Alvin Kamara is hoping to change his fortune regarding how his season will begin with the New Orleans Saints.
He is planning to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss his side of the incident that happened last year in order to avoid suspension. Per NBC Sports, that meeting could come as soon as this week.
“I’ll talk to you all on Aug. 2 after I talk to [Goodell],” Kamara said.
Saints’ head coach Dennis Allen spoke about Kamara’s plans on meeting with Goodell in order to talk about what happened leading up to his arrest in 2022 for a fight in Las Vegas on the day before the Pro Bowl last year.
ESPN quoted Allen as saying, “I think Alvin really wants to get out ahead of this and have a chance to visit with Roger and kind of give him his side of the story,” Allen said. “And look, at the end of the day, I think part of it is, ‘Let’s get some resolution with where we’re at and move forward.’ I think Alvin is looking forward to putting this behind him and focusing in on what he has to do to be the best he can be for our team this season.”
The league has not notified Kamara or the Saints as to whether Kamara will receive a suspension or not yet, but Kamara is hoping that his chat with Goodell will keep him from receiving any suspension, or probably at least soften the blow.
In February of 2022, Kamara and another NFL player were facing a felony charge of battery with substantial bodily harm and a misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to commit battery stemming from an altercation on Feb. 5, 2022, the day before the Pro Bowl. Kamara entered a plea deal to a reduced misdemeanor charge of breach of peace last month.
Kamara, along with free agent cornerback Chris Lammons, and two others Darrin Young, and Percy Harris, brutally assaulted Darnell Greene as they were all leaving a casino in Las Vegas. What started out as Greene attempting to get on the elevator turned into him fending himself off from those four men. When the altercation ended Greene was hospitalized and left with multiple injuries, including an orbital fracture in his right eye as he was punched and kicked by all four men.
On top of the obvious and visible injuries, there is also a video of the incident obtained by TMZ showing the moment when Greene was viciously jumped by the four men, including Kamara, as he tried to enter the elevator.
The Saints running back met with Greene over a civil suit and ended up having to pay $100,000 for his medical costs, a minuscule figure compared to the $10 million Greene was originally seeking in damages. Kamara also released a public statement about it as well.
“Please accept my sincere apologies for the events of February 5, 2022, in Las Vegas,” the apology stated. “I am happy that we were able to get on the other side of this unfortunate incident, and I wish you the best for the future.”
Though Kamara settled the legal matters, the NFL will not just chalk their decision up to a face to face meeting to decide the fate of the running back’s future.
Following Kamara’s troubled situation, the NFL reiterated that they maintain the right to hand out punishments regardless of whether or not a player was charged or had a criminal conviction.
“It is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime,” the league policy states. “We are all held to a higher standard and must conduct ourselves in a way that is responsible, promotes the values of the NFL, and is lawful. Players convicted of a crime or subject to a disposition of a criminal proceeding … are subject to discipline,” as cited by ESPN.
Kamara is a huge part of the Saints’ offense. They are one of the NFL teams that rely heavily on their running back for rush and pass situations. The organization is hoping Goodell is gentle with how he dispenses punishment, because a prolonged absence from Kamara would hurt the team’s playoff chances.
It isn’t clear what the other three men have legally done following their arrests, but Chris Lammons, who was also involved in the incident, recently signed with the Indiannapolis Colts.
Jalen Hurts is the epitome of hard work pays off, and after signing a record-breaking contract, everyone figured he’d have 255 million reasons to want to get back to the Supr Bowl.
Turns out the only motivation he needs is on the screen of his phone.
Hurts has been motivated to keep improving regardless of the success or failures throughout his entire career. That hunger and motivation never faltered, not even after he signed his massive contract during the offseason. But instead of enjoying the fruits of his labor, Hurts is on a mission to get back to the big game and win.
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, during an indoor training camp session new Eagles’ rookie punter Ty Zentner was taking a quick video of the session and Jalen Hurts was caught using his phone. But upon further review, many noticed the picture Hurts had as his lock-screen screensaver.
It was him. Narcissistic much?
No, it’s actually quite the opposite. The picture of Hurts on his phone was him after the final moments of Super Bowl 57, which the Birds lost 38-35. Hurts, who arguably played some of the greatest football of his career in that game was one of the most heartbroken players that day, and the look on his face in that picture shows it all.
But the former college football national championship winner doesn’t just have that as a reminder that they lost; he has it as a reminder that there’s more to achieve. Hurts figures that the constant reminder of that gut-wrenching feeling of coming up short will motivate him to give it all he has this season.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has a similar mindset when it comes to motivating himself and his guys. During the beginning of training camp Sirianni also showed pictures from the Super Bowl to impress upon the team how close they were and remind them how the pain of that close loss at the hands of Patrick Mahomes felt, in order to motivate them to want to be on the other side of the confetti-filled field at the end of the game.
“I think my point was, it’s OK to use this as motivation,” ESPN quoted Sirianni as saying. “You should use it as motivation. But the end goal is not just to say, ‘I’m going there.’ It’s about the process.”
A very similar strategy to wanting to get better every day in pursuit of being at the top of that mountain at the end of the season. The only difference is that Hurts carries that defeat with him because it’s a personal reminder whenever he opens his phone to want to be better.
The important thing is whether or not Hurts can actually manifest that defeat into a Super Bowl win. He has a long, hard journey ahead of him.
Paul Pierce is getting messy in the aftermath of Terence Crawford’s welterweight undisputed win over Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. over the weekend.
“That goes to show you there’s only one “Truth,” Pierce said from what appeared to be ringside inside the T-Mobile Arena after the fight. “There’s only one ‘Truth,’ there’s only one. You can’t just come out here and call yourself ‘The Truth,’ I got to hand that down to you; I got to give you them blessings. C’mon now, you can’t just be out here talking about you ‘The Truth,’ my boy. That ain’t how this works. C’mon now, there’s only one.”
Pierce has been known to speak his mind freely regardless of who is offended and his candid moments have led to his firing at ESPN as an analyst to now potentially offending a former world boxing champion.
One fighter who heard Pierce’s words sent a warning about the difference between talking disparagingly about a fighter on the losing end and stepping into the ring.
“Put him in the boxing ring pls,” former two-weight-class world champion and current lightweight contender Shakur Stevenson retweeted with the video of Pierce.
Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza heaped praise upon both Spence and Crawford for delivering on an event that fans had clamored for, leaving it all in the ring regardless of the outcome.
“Spence-Crawford was about two hard-working, supremely talented boxers chasing greatness,” Espinoza tweeted. “Congratulations to @terencecrawford on the win, and congrats & THANK YOU to both @ErrolSpenceJr & Bud for delivering a night on which the sport of boxing & its fans were the biggest winners.”
The World Boxing Council posted an Errol Spence Jr. “Appreciation Post” to support the fallen champion.
“Dear @ErrolSpenceJr, you will always be our champion and we will always support you. Defeats are part of life and we know you are a resilient human being that will overcome this moment. Whatever’s next, you can always count with the WBC.”
Spence said in the post-fight in-ring interview that he wants to activate the rematch clause but at a higher weight class of 154 pounds. The fighter had said before the loss that he was looking to head up to light middleweight and likely feels he will have an advantage in a higher-weight rematch.
That would require negotiation with Crawford to make that fight in a new weight class, but many want to avoid seeing a rematch based on Crawford’s domination of Spence. However, when Spence recovers from Saturday’s action, he might need to address Pierce for putting disrespect on his nickname.
As the Washington Commanders continue preparations for the 2023 season, questions surround the return of Chase Young from injury. Will the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year return to the form that made him the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft?
Young hasn’t played since he tore his ACL during the 2021 season and missed all but the final three games of the 2022 season. Now in a contract year after the team declined his fifth-year option, Young is out to prove wrong the naysayers who said he was a flash in the pan.
In order to do so, Young, who’s strength was speed, explosion and power prior to the injury, says he’s finally fully healthy, and he once again feels that explosion that made him once considered a generational talent.
Young Ditches Protective Brace
Since the injury, Young has worn a big, bulky knee brace that was used to stabilize the knee and make him more comfortable. Well, last week Young rid of the brace and showed he’s back. In a post-practice interview, Young explained why he got rid of the brace.
“It was just time to take it off,” Young said. “I feel like myself; I feel good. … I’m feeling explosive.”
That sight and Chase’s movement was music to head coach Ron Rivera’s ears. And the fourth-year coach talked about it with reporters.
“You see the get-off,” Rivera said. “Last year he was hesitant, a little tentative. Last year it took awhile before he got out there, and now you see him completely moving around with more confidence, and you see him finishing as well.”
That’s huge for a Commanders defense that’s expected to be one of the league’s best. The unit will be asked to carry the team early in the season as the team sorts out its QB situation under first-year offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Young Went Back To His Roots This Offseason
In an attempt to fine tune his pass rush skill set, Young spent a good portion of his offseason with his college position coach at Ohio State, the legendary Larry Johnson.
Johnson recruited Young to Columbus from DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland,, a suburb of Washington D.C.
Young says the work with Johnson was “invaluable.”
He even told reporters this about LJ Sr.
“Mr. Miyagi is what we call him,” Young said of Johnson with a laugh. “It was good to get in.”
Johnson’s track record of elite pass rushers as Ohio State position coach include Young, the Bosa brothers (Nick and Joey) and Bengals edge rusher Sam Hubbard. He also coached former Chiefs sack artist Tamba Hali at Penn State.
The great Dr. J, aka Julius Erving, is about as old school as you’ll find when it comes to his beliefs as pertain to all-time NBA greats.
In a recent interview with NBA media personality Joy D’Angela, the former ABA/NBA legend gave his top ten players of all-time list, and the likes of Stephen Curry, Tim Duncan and LeBron James were all surprisingly left off of Erving’s list.
While, not seeing Curry or Duncan’s name on the list is a shock for sure, not seeing LBJ on the list is even more astonishing. The three players have a combined 13 NBA championships, and all have won multiple NBA rings, something the Dr. didn’t do, despite his legendary career.
Of course, Erving’s list caught some blowback, and one of the first people to comment on it was none other than ESPNs Stephen A. Smith, who gave his opinion on Monday’s episode of First Take. Smith, questioned Erving, the 1983 NBA champion’s omission of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Erving’s List Consists Of All Former Players
The theme of Erving’s list was 100 percent former players, the three-time ABA and one-time NBA MVP seems to only believe former legends of the game deserve to be included in the top 10, and that’s something Smith doesn’t agree with.
“Julius Erving didn’t choose any active players…. He’s entitled to his own opinion, I just think he’s wrong,” Smith said on First Take. “You cannot have an all-time top 10 list without LeBron James. I’ve got LeBron James as a top-two player all time, what do you mean he’s not on the list?”
“You talk about Steph not being on the list. Steph has been in the league for over a decade, he’s got four championships. LeBron James has been in the league for 20 years. He played more years than most of the players Dr. J had on the list, so certainly experience is not an issue here.”
Smith has a point as it pertains to James not being on the list, and it may stem from his belief that he helped lead buddy-ball era.
Erving Hasn’t Changed Tune On James Over The Years
If Erving is anything, he’s consistent, on numerous occasions since 2021 he’s left James off of his list. In fact, in 2021 during an appearance on the “Posted Up” Podcast with Chris Haynes, Erving gave his reasoning for the omission.
“He was a guy who led the charge in terms of ‘super teams’ being put together,” Erving said.
“He can pick his own team, I ain’t going to pick his team,” Erving said, laughing.
Erving feels the same way about Kevin Durant, who he said team hops too much, creating super teams as well.
In a classic Friday news dump, the NBA sent a memo to all 30 teams last week regarding the Damian Lillard trade request from the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard, through his agent Aaron Goodwin, has made it clear to the team that he wants out and only wants to be traded to the Miami Heat. Goodwin has reportedly told other teams not to trade for Lillard as he will not play for them. Now the league is cracking down.
“We have advised Goodwin and Lillard that any future comments, made privately to teams or publicly, suggesting Lillard will not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade will subject Lillard to discipline by the NBA. We also have advised the Players Association that any similar comments by players or their agents will be subject to discipline going forward,” the statement read in part.
Players have the ability in free agency to choose whatever team they want to play for. That is what Oscar Robertson and many of the early league pioneers fought so fervently for. The ability to work where you want and have the freedom to choose a franchise that meets a player’s individual objectives.
But what players like LeBron James and James Harden, though by different playbooks, have managed to do is continue to have leverage on teams outside of their free agency.
In LeBron’s case he signed a series of 1+1 deals. One year guaranteed with a player option for the second year. That meant the front office of whatever team he was on was ostensibly forced to do his bidding, for fear that he would opt out in year two and leave in free agency. As the best player in the game, he had that ability.
Harden on the other hand would be the picture of malcontent and unhappiness, as he was in Houston and Brooklyn, forcing the team to move him rather than deal with a disgruntled superstar. A player of that magnitude would make life difficult for the organization and the atmosphere around the team unpleasant.
Lillard’s situation is different. He has already shown he doesn’t have the appetite to pull a Harden and sulk his way out of town. And unlike LeBron he isn’t on a 1+1 deal. He is under contract for four years and roughly $216 million, which means his only leverage is to threaten that he will withhold his services.
Lillard has had opportunities to force his way out of Portland and hasn’t pulled the trigger until now. Two years ago when he had leverage and could demand his way out, he instead decided to re-up on an extension knowing the team wouldn’t be able to field a true contender around him.
In a fight between billionaire owners and millionaire players I am almost always pro player. But in this case, Lillard chose what he wanted. He wanted the security of long term guaranteed money. He can’t now expect the Blazers to give him up for pennies on the dollar.
The Blazers are under no obligation to move him to Miami. They gave him an extension and he took it. Now he wants out, and they have to recoup as much value as they can.
The league is well within their rights to threaten punishment if Lillard fails to uphold his contractual agreement. So the one-team-only trade demand will not work for players under long term deals. But it won’t stop the players who have 12-18 months remaining from putting pressure on front offices. Losing a star player in free agency for nothing is still a major leverage play and it won’t go away.
Former Kansas City Chiefs edge rusher Frank Clark is now a member of the Denver Broncos. The two-time Super Bowl champion wasted no time setting the record straight on whether his new and former team are rivals. In an interview with Broncos TV the former Michigan Wolverines standout was blunt about where the former rivalry now stands.
With the Chiefs dominating the matchups since reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes got the reins in K.C., Clark sounded like he knows the Broncos must win sometimes for it to be called a rivalry.
Clark Says Pump Brakes On Rivalry Talk
“I wouldn’t call it a rivalry,” Clark said. “In a rivalry, it’s competitive. … I’m on the Broncos now, and I’ve been on the other side and we didn’t call it a rivalry then. I’m on the Broncos now. Until we become competitive enough, we have to beat that team. We have to win our division. We have to do a few things. It’s not just about the Chiefs. It’s things we have to do here. We have to get our own ball together here in order for us to go out and compete for us to become one of those factors.”
Clark has a point, since 2015, the Chiefs have reeled off 15 straight victories over the Broncos. That includes 11-0 with Mahomes under center. So, one could see why K.C. does consider it a rivalry, because over the past seven seasons it’s been about as one-sided as a matchup can be.
In Clark, the Broncos are getting a guy who brings energy and relentless play. His 58.5 sacks in the regular season are a testament to that. But it’s his career 13.5 sacks (third all-time) in the postseason that the Broncos wanna see him add to.
Broncos Hope Sean Payton Can Change That Ugly Trend
Following the 15-game Nathaniel Hackett debacle, the Broncos went and hired former Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton in hopes that he can turn around a once proud franchise, one that hasn’t been to the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl in Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning’s final season in 2015.
Payton has also been tasked with fixing Russell Wilson, who struggled to the worst season of his career in 2022, his first in the Mile High City.
Payton has a track record with QBs and changing cultures. He did so upon his arrival in New Orleans in 2006. Broncos ownership hopes he can do the same for them.
The Washington Commanders are taking no chances under new ownership when a potentially sticky situation rears its head. The team let it be known recently with the banishment of two local radio hosts who were less than respectful to a female reporter.
Don Geronimo and Crash Young of WBIG “BIG 100” attempted to attend a Washington Commanders training camp over the weekend and were subsequently denied access after reportedly making “sexually disparaging remarks” about a female reporter on Thursday on air.
They were scheduled to broadcast from the Commanders’ training camp at the Commanders’ practice facility in Ashburn, Virginia, on Friday. However, they were denied entry after making the remarks on their radio show.
“Hey look, Barbie’s here. Hi, Barbie girl,” Geronimo shouted at veteran sports reporter and Emmy-award-winning anchor Sharla McBride from Washington, D.C.’s WUSA9. Geronimo said it live on air while McBride walked in for team training camp.
“I’m guessing she’s a cheerleader.”
“Oh hey. There’s that chick that you thought .. said tight,” said Geronimo later in the broadcast.
“Yah. I screamed tight when she was,” said Crash before being interrupted.
“I think. I think she’s a sportscaster at Channel 9. Or Channel 7,” said Geronimo.
“Yeah. She’s familiar,” replied Crash.“I thought she was a cheerleader,” said Geronimo.
Subsequently, Geronimo was fired by his employer on Friday.
“After an internal review, Don Geronimo is no longer an employee of WBIG,” President of the Washington DC Region for iHeartMedia, Aaron Hyland, said. “We take matters of this nature very seriously and this behavior does not align with our core values.”
The Washington Commanders wasted no time expressing their support for the decision.
“We have worked hard to ensure that everyone feels safe and respected in our workplace,” the Commanders said in a statement to WUSA9. “We took swift action when we learned that an employee of our partner iHeart made sexually disparaging remarks to and about a member of the media while she was broadcasting live from training camp yesterday.”
The Commanders are taking their rebrand seriously after the toxic workplace culture under the former Daniel Snyder ownership of 24 seasons. The NFL fined Snyder $60 million as a parting gift.
The team was recently sold to a group led by Josh Harris, including Magic Johnson, for a reported $6.05 billion.
The NFL running back market is in shambles, and all around the league there is no optimism that it’s gonna change anytime soon. The fallout starts with last season’s leading rusher Josh Jacobs having no intentions on playing on a team franchise tag with the Las Vegas Raiders this season.
As recently as this week Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor requested a trade after owner Jim Irsay told him he has no intentions on granting Taylor a new contract as of now despite Taylor heading into the final year of his rookie deal.
Then there’s New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who did sign his franchise tender last Tuesday, just one day before the team opened camp. Barkley, only did so after $2 million in incentives were added to the deal, raising the possible value from $9 million to $11 million. Even with Barkley’s signing and playing this season, the team can still apply the tag to him again next season if they fail to reach an agreement on a long-term deal.
That caused former Giants legend and Super Bowl-winning wide receiver Victor Cruz to recently speak out on it.
Cruz Wants Barkley To Play For Bears
During a recent appearance on “The Carton Show,” Cruz, aka “King of the Salsa,” believes Barkley should look to head to the Midwest after the 2023 season.
“I have a problem with all of it,” Cruz bluntly stated. “There’s nothing about this deal that secures Saquon for the long term. He’s one of those special ones, those special ones who can catch it out the backfield and do things that are above the X’s and Os’. So not getting the type of money he deserves hurts the market.“
“But after this year, the Giants are going to franchise him again. It’s going to be the same song. And so, he should go to Chicago where they have a young quarterback,” Cruz said.
“They don’t have to pay for a couple of years. They got D.J. Moore as a receiver. Insert Saquon Barkley as a running back,” Cruz said.
Cruz is referring to QB Justin Fields, who’s under his rookie deal for the next two seasons at least.
Would Bears Be Willing To Up The First-Round Picks To Trade For Barkley?
That sounds like a great move, but would a rebuilding Bears team be willing to trade two first-round picks for Barkley?
Because that’s what it’s gonna take. Is any running back worth that in today’s NFL?
Probably not, but a trio of Fields, Barkley and Moore sure does sound intriguing and very promising.
Rising high school sophomore Chris Henry Jr., son of the late Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry, has committed to Ohio State University. Henry Jr. is in the class of 2026 and is the first player from that class to commit to OSU.
“I’m committing to Ohio State, most definitely,” Henry said outside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Friday. “It just felt like a great day. To be here, it just made it feel (right). Brought my uncle to see, because he was the one telling me to slow down. I was ready. When I talked to Coach Day, it was like no point in waiting anymore. … It’s just hard to turn down. It’s perfect for me and it fits me.”
Henry Jr., who is the adopted son of his father’s former college teammate Adam “Pacman” Jones, is a 6-foot-5 185 pound receiver and was named a MaxPreps Freshman All-American after his season at West Clermont. He caught 29 passes for 292 yards and five TDs.
Jones and Henry’s relationship dates back to college where they starred at West Virginia. The two went from practice competitors, to best friends and brothers. Both had their share of trouble with the law throughout their NFL careers, and while Jones was able to turn his life around, Henry didn’t get the chance to. Henry died after falling out the back of a pickup truck in 2009.
Since then Jones has been checking in on Henry’s sons and eventually told their mother, Loleini Tonga, to move the family to Cincinnati so he could be closer to Henry Jr. and his brother and help raise them.
Jones has been a big presence in their lives, involved in their schoolwork and football activities.
“I’ll tell you this,” Jones says, getting a bit heated. “I’ll be damned if these kids make the same mistakes I did.”
Ohio State has made drafting high end WR prospects a top priority under head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Brian Hartline.
Jones says Henry Jr. plays like his father.
“The way he talks, the way he walks, the way he runs, it”s a spitting image,” Jones said. “If you go watch big Chris’ film, then watch little Chris’ film — man, it spooks you a bit.”
Henry Jr.’s decision to commit to Ohio State this early has its benefits. He can now play football and not worry about where he will sign and all the mounting pressure. It also gives him an opportunity to de-commit should Day and/or Hartline get fired before his freshman season.
There’s something in the air in Phoenix, and it’s not the scorching temperatures of the valley. No, it’s romance — the romance between some of the biggest stars of Phoenix basketball.
As reported by multiple sources, Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner and Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant have recently had rumors arise of them sharing a romantic bond, and there are speculations of the two basketball stars dating.
These rumors appeared after a video clip arose of Griner kissing the 13-time all-star on the cheek one day as they were spending time with each other. The clip of that showing of affection had the internet going wild, with many speculating the dating rumors about the two, especially given their history and how close they’ve been with each other.
Since the Phoenix Mercury center returned from Russian prison following her 2022 arrest at a Russian airport for drug-related charges, she has been sharing a close bond with KD.
The reactions on social media were mixed, some offering positive feelings about the potential basketball “power couple.” In contrast, others were concerned about the fact that Brittney Griner is married, which has them wondering what she was doing kissing Kevin Durant.
While there isn’t any record of Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, saying anything about the video or the rumors of Griner and Durant dating, one has to wonder what she makes of all of this nonsense.
If anything, Griner and Durant are friends and comrades in the same industry who play in the same city. The internet may deem a relationship and romantic expression as a close friendship between the two.
On top of these pointless dating rumors, Griner has more critical matters.
Griner also recently announced that she’d be taking time away from the team to focus on her mental health. While she says she only plans to miss a two-game road trip, she hasn’t set a date for her return either. It is speculated that her time away from the organization might be indefinite.
The Phoenix Mercury released a statement regarding Griner’s hiatus from the team in favor of her mental health.
“Mercury center Brittney Griner will not travel with the team on its upcoming two-game road trip to Chicago and Indiana (July 30-August 1) to focus on her mental health. The Mercury fully support Brittney and we will continue to work together on a timeline for her return.”
After Griner returned home from her 10-month imprisonment in Russia, she jumped back into basketball without taking a mental break when she got home. This time away from the game is well-deserved and well-needed for Griner.
The last thing she’s worried about is rumors of her stepping out on her wife.
Change is happening all around the Boulder, Colorado campus where the CU Buffs reside. First, it was the hiring of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders to hopefully lead it’s once promising football program that has now become the doormat of Pac-12 back to its glory days.
Since his arrival in December, Sanders has completely overhauled his roster following the team’s 1-11 2022 season and 5-19 the two previous seasons combined.
Now comes news that the entire athletic program, not just the football team will be back in the Big 12 beginning in 2024. The move comes after the Colorado Board of Regents voted unanimously to make the move.
“The time has come for us to change conferences,” Colorado president Todd Salina told the board of regents on Thursday afternoon. “We see as a way to create more opportunity for the University of Colorado, for our students and our student-athletes and create a path forward for us in the future.”
The Move Comes At A Time When Pac-12 TV Deal Is Set To Expire
The move will place the Buffaloes back in the Big 12 where they played from 1996-2010. The move also makes Colorado the first Power Five program to return to that same conference at its own discretion.
Was the move strictly about money? Colorado AD says no.
“Let me just state up front that this move was not just based on money or finances,” Colorado athletic director Rick George said. “A decision this big has a lot more to do than just money.”
But that’s hard to believe when last October the Big 12 just signed a TV deal with ESPN and Fox Sports worth $2.2 billion. In 2024, CU will receive $31.7 million for their move, and the new deal begins in 2025.
Buffaloes Struggled In Pac-12
Since their arrival in the Pac-12 in 2011, Colorado hasn’t won a bowl game, and only has two winning seasons. A move back to the Big 12 with Deion at the helm seems like a smart move, especially with traditional powers Oklahoma and Texas leaving for the SEC in 2024.
This is an opportunity for the program to have a revival back to the days when Bill McCartney, Darian Hagan, Rashaan Salaam, Eric Bieniemy, Kordell Stewart, Michael Westbrook and others did their thing amidst the scenic Rocky Mountains.
Free agent running back Le’Veon Bell is going to bat for his fellow running backs as the controversy surrounding the value of the position lends itself to daily social media dialogue.
But while trying to put his two cents in and defend Saquon Barkley, the always outspoken Bell blasted Barkley’s high-priced QB Daniel Jones.
The biggest issue in football right now is running backs and their compensation. The elite running backs are being criminally underpaid and by some accounts, overworked, and NFL teams are fighting tooth and nail to set a new standard of compensation for the position.
Contention between star running backs and their front offices has been rampant of late. The Los Angeles Chargers’ Austin Ekler and Las Vegas Raiders’ Josh Jacobs are both in the middle of contract disputes. Indianapolis Colts perennial MPV candidate Jonathan Taylor, recently requested a trade from the Colts that owner Jim Irsay claims he will not honor.
And finally, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley just signed a deal that most agree is well below his market value as an NFL player.
Considering the fact that he’s twice the player his high-paid QB is, Barkley’s is the most interesting case because last week he signed a one-year deal with the Giants to remain there and try to garner a long-term contract next season.
But the contract Barkley got isn’t worth even one of Barkley’s famous quadriceps.
Though Saquon is back at training camp with his $11 million contract that he reluctantly signed, his signal-calling counterpart, Jones, has been happy at training camp with his four-year, $160 million contract making $40 million a year.
But what has pissed Bell off so much about those payouts is that the Giants lowballed their most productive player, who had over 1,000 yards and made his third Pro Bowl, while they paid top dollar for mediocrity at the quarterback position.
But Bell’s exact words weren’t minced when he went on the “AP Pro Football Podcast” with Rob Maaddi.
Yardbarker quoted Bell as saying, “There are average quarterbacks. He’s in the bottom tier,” Bell said. “I’m not here trying to talk bad about Daniel Jones. I’m just trying to be real for everybody who’s hearing it. He’s in the bottom tiers.”
Daniel Jones’s contract situation was different, even though he isn’t a top-tier quarterback. There reportedly weren’t any viable replacement options on the market this past offseason, that the Giants were interested in bringing in. Especially after Jones showed marked improvement in several areas of his game.
Naturally, the Giants wanted to lock Jones in for long-term security, and hope that he becomes the next Eli Manning.
Teams often overpay for quarterbacks. As that business approach trends upwards, the running game takes a hit, because teams simply throw much more now.
Bell, who once fumbled a bag himself when he was with the Pittsburgh Steelers and ended up settling for much less with the Jets, is accurate that Barkley, regardless of position, is invaluable to the Giants’ playoff hopes and without him, Jones will get severely exposed.
Jones will deal with this kind of criticism all season, especially if Barkley performs to his All-Pro level and Jones fails to rise among the top tier quarterbacks in the league.
Cleveland Browns star quarterback Deshaun Watson is still trying to rebuild his image after missing entire 2021 season (team’s choice), and the first 11 games of the 2022 season due to a league suspension related to multiple allegations of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions.
Through it all, Watson has continuously maintained his innocence. Watson was fortunate enough to have two grand juries decide not to indict him on the allegations. The former Clemson star has settled over 20 civil suits involving the different women in the case.
As the Browns opened training camp last week, Watson made some comments about his suspension last season, and how he believes the media have hurt his reputation.
“Things that people really don’t hear about. Especially, last year it’s been the media directing and narrating something else. My story has been kind of overshadowed. I had an opportunity to tell that story in front of those guys,” Watson said.
Watson’s comments sounded like those of someone who has no remorse for his actions, whatever they may be in this situation. And for that his reputation has taken a hit.
Patrick Says Don’t Blame The Media, This Is On Watson
Those comments caught the ire of longtime sports analyst Dan Patrick, who tore into Watson on his nationally syndicated show.
During an episode of “The Dan Patrick Show” last week, Patrick really got into why Watson’s comments are wrong on so many levels.
“He can’t be blaming the media,” Patrick said.
“Not for the coverage, what happened, any of that. He has to just avoid these land mines. You don’t want to create a headline here. You’re a quarterback on a team that right now is polarizing, it feels like. They’re not must-see TV. If Deshaun didn’t have this off-the-field, then he would be a must-see quarterback.”
“Nobody wants to hear Deshaun Watson ‘the media was out to get him,’” Patrick continued. “We want to see him play football. But even then, I don’t know if people are rooting for Deshaun Watson. … When it come to Deshaun Watson, you can’t play the blame game. You’re a creep, you got caught.”
Browns Have Just Two Prime Time Games
Despite having one of the better QBs in the league, and one of the better rosters in the league, the Browns only have two prime time kickoffs in 2023. One comes in Week 2 against the hated Pittsburgh Steelers on “Monday Night Football.” The other comes in Week 17 against the New York Jets on “Thursday Night Football.”
Patrick is pretty much saying this is by design because of Watson’s checkered past. Interesting point of view, but definitely plausible.
In a nightmarish offseason that won’t end, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is in the news again. Zion, his mother, and stepfather have allegedly failed to pay back a $2 million loan and are being sued by the lender, California tech company Ankr PBC. A civil lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, Louisiana.
In the suit Ankr PBC alleges that they lent Zion and his family $2 million in September 2021 while trying to establish a marketing relationship with the NBA star. It was the company’s hope that the All-Star forward would serve as a company spokesperson.
The lawsuit also alleges that Ankr assisted Zion with community events and provided him with a personal chef and physical trainer.
According to reports, Zion’s stepfather, Lee Anderson, presented himself as Zion’s business manager and requested $150,000 up front to negotiate any deals with his stepson.
“Based on Williamson’s statements to Ankr, Ankr reasonably believed that Anderson possessed the authority to negotiate business arrangements for Williamson,” the lawsuit stated.
Zion’s mother, Sharonda Sampson, is also listed as a defendant in the suit as Ankr alleges that it wired money into her account after Anderson told them the family needed a “bridge loan” to cover obligations.
“Anderson represented that the loan was urgently needed, as the family had taken on expensive investments including the purchase of certain real estate in New Orleans and could not meet their obligations due to the temporary suspension of payments from Williamson’s sponsorship deals resulting from an injury,” the lawsuit stated.
Anderson also allegedly told Ankr that Zion would not do any business with them if the loan wasn’t made.
The loan was to be paid back by Aug. 21, 2022, according to Ankr under the lending agreement.
The suit also claims that Anderson requested a series of extensions, and that when Ankr did receive a check for $25,000 it bounced.
In April, Ankr and Anderson entered into a forbearance agreement in which the company agreed not to sue if it received repayment of $500,000 by April 25 and the remaining balance by July 6th.
Ankr received the $500,000 payment on time, but about $300,000 of that covered interest, and the remaining $1.8 million is still outstanding.
It seems that there’s a lot going on with Zion off the court. This pending lawsuit, and the messy situation with his ex-lover Moriah Mills.
The 23-year-old two-time All-Star has so much to prove on the court this coming season, all of this off-court drama can’t be helpful in his basketball pursuits.
Earlier this summer Zion talked about changes that needed to be made. Hopefully, he’s got a plan in place that will get him back on the right track.
In an interview last week with USA Today first-year Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton took some shots at former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett. During the interview Payton called Hackett’s 15-game run as head coach, “one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”
The Super Bowl-winning coach also let it be known that his QB Russell Wilson, who suffered through the worst statistical season of his career, was not the only one at fault for the team’s ugly 5-11 season, and 4-11 under Hackett.
In fact, Payton said there were “20 dirty hands,” around Wilson’s career-low 16 touchdown pass season.
And the team’s league-high (55 sacks), which tied with the Chicago Bears. Payton’s comments caught some backlash, and while he did apologize, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers let Payton know he didn’t appreciate how he came for Hackett.
Rodgers Shreds Payton
Rodgers and Hackett’s relationship goes back to their days together in Green Bay, so they’re extremely close.
In an interview on Sunday, Rodgers told reporters this about the situation.
“It made me feel bad that someone who has accomplished so much in this league is that insecure that they have to take another man down to set themselves up for some easy fall if it doesn’t go well for the team this year,” Rodgers told NFL+ in an interview following practice. “I think it was way out of line, inappropriate, and I think he needs to keep my coaches’ names out of his mouth.”
Rodgers also said he was very surprised to hear a coach speak about another coach in that manner.
Hackett And Rodgers Have Longstanding Relationship
From 2019-2021, Rodgers and Hackett were joined at the hip with Hackett being the offensive coordinator in Green Bay.
During that time Rodgers won back-to-back MVPs in 2020 and 2021, giving him four in total in his illustrious NFL career. So, to hear someone talk badly about Hackett, one had to figure Rodgers would come to his defense if he was motivated to do so.
And from attending local sporting events, to immediately establishing himself as team spokesman, Rodgers is embracing his new team and letting it be known that the Jets must be spoken of with a higher level of respect from this point on.
The Jets hiring of Hackett was a real chess move in getting Rodgers to agree to a trade to New York. Their relationship goes beyond the gridiron.
“We had some great years together in Green Bay,” Rodgers told NFL+. “We kept in touch. Love him and his family. He’s an incredible family man and an incredible dad. And on the field, he’s arguably my favorite coach I’ve ever had in the NFL. Just his approach to it. He makes it fun, how he cares about the guys, just how he goes about his business with respect, leadership, with honesty, with integrity.”
The Jets and Cleveland Browns face each other in this week’s Hall of Fame game. While it’s highly plausible you won’t see any of the starters on either side, that will change in Week 5 when the Jets travel to Denver.
The Indianapolis Colts and star running back Jonathan Taylor are at odds, and the dynamic former Wisconsin speedster has reportedly requested a trade. On Saturday, an NFL source told ESPN that Taylor apparently requested the trade earlier this week and has been awaiting a decision on his request.
Taylor’s reputed request comes on the heels of the running back wanting an extension, amidst all of the other backs around the league feeling as if they’re being shortchanged as it pertains to fair pay. While, Taylor may have made the request earlier this week, it wasn’t revealed until he and Colts owner Jim Irsay reportedly held an hour-long meeting on Irsay’s luxury bus adjacent to the team’s practice field in Westfield, Indiana.
Following the meeting Irsay didn’t go into much detail about what was said, but he did tell reporters that his stance on a long-term extension hadn’t changed.
“Last month seeing all the different backs around the leagues struggling to get paid,” Taylor said, “‘You see why guys requests trades.”
When asked if he’d honor Taylor’s request, Irsay was pretty blunt in his response.
“We will not trade Jonathan Taylor,” Irsay said. “This is a certainty. Not now or not in October.”
The 2023 season’s trade deadline is on Oct. 31, which is why Irsay made sure to throw that in there.
He also added that the team is looking to have a bounce-back season, with Taylor being a key piece of that revival. He also commented on the conversation as a whole, saying this.
“It was a good conversation, and I’m hopeful as we go forward.”
Taylor is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is slated to make $4.3 million. But Irsay is insistent on standing his ground.
“At this point, that’s not something that we’re discussing right now,” Irsay said. “This isn’t a comment that has to do with Jonathan Taylor’s situation. It’s what my responsibilities are. I’m responsible for everyone on the team and to look the cap money that you have and to look at contracts as you go forward.”
Irsay even told ESPN earlier this week, in reference to his star tailback and other backs around the leag, “When your time comes to get paid, then you get paid.”
In his three-year career Taylor has rushed for 3,841 yards and 33 touchdowns. That includes his 2021 season when he led the league in rushing yards with 1,811 and 18 touchdowns.
It looks like all forces are crashing down on Bill Belichick, and with some claiming that he’s on the coaching hot seat, a former player is now calling his character into question while trying to turn his players against him.
In recent news, Patriots star pass rusher Matt Judon wants a raise in his contract. While this raise would be well-deserved for the 30-year-old, it’s no secret that he is underpaid, only making $13.6 million as one of the best pass rushers in the league.
As an aging athlete, Judon, who still has much gas left in the tank, also wants another massive payday before being put out to financial pasture.
On the other hand, Asante Samuel, who’s waged an all-out war against Belichick and the Patriots, saw this as an opportunity to try and turn Judon against Belichick. On the app X, formerly known as Twitter, Samuel took a stab at trying to turn Judon on Belichick.
“Let’s see how much he likes Belichick now.” Samuel tweeted.
Attempting to get Judon to voice his anger at the Patriots and their head coach for not being able to reach an agreement on a contract adjustment, Samuel wants to shift public opinion within the Patriots organization and possibly end in Judon requesting a trade from the Patriots, normalcy for disgruntled players with unmet contract demands.
However this may have played out in Samuel’s head, but it didn’t work in reality. Judon was swift with his response to the former Patriot, letting him know where he stands regarding his coach.
“Will forever be my guy. Don’t let that money effect my emotions, Asante.” Judon tweeted.
Judon has two years remaining on his original four-year, $56 million deal he originally signed in 2021. Though his contract in 2021 might’ve felt like an excellent payday for Judon then, he’s not letting the fact that it’s a below-market deal now get in the way of the respect and camaraderie he has for the legendary coach.
On the other hand, Asante Samuel won multiple championships behind Belichick’s Patriots and saw the beginning of his prime in New England; he was also named to his first Pro Bowl before becoming a Philadelphia Eagle. So, after spending the first five years of his career as a Patriot, why does he have so much animosity toward Belichick?
The answer to why he holds this grudge with Belichick and why he’s also drawing on Judon’s contract dispute as a pressure point could be that in 2007 he had a contract dispute with the Patriots, which led them to place a franchise tag on him and signaled his last season with them.
Every year, there is usually a quarterback from college who is touted higher than the rest, and this year, Caleb Williams is the undisputed passer who will become a future franchise superstar. He recently drew comparisons to another franchise superstar, Patrick Mahomes, based on his exceptional playstyle.
One AFC scout told ESPN’s Matt Miller about the similarities between Caleb Williams and Patrick Mahomes. He said Miller was drawing on his ability to improvise and make plays out of nothing, just like the two-time Super Bowl champion regularly does.
“Every play is successful because he either throws on time or moves and makes it happen. He has that off-script [Patrick] Mahomes factor,” the scout told ESPN.
That trait was just one of Williams’ many attributes, with plenty of NFL scouts high on Williams. Other skills, such as his mobility for a quarterback, his arm strength, and his decision-making, also factor into the success of Caleb Williams and why plenty of way-too-early mock drafts have a quarterback-needy team selecting Williams off the board first.
On top of the 52 total touchdowns that Caleb Williams accounted for last year at USC, he also threw for 4,537 yards, making it easy for voters to select him as the Heisman winner the previous season.
With this amount of success and hype surrounding him, it makes sense why he’s ahead of other generational talents and quarterback prospects such as Trevor Lawrence, Bryce Young, Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and Justin Herbert, according to Bleacher Report.
Caleb Williams’ journey to becoming the best quarterback in college is no laughing matter, either. He started on Lincoln Riley’s bench at Oklahoma behind Spencer Rattler before he took over the starting job for a struggling Rattler and dazzled fans and coaches alike with his performance. He threw for 21 touchdowns and four interceptions after taking over at Oklahoma.
After getting recognition for his obvious talent, he decided to stick with a coach who knew how to properly utilize him, following Lincoln Riley to USC after he left Oklahoma. From there, Williams had his breakout season at USC, and now he enters his junior year, which looks to be his last before heading to the NFL.
As all eyes will be on Williams this year, it will be interesting to see if the lights will be too bright for him now that he is the undisputed “guy” in college football this season, the only person coming remotely close to him being UNC’s Drake Maye.
Another NFL general manager said Williams has everything needed to be a star and a great quarterback on top of what he’s done in his collegiate career.
“There’s potential and then there’s what he’s done in a year and a half as a starter. He’s not only the best quarterback in college, but he has the best of all the traits needed to be great,” one general manager told Miller.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has been a pretty busy man here in the last few weeks. With his show “First Take” dominating the morning headlines even more than normal with FS1’s “Undisputed” in a tailspin since the departure of Shannon Sharpe, Smith isn’t letting up. He now moonlights pretty often on his steadily rising podcast “The Stephen A. Smith Show.”
Smith is also an avid tweeter, and he recently caused a bit of a stir in the sports and entertainment world with his tweet about Kim Kardashian and her mother Kris Jenner.
“Is Kim Kardashian a prostitute? Is Kris Jenner a pimp?”
Smith seemed to be insinuating that based on Kardashian’s long dating history of athletes and musicians. But also because fans have always said they believe Jenner, who’s her mom, plays a role in who she dates.
While Smith did delete the tweet, the damage was already done, and he had to answer for it.
In wake of Smith’s tweet, new Philadelphia 76ers guard Patrick Beverley called out the opinionated Smith in a tweet.
“Not cool. She has kids. Should not be the title or topic.”
In a retweet of Beverley’s response to what he said, Smith agreed with Beverley calling it a “clerical error.”
Smith’s failed attempt to use that to promote his podcast where he talked about the infamous Ray J and Kim K sex tape definitely backfired, but he did take it on the chin.
As the 2023 NFL season nears, Smith and his “First Take” colleagues, are anticipating the possible arrival of the aforementioned Sharpe to sit opposite Smith in the debate chair along with many others.
Wouldn’t it be something to see Sharpe leave Skip Bayless and end up working with Bayless’s close friend and former partner Smith?
Stay tuned.
