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.
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We are past 2023 NFL mandatory minicamps, and they were not without controversy and headlines.
🫂 Bills All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs held out of the first day of mandatory minicamp, but he and the team seem to have gotten past their issue. The timeline:
- Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that he was “very concerned” that Diggs was not in attendance.
- Diggs reported to minicamp but did not practice on Day 1 after talks with Buffalo’s regime.
- Josh Allen’s entire press conference was questions centered around Diggs.
- Diggs returned and practiced the next day, and McDermott said the issue is “resolved.”
- The situation will still be one to watch, especially if things happen to go south for the Super Bowl hopefuls in 2023.
- The issue appeared to stem from Diggs not getting the ball enough in the second half of last season (he averaged 11 targets per game in the first nine games and 8.2 targets his final nine games, including playoffs).
- Diggs is an intense competitor and was also not at all happy with Buffalo’s performance in their Divisional Round loss to the Bengals, including animatedly showing his displeasure toward Allen on the sideline.
McDermott adds that he is "very concerned" that Diggs is not at mandatory minicamp #Bills https://t.co/G8tW2uWVif
— Maddy Glab (@MadGlab) June 13, 2023
#Bills WR Stefon Diggs, who is absent from mandatory minicamp today, is making $24.415 million in 2023, including a $22.745M signing bonus as part of a March restructure. A mountain of dead cap means his contract isn't really tradeable from Buffalo's end. An unusual situation.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 13, 2023
Stefon Diggs’ agent, Adisa Bakari, said his client is in Buffalo, has been in Buffalo since yesterday morning, took his physical, met with the head coach and GM the past two days and the Pro-Bowl WR “will be there for the entirety of the minicamp.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 13, 2023
We’re live with @JoshAllenQB as he meets with the media from One Bills Drive!#GoBills | #BillsMafia https://t.co/ECkKVegbha
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 13, 2023
He’s here. 😁#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/dMbkdV5Gh2
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 14, 2023
Sean McDermott says Stefon Diggs reported on time and they had a good conversation…they got to a point yesterday where they needed a break and then he gave Diggs permission to be excused…they picked up talks yesterday after practice #Bills
— Maddy Glab (@MadGlab) June 14, 2023
💍 Chiefs get their Super Bowl LVII rings at their ceremony.
- The Super Bowl rings include 629 diamonds and a bunch of meaningful subtleties.
A ring fit for a Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/9xoSqbsd2A
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 16, 2023
A story for every stone. pic.twitter.com/apO31Pe4fp
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 16, 2023
The moment we’ve all been waiting for… pic.twitter.com/6JtobaQ6ov
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 16, 2023
🔥 Bengals-Chiefs war of words continues.
- Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase claimed that his guy Joe Burrow is the top quarterback in the league and responded, “Pat who?”, after a reporter asked about Patrick Mahomes.
- Mahomes had his chance to respond at the Chiefs’ ring ceremony.
- Bengals-Chiefs feels like the best current rivalry in sports by a large margin.
Thank you. pic.twitter.com/VMq1yXQ1xs
— Bobby Stroupe (@bobbystroupe) June 14, 2023
That’s Who 💍💍 pic.twitter.com/pIs95yWMTS
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) June 16, 2023
🤦♂️ Patriots cornerback Jack Jones was arrested for gun possession at Logan Airport.
- Jones had off-field concerns during the pre-draft process last year, but he had a promising rookie campaign.
- Jones allegedly attempted to bring two firearms onto an airplane.
- The Arizona State product was also suspended the final two games at the end of last season for team discipline.
- The future of Jones in New England is now in obvious doubt.
Patriots CB Jack Jones was arrested for attempting to bring firearms aboard a flight, sources confirm.
Per Massachusetts State Police, a state trooper was called to a Logan airport security checkpoint at approx. 5:30 p.m. Jones was charged with 2 counts of each of the following: pic.twitter.com/tkZIINNjcD
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) June 17, 2023
#Patriots standout CB Jack Jones was arrested at Logan Airport after two firearms were found in his carry-on. His bail was set at $50K and Jones is due to be arraigned next week in East Boston District Court. https://t.co/vQmaPY4kAj
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 17, 2023
This, from Jack Jones, a month ago, in regards to Ja Morant and his recent issues. https://t.co/u7mjhmDL4O
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) June 17, 2023
👏 NFL legend J.J. Watt will go into the Texans Ring of Honor on October 1, when the Texans face the Steelers.
- J.J.’s brother T.J. (and Derek if he re-signs) plays for Pittsburgh, so this was a perfect fit.
- While Watt’s No. 99 isn’t officially being retired, it’s difficult to see another player ever wearing the number for the Texans.
9️⃣9️⃣ is coming home 🤘 pic.twitter.com/DHwWVkWUoi
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) June 12, 2023
"Damn, am I proud to be a Texan."
Drop a message to welcome @JJWatt back home ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/rJMhVDA6tv
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) June 12, 2023
🚫 Holdout: Vikings star pass rusher Danielle Hunter skipped mandatory minicamp, hoping for a new contract.
- In the final year of his current deal, the 28-year-old Hunter is looking for a lucrative extension.
- Hunter missed 2020 due to a neck injury and missed most of 2021 due to a pectoral injury, but he’s a freakish athlete and one of the NFL’s most underrated players.
- The somewhat puzzling direction of the Vikings—a team that just released Dalvin Cook last week and has been revamping the roster—is tough to pin down, and they might not be willing to extend the veteran defensive end.
Three-time Pro Bowl DE Danielle Hunter plans to skip the #Vikings’ mandatory minicamp, per sources.
The sides haven’t seen eye-to-eye on a new contract. @RapSheet reported Minnesota has received trade calls, and now one of the NFL’s top pass rushers is officially a holdout. pic.twitter.com/GedTiRbIKt
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 12, 2023
🐶 Cleveland Browns reveal new dog logo.
- The Browns held a fan contest to come up with a new dog logo for the franchise, and Houston Mark won.
and the winner is…
Introducing our new official dog logo!! 🐾🎉 #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/zny6NxobHy
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 12, 2023
more than meets the eye 🧐🦴 pic.twitter.com/iwJ7i1kN6a
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 12, 2023
Other Sports Updates
🏒 Golden Knights beat the Panthers in five games to win the Stanley Cup Final.
HOME MEANS NEVADA FOR LORD STANLEY’S CUP!!!! #UKnightTheRealm pic.twitter.com/cFC6Rr4scG
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 14, 2023
⛳️ Wyndham Clark wins the U.S. Open for his first career major victory.
A major breakthrough! 🏆@Wyndham_Clark is the 123rd #USOpen champion! pic.twitter.com/1ufXwSAU7D
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 19, 2023
🏟️ A’s “Reverse Boycott” draws 27,759 fans in effort to keep the franchise in Oakland.
A's fans are LOUD tonight
27,759 fans in attendance tonight pic.twitter.com/UM7NBW1iEi
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) June 14, 2023
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