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The Wolf Sports Newsletter: May 14, 2024


The 2024 NFL schedule will officially release this Wednesday at 8:00 PM ET.

 

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Early matchups revealed

 

The Ravens will officially be the Chiefs’ opponent in the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday, September 5.

 

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1789984011294585180

 

Tom Brady’s first game call for FOX Sports will be the Browns against the Cowboys in Week 1.

 

https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX/status/1790135000102269066

 

The Bengals and Chiefs face off in Week 2 on CBS.

 

https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS/status/1790346687501770822

 

Recent moves

 

The Lions signed quarterback Jared Goff to a four-year, $212 million extension. It makes Goff the highest-paid player in franchise history and continues the offseason theme of general manager Brad Holmes locking up foundational pieces. Goff is now the second-highest-paid quarterback in football.

 

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1790124508939960483

 

The Buccaneers signed superstar safety Antoine Winfield Jr. to a four-year, $84.1 million contract, the biggest per-year contract for a defensive back in NFL history.

 

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1790086638292578668

 

More veteran are coming off the board, as teams look ahead to training camp and the season:

 

  • The Bills signed receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
  • The Titans signed wide receiver Tyler Boyd.
  • The Chargers added pass rusher Bud Dupree.
  • The Giants signed wide receiver Allen Robinson.
  • The Steelers signed defensive back Anthony Averett and receiver Scotty Miller.
  • Before the Rams cut him, the Texans acquired versatile receiver Ben Skowronek, who became a team captain for Los Angeles.

 

Rashee Rice in trouble again

 

Just weeks after getting eight felony charges due to causing an accident while street racing, Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice is now under investigation for allegedly punching a photographer in the face at a nightclub a couple of Mondays ago.

 

 

Obviously, you would have hoped Rice would have learned from the incident earlier this offseason, but that does not appear to be the case. It’s probably fair to say it’s a bad look for someone that’s been in recent trouble to spend his Monday night at a nightclub. There were some whispers of off-field concerns for Rice when he entered the draft last year, which is part of why he dropped to Kansas City in the second round. Some type of league discipline is certainly coming for Rice at some point.

 

News around the league

 

Former Chargers general manager A.J. Smith passed away at 75.

 

https://twitter.com/chargers/status/1789744427658813606

 

Legendary former Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Collier died at 91.

 

 

The Giants released a logo for their 100th anniversary season.

 

 

Commanders second-round rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton is undergoing surgery on his left foot—just a few months after a similar surgery on his right foot.

 

The Patriots officially named Eliot Wolf as their executive vice president of player personnel.

 

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has cut weight again, revealing that he’s down to around 205 pounds after he was up to 230 two years ago and 215 last year.

 

https://twitter.com/UpAndAdamsShow/status/1788594008790348218

 

Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin doesn’t sound concerned about the Titans in the AFC South, telling Chris Longthat “I already smacked them a couple of times.”

 

Lions second-round rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. wrote a letter to his teacher Mr. Gammon in fourth grade about playing in the NFL—and he came through.

 

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1787856599807123589

 

Number news:

 

 

https://twitter.com/Colts/status/1789305220800946287

 

  • Zach Wilson made a classy move by allowing rookie quarterback Bo Nix to wear No. 10. Wilson switched to No. 4.

 

Bill Belichick will appear as a guest on every ManningCast this season. It’ll be unmatched insight to hear Belichick discuss the game with Peyton and Eli Manning.

 

Devin Funchess became the first NFL player to sign a professional basketball contract.

 

Former NFL official and ESPN rules analyst John Parry is joining the Bills as an “officiating liaison”, according to the New York Post.

 

Other Sports Updates

 

The PlayStation Store leaked the Deluxe Edition cover of the upcoming EA Sports College Football 25 video game.

 

 

Shohei Ohtani’s former translator Ippei Mizuhara has agreed to plead guilty to bank fraud.

 

The Maple Leafs fired head coach Sheldon Keefe.

 

The San Jose Sharks have won the 2024 NHL Draft lottery.

 

Pirates top pitching prospect Paul Skenes allowed three runs with seven strikeouts over four innings in his MLB debut.

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has joined both TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video as part of their broadcast teams in 2025.

 

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