Brady awkward in broadcast debut

Fox Sports is spending $375 million to put Tom Brady in the broadcast booth, and the network wants to make sure everyone knows he’s there. The seven-time Super Bowl champion made his debut as an NFL analyst during the Fox broadcast of the regular-season opener between the Cowboys and the Browns on Sunday. Brady’s commentary was knowledgeable, as expected, but also lacking in personality — no Tony Romo anticipating the next play, no John Madden with his “Boom!” and turducken, not even the quarter-zip sweaters that make Peyton Manning stand out from the dozens or hundreds of other ex-jocks who joined the media when their playing careers were over. There were awkward laughs, a cringey fist bump with rules analyst Mike Pereira and a lot of calling players by their first names (along with an unnecessarily deferential reference to “Coach McCarthy”). Brady made excuses for the Browns while trying to find positives in a dreadful performance. As one X user posted, “Tom Brady is to broadcasting as Michael Jordan is to baseball.”

Morgan plays in final match of career

Fighting tears, Alex Morgan waved to the crowd and walked off the field for the last time on Sunday as she capped an impactful 15-year career. Despite the nearly 100-degree heat, a crowd of 26,516 filled San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium for Morgan’s farewell match. The 35-year-old two-time Women’s World Cup winner announced on Thursday that she was pregnant with her second child and retiring from the game. She started and wore the captain’s armband for the San Diego Wave in her final match, playing for the first 13 minutes against the North Carolina Courage before subbing out of the game to an ovation. “I did everything I ever wanted to do and more. With this decision, I feel so at peace because I am ready to start my family and I am ready ... to allow the next generation to flourish and just relish in the spotlight,” she said afterward. “It’s a good feeling.” Morgan’s U.S. national team career was full of accomplishments, including World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, and an Olympic gold medal in 2012 in London. She was named the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year in 2012 and 2018.

Buffs safety Sanders has arm surgery

Colorado safety Shilo Sanders had surgery after sustaining an arm injury in the team’s loss to Nebraska, his father and coach, Deion Sanders, said Monday in a social media post. Deion Sanders posted pictures of his son, including one with Shilo Sanders in a wheelchair and another with his arm in a cast as he recovered in a hospital bed. Deion Sanders wrote: “God is Good! Can’t wait to see u back ready to go. Love ya son!” There’s no timetable for a return. The school doesn’t typically announce injuries. Deion Sanders said in his NBC halftime interview Saturday he thought his son broke his forearm. He had no update, though, after the game. The loss of Shilo Sanders, above, would be a big blow for a defense that’s trying to get in sync under new defensive coordinator Robert Livingston. Sanders has 11 tackles this season. Last season, he was an all-Pac-12 honorable mention selection after finishing with 69 tackles and an interception. QB Shedeur Sanders, Shilo’s younger brother, was banged up in the Nebraska game, too, after being sacked five times behind a shaky offensive line. —Associated Press