Aug 4, 2022; Canton, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels reacts during the Pro Football Hall of Fame game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Las Vegas Raiders are on their fourth head coach since 2021, and it goes without saying that all the changes have cost them a significant sum of money. We now have a better idea of how much.
Josh McDaniels was fired this week in just his second season with the Raiders. While details of contracts for NFL coaches are typically not made public, reports have indicated that McDaniels signed a 6-year deal with Las Vegas that paid him around $10 million annually.
The Raiders also owed Jon Gruden a ton of money at the time he was forced to resign over a leaked email scandal. Though, the two sides are said to have come to an undisclosed settlement.
According to sports business reporter Joe Pompliano, the Raiders owe McDaniels and Gruden a combined sum of between $40 and $80 million.
No Raiders head coach has lasted four seasons since Gruden’s first run with the team from 1998-2001. Their last coach who stuck around for five seasons was Art Shell from 1990-1994. Team owner Mark Davis has probably grown use to paying million to coaches who are no longer on his staff.
It is unclear how big of a splash Davis will want to make with his next head coach hire, but one very notable name is currently the betting favorite to land the job. Former NFL linebacker Antonio Pierce will serve as head coach in the interim.
Aug 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) walks in the bench area during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Odell Beckham Jr. has not made much of an impact with the Baltimore Ravens this season, and the veteran wide receiver offered some honest comments this week about his role with the team.
Beckham has appeared in 6 games this season. He has just 14 catches for 162 yards, which is the type of stat line he was capable of producing in a single game during his prime. Beckham also has yet to score a touchdown with the Ravens.
On Thursday, Beckham spoke with reporters about his experience with the Ravens thus far. He repeatedly emphasized how the team is 6-2, though he did admit he is not totally “content.”
“I didn’t come here with the expectation that I’d be going for 2,000 yards,” Beckham said, via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “We’re trying to win a Super Bowl, so it is what it is, at this point. Just walking the fine line of being grateful for being back on the field but definitely not being content with how I am in terms of what’s going on.”
Beckham did not have a catch in last week’s win over the Arizona Cardinals, though he did draw two pass interference penalties. He was seen slamming his helmet in frustration on the sideline with Baltimore leading 24-15 late in the fourth quarter.
Lamar Jackson told reporters this week that he is confident OBJ is “going to get on the scoreboard.” Head coach John Harbaugh also praised Beckham and said the 30-year-old receiver has been covered tightly due to his rare play-making ability. Harbaugh also believes Beckham is “going to pop” at some point.
“It’s just about finding ways to win at this point,” Beckham added. “Honestly, trying to get rings on your finger. That’s a lot of fun, I can tell you that much. So that’s the goal.”
Beckham is fourth on the Ravens in receiving yards behind rookie Zay Flowers, tight end Mark Andrews, and veteran receive Nelson Agholor. Baltimore has looked like one of the best teams in the AFC, so there is no need to change their offensive approach at this point.
It is unlikely that OBJ will turn into a consistent producer for the team, but no one would be shocked if he makes a few big plays over the second half of the season, especially now that he has shown some frustration.
Mar 14, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers logo on the hardwood court against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia 76ers made the tough decision this week to waive a player they just signed two months ago, but the split may only be temporary.
Danny Green signed a non-guaranteed contract with the 76ers prior to the season and then made the roster coming out of training camp. He reportedly took a pay cut to help the team out with their tax situation. Green was then waived after Philadelphia had to take on more players than they sent out when they traded James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers.
You might think a situation like that would result in hard feelings, but Green is not burning any bridges. According to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, Green is “disappointed” with how the week has played out but is open to returning to the 76ers.
Haynes also reported that Green had a very strong training camp and the 76ers were impressed with what they saw, which is why they could be interested in adding the 36-year-old to their roster at a later date.
Green is a 3-time NBA champion with three different teams (the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, the Toronto Raptors in 2019, and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020). He previously played for the 76ers from 2020-22 and is well acquainted with head coach Nick Nurse, who was the coach of that 2019 Raptors championship team.
After he suffered a significant injury during the 2022 playoffs with the Sixers, Green played in just 11 combined games last season between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Still, he is a career 40% shooter from 3-point range and is the type of veteran that teams with championship aspirations covet.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Thursday scored his first touchdown in nearly two years, and one of his teammates did not look all that happy for him.
Johnson caught a 3-yard touchdown from Kenny Pickett with just over 4 minutes remaining in Pittsburgh’s 20-16 win over the Tennessee Titans. Most Steelers players were thrilled that their team took a late lead, but George Pickens looked like his team just lost the Super Bowl.
Pickens could not have had a worse night, so he was probably frustrated. He finished with 2 catches for -1 yard. He hauled in a pass that was initially ruled a touchdown late in the third quarter, but replays showed that Pickens somehow did not get his second foot down. You can see the play here.
There was also a play where Pickett missed a wide-open Pickens for what would have been a huge game.
Pickens had no one to blame but himself for the overturned touchdown. At the end of the day, his team won. That should be all that matters, but we know it is now always that simple.
Jun 24, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs draft pick Victor Wembanyama walks onto the court at a press conference at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Victor Wembanyama has been a 7’4″ solar eclipse against the Phoenix Suns just five games into his San Antonio Spurs career.
The Spurs rookie dominated the Suns Thursday night at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz. to the tune of 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Wemby scored 10 points in the game’s final 4:12 to secure a Spurs victory after the Suns had battled back from 27 down.
Wembanyama hit the dagger three from the top of the key to give the Spurs a 10-point lead with just over two minutes left in the game.
San Antonio also beat Phoenix in the same venue just two nights prior. Wemby scored the penultimate basket in that contest in what turned out to be a wild finish in favor of the Spurs (video here).
The Frenchman made all kinds of history Thursday with his performance. Wemby matched a rookie feat last done by Shaquille O’Neal back in 1992. He was also just three points shy of tying Spurs legend David Robinson for the most points in a single game score by a rookie in franchise history.
One major edge the Admiral had over Wemby as a rookie was age. The chiseled Robinson was already 24 years old when he played his first season for the Spurs due to two years of military service. Wembanyama doesn’t turn 20 until 2024.
Wembanyama’s 38-10-2 stat line would be special for any player at any age. But only two other teenagers have posted similar numbers in a single game — LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
The Spurs star averaged 20.6 points and 8.0 rebounds through his first 5 NBA games.
An opossum stole the show during Thursday’s college football matchup between TCU and Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders defeated the Horned Frogs 35-28 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
The 1-score contest went viral on social media — but not for the football. A clip of a disgruntled opossum at the game made the rounds on X. The video showed the animal invader snarling as it was dragged off the field using an animal snare pole.
It’s hardly surprising that the marsupial was so enraged. The opossum was just moments removed from enjoying a pleasant stroll across the field midway through the Texas Tech-TCU game.
FOX announcer Jeff Levering commemorated the scene with some strange noises that may or may not be his impression of what an opossum sounds like.
Texas Tech improved to 4-5 for the season. They also have a 1-0 record when an opossum wanders onto the field during a game.
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks was carted off the field following a brutal fall at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Tennessee was down 20-16 and had a 4th-and-4 at the Pittsburgh 46 as the clock was rolling with just over tow minutes left. They went for it and Titans quarterback Will Levis went deep to Burks near the left sideline. Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace heavily contested the catch, which resulted in Burks landing vulnerably on his back.
Burks was immobile and stayed down for several minutes before a stretcher was brought out to take him off the field. The 23-year-old wideout was able to give a thumbs-up as he exited.
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel provided an update on Burks following the Titans’ 20-16 loss against the Steelers. Vrabel said that the Arkansas product was not rushed to the hospital and remained “alert” while in the team training room.
Burks finished the night with 2 catches for 23 yards.
Tennessee’s 2022 first-round pick has 8 catches for 122 yards across 5 games this season. Burks was selected 18th overall by the Titans, who acquired the pick as part of the AJ Brown trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.
George Pickens has made some impressive catches for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. However, one play Thursday won’t be going on any of his highlight reels.
The Steelers were facing 3rd-and-3 in the red zone while trailing 13-10 to the Tennessee Titans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pickens caught what was momentarily a go-ahead touchdown midway through the third quarter. However, the six points were wiped away after referees determined the Steelers wide receiver failed to establish his left foot inbounds.
People could not believe that Pickens did not get both feet in after seeing this angle of the catch:
The Steelers ended up kicking a field goal to tie the game instead.
In live action, the uncontested catch appeared to be a sure thing. Most NFL wide receivers have mastered the art of dragging their toes inbound for tight grabs. But Pickens’ momentum carried him too far toward the sideline.
The overturned TD was not Pickens’ only highlight play Thursday that didn’t count. He also made a pretty cool one-handed grab on a Will Levis pass that went out of bounds.
Pickens entered the contest with 28 receptions for 522 yards with 3 touchdowns. He leads the Steelers in all three categories.
James Harden somehow managed to follow up one controversial quote with an even more controversial quote.
Harden met with the media on Thursday for his introductory press conference with the Los Angeles Clippers — the team that acquired him in a big trade with the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.
Harden spent the last season and a half with Philly after being traded by the Nets at his request prior to the 2021-2022 NBA trade deadline. Harden had spent all offseason trying to force a trade out of Philly, and he was finally granted his request this week.
During his introductory press conference, Harden complained that the Sixers had him “on a leash.”
That controversial quote drew attention and led to a followup question asking what he meant by that.
Harden then gave another quote that has since gone viral.
“I’m not a system player. I am a system,” Harden asserted.
Harden had a much longer answer that tried to explain what he meant by saying he was “on a leash.”
“I think the game and I’m a creator on the court,” Harden said. “So if I got a voice to where I can, ‘Hey, Coach, I see this. What you think about this?’ Somebody that trusts me, that believes in me, that understands me. I’m not a system player. I am a system. You know what I mean?
“So somebody that can have that dialogue with me, understand, move forward, figure out and make adjustments on the fly throughout the course of games, that’s all I really care about. It’s not about me scoring a basketball, scoring 34 points; I’ve done that already.”
Harden seems to be seeking a coach who will respect him and let him do his thing. He wasn’t able to do that under Doc Rivers with the Sixers.
But to confidently say that he is not a system player but rather a system? That just shows Harden’s cockiness.
At 28 or 29 years old when he was leading the Houston Rockets and winning scoring titles, Harden certainly was a system. At 34 years old and now on his 4th team in 4 years, Harden better figure out how to fit in the system.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban was admittedly “baffled” by why he had a bloodshot eye during a recent interview. The explanation for it could not have been more appropriate.
Saban made his regular appearance Thursday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” but he had a visibly red right eye. It was so conspicuous that even McAfee pointed it out during their video call.
Saban provided an update on his eye issue on his weekly radio show later that day. He humorously likened the issue to looking like he had been involved in a “gang fight” but his own gang didn’t show up.
The 72-year-old coach also added that he consulted with Alabama’s team doctor Thursday after practice. The doctor’s explanation? Too much yelling.
“[The doctor] said, ‘You know you can get this from yelling,’” Saban said, via Matt Stahl of AL.com. “…He said, ‘You got it from yelling, there’s nothing wrong with you, you just got it from yelling. You busted a blood vessel in your eye from yelling too much.’”
It is the least bit surprising to find out that Saban yells during practice. Most football coaches do.
But perhaps the eye issue will make the Alabama coach think twice about chewing out one of his players or barking out instructions next time around.
