions anticipated to assist the Halos make a playoff push. Then the losses piled up, Shohei Ohtani‘s season as a pitcher ended forward of his free company, and Mike Trout‘s return lasted all of 1 recreation.

So, principally, throughout the span of a month, the Angels tried to grow to be a contender, failed miserably, noticed their two greatest stars get injured after which determined to blow it up utterly. Oh yeah, and their doubtless MVP is leaving for nearly nothing in just a few months. Sorry, Angels followers.

However why would they eliminate these guys, too? R.J. Anderson explains:

• “To economize. Supplied different groups declare these gamers, the Angels will basically trim their big-league payroll in addition to their luxurious tax quantity. That second half is probably going essential to proprietor Arte Moreno, since going over the tax line implies that the staff in query has to pay an overage payment. (Groups who pay the luxurious tax are additionally penalized in terms of compensatory draft picks, an vital level if the Angels lose Shohei Ohtani in free company.)”

R.J has potential touchdown spots as effectively.

These six weren’t the one notable names to hit waivers, per reviews. Amongst these becoming a member of them:

• Harrison Bader, CF, Yankees
• Carlos Carrasco, RHP, Mets
• Mike Clevinger, RHP, White Sox
• José Cisnero, RHP, Tigers

🏈 What number of groups can really make the Faculty Soccer Playoff?

For the final time earlier than increasing to 12 groups, the Faculty Soccer Playoff has simply 4 open slots. And whereas 133 FBS groups are technically within the working, we all know nearly all of them will not be competing for a type of 4.

So, who really has an opportunity? Barrett Sallee has 14 groups with a practical shot on the CFP, and all offseason he is been excessive on …

• “Florida State: The Seminoles are again — not less than as a CFP contender. They’ve an exceptional offense led by quarterback Jordan Travis, working again Trey Benson and a proficient — and intensely tall — extensive receiving corps. What’s extra, the highest recruiting job of the offseason was when Seminoles coach Mike Norvell satisfied defensive lineman Jared Verse to come back again to highschool. They’ve a large Week 1 recreation vs. No. 5 LSU in Orlando in addition to the journey to play Clemson on Sept. 23.”

Talking of contenders with proficient extensive receivers, I liked Dennis Dodd’s function on Ohio State offensive coordinator (and extensive receivers coach) Brian Hartline, who’s among the many nation’s highest-paid assistants and high recruiters. Hartline is in control of a WR room led by Marvin Harrison Jr., who may win the Heisman Trophy in 2023.