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 (X?) 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.
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This week’s newsletter begins with the official closing on the sale of what can and should be a crown jewel sports organization.
🏛️ Washington Commanders sale to Josh Harris group becomes official.
- Mitchell Rales, Magic Johnson, Mark Ein, and David Blitzer are among the prominent partners as new owners of Washington’s NFL franchise.
- There was a celebration and press conference on Friday after the sale officially closed—and new ownership has made it clear their goal is to build Washington back into a crown jewel sports franchise.
- Improving the stadium and fan experience are two of the top priorities for new ownership. The RFK Stadium site would obviously be ideal, and ownership including Harris and Rales have a connection to going to games at RFK during the organization’s years of glory.
- A name change from the unpopular Commanders sounds likely after the season.
- Simultaneous to the sale approval on Thursday evening, the Mary Jo White report was released and former owner Daniel Snyder has to pay $60 million—but he came away with $6.05 billion from the sale of the team he bought in 1999.
LIVE: Commissioner Goodell introduces future Commanders Managing Partner Josh Harris https://t.co/Zxnxofvplp
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 20, 2023
Approved and expected to close shortly ✅
A message from Josh Harris ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/DcZisMAzKM
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 20, 2023
God is so good…I still can’t believe it! I am currently living in an answered prayer. Since beginning my journey as an athlete and now businessman and team owner, it's all been a dream that has come full circle. I grew up playing football as a kid, I’m a huge NFL fan, and I…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 20, 2023
PRESS CONFERENCE: Welcome Josh Harris and the ownership group of the Washington Commanders! https://t.co/cjUHzn5nwe
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 21, 2023
Reporter: How do you feel about the name 'Commanders'?
Josh Harris: "It's not about I feel, it's about how the city feels about all this stuff."
"We're going to look at everything and see where we are."
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) July 21, 2023
Statement from Daniel and Tanya Snyder on the sale of the Commanders:https://t.co/gJIbmkUMoM pic.twitter.com/8IrMeuEhf8
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) July 21, 2023
Our promise.
Josh Harris and our ownership group with a message to you in this open letter in today's @washingtonpost pic.twitter.com/pRmc9N1AiE
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 23, 2023
💲 Running backs unite: Players speak out after Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs fail to land long-term contracts with Giants, Raiders.
- Barkley and Jacobs will now have to play the 2023 season on the franchise tag after not agreeing to long-term contracts by the July 17 deadline.
- Cowboys running back Tony Pollard will also play the season on the franchise tag, but he and Dallas were not expected to do a long-term deal.
- Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey—players that have been given lucrative long-term contracts—were among the running backs to speak out about the devaluing of their position.
- Analytics has certainly played a role in running backs not getting paid, and the franchise tag gives teams a lot of power to control the position.
- Running backs seem to be trying to plot ideas to change things, but it’s tough to see a path for progress unless the franchise tag were to be eliminated. The other hundreds of players in the NFLPA are willing to keep the franchise tag to get other concessions in CBA negotiations, as the tag mostly just impacts top players in the league.
The #Raiders and star RB Josh Jacobs did not reach a deal, per me and @TomPelissero, despite extensive negotiations. Now it’s unclear when he’ll show to play on the tag. pic.twitter.com/1vAJE8j6U4
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 17, 2023
No deal for the #Giants and star RB Saquon Barkley, with talks going down to the wire and the best efforts made to strike a compromise, per me, @TomPelissero, and @MikeGarafolo. He’ll play on the tag, but the question is when. pic.twitter.com/DxbEHiRlKL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 17, 2023
It is what it is
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) July 17, 2023
At this point , just take the RB position out the game then . The ones that want to be great & work as hard as they can to give their all to an organization , just seems like it don’t even matter . I’m with every RB that’s fighting to get what they deserve . https://t.co/OgvBWZCKvn
— Derrick Henry (@KingHenry_2) July 17, 2023
I agree with my running back brothers around the NFL- history will show that you need running backs to win- we set the tone every game and run trough walls for our team and lead in many ways- this notion that we deserve less is a joke. https://t.co/rWJkGIEgmW
— Najee Harris (@ohthatsNajee22) July 17, 2023
This is the kind of trash that has artificially devalued one of the most important positions in the game. Everyone knows it’s tough to win without a top RB and yet they act like we are discardable widgets. I support any RB doing whatever it takes to get his bag. https://t.co/sRYfAKwrpQ
— Austin Ekeler (@AustinEkeler) July 17, 2023
This is Criminal. Three of the best PLAYERS in the entire league, regardless of position. https://t.co/zDXRS5cGdu
— Christian McCaffrey (@CMC_22) July 17, 2023
1. If you’re good enough, they’ll find you.
2. If you work hard enough, you’ll succeed.
…If you succeed…
3. You boost the Organization
…and then…
Doesn’t matter, you’re a RB https://t.co/mG6In1ATGg
— Jonathan Taylor (@JayT23) July 17, 2023
Top running backs will meet by Zoom tonight to discuss their depressed market — and presumably to consider ideas for improving it. https://t.co/smih5VR1xt
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 22, 2023
⛺️ NFL training camps get under way.
- By the end of the week, all 32 teams will have reported for camp.
- Among the early reporting highlights are the defending champion Chiefs and the Aaron Rodgers-led Jets.
- Football season is coming, and it should be here before we know it.
We’re officially BACK‼️ #ChiefsCamp pic.twitter.com/Ef1oXd4emo
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 19, 2023
⭐️ Cowboys All-Pro right guard Zack Martin and Chiefs All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones are planning to hold out of training camp.
- Jones already didn’t report to camp for Kansas City.
- Both players are unhappy with their contracts and want new deals.
- However, the NFL’s CBA makes it much harder to hold out than it was in the past, as players can be fined $50,000 per missed day of camp.
- One of the downsides to having so many star-level players like is that it can be hard to make everyone happy: for Dallas, CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs are both due for massive new contracts soon.
- Madden ratings are notoriously bad, but Martin did just become the first guard to get a 99 overall rating since Larry Allen in 2003.
Cowboys’ six-time All-Pro guard and team captain Zack Martin is considering not reporting to training camp due to his unhappiness with his contract and the team’s lack of interest in restructuring it, per sources. Martin believes he is “woefully underpaid relative to the market.”… pic.twitter.com/mKV2W9hPPZ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 19, 2023
Zack Martin is the first guard to make the Madden 99 Club since since Larry Allen in 2003 👏 pic.twitter.com/J8E6oJVzlU
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) July 19, 2023
Chiefs’ All-Pro DT Chris Jones, who has been seeking a new deal this off-season, did not report with the rest of the team to training camp today, per source. The two sides remain “far apart” on a new deal for the Defensive Players of the Year finalist. pic.twitter.com/7doEzdxZcO
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 22, 2023
☠️ Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) passes physical ahead of training camp.
- There was some concern over Garoppolo’s Week 1 status several weeks ago, but he’s ready to go for his new team after he had foot surgery this offseason.
- If Garoppolo was unable to pass a physical to start the season, the Raiders could have gotten out of the contract without owing him anything.
- Jimmy G being ready to go for Day 1 of camp allows him to get acclimated with superstar receiver Davante Adams and his other teammates ahead of a key second season for Josh McDaniels with the Raiders.
Multiple sources are optimistic that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will pass today’s physical and be ready for #Raiders training camp barring surprise. Garoppolo has progressed well from offseason foot surgery. Las Vegas quarterbacks report today.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 23, 2023
Raiders’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who spent his off-season recovering from a foot injury, did in fact pass his training camp physical and is expected to begin training camp with his teammates, per league source. Raiders are not placing him on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 23, 2023
Let's go get it ☠️@JimmyG_10 | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/18qkwtuGxb
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) July 23, 2023
💰 Steelers sign outside linebacker Alex Highsmith to a four-year, $68 million extension.
- Highsmith had 14.5 sacks last season as one of the most under-the-radar top pass rushers in football.
- The 2020 third-round pick out of Charlotte also led the NFL in forced fumbles (five) in 2022.
- Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt and Highsmith are somewhat quietly one of the league’s most fearsome duos off the edge for Pittsburgh.
Sources: The #Steelers and star pass-rusher Alex Highsmith have agreed to terms on a huge 4-year, $68M extension to pay him among the Top 10 highest paid edge rushers in the NFL. Coming off a career year with 14.5 sacks, Highsmith cashes in and PIT locks in a key player. pic.twitter.com/LnPsB14Jax
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 19, 2023
We have signed LB Alex Highsmith to a new five-year contract. @BordasLaw
📝: https://t.co/QrbUaCd5Zf pic.twitter.com/cL1GiKF2eF
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 19, 2023
Other Sports Updates
⛳️ Brian Harman wins The Open Championship by six strokes for his first career major victory.
Mastery of the elements.
Brian Harman claims a supreme six stroke victory at Hoylake.
A magnificent performance. pic.twitter.com/Ic3HRsF5my
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 23, 2023
🐊 Netflix releases trailer for next volume of UNTOLD, including stories centered around Johnny Manziel and the 2006-2009 Florida Gators program with Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow.
https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1681325601381052417?s=20
⚽️ Lionel Messi sinks game-winning goal on free kick in first match with Inter Miami.
El primer gol de Messi con Inter Miami 🤯🤯👏👏
Messi scores in his first match with the club to give us the lead in the 94th minute. pic.twitter.com/pI7bYjEK63
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 22, 2023
In Case You Missed It
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-2023 Fantasy Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers
-2023 Fantasy Preview: San Francisco 49ers
-TTT: Succession fantasy football team names
-Candidates for Season 2 of Quarterback on Netflix
-Jets to officially be featured on Hard Knocks