FeaturedThe Friday 5

The Friday 5: March 11th

By March 11, 2022 No Comments

Deshaun Watson

Almost a year after the first civil lawsuit was filed against Deshaun Watson, a grand jury will not indict the Houston Texans quarterback, following a police investigation into accusations of harassment and sexual assault during massages. 

22 women have filed lawsuits against Watson, and eight of the women filed criminal complaints with the Houston police and came before the grand jury. Police complaints were also filed by two women who did not sue Watson. 

 

Baseball is Back

After 99 long days, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reached a new collective bargaining agreement on Thursday and the lockout is over. In other words, baseball is back, baby!

Some of the changes to the new CBA are:

  • Minimum salaries will increase 23% to $700K in 2022 and rise to $780K for the final year in 2026
  • 12 teams in the postseason, with first-round byes for the top two division winners 
  • Universal DH

Order your peanuts and Cracker Jack. Opening Day is April 7.

 

NL West Pitching

With MLB’s season on deck (pun intended), free agency has begun. Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, LHP Carlos Rodón is leaving Chicago for Cali and has agreed to a two-year, $44 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. A 2021 All-Star with the White Sox, Rodón went 13-5 with a 2.37 ERA last season. The contract includes an opt-out after the first season.

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed on a one-year deal (physical pending). This news makes me one very happy Dodgers Fangirl. 

 

NFL QB Shuffle

The new league year starts next week, but this week was full of NFL news in preparation. To begin with, Aaron Rodgers is staying with the Green Bay Packers. Not shocking. 

More shocking – it’s the end of an era in Seattle, as quarterback Russell Wilson is being traded to the Denver Broncos. The full terms of the deal are Wilson and a fourth-rounder in exchange for QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant, DL Shelby Harris, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a fifth-rounder. They basically gave up the state of Colorado. 

Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts traded QB Carson Wentz and a 2022 second-round pick to the Washington Commanders for a 2022 third-rounder, a 2023 third-rounder that becomes a second-rounder if Wentz plays 70% of snaps and a 2022 second-round pick.

 

More NFL News

  • The Seahawks also released LB Bobby Wagner, so when I said end of an era, I meant a literal end.
  • The Bears are sending Khalil Mack back to the AFC West to join Joey Bosa and the Chargers defense. Now that is a dynamic duo in a division that may boast the best group of QBs in the league.
  • Speaking of AFC West defenses, the Las Vegas Raiders and DE Maxx Crosby have agreed to a contract extension.
  • As reported by Andrew Marchand of the The New York Post, Joe Buck is expected to leave FOX and join Troy Aikman on Monday Night Football. Eras ending all over. 
Tracy Sandler

Tracy Sandler

I created Fangirl Sports Network as a place for female sports fans to follow their favorite teams with content and coverage that speaks directly to females. It started with one and then eight and now 32 NFL Fangirls and 15 NBA Fangirls.