Tag: reaction

How much cap space do the Falcons have left after recent signings?

Looking at the #Falcons updated salary cap numbers after first wave of free-agent signings

The Atlanta Falcons were forced to sit on the sidelines in recent years when free agency began due to the team’s lack of salary cap space. That changed in 2023 when the team opened the league year with the second-most cap space in the NFL.

As you would expect, the Falcons went on a long-overdue spending spree to kick off free agency, committing over $200 million to player contracts over this past week alone. So how much money is left after Atlanta’s initial wave of signings?

According to Over The Cap‘s latest projections, the Falcons currently have just over $24 million in cap space available. We should also take into account the amount needed to sign draft picks, which would drop the team’s funds down to an estimated $19 million.

Despite Atlanta’s busy start to free agency, the team still holds on to the fourth-most overall cap space, and third-most effective cap — which takes into account draft signings.

When broken down, the Falcons are spending $106.1 million spent on offense, $89.8 million spent on defense and $8.1 million spent on special teams. Additionally, Atlanta is paying $16.5 million in dead money to former players.

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Nets’ Moses Brown reacts to being a member of his childhood team

Moses Brown is happy to be a Net after growing up as a fan of the team.

Brooklyn Nets center Moses Brown spent most of his life in New York as he was a fan of the Nets even as he became a standout player at Archbishop Molloy high school in Queens. Ever since he left New York City to play for UCLA and eventually play in the NBA, he still remained a fan of the Nets and was hoping to be able to play for his city again like he did as a kid.

That opportunity came on Mar. 17 as he signed a 10-day contract with the Nets. Brown, 23, is in his fourth year in the league and even though he has already been on six teams, he feels that he can make an impact for his team if given the chance. The 7’2″, 245 LB center is essentially getting an audition to be the backup center behind standout starter Nic Claxton. Brooklyn has been trying to find a backup center that it is comfortable with come playoff time and unfortunately, Nerlens Noel did not fit the bill as he was let go after just one 10-day deal.

Brown has a unique chance to make an impact for Brooklyn as he is the tallest player on the roster by far. He has three inches on Claxton and reserve center Day’Ron Sharpe (both are listed at 6’11”). The Nets have a rebounding problem that they are trying to fix (28th in the league in defensive rebounding percentage at 73.8%) and they are hoping that Brown can help with that problem. Brown reacted to being a part of the Nets during practice on Saturday as he told reporters in part according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post:

“I’ve been on a lot of teams all over the country, and it’s just cool to be home. Every time we would drive throughout Brooklyn, I would watch the Barclays Center’s progress every year. That was the new team. I remember, growing up, just liking the colors, the uniforms, everything.”

Brown also reacted to what he believes is his next chance to find his place in the NBA:

“Just be ready. That’s been the thing with my career, anyway: being able to defend the rim and play with a high energy. This was pretty much the main [offer] and the situation seemed better than the other ones. I’m familiar with a lot of the guys on the coaching staff and even on the team.”

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247Sports predicts Georgia will play in college football’s most intimidating environment of 2023

247Sports predicts Georgia will play in college football’s most intimidating environment of 2023

There’s no denying Georgia’s 2023 schedule is pretty light.

It plays four true road games, including two against Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt. There’s the Auburn game, but nobody is paying that one much attention given the Tigers’ recent records.

Then there’s the Nov. 18 visit to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers. A late-season game between the Dawgs and Vols will always be an intense atmosphere, regardless of the teams’ success.

But with both teams enjoying success recently (one more than the other), Brad Crawford of 247Sports actually predicts this game to be the MOST intimidating environment in all of college football next year.

Via Crawford:

In 2022, Georgia received everyone’s best. That includes both the players and the fans. That’s what happens when the defending national champions come to town.

But in 2023, with the Bulldogs now the two-time defending national champions, Georgia has become the standard of college football in the eyes of many. For as long as Kirby Smart and Georgia keep winning, expect the “Alabama treatment” from opposing fan bases everywhere UGA goes.

But is the hyping of the Georgia vs. Tennessee game not getting old? For the past two seasons, this was the game that received the most hype as a potential trap for Georgia. What happened? In 2021, Georgia stomped the Vols and left Knoxville with a 41-17 victory. Last year, Tennessee was ranked No. 1 and came into Athens to be routed once more.

Battie, offensive linemen headline Mike Farrell’s SEC All-Transfer team

The staff at MikeFarrellSports.com are high on Auburn’s 2023 transfer haul.

As a college coach, you ability to sell is judged equally to your ability to win.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has checked the first box in his short time on the Plains, as he turned in the almost impossible feat of flipping a top-60 class to a top-20 class in the span of three weeks. He also worked hard in the transfer portal by bringing in 12 seasoned players who have a chance to start on the 2023 team.

The class, which ranks No. 4 according to 247Sports, has impressed the writers at MikeFarrell.com by being called the “best class in the SEC”, and two transfers have made several transfer portal-related lists since the window closed on Jan. 15.

In the site’s most recent list regarding the transfer portal, four newcomers have been named to the SEC All-Transfer team. Representatives of Auburn include an important skill player and three offensive linemen.

Here’s a look at which transfer made Mike Farrell’s SEC All-Transfer team, and why they will be an important addition to Freeze’s roster in 2023.

Eagles’ WR DeVonta Smith announces date for 2nd annual celebrity softball game

Philadelphia Eagles third-year wide receiver DeVonta Smith just announced the date for his 2nd annual charity softball game

DeVonta Smith continues ingratiating himself into the local Philadelphia community.

With the wide receiver set for year three with the Eagles, he’s announced another homerun derby for fans to enjoy.

Basking in the success of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl run and last summer’s festivities, Smith just announced the date for his second annual ‘DeVonta Smith Celebrity Softball Game’ set to be held in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The event featured many current Philadelphia Eagles players, Micah Parsons and many of Smith’s teammates at Alabama.

Eagles wide receiver was drafted by MLB out of high school and put his power on display in front of fans for the first time, crushing nine home runs.

The evening completed with Jalen Hurts hitting a walk-off two-run home run to secure victory for his team.

The Devonta Smith Celebrity Softball Game will take place June 4th at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA.

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STUNNED: Twitter reacts to Ole Miss upsetting No. 1 Stanford

No. 1 Stanford gets knocked out before the Sweet 16.

Ole Miss shocked the world on Sunday when they took down No. 1 seed Stanford, 54-49, in the second round of the 2023 March Madness Women’s D1 NCAA tournament. The Rebels advance to their first Sweet 16 in 16 years.

This is the 11th  Sweet Sixteen in program history for Ole Miss. Stanford is the first No. 1 seed to lose before the Sweet 16 since 2009. The difference maker for Ole Miss was out-rebounding Stanford, 44-39, and their 5 made three-pointers

Stanford is not a stranger to being knocked off by unsuspecting teams, but it is rare. In 1998 Stanford was seeded No. 1 and Harvard came in at a No. 16 and took them down. This was the first time a No. 16 seed took down a No. 1 seed in the history of either the women’s or men’s tournaments.

This has occurred only three times in the history of the women’s and men’s tournaments. Most recently with No. 16 seed Fairleigh-Dickinson defeating No. 1 seed Purdue in the 2023 men’s tournament.

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5 takeaways from Patriots’ first week of free agency

Five thoughts on the Patriots’ splash in the first week of free agency.

Well, folks, the first week of free agency is in the books, and thankfully, the New England Patriots didn’t fall asleep at the wheel.

They had a ton of cap space to play with this time around, and given the way the 2022 season ended, there was extra fire and motivation to get things right.

The team managed to keep their defense mostly intact, while also giving their offense a significant facelift. Most would consider that an immediate success right out of the gates.

Granted, the Patriots still have space to make more moves as we enter the second week of the new league year. The sprinting portion of free agency might be over, but the marathon is still ongoing to make the roster the best it can be heading into the 2023 season.

Here are five takeaways from what the Patriots have done so far.

Decision time is looming for Jaylin Williams and Allen Flanigan

Two of Auburn’s seniors have one season of eligibility remaining. How will they use it?

Auburn basketball’s season has concluded, and now it is time for two of Auburn’s seniors to make the decision of lacing up in the orange and blue one last time or moving on to another chapter in their lives.

[autotag]Jaylin Williams[/autotag] was a mainstay in the Auburn lineup all season, and [autotag]Allen Flanigan[/autotag] took over the starting role in the three position for 19 games this season. Both players contributed to the Tigers making their second straight NCAA Tournament, and will now have to decide if they will be a part of Auburn’s hunt for a third straight postseason berth.

Following Saturday’s round of 32 loss to Houston, both Williams and Flanigan were asked about their final season of eligibility due to COVID. Both were reluctant to say that they had thought about it before Saturday.

Williams says that he will now talk with three important people about using his final year.

 I haven’t really thought much about it you, know. I’m locked into what’s now — what was now. So now I will think more about it, and talk with my mom and my family, and talk with B.P., and see what’s best for me and what’s going to work out. Never really thought much about it.

Flanigan says that he has been focused on the “now” and not “what’s next?” during the season. But now, his decision is as important as ever.

We was focused, locked-in on the season. Wasn’t thinking about what’s next for us. We was locked in on the season trying to expand the season and keep going and keep playing with this team. Now that this has come to an end, sit down and talk to coach, and talk to my family and make a decision.

Seven players on Auburn’s roster are set to graduate, with [autotag]Zep Jasper[/autotag] being the only known player who will not return due to zero eligibility remaining.

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Nets’ Cam Thomas says ‘energy’ was reason for improved second half

Cam Thomas says that the team’s energy in the second half was the reason for the fourth-quarter comeback.

NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has had quite the roller-coaster kind of season for his second year in the NBA. He went from reserve to breakout starter to reserve once again. However, no matter the role, the one thing he does is his job when his number is called. Thomas offered his take on what led to an improved second half for the Nets.

“Just a lot of energy,” Thomas said after scoring seven points in Sunday’s 108-102 loss to the Denver Nuggets. “Started getting stops, rebounding and getting out in transition.” Thomas was part of a second unit that helped the Nets win the second half 54-45 and win the fourth quarter 31-17.

Unfortunately, Brooklyn’s energy that it got from its bench was not enough to win the game even though they got them within six points. Brooklyn tried to beat Denver the same way that it did last time by getting out in transition and running them off the floor. “That was pretty much the main thing,” Thomas continued. “We wanted to create transition attempts and like get them moving.” Brooklyn out-scored Denver in fastbreak points 10-7, but it wasn’t enough of an edge to turn the contest into a win.

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5 things Alabama basketball fans should know about San Diego State

Five things Alabama fans should know about San Diego State ahead of the Sweet 16 matchup with the Aztecs!

The Sweet 16 is officially set for the 2023 NCAA Tournament and [autotag]Nate Oats[/autotag] and the Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team will be taking on the Aztecs of San Diego State on Friday in Lousiville.

Alabama has defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Maryland to get to the Sweet 16 while San Diego State has taken down Charleston and Furman in the first two rounds.

The matchup between Alabama and San Diego State will take place on Friday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m. CT on TBS. The winner of that matchup will take on the winner of Princeton and Creighton.

Before things tipoff on Friday between the Tide and Aztecs, let’s take a look at five things Alabama fans should know about San Diego State.

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