Morning sports update: Dolphins linebacker says referee told him to ‘stay off’ Tom Brady

The Giants hammered the Red Sox on Wednesday night, 11-3.

The Bruins play the team’s second preseason game tonight in Philadelphia against the Flyers at 7 p.m.

And the Patriots prepare for a 1 p.m. Sunday kickoff against the Jets at Gillette Stadium. Tom Brady was limited at practice on Wednesday with a calf injury but is expected to play.

Dolphins linebacker Raekwon McMillan says a referee told him to “stay off Tom”: Following the Patriots’ 43-0 destruction of the Dolphins on Sunday, Miami linebacker Raekwon McMillan told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that he was advised to “stay off Tom” following what he said was a legal hit on Tom Brady.

“Tom didn’t say anything but the referee said, ‘Stay off Tom,'” McMillan claimed. “I put my hands up in the air and said ‘I got you.'”

Raekwon McMillan told me when he hit Brady on Sunday – a perfectly legit hit – the referee told him “Stay off Tom.” NFL still protecting those QBs amid several early season injuries to marquee ones

— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) September 18, 2019

For his part, McMillan wasn’t mad at the official for his instructions despite the supposed legality of the hit. According to Jackson, McMillan just wants a photo of his hit on the Patriots legend.

“I’m still looking for pictures from the hit so I can hang it up and show my kids some day,” McMillan said.

Trivia: Despite his recent struggles, Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri holds numerous NFL records, including most points scored. Of course, Vinatieri began his career with the Patriots and eclipsed another legend to become the team’s all-time leading scorer (he has since himself been passed by Stephen Gostkowski). What Patriots player held the team’s all-time scoring record before Vinatieri?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: He played several different positions during the course of his career.

More from Boston.com:

• Returning to Harvard is just the beginning of Ben Abercrombie’s recovery
• 10 mid-week thoughts on 10 Patriots as they prepare for the Jets
• How Mike Vrabel has given his son, BC lineman Tyler, the blueprint for success
• Former Steelers QB Charlie Batch compared the Patriots to the Golden State Warriors
• Antonio Brown is still here, and that speaks volumes about the Patriots organization
• Enes Kanter highlighted Brad Stevens’s basketball skills
• Wizards’ Isaiah Thomas has surgery on thumb, expected to miss 6-8 weeks
• Luke Falk’s former teammates described Falk’s obsession with his idol Tom Brady
• There’s not much life at Fenway these days, but Tuesday had its moments

Charles Woodson asked Tom Brady about the “Tuck Rule” game and it got awkward

:

2001. Tuck Rule play.@CharlesWoodson asks @TomBrady straight up: “Was it a fumble?”

📺: #NFLTheGrind on @EPIXHD pic.twitter.com/xbjngEwAPy

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2019

Carl Yastrzemski threw out the first pitch to his grandson, Mike:

A moment to remember.

Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski throws out the first pitch to his grandson, Mike Yastrzemski, at Fenway Park 👏 (via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/hqmNlA5qNj

— ESPN (@espn) September 18, 2019

Bruce Cassidy: “The band’s back together.”

🎥 Bruce Cassidy discusses the signing of Brandon Carlo, the #NHLBruins center depth, and the play of Jeremy Lauzon: pic.twitter.com/2NBt8MmBX9

— x – Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 18, 2019

Isaiah Thomas commented after he was ruled out for 6-8 weeks after surgery to repair a ligament in his thumb:

Hurt my damn thumb tryna play defense… Never again lol never again!

— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) September 19, 2019

On this day: In 2015, Japan pulled off a stunning upset of South Africa in the Rugby World Cup, 34-32.

Daily highlight: A moment of coordinated trickery on a set piece from Thiago and Thomas Muller helped Bayern Munich seal a 3-0 win in over Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1174429557274873856

Trivia answer: Gino Cappelletti