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Alontae Taylor celebrates Baker Mayfield’s new contract extension

Alontae Taylor celebrated Baker Mayfield’s new contract. He’s eager to play against Mayfield again after snagging his first career interception:

Yesssir! One of my favorite QBs 😅 https://t.co/l5blIEAULv

— Alontae Taylor (@taeetaylor) March 10, 2024

New Orleans Saints defensive back Alontae Taylor took to Twitter to celebrate a division rival extending their quarterback. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Mayfield to a new three-year, $100 million deal; Taylor called Mayfield one of his favorite quarterbacks.

Taylor grabbed his first career interception last season off of Mayfield, in the second-to-last game of the year (quickly following it up with another takeaway in the season finale against the Atlanta Falcons). This will likely come back around in the news cycle when the Saints and Bucs meet next season. The two teams split their matchups last season, each team winning one with Mayfield at quarterback.

Mayfield will stick around in the NFC South, doing enough in his first season to earn a bigger deal. He had 4,044 passing yards last season with a 64.3% completion rate. He also threw 28 touchdowns to 10 interceptions and was selected for the Pro Bowl Games. The Bucs also recently gave wide receiver Mike Evans an extension, so this is going to remain an intense rivalry for years to come. The Saints will need Taylor to keep playing great football so they can remain competitive in the series.

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Karl Mecklenburg shares harsh criticism of Russell Wilson after Broncos cut QB

Broncos great Karl Mecklenburg blasted Russell Wilson, saying the QB’s private coach and personal office “proved his self centeredness.”

Russell Wilson is no longer the quarterback for the Denver Broncos, and the news sent shockwaves throughout the sports world.

Wilson’s release shouldn’t come as a shock, though. Wilson and Sean Payton’s arranged marriage seemed like it might work — Payton and Wilson are Super Bowl champions, and both should find induction into the Hall of Fame after they retire.

However, after 15 starts, Payton saw enough of Wilson and benched him for the final two games, signaling an eventual release for the nine-time Pro Bowler.

Karl Mecklenburg was a Broncos great who played from 1983-1994, racking up five All-Pros and six Pro Bowl nods. The Broncos Ring of Fame linebacker delivered a scathing tweet about Wilson.

Russell Wilson isn’t a leader. The foolishness that went on in his first year at Denver with a private coach, his own office at the facility, and family at training camp when other players didn’t have those privileges, proved his self centeredness. pic.twitter.com/AVKfiWjdF6

— Karl Mecklenburg CSP, NFL (@KarlMecklenburg) March 5, 2024

That was indeed some harsh criticism of Wilson after Denver cut the QB. Does he warrant it? If you let the critiques that have come out about Wilson over the past few years, it may be, at this point, a smoking gun. Be that as it may, hopefully Wilson find success elsewhere with another NFL team in 2024.

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Broncos players react to Russell Wilson’s release on Twitter

The Broncos are parting ways with Russell Wilson. Here’s how his teammates reacted on Twitter/X.

Russell Wilson’s release from the Denver Broncos, although expected, has sent shockwaves across the NFL landscape. Wilson came to the Broncos via trade in 2022 and then signed a five-year, $242.5 million contract.

He was expected to turn the Broncos back into playoff contenders, but after an 11-21 record and no playoff appearances, the writing was on the wall. Denver will take a big hit, too, with an unprecedented $85 million “dead money” cap hit.

While the media has had its day with the news, Broncos players have shared their opinions on Wilson’s departure.

Check out the slides to see their reactions on Twitter/X.

Russell Wilson releases classy statement after being cut by Broncos

“[Denver] welcomed my family and me with open arms … the city will always hold a special place in my heart,” Russell Wilson said.

The Denver Broncos announced Monday that they plan to release quarterback Russell Wilson next week, marking the end of one of the worst trade-and-sign deals in NFL history.

After the news of Wilson’s release broke on Monday, the veteran quarterback released the following statement:

Broncos Country, Thank You!

Over these last two years, you have welcomed my family and me with open arms and have embraced us as members of the Denver community. The city will always hold a special place in my heart. Our family grew here, we made countless memories and friendships, and formed relationships that will last a lifetime.

To my teammates, thank you for going to battle together and for being there through it all. There are so many moments I cherish because of you and I am blessed for the impact you have made on my life. I am beyond grateful for all of you and to have been able to run out as your teammate was an honor.

Court, I’ll never forget your one-handed catch in LA and your top tap in Buffalo. Bolles, you always wrapping your arm around me win or lose. Brandon Johnson your relentless work ethic. Jeu you snagging and high pointing that ball vs KC! Javonte and Tim… ya’ll always being positive in the midst of injury but fighting daily to be back! Jaleel, you running to the end zone very practice … I think Burton’s got you though! Alex, from picking you up years ago to seeing you shine! To the OLine dinners at Los Dos!

To everyone helping like Lamar, making sure I had all of the film and cut ups. To Harry & Cole – the best pregame warmpups.

I’ll never forget Wendy & Brandy in the cafeteria! Daily bringing the good food, but the even better jams! Thank you for always being uplifting.

Finally, to Ray, Aka Pastor Ray Jackson. Thanks for your countless prayers. Daily. To give God the praise daily and us getting on the floor to thank Jesus for breath in the good times and the bad times. He always gets the glory!

Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.

God’s got me.

I’m excited for what’s next.

#3

The Broncos also released a statement of their own. Denver will now turn its attention toward finding Wilson’s replacement this offseason.

Social media reacts to former Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen’s NFL combine performance

What kind of NFL career will Braelon Allen have?

Former Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen went through positional drills at the NFL combine Saturday afternoon.

The former Badger did not run the 40-yard dash, opting to instead do so at Wisconsin’s pro day later this month.

Allen enters the draft after a three-year career at Wisconsin. He finishes college having recorded 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns on 597 carries, also adding 49 receptions and 275 receiving yards.

He’s a physically imposing running back, as Badgers fans know. The NFL draft world recently went crazy over pictures of him when he was 17 years old and entering college.

Some on X did the same during Allen’s positional drills Saturday afternoon. Here is how social media reacted throughout the day:

Wisconsin basketball social media despondent after Badgers loss to Illinois

Your reaction to Wisconsin’s big loss vs Illinois?

Wisconsin basketball lost its seventh game in nine tries Saturday afternoon, this one a 91-83 home defeat to the No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini.

The Badgers came out of the gates hot, signaling a possible change from the team’s form during the losing skid. But the game soon became a sprint, one Wisconsin lost because of its inability to get key stops on defense.

Tyler Wahl led the way for the Badgers with 20 points on 9 of 14 shooting. He was no match for Marcus Domask, who finished with 31 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

It’s safe to say Wisconsin fans are not happy after the loss. I’d describe the mood as despondent as the Badgers continue their tumble toward the middle of the Big Ten.

Here is how Wisconsin social media reacted to the loss to Illinois:

Johnny Manziel throws his support behind Reggie Bush’s Heisman Trophy fight

Johnny Manziel threw his support behind Reggie Bush, saying he won’t attend the Heisman Trophy award ceremony until Bush has his trophy back:

After careful thought and consideration I will be humbly removing myself from the Heisman trophy ceremony until @ReggieBush gets his trophy back. Doesn’t sit right with my morals and values that he can’t be on that stage with us every year. Reggie IS the Heisman trophy.

Do the…

— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) March 2, 2024

This is big of Johnny Manziel: the former Heisman Trophy winner and Texas A&M quarterback announced Saturday that he will decline to participate in the award’s annual ceremony until Reggie Bush has had his own Heisman Trophy returned to him.

Bush, the former New Orleans Saints running back, won the trophy for his efforts at USC back in 2005. But it was taken away from him after an NCAA investigation found that his family had received recruiting benefits which were not allowed at the time — and which are now popular across the college sports landscape with the legality of NIL programs. Bush has since taken legal action to fight for the recognition that he earned, and to get his trophy back.

Manziel, who won the Heisman Trophy himself in 2012, was one of the most exciting quarterbacks in college football in his prime; love him or hate him, fans were watching the Aggies every week. While he didn’t find great success at the pro level, Manziel has remained a fixture in the college football world and at the Heisman Trophy ceremony each year. He’s voted for the award every year and taken the stage along with other past winners.

But he says that’s not something he can continue to do in good conscience while Bush is left out in the cold. Bush’s 2005 win is the only instance the award has been vacated in its 89-year history. If more of Manziel’s peers took a stand alongside him in support of Bush, it’s tough to believe the powers that be could hold up under such high-profile pressure.

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Alontae Taylor says he won’t be replacing Marcus Maye at safety

New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor moved to the slot in 2023, but says he won’t be replacing Marcus Maye at safety in 2024:

Nah

— Alontae Taylor (@taeetaylor) March 1, 2024

The New Orleans Saints secondary will look different this season with the team intending on releasing starting free safety Marcus Maye when free agency begins in a few weeks. Could another position switch be on the way for cornerback Alontae Taylor, who moved to the slot for the first time in 2023?

Don’t bet on it. Taylor shot down the idea of learning another new position in 2024 in response to fans on social media, who were discussing the notion of playing him at free safety in the wake of Maye’s departure. Whether he primarily covers the slot or moves back outside, he wants to be listed at cornerback.

While the Saints do have an intriguing internal candidate to replace Maye in second-year pro Jordan Howden, they’re going to need more players in the group with Johnathan Abram, Lonnie Johnson, and Ugo Amadi all headed for free agency. And we can’t ignore that Abram finished the season ahead of Howden on the depth chart. He may not be as ready for a full-time starting role as we think.

But as for Taylor: hopefully this experiment in the slot was just a one-year plan. No player was targeted more often or gave up more catches and yards than he did when guarding the slot last season, and he allowed the second-most touchdown passes in the league in that role. He’s a dynamic player on the outside, where he’s played since high school, but he was miscast in the interior over the slot. One benefit to the Saints possibly trading Marshon Lattimore this summer is that it would open a path to keep Taylor in the starting lineup where he’s played his best football.

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Social media has mixed reviews on Anthony Kim’s 76 at LIV Golf Jeddah in professional return

The reviews are mixed.

The Band-Aid has been ripped off.

Anthony Kim made his return to the professional golf world Friday, firing a 6-over 76 in the first round of LIV Golf Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Saudi Arabia. Kim carded only one birdie during the first round and had seven bogeys, and he sits dead last in the 54-man field.

But, is that even a bad score? Kim hasn’t played a competitive round, let alone been seen in the public eye, in nearly 12 years. There was always going to be some competitive rust (see his shank on the fifth hole) and first-tee jitters he had to get over before we saw what he really had left in the tank.

Photos: Anthony Kim at LIV Golf Jeddah

However, as social media often does, there was no shortage of reactions to his debut Friday morning. Here’s what folks had to say about Kim’s return, and there were mixed reviews: