Sports News

Simona Halep delivered three years earlier than

Simona Halep delivered three years earlier than expected

Sports News / By

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday reduced the ban imposed on Romanian tennis champion Simona Halep from four years to nine months for two anti-doping rule violations, which she has been serving since last July.

• Also read: Doping: Serena Williams throws a dart at Simona Halep

• Also read: Simona Halep was banned for four years for doping

After a three-day hearing at the beginning of February, the sports court decided that the former world number one's positive test was due to a “contaminated nutritional supplement” and that the abnormalities in his biological passport were not sufficient to prove doping behavior, according to a press release.

The CAS therefore distanced itself from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which had sanctioned Simona Halep on September 22, 2023, and called for “a ban period of four to six years” against the two-time Grand Slam winner in this arbitration procedure.

The court in Lausanne promises to clarify “as soon as possible” the practical consequences of its decision, namely a suspension from October 7, 2022 to July 6, 2023 – already served before Simona Halep lodges an appeal – and annulment all results between August 29, 2022 and October 7, 2022.

Halep's career has been on hold since October 7, 2022, the date his interim suspension began after a test taken at the 2022 US Open came back positive for roxadustat, a molecule that stimulates red blood cell production and is classified under the EPA in the regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Then, in the spring of 2023, the former world No. 1 was caught up in a second affair, this time by “irregularities” in the data on her biological passport, a long-term monitoring tool for top athletes.

In the first instance, the ITIA had “admitted the argument put forward by Halep that he had taken a contaminated dietary supplement”, but “found that the concentration of roxadustat found in the positive sample could not be attributed to the amount taken by the player” – a statement of reasons on Tuesday refuted by the TAS.

Regarding Halep's biological passport, the CAS included in its justification “the results of a private blood sample provided by Ms. Halep on September 9, 2022 as part of a surgical procedure”, although it waived any competition for the rest had year and concluded that these elements made “the doping scenarios put forward by the ITIA” unreliable.

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1709677294 NFL franchise tag deadline Josh Allen Michael Pittman Jr among

NFL franchise tag deadline: Josh Allen, Michael Pittman Jr. among players placed on it

Sports News / By

The NFL franchise tag deadline is 4:00 p.m. ET.

Where did it all happen?

Which players received the franchise tag?

Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals WR
L'Jarius Sneed, Kansas City Chiefs CB
Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers EDGE
Justin Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens DT
Antoine Winfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers S
Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars EDGE
Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears CB
Michael Pittman, Indianapolis Colts WR

Which players received the transition tag?

Kyle Dugger, New England Patriots S (Report)

What is the NFL franchise tag?

The Franchise tag is a designation NFL teams can use to retain a player as an unrestricted free agent and sign him to a permanent contract for another year. There are exclusive and non-exclusive tags.

What are exclusive and non-exclusive franchise tags?

Exclusive tags means that the contract cannot be lower than the average of the five highest salaries at that player's position or 120% of the player's salary in the previous season, whichever is greater. This also means that the player is not allowed to negotiate with other teams and is not allowed to sign with another team if they reject the offer.

Non-exclusive tags means that the contract cannot be lower than the average of the top five hits at that player's position or 120% of the player's salary in the previous season, whichever is greater. However, unlike the exclusive tag, the player is allowed to negotiate with other teams, and if he receives an offer, his current team has the opportunity to play. If the team decides not to play, it is entitled to draft compensation equal to two first-round draft picks from the signing team.

What are the NFL franchise tag position values ​​for 2024?

Quarterback: $38.301 million
Back Race: $11.951 million
Wide receiver: $21.816 million
Close ending: $12.693 million
Offensive line: $20.985 million
Defensive end: $21.324 million
Defensive tackle: $22.102 million
Linebackers: $24.007 million
Cornerback: $19.802 million
Security: $17.123 million
Punter/kicker: $5.984 million

What is the NFL Transition Tag?

The Transition day is another designation NFL teams can use to retain a player as an unrestricted free agent and sign him to a permanent contract for another year. The contract cannot be below the average of the top 10 salaries at the player's position and there is no guaranteed compensation. Players are also allowed to negotiate with other teams.

Live28 updates

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 10:03 p.m. GMT

    The Colts used the franchise tag today for the first time since 2013. Maybe you've heard of the last man to get it.

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 9:09 p.m. GMT

    “Bears make Jaylon Johnson’s franchise tag official.”

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 9:07 p.m. GMT

    Tag deadline has expired

    We made it! The deadline was 4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT.

    Stay tuned, though, as we'll continue to update you on anything noteworthy throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening.

  • NFL Christmas Day Eagles take on Giants after Raiders upsetTue, March 5, 2024 at 8:56 p.m. GMT

    Jaguars want a long-term contract with Josh Allen

    Josh Allen's franchise tag in Jacksonville is official with a note from general manager Trent Baalke:

    “We were unable to agree on a contract extension with Josh before today’s deadline.”

    The two sides continue to negotiate a long-term deal.

  • NFL Christmas Day Eagles take on Giants after Raiders upsetTue, March 5, 2024 at 8:48 p.m. GMT

    The Giants declined to use the franchise tag on Saquon Barkley. They also reportedly won't use it to ensure the safety of Xavier McKinney.

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 8:18 p.m. GMT

    Colts officially announced the franchise tag of Michael Pittman

    It is the non-exclusive tag, meaning he is allowed to negotiate with other teams.

  • NFL franchise tag deadline Josh Allen Michael Pittman Jr amongTue, March 5, 2024 at 8:17 p.m. GMT

    If your favorite team has a lot of cap space and is struggling at wide receiver, free agency may not offer many solutions.

    The free agency class at receiver took some big hits this week. Mike Evans was re-signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and now Michael Pittman is off the market.

    Read more here

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 8:05 p.m. GMT

    The Colts are reportedly giving the franchise tag to WR Michael Pittman

    NFL Network's Tom Pelissero points out that the Colts are designating Michael Pittman as a franchise player to negotiate a long-term deal:

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 8:03 p.m. GMT

    “Bucs make Antoine Winfield Jr.'s franchise tag official”

  • NFL Christmas Day Eagles take on Giants after Raiders upsetTue, March 5, 2024 at 7:17 p.m. GMT

    Interesting note on the Jaguars' signing of Josh Allen: He's reportedly due $24 million, which would mean he'll be used as a linebacker rather than a defensive end.

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 7:09 p.m. GMT

    Report: Patriots use transition tag

    A rare transition day sighting!

    According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Patriots are using the transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger.

    What is the transition tag? This is another designation that NFL teams can use to retain a player as an unrestricted free agent and sign him to a permanent contract for another year. The contract cannot be below the average of the top 10 salaries at the player's position and there is no guaranteed compensation. Players are also allowed to negotiate with other teams.

  • Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 6:56 p.m. GMT

    Report: Bears tag star CB Jaylon Johnson

    According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the Chicago Bears are expected to use the franchise tag on star CB Jaylon Johnson:

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 6:47 p.m. GMT

    Report: Jaguars give DE Josh Allen the franchise tag

    According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Jacksonville will franchise star defenseman Josh Allen as the two teams attempt to negotiate a long-term deal:

  • NFL Christmas Day Eagles take on Giants after Raiders upsetTue, March 5, 2024 at 6:44 p.m. GMT

    Antoine Winfield Jr. and the Bucs will reportedly continue to work on a long-term deal while he is under the franchise tag. As security, Winfield would be owed $17.123 million next season if the two teams do not negotiate a new contract.

    The 25-year-old Winfield is coming off his best NFL season and has become one of the league's best defensive playmakers. He posted three interceptions, 12 passes defensed, six sacks, eight quarterback hits, 122 tackles, six tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries and six forced fumbles, the most in the league, while playing in all 17 regular season games Year 2023 started.

    More on the Bucs giving Winfield the franchise tag

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 6:43 p.m. GMT

    It's easy to see why the Ravens want to keep Justin Madubuike. He is a key part of their defense, and according to NFL Next Gen Stats, he led the entire league in pressures from the 3-technique last season (positioned on the guard's outside shoulder, between the guard and the tackle):

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 6:19 p.m. GMT

    Ravens place franchise tag on DT Justin Madubuike

    According to general manager Eric DeCosta, Baltimore was “unable to agree to a contract extension with DT Justin Madubuike” before the franchise tag deadline.

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 6:18 p.m. GMT

    Bucs reportedly tagging All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

    According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Tampa Bay is franchising star safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

  • 1709677287 823 NFL franchise tag deadline Josh Allen Michael Pittman Jr amongTue, March 5, 2024 at 4:31 p.m. GMT

    If the Giants had signed Saquon Barkley for the second straight year, it would have cost $12.1 million, but the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft has long sought an extension to remain with the franchise.

    Read more

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 4:01 p.m. GMT

    Report: Saquon Barkley will become a free agent and will not receive a franchise tag from the Giants

    According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the running back market has reportedly just gotten stronger as the Giants are unlikely to sign Saquon Barkley.

  • Tue, March 5, 2024 at 3:56 p.m. GMT

    The Panthers officially announce that they have not exclusively tagged Brian Burns

    The Panthers have confirmed they are using a franchise tag on Brian Burns – but it is the non-exclusive tag.

    This means the following:

    Non-exclusive tags means that the contract cannot be lower than the average of the top five hits at that player's position or 120% of the player's salary in the previous season, whichever is greater. However, unlike the exclusive tag, the player is allowed to negotiate with other teams, and if he receives an offer, his current team has the opportunity to play. If the team decides not to play, it is entitled to draft compensation equal to two first-round draft picks from the signing team.

NFL franchise tag deadline: Josh Allen, Michael Pittman Jr. among players placed on it Read More »

Barkov with the passport of the year

Barkov with the passport of the year!

Sports News / By

The matter is settled: we can already award Aleksander Barkov the “Pass of the Year”.

The Florida Panthers center pulled off a breathtaking move against the New York Rangers on Monday evening, setting up Sam Reinhart's 43rd goal of the season.

• Also read: Senators: Vladimir Tarasenko is interested in Florida

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

Barkov juggled the puck in the air to get past K'Andre Miller before passing it to his teammate as it fell. The impressed Reinhart had no trouble scoring thanks to this perfect performance from his captain. Stunning. Watch the video above.

The two friends got a taste for it when they teamed up again in that second half, just under three minutes later. This time Barkov found Reinhart at the top of the slot.

Florida won 4-2 thanks to goals from Ryan Lomberg and Anton Lundell (empty net) in the third period. Will Cuylle and Chris Kreider responded each time on the power play.

Barkov with the passport of the year! Read More »

Seahawks release Jamal Adams Quandre Diggs and Will Dissly

Seahawks release Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs and Will Dissly

Sports News / By

Adams, also a trade acquisition, joined the Seahawks in 2020 and earned second-team Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors that year after setting a record for defensive backs with 9.5 sacks, but injuries have taken his toll Impact limited for Adams since this year He has appeared in just 22 games over the last three seasons, including 10 in the last two years, after suffering a torn quadriceps tendon in the 2022 season opener.

The Seahawks still have Julian Love at safety after signing him to a multiyear deal last offseason, and Love is coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2023, but they'll now have a new starter on the other side have a safe position.

Dissly, a 2018 fourth-round pick out of the University of Washington, battled serious injuries in his first two seasons, tearing his patellar tendon as a rookie and his Achilles tendon in his sophomore season, becoming a mainstay in the Seattle offense. After playing in just 10 games in the first two seasons, Dissly appeared in at least 15 games in each of the last four seasons and started 55 of 62 games from 2020 to 2023. In his six seasons with the Seahawks, Dissly recorded 127 catches for 1,421 yards and 13 touchdowns while playing a large role in the running game.

By releasing Dissly, the Seahawks could have an entirely new tight end group in 2024, as Noah Fant and Colby Parkinson are both scheduled to become free agents next week unless they are re-signed before the start of the league year.

The timing of these decisions is consistent with what general manager and president of football operations John Schneider described last week at the NFL Scouting Combine, namely that this would be the week the team would begin making roster decisions, after a new coaching staff headed by Mike Macdonald, is finally in place.

“We literally just finished hiring people, so think about all of us sitting in a room together, we're all like getting to know each other: 'What's important to you, what's important to.' all these different people?'” Schneider said last week. “When we met, Mike and I had an idea of ​​where we wanted to take this thing, but you also have to get into the specifics of the positions and understand what's important to these guys.” “In order to get buy-in from the workforce .”

When asked specifically about salary cap action, Schneider acknowledged that it could still be coming, and on Tuesday that was indeed the case.

“You’re constantly evaluating that,” Schneider said. “It's one of those things that we're going to figure out: 'Okay, if we're interested in this player or that player, how do we create space to get that player? If we trade a player with another team, how do we create the space?' Right now, this time of year, it's like having giant chess pieces that we're trying to work through. I don’t have any specifics for you, but I know we’re there.”

Seahawks release Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs and Will Dissly Read More »

Maxime Comtois receives NHL contract

Maxime Comtois receives NHL contract

Sports News / By

Quebec forward Maxime Comtois, once one of the Anaheim Ducks' brightest prospects, won his bet after proving himself in the American League.

After failing to get a National League contract last summer, Comtois signed with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.

With 28 points, including 12 goals, in 45 games for the Wolves, he secured a one-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, it was announced Monday evening.

According to TVA Sports journalist Renaud Lavoie, Comtois will be placed on waivers by the Hurricanes on Tuesday and will continue to play with the Wolves because the Raleigh team does not have an affiliate in the American League.

Comtois was drafted by the Ducks in the second round (50th overall) in 2017. His best season came in 2020-2021, when he put up 33 points, including 16 goals, in 55 games before hitting a slump. He became an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2023 when the Ducks did not extend him a qualifying offer.

Maxime Comtois receives NHL contract Read More »

The Seahawks released Jamal Adams Quandre Diggs and Will Dissly

The Seahawks released Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs and Will Dissly as part of a major roster restructuring

Sports News / By

In the first major personnel moves of the Mike Macdonald era, the Seahawks are shedding safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs and tight end Will Dissly, a league source confirmed to the Seattle Times.

The moves will save Seattle $34.5 million in cash and nearly $25 million in cap space for the 2024 season. While there has been speculation that Adams could be released after June 1, it will reportedly be a standard release and Seattle will now take the entire dead cap hit of Adams' deal, $20.8 million.

The moves are tied to the free-agent signing period that begins next Wednesday. By then, if not sooner, all steps will be official. OvertheCap.com

Adams' release has been rumored for some time, but it still comes with some shock as it marks the end of one of the larger trades in team history.

Seattle traded two first-round picks to the Jets in exchange for Adams in 2020. But after making the All-Pro second team with 9.5 sacks in 2020, he has battled injuries over the last three years.

Adams had two years left on his contract but no guaranteed money left, and cap numbers were at $26.9 million and $27.9 million over the next two years and salaries were at $16.5 million and $17.5 million. That was the last two years of a four-year contract worth up to $72 million, signed in August 2021.

Diggs and Dissly were each entering the final years of their contracts.

The release of Adams and Diggs means Seattle will have to look for some safeties. Julian Love will return, but Seattle doesn't have any other safeties with significant experience. One option could be Baltimore's Geno Stone, who had success with Macdonald as the Ravens' defensive coordinator last season and will now be a free agent.

Diggs was scheduled to make a salary of $10.4 million in 2024, against a cap hit of $21.2 million.

Dissly's release also means Seattle has no tight ends with significant experience on its roster, as both Noah Fant and Colby Parkinson may be free agents.

Dissly also had no guaranteed money left on his deal. He had a salary of $6.4 million in 2024 with a cap hit of $10.07 million.

Seattle acquired Diggs in a trade with Detroit in October 2019 and then Adams the following summer, hoping the two would come together to give Seattle a safety tandem to rival that of Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

But after a promising start in 2020, when Seattle went 12-4 and both Adams and Diggs made the Pro Bowl, the plan began to go awry.

Adams played just 12 games in 2021 as Seattle fell to 7-10 and then suffered a torn quadriceps in the first game of the 2022 season, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. He returned for the fifth game of the 2023 season, but the knee continued to bother him and he played just nine games before being sidelined for the remainder of the year.

Seattle president of football operations John Schneider predicted a possible move for Adams at the NFL Combine last week when asked how Adams might fit in Macdonald's defense.

“Is he in his plans?” said Schneider. “Yeah, I mean, we’ll find out. We will continue to work on it. … We’re still trying to figure it all out.”

Schneider had said the hope was that Adams would be healthier in 2024.

“It's been a tough year for him,” Schneider said of Adams' 2023 season. “…I'm sure Jamal would tell you it's been tough for him. He struggled to come back. He was constantly trying to be out there, being active and working with the coaching staff, the trainers, the strength and conditioning people. “I expect he’ll be a lot healthier next year, yeah.”

It turns out that now, at age 28, he won't be in Seattle's plans and will have to start his career somewhere else.

Diggs reached three straight Pro Bowls from 2020 to 2022, but saw his performance decline in 2023 as Seattle's defense ranked 25th in points allowed, 30th in yards allowed, and made just one interception, after making 14 in the past three years combined.

Diggs appeared to confirm the move when he took to social media platform X and said, “Forever grateful.”

Given its high market capitalization and savings, the release of Dissly was also not unexpected.

Dissly, a fourth-round pick from Washington in 2018, saw a significant decline in his playing time and stats in 2023 – his snap count fell from 60% to 39%, his receptions fell from 34 to 17 and his receiving yards fell from 349 to 172 .

This story will be updated.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or [email protected]; Bob Condotta covers the Seahawks for the Seattle Times. He reports on the team daily throughout the year.

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NHL Devils don39t want to trade Toffoli but

NHL: Devils don't want to trade Toffoli, but…

Sports News / By

New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald had a lot of questions to answer the day after head coach Lindy Ruff was fired on Tuesday, and some of them involved former Canadiens color man Montreal Tyler Toffoli.

The team's precarious position in the standings and its recent performances prompted the GM to change the guard behind the bench; Assistant Instructor Travis Green will fill the vacancy until the end of the campaign. However, attention will now focus on the futures of some players, especially with the National Hockey League trade deadline set for Friday.

• Also read: Jacob Markstrom: Flames owners would have prevented a trade

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

• Also read: Transaction rumors at CH: Behind the scenes

Among the athletes featured in the rumors, Toffoli remains an asset that Fitzgerald wants to keep: “I'm not buying Tyler Toffoli,” he also stressed, adding that in recent days he has been talking to the other party about the possible signing of a new contract.

However, the CEO admitted that the two parties did not agree on how long it would take. Additionally, knowing the forward is eligible for full free agency this summer, he wants to have a good idea of ​​the likelihood of re-hiring whoever is coming off a four-year, $17 million contract. So there could be an exchange, but not at any price.

“Tyler knows how much we want to keep him with us. […] The reality is that there are clubs who have called about him. Assets for the future could help us with that,” said the manager, who, however, made it clear that he would not hand over the experienced player on a silver platter.

Expect a lot of action?

Consequently, the next few days will reveal a lot, Fitzgerald recalled laconically. When the team's best sniper sets sail with 26 goals this season, the message sent to the rest of the squad will be obvious, the CEO said. A departure of the winger would mean that the organization has “thrown in the towel” for the current season.

Additionally, other files must be monitored in New Jersey, particularly those of guards. The inconsistent performance from Vitek Vanecek, Nico Daws and Akira Schmid explains why the Devils were eight points out of a playoff spot before hosting the Florida Panthers that evening.

“Our guards are watching my reaction right now and it's hard for me because yes, I'm on the market,” he said. No, our performance in front of the net is not good enough. It's up to me to try to improve the situation. I wish this was easier said than done, but I need to do the right thing for the organization in a short period of time. On the other hand, in my opinion, this one is much bigger.”

NHL: Devils don't want to trade Toffoli, but… Read More »

The Cardinals39 projection has Sonny Gray suffering a hamstring strain

The Cardinals' projection has Sonny Gray suffering a hamstring strain and could miss Opening Day

Sports News / By

St. Louis Cardinals top starter Sonny Gray suffered a mild hamstring strain and his Opening Day status is in jeopardy, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters in Jupiter, Florida, on Tuesday morning.

“That’s something that will slow (Gray) down,” Mozeliak said. “But we definitely don’t think it’s going to be something that lasts well into the season.”

Gray, who signed a three-year, $75 million contract in November, was expected to be the Cardinals' No. 1 starter heading into the season and was officially named the team's Opening Day starter last week. However, the 34-year-old right-hander felt tightness in his hamstring after throwing a pitch in the second inning of his second exhibition start on Monday and promptly left the game. Gray underwent an MRI scan later that evening, which revealed the minor strain.

The Cardinals are scheduled to open the 2024 season on March 28 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. With approximately three weeks remaining until that date, the runway for Gray's evacuation is tight.

“I would imagine the (opening day start) is questionable, but we'll give it some time,” Mozeliak said, later adding that the current spring schedule would make it “challenging” for Gray to get that start to accomplish .

Gray has had problems with his right hamstring before. He missed more than a month of the 2022 season with the Minnesota Twins due to two separate hamstring strains, but had a healthy 2023, making all 32 starts and finishing second in American League Cy Young Award voting.

Mozeliak described Gray's burden as “less” than what he faced in 2022. Still, hamstring injuries can be tricky, and the Cardinals have no timetable for when Gray might be cleared to return to play.

“I’m not going to put a return to play (schedule) on it,” Mozeliak said. “It's been less than 24 hours so we'll just see how he reacts over the next few days. But the MRI findings definitely encourage us.”

The Cardinals rotation without Gray currently consists of Miles Mikolas, Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn and Steven Matz, with either Matthew Liberatore or Zack Thompson slated for the fifth spot. St. Louis had also previously discussed starting the year with a six-man rotation, and that option remains.

After signing Gray, Gibson and Lynn (along with a host of backup players) in the offseason, Mozeliak had ruled out his boy adding another starter. Top free agents Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery (a former Cardinal) remain available, but there is no sign that Gray's injury will change the organization's mindset until there is a clearer timeline for Gray's recovery.

“I definitely feel like (adding pitching depth) isn’t necessary at this point,” Mozeliak said. “If something changes we need to look at it differently, but we don't think we need to at this point.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this won’t take too long.”

Required reading

(Photo: AP Photo / Jeff Roberson)

The Cardinals' projection has Sonny Gray suffering a hamstring strain and could miss Opening Day Read More »