Being an NFL QB is extremely hard — and nearly impossible for first-round rookies, who are often viewed as saviors for their cellar-dwelling teams.

State of play: Four such QBs have already started games this season, with a combined 1-9 record that's as ugly as it is expected.

The NBA announced that unvaccinated players who do not comply with local vaccine mandates will not be paid for the games they miss, ESPN reports.

Why it matters: San Francisco and New York — where the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets are based — have vaccine mandates in place that require players to be vaccinated before playing in their home arena. Players on those teams who are not vaccinated could miss up to 41 home games next season.

The NBA released its tentative health and safety protocols for next season to teams on Tuesday, detailing how different it could be for vaccinated and unvaccinated players, ESPN reports.

Why it matters: Roughly 90% of NBA players are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, per an earlier statement from National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). They would have fewer restrictions under the NBA's plan, but unvaccinated players would have to undergo daily testing including before games, per ESPN.

NBA star LeBron James confirmed Tuesday that he has been vaccinated against COVID-19 as the league prepares for the start of the 2021-22 season next month.

The big picture: Over 90% of NBA players are fully vaccinated, the National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts said in a statement Tuesday.

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker converted a 66-yard field goal to beat the Detroit Lions 19-17 in the closing seconds Sunday.

Why it matters: It's a new NFL record for the longest field goal, beating out a 64-yard kick by Matt Prater in 2013.

Baseball is special for many reasons, but you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who includes pace of play among those positive differentiators.

The state of play: Nine-inning games are lasting a record three hours, nine minutes this season, the third straight year the record will be been broken despite MLB's concerted effort to reverse the trend.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer will miss the rest of the 2021 Major League Baseball regular season and postseason after the league and the MLB Players Association agreed to extend his paid administrative leave, The Athletic reports.

Why it matters: This is the ninth time Bauer's leave was extended. The 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner was initially placed on seven-day paid administrative leave on July 2 amid assault allegations.

Three retired NFL players pleaded guilty to numerous fraud charges related to a nationwide health care fraud scheme, bringing the total number of retired athletes who have pleaded guilty to 15, the Department of Justice said Tuesday.

Driving the news: The three defendants admitted to defrauding the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan. The fund, created in 2006, gives tax-free reimbursements of up up to $350,000 per player for out-of-pocket medical expenses.

NFL Players Association President and Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter in a blog post Tuesday called for daily COVID-19 testing for all players for the 2021 season due to the spread of the Delta variant.

Driving the news: Tretter's call comes after NFL announced that it will conduct weekly tests for players during the season. The league previously said it will cancel games and force teams to forfeit if they have an outbreak.

Tickets were once mementos — physical items soaked in memories and nostalgia, tucked away in attics and scrapbooks. They are now barcodes on our phones.

By the numbers: 98% of NFL fans used mobile tickets during preseason games this summer, according to the league. That's up from 67% in 2019.