Category: Sports Daypop

The Cincinnati Bengals announced they have released veteran quarterback Andy Dalton after nine years with the team.  The move was expected with Dalton entering the final year of his contract, as well as the Bengals drafting LSU quarterback Joe Burrow as their No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft.

After being drafted in the second round of the 2011 draft, Dalton led the Bengals to the playoffs in his first five seasons in Cincinnati. “Andy will always be considered a key member of the Bengals’ organization,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “His teammates and coaches appreciate his leadership and his commitment to winning. Just as importantly, Andy and his wife JJ are leaving a lasting impact in the community with the incredible work their foundation has done over the years. Andy and his family have meant a lot to this team and this city, and we wish them the best in the future.”

“Andy will always hold a special place with this franchise, and I know that he holds a special place in my heart,” said team president Mike Brown. “This is a hard day for our club because we know and appreciate what a consummate professional Andy has always been. We respect and appreciate Andy, and we thank him.”

Bengals release QB Dalton after nine-year run

Via www.espn.com

04/30/2020 10:16 AM

 

The Green Bay Packers announced the signing of 15 undrafted free agents following the 2020 NFL draft. The 15 additions bring the Packers roster to 89 total players. The team added the following players:

– QB Jalen Morton, Prairie View A&M
– RB Patrick Taylor, Memphis
– FB Jordan Jones, Prairie View A&M
– WR Darrell Stewart, Michigan State
– OT Travis Bruffy, Texas Tech
– G Zack Johnson, North Dakota State
– DL Willington Previlon, Rutgers
– LB Tipa Galeai, Utah State
– LB Krys Barnes, UCLA
– LB Delontae Scott, SMU
– CB Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Montreal
– CB Stanford Samuels, Florida State
– CB Will Sunderland, Troy
– S Henry Black, Baylor
– S Frankie Griffin, Texas State

Packers sign 15 undrafted free agents

Via www.foxsports.com

Following the 2020 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers have signed 15 undrafted free agents

04/29/2020 5:07 PM

 

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The Hall of Fame announced Wednesday that it has canceled the July 26 induction ceremony because of the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s class will be included at next year’s induction festivities — along with any additional new choices — on July 25, 2021.

A record crowd of over 70,000 had been expected this summer at the small town in upstate New York to honor Derek Jeter, the former New York Yankees captain who came within one vote of unanimous election by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in January. Jeter and Larry Walker were to be inducted with catcher Ted Simmons and the late Marvin Miller, the pioneering players’ union head who negotiated free agency and transformed the sport.

Jeter, a key to five World Series titles, was on 396 of 397 ballots in voting announced Jan. 21. The only player with a higher percentage was former Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera, who became the first unanimous pick in 2019. Walker, making his 10th ballot appearance, got 304 votes — six over the threshold.

This will be the first year without an induction ceremony since 1960. The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum closed at the end of the day on March 15 due to the virus outbreak.

         

Baseball Hall postpones July inductions until 2021

Via www.espn.com

The Baseball Hall of Fame said this year’s induction ceremony, scheduled for July in…

04/29/2020 6:15 PM

 

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The governor of North Carolina said on Tuesday that NASCAR can go forward with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway without fans in attendance at the end of May, unless health conditions deteriorate in the state.

Gov. Roy Cooper said he and state public health officials have had discussions with NASCAR and the speedway regarding safety protocols for staging the race. Cooper said the state offered input on NASCAR’s plan, but he believes the race can go forward on Memorial Day weekend for the 60th consecutive year. “We believe that unless health conditions go down, we believe we can hold the Coca-Cola 600,” Cooper said.

He said NASCAR should have an announcement later this week. NASCAR completed four of its 36 races before the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. The sanctioning body has vowed to run 36 races, although the schedule will change dramatically and some tracks likely will be dropped this season if their state does not permit a sporting event.

North Carolina governor OKs NASCAR to race at Charlotte

Via www.foxsports.com

North Carolina governor OKs NASCAR to race at Charlotte

04/28/2020 2:43 PM

 

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The 2020 Major League Baseball season has yet to begin because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, however MLB is beginning to formulate plans and a timeline for getting the season underway. According to reports, “the most realistic time range for Opening Day — somewhere between mid-June and July 4, in the view of most officials — would allow for an 80- to 100-game regular season, with the schedule running through October. An expanded postseason at neutral sites might follow, with the World Series ending in late November or early December.”

Obviously, any postseason that stretches into late November/early December is going to require the use of ballparks in warm-weather locales or at least with retractable roofs. With cold-weather, outdoor teams like the Yankees, Twins, Nationals, Cubs, Mets, Phillies, Indians and others plausibly aiming for contention, arranging for neutral sites in advance will be a necessity. 

It was also recently reported that MLB is considering opening in three locations — Florida, Texas, and Arizona — with groups of teams in each location. However the hope is that eventually teams will be able to transition back to their usual home ballparks, as stay-at-home orders are lifted across the country.  There is also no guarantee that fans will be permitted to attend any games, even late in the season.

Report: MLB could resume by July 4

Via feeds.reuters.com

Major League Baseball could hold a rescheduled Opening Day between mid-June and July 4 and play…

04/28/2020 2:24 PM

 

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The Los Angeles Lakers confirmed on Monday that they returned a loan obtained through the U.S. government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) after learning that funds in the federal program had been depleted. The loans were intended to help smaller businesses with no more than 500 employees cover employee payroll and rent, with large sectors of the U.S. economy frozen amid coronavirus lockdowns and social distancing mandates.

The team said in a statement: “The Lakers qualified for and received a loan under the Payroll Protection Program. However, once we found out the funds from the program had been depleted, we repaid the loan so that financial support would be directed to those most in need.”

The 16-time NBA Finals champions had received a reported $4.6 million loan through the program. The team’s decision comes as some large, publicly traded U.S. companies face backlash for obtaining aid from the program through a loophole.

        

Los Angeles Lakers return $4.6 million they received from small business loan program

Via sports.yahoo.com

The Los Angeles Lakers has returned millions of dollars it received from a program intended for…

04/27/2020 2:36 PM

 

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The NBA has announced that it will aim to open up team facilities no sooner than May 8 in markets that have stopped stay-at-home orders. The facilities will be limited to a maximum of four players and one member of the franchise’s staff at once. Players must wear face masks at all times except during physical activity. The staff member must wear gloves and implement physical distancing of at least 12 feet.  Each franchise will also need to appoint a Facility Hygiene Officer. 

In a memo sent to team, the NBA said it will not regularly schedule COVID-19 testing, something the league had been looking into previously.  “It is not possible or appropriate in the current public health context to regularly test all players and staff for COVID-19,” the memo said.  Players will need to take regular resting ECG and troponin tests, however.=

The NBA season has been suspended since March 11 when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of a matchup with Oklahoma City. 

NBA targets May 8 as day some practice facilities can reopen for individual workouts

Via rssfeeds.usatoday.com

The NBA is targeting no earlier than May 8 to allow player workouts at practice facilities, but…

04/27/2020 4:20 PM

 

Alex Bowman scored his first iRacing victory of NASCAR’s invitational series, holding off Corey LaJoie and Ryan Preece in a two-lap overtime sprint to the finish at virtual Talladega in Alabama. The victory is the third consecutive for Hendrick Motorsports, which got back-to-back wins from William Byron headed into Sunday’s esports event.

Garrett Smithley finished fourth and Landon Cassill fifth; Byron and Brennan Poole were sixth and seventh as Chevrolet drivers claimed six of the top seven spots. It took just 16 laps for the multicar accident that is a trademark of Talladega racing. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was leading when he misjudged a block on Ty Dillon. 

The race was also the virtual debut for Jeff Gordon, who raced on a rig he borrowed from Clint Bowyer’s son, Cash.  Denny Hamlin, winner of the first iRacing event, had his race ended prematurely when his daughter, Taylor, accidentally turned off the screen on his simulator. 

NASCAR is hoping to resume its season without spectators as early as May 17. 

Alex Bowman wins virtual race at Talladega as Jeff Gordon makes his iRacing debut

Via rssfeeds.usatoday.com

Alex Bowman beat Corey LaJoie and Ryan Preece in a photo finish at virtual Talladega Sunday in…

04/26/2020 4:19 PM

 

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The New Orleans Saints and backup QB Taysom Hill have agreed to a two-year deal, which will take the place of the one-year, $4.641 million tender they had previously offered him as a restricted free agent. The deal is worth $21 million, including $16 million fully guaranteed at signing, plus $1 million more in performance incentives.

Hill posted a message on Instagram on Sunday, saying, “I’ve had this dream since I was a little kid of playing in the NFL. The New Orleans Saints made that dream a reality. … Thank you NOLA.” Hill, 29, did not sign an offer sheet with any other NFL teams before last week’s deadline for restricted free agents, which gave the Saints exclusive negotiating rights. 

Saints coach Sean Payton has made it clear that he believes that Hill could potentially succeed Drew Brees as New Orleans’ starting quarterback. Hill has only attempted 15 passes in his three-year NFL career — including a 50-yard completion in New Orleans’ 26-20 playoff loss to Minnesota in January. He is 7-of-15 passing for 169 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception. He has run for 410 yards and three touchdowns and has caught 25 passes for 265 yards and eight touchdowns in 42 games, including the playoffs.

Saints agree to re-sign QB Taysom Hill to deal through 2021

Via abcnews.go.com

While the New Orleans Saints are closing in on a deal with quarterback Jameis Winston, they…

04/26/2020 2:37 PM

 

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Outside linebacker Bud Dupree signed his franchise tender, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced Thursday. He will make $15.8 million in 2020, a figure arrived at by averaging the five best-paid players at his position.

Dupree had career highs in sacks (11 ½) and tackles for loss (16) last season, his fifth in the NFL after being the Steelers’ first-round pick in 2015. He played 2019 under the $9.2 million fifth-year option the Steelers exercised on him. The Steelers and Dupree have until a league-imposed July 15 deadline to come to terms on a longer-term contract. 

Dupree’s signing eliminates the distraction that running back Le’Veon Bell caused within the Steelers two and three summers ago. When the Steelers tagged Bell in 2017, he sat out all offseason activities and training camp and did not sign the tender until the Monday before the regular season began.

Steelers LB Dupree signs tag, to make $15.8M

Via www.espn.com

Bud Dupree is set to make a guaranteed salary of $15,828,000 in 2020 after signing his franchise…

04/23/2020 11:21 AM

 

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