When Aaron Rodgers was injured four snaps into his tenure as the new quarterback of the Jets, he not only missed, virtually, the entire 2023 season, but cost the team up to $22 million dollars in lost production. A fate the Jets could have mitigated by taking out an insurance policy on Rodgers.Rodgers' situation is one that stands out amid a trend of teams buying insurance policies on star players around the NFL. The practice — which is becoming more popular as the sums of guaranteed money in players’ contracts increases — can soothe the bite of losing a player to injury, while also creating cap space for strategic front offices.Today, Senior ESPN reporter Kayln Kahler breaks down how these policies actually work, and explains why some teams have bought into the trend, while others opt out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Spirit In Motion” is the current motto of the International Paralympic Committee. It represents the inspiring essence of what these athletes are all about.But what happens when someone decides to defile this spirit of competition with a scheme so shameful that you wouldn’t believe it if it wasn’t true? And just who would be behind such a morally bankrupt plot in a pursuit of false glory?Today, Suemay Oram, the director of the 30 for 30 Film, “Stolen Gold” answers these questions and tells us the story of the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney and how one team from Spain made their mark for all the wrong reasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The loss of three professional sports teams in five years has thrust Oakland into the media spotlight, with coverage focusing on every twist, turn, stadium proposal, and relocation rumor. But amid all that noise, a central experience has been overshadowed: the story of the fans.In part three of our series, Death of a Sports Town, we turn our attention to the diehard Oakland sports fans who refuse to let their city’s reputation define them. We explore the thriving, tight-knit community that grew within the walls of the Coliseum and how, even as the teams leave, those bonds strive to endure in the face of an uncertain future.Our five-part series ‘Death of a Sports Town’ publishes every Tuesday in the ESPN Daily show feed.Death of a Sports Town Episodes:Apple Podcasts: Part 1 & Part 2Spotify: All episodesStatement from the Athletics:ESPN emailed the Oakland Athletics, asking “What does the team feel it owes its fans and the city of Oakland as September 26th approaches?” The team responded with the following statement: “We are deeply grateful to Oakland for being home to the A’s for nearly 60 years. In that span, the team and its fans celebrated four World Series championships, served as home to seven American League MVPs, made countless lasting memories, and achieved a storied place in baseball history. After an earnest and unprecedented effort to bring a visionary ballpark to downtown Oakland, we were unable to reach a deal, and more importantly, secure a reliable path to a fully approved project. We appreciate the community members, local leaders and staff who worked diligently to build a new home in Oakland and applaud the fans who passionately advocated for the team to stay. The A’s time in Oakland will always be a cherished part of this franchise’s history, and we carry that spirit forward on this journey to Sacramento and eventually to our new home in Las Vegas. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the loyal fans for their unwavering support throughout the years.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The best word to describe week two of the NFL season is upsets.The Cowboys, Ravens, and Lions all dropped games to “inferior” opponents at home, and the 49ers got beat by the Vikings, and their old pal Sam Darnold in the land of ten thousand lakes.So today, ESPN NFL Analyst Ben Solak joins us for NFL Monday to break down what happened on Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s only week two of NFL football season, but already people have a lot to say about who’s a bust and which teams won’t be making it to the playoffs.So today we ask ourselves, is there something to these proclamations, or are they simply overreactions? This is Football host Kevin Clark has a good head on his shoulders, so we brought him on to dispel some of this armchair analysis and reorient our thinking about: rookies like Caleb Williams, Bo Nix and Marvin Harrison, Jr., faltering starters like Kirk Cousins and Deshaun Watson, and whose NFL return we’re more likely to see: Tom Brady or Bill Belichick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the 1980s SMU football looked to be almost inevitable. With a No. 2 ranking and a constant stream of top recruits, like Eric Dickerson and Craig James, they looked to be headed to a national title of their own.But they also had something else, a well-documented payroll for their players.This resulted in the NCAA’s so-called “death penalty” ruling for the program and sent SMU down a 40-year path of obscurity. But now, with the NIL era in full swing and armed with a stable of billionaire boosters, SMU football is jumping headfirst into a new conference with thoughts of the college football playoff on their mind.Dave Wilson joins us from Texas to break down the Mustang’s path from NCAA pariah to modern-day redemption. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patriots owner Robert Kraft has a resume anyone in the sports world would envy.Six world championships, an $11 billion empire, and an era of team success that will go down in NFL history.But there’s one thing that has eluded him – entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While he’s contributed more to the NFL than most, he has no bust in Canton, but that is not for lack of trying.Today, Don Van Natta Jr., breaks down the exhaustive, and to date failed campaign to get Kraft his gold jacket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Any time a franchise owner threatens to leave a city, the pressure and scrutiny on civic leaders intensifies. But in Oakland, a parallel story emerged—a group of activist fans who refused to let the Athletics go quietly.In the second part of our series, Death of a Sports Town, we examine the three men who led the Warriors, Raiders, and Athletics away from “the Town,” the reasons behind their decisions, and the intimate story of one fan who launched a movement to fight back.Our five-part series ‘Death of a Sports Town’ publishes every Tuesday in the ESPN Daily show feed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first Sunday of the NFL season is in the books, and we learned a little but not a lot. Josh Allen still needs to work on protecting the ball for the highly hopeful Bills, the Colts Anthony Richardson showed us all why he might be the best athlete in football, and in spite of a rough outing, rookie Caleb Williams and the Bears pulled off a win in his debut.So today, ESPN NFL Analyst Ben Solak joins us for NFL Monday, to chalktalk the ins and outs of the league and get us ready for a Monday Night Football clash between the Jets and 49ers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Being known as a perfectionist is one of those “gift and a curse” type of labels.While some admire someone with the drive to shoot for the stars, the raised expectations can also open you up to the criticism that comes from not reaching your goals.For Jalen Hurts, you also have to throw in the scrutiny that comes along with being one of the faces of the NFL, in one of its crown cities.So today, ahead of Hurts and the Eagles season debut, tonight against the Packers in Sao Paolo Brazil, Andscape’s Martenzie Johnson - fresh off spending the day with Hurts for an Andscape digital cover story - shares his thoughts on who the QB is at this point in his career, and explains how his pursuit of perfection defines his leadership in the locker room, and the way he manages his public persona. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices