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The Wolf Sports Newsletter: April 16, 2024


A bunch happened around sports in the past week, and we’ll start with the latest in the NFL.

 

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Big extensions

 

Jaguars pass rusher Josh Allen signed a five-year, $150 million extension. Allen was franchise tagged by Jacksonville, but the superstar defender gets a massive long-term deal instead of playing 2024 on the tag. An underrated player for much of his early career, the Kentucky product racked up 17.5 sacks last season. Looking back, it’s crazy that Allen dropped to No. 7 overall in the 2019 draft.

 

 

The Eagles signed wide receiver Devonta Smith to a three-year, $75 million extension. Philadelphia also picked up Smith’s fifth-year option, so these three years are tacked on top of that and keep him with the team through 2028. Philly has a scary core on offense there long-term with Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and Smith leading the way—along with free-agent signing Saquon Barkley, tight end Dallas Goedert, and a top offensive line.

 

 

The Colts extended All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner with a two-year, $46 million extension. Buckner was acquired from the 49ers for a first-round pick in 2020 and has been a steady foundational piece in the Indy defense.

 

 

NFL news and notes

 

Longtime veteran defensive back Logan Ryan has retired from the NFL.

 

https://twitter.com/RealLoganRyan/status/1777683412406374629

 

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, who is coming off a torn ACL, says the plan is to be ready for the start of training camp.

 

The Packers will officially be the Eagles’ opponent for the Friday Week 1 game in Brazil.

 

Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice and Theodore Knox, an SMU defensive back that has been dismissed from the program, are being sued for $1 million for their street racing crash that caused injuries to people.

 

The 13 prospects attending the 2024 NFL Draft are set.

 

https://twitter.com/NFLFootballOps/status/1778631473270333784

 

After 50 years of working in the NFL, Packers equipment manager Gordon “Red” Batty has retired.

 

 

Tom Brady “not opposed” to unretiring

 

We don’t think a return is at all likely, but it’s noteworthy that legendary quarterback Tom Brady said on the DeepCutspodcast with VicBlends that he is “not opposed” to a potential comeback in a perfect situation. The way the question was set up is that if a contending team late in the season had an injury and wanted to bring in Brady—and Brady might have just been being nice to entertain the question—but it’s interesting that he didn’t totally shut it down.

 

 

The Raiders and Patriots are the betting favorites for a Brady comeback, but as Brady himself noted, his pending ownership stake in the Raiders (league approval has notably been pushed back continuously over the past several months) might complicate things.

 

Recent signings

 

Players moving on to new homes recently include:

 

  • Wide receiver/returner Deonte Harty signed with the Ravens.
  • The Giants signed defensive tackle Jordan Phillips.
  • The 49ers added cornerback Rock Ya-Sin.
  • Veteran guard Laken Tomlinson signed with the Seahawks.
  • Veteran offensive lineman Cody Whitehair signed with the Raiders.
  • The Eagles brought in tight end C.J. Uzomah.
  • The Saints signed quarterback Kellen Mond.

 

NFL uniform news

 

The Jets revealed their new uniforms, which have been very well received.

 

 

The Jaguars are bringing back throwback uniforms.

 

 

The NFL has revised their helmet policy to allow for a third design per team.

 

 

O.J. Simpson dead

 

 

One of the most infamous sports figures in American history O.J. Simpson died at 76 due to cancer. The Heisman-winning running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer is the NFL’s first-ever 2,000-yard rusher and did it in a 14-game schedule. Following his career he remained a star on television and was one of the country’s most well-liked people until the horrific murder of Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman.

 

Other Sports Updates

 

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler won his second Masters in three years.

 

 

Frozen Four: Denver topped Boston College to win its tenth national championship.

 

Braves pitcher and preseason NL Cy Young favorite Spencer Strider (Tommy John surgery) is officially out for the season, as is Red Sox infielder Trevor Story (shoulder).

 

Conor McGregor is back in UFC and will fight Michael Chandler this June.

 

ESPN and Omaha Productions agreed to a new nine-year contract, so we’ll be seeing many more ManningCasts in the future.

 

 

No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday (son of former big leaguer Matt Holliday) made his MLB debut for the Orioles.

 

Kentucky named Mark Pope, who won a national title with the Wildcats as a player, their head coach after John Calipari left for Arkansas.

 

Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, the winningest hoops coach in NCAA history, has retired after 38 seasons at the school.

 

The NHL’s Arizona Coyotes are relocating to Utah.

 

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