NFL opinions shift on Rodgers and Purdy, plus watch this MLB hat catch

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Good morning! Personally, I would put Alex Rodriguez in Monument Park.

Things, Ranked: Let’s yell about some QBs

Every year, The Athletic’s Mike Sando produces one of the most interesting data files in the NFL: his QB tiers, which are sourced by votes from 50 league coaches and executives on where to slot today’s NFL QBs, from Tier 1 to Tier 5. The results are always instructive and tend to produce a lot of arguing.

It’s our sweet spot, right?

I want to play Name That QB with my three favorite quotes. Answers listed below:

1. “Is there a zero category (above Tier 1)?”
   
2. “I wonder if he loves it enough. He should be way better than this.”
   
3. “You go back and watch those first four plays before he got hurt, he did not look good … He looks old.”

OK, to our answers:

1. Patrick Mahomes. Duh. He has received 249 of 250 possible Tier 1 votes over the last five years.
2. Deshaun Watson. The Browns have arguably the NFL’s best defense, but the team’s success largely hinges on the league’s all-time most expensive QB, one who has largely looked lost since arriving in Cleveland.
3. Aaron Rodgers. Oh baby. The haters are out for Rodgers, who missed Tier 1 for the first time in Tiers history. He even got two Tier 4 votes. Clearly, NFL brains are skeptical of his post-injury effectiveness at 40.

Oh, and two statistical notes:

• Brock Purdy and Jordan Love are new favorites among NFL power brokers. Both jumped 13 spots in the overall rankings and ascended from Tier 4 to Tier 2. Both received Tier 1 votes as well.
• Only three QBs made Tier 1, the fewest since 2016. Lamar Jackson — the reigning MVP, mind you — missed Tier 1 by three votes. An honorable-mention best quote: “Putting an MVP of this league in Tier 2 is being on some quarterback high horse.”

Make sure to read the full Tiers list here, which also features a shocking rise for C.J. Stroud. It’s worth your time.

News to Know

Aaron Judge cannot stop homering

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit his 50th and 51st home runs of the season yesterday, continuing another otherworldly year at the plate. He became the fifth player to ever hit 50 or more home runs in three separate seasons, which floored me. The other four: Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Alex Rodriguez. Barry Bonds did it just once (a record 73 homers in 2001), and Ken Griffey Jr. did it twice, with three 45-plus homer seasons in there for good measure. Judge is now on pace for 63 home runs this season, which would top his AL single-season home run mark of 62 from two years ago.

Another big Yankees-related number from yesterday: That controversial Babe Ruth “called shot” jersey sold for $24 million at auction.

Fanatics adds Marvin Harrison Sr. to suit
In an amended legal complaint, sports memorabilia giant Fanatics accused both Cardinals rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. and his Hall of Fame dad of engaging in “a corporate shell game” to breach terms of a contract with Fanatics. The company originally sued the younger Harrison in May. See the full report here.

More news

• Ja’Marr Chase’s contract situation appears pacified for the moment, as the star Bengals wideout returned to practice as a full participant yesterday.
  
• Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris died yesterday at age 70, the team announced.
  
• Michigan formally received an NCAA notice of allegations yesterday for its sign-stealing scandal. Attorneys for controversial former assistant Connor Stalions blasted the NCAA.
  
• Lydia Ko, already author of a Hall of Fame career, won the Women’s Open at St. Andrews yesterday. On the men’s side, Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley won the BMW Championship by a single shot.