Sign up for the daily newsletter, Jay’s Plays of the Day, to get sports betting recommendations for the top games of the night and the week ahead.
NFL power poll
It’s been a hot minute since we’ve done an NFL power poll.
So, let’s make like the volunteer firefighters out in the Dallas Bay area and head to the poll.
Today, we’re going to do the power moves and the powerless puzzlers. Deal?
Power
1 Washington. Friends, this is how you make the most of your QB1 rookie contract window. The Commanders added a versatile weapon in Deebo Samuel, a Pro Bowl left tackle and re-signed Bobby Wagner and TE Zach Ertz — and they still have their first- and second-round picks.
2 New England. The Pats are building a gritty bunch in the image of gritty HC Mike Vrabel. Adding D-linemen and tough defenders is a great thing around an offense led by Drake Maye, who was pretty sneaky sensational among a rookie collection of QB1s that could be a legendary draft class.
3 Chicago. Are the Bears actually trying to get, you know, better and possibly competitive? They landed the hottest name on the coaching carousel in Ben Johnson, and now they are addressing a woeful O-line to give Caleb Williams a chance. Adding interior blockers is as sexy as sandpaper — hey, if that’s your thing, who am I to judge? — but a veteran center like Drew Salman, who can make all the protection calls, may be the best move no one is discussing.
4 Los Angeles. OK, we lamented the definition of insanity for most of the NFL in terms of free agency strategery on Monday, but the Rams’ running it back makes sense. No team challenged the Eagles as much as L.A. in last winter’s postseason, and the Rams upgraded by adding Davante Adams to replace Cooper Kupp.
5 Las Vegas. I know, feels strange having any praise for the current version of the Raiders, but here we are. They had arguably the biggest QB1 hole in the league and dealt for Geno Smith, with whom who Pete Carroll is comfortable and is someone who can mold a young round-one QB1.
Powerless
28 Miami. Maybe they are slow-walking this thing, but when your big splash in free agency is QB2 Zach Wilson, well, that’s not going to move many needles.
29 Atlanta. Losing Drew Dalman hurts. Badly. And while I understand the math and the method, cutting franchise stalwart Grady Jarrett — who also went to Chicago — hurts me as a Falcons fan. How bad are things in the A-T-L? The CBSsports team-by-team free agency grading has the Falcons’ second-biggest signing Monday as long-snapper Liam McCullough. Like Carl having total consciousness on his deathbed, we got that going for us, which is nice.
30 Pittsburgh. OK, love the addition of DK Metcalf in that you simply do not have game-changing physical freaks in a game filled with physical freaks in every corner. But if the answer at QB1 is Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers, well, then someone may need to rephrase the question. On a serious note, if Mike Tomlin can get a locker room with Aaron Rodgers, George Pickens and DK Metcalf to come together, well, he’s even better than I expected.
31 New York Giants. Read the above graph and now know that the Giants are waiting for Steelers sloppy seconds at QB1.
32 Houston. So your biggest weakness on a team with a top-10 QB1 still on a rookie deal is your O-line — and you address that by trading your best O-lineman? Seems logical.
The ball is tipped
Here we are, about to start the big-conference tournaments.
All eyes will be on the SEC, but why?
Is there any benefit from playing your guts out over the next five days in Nashville?
Not for the big boys, at least according to ESPN’s Joey Brackets.
Joe Lunardi has Auburn as the top overall seed — I still think the committee will give it Duke but still give Auburn the 1 seed in the South — and a trio of SEC squads among the 16 in the dangerous categories of Last/First.
> Arkansas is among the last four getting byes, and we have said this on a few of our “Bets and Ballgames” podcasts over the last few weeks — this may be John Calipari’s best coaching job in a decade.
> Oklahoma is in Lunardi’s last four in the tournament, and Texas is among his first four out.
If all three of those make it, that would give the SEC 14 teams in the tournament.
To be fair, Oklahoma and Texas are 6-12 in conference play this year.
For those wondering, Arkansas plays South Carolina at 1 p.m Eastern Wednesday, Texas plays Vandy at 3:30 p.m., and Oklahoma plays Georgia at about 9:30 p.m.
True or false, all three of those SEC bubble teams make the tournament.
Spring forward
We have been woefully short on spring training news. Hey it happens, and we are getting closer and closer to Opening Day, so let’s remedy that shall we?
We’ll start here: Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will have Tommy John surgery and miss the 2025 season. That stinks. Sure, Spy is crying great big crocodile tears.
So the defending AL champs will be without their best starting pitcher and without Juan Soto, who moved across town to join the Mets for close to a billion bucks, from last year’s World Series runners-up.
Also know that Cole is 34, and Tommy John surgery could cost him some time in 2026.
This comes after the Yankees lost AL rookie of the year Luis Gil to a strained lat earlier this spring. Gil is expected to be out until possibly June.
Man, that ratchets up some pressure on new No. 1 and former Braves lefty Max Fried, huh?
Did we mention that Giancarlo Stanton — who many were pencilling in to fill the Soto void — has missed significant time this spring with severely sore elbows?
So other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?
What’s the over/under on the NYC media and fan base turning on Fried or free-agent-acquisition Cody Bellinger if the Yankees start slowly?
I’ll say the week before Memorial Day.
This and that
› So, the Screamin’ Eagles used a 10-run home-half of the first to cruise to a 15-6 win Monday. The Lil’ Miss 5-at-10 pitched 4.2 innings, struck out 11, walked none and allowed one hit and no runs. In 19.2 innings, she has a K-to-BB ratio of 39-to-2. She’s 7-0 with a 1.52 ERA. That’ll do.
› Cool story here from TFP sports Editor Stephen Hargis as Tyner delivered a state-qualifying win in the last game in its old gym.
› Rules being rules, here’s Paschall on local product Boo Carter at UT practice and a look at the weight gaining goals of five-star UT tackle recruit David Sanders.
› Hmmm, calling BS on this one. So, according to WalletHub, five of the 10 “happiest: cities are in California. PUH-lease. If that’s the case, how come every third person I meet these days is a California transplant?
› Wofford beat Furman on Monday night to secure the SoCon NCAA tournament bid.
Today’s questions
True or false, it’s Tuesday. Morning, Ernie.
True or false, the Commanders and Jayden Daniels will win the NFC East next season.
True or false, Aaron Rodgers is going to sign with Pittsburgh and somewhere Chuck Doll is going to roll over in his grave and Mike Webster is going to spit his teeth out.
True or false, 5-at-10 regular SteelerFan will have a letter trying to convince himself and the rest of Steelers Nation how this could be a good thing.
True or false, Kirk Cousins is heading to Cleveland. Cue the Kenny Chesney: “In the morning I’m leavin’ making my way back to Cleveland …”
Answer some T or Fs, ask some T or Fs.
As for today, March 11, let’s review:
Rupert Murdoch is 94 today. Chas, do you still have the signed Rupert swimsuit calendar?
Anthony Davis is 32.
Bobby McFerrin is 75 today.
Rushmore of songs with “Happy” in the title. Go.
