Month: March 2021

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer talks about the backup quarterback situation

The Minnesota Vikings have a backup quarterback situation that is currently not defined.

The Vikings have a defined starting quarterback in Kirk Cousins. What the team decides to do with the backup spot will be interesting.

It doesn’t seem likely that the team will go to free agency and land a notable backup. However, Minnesota could re-sign Sean Mannion. The Vikings could also go with Jake Browning or Nate Stanley. Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer said those three are all options.

“We really like Browning and Stanley. Stanley’s a big, big strong-armed kid. Browning’s been great the two years that he’s been here,” Zimmer said, via Chad Graff of The Athletic. “Sean’s been outstanding in the room. So, again, without saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to do this or that,’ there’s a lot of options there, I believe.”

It’d be great if the Vikings went out and landed a premium-tier backup who could possibly salvage the season if Cousins got hurt. That said, Minnesota has higher priorities this offseason.

Cardinals LB Jordan Hicks takes pay cut in 2021

He agrees to take $3 million less in 2021 than he was scheduled to get.

The Arizona Cardinals have made some cap-saving moves this offseason. Starting left guard Justin Pugh agreed to a pay cut to helo the team build its roster. Center Rodney Hudson restructured his contract to create more than $7 million in cap space.

The latest is linebacker Jordan Hicks.

He redid his contract, but it wasn’t a basic restructure. It was a reduction in pay for this coming season. He agreed to take a $3 million pay cut.

He was scheduled to make $5 million in salary this coming season. His salary for 2021 will now be $2 million. He can also earn up to another $1 million in roster bonuses. He gets up to $500,000 for each game he is on the roster and  up to another $500,000 for being active on game days.

His cap hit was going to be $9 million. Now it is $6 million in 2021.

He also adjusted his 2022 season. He was scheduled to make $6 million in salary. Now it will be $4.25 million. He will also be due a $750,000 roster bonus in the offseason.

With moves the Cardinals have done with Hicks’ and Hudson’s contracts, they now have created more than $10 million in cap space.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Mel Kiper releases his top-10 WRs. Where are the Alabama products?

Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith are both ranked among the top wide receivers in the 2021 NFL receiver draft class.

ESPN NFL and college draft analyst Mel Kiper has been a staple in sports media for decades. He seemingly comes around every February to begin his  rounds to discuss the upcoming NFL draft.

Last year, two Alabama star wide receivers were drafted. At No. 12 Henry Ruggs III went to the Las Vegas Raiders and Jerry Jeudy was drafted No . 15 overall by the Denver Broncos.

This year Alabama will have another set of wide receivers in the draft: DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. Both served large roles for the Crimson Tide offense, but are now seen as projected first rounders.

Kiper released his top-10 receivers on Twitter today, and Smith and Waddle are ranked as No. 1 and No. 3, respectively.

5 reasons why Mac Jones’ pro day did not matter

Alabama held their second pro day and quarterback Mac Jones is receiving plenty of hate for his performance. Fans and critics must ask …

It’s time for the 2021 NFL draft. Some may call this the most wonderful time of the year. No football? No problem! Think of it as ‘getting ready for football.’

Mock drafts, mostly meaningless analysis and pro days.

I mean, come on. All of the headlines, never ending analysis and mock drafts at the tip of our fingers is really just a way for every football fan to get a taste of the game until offseason training, then the preseason and then the real thing.

Let’s be honest, we all fall victim to it – myself included!

However, we must be careful not to get too deep into it, as it could lead us down a very dangerous path.

Mac Jones recently partook in Alabama’s second pro day, where NFL coaches and front office members watched him perform. The issue is that he did not perform very well.

The internet is now exploding with anger toward the Heisman-finalist, record-breaking, national championship-winng quarterback. Why?

Everyone needs to take a step back from all of the criticism and remember what he accomplished when it actually mattered.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers live stream, TV channel, start time, prediction, odds

The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Milwaukee Bucks in the late game on Wednesday night from Staples Center in LA.

The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Milwaukee Bucks in the late game on Wednesday night from Staples Center in LA.

The Lakers come into this game with a 30-17 record on the season and are coming off a 96-93 win over the Magic on Sunday. They’ll look for their 7th win in their last 12 games tonight against the Bucks. Meanwhile, Milwaukee continues to roll through the NBA, winning 13 of their last 17 and sitting at 29-17 on the season. They’re going for their 30th win when they face the Lake Show tonight.

This is a must-watch game for NBA fans, here is everything you need to know to stream the NBA action tonight.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles

  • When: Wednesday, March 31
  • Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Prediction: The Lakers are still without Anthony Davis and LeBron James and that will hurt them when they play the Bucks tonight. Take the Bucks to win by 10.

Bet: Milwaukee Bucks -8.5

NBA Odds and Betting Lines

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds last updated Wednesday at 8:20 p.m. ET.

Bucks (-8.5) vs. Lakers 

O/U: 222.5

Want some action on the NBA? Place your legal sports bets on this game or others in CO, IN, NJ, and WV at BetMGM.

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Emmanuel Sanchez fine with being counted out at Bellator 255: ‘It’s the story of my career’

“He shouldn’t win. He can’t win. He won’t win.” But oftentimes, Emmanuel Sanchez does win.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] has heard it all throughout the span of his professional mixed martial arts career.

He shouldn’t win. He can’t win. He won’t win.

But oftentimes, Sanchez (20-4 MMA, 12-3 BMMA) does win. Even when deemed improbable by the oddsmakers, Sanchez consistently displays new tricks, wears down opponents, and shows why fundamentals are important.

Entering his Bellator 255 title rematch with champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (31-4 MMA, 19-4 BMMA), the Roufusport product Sanchez knows many people are picking against him. It’s no different than usual – and he likes that.

“There’s no pressure on me,” Sanchez told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I’m the underdog. I’m expected to get killed and murdered and worse than the first time. Who knows whatever other people want to think and count me out? That’s fine. That’s been the story of my life and the story of my Bellator career thus far. There’s always going to be the bigger guy, the stronger guy, this guy, that guy. It’s all well and good. Shorter, tall, big, or small, they all will fall.”

Friday’s main event will the second time Sanchez gets a crack at Freire’s belt. At Bellator 209 in November 2018, Sanchez lost a unanimous decision to Freire in a back-and-forth fight. More than two years later, Sanchez thinks he’s sharpened up his game – contrary to recent comments made by Freire, which stated otherwise.

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“I’m going to really let it all loose in there and trust my instincts and believe in my greatness,” Sanchez said. “I know the first time it was a little more finding my potential, seeing, and almost feeling his power, his speed, his strength, his stamina, knowing that at that time, he was still champ-champ and one of the best. Now, he just went out to prove it, defeating Michael Chandler and becoming the lightweight champion, then, defending his title throughout this run that we’re on.”

Freire hasn’t lost since August 2016, but that doesn’t mean he’s unbeatable, according to Sanchez. For Freire’s recent grand prix performances, Sanchez was scouting from close by and he sees holes in the champion’s game that have not yet been exposed.

“I’ve had the pleasure of being cageside for all these fights that he’s recently had,” Sanchez said. “I still see those holes. I still see those openings that I know I can capitalize on. He’s faced great fighters that had the potential to beat him, but they didn’t have the style to beat him. I know I do.”

Bellator 255 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The entire card streams on MMA Junkie.

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Sixers star Joel Embiid expected to return to the floor after road trip

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is expected to return to the floor on Saturday after the road trip.

The Philadelphia 76ers have not had the services of their best player since March 12 when Joel Embiid went down with a bone bruise in his left knee. The team has fared well as they have gone 6-3 without him, but they would obviously like to have the MVP candidate back out on the floor.

The team put out an update on the big fella on Wednesday as they got set to finish up a long 6-game road trip on Thursday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Embiid will be out for Thursday’s game, but he continues to ramp up his on-court basketball activities and he is expected to return on Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves back at home.

Getting Embiid back on the floor and getting him back into a groove for the final six weeks or so of the regular season is going to be important. Philadelphia will be looking to continue to grow their chemistry before the games really begin in the playoffs on May 22.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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With ‘enough Nurmagomedov’s in the UFC,’ Khabib’s cousin Usman looks to make splash in Bellator

The Nurmagomedov family name is spreading into Bellator.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The Nurmagomedov family name is spreading into Bellator.

[autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag], who is the cousin of retired former UFC lightweight champion Khabib, will become the first member of his family to fight under the Bellator banner when he takes on Mike Hamel in a lightweight bout on Friday at Bellator 255.

The highly touted undefeated prospect was a sought after talent by various organizations, but he said in his mind there was a clear reason to go with Bellator.

“We got enough Nurmagomedov’s in the UFC,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie through an interpreter on Wednesday. “So we needed to move on, so that’s why I picked Bellator. They needed one as well.”

Whether he’s joking or not, Nurmagomedov is glad he’s in Bellator. He said he’s “very excited” to be part of the organization, and at just 22, has a long of time remaining in the sport to have changes in scenery.

Nurmagomedov is currently focused on making a mark in Bellator, though, and he’ll carry the momentum of his teammates. Since his retirement from fighting, Khabib has taken a primary role in cornering and coaching his family members.

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Khabib has helped corner multiple of his teammates to victory in recent months, and he’ll be there against cageside at Bellator 255. Nurmagomedov said it’s his goal to carry on the trend.

“Khabib already cornered and did a camp for two of our teammates and they successfully won their fights,” Nurmagomedov said. “Khabib is a very great coach, same as a fighter. So I’m sure I will be the third one from this team that will get a win.”

Nurmagomedov (11-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) said he’s not trying to get overzealous about his career ambitions, and his primary goal is to get his Bellator run off to a good start against Hamel (7-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA).

That doesn’t mean Nurmagomedov doesn’t have big dreams, though. He said his ambition is to eventually get the Bellator title around his waist.

“I have my debut, I have my opponent and after that we will see,” Nurmagomedov said. “Of course I would like to be a champion and I would like to be a champion in every organization I fight in.”

Bellator 255 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The entire card streams on MMA Junkie.

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Rodney Hudson restructures contract to give Cardinals more than $7M in cap space

Center Rodney Hudson converted nearly $9 million of his salary to a bonus, creating more than $7 million in cap space this year.

The Arizona Cardinals made a couple of moves with player contracts that will save them some salary cap space this year. One was restructuring the contract of recently acquired center Rodney Hudson.

Hudson was scheduled to make $9.9 million in salary this season. That was also going to be his cap hit.

To save more than $7 million in cap space, the Cardinals paid Hudson $8.8 million as a bonus, reducing his salary to slightly more than the league minimum at $1.1 million, which is fully guaranteed.

With the change, instead of a cap hit of $9.9 million, his contract will count $2.86 million against the cap.

Hudson already had two voided years on his contract after 2022, but the Cardinals added a third voided year, which allows Arizona to prorate the cap hit to 1/5 of the total.

Next season, his cap hit will increase by $1.76 million. He is scheduled to make $10.85 million in 2022 but now will have a cap hit of $12.61 million.

When the contract voids in 2023, 3/5 of his bonus proration will then become a dead money charge against the cap that year, for a total of $5.28 million.

The $5.28 million in dead money in two seasons and the addition of $1.76 million against the cap next year are worth the more than $7 million in space the move creates now.

What will the Cardinals do now? It might simply to create flexibility for moves coming down the line.

If the Cardinals extend Hudson’s contract before it voids, they will avoid the dead money charge and then the yearly proration of $1.76 million will continue for three more seasons.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick on growing up an Eagles’ fan; Brian Dawkins being ‘his guy’

Steelers star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick says he grew up an Eagles fan, and Donovan McNabb and Brian Dawkins were his favorite players.

Minkah Fitzpatrick won’t be an unrestricted free agent until the 2023 NFL season, but you can definitely book Philadelphia as a potential destination if Pittsburgh doesn’t use the franchise tag on the all-world safety.

During a random Wednesday night Q&A with fans, Fitzpatrick was asked his favorite team growing up and the New Jersey native went with the Philadelphia Eagles over the Jets or Giants.

The Steelers star confirmed that quarterback Donovan McNabb and Hall of Fame safety, Brian Dawkins were his two favorite players.

Fitzpatrick is from Old Bridge, New Jersey, some 65 miles north of Philadelphia and 35 miles south of New York City, making it an almost equal split.

Fitzpatrick has earned Pro Bowl selections in each of the past two NFL seasons and the Steelers will surely pick up his fifth-year option by May 3 and his strong play will earn the safety $4 million extra.

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