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Home / frontsports / The Wolf Sports Newsletter: May 29, 2023

The Wolf Sports Newsletter: May 29, 2023

By Wolf Sports Staff

May 29, 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.

 

The 2023 NFL Spring League Meeting brought a ton of news to get to from the past week. Thank you for reading the second edition of The Wolf Sports Newsletter, and have a safe Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

 

🐐 Tom Brady has officially agreed to purchase a minority stake in the Raiders.

 

  • Brady finalizing his partner status with the Raiders is pending official NFL approval, which should be a formality.
  • The legendary quarterback also recently became part-owner of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces along with Raiders owner Mark Davis.
  • This can probably end the talk of Brady potentially coming out of retirement a second time… unless it’s for the Raiders.

 

 

🏴‍☠️ Sticking with the Raiders, new starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s delayed press conference and revised contract before his signing became official was due to a failed physical.

 

  • Garoppolo, who broke his foot in Week 13 last season and did not return for the Niners, had foot surgery after he signed with Vegas.
  • The Raiders hope Jimmy G will be ready for Week 1.
  • The contract for Garoppolo is structured so that the Raiders can get out of it without paying him anything if he does not pass his physical by Week 1, according to ProFootballTalk.

 

 

 

🏛️ The Washington Commanders purchase agreement by the Josh Harris group still has work to get finalized.

 

  • Roger Goodell, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and Colts owner Jim Irsay spoke most prominently about the sale.
  • Irsay says they are “hopeful” a deal will get done, but that it must “stay within the guidelines.”
  • There are reportedly 20 limited partners in the deal, which is an uncommonly high number—though the $6 billion sales price sets a record for a sports franchise.
  • The Harris group has a combined net worth in the tens of billions, but the structure of the deal must comply with NFL rules and stay below the $1.1 billion debt limit for team acquisitions.
  • Multiple reports say that the NFL is eager to get rid of current Commanders owner Daniel Snyder as they continue working with the Harris group on finalizing the sale.

 

 

 

 

🏆 San Francisco will officially host Super Bowl LX in 2026.

 

  • The San Francisco Bay Area hosted Super Bowl 50, and it will host again ten years later.
  • NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement: “The Bay Area was an incredible host for Super Bowl 50, and we are thrilled to bring the Super Bowl back. We look forward to working with the 49ers and the Bay Area Host Committee to create an impactful Super Bowl LX in 2026 that showcases all the great things the region has to offer.”

 

 

🙋‍♂️ 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) will be allowed to throw next week, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

 

  • Purdy injured his elbow during the NFC Championship Game against the Eagles in January.
  • On a similar note, the NFL passed a rule to allow an emergency third quarterback to be used without taking up an active roster spot on game day.
  • The steal of last year’s draft as “Mr. Irrelevant”, Purdy underwent surgery with specialist Dr. Keith Meister in March, and the expectation was that he would start a throwing program in three months.
  • The hope is that Purdy will be ready for Week 1, and he’s fully expected to be the starter if healthy.
  • Two former third overall picks (Trey Lance and Sam Darnold) are competing while Purdy gets to full health.

 

 

 

🗓️ Thursday Night Football flex scheduling has passed.

 

  • There were concerns from fans and some owners (most vocally, Giants owner John Mara) about how this is basically a slap to the face of fans that plan ahead to attend these games.
  • However, the TNF flex scheduling is very restricted, gives four weeks advance notice, and might be rarely used.
  • The flex scheduling applies only to Weeks 13-17, requires 28 days’ notice, and can only be done twice per season.
  • Overall, it could have been much worse, but many—including Mara—remain unhappy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

🖐️ The Cardinals released star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

 

  • Arizona had been trying to trade Hopkins for weeks.
  • With no team wanting to take on the veteran’s huge salary while also giving compensation, the Cardinals opted to released Hopkins, who is now free to sign with any team.
  • The Cardinals will eat $22.6 million in dead money, but there will be no salary cap ramifications in 2024.
  • The Ravens, Jets, Bills, and Chiefs have been speculated as potential landing spots for the former All-Pro.

 

 

📺 YouTube TV has announced that those that sign up for NFL Sunday Ticket will be able to watch an unlimited number of streams.

 

  • YouTube TV won the rights to Sunday Ticket earlier this year after it was on DirecTV since its launch in 1994.
  • The initial limit on YouTube TV was going to be two streams per account, but fan complaints bumped that number up to an unlimited number.
  • This is obviously a major win for those that are going to use Sunday Ticket.
  • It allows people to watch as many games as they want. For example, if there are nine games at 1:00 PM ET—and you somehow have nine screens in a room—you can watch every game.
  • This move shows YouTube TV is willing to make accommodations—and perhaps it indicates that early subscriber numbers have not been as good as expected.

 

 

🔑 Lamar Jackson says that new Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is “basically just giving us the keys to the offense, really.”

 

  • Former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman operated a run-heavy offense for Baltimore, and Monken’s attack will look like an entirely new approach.
  • Jackson says he’ll be throwing more and running less in Monken’s offense.
  • In addition to giving Jackson the biggest contract in NFL history, the Ravens invested heavily at wide receiver this offseason, bringing in Odell Beckham Jr., Nelson Agholor, and first-round pick Zay Flowers.
  • Fantasy owners should take note: Jackson had 3,500+ passing yards, 27+ passing TD, 1,500+ rushing yards, and 18+ rushing TD in each of his final two college seasons at Louisville.

 

 

 

🧀 The Packers will host the 2025 NFL Draft.

 

  • The three-day event will take place around Lambeau Field, one of the most special places in sports.
  • The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit before it heads to Wisconsin in a couple of years.

 

 

🦵 The NFL changes its kickoff rule, putting the ball on the 25-yard line after a fair catch.

 

  • The rule change is designed to make the game safer given the high-speed collisions that can happen on kickoffs, i.e., the NFL is expecting to see fewer returns this season.
  • Special teams had strategized to kick the ball in a way (typically via hangtime) in an attempt to pin an opponent deeper in their own territory.
  • The ability for teams to now use the fair catch and get it at the 25-yard line takes some strategy out of the play.
  • Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and tight end Travis Kelce are among those not happy with the move.
  • The opening kickoff is an iconic part of football, and kickoffs have delivered many memorable moments in history. Also, many special teamers and end-of-roster guys have earned roles and long careers by performing at a high level on kickoffs.
  • The rule change passed on a one-year trial basis, so owners will revisit.

 

 

 

 

⚡️ Chargers running back Austin Ekeler will remain with the team following a contract dispute.

 

  • Ekeler led the NFL in touchdowns the past two seasons and wanted an upgraded contract.
  • The versatile running back requested permission to seek a trade earlier this offseason. After nothing happened through the draft, Ekeler received extra incentives in his current contract.
  • His new deal adds close to $2 million in incentives to the final year of his contract.
  • Ekeler will be a free agent after this season.

 

 

Other Sports Updates

 

🏒 Florida Panthers sweep the Carolina Hurricanes to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. They await the winner of the Stars-Golden Knights series (Golden Knights lead, 3-2; Game 6 tonight at 8 PM ET).

 

 

⚾️ Craig Kimbrel became the eighth player in MLB history to reach 400 saves. It comes a couple of weeks after Kenley Jansen accomplished the same feat.

 

 

🏎️ Joseph Newgarden wins the Indy 500; Formula 1: Max Verstappen wins the Monaco Grand Prix.

 

 

 

In Case You Missed It

 

– Dynasty fantasy football with relegation and promotion

– NFC East and AFC East fantasy RB outlooks

– NFC North and AFC North fantasy RB outlooks

– NFC South and AFC South fantasy RB outlooks

– NFC West and AFC West fantasy RB outlooks

– Pre-summer NFL futures bets (🔒)