Happy Friday everyone, we’ve moved on to another weekend. It’s Chris Bengel back with you once again. We have lots of exciting news for you from the NFL ranks as Major League Baseball resumed play on Thursday.
Let’s dive in!
Hello everyone, but especially to…
KYLER MURRAY
Throughout the offseason, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has made it clear he wants a contract extension. On Thursday, Murray’s wish was granted as he agreed the terms of a five-year contract extension worth $230.5 million ($160 million guaranteed).
Murray will now wear a Cardinals uniform through the 2028 season. The contract makes the 24-year-old the second highest-paid quarterback in the league each year behind Green Bay Packers signalman Aaron Rodgers. Murray is coming off a season in which he completed a career-high 69.2% of his passes to go along with 24 passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns.
The popular topic that has come up following the Murray deal is what will happen to Lamar Jackson and his negotiations with the Baltimore Ravens over a contract extension. CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones wrote that he don’t think Murray’s extension has much bearing on what kind of deal Jackson might seek. Instead, Jones thinks Jackson should aim to top Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed $230 million contract from the start of the offseason.
- Jones: “But I don’t feel like Murray’s deal necessarily impacts Jackson, as many have been saying in the hours since Murray’s first numbers were released. Jackson, a former unanimous MVP of the NFL with two playoff appearances and a playoff win, should always be aiming to match and surpass Watson’s guaranteed deal.That should always be the bar for Jackson.
Jackson is currently in the final year of his contract and is expected to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2022 season. The fifth-year quarterback has become one of the most dangerous players in the league. During his negotiations with the Ravens, it’s extremely likely that Jackson will strive to be one of the highest paid players in the NFL.
And not such a good morning for…
DALLAS KEUCHEL
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Veteran starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel has a season to forget. For the second time in 2022, Keuchel was designated for assignmentthis time by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In four starts with the Diamondbacks, the 34-year-old southpaw has produced an 0-2 record to go along with a 9.64 ERA and 1.82 WHIP. Keuchel drove in at least seven runs in two of those starts, including eight runs on eight hits in just 2 1/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants last week. Earlier this season with the Chicago White Sox, Keuchel posted a 2-5 record and a 7.88 ERA in eight starts.
Despite Keuchel’s struggles, the 2015 American League winner Cy Young isn’t exactly over the hill, so he could easily be picked up by another team down the road.
Three questions every NFC South team will need to answer 🏈
In non-contract news, the 2022 NFL season is right around the corner. Teams are starting to report to training camp as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.
The NFC South has been dominated by the New Orleans Saints lately with four division titles over the past five years. However, with the retirement of Drew Brees after the 2020 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to win the NFC South in 2021. Now the Buccaneers will look to repeat as division champions with Tom Brady returning for his 23rd season in the NFL after a brief retirement.
CBS Sports NFL writer Patrik Walker introduced the division in a look at three burning questions NFC South teams will need to answer this season.
- Panthers – Is Mayfield the answer for the future? : “Once he’s firmly seated in the driver’s seat, it’s on Mayfield to prove he’s everything Darnold isn’t: a former first-round pick who’s still worth the price of admission. He will have an early chance to not just make waves, but create a full storm surge, as his first opponent will be the same Cleveland Browns who traded him to the Panthers after making a blockbuster trade (and then awarding a historic contract) for Deshaun Watson while Mayfield was still on the roster (ouch).”
- Buccaneers – Can Tom Brady do it again? : “I mean, let’s be real here for a second. This is Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. we’re talking about. The same one who helped turn the New England Patriots into a dynasty before he left to join the Tampa Buccaneers Bay to win a Super Bowl ring in his first year with the club, and despite the challenges presented by a raging COVID-19 pandemic And yes, the same with seven Super Bowl rings and five MVP honors from the Super Bowl Still, the question has to be asked, seeing as Brady retired this offseason (only not to retire) and remains coy about 2023 and beyond, and he’s recently shown vulnerability in losing to the eventual champion Los Angeles Rams on home turf in January and, well, it’s not all exactly like 2020.”
- Saints – Is Michael Thomas still a force to be reckoned with? : “Which Michael Thomas will see the NFL in 2022? Will it be the All-Pro record that absolutely owned the league in its heyday, or the one that struggles to rust off after playing just five games in the past two seasons? Will it be the one who’s completely bought into the Saints, or the one who still resents how the last two seasons he spent with Sean Payton have gone?
- Falcons – Can they be competitive in 2022? : “This upcoming season will mark the first time the Falcons have not had Matt Ryan as their quarterback since he took over as a rookie in 2008, with the previous season being one of the most controversial and disappointing. in the organization’s history. Led by Bobby Petrino made headlines just one season after Michael Vick’s dogfighting came to light. Ryan became not only the league’s MVP in his career, but also the quarterback the oldest in Falcons history, an Atlanta legend now gearing up to gear up for the Colts in 2022.”
The NFC South was going to be wide open after Brady announced his retirement. However, this was very short lived as Brady only remained in retirement for 40 days. The Saints could definitely challenge for the division crown if quarterback Jameis Winston can stay healthy and Michael Thomas gets back on track. Still, it will be an uphill battle if star running back Alvin Kamara ends up being suspended for multiple games due to his arrest for battery over Pro Bowl weekend.
MLB Power Rankings ⚾
USATSI
As the second half of Major League Baseball’s 2022 season begins, it’s worth watching where the whole league stands. CBS Sports MLB scribe Matt Snyder laid out a forecast for the MLB hierarchy with his latest edition of the Power Rankings.
As Snyder notes, the league is very heavy. When the dust settles on the regular season, we could see four 100-win teams this season in the Yankees, Dodgers, Astros and Mets. As should come as no surprise, these are the top four teams in Snyder’s power rankings at the start of the second half.
For the rest of the top 10, find out how Snyder sees the MLB landscape.
- 1. Dodgers
- 2. Yankees
- 3. Astros
- 4. Food
- 5. Brave
- 6. Spokes
- 7. Sailors
- 8. Blue Jays
- 9.Red Sox
- 10. Fathers
The Yankees have been baseball’s top team for most of the season. However, the Bronx Bombers have only won seven of their last 15 games, including sharing a double game with the Astros on Thursday. Before the season, many thought the Dodgers were the team to beat, and they’re starting to play like that. The Dodgers have won four straight before the All-Star break and with an all-star roster, they could be favorites to win the World Series this year.
Prediction of a potential exchange of Juan Soto ⚾
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Last weekend, Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract extension offer from the team. As a result, the Nationals are expected to look to trade the All-Star outfielder, who is just 23 years old.
It’s unclear what the Nationals’ timeline is for reaching a deal involving Soto. Soto won’t be eligible for free agency until 2025, so any team that needed to acquire his services would have time to agree on an extension.
With this latest Soto news dominating baseball headlines, CBS Sports baseball writers RJ Anderson, Dayn Perry, Mike Axisa and Matt Snyder debated when a deal could materialize and which teams are positioned to potentially acquire it. There was a divide as to when Soto could be dealt with.
- Anderson: “It would take a lot of work to get a deal done by August 2. As such, it looks like an off-season trade to me. The top three teams I’ve identified as potential landing spots were the Cardinals, Dodgers and Yankees. I think the Cardinals can offer the most talent, perspective and variety in the big leagues, but it’s still hard to bet against Andrew Friedman when it comes to talent. impact. Is it cheating to say Cardinals or Dodgers? Probably, but we make the rules here.”
- Pear: “I think the Cardinals can offer the most alluring package of prospects and young talent at a controlled cost, and it’s the kind of impact trade they’ve shown a knack for throughout recent history. For the sake of variety, I’ll say it drops before the upcoming deadline.”
The Nationals certainly don’t need to be rushed to seal a potential deal with Soto. Since he still has a few more years under the control of the team, Washington may be trying to return to the negotiating table once again in hopes of re-signing the generational talent.
Soto will go for a king’s ransom no matter where he ends up being traded. If the Nationals end up moving him, they’ll get several top prospects in exchange for him.
What we’re watching this weekend 📺
Friday
⚾ Padres at Mets, 7:10 p.m. on MLB.TV
⚾ Goalies at White Sox8:10 p.m. on MLB.TV
⚾ Giants at the Dodgers10:10 p.m. on MLB Network
Saturday
⚾ White Sox Goalies, 1:10 p.m. on FS1
⚾ Astros at Mariners4:10 p.m. on Fox
🏀 From sparks to aces10 p.m. on NBATV
Sunday
⚾ Blue Jays vs. Red Sox1:35 p.m. on MLB.TV
🏀 dreaming of the storm 6 p.m. on NBATV
⚾ Padres at Mets7:08 p.m. on ESPN