Protecting Patrick Mahomes
The 2021 NFL Draft is under a week away, and the Kansas City Chiefs are making moves. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the AFC champs are trading their 2021 first-round pick (No. 31), as well as three other picks in this year and next year’s drafts, to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and picks in 2021 and 2022. Whew.
Brown, who has been selected to the Pro Bowl the last two seasons, joins Austin Blythe, Kyle Long and Joe Thuney as new additions brought in to protect QB Patrick Mahomes.
The full details of the trade, per Schefter, are: the Chiefs acquiring Brown, a 2021 second-round pick and a 2022 sixth-round pick, while the Ravens acquire the 31st pick in the Draft, a third-rounder, a fourth-rounder and 2022 fifth-rounder.
Simone Biles X Athleta
After a six-year partnership with Nike, Simone Biles is moving on, as the four-time Olympic gold medalist is joining Athleta.
“Using my voice has been very empowering for me and I am grateful to embark on this new journey with Athleta to inspire young girls and women to do the same,” said Biles in a statement. “The opportunity to encourage young girls to reach their full potential and be a force for change is incredibly powerful. I admire Athleta for their commitment to recognize and support women’s individual and collective strength and, together, I believe we can help girls to confidently and passionately take on the world in their athletic endeavors and beyond.”
As part of the partnership, Biles will have her own signature line.
Earlier this week, Kobe Bryant’s estate announced that it would not be renewing its deal with Nike.
All the Celebrations in Cleveland
It’s a good week to be Cleveland. Not only is the city hosting next week’s NFL Draft, but the Browns are keeping two of their best around for a bit. Per Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns have picked up the fifth-year options on quarterback Baker Mayfield and cornerback Denzel Ward.
Last season, Mayfield threw 26 touchdown passes on his way to leading Cleveland to its first playoff victory since 1995. 2021 will be an opportunity for Mayfield to prove he’s deserving of a long-term contract.
Meanwhile, in his three seasons, Ward has seven interceptions, two forced fumbles and 143 tackles.
Giants and Dodgers Easing Protocols for Vaccinated Fans
The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers are known for an intense on-field rivalry, but both teams are removing social distancing protocols in sections of their respective stadiums that will be designated for fans who are fully vaccinated.
The Giants began the process at Oracle Park on Thursday, while the Dodgers will test it out for Saturday night’s game against the San Diego Padres. Speaking of the Padres, San Diego was the first team in the state to try this model, opening specific sections at 67% capacity for fans 13 and older who fell into one of these two categories: fully vaccinated or had a negative COVID-19 test within a 72-hour period.
Oracle Park and Dodger Stadium will see their designated sections at almost full capacity, meaning that attendees 16 and older will need to be fully vaccinated and those between the ages of 2 and 15 will need to have had a negative COVID-19 test.
Terrence Clarke
Terrence Clarke, former guard for the Kentucky Wildcats this past season, died on Thursday after a car accident in Los Angeles. Clarke, who was only 19 years old, announced in March that he was entering the NBA draft.
In a statement, Kentucky head coach John Calipari said, “I am absolutely gutted and sick tonight. A young person who we all love has just lost his life too soon, one with all of his dreams and hopes ahead of him. Terrence Clarke was a beautiful kid, someone who owned the room with his personality, smile and joy. People gravitated to him, and to hear we have lost him is just hard for all of us to comprehend right now. We are all in shock…”
We are sending thoughts and prayers to Clarke’s family. RIP.
