The Lead

An NFL team's success often comes down to the guy lining up under center. If your signal caller is a star then the playoffs are probably calling. If he's not ... well, you might be in trouble. The Athletic's Mike Sando polled insiders from around the league to rank every team's starting quarterback and today he tells us how the rankings have shifted after 10 weeks of action. 

Read Mike Sando's Revisited Quarterback Tiers: https://theathletic.com/2942184/2021/11/11/qb-tiers-revisited-puzzling-patrick-mahomes-determined-derek-carr-cresting-kyler-murray-and-more/

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After a couple of years mostly out of the spotlight, watching other teams reach the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors have come roaring back to start the 2021-22 season. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami to look at three key reasons why Steph Curry and the Warriors are back among the best teams in the league, and whether this team has the look of a bona fide title contender.

Follow Tim Kawakami’s coverage of all things Warriors and Bay Area: https://theathletic.com/author/tim-kawakami/?source=theleadpodcast

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Mark Borowiecki is best known as a hard-hitting defenseman with the NHL's Nashville Predators -- a guy who has doled out plenty of bone-crunching checks and who has dropped the gloves more than a few times. He's also earned the nickname "Boro-Cop" for his tendency to stand up for justice on and off the ice, and to defend people who need protecting. But the hardest battle of his 11-year NHL career has been the one going on inside his own mind. Borowiecki recently opened up to The Athletic's Adam Vingan about his being diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, the dark thoughts that consumed him for years, and why, after finally getting the help he needed, he wants other athletes to know what he's gone through.

Read Adam Vingan's full story about Mark Borowiecki:

https://theathletic.com/2787492/2021/10/04/it-became-borderline-dangerous-predators-mark-borowiecki-details-his-mental-health-journey/

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Carli Lloyd officially retired on Sunday as one of America's most decorated and celebrated soccer players. She's won everything from the World Cup to Olympic Gold Medals to FIFA World Player of the Year. Perhaps more than the achievements on the pitch, Lloyd was known for her maniacal drive and singular focus to become one of the best players to ever lace up a pair of cleats. But that approach also had its downsides – during her career the iconoclastic midfielder clashed with coaches, the media, and even her own family. Today, The Athletic's Meg Linehan tells us how Lloyd is processing the end of her sometimes tumultuous career and whether or not, at the end of it all, the USWNT legend is finally at peace.

Read Meg Linehan's story about Carli Lloyd: https://theathletic.com/2909879/2021/10/25/im-at-peace-carli-lloyd-seeks-a-special-ending-to-a-career-long-chase-for-greatness/

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The last time the Boston Celtics took the floor, on Saturday night, they watched Luka Doncic hit a game-winning dagger to drop their record to 4-6 — the latest setback in a season that has already seen a lot of turbulence. Today, The Athletic’s Jared Weiss breaks down all the turmoil that Boston has faced (including the semi-public dispute between Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum), and whether the team can turn things around from here.

Follow Jared Weiss’s coverage of the Celtics: https://theathletic.com/author/jared-weiss/?source=theleadpodcast

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Three weeks ago, the New England Patriots were 2-4, and many experts were saying their season was over. But now the Pats have won three straight games and are just half a game behind the Bills for first in the AFC East. So what's behind their turnaround? Matthew Fairburn, who covers the Pats for The Athletic, joins us to explain. Plus, we hear some untold stories about Bill Belichick's wry sense of humor, and how his uncanny ability to lighten the mood has carried his teams through some difficult times.

More from Matthew Fairburn:

https://theathletic.com/author/matthew-fairburn/

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At almost every stage of his life people have doubted Hubert Davis. In high school, he couldn't live up to the legend of his uncle, who was a star at North Carolina. Dean Smith questioned whether he could make it with the Tar Heels. Don Nelson didn't think he was good enough for the NBA. And viewers thought he was another washed up pro trying for a second act when he joined ESPN as a broadcaster. In every instance, Davis silenced his detractors. Now, he faces his toughest test yet: taking over for the legendary Roy Williams at North Carolina. Today, The Athletic's Dana O'Neil, who spent time with Davis and his father, tells us why the former star guard is the right man for the job, and what he needs to do in Chapel Hill to quiet his doubters once again.

Read Dana O'Neil's story about Hubert Davis: https://theathletic.com/2846499/2021/09/28/all-hoops-no-hoopla-underestimate-north-carolinas-own-hubert-davis-at-your-own-risk/

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Earlier this week, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Houston Astros to win their first World Series title since 1995. And one person who was clearly taking in the moment was their 66-year-old manager, Brian Snitker, who has been with the organization since the 1970’s. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s David O’Brien to look at how loyalty — of Snitker to his team, and to his players — played a big role in the Braves breaking their World Series drought.

Follow David O’Brien’s coverage of the Braves: https://theathletic.com/author/david-obrien/?source=theleadpodcast

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The Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers got caught up in a media firestorm on Wednesday. After it was announced that Rodgers would miss Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to Covid protocols, media outlets deduced that Rodgers must not, in fact, be vaccinated -- despite his earlier assertion that he is "immunized." The Athletic's Matt Schneidman, who covers the Packers, joins us to unpack the messy controversy, including what both the NFL and the Packers knew (and when they knew it), and what to expect moving forward.

More from Matt Schneidman:

https://theathletic.com/author/matt-schneidman/

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After four straight losing seasons, the Chicago Bulls have gotten off to a 6-1 start — heading into Tuesday night, the best record in the NBA. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry to look at how the Bulls are finding a new formula for success this season, thanks to the addition of veteran DeMar DeRozan, who — along with Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic — has the Bulls suddenly looking like a dangerous team.

Read Darnell Mayberry’s full story about DeMar DeRozan: https://theathletic.com/2911205/2021/10/25/hes-mastered-the-game-demar-derozan-relishing-next-chapter-and-mission-with-bulls/?source=theleadpodcast

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