The long-awaited 2021 NFL season is finally here and it is coming back in a way fans have never seen before. Each team was issued an additional game making for a 17-game season for all teams with 18 weeks of football in total. From September 9th to September 13th, all 32 NFL teams got the opportunity to play in front of full capacity stadiums for the first time in over a year and spectators saw some early “Game of the Year” candidates within the first week of the NFL season. 

For the seniors at Nutley High School, their final two years of high school football were plagued with COVID-19 and cut short in many ways. However senior captains Paul Scutti and Joseph Alberti have done everything they can to make the most out of these years. Both individuals were three-year starters and saw varsity football before the pandemic and played through it as well.

After closing an unpredictable 2020 season, the 2021 season is already here as fans are just weeks away from the season’s first games. After the draft comes and goes, the next step in the early stages of the season is the annual rookie minicamps. These camps allow teams to bring in all their rookies and have them work together to become aware and immersed with the team’s scheme and figure out how they will fit best.

Thirty-three-year old former quarterback Tim Tebow has recently been signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Many fans were shocked and some even raised an eyebrow. The quarterback, out of Florida, hasn’t played since 2013 and is assigned to play tight end in this upcoming season. The Jaguars have agreed to a one-year contract for $900,000 with no money guaranteed or injury split. This forces Tebow to work to be an active player on the roster. Although signing free agents is nothing new, this case is different.

The 2021 playoffs are much different than the 2020 playoffs. The 2020 playoffs had to be in a special bubble in Orlando, Florida. They had COVID-19 guidelines, rules, and COVID tests everyday. The 2021 playoffs are so much different because COVID numbers are going down, people are getting their vaccine, and the playoffs aren’t in the bubble. The 76ers, Suns, Nets, Nuggets, Bucks, Hawks, Clippers, and the Jazz all advanced to the second round.

It has been an interesting year for high school sports. 

Steph Curry is a point guard in the NBA that plays for the Golden State Warriors. Steph Curry this year had a season to remember. He averaged 32.0 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 5.8 assist per game. He also won a scoring title this year and almost brought his team to the 2020-2021 playoffs. Steph Curry is known for being the best shooter in the world but he really is the best player in the world right now.

Senior nights at NHS are very special. They are nights dedicated to the seniors to make them feel appreciated and celebrate their final season of that sport. Unfortunately, some sports such as basketball did not get to have a senior night this year because of COVID-19. However, Seniors: Anna Contini, Gianna Zoppi, and Ryan Breihof share how their personal senior nights went this year. 

The MLB Season was off to a great start on April 1, 2021. This season is going to be different due to COVID-19. Players joined their new teams, new rookies are standing out, and surprising teams are leading the league. Players like Mike Trout and Mookie Betts are off to hot starts. Players like Akil Baddoo, Yermin Mercedes, and Tyler Naquin are taking on the 2021 season with a storm. Ballparks and stadiums aren’t the same this year. Some ballparks are empty, and some are at reduced capacity.

Veteran Quarterback, Alex Smith has just recently announced his retirement after his 16th season in the NFL. The quarterback out of Utah was picked No. 1 in the Draft getting selected by the San Francisco 49ers. He spent some time on the 49ers before joining the Chiefs in 2013. Smith had made three Pro Bowl appearances as a player of the Chiefs. Then, in 2017 joined the Washington Redskins, now known as the Football Team.

Julian Edelman recently announced his retirement from the NFL. What many people fail to realize is the impact he had on the league while he was in it. He paved the way for athletes that weren’t highly recruited out of high school and even helped in the battle of anti-semitism in the NFL. Although things like this may go unnoticed, his postseason statistics are something you can’t help but notice.

For decades, women throughout the world have struggled with the concept of equal pay for equal work. This is an issue in business, medicine and sports, among others.  The U.S Women's Soccer Team (USWST) is taking a stand because of the equal pay movement. The men get paid around $10 million more  than the women do for the same roles.

There is always talk about athletes and coaches, however, the NHS student sport managers do not get enough attention. Sports have a lot of extra work that the coaches usually take care of, but there is so much that they need extra help. For the past few years the NHS has had student managers for the sports teams. This year, sophomore Madison Walsh is the manager of the girls varsity and JV basketball team. Sophomore Mia Dipiano is also a manager for the wrestling team.  

The Washington Football Team, until recently, was known as the Washington Redskins. But in July 2020, they were forced to change their name because it was racist to Native Americans and inappropriate to some people. Many people wrote letters to the NFL to change the Redskins name. The Washington Football Team had to find and change their name quickly, they had a few names in choice but were still thinking.

The verdict of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd influenced the world. It showed many to have faith in justice admidst injustice in our society.

Many NBA players are competing in the MVP ladder. This week has fulfilled fans in on who should be in this year’s MVP race. Players like Nikola Jokic, Giannas Antenkumpo and Damian Lillard are giving us a show. All three players have been averaging a high stat ladder, supporting their team and putting them on their backs. 

Tiger Woods has been through many injuries and rough paths through his career. Tiger Woods was involved in a single car, car accident may have been the worst of them all. This happened on February 23, 2021, and Tiger Woods was found by the emergency services on the side of the road. The police found out that he had prescription drugs in his system. The crash caused severe injuries that resulted in a subsequent trauma surgery.

On March 25, 2021, it was announced that Oscar Frayer, just days after competing in the NCAA March Madness Tournament as a forward for Grand Canyon University, tragically passed away from a car accident in Lodi, California. Frayer’s sister, Andrea Moore, and their family friend had also passed away as they were in the car with Frayer at the time.

Every year during the month of March a college basketball tournament takes place that is called March Madness. This is the tournament where teams from all over the country from each college that is able to participate in this tournament come together and play games to see who is the best college. This year there have been many upsets in this tournament that has left people shocked. The tournament began on March 18 and ended on April 5.

Spring sports started in the first week of April, however, due to COVID-19, the spring season got pushed back because winter sports started in January. It is now April and baseball, softball, spring track, tennis, crew, golf, and lacrosse are all starting up. COVID-19 is still a problem all coaches are thinking about so there are still precautions being taken.