Tag: Hits

Counting down Chiefs’ 10 largest salary cap hits during 2021 NFL season

A look at the #Chiefs’ 10 largest salary cap hits for the 2021 NFL season

The NFL salary cap is set at $182.5 million for the 2021 NFL season. That number is down over $15 million from the previous year due to the revenue shortfall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

10 players for the Kansas City Chiefs occupy roughly $120 million of that salary cap number for the upcoming season. That number is down over $20 million from the previous year, which makes sense given the squeeze on the salary cap this season. The front office in Kansas City was mindful about how they added new contracts to the books this year and it’s helping them compensate for the decline in salary cap dollars.

Here’s a quick countdown of the 10 largest salary cap hits on the Chiefs’ roster for the 2021 NFL season:

Saints report $4.1 million in unspent salary cap space for 2021 rollover

The New Orleans Saints reported $4.1 million in unspent salary cap space to roll over into the 2021 offseason, though the NFL must audit it.

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It’s not much, but it’s something. The New Orleans Saints have initially reported just over $4.1 million in unused salary cap space to roll over into the 2021 fiscal year, per ESPN’s Field Yates. That number will be vetted by the NFL and adjusted for a variety of minor transactions and cap credits before being factored into each team’s final tally, as is the case every year.

And the Saints will need every penny. Depending on which estimate you’re using, they’re well over the projected salary cap by as much as $100 million. The NFL and NFL Players Association negotiated an agreement that will keep the cap from dropping beneath $175 million in 2021, and there’s optimism that it could rise to as high as $195 million once all is said and done. But there won’t be the annual rise New Orleans has planned for due to revenue losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

So every bit helps, including this $4.1 million (and some change). The Saints’ salary cap team has done such an effective job working with always-limited resources that they should be able to clear this hurdle, too. But there are still plenty of tough decisions ahead, which we’ll be sure to cover.

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Alabama WR John Metchie had the hit of the year after his team threw a pick vs. Florida

Hoo buddy, Metchie hit him good in this play that forced a fumble in the SEC Championship Game.

Florida thought it had a game-changing play in the SEC Championship game against Alabama on Saturday night … until Bama’s John Metchie had one of the hits of the year and flipped the game right back on its head.

The play happened during the first quarter with the score tied at seven. Alabama was driving when quarterback Mac Jones threw a pass over the middle that was ripped out of the receiver’s hands by Florida DB Trey Dean III.

It was an incredible play by Dean, though for him, one that sadly couldn’t be celebrated. For after the pick, Dean started running back up the field … before getting absolutely leveled by Alabama wide receiver John Metchie.

The hit was intense (and clean) and the ball popped loose, which was recovered by Alabama’s DeVonta Smith. The Crimson Tide scored on the next play.

Here’s the full play that led to the hit:

Another angle. Woof.

The hit was huge, but the timing couldn’t have been better for Alabama. What looked like a bad turnover in a tie game was, just a play later, a touchdown for Alabama.

Alabama goes into the half leading 35-17.

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Saints-Demario Davis contract includes affordable cap hits

The New Orleans Saints signed All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis to a long-term contract extension which fits well beneath the salary cap.

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All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis signed a three-year contract extension with the New Orleans Saints that might be the textbook definition of a team-friendly deal. Davis is averaging just $9 million per year on his new deal, well beneath the top tier of linebacker contracts around the league, but it’s still a step up from the $8 million he was earning on his initial arrangement with the Saints. But he wanted to stay in New Orleans long-term, and it resulted in a deal that made everyone happy.

The Saints were able to lower Davis’s 2020 salary cap hit from $9.9 million (second-highest on the team) to just $5.8 million (seventh-highest, behind backup guard Nick Easton’s $5.84 million) in this extension, which also functioned as a restructure for the existing deal. His current salary cap hits, per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill:

  • 2020: $5.8 million
  • 2021: $8.1 million
  • 2022: $9.7 million
  • 2023: $10.7 million

Underhill also reported that Davis received an $11 million signing bonus which is prorated over the course of his deal, and that he has a voidable “ghost year” written in for 2024 for salary cap purposes. Davis is a candidate for another restructure in 2021, converting his $3.6 million roster bonus to a signing bonus so that the Saints can recoup some much-needed salary cap space.

The Saints signing Davis and Alvin Kamara to long-term contract extensions over the same weekend might be the best one-two punch they’ve pulled off in recent memory. It sets the team up for success on the field and gives them some real flexibility in working around the salary cap in future years. It’ll be fascinating to see how the front office tackles those new challenges as they come up, but having Davis and Kamara secure on the roster has to be good for their confidence.

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MLB Prop Bets: Bank on these players to record the most hits in 2020

Making the best MLB prop bet picks to lead baseball in hits in the 60-game 2020 MLB season.

The small sample size of the 60-game 2020 MLB season means one hot streak by any player could have them in the running in the end-of-year awards and statistical-leader races. We continue looking at the top contenders at SportsbookWire.com and below, we’ll make our picks and best bets to lead MLB in hits in 2020, based on the MLB player futures odds at BetMGM.

2020 MLB hits leader best bets: Favorite

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, July 15 at 7:45 p.m. ET.

Atlanta Braves 2B Ozzie Albies (+2000)

Albies comes off a 2019 season in which he slashed .295/.352/.500 with 24 home runs and 15 stolen bases. He recorded an NL-best 189 hits across 160 games in just his second full season.

He’s expected to hit second in the powerful Braves lineup with OF Ronald Acuna Jr. controlling the leadoff spot. Albies walked more often and struck out less from 2018 to 2019 and should continue to improve his pitch selectivity.

Also see: MLB Prop Bets: Bank on these players to record the most stolen bases in 2020

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

2020 MLB hits leader best bets: Contender

Toronto Blue Jays SS Bo Bichette (+4000)

Bichette will lead off for what should be a strong Blue Jays batting order. He slashed .311/.358/.571 with 11 homers over 212 plate appearances and 46 games played after being called up to the bigs last season. His 23.6% strikeout rate and 6.6% walk rate will need to improve greatly this season, but he makes hard contact and doesn’t give up easy outs.

He should get plenty of at-bats on a team likely to put up a lot of runs and surprise many this season.

Also see: Bet on these MLB players to win the 2020 NL Cy Young Award

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2020 MLB hits leader best bets: Long shot

Houston Astros OF George Springer (+10000)

If you’ve been following along with our MLB prop bet and awards pieces ahead of the 2020 MLB season, you’ll know the play is to target those with the longest odds on the board. Few players can be fully ruled out of contention over just a 60-game season, especially to lead the league in hits.

Regardless of the sign-stealing scandal, the Astros lineup is one of the best and most talented in all of baseball. Houston ranks third with 4,066 runs scored since the start of the 2015 season when Springer became an every-game player. He’ll hit atop that lineup once again after setting career highs with a .292/.383/.591 slash line and 12.1% walk rate and 39 home runs in 2019.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Springer to lead MLB in hits would return a profit of $1,000.

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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