NFL

He likened it to being blindfolded, chasing a dream career in a sport that may as well have been a foreign language.

It is what makes Mailata’s rapid rise – a self-described “Hollywood movie” – all the more remarkable.

Earlier this month he was sharing the field with Tom Brady, who at 44 years old, is still breaking records and still redefining the quarterback age curve.

Mailata is doing some redefining of his own, shedding the rugby league identity of his past and forging a new one.

The Chicago Bears pushed back training from morning to the afternoon. Initial testing had revealed that nine players and staff members had tested positive but the results later turned out to be false positives, and the team put off training until the afternoon "out of an abundance of caution", the Chicago Tribune reported.

The NFL said the clubs were taking precautionary measures while working to either confirm or rule out the positive tests.

Brady will not be a New England Patriot when he starts his 21st NFL season, but where he lands in free agency remains unclear.

The Tennessee Titans are ruled out after re-signing Ryan Tannehill while the Las Vegas Raiders' reported acquisition of Marcus Mariota means Sin City is unlikely to be Brady's next destination.

So where is his most likely landing spot? We assess the options.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

A sporting icon moving to the City of Stars late in his career? See LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers for evidence that can happen.

The Browns are 2-3 for the year and they face a tough schedule in the coming weeks, with the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos their next three games.

Having been backed for a good season, Beckham is not enjoying Cleveland's struggles and would also like to be contributing more himself.

The 26-year-old has four catches for 47 yards over his past two games, which is his lowest output in that span during his six-year NFL career.

Having spent the past three months at Florida's IMG Academy learning how to train and play American football, Holmes along with six other international athletes trialled for scouts of all 32 NFL sides last week, competing for one of four spots available among the AFC East sides.

Holmes clearly impressed scouts - with rumours mounting he was sought after by the Jets, New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.

The Patriots were hot favourites going into the game, with the combination of star quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick going for their sixth Super Bowl triumph.

But a year after the Patriots made a great escape to win Super Bowl LI from 25 points down against Atlanta, the Eagles managed to keep their composure and finish the job for the franchise's first-ever NFL title.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles — who had taken over from the injured starter Carson Wentz during the season — showed few nerves as he connected calmly with his receivers.

In a growing row with the sports world, Mr Trump insisted that players who failed to stand during the national anthem should be fired or suspended.

Sunday's protests are the largest of their kind since they began last year.

Players have been protesting at racial injustice and police violence.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady joined his teammates in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as they locked arms while several others decided to kneel before facing the Houston Texans.

He had captained the Washington Huskies to the national championship playoffs, and had an opportunity that most players can only dream of.

But not Wooching. Ever since he was a kid growing up in Hawaii, this burly, tattooed linebacker had harbored dreams of a different kind.

"My passion was rugby," the 23-year-old tells CNN. "The first time I picked up a ball ... that's when my love for the game started, and ever since then it's just been gaining.

Offensive tackle Watson, who was born in Manchester, has joined the Denver Broncos having spent his first four years in the league with AFC West rivals, the Oakland Raiders.

Watson has battled injuries throughout his time in the professional ranks but has a better chance to be a regular starter along Denver's offensive line.

Londoner Crawford was also a free agent following a stint with the Dallas Cowboys and the 28-year-old defensive lineman has joined the Atlanta Falcons.

The NFL has requested more information from the Cowboys running back regarding the assault accusations made by his ex-girlfriend in July, ESPN reported Sunday.

According to the report, the league submitted a series of follow-up questions to the rookie in the last month and he is still in the process of responding to them.