Manaea Injury Highlighest Biggest Issues for Amazin's in 2025

 Injuries are starting to stack up already for the New York Mets. Word came down Monday afternoon that staff ace Sean Manaea could miss the start of the season with a right oblique strain, putting a major snag in the Mets starting rotation for 2025.

"Nothing got any better, didn't get worse, it kind of plateaued. The worst part is it just never got any better," Manaea told reporters Monday.

 According to Manager Carlos Mendoza, Manaea's injury was something that had bothered the veteran lefty since camp started last week.

"He kept throwing live in the bullpen," Mendoza said. "It got to the point where we thought it would turn the corner, but it wasn't the case. The good news is the tendon is not involved, and the rib cage is not involved. It's just muscle. So he will be shut down for a couple weeks."

The injury to Manaea isn't the only thing worrying the Mets right now. Infielder Nick Madrigal, whom New York signed as a possible replacement for free agent Jose Iglesias, suffered a fracture in his shoulder that could keep him out long-term.

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Aaron Rodgers Days with Jets are Likely Numbered

 The New York Jets are reportedly moving on from Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback according to a report by Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer.

The news came as really no surprise, and provided an interesting distraction in the hours leading up to the Big Game on Sunday. Rodgers tenure with the Jets will be mostly remembered for its unfulfilled expectations, or more dramatically, as an disappointing failure.

From darkness retreats to Netflix specials, to ayahuasca becoming part of the vernacular, and skipping mandatory mini-camp for a trip to Egypt, and even wild interviews on the Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers time in New York was about anything but winning. 

Giants Legend Eli Manning Denied Hall of Fame Entry on First Ballot

 Giants legend Eli Manning was denied entry into the NFL Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

And if you listen to Giants fans across the Tri-State area, and especially on social media, you would think this was Manning's only opportunity to EVER get into the hallowed Halls of Canton, Ohio.

Should Eli Manning be in the Hall of Fame? Absolutely. He is a central figure and face to one of the greatest, if not THE greatest upsets in NFL history when his Giants upset the 18-0 New England Patriots in the Big Game back in 2007.

Not only did he have the helmet catch and the game-winning touchdown pass in that game, but Manning also came back four years later and beat Tom Brady and the Patriots again on football's grandest stage.

Many will point to Manning's erratic career in the regular season as proof of his candidacy; he did throw 244 interceptions in his career and led the league in picks twice. Not to mention he had a .500 record as a starter in the regular season.

But Dan Fouts was only two games over .500, and Warren Moon was a game over .500, and both made it into the Hall. Neither made it to the Big Game.

Joe Namath and Terry Bradshaw had pedestrian regular season numbers, but when it came time to win on football's grandest stage they shined.

Like Manning, Namath won what many consider the most important game in NFL history in Super Bowl III when the Jets upset the heavily favored Colts. That game set the stage for the eventual merging of the NFL and AFL into one league.

And if you look at Namath's stats, he threw 220 interceptions and only 173 touchdowns in his career. Namath is in Canton.

Bradshaw, a winner of four Big Game titles with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s, threw only two more touchdowns than interceptions in his career in the regular season.

Manning threw 366 touchdowns to 244 picks. He should be in.

AND he will eventually get in.

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Mets and Pete Alonso Finally Agree to New 2-Year Deal

 The New York Mets and Pete Alonso have finally come to terms on a two-year deal that will lengthen the lineup around Juan Soto, and keep one of the most popular home-grown talents in Flushing Queens for at least one more season.

The Mets and Alonso hatched out a two-year $54 million contract late Wednesday. The deal is essentially a one-year deal worth upwards of $30 million, making Alonso the highest paid at his position for this season. The second year is an option year at $24 million, should he choose to take it.

For months the Mets and Alonso had been stuck in a stalemate over a long-term extension. Alonso reportedly rejected a $150 million, seven-year deal offered to him back in 2023; and then, according to reports, rejected a three-year $70 million deal this off-season.

The Mets were willing to wait him out. As suitors walked away, and the first baseman's market proved to be unfruitful, the Mets clearly gained a slight edge in negotiations.

A few weeks ago at a Mets Fan Fest event at Citi Field, owner Steve Cohen said he had grown tired of the negotiations, saying honestly, "I don't like what's been presented to us."

Since that time, Alonso and the Mets came back to the table and finally hammered out a deal that works for both sides.

With a two-year deal, the Mets get their slugger back in the lineup, who can protect newcomer Juan Soto in the middle of the order. Despite his average dipping in each of the last two years, Alonso is one of the best power hitters in the game. He owns 226 home runs and is on pace to shatter the franchise record for home runs in a Mets uniform set by Darryl Strawberry.

Having Alonso hit either in front of or behind Soto is only going to strengthen the Mets lineup, and make them more difficult on opponents.

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