Sports News - S Chronicles

Jacob Markstrom: Flames owners would have prevented a trade

Sports News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

Calgary Flames owners have rejected a trade that would have reportedly sent goaltender Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils.

That's what hockey expert Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff suggested on Monday.

• Also read: NHL: Flames rookie impressed absolutely no one

• Also read: The Devils have lost contact with their head coach

• Also read: 100 points for Connor McDavid?

Flames general manager Craig Conroy reportedly agreed to a deal with his New Jersey counterpart for the 34-year-old masked man.

However, Don Maloney, president of hockey operations in Calgary, would not have approved the exchange at the request of the ownership group. Seravalli did not elaborate on the reason for this decision.

The Devils are having a difficult season. They also fired head coach Lindy Ruff on Monday. Their goalkeepers in particular were cited as an explanation for the failures. New Jersey has so far used three goalies to defend its net. Vitek Vanecek (32 games), Akira Schmid (18 games) and Nico Daws (18 games) all had a save percentage below .900 and a goals-against average above 3.00.

For his part, Markstrom is doing well despite the Flames' failures in 2023-2024. The Swede had a 21-16-2 record, a .912 save percentage and a 2.61 earned goal average. His contract runs through the end of the 2025-2026 season and is worth $6 million annually.

Jacob Markstrom: Flames owners would have prevented a trade Read More »

University of North Carolina Athletics

Sports News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

By Adam Lucas

1. A very solid win for Carolina by any measure, they defeated a Notre Dame team that had won five of its last six games, 84-51.

2. The win means Carolina clinch a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title for the 33rd time in program history, the most in the league. With a win over Duke on Saturday, the Tar Heels would win the title outright. If the two teams finish in a tie, the top seed in the ACC Tournament will be determined by a series of tiebreakers so complex they're not worth examining now (the short version is: In the event a tiebreaker is necessary the heels want Pitt and/or). Wake sits ahead of Clemson and Syracuse in the final regular season standings.

3. Hubert Davis dealt with a difficult situation where the Tar Heels have seven seniors but can only play five at a time, opting for one term and starting Duwe Farris, Rob Landry and Creighton Lebo along with RJ Davis and Armando Bacot. It made the decision a little easier that the other two seniors, Paxson Wojcik and Cormac Ryan, have already started several games this year.

4. Notre Dame's best chance to win the game was to get freshman star Markus Burton hot. Carolina made sure that couldn't happen, especially with the defense of Davis and Seth Trimble. Both Tar Heels followed Burton all over the court, limiting him to nine points and three-for-11 from the field with four turnovers.

5. Not a spectacular offensive day, but a good enough offensive day. Consider that Notre Dame came into the game as the league's second-best defensive efficiency team in conference play; Carolina still shot 45 percent from the field and 38 percent from three. Davis led the Tar Heels with 22 points and Harrison Ingram had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

6. Davis could be even more selfish – and may have to face better opponents. He had a solid first half, hitting a floater and a pull-up and essentially demonstrating that he could score from anywhere, at any time while going 5-for-9. There was a scene where he recovered a loose ball after missing a free throw and possibly got a look at a three-pointer; Instead, he found a teammate. During the rest of March and April it would be perfectly fine for him to take this shot. However, it's hard to argue with the results. Davis had five assists on Tuesday. This is the sixth time in the last nine games that he has had at least five assists.

7. On senior night it was nice to see how every senior contributed. Paxson Wojcik grabbed a few offensive rebounds and Cormac Ryan had a very solid performance against his former team. Ryan attempted six free throws in the first half alone, matching his total from the last four games. The Heels are a better offensive team when Ryan can do more than just three-pointers. Thanks to the lead, the Tar Heels also had good minutes for Farris, Landry and Lebo at the end of the game.

8. And of course there was Armando Bacot, who, in addition to his five rebounds, quietly scored 14 points – including two three-pointers for the first time in his long career. Bacot was also 4 of 6 from the free throw line. His improvement in this area will be important over the next month.

9. In the non-senior category, some really nice minutes from Jalen Washington. The Tar Heel reserve big hit two three-pointers on his way to 10 points and five rebounds in just 11 minutes.

10. Is it possible we are underestimating how good this team was in ACC play? On Tuesday night, the Tar Heels had a double-digit lead at some point for the 17th time in 19 league games. Of course, this doesn't count towards wins, but it is an indication of the way the team has played against conference opponents.

11. Bacot played his 162nd game, setting the all-time ACC record. The varying number of years and games players have played in the current version of college basketball makes it difficult to quantify their true impact, especially when counting statistics like total rebounds. So consider this number from Jodyzeugner: Bacot ranks second in school history in available rebound percentage entering Tuesday night. The leader in this category is, unsurprisingly, Billy Cunningham, who secured 17.5 percent of the available boards over the course of his successful career. Bacot is just behind Sam Perkins and Antawn Jamison at 13.56 percent.

12. The victory secured Carolina's best 20-game Atlantic Coast Conference record ever. The previous best mark was 15-5 in the 2021-22 season, Hubert Davis' first season as head coach.

13. You never know who you might see at the Smith Center on a Tuesday night (in front of a great crowd for a Tuesday night game, by the way) – Eric Church was in town for Senior Night.

14. Big performance on Saturday. A win means the Heels are the outright regular-season league champions and top seed next week in Washington, DC.

University of North Carolina Athletics Read More »

Our NHL expert39s choice of the day Few shots for

Our NHL expert's choice of the day: Few shots for Roman Josi

Sports News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

Unbelievable but true: We lost our eighth straight National Hockey League (NHL) free bet on YouTube last night as the Blackhawks failed to overcome a 2.5-goal deficit in Colorado and posted a 5-0 shutout had to.

I almost feel guilty reporting that the other two premium hockey picks shared on the MJPicks.com website were winners: Columbus, which covered the +1.5 margin against Vegas, and Shea Theodore, who had fewer than 2.5 shots on goal. This is a recurring theme and I am terribly disappointed with the poor performance of the free picks compared to the performance of the premium picks on MJPicks.com.

Today I would like to share one of my bets on specific players. This season, my bets on NHL players resulted in 62 wins and 50 losses, which is a win rate of 55.4% and a profit of +4.05 units when only “risking one unit per bet”.

Remember, smart bettors aim for a win rate of around 54-58%. If you look at the last 11 bets on hockey players, the result is an astonishing 9:2. So, let's move on.

Tonight the Montreal Canadiens travel to Nashville to take on the Predators. Now my free NHL pick for Tuesday, March 5th is Roman Josi, who will have fewer than 3.5 total shots on goal. The current odds for this bet are between 1.77 and 1.88 in decimal format.

What concerns me is that he has taken more than 3.5 shots in four of his last five games. During that time, he averaged 3.8 shots per game, including 4 against the Avalanche, Senators and Ducks and 5 against the San Jose Sharks.

However, his overall season average is 3.19. Additionally, prior to these five games, Josi had completed ten consecutive games under 3.5 shots. This is encouraging for today's duel because I think he will return to average.

Another concern is that Montreal ranks fourth in the NHL in most shots allowed per game. The team concedes an average of 33.3 shots per game.

Please note that on December 10th, the last time Rosi played against the Canadiens, he finished the night with three shots on goal as the Predators won 2-1.

Although it looks like Josi has been having some success and shooting more often lately, I really like the chances of seeing him under 3.5 shots tonight. According to my mathematical model, this bet has a 57% chance of success, meaning it is a good value bet with decimal odds up to 1.75.

Good luck to you my friend, I'm Professor MJ and I'll see you tomorrow!

Our NHL expert's choice of the day: Few shots for Roman Josi Read More »

The Seahawks are in the loop after rightly parting ways with Adams, Diggs and Dissly

Sports News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

Quandre Diggs has made a habit of breaking news about the Seahawks.

Why should that be any different?

The 31-year-old safety, who announced Bobby Wagner's return to Seattle last spring and the restructuring of his own contract last summer, posted two words on social media at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday:

“Forever grateful.”

Likewise, Seahawks fans should be grateful for Diggs' nearly five-year tenure in Seattle, which effectively ended Tuesday. The ball-snapping security came in perhaps the most important trade of the John Schneider era, when Seattle sent a meager fifth-round pick to Detroit in October 2019. In 72 games since then, the pride of Angleton, Texas, has racked up an impressive 18 interceptions. earned three Pro Bowl nods and established himself as an invaluable leader in the franchise's post-Legion of Boom secondary.

So there's no denying that Diggs' release – reported six minutes after his social media post and officially announced less than two hours later – is having a dark impact in Seattle.

It's also the right move for a franchise that wants to literally start a new chapter.

The same goes for Jamal Adams and Will Dissly, who were also released.

Adams' long-speculated departure is unlikely to cause such sadness. The mercurial safety was acquired from the New York Jets for a herculean haul that included a pair of first-round draft picks, a third-round pick and established safety Bradley McDougald. It seemed that this was the foundation for sustained greatness – a former sixth overall pick with no significant injury history, a 24-year-old pass-rush torpedo entering his prime, a reigning first-team All-Pro and his successor – back Pro Bowler.

To jumpstart a deteriorating defense, Schneider and then-coach Pete Carroll made a huge pushback…with promising early success.

Considering everything that happened afterward, the 2020 season might seem like a dream now – Adams' 83 tackles and 9.5 sacks (in just 12 games), the most ever for a defensive back; The celebrating safety lit a victory cigar in the postgame press conference after the Seahawks secured a division title.

(Admittedly, he lit the wrong side of that cigar, perhaps foreshadowing the team's 30-20 wild-card flop against the Los Angeles Rams two weeks later.)

Of course you know what happened next. There were injuries, a torn labrum in 2021 and a torn quadriceps tendon in 2022, that forced Adams to miss 30 games over the last three seasons. There have been incidents — two sideline tirades directed at concussion doctors last fall and a social media storm that resulted from a reporter's wife's safety taunt.

There were touchdowns — like the ones he allowed to San Francisco's Deebo Samuel and Dallas' Jake Ferguson in 2023 — that represented mounting evidence of chronic incompetence in coverage.

There were no bags.

In fact, since Adams secured his last sack against Washington on December 20, 2020, 26 Seahawks (and another Adams) have done the same:

Jarran Reed. Alton Robinson. Benson Mayowa. Rasheem Green. Bobby Wagner. Carlos Dunlap. Darrell Taylor. Kerry Hyder. Jordyn Brooks. Uchenna Nwosu. Quinton Jefferson. Bruce Irvin. Boye Mafe. Shelby Harris. Dre'Mont Jones. Leonard Williams. Devon Witherspoon. Myles Adams.

There are eight more, but let's save space when printing. You understand what's important.

Meanwhile, Jamal Adams — who signed a four-year, $72 million contract in 2021 that made him the NFL's highest-paid safety — has long since stopped doing what he does best.

Production has stopped. The goodwill is gone.

So, yes: it's time to go.

Meanwhile, Diggs and Dissly's declining production also made them expendable. After snagging 14 interceptions and earning Pro Bowl nods over the previous three seasons, Diggs managed just five passes defensed and one pick in 2023 (while earning an overall grade of 55.1 from Pro Football Focus, 87th). among the safeties and one place ahead of Adams). At 31 With Diggs having nine NFL seasons under his belt, his regression is more of a harbinger than an outlier.

Remember, Kam Chancellor was 31 years old when a neck injury officially ended his NFL career. Earl Thomas was 29 when he left Seattle to play briefly with the Baltimore Ravens while recovering from a broken leg.

Circumstances change, but top-notch Seattle safeties rarely excel until their mid-30s. It's the job of Schneider and new coach Mike Macdonald to champion statistics and prioritize sentimentality.

Likewise, the 27-year-old Dissly was a respected teammate during his six seasons in Seattle (more so, considering his previous four seasons at the University of Washington). But did his production — 127 catches, 1,421 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in 72 career games and never more than 34 receptions in a season — match the three-year, $24 million contract he signed in 2022?

Dissly, a former fourth-round pick, dropped from 60% to 39% last season while managing just 17 receptions for 172 yards and a single score. The 6-foot-1, 265-pounder has long been considered a reliable blocker… but at that price, you're paying more.

Speaking of which, the three releases save the Seahawks $34.5 million in cash and nearly $25 million in salary cap space. They leave the team with $36.2 million in total cap space and $28.7 million in effective cap space (which takes into account salaries tied to future draft picks), via OverTheCap.com.

Suddenly these Seahawks have room to spend.

That and holes that need to be filled.

Seattle needs to find a starting safety to partner with Julian Love, the versatile 25-year-old who stepped up at the end of last season. Maybe it's Baltimore's Geno Stone, a free agent who grabbed seven interceptions (most by safeties) under Macdonald's leadership as defensive coordinator in 2023. Maybe it's an up-and-coming rookie, although there are currently zero safeties who are considered proven first-round picks. Maybe it is (insert your favorite free agent safety here).

Seattle will also have to deal with a suddenly empty tight end room, considering Noah Fant and Colby Parkinson may also be free agents.

On Tuesday, Schneider and Macdonald took the necessary steps to give this franchise the flexibility it needs to build. They armed themselves with ways to convert cap space into sustainable success.

But will fans be grateful for what happens next?

The Seahawks are in the loop.

The Seahawks are in the loop after rightly parting ways with Adams, Diggs and Dissly Read More »

The 50 Best Versions of the NFL Free Agent Market

Sports News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

The month of March represents excitement in the NFL every year, even when there isn't a game on the calendar. Finally, it is the start of the free agent market next Monday, March 11th, when the legal window for negotiations opens. Taking all positions together, I offer you my personal list of the 50 best positions available.

1. Chris Jones, tackle

Kansas City Chiefs

30 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

There's no doubt that Chris Jones is the best player on the market, but the Chiefs will do everything they can to avoid letting him slip away. The tackle himself told the Parade of Champions that he would stay in Kansas City. Unless the channel comes in last minute…

2. Kirk Cousins, quarterback

Minnesota Vikings

36 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

Cousins has often been unfairly ridiculed, but he remains a productive quarterback who enjoyed his best moments before suffering a torn Achilles tendon. At 36 years old and coming off this serious injury, we'll have to see if the Vikings want to pay the heavy price.

3. Josh Allen, defensive end

Jacksonville Jaguars

27 years old

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

Josh Allen of the Jaguars may not be as well-known as Josh of the Bills, but he is coming off his best season with 17.5 sacks and 90 pressures. After a modest start to his career, he appears to be seriously on his way.

4. Brian Burns, defensive end

Carolina Panthers

26 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

Like almost every player on the poor Panthers, Brian Burns regressed last season. At 26 years old, his potential to terrorize quarterbacks is still immense. The team has already turned down two first-round picks in exchange for his services. It would be the height it leaves against the wind.

5. Antoine Winfield Jr., looter

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

26 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

The safety position isn't valued these days, but Winfield is in a class of his own. He can make big plays both in deep coverage and near the line of scrimmage and can be used in all situations, as evidenced by his 15 sacks and seven interceptions in four years.

6. Christian Wilkins, tackle

Miami Dolphins

28 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

Wilkins was already considered a dominant tackle against the run, but he also excelled against the air game this season with nine sacks and 61 pressures. These are not common statistics for tackles and he will land the moon.

7. Danielle Hunter, defensive end

Minnesota Vikings

29 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo AFP

Despite a strikeout and a change in defensive scheme last season, Danielle Hunter responded with a season-high 16.5 sacks. He has proven to be an elite quarterback no matter what scheme he is used in.

8. Jaylon Johnson, cornerback

Chicago Bears

25 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

Since last year, negotiations have been difficult between Johnson and the Bears, who even attempted to trade him. Great cornerbacks in their mid-20s are not uncommon, and whether he stays or goes, the end of the month after his next contract will never scare him.

9. Saquon Barkley, running back

New York Giants

27 years old

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

This is another case where I could be criticized for positioning a player too high because he is a ball carrier, a devalued position. However, Barkley is a special player who can do anything on the field. If he's not too greedy, he can be a huge help to any team with a young quarterback.

10. Michael Pittman Jr., receiver

Indianapolis Colts

26 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

The Colts really don't have the luxury of letting go of a 26-year-old receiver who caught 109 passes last season, especially with a young quarterback in Anthony Richardson who has little experience and needs to be solidly surrounded. Pittman is in charge at the negotiating table.

11. Tyron Smith, blocker

Dallas Cowboys

33 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo AFP

The only question mark surrounding Tyron Smith is that he has missed at least three games per season (sometimes much more) for the last four years. When he plays, however, he remains a fortress. He's not getting any younger, but he can still have two or three great seasons.

12. Baker Mayfield, quarterback

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

29 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

The ideal scenario would be Baker Mayfield returning to Tampa to continue what he started. He surprised everyone last season with 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns. The worst thing that could happen to him would be a fifth team in three years.

13. Calvin Ridley, receiver

Jacksonville Jaguars

29 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

After a year off and a change of scenery in Jacksonville, Ridley performed well as a receiver. He passed for more than 1,000 yards and scored eight touchdowns. But is he the true number one the Jaguars are looking for?

14. Mike Onwenu, blocker

New England Patriots

26 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo AFP

The Patriots have used Onwenu at various positions and last season he particularly stood out as a right tackle. He is only 26 years old and has proven that he can help solidify the line no matter what the needs are. It will be worth a lot.

15. Jonathan Greenard, defensive end

Houston Texans

27 years old

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

Here's one who exploded with 12.5 sacks last season. Is it because of the teachings of DeMeco Ryan? Did the presence of Will Anderson Jr. help? Still, the marriage with the Texans appears to be successful and they have the resources to bring him back.

16. Kendall Fuller, cornerback

Washington commanders

29 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

What will serve Fuller well on the market despite being nearly 30 years old is that he can play both inside and outside as a cornerback. He even has experience as a looter. Is he a real top? No, but it is very versatile.

17. Xavier McKinney, looter

New York Giants

25 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

McKinney has it all. He has accounted for 11 turnovers in four seasons and had his best moments last fall with a 116-tackle season. He doesn't shy away from physical play. The only problem is that two of his four NFL seasons were sabotaged by injuries.

18. Leonard Williams, tackle

Seattle Seahawks

30 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

The Seahawks traded away a second and fifth pick for half a season at the last trade deadline. He always excelled against the ground game and in Seattle he applied pressure in passing situations. Was he just a rental player at that price?

19. Patrick Queen, linebacker

Baltimore Ravens

25 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

Queen has gained ground in pass coverage and applying pressure in recent seasons. However, after the lucrative contract with Roquan Smith, he became a luxury item in Baltimore. First round pick and at just 25 years old, he won't be long in coming.

20. Josh Jacobs, running back

Las Vegas Raiders

26 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

Jacobs was a champion carrier with 1,653 rushing yards in 2022 and fell sharply last season with just 805 yards and a 3.5 per carry average. However, he is only 25 years old and is an excellent receiver.

21. DJ Reader, tackle it

Cincinnati Bengals

30 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo AFP

DJ Reader is one of the league's good players to counter the ground game. He's doing great work for the Bengals, but the quadriceps tear he suffered in December is causing uncertainty in his case. This is anything but ideal when looking for a contract.

22. Stephon Gilmore, cornerback

Dallas Cowboys

33 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

Before you get upset with Stephon Gilmore because of his age, 33, realize that he can still hold his own and that his physical style still allows him to battle against several big name receivers. It's about taking it easy with a fixed-term contract and a modest salary.

23. Chase Young, defensive end

San Francisco 49ers

25 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

Chase Young was plagued by injuries in 2021 and 2022. When he moved to San Francisco last fall, he didn't shine. Some say he doesn't always have the heart to work, but he still has all the tools to wreak havoc.

24. Za'Darius Smith, winger/linebacker

Cleveland Browns

31 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

The veteran looked pretty good alongside Myles Garrett in Cleveland last season, even if his sack percentage (5.5) doesn't reflect that. However, you shouldn't overpay a 31-year-old player who will be playing for his fourth team in four years.

25. Robert Hunt, guard

Miami Dolphins

28 Years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo AFP

Robert Hunt is another one of those offensive linemen who shows experience as both a guard and a blocker. He has been playing as a central defender for three years and this will be his nest for the future, being particularly effective on the ground.

26. CJ Gardner-Johnson, Marauder

Detroit Lions

26 Years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

Gardner-Johnson is difficult to evaluate because he joined the Lions in 2022 after a strong season in Philadelphia but missed almost the entire season due to injury. He is a master of provocation, a real pest and knows how to inspire the young people around him.

27. Bryce Huff, tight end/linebacker

New York Jets

26 Years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

The Bryce Huff case is very fascinating. There are few players like him who get 10 sacks in a reserve role. Is this a case of him being abused by the Jets and his full potential will blossom elsewhere, or did the Jets have their reasons for using him sparingly?

28. Marquise Brown, receiver

Arizona Cardinals

27 Years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

“Hollywood” Brown had his most disappointing season last fall with 51 receptions for 574 yards, but he remains a speed merchant and didn't have a steady season at quarterback last year in Arizona. He can still create sparks.

29. Derrick Henry, running back

Tennessee Titans

30 years

Chris Jones, one of the best defensive players of his generation, should continue to establish himself in Kansas City or elsewhere.

Photo Getty Images via AFP

King Henry has just celebrated his 30th birthday. Everything indicates that he has played his last game in Tennessee and will get a short-term contract. With 1,167 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns last season, he showed he still has miles to go despite engine wear.

30. Dalton Schultz, tight end

Houston Texans

28 years

Without being extremely dominant, Schultz is one of the good tight ends on the circuit. With four straight 500-plus yard seasons in various offensive systems, he is a quality weapon without necessarily being a first or second option at quarterback. He is a reliable addition to any attack.

AND THE OTHERS…

31. Kamren Curl, Marauder (Commanders)

32. Geno Stone, safety (Ravens)

33. Kyle Dugger, Marauder (Patriots)

34. Jadeveon Clowney, winger/linebacker (Ravens)

35. Chidobe Awuzie, cornerback (Bengals)

36. Frankie Luvu, linebacker (Panthers)

37. Steven Nelson, cornerback (Texans)

38. Lavonte David, linebacker (Buccaneers)

39. Lloyd Cushenberry, center (Broncos)

40. Josh Uche, winger/linebacker (Patriots)

41. Gabe Davis, receiver (Bills)

42. Bobby Wagner, linebacker (Seahawks)

43. Connor Williams, center (Dolphins)

44. Andre James, center (Raiders)

45. Leonard Floyd, winger/linebacker (Bills)

46. Jonah Williams, blocker (Bengals)

47. Tony Pollard, Running Back (Cowboys)

48. Mekhi Becton, blocker (Jets)

49. Kenny Moore II, cornerback (Colts)

50. Jordyn Brooks, linebacker (Seahawks)

The 50 Best Versions of the NFL Free Agent Market Read More »

Kylie Kelce Talks Jason Kelce39s Retirement and NFL Career

Kylie Kelce Talks Jason Kelce's Retirement and NFL Career – NBC10 Philadelphia

Sports News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

A day after Philadelphia Eagles legend Jason Kelce announced his retirement, his wife Kylie Kelce opened up about her reaction to her husband's speech and more in an exclusive interview with NBC10.

In the interview, Kylie told NBC10 she heard her husband's speech before he addressed the media on Monday afternoon.

“I think I was the only one who heard the speech before he went into it,” she said. “I think it was just a perfect summary of 13 years. It was an incredible accomplishment he had as a player in the NFL.”

She also said her husband had been working on the speech for years.

“I've heard several versions over the last four years. That was a completely different version,” she said. “I think every year he started from scratch, which was on the surface. But when he said he’s been thinking about retiring for years, he means he’s been thinking about it for years.”

Kylie had a front row seat to her husband's speech on Monday, including the part where he talked about how they both met.

“I still remember the moment she walked through the door. The first time it burned into my retina. It was like she slipped through the door,” her husband said. “Then she started talking and I thought, 'Man, is this what love feels like?'”

Kylie told NBC10 that the moment left her emotional but also amused.

“It drives me crazy that he's trying to talk about what he remembers from that night because, like I said, he was drunk,” she said. “It was very, very sweet. Very nice. It was way too much recognition.”

Jason Kelce's speech was met with strong reactions from Eagles fans and NFL viewers in general.

“The outpouring of love and support is expected because I know who my husband is and how he has behaved and how that has affected people's lives,” Kylie said. “But at the same time it’s still shocking.”

Kylie Kelce Talks Jason Kelce's Retirement and NFL Career – NBC10 Philadelphia Read More »

Senators: Vladimir Tarasenko is interested in Florida

Sports News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

At least six National Hockey League teams have reportedly shown interest in Ottawa Senators forward Vladimir Tarasenko, and the Russian could be keen on the Florida Panthers.

Ottawa Sun reporter Bruce Garrioch reported Monday that the Big Cats, as well as the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers, had inquired about the availability of Russian.

• Also read: Reinbacher and another young defender as reinforcement?

• Also read: The Devils have lost contact with their head coach

Tarasenko has expressed a desire to find himself on a team capable of pursuing major honors, and his full no-trade clause could allow him to be selective. However, according to the Ottawa media, the player's wife and two children would be staying near Fort Lauderdale, making the Florida destination even more interesting.

The Panthers are reportedly looking for a winger who can play on the front three lines.

The Senators recently presented Tarasenko with an award. They would at least ask for a second-round pick and a prospect. The 32-year-old athlete will become a free agent this summer.

The former St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers have amassed 41 points, including 17 goals, in 57 games this season. He puts the house on a salary of $5 million.

Senators: Vladimir Tarasenko is interested in Florida Read More »

Dolphins release starting LB Jerome Baker

Sports News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

Marcel Louis-Jacques, ESPN March 5, 2024, 4:57 p.m. ET
Close

MIAMI – The Dolphins have released linebacker Jerome Baker, the team announced Tuesday. This is the latest of several moves the Dolphins have made this offseason to regain financial flexibility.

Baker was the team's third-round pick in 2018 and has started 82 games in his six NFL seasons. The starting inside linebacker was entering the final year of a three-year, $37.5 million contract he signed in 2021; By releasing him, Miami will save $9.8 million against the salary cap this season.

Baker, who underwent wrist surgery in January, was released with a failed physical exam.

The Dolphins also announced they are releasing cornerback Keion Crossen, who missed the entire 2023 season with an injury that was described as a freak accident.

Editor favorites

1 relative

In February, Miami released veteran Emmanuel Ogbah and designated cornerback Xavien Howard after June 1 – moves that will save the team about $32.5 million in 2014.

A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Baker and the Dolphins discussed a contract restructuring but were unable to come to an agreement. However, the door is not yet closed for Baker to return to the team after testing the free agent market.

General manager Chris Grier had a similar sentiment when discussing Howard's release.

“We had a long discussion and he understood it was a business decision,” Grier said. “Ultimately we just felt it was right for him to give his agent the opportunity to see what was there for him. But we didn’t close the door on it.”

“We will stay in touch as the process progresses and see what happens, and we have left the door open for him to potentially come back here as well.”

Miami declined to apply the franchise tag to any of its standout free agents, including defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Connor Williams. The team still has time to agree to a deal with each player before the league year begins on March 13 and free agency opens.

Dolphins release starting LB Jerome Baker Read More »