Tag: contract extension

The Boston Celtics and Jrue Holiday should want to get an extension signed ASAP

Can the Celtics get the UCLA alum to sign on the dotted line on or after April Fools’ Day?

The Boston Celtics and veteran combo guard Jrue Holiday both have an interest in waiting until April 1 to get a contract extension done. More flexibility in terms of what the Celtics can offer comes available on that date, making an extension before then unlikely.

But the date is nearly here, and we’ll get a look at just how happy Holiday is in Boston as a result, with some real concern being sparked if a contract extension can’t be worked out ahead of the NBA’s 2023-24 postseason. Can the Celtics get the UCLA alum to sign on the dotted line on or after April Fools’ Day?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, took a closer look at the possibility on a recent episode. Check it out below!

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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New analysis weighs in on whether Boston Celtics elect to extend Jaden Springer

“Springer has yet to carve out a role with the Boston Celtics since his in-season trade from the Philadelphia 76ers,” notes Pincus.

New Boston Celtics backup shooting guard Jaden Springer is seen as an unlikely candidate to be extended by his new team this coming 2024 NBA offseason in a new analysis by Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus. The B/R cap guru recently broke down the class of players coming off their rookie deals at the end of the league’s 2023-24 season, and Springer was of course part of that breakdown.

Over the course of his 13 games played with the Celtics, he has started none of them, and averaged 5.5 minutes, and 1.1 points per game while shooting an unnerving, 33.3% from the field with Boston this season.

“Springer has yet to carve out a role with the Boston Celtics since his in-season trade from the Philadelphia 76ers,” notes Pincus. “Unless Boston is patiently high on his upside, he doesn’t seem like an extension candidate.”

Pincus can see some similarities to Payton Pritchard somewhere in Springer’s game (presumably NOT on offense), so there is hope for the young wing.

But we have to agree that this defensive specialist is unlikely to command much attention in free agency, so we agree he is not a likely extension option for Boston. Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Will the Boston Celtics extend Jrue Holiday after April 1?

Will the Boston Celtics extend Jrue Holiday after April 1 to avoid pending business heading into the 2024 NBA Playoffs?

At this very moment, veteran Boston Celtics combo guard Jrue Holiday could be extended by the Celtics. But as of April 1, the range of what Holiday could get for an extension improves in a way that makes signing one before that date unlikely at best.

But the UCLA alum will also command a big chunk of Boston’s cap space as the team soars in cost — and there are legitimate concerns about how well that deal will end, given Holiday is no spring chicken. Will the Celtics extend Holiday after April 1 to avoid pending business heading into the 2024 NBA Playoffs?

The host of the NBC Sports Boston “Celtics Talk” podcast, Chris Forsberg, took some time to talk it over on a recent episode with Celtics cult cap expert Ryan Bernardoni (a.k.a. Dangercart).

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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No deal coming for Cowboys, Dak Prescott: ‘We are where we are’

From @ToddBrock24f7: Owner Jerry Jones suggested Prescott will play out the last year of his contract; a report says there’s no sign a deal is coming this offseason.

As recently as a few weeks ago, it seemed obvious that a contract extension for Dak Prescott was the top priority for the Cowboys front office, with a gargantuan salary cap hit basically forcing the club to do a new deal that would lock in their quarterback beyond next season and lessen the financial impact for the organization in 2024.

A quick restructure in mid-March added two void years, converted a $5 million roster bonus to a signing bonus, and shaved off $4 million from the cap hit to bring it to $55.445 million. It also looked to be the just first bookkeeping step in the process of a larger extension this offseason.

Now it appears that may be the only step the two sides take.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Prescott and the Cowboys “have a mutual understanding of his contract situation,” with no further offer coming from the team.

“We are where we are,” Rapoport quoted owner Jerry Jones as saying. “We have our contract. We’re locked and loaded for this year.”

Prescott’s current deal binds last season’s MVP runner-up to the Cowboys for 2024 but not beyond.

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The Cowboys have already chosen to let several other big names depart in free agency this month, including longtime offensive tackle Tyron Smith, running back Tony Pollard and center Tyler Biadasz. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch retired because of medical reasons. And defensive coordinator Dan Quinn took the head coaching job in Washington and took several assistants with him.

Previously, it had been revealed that Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and the rest of his coaching staff would be working 2024 in the final year of their contracts, essentially making the coming season a prove-it campaign for the staff.

That may end up being the case for their franchise quarterback as well, with 2025 potentially shaping up to be a massive rebuild in Dallas.

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Celtics reportedly working to extend veteran floor general Jrue Holiday ‘sooner rather than later’

Holiday is eligible on April 1 for an extension beyond what he can sign right now.

The Boston Celtics are reportedly working to extend veteran floor general Jrue Holiday “sooner rather than later” according to recent reporting from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Per the senior ESPN reporter, Holiday is eligible on April 1 for an extension beyond what he can sign right now.

“There are fewer limits on what he can sign April 1,” explained Windhorst via Bleacher Report’s Tyler Conway. “And I do think that there’s interest on both sides to get something done sooner rather than later.” And while Windy may not have any intel on the actual likelihood of a deal being signed for us, it is hard to imagine that both sides aren’t motivated to try.

The Celtics put considerable assets into the deal to land Holiday from the Portland Trail Blazers, and it has worked out about as well as anyone could have imagined on the court.

These things can always go sideways, of course, but to hear this level of chatter with a week to go before that April 1 date arrives.

We wouldn’t be shocked to hear that the UCLA alum has signed a new extension with Boston well before the start of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Alabama basketball remains ranked No. 19 in the Week 20 AP Poll

Do the Crimson Tide fall in the Week 20 AP Poll after SEC quarterfinal exit vs. Florida?

After an early quarterfinal exit from the SEC Tournament, the Alabama Crimson Tide will need to regroup as the NCAA Tournament tips off this weekend. The No. 4 seeded Crimson Tide will open up Tournament play against Charleston on Friday at 6:35 p.m. C.T. in Spokane, WA. Alabama enters the contest against the Coastal Athletic Association champions as 9.5-point favorites with an absurd over/under of 172.5 points.

With the March Madness field already selected, it doesn’t mean a ton, but the Crimson Tide remains ranked No. 19 in the Week 20 AP Poll. Unfortunately, both Auburn and Tennessee crack the top ten at No. 6 and 7 in the country, but both have tougher paths ahead in the Tournament than Alabama.

Despite the unfortunate ending to SEC play, it was another successful season in Tuscaloosa as they tied for second in the conference. Which is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of when you have to replace ten players as well as all three assistant coaches from a season ago. The biggest win of the entire season came on Friday as Nate Oats inked an extension with the Tide that will keep him in Alabama for quite some time as his buyout has reportedly increased to $18 million.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Why Colts should still add LB depth after Zaire Franklin new contract

The Colts inked Zaire Franklin to a contract extension. But here’s why they should still add depth in the draft.

Before the legal tampering period ahead of free agency got underway, the Indianapolis Colts made an in-house move to keep linebacker Zaire Franklin under contract for a little while longer.

Franklin agreed to a three-year contract extension that is worth up to $31.26 million. The extension shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise.

Franklin was set to make $3.36 million in the final year of his contract, and he far surpassed that value with his performance over the past two seasons.

This was a crucial deal for Chris Ballard to get done before Monday. That’s because the Colts had no linebackers under contract for the 2025 season since E.J. Speed is also entering the final year of his deal. This includes the backups that are currently on the roster like Segun Olubi and Grant Stuard.

How does this contract extension impact Indy’s draft plans?

It shouldn’t have a major impact. At least, it shouldn’t keep them from adding to the room if they want to.

Even with the extension, the Colts need depth in their linebacker room. They need to add some competition for the No. 3 linebacker slot on the depth chart. Franklin’s extension can provide some patience in targeting the position unless there is a prospect the front office really likes.

Ballard did that in 2019 when they had Shaquille Leonard and Anthony Walker as the starting duo. They added Bobby Okereke in the third round and E.J. Speed in the fifth round of that draft. Ben Banogu also could be thrown in there, but he was viewed more as a pass rusher than a linebacker.

Prior to this deal getting done, it would have been understandable if Ballard elected to take a linebacker as high as the second round if he entered the draft with no linebackers under contract beyond the 2024 season.

As I alluded to, if Ballard loves the potential of a linebacker prospect, it still wouldn’t be a major surprise if Indianapolis took a linebacker as early as the second round since as of this writing, there is no guarantee that Speed will be on the roster in 2025.

That of course if Ballard doesn’t trade away that pick in the coming days to add to the secondary.

The wide expectation will remain that the Colts focus their draft capital on other positions. The Franklin extension was necessary, but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t keep an eye on the future if the right prospect is available.

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Report: Colts’ Michael Pittman Jr. agrees to 3-year contract extension

Michael Pittman Jr. gets his contract extension.

The Indianapolis Colts and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. agreed to a three-year contract extension, according to multiple reports Monday.

After applying the franchise tag before the deadline last week, the Colts and Pittman were able to come to an agreement on a big, three-year deal before the start of free agency.

According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, the deal is for three years and worth up to $71.5 million with $46 million guaranteed.

This move shouldn’t stop the Colts from adding to the wide receiver room, especially if a talented prospect like Rome Odunze or Brian Thomas Jr.—to name a few—are available with the No. 15 overall pick. But this locks in the team’s WR1 for the foreseeable future.

Pittman is coming off his best season in the NFL and has only gotten better with each season as a professional. He recorded 106 receptions for 1,152 yards during the 2023 season, both of which were career-high marks.

Despite working with seven different starting quarterbacks since entering the league in 2020, Pittman’s 3,662 receiving yards rank fifth among his peers in that draft class while his 336 receptions rank third behind only CeeDee Lamb (395) and Justin Jefferson (392).

In terms of Colts history, Pittman’s 336 receptions are the most in franchise history through a player’s first four seasons. He ranks third in receiving yards behind only T.Y. Hilton (4,413) and Marvin Harrison (4,141).

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How Jaylon Johnson’s extension impacts Bears’ salary cap

The Bears signed star cornerback Jaylon Johnson to a four-year contract extension. Here’s how it impact Chicago’s salary cap in 2024.

The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms on a long-term extension with Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson, locking down a key piece to the team’s ascending young defense.

Johnson signed a four-year, $76 million deal with $54 million guaranteed. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, $43.8 million of it is guaranteed at signing with $28 million guaranteed in the first year. Johnson will make $60 million in the first three years of the deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

That comes out to $19 million per year, which is slightly under the $19.8 million he would’ve received on the franchise tag. It’s a huge deal for the Bears, who locked down their star cornerback even with the salary cap increasing substantially this offseason.

So how does that impact Chicago’s salary cap in 2024?

Factoring in Johnson’s $19 million cap hit in 2024 — which is $800,000 less than what he would’ve played on the franchise tag — the Bears are slated to have $57.26 million in salary cap space, sixth most in the NFL. That’s still plenty for general manager Ryan Poles as he looks to address some key positions in free agency.

Johnson, 24, is coming off a career year with Chicago, where he set a career-high four interceptions, 36 tackles and 10 pass breakups in 14 games while also emerging as a top cover cornerback in the NFL. Johnson earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods for his impressive 2023 campaign.

Pros and cons of a Jared Goff contract extension

Pros and cons of a Jared Goff contract extension for the Detroit Lions in the 2024 offseason

Extending a player in the NFL or any professional sports league is one of the harder, more refined skills a general manager can possess.

Brad Holmes ever since he took over as general manager of the Lions has shown to be among the top tier of decision-makers in the NFL. What he hasn’t had to do yet is the hardest thing for a general manager, negotiating a quarterback contract extension.

Jared Goff had some growing pains during his first year in Detroit. Since then he has seen decent improvement thanks to the help of play caller Ben Johnson.

Holmes has built the offense around Goff by signing David Montgomery and drafting the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Jameson Williams, and Jahmyr Gibbs.

That last part however may be why this gets extra tricky. Let’s break this deal down by each unique problem it presents as well as the benefits.