Sep 30, 2026 · 4 min listen · Last updated September 30, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief. Brock here. September 30th. Game day. Five stories worth your eight minutes — first one's a story. Let's get into it. First, from Awful Announcing. Terrell Owens name-drops Dan Orlovsky in praise of Black quarterbacks: ‘The game has changed’.
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Daily Sports Brief · September 30th
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Terrell Owens name-drops Dan Orlovsky in praise of Black quarterbacks: ‘The game has changed’
The NFL is buzzing about the evolving perception of Black quarterbacks, sparked by recent comments from Dan Orlovsky. After defending Justin Herbert's style on ESPN, Orlovsky faced scrutiny for seemingly comparing him to Black quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts. He later clarified that he was highlighting Herbert's traditional qualities, but the conversation shifted to deeper issues of race in the league.
Terrell Owens, on his podcast, emphasized how the landscape has changed. He noted that Black quarterbacks are stepping into leadership roles and reshaping the narrative. Owens pointed out that the game has evolved, showcasing players who excel not just with their legs but also with their passing skills.
He highlighted several Black quarterbacks, including Jameis Winston and Geno Smith, who are proving they can lead teams successfully. Owens believes the stereotype that Black QBs can't read defenses is outdated. He sees a bright future where these players are recognized for their full skill sets, contributing to their teams’ success and challenging traditional views of the position.
ESPN debuts new high-tech ‘Studio W’ for NHL season with nod to Barry Melrose
The 2026–27 NHL season got started on Tuesday with ESPN carrying a tripleheader of marquee matchups to celebrate opening day. In addition to broadcasting the games, ESPN debuted its new, high-tech studio that will apparently serve as home base for the network’s hockey coverage this year. Host Steve Levy welcomed viewers into the new studio and showed off some of the bells and whistles it features. “Studio W is ESPN’s most technologically advanced studio ever built, and I’ve been here a few minutes, and we’ve built a lot of studios,” Levy teased.
Josh Allen remains the MVP favorite, but Brock Purdy is lurking
Even with no touchdown passes and a pair of interceptions on Sunday against the Chargers, Bills quarterback Josh Allen remains the clear MVP favorite. His Week 3 performance actually improved his odds. Allen has gone from +500 to +260 to win his second NFL MVP award. Behind him currently is 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, at +425. Purdy deserves to be high on the list. The 49ers are 3-0, and Purdy has an off-the-charts passer rating of 133.1. He has nine touchdown passes on only 83 attempts, with one interception. He's averaging 9.5 yards per attempt.
Ken Rosenthal: Reseeding MLB postseason after Wild Card round ‘needs to happen’
Ken Rosenthal is calling for a change in how MLB handles its postseason. He believes reseeding the playoff bracket after the Wild Card round is essential. This year’s standings show a significant gap between division winners, and Rosenthal thinks it’s unfair to have the top teams stacked on one side of the bracket. He pointed out that having the three best American League teams on one side creates an unbalanced playoff experience.
Rosenthal highlighted that reseeding could improve matchups and keep fans engaged. He mentioned how last year’s Wild Card results would have triggered a reseed, making the playoffs more competitive. With three Wild Card teams often separated by just a game, the current seeding system feels less effective.
He also noted that the bigger issue this year is the underperformance of teams like New York and Philadelphia, which led to them facing rivals too early in the playoffs. For networks, the goal is to attract viewers, and ideally, they want marquee matchups later in the postseason. It’s a complex situation, but Rosenthal believes that reseeding could be a step in the right direction for MLB.
Case Keenum's Monday night performance shows importance of having three quarterbacks
Last night, Bears quarterback Case Keenum played in a regular-season game for the first time in 1,009 days. He played well, and the Bears won. The fact that the Bears had him on the roster proves the importance of having three quarterbacks who can be trusted to play, if necessary. When the starter is injured, the team is one injury away from needing a QB3. That's what happened to the Bears.