Mattress Mack has $4.5 million on the Bengals — on the moneyline — the biggest moving bet ever. He would earn $7.7 million if Cincinnati pulls off the upset.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula
On Thursday, the Jacksonville Jaguars hired Doug Pederson to be their next head coach — a solid hire for the organization perpetually struggling in the wake of the Urban Meyer disaster.
Even so, the move is considered yet another misstep from owner Shad Khanafter Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich – the perfect choice for the job – reportedly withdrew from consideration, refusing to work with general manager Trent Baalke.
Leftwich numbers in Tampa suggest Khan should have acquiesced to the Super Bowl-winning OC and ousted Baalke.
In the three seasons under Leftwich, Tampa Bay’s offense ranked first in the NFL with 29.8 points per game.
In 2019, the Bucs were first in yards (302.8) and fourth in points per game (28.6) — in a pre-Tom Brady offense led by Jameis Winston.
Brady and Bruce Arians have repeatedly backed Leftwich for head coaching positions.
Former Jags QB still a beloved figure in Duval County: Amid rumors of his hiring, Leftwich’s Jersey became the No. 2 best-selling team behind current QB Trevor Lawrence.
Baalke, on the other hand, has a checkered history as a frame.
After initial success with Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco — whom he didn’t actually hire — Baalke’s three HC picks (Jim Tomsula, Chip Kelly and Meyer) were all fired during or after their first few seasons.
by khan $8 billion net worth makes him the NFL’s fourth-richest owner — but Jacksonville has only made one playoff appearance in the past 14 years.
Still, Pederson won a Super Bowl…
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula
Julius Randle’s unexpected rise to stardom was one of the NBA’s feel-good stories last season and a beacon of hope for a Knicks team that ended an eight-year playoff drought. playoffs.
Now hope is fading as Randle has suddenly turned into overpaid role player which no longer populates the stat sheet and antagonizes the fanbase and the media.
This season’s Knicks could have built on the momentum of last year’s 4-seeded team, but instead badly spent their money — starting with Randle, who has fallen in almost all statistics.
Last offseason, Randle signed a $117 million four-year extension until 2024-25, plus a player option for 2025-26.
In 2020-21, Randle (24.1 PPG, 45.6% FG, 41.1% 3PT) earned his first All-Star appearance and was the Most Improved Player award; those numbers dropped to 18.5/41.4/30.3.
They signed Kemba walker for two years, $17.8 million — but he’s averaged the lowest PPG (12.0) of his career.
They inked Evan Fournier to a four-year, $78 million deal — but he’s in the middle of the second-worst filming season of his career (43% FG).
The trio – which can hardly be called the Big Three – consists 39% of a $122 million payroll.
To add additional intrigue, Randle unfollowed the Knicks on Instagram as soon as he became eligible to be traded on Thursday. Don’t be surprised if the Knicks movement the face of the franchise ahead of the Feb. 10 trade deadline.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula
Talks to end MLB’s lockdown have stalled, possibly delaying the start of the season – and the two sides can’t even agree to bring in a third party.
On Thursday, MLB asked the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to restart negotiations to end the lockout, which is now in its 65th day. Friday, the MLB Players Association, which was to give its agreement, officially denied the request.
Federal mediators have been used in sports labor disputes in the past – with a mixed bag of results.
Mediation was not effective during the 1994 MLB strike, which forced the cancellation of the World Series and ultimately lasted 232 days.
But mediators have been credited with helping end the 1981 MLB strike (which lasted 50 days), the 2011 NFL lockout (132), the NBA lockout in 2011 (161) and the NHL lockout in 2012-13 (113).
Several fundamental economic issues — primarily minimum wages for first-year players (currently $570,000) and the manipulation of time on duty — are at the forefront of the dispute, and there has been little progress in the four bargaining sessions.
Spring training is almost certain to start after its original date of February 16, which puts March 31 Opening day even more threatened.
The possibility of a truncated – or lost – season is becoming increasingly real.
Olympic Games: Nathan Chen posted a score of 111.71 in the figure skating short program – the second highest in the program’s history – to put the United States first in the team event.
WNBA: Former WNBA MVP and eight-time All-Star Tina Charles has signed a one-year, $108,000 contract with the Mercury. Charles led the WNBA in scoring (23.4 points per game) with the Mystics in 2021.
NFL: Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has dismissed claims by former HC Hugh Jackson that the Browns were offering inducements to lose. Jackson went 1-31 in two seasons at Cleveland.
MLB: Referee Joe West has announced his retirement after a record 44 years. In 2014, West helped negotiate the biggest arbitration contract in history as president of the WUA.
*All times are EST unless otherwise stated. *Ratings/lines are subject to change. The T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
