Mayfield changes mind, will stand during anthem
Browns QB Baker Mayfield has changed plans and will stand for the national anthem.
Mayfield had said during the offseason he intended to kneel in protest of racial injustice, but Saturday announced on Twitter that he intends to stand for both the “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which will be played before every NFL game this season.
The Browns open the season Sunday against the Ravens in Baltimore.
“After watching Thursday’s game and also watching the Dolphins player’s video, it shows that it is not about who is standing or who is kneeling for the anthem,” Mayfield wrote. “But instead, coming together and taking action to create real change. Also after reading many letters and messages over the past few weeks. ... I have been showed that a gesture such as kneeling will only create more division or discussion about the gesture, rather than be a solution towards our country’s problems at hand.
“With that being said, I am choosing to stand for both anthems to show respect, love, and unity to everybody involved.”
Mayfield, who’s a member of the Browns’ 11-player social justice committee, said he’ll respect whatever decisions his teammates make as far as protesting during the anthems.
The Vikings signed Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook, 25, to a five-year contract extension worth $63 million with $28.2 million guaranteed, ESPN reported. ... RB Miles Sanders will miss the Eagles’ season opener against host Washington due to a hamstring injury, according to reports. Sanders, 23, who set team records for scrimmage yards (1,327) and rushing yards (818) by a rookie while finishing eighth in the NFL in all-purpose yards (1,641) last season, has been listed as week to week since August. ... The Bills placed former All-Pro CB Josh Norman on IR because of a hamstring injury. Norman, 32, will miss at least three games. ... The 49ers placed WR Deebo Samuel on IR because of a Jones fracture in his left foot. Samuel, 24, will miss at least three games. ... Titans rookie OL Isaiah Wilson was arrested and charged with drunken driving after he was spotted Friday night doing “donuts” in an intersection before crashing into a concrete wall. The 29th overall pick in the draft out of Georgia is on the reserveCOVID list for the second time.
Auto racing: Will Power scored his first win of the season in a 1-2 finish for Team Penskein the first race of a weekend doubleheader at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Power beat teammate Josef Newgarden, the reigning IndyCar champ, by more than 7 seconds in winning from the pole. Power earned his 60th career pole earlier in the day and trails only Mario Andretti (67) for the series record.
Cycling: Soren Kragh Andersen of Denmark broke clear in a fast-changing finish on the roads of Lyon to win Stage 14 of the Tour de France. Primoz Roglic kept the yellow jersey and remained 44 seconds ahead of his fellow Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, and 59 seconds clear of Colombia’s Egan
Bernal, the defending champ.
Golf: Brooke Henderson tied a Mission Hills Country Club course record with a 30 on the front nine and did just enough the rest of her third round to shoot a 7-under 65 and a share of the lead with Nelly Korda (71) at the ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Henderson and Korda reached 12under 204 at the LPGA major, two strokes ahead of Lexi Thompson (69), Mirim Lee (71) and Katherine Kirk (67). ... Brian Stuard closed with a scrambling birdie for a 6-under 66 share to share a one-stroke lead with James Hahn (67) and Cameron Percy (68) at the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif. The trio reached 16-under 200 at the PGA Tour event.
NHL: The Hurricanes parted ways with D Joel Edmundson after one season, trading his free-agent rights to the Canadiens for a fifth-round pick. Edmundson, acquired after he won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in the 2019, will become a free agent in October unless the Canadiens sign him before then. The 27-year-old had seven goals and 13 assists in 68 games last season.
Soccer: Lionel Messi played 45 minutes as Barcelona beat seconddivision Gimnastic de Tarragona 3-1 in a La Liga preseason friendly. It was Messi’s first match since he opted to abandon his plans to leave the club. Luis Suarez and Arturo Vidal were left out of the squad as Barca still is trying to offload both players.