Antonio Brown sought advice from professional social media consultants for ideas on how to accelerate his release from the Oakland Raiders, sources told ESPN.

At least one consultant couldn't tell whether Brown was serious or not, according to sources. Brown's tumultuous tenure with the Raiders officially ended Saturday, when the Pro Bowl receiver was released by Oakland and signed with the New England Patriots.

Brown's social media activity made headlines Wednesday morning when he posted a copy of team-issued fines on Instagram -- a move that led to a heated argument with general manager Mike Mayock later that day at practice.

The Raiders announced Friday that, despite the fallout from his spat with Mayock, Brown was expected to play in their season opener Monday night against the Denver Broncos.

But the Raiders also fined Brown $215,073.53 for conduct detrimental to the team, sources told ESPN, prompting Brown to publicly request his release in another Instagram post Saturday morning. By fining Brown, the Raiders voided the $29.125 million worth of guaranteed money in his deal, according to sources.

Brown officially became a free agent at 4:01 p.m. ET on Saturday and agreed to a deal with New England shortly thereafter. The Patriots had strong interest in Brown earlier this offseason when, according to sources, Bill Belichick was willing to trade New England's first-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Brown.

But Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert wanted at least a first- and second-round pick from the Patriots -- and even then, he was not inclined to trade Brown to their AFC rival and the reigning Super Bowl champions, according to sources.

The Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks also considered attempting to sign Brown on Saturday, according to sources, although the Patriots were always considered the front-runner.

Brown further aggravated his situation in Oakland on Wednesday when, after dominating the Raiders' defensive backs throughout the workout, he informed the team that his hamstring was bothering him and he felt that he needed an MRI, according to league sources.

The Raiders were not pleased that Brown, who looked so good during practice, felt that he needed an MRI on a then-ailing hamstring, according to sources. They felt like he was "trying to pull one over on us," according to one source.

Then, to complicate matters, after the Raiders called Brown on Thursday morning and told him not to come to work, Brown missed a meeting later that night with head coach Jon Gruden, according to sources.

Brown is not eligible to play until Week 2 at the earliest, which means he will miss New England's opener Sunday night against his former team, the Steelers. The Patriots and Raiders do not play this regular season.

ESPN's Adam Schefter contributed to this report.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Los Angeles Rams safety Eric Weddle was carted off the field with a bloodied face during the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers and did not return.

Weddle suffered a head laceration and is under evaluation for a concussion, the team announced.

Weddle was attempting to tackle Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey before McCaffrey hurdled him, and Weddle took a knee to the head.

He finished with two tackles and thanked fans for their support on social media.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. I'm good as gold. Now let's go finish this game with a DUB!!!!

— Eric Weddle (@weddlesbeard) September 8, 2019

A 13-year pro, Weddle signed a two-year, $10.5 million deal with the Rams in free agency after he was released by the Baltimore Ravens.

Weddle, 34, has quickly established himself in the Rams' defense. He took over for linebacker Cory Littleton as the defensive signal-caller and was named a team captain.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Lamar Jackson and Marquise "Hollywood" Brown answered pressing questions with some history-making responses.

In a 59-10 season-opening rout of the Miami Dolphins, Jackson produced the best passer rating (158.3) in Baltimore Ravens history and Brown became the first player in NFL history with multiple 40-yard touchdowns in his career debut.

For those wondering whether Jackson could become an effective passer in the league, he led the Ravens to their largest margin of victory with his arm instead of his legs, completing 17 of 20 passes for 324 yards and five touchdowns in three quarters of work. His five touchdown passes -- one short of his total in seven starts last season -- tied a Ravens mark.

For those worried about Brown's surgically repaired foot, the rookie first-round pick scored touchdowns of 47 and 83 yards on his first two catches. His 147 yards receiving are the sixth most in an NFL debut and the most in a debut since 2003.

The No. 25 overall pick in this year's draft, Brown was questionable for the season opener after sitting out Friday's practice. The Ravens have been extra cautious with Brown, who had Lisfranc surgery in January. Brown, the first wide receiver selected in this year's draft, showed off his speed by recording the most receiving yards ever by a Raven in a first quarter.

It was quite the South Florida homecoming for Jackson and Brown, who helped the Ravens set a team record for most points and yards in a game.

Jackson's first touchdown was a short slant to Brown, who outran the Miami defense for 47 yards. His second was a long toss to Brown, who got behind the defense for the longest reception by a Ravens rookie.

Jackson then threw touchdown passes of 33 yards to Willie Snead, 5 yards to Miles Boykin and 1 yard to fullback Patrick Ricard. Jackson became the first quarterback to throw at least five touchdowns in a season opener since Peyton Manning did so against the Ravens in 2013.

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia 76ers forward Mike Scott was involved in a fight with Eagles fans outside Lincoln Financial Field after wearing a Redskins jersey and hat at a tailgate party before the Eagles' game against Washington.

Scott didn't appear to get injured in the video of the fight. He stuck around and took selfies, according to posts by other fans.

The Sixers forward posted a picture of himself on social media in Redskins gear earlier Sunday.

On my way @4thandJawn pic.twitter.com/Wf6hV0aZeO

— Mike Scott (@mikescott) September 8, 2019

"We are aware of the situation and are in the process of gathering more information," the Sixers said in a statement. "We will have no further comment at this time"

Scott has become a popular player in the city for responding to invitations on social media and showing up to hang out with fans. He dropped in at a wedding reception earlier in the summer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Washington catcher Kurt Suzuki had an MRI on his right elbow because he still felt tingling in his arm after an awkward throw to second base.

Suzuki was a seventh-inning defensive replacement Saturday and got injured in an unsuccessful attempt to catch Atlanta's Rafael Ortega stealing. He left before the top of the eighth.

"I felt something in my elbow," Suzuki said Sunday. "Some tingling and zings. A little sore today, but should be good."

Either Suzuki or Yan Gomes has started every game at catcher for the NL wild-card leading Nationals. Raudy Read took Suzuki's spot on Saturday and moves into the No. 2 role.

Suzuki, 36, is in the first season of a $10 million, two-year contract. He is hitting .260 with 16 homers and 58 RBI in his second stint with the Nationals. Washington selected the contract of catcher Tres Barrera from Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday.

MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell has left Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers after getting hit in the face with a pitch by right-hander Adrian Houser in the top of the third inning.

Russell, 25, was hit by a fastball on a 1-2 pitch but didn't immediately come out of the game. He was attended to at home plate, then at first base, while taking a few sprints to see whether he could continue. Eventually, he scored the Cubs' first run but didn't come out to play shortstop in the bottom of the inning.

The Cubs have already lost starter Javy Baez to a thumb injury; Russell has played shortstop all week in his place. David Bote took over in Russell's spot while Ian Happ entered the game at third base, where Bote had started.

A preview to the historic inaugural head-to-head duel taking place in Minsk

Team Europe and Team USA are preparing for their historic inaugural head-to-head duel The Match, which will be held in Minsk on Monday and Tuesday (September 9-10) and will be the last major event before the IAAF World Championships in Doha at the end of this month.

Heading the European line-up will be 2017 world champions Pawel Fajdek, Ramil Guliyev, Mariya Lasitskene, Sandra Perkovic, Katerina Stefanidi and 2018 European champions Armand Duplantis, Paulina Guba, Michal Haratyk, Elvira Herman (pictured), Wojciech Nowicki, Paraskevi Papahristou, Thomas Röhler, Lea Sprunger, Justyna Swiety-Ersetic and Miltiadis Tentoglou.

The field line-up is particularly strong though the track line-up is without Karsten Warholm and the Ingebrigtsen brothers.

Host country Belarus has been guaranteed at least 10 places and their presence should ensure a big crowd in the 22,000 capacity Dinamo National Olympic Stadium in the Belarusian capital.

The major names on the USA squad include reigning Olympic champions Michelle Carter and Brianna McNeal as well as multiple global title winners Allyson Felix and Brittney Reese but it is hardly a full-strength American team

Britons feature heavily in the Europe team (see below panel) although the biggest UK names such as Zharnel Hughes, Dina Asher-Smith, Laura Muir, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Laura Weightman were unavailable – and Lynsey Sharp has pulled out after initially being selected.

The Match – which is a four-a-side contest in each of the individual events and features two teams apiece in the relays – will be the first ever outdoor meeting between the two teams.

The action begins at 7pm local time both days.

Click here for a timetable.

Team lists can be found here.

Britons in Minsk

Men
100m Ojie Edoburun, Adam Gemili
200m Richard Kilty
400m Rabah Yousif
800m Kyle Langford, Jamie Webb
1500m Charles Da’Vall Grice, Jake Wightman
3000m steeplechase Zak Seddon
110m hurdles Andi Pozzi
400m hurdles Chris McAlister
Triple jump Ben Williams
Hammer Nick Miller

Women
100m Imani Lansiquot
200m Beth Dobbin, Ashleigh Nelson
400m Laviai Nielsen, Jodie Williams
800m Alex Bell
1500m Eilish McColgan, Melissa Courtney
3000m Eilish McColgan
400m hurdles Meghan Beesley

Alfie Hewett retained his US Open wheelchair singles title as fellow Briton Andy Lapthorne won the quad singles title.

Hewett, 21, beat Frenchman Stephane Houdet 7-6 (11-9) 7-6 (7-5).

Earlier, Lapthorne, 28, beat Australian Dylan Alcott 6-1 6-0 to win in New York for the first time since 2014.

In winning, he ended Alcott's unbeaten record for the season - having lost to him in the Wimbledon final - and his quest for the calendar Grand Slam.

Later on Sunday, Lapthorne and Alcott will team up in the quads doubles final against Americans David Wagner and Bryan Barten.

Hewett will also play again in the wheelchair doubles alongside Gordon Reid. They take on Japan's Shingo Kunieda and Argentina's Gustavo Fernandez as they attempt to win the title for the third successive year.

Nour powers past Raneem as Mo throws down gauntlet to Ali
By ELLIE MAWSON in Shanghai 

Egypt’s World No.5 Nour El Tayeb and World No.2 Mohamed ElShorbagy lifted the first titles of the new season after defeating compatriots and World No.1s Raneem El Welily and Ali Farag to claim the J.P. Morgan China Squash Open, PSA World Tour Gold tournament titles.

El Tayeb stunned defending champion El Welily in a thrilling five-game battle to take the first silverware of the new PSA World Tour season as she displayed a formidable performance on the glass court atop the Peninsula Shanghai.

The last time El Tayeb got the better of El Welily was at the 2018-19 PSA World Championships in Chicago, when she claimed a shock victory over the then-reigning World Champion.

And El Tayeb once again showed that she has what it takes to challenge for the major titles this season as she held off a resilient El Welily to be crowned the women’s China Open champion for the first time in her career.

“It didn’t seem like it was ending, I can’t believe I’m the winner,’ said El Tayeb afterwards. “Throughout the whole match I was reminding myself that it’s good to be in the final, even though in the fourth game I was leading and I started to see the finish line a bit. I had to remind myself that I was playing Raneem and that the finish line might not happen.

“When she won the fourth I was a bit defeated and then she started the fifth very well but Ali [Farag] told me to just dig in. Last match I played last season was against her and I saw where my level was, and I wanted this match to be another indicator of where my level was.

“I can’t believe I won, it feels a bit like a dream because throughout the match, I was tired and I had to keep reminding myself of one more rally at a time. It’s a dream start to the season and hopefully I can keep going.”

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Meanwhile, ElShorbagy moved a step closer to claiming his World No.1 spot back after defeating current incumbent Ali Farag to win the men’s China Open title.

ElShorbagy, the 2016 champion, started on fire as he raced into a 7-0 lead, before comfortably putting himself in the driving seat of the match with an 11-3 win in the first. He kept up the relentless pressure to double his lead, despite a much improved performance from Farag in the second.

Farag refused to go down without a fight, however, as he fought back in the third. But it was not enough to disrupt ElShorbagy’s game plan as he took the fourth to win his second China Open title.

“It’s the kind of match I want to be in this season,” said 28-year-old ElShorbagy afterwards. “I want to be playing finals, especially with him. I want to beat him this season, I want to get his World No.1 spot and I’m going to be hard to stop this season. I told him after the match that I hope that if I’m going to get it then he’s not going to give it to me easy, because I like the challenge and I didn’t give it to him easy.

“This season I’m going to get back at him, every session in the summer break I was thinking about how I could beat him and get the No.1 back. What he did last season was unbelievable, he lost only in the quarters last year, I’ve never faced a guy as consistent as him and he is so tough to play.

“I’m up for the challenge and I look forward to playing against him more and I’m sure he will come back strong next time.”

The next PSA World Tour tournament take places from September 9-14 when the Open de France – Nantes 2019 presented by Tailor Capital begins.
 
J.P. Morgan China Squash Open, Shanghai, China.

Men’s final:
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [1] Ali Farag (EGY) 3-1: 11-3, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8 (60m)

Women’s final:
[3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10 (70m)
 

Report by ELLIE MAWSON (PSA). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures courtesy of PSA