The ESPN Daily: The disappearance of fighting in hockey, the legend of Ed Reed, and Zion’s got a cannon

4:03 am | July 31, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:

7:29 PM ET

The ESPN Daily Staff

THINGS TO CARE ABOUT

The legend of Ed Reed … The Ravens’ draft board was wiped clean when general manager Ozzie Newsome matter-of-factly said, “Ed Reed. Let’s take him.” What followed was one of the most productive careers in NFL history, in which Reed became the one man you never wanted to have anywhere near a pass. With his Hall of Fame induction coming up onSaturday, we talked to some of his teammates and coaches about how Reed outsmarted opposing offenses over and over again. Read More

JuJu’s best life … Antonio Brown’s departure has elevated JuJu Smith-Schuster into leading-man status with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he’s embracing that role both on and off the field. Here’s how Smith-Schuster is keeping his playful demeanor intact for everything from gender roles to scoring in touchdown drills. Read More

Bold training camp predictions … Training camp is when teams figure out what works for them — from blocking schemes to quarterback battles. It’s also time for a little experimentation. Maybe that guy you drafted as a cornerback can catch a few passes. Maybe you just need one more trade for things to really come together. We had our experts make predictions for the most surprising thing to happen in each NFL training camp. Read More

WHERE THE BRAWLERS AT?

A historic low for NHL fighting … Unlike most every other team sport in the world, hockey has ritualized the idea of two opponents squaring off for a fistfight. It seems to be an indelible part of hockey … and yet, if you look at the data, fights have plummeted in frequency over the past decade. We talked to some of hockey’s most notable enforcers for their take on the cause of this decline — and whether fighting might disappear from the NHL someday. Read More

THINGS TO WATCH

The Reds’ Amir Garrett charges the Pirates’ dugout to start a huge brawl that includes Yasiel Puig, who was traded midgame to the Indians.

Zion Williamson aims for a basketball hoop while throwing a football, but he overthrows his target.

OVERHEARD

“You don’t have to have a rushing champion to win a Super Bowl.”

— — Jerry Jones, on Ezekiel Elliott’s absence, via CBS 11. Read more

REMEMBER WHEN?

On this date last year, the Mets set the wrong kind of record in a 25-4 loss to the Nationals, the worst defeat in franchise history. Perhaps not coincidentally, it was also a record for runs scored for Washington.

WHAT’S ON TONIGHT?

Tottenham vs. Bayern Munich (2:25 p.m. ET, ESPN+): The two-day Audi Cup concludes with host team Bayern Munich taking on Tottenham Hotspur. In the first round, Harry Kane’s goal was the deciding factor in Tottenham’s win over Real Madrid, while Bayern Munich pulled out all the stops in a rout over Fenerbahce.

Cubs at Cardinals (8 p.m. ET, ESPN): One of the game’s greatest rivalries continues tonight, with the Cubs and Cardinals battling it out in their latest contest for the NL Central crown. Kyle Hendricks has pitched well for Chicago this season but has a losing record. A win here could get him back to .500.