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Home / frontsports / The Wolf Sports Newsletter: July 17, 2023

The Wolf Sports Newsletter: July 17, 2023


The Wolf Sports Newsletter is a weekly newsletter giving an efficient update on the recent happenings in the world of sports. In an era where Twitter is a primary news source for many sports fans, you can think of The Wolf Sports Newsletter as a Tweet Sheet delivering key information every Monday. The focus is on football, but big news from other sectors of sports will also be included to keep you in the loop with all the action to start the week.

 

The Wolf Sports Newsletter is beginning in article form but will eventually also be delivered via email. Create a free Wolf Sports account if you are interested in getting The Wolf Sports Newsletter via email when available.

 

Before jumping into the news, be sure to check out last week’s 2023 NFL Expansion Team series, which gives an in-depth look at what the 33rd team might look like each year:

 

Part I: City, Branding, Staff

Part II: The Expansion Draft

Part III: Free Agency

Part IV: 2023 NFL Draft

 

🗡️ The Titans are signing former All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

 

  • Doug Kyed was the first to report the news, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says it’s a two-year, $26 million deal worth up to $32 million with incentives.
  • The Patriots were thought to be the other most serious suitor for Hopkins, with the Chiefs and Bills speculated as other potential options if a discount was possible.
  • It appears the Titans offered the best contract, and Hopkins joins and offense with Derrick Henry, Treylon Burks, Kyle Philips, and Chigoziem Okonkwo in Tennessee.

 

 

 

 

✈️ HBO’s Hard Knocks is set to feature the Jets.

 

  • The announcement still has not been officially made, perhaps partly due to the Jets’ stubborn stance on not wanting to be featured on the show.
  • However, no team volunteered, and the Jets were one of the teams that could be forced on to Hard Knocks this summer—so it felt very likely.
  • The Jets not only added Aaron Rodgers this offseason after 18 years with the Packers, but they have a roster with exciting and entertaining players like Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, and Breece Hall.
  • Expect an announcement very early this week, with the Jets reporting to camp tomorrow.

 

 

 

💰 Sticking with the Jets, All-Pro defensive lineman Quinnen Williams signed a four-year, $96 million contract extension.

 

  • It’s the second biggest contract ever for a defensive tackle at $24 million per year, and it includes $66 million guaranteed.
  • Williams sticks with his brother and linebacker Quincy, who re-signed with New York earlier this offseason.

 

 

 

 

 

🧐 Saints running back Alvin Kamara pleads down Las Vegas incident to a no contest on a lesser misdemeanor charge.

 

  • Kamara’s felony charge from the February 2022 incident in which he and three others allegedly badly beat a man outside of a nightclub the night before the Pro Bowl.
  • A private settlement was reached between Kamara and the victim.
  • Kamara must do community service and pay $100K for the victim’s medical bills.
  • The legal process concluding opens the door for the NFL to hand down its discipline when they are finished their own evaluation of the situation.
  • Most expect Kamara to be suspended for four-to-six games.

 

 

 

 

🗓️ Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs tells Pewter Report that he believes the NFL should add another bye week.

 

  • Wirfs notes that a 17th game was added but that another bye week was not.
  • We’ve long wanted the NFL to do an 18-week, two-bye schedule giving the league 18 regular season television weeks but more time off for players.
  • The issue with adding another bye is presumably that it weakens the weekly schedule with so many byes, which can hurt overall NFL ratings—potentially hurting in TV deals even for by far the most dominant “show” in the United States.
  • Additionally, two bye weeks is likely more of a challenge to implement logistically.

 

 

🐅 Bengals running back Joe Mixon restructures contract to remain with the team.

 

  • Mixon is taking a pay cut to remain in Cincinnati, and his agent Peter Schaffer says it helps attempt to accomplish the goal of winning a Super Bowl and staying with the team for his entire career.
  • There was a lot of speculation about Mixon’s status with the Bengals this offseason, but it was difficult to see him leaving after Samaje Perine left for the Broncos during free agency.
  • The bottom line is Mixon is still a very talented runner and a key part of Cincy’s Super Bowl aspirations—he had a five-touchdown game last season and racked up 105 yards and a touchdown in the snow during last season’s Divisional Round win at Buffalo.

 

 

 

 

💸 Tight end Evan Engram agrees to three-year contract ahead of franchise tag deadline.

 

  • It’s a big three-year, $41.25 million extension with $24 million guaranteed for the former first-round pick of the Giants.
  • After a strong 64/722/6 rookie season, Engram was somewhat up and down and dealt with injuries during his time in New York.
  • The Ole Miss product had a very strong 2022 campaign in Jacksonville, particularly toward the end of the season, posting 73 receptions for 766 yards and four touchdowns.

 

 

 

 

Other Sports Updates

 

🔍 Northwestern fires head football coach Pat Fitzgerald following an investigation into widespread hazing allegations in the program.

 

 

⚾️ National League beats the American League in the MLB All-Star Game for the first time since 2012.

 

 

💪 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wins the MLB Home Run Derby, making the Guerreros the first father and son duo to both win it.

 

 

🎾 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic to take Wimbledon title.

 

 

📰 The New York Times has disbanded its sports department and will rely on their recent purchase of The Athletic for their sports coverage.

 

 

In Case You Missed It

-Building A 2023 NFL Expansion Team, Part I

-Building A 2023 NFL Expansion Team, Part II

-Building A 2023 NFL Expansion Team, Part III

-Building A 2023 NFL Expansion Team, Part IV

-2023 Fantasy Preview: Minnesota Vikings

-2023 Fantasy Preview: New England Patriots

-2023 Fantasy Preview: New Orleans Saints

-2023 Fantasy Preview: New York Giants

-2023 Fantasy Football Mock Draft 6.0