Amari Cooper
Much like their play-calling in the NFC Wild Card round, the Dallas Cowboys are reportedly making a questionable decision. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cowboys are expected to release WR Amari Cooper.
Cooper finished the 2021 season with 68 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games, but this is a business, and not a production, decision, as Cooper is set to make $20 million in fully guaranteed money on March 20. Should he be cut, his salary would count for $6 million against the salary cap.
The Cowboys are currently projected to be $21 million over the cap, with a plethora of unsigned free agents to contend with.
MLBPA Fund for Workers
With the MLB lockout in its 93rd day – BOO – the Major League Baseball Players Association has started a $1 million fund that will support workers affected by the cancellation of games. The fund, which will be administered by the union and the AFL-CIO, will benefit stadium workers and others that are undergoing financial hardship due to the lockout.
Spring training games were supposed to start on Feb. 26, and Commissioner Rob Manfred canceled each team’s first two series earlier this week as the two sides try to find an agreement. The regular season was supposed to start on March 31.
ESPN is reporting that the league will start a fund as well.
NFL is Eliminating COVID Testing
On Thursday, the NFL sent a memo to teams that there will be no COVID testing for the 2022 season.
Per the memo: “Based on current encouraging trends regarding the prevalence and severity of COVID-19, the evolving guidance from the CDC, changes to state law and the counsel of our respective experts, the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to suspend all aspects of the joint COVID-19 Protocols, effective immediately.”
The memo also said that teams will have to comply with state and local law, despite the league’s suspension of protocols.
Speedy Receivers
The NFL Combine is happening in Indianapolis and this year’s wide receiver class is fast, like really, really fast.
Led by Baylor Tyquan Thornton and 40-yard dash time of 4.28, eight receivers had times below 4.4, which ties the record for the most receivers to do so at the combine. Tennessee WR Velus Jones Jr. had the next fastest time with 4.31, while Memphis’ Calvin Austin III clocked in at 4.32. Then it was SMU’s Danny Gray (4.33), Rutgers’ Bo Melton (4.34), North Dakota State’s Christian Watson (4.36), Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson (4.38) and Ohio State’s Chris Olave (4.39).
Kevin Durant Returns
After missing a month with a sprained MCL, Kevin Durant returned to the court for the Brooklyn Nets and scored 31 points. Unfortunately for Brooklyn, it did not lead to a victory over the Miami Heat, who mounted a comeback to beat the Nets, 113-107, on Thursday.
The Nets were 5-16 without Durant, who was injured on Jan. 15. Durant also had four assists and four rebound in his return.