Miami Dolphins
The NFL offseason is upon us, with the NFL Combine next week and free agency a couple weeks after that. We’ll start to see teams make cuts ahead of the latter and the NFL Draft.
With that in mind, per multiple reports, the Miami Dolphins are releasing DE Emmanuel Ogbah. Cutting Ogbah before June 1 would save the team about $14 million, while a post-June 1 cut saves $16 million. Ogbah signed a four-year, $65 million extension with the Dolphins in 2022.
NFL Network is reporting that the Dolphins will also release four-time Pro Bowl CB Xavien Howard at the beginning of the league year. Some cornerback-needy teams are going to like this news.
NFL Salary Cap
Speaking of the Salary Cap, the NFL announced on Friday the 2024 Salary Cap will be $255.4 million per team. Additionally, $74 million is available for player benefits, including
Performance Based Pay, as well as benefits for players that have retired. In short, each team’s players costs will be $329.4 million.
The $30 million increase comes from the full repayments advanced by the teams and deferred by players during COVID, and an increase in media revenue.
Cue every fanbase rationalizing why its team can sign everybody.
New Orleans Saints
But wait, there’s more salary cap news!
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is reporting that the New Orleans Saints are restructuring the contract of QB Derek Carr to save about $23 million in cap space. Carr’s 2024 base salary was $30 million. The QB threw for 3,878 yards and 25 touchdowns, with eight interceptions, in 2023.
The Saints need to do a lot of work with the salary cap, so ESPN is reporting that they will also look to rework the deals of center Erik McCoy, guard Cesar Ruiz and defensive end Cam Jordan.
See, even with the increase, every team can’t sign everybody.
Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic had himself a night on Thursday, recording a triple-double on the Nuggets way to a 130-110 win over the Washington Wizards. His 21 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists made Jokic the fourth player in NBA history to have at least one triple-double against every team in the league. The other three players who have achieved this feat are LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Maurice Stokes.
It was Jokic’s 16th triple-double this season, which puts him just behind Domantas Sabonis’ 18.
Jen Pawol and Major League Baseball
The Houston Astros will take on the Washington Nationals in spring training on Saturday, and the game will be worked by umpire Jen Pawol, who will be the first woman in 17 years to ump a MLB Spring Training game.
Pawol began her career in 2016 in the Gulf Coast League, before being moved up to the New York/Penn League the following year. She continued to the Midwest League, South Atlantic League, the High-A Midwest League, and then the Double-A Eastern, Triple International and Pacific Coast Leagues.
24 minor league umpires have been assigned as full-time fill-ins at spring training. Last year, 21 of the 26 umpires in that position were put on the in-season call-up list.
