This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
HOUSEKEEPING: I’ll be out traveling for work for the next few days, so TMW will return next Monday.
Good morning, Winners! Thanks so much for reading the Morning Win today. We appreciate you here for giving us a bit of your time.
The Russell Wilson situation ended just about as ugly as we all thought it would, didn’t it?
The Broncos officially cut Wilson on Monday, leaving the team to navigate a historic $85 million cap hit. That’s how badly Sean Payton and company didn’t want the former Seahawks QB on the roster anymore.
This officially goes down as one of the worst trades in NFL history, by the way. The Broncos gave up so much for Wilson and essentially got nothing in return. During his first season in Denver he was a shell of himself. His second season was much better, but apparently not good enough to run whatever scheme Sean Payton wanted to run properly.
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That’s the thing about this move, right? This was very clearly a Sean Payton decision. Payton decided to bench Wilson at the tail end of last season. He decided Wilson wasn’t good enough anymore and embarrassingly cast him aside as if he were an old play toy.
But, man. The grass isn’t always greener. Sometimes, it’s dead on the other side, too.
Now, the Broncos must search again for a quarterback — this time under Payton’s guidance. The fix won’t be easy. Denver is way over the cap and good quarterbacks don’t come cheap on the open market.
The Broncos have a good pick at No. 12 overall, but there’s a chance that four quarterbacks may be drafted by then. Denver could always try to trade up, but the Broncos used a ton of assets in the Russell Wilson deal and don’t have a second-round pick this year. Plus, there’s no guarantee that QB-needy teams won’t just stand firm.
Look, man. I get why the Broncos would move on. This isn’t the old Russell Wilson anymore. Paying him that much and continuing to build a team was somewhat untenable. But the way Sean Payton and company treated him on the way out the door was just downright shameful.
The team reportedly pushed him to the bench because he wouldn’t waive an injury guarantee. At every turn, it seemed, Payton was ready to downplay any success Wilson had at quarterback toward the end of the season. None of it was a good look on Payton or the organization.
But Wilson is gone now — exactly the way they all wanted. The deed is done. It’s time to start again. But if things don’t work out this time? There is no Russell Wilson to blame.
So, Broncos Country, your ride still isn’t quite over yet. You’d better hope Sean Payton still knows how to steer well because things are completely in his hands now.
WNBA x Toronto?
The WNBA has expressed the desire to have 14 teams by 2025. The Golden State franchise is locked in. That leaves room for one more team to enter the league.
That team might just be north of the border.
Canadian billionaire and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment minority owner Larry Tanenbaum has reportedly expressed interest in a Toronto expansion for the WNBA, CBC’s Shireen Ahmed reported on Monday.
More details:
“Tanenbaum, a minority owner and chairman of sporting giant Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment which owns the Maple Leafs, Raptors, TFC, Argos and Marlies, is seeking the team through his holding company, the Kilmer Group.
CBC Sports spoke with three people familiar with the deal who requested confidentiality as they are not authorized to speak publicly about it.”
Ahmed reports that a meeting could happen between the W and Tanenmbaum as soon as May.
Toronto would make perfect sense. Tanenbaum obviously has experience in sports as a minority owner at MLSE, which owns the Raptors, Maple Leafs, Argonauts and more.
Plus, Toronto hosted a WNBA game in May. There’s a clear interest from the league in international expansion there. Someone with money has to make it happen.
It looks like Tanenbaum could be that guy.
Arch Manning is out
EA Sports’ College Football 25 video game reportedly has more than 10,000 players opting in to be part of the game. But Arch Manning won’t be one of them.
The Texas QB is opting out here to keep his likeness off the game. Why? To focus on football, according to him. But fans have some more hilarious theories behind it, according to our Charles Curtis.
“The Texas QB and nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning is reportedly not opting in, per Anwar Richardson (see below), which is kind of a curious thing. It’s the easiest $600 to make, right? And the speculation has begun on why he said no — Pro Football Talk suggested that “It seems more likely that Arch wanted more than $600, and that EA passed. Arch doesn’t need to be in the game, and EA doesn’t currently need him in the game, since he’s not the starter at Texas.”
Some think it’s because he wants more money. Others think it’s because he’s a backup. Honestly, the only person who knows is Arch.
It’s fine, though. If Arch doesn’t want the $600, so be it. We’ll all edit him in the game, anyway.
Quick hits: Our Bracket Betting Tracker … The NBA MVP ladder … and more
— Our Prince Grimes built out a comprehensive betting tracker for all 32 leagues in NCAA men’s basketball.
— Here’s Robert Zeglinski with an NBA MVP tracker. He’s got Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander neck-and-neck.
— Cory Woodroof has predictions for the Oscars here, including another big night for Oppenheimer.
— Here are the 8 best moments from Jason Kelce’s retirement speech
— Christian D’Andrea has the biggest draft risers and farthest fallers after the NFL Combine here.
— Speaking of mock drafts, this one here has the Bears making some interesting moves for Caleb Williams. Charles Curtis has more.
That’s all, folks! Thanks so much for reading. We appreciate you! Until next time, peace!
-Sykes ✌️