NFL players dish on rules, gambling and more. Plus: Another LIV Golf exit

The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox.

Good morning! Go up for the header today. Inside:

Takes: Aaron Rodgers … ref?

Longtime Pulse readers know I love an anonymous poll. Some might screech about hiding identities. When it comes to stuff like this, I just want to know the good dirt. We’re back today with some NFL player takes. Delightful.

We’ll be rolling out more from this survey over the next few days, but four initial questions that raised my eyebrows:

Should the Tush Push be banned? 

Yes: 16.3%
No: 83.8%

I was not prepared for the spread here. While most players thought it was difficult to officiate, banning the play entirely enacts the classic slippery slope. I think I agree.

Which player would make the best referee? 

Top vote-getter (tied): Aaron Rodgers

What a question. It came down to players wondering which teammate knew the most rules. Rodgers has played with a ton of people and clearly has a high degree of knowledge about the game. It sounds like film sessions are filled with rule trivia. Also, just look at the picture up there.

Read full comments on the Tush Push, ref players, the new kickoff rules and other questions here.

Have you ever tried to hide concussion symptoms? 

Yes: 19.5%
No: 80.5% 

This was interesting and nuanced (and serious). Some players said it was a tough question because there are levels to concussions. Others openly said they hid symptoms and didn’t regret doing so in the name of job preservation.

See those full comments here.

Has a fan ever confronted/contacted you about their sports betting loss or fantasy football loss?

Yes: 70.5%
No: 29.5%

Sad but unsurprising given *everything* happening in the space right now. “People use slurs. People have said they’d kill me,” one NFC offensive player said. Do better, people. We posed a few other interesting questions about players and betting, too.

More to come. Let’s keep moving:

News to Know

Mess in Cleveland
The Browns surprised yesterday by hiring Todd Monken, the former Ravens offensive coordinator, as their head coach. The 59-year-old, not considered a hot candidate this offseason, has 11 years of NFL coaching experience but will be a rookie in the top job as he navigates an uncertain quarterback room and other holes in Cleveland’s offense. Browns DC Jeff Schwartz, who also interviewed for the role, is unhappy with the organization over Monken’s hiring and does not plan to return next season despite being under contract. Yikes.

Another big name exits LIV
Patrick Reed is leaving LIV Golf, he announced yesterday, and will pursue a return to the PGA Tour. The 2018 Masters champion will be eligible to rejoin the PGA Tour in August, one year removed from his last LIV event. In the meantime, he’ll compete on the European-focused DP World Tour. “I’m a traditionalist at heart, and I was born to play on the PGA Tour,” Reed, 35, said in a statement. More details here.

More news

Things You Need to See: A miraculous goalie goal

Earlier this month, we were graced with an NHL goalie fight. Now? A high-stakes goalie goal:

That’s Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin, in the 98th minute of the club’s final Champions League group-stage match (against Real Madrid), heading in the extra goal it desperately needed to move from 25th in the table to a playoff-bound 24th. Boom, season saved.

Watch Guide

📺 NBA: Thunder at Timberwolves
9:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video
Oklahoma City remains the NBA’s best team, but Minnesota might be more interesting at this juncture: a talented team that really needs some help at the trade deadline. Good nightcap.

📺 Australian Open: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev
10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
This is the first men’s semifinal, featuring a No. 1 seed on the hunt for a career Grand Slam and one of last year’s finalists, now the No. 3 seed. Alcaraz has yet to go longer than three sets at this chalky tournament and is the heavy favorite here.

Get tickets to games like these here.

Pulse Picks

Ex-Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, known for his signature “Peanut Punch” in the NFL, found a new calling as an FBI agent. But he walked away when the immigration raids began.

They’re the top U.S. Olympic medal hopes in bobsled, and they’re also working moms: Elana Meyers Taylor and Kaillie Humphries got candid about doing elite athlete things with kids in tow.

Basketball isn’t a priority in London, but the NBA believes it can change that. Interesting piece here.

The USWNT’s dominant win over Chile was a fitting way to end what coach Emma Hayes has described as the final experimental window before the World Cup. Time to lock in on 2027.

The Maple Leafs eliminated a job designed to keep players healthy. They’re now struggling with injuries. Hm.

Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: The Belichick snub. Shocker.

Most-read on the website yesterday: Steve Buckley’s scathing column on the above.

📫 That’s all for now! Say hello at thepulse@theathletic.com, and check out our other newsletters.

Ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.