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Good morning! I caught you some beads.
Splish Splash: The NFL offseason really begins
We start with football first this morning, as the country’s biggest sport had a surprisingly busy day yesterday. Big names leaving and staying. New directions forged. All that.Â
Let’s start with some splashy changes:Â
- The Chargers released Joey Bosa late last night, ending one of the best tenures in franchise history. In nine seasons, Bosa rang up 72 sacks. He made five Pro Bowls, as recently as last season. The move saves L.A. over $25 million in cap space.
- Superstar wide receiver DK Metcalf requested a trade out of Seattle after the team and player clearly could not come close to agreeing on a contract extension. Negotiations are already underway with suitors, and there should be plenty for a player of Metcalf’s caliber and age (27). Also departing Seattle: Tyler Lockett, already a Seahawks legend.
And now for the eye-popping reunions:Â
- Las Vegas made Maxx Crosby the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history with a three-year, $106.5 million extension, $91.5 million of that guaranteed. Crosby is certainly worth the money, and it’s notable the new Raiders regime views him as a centerpiece of their rebuild.
- In Philadelphia, a quiet stunner: Both linebacker Zack Baun (three years, $51 million) and running back Saquon Barkley (two years, $41.2 million) agreed to extensions with the Super Bowl champs. Barkley’s payday is unsurprising, but retaining Baun — arguably the best linebacker on the market, whom many thought the Eagles couldn’t afford — is a coup.
- We also had an interesting trade, as the Chiefs sent guard Joe Thuney to Chicago for a fourth-round pick. Thuney is a four-time Super Bowl champion and was a first-team All-Pro selection the last two seasons, yet played part in a crushing Super Bowl performance from the KC offensive line this year. The Bears still get an A for this trade.
Whew. The legal tampering period doesn’t even start until Monday, either. One massive storyline hanging over us still:Â
- What happens in Cincinnati? The Bengals intend to sign both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term deals this offseason, but Chase and the team remain far apart on a deal, while Higgins is understandably upset after being franchise tagged for a second straight year. Also, Sam Hubbard retired yesterday. What a weird offseason already.Â
Stay tuned. Onward:
News to Know
UConn’s big win
Interesting things are afoot with the two-time defending champion UConn Huskies, who entered last night’s game against No. 20 Marquette unranked. Remember when Dan Hurley turned down the Lakers this offseason to go for a three-peat? It hasn’t gone so well, but last night’s win over the Golden Eagles gives some hope for the elusive dynasty Hurley craves. The Huskies are still a No. 8 seed according to our projections. I thought Brendan Quinn’s big story on Hurley earlier this week was fitting, given last night’s result. Don’t count them out?
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Milestones: Ovi inches closer
Wendell Cruz / Imagn Images
Some quick, lovely math before we send you on your way:
- Alexander Ovechkin scored career goal No. 885 in Washington’s overtime win last night, which puts him nine short of tying Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record of 894 goals. We knew this would happen at some point, but a midseason injury dampened hopes it would happen this year.
- Now, thanks to a red-hot post-4 Nations stretch, Ovechkin has a 52-percent chance to score 10 more goals with 20 games to play. The Caps have been great this year, too, tied for the NHL lead in points (88).Â
We have a full Ovi tracker up here you should bookmark. More on Gretzky in a bit, too.
Watch and Listen
đź“ş Soccer: Tottenham Hotspur at AZ Alkmaar
12:45 p.m. ET on Paramount+
There is no team in the Europa League under more pressure than Spurs, who essentially must win this trophy in order for the current regime’s vision to stay valid. Let’s see how the nerves play out.Â
đź“ş NBA: Knicks at Lakers
10 p.m. ET on TNT/Max
Two coastal elites who happen to be quite good face off in the best game of the night. The Lakers continue to bask in the newness of a LeBron James/Luka Dončić duo, while New York — solidly a playoff team — must figure out its 3-point problem. Good game.
Get tickets to games like these here.
Pulse Picks
Amid political turmoil between Canada and the United States, Wayne Gretzky has been silent. Don Robson explained why Canadians are so hurt by it. Make time for this one today.Â
The best college hoops story this March, as Brian Hamilton writes, won’t be in the NCAA Tournament, because this Cinderella isn’t allowed into the dance.Â
In Chapel Hill, adjustments abound — North Carolina players are adjusting to Bill Belichick, just as the best coach in NFL history adjusts to them. Read David Ubben’s interesting piece here.
Who needs a college football transfer QB? Antonio Morales highlights five teams on the hunt this spring.Â
Phillies reliever JosĂ© Alvarado had a bad year by his standards. He found peace on his boat — and came up with a plan to resuscitate his dominance.Â
Why Joe Thuney fits the Bears need. And where will Chris Godwin go? The Athletic Football Show is on it. Apple and Spotify.
Jim Bowden has offseason grades and predictions for all 30 MLB teams. See yours here.
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I loved this from Brody Miller on the course creators on PGA 2K25, the game franchise to which I devote an embarrassing amount of time. Beautiful story, beautiful game.Â
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Steve Kerr’s screed against non-travel calls. Struck a chord, I guess.Â
Most-read on the website yesterday: Mike Sando’s report on how executives think the top 10 of the NFL Draft will shake out. Spicy Shedeur Sanders takes.
(Top photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
