🩰 Gone Dancin'

Today is Wednesday. And it’s time to dust off those dancing shoes! Nine teams booked their tickets to March Madness last night, and we have a behemoth slate of ball today with the men’s major conference tournaments all in action. Outside the lines, more money moves were made on Day 2 of NFL free agency, headlined by King Henry joining Lord Baltimore and the Houston Texans hoarding talent. In the NBA, Kawhi got clipped by the injury bug, while in the NHL, the Cats came roaring back. Also, the Jets’ starting quarterback is running for vice president. (Yes, you read that correctly.) Let’s go!

WTF Stat: A Tom Brady-Kirk Cousins comparison:

• Brady: $333 million NFL career earnings (23 seasons, 35 playoff wins)

• Cousins: $412 million NFL career earnings (16 seasons, one playoff win)

🏈 Free Agent Frenzy Continues!

The NFL’s free agent legal negotiation period (allowing teams and players to verbally agree on new contracts) entered Day 2 yesterday, and more big-time deals hit the wire. Agreed-upon contracts can become official today at 4:00pm ET, which coincides with the start of the new league year. Before pen meets paper this afternoon, let’s check in on all the notable moves from yesterday!

Yesterday’s Top Moves

• Ravens and former Titans RB Derrick Henry have agreed to a 2-year, $16M contract, with $9M guaranteed and a max value of $20M - Henry, 30, earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection last season after rushing for 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns

• Texans acquired RB Joe Mixon in a trade with the Bengals in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick - Cincinnati initially planned to release Mixon after reaching an agreement to sign former Colts RB Zack Moss on Monday

• Texans and former Vikings DE Danielle Hunter have agreed to a 2-year, $49M contract, with $48M guaranteed - Hunter, 29, tallied a career-high 16.5 sacks last season and has been selected to four Pro Bowls

• Vikings and former Packers RB Aaron Jones have agreed to a 1-year, $7M contract - Jones, 29, rushed for 656 yards in 11 games last season and was released by Green Bay on Monday after the team agreed to terms with former Raiders RB Josh Jacobs

• Steelers and former Ravens LB Patrick Queen have agreed to a 3-year, $41M contract, with $13M guaranteed - Queen, 24, totaled 454 tackles, 13.5 sacks, four interceptions, and five forced fumbles in his four seasons with Baltimore

• Panthers acquired WR Diontae Johnson and a 2024 seventh-round draft pick in a trade with the Steelers in exchange for CB Donte Jackson and a 2024 sixth-round draft pick - Johnson, 27, made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and has eclipsed 700 receiving yards in each of the past four seasons

• Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes agreed to restructure his contract in an expected move that gives Kansas City an additional $21.6M worth of salary-cap space - Mahomes signed a record 10-year, $450M extension in 2020, which was designed to be restructured to help the team build up the roster; the length of the deal remains intact

Other Notable Tuesday Free Agency Agreements

Key: Player (Position) Previous Team → New Team

• CJ Gardner-Johnson (S) Lions → Eagles

• Darnell Mooney (WR) Bears → Falcons

• Drew Lock (QB) Seahawks → Giants

• Gerald Everett (TE) Chargers → Bears

• Jameis Winston (QB) Saints → Browns

• Jordan Poyer (S) Bills → Dolphins

• Kenneth Murray (LB) Chargers → Titans

• Kenny Moore II (CB) Colts — Colts

• Lavonte David (LB) Buccaneers — Buccaneers

• Marcus Mariota (QB) Eagles → Commanders

• Mike Gesicki (TE) Patriots → Bengals

• Shaquil Barrett (LB) Buccaneers → Dolphins

• Tyrod Taylor (QB) Giants → Jets

• Willie Gay (LB) Chiefs → Saints

See yesterday’s newsletter for Monday’s biggest moves and every free agency agreement here.

Notable Remaining Free Agents

Key: Player (Position, Previous Team)

• Arik Armstead (DT, 49ers)

• Calvin Ridley (WR, Jaguars)

• Chase Young (EDGE, 49ers)

• Curtis Samuel (WR, Commanders)

• Jonah Williams (OT, Bengals)

• Josh Reynolds (WR, Lions)

• Justin Simmons (S, Broncos)

• Marquise Brown (WR, Cardinals)

• Odell Beckham Jr. (WR, Ravens)

• Stephon Gilmore (CB, Cowboys)

• Tyron Smith (OT, Cowboys)

See all the notable free agents here.

🏈 Jets QB Aaron Rodgers is on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s short list to be his running mate on an independent presidential ticket in November - in January, Rodgers said the Jets’ “bullsh*t that has nothing to do with winning has to get out of the building” . . . Aaron Rodgers, Week 9 vs. Chargers: OUT (election on Tuesday)

⚾️ Yankees SP Gerrit Cole will receive additional testing on an undisclosed injury to his right throwing elbow and is no longer expected to start on Opening Day - the reigning AL Cy Young Winner underwent an MRI on Monday but his prognosis is not imminent

🏀 Louisville men’s basketball fired HC Kenny Payne following last night’s 94-85 loss to NC State in the first round of the ACC tournament - the Cardinals went 12-52 in Payne’s two seasons at the helm, the worst record among all Power 6 conference programs

🏒 Rangers rookie F Matt Rempe has been suspended four games for elbowing Devils D Jonas Siegenthalar during Monday night’s win over New Jersey - Rempe, a 6-foot-7, 21-year-old, has become a fan favorite around the league with four fights and two ejections in 11 career games since making his NHL debut in February

College Basketball - Conference Tournaments

Men’s

• WCC Final | #21 Saint Mary’s 69, #17 Gonzaga 60: After falling to the Zags in the last two West Coast Conference tournament finals, the Gaels got their revenge thanks to a late run sparked by Aidan Mahaney (23 PTS, 5-7 3PT), who hit a series of clutch threes to book Saint Mary’s ticket to the Big Dance - Saint Mary’s (26-7) also won the WCC regular-season title, and the loss for Gonzaga (25-7) ends their streak of four consecutive conference tournament titles

• CAA Final | Charleston 82, Stony Brook 79 (OT): Extra basketball with a conference title and an NCAA Tournament bid on the line? Yes, please! After a scoreless final two minutes of regulation featuring some frantic action, Reyne Smith (23 PTS, 6-15 3PT, 5 AST) put Charleston on his back, scoring eight of the Cougars’ nine points in overtime to seal their second straight CAA tournament chip - the win gives Charleston their third March Madness bid since 2018

• NEC Final | Wagner 54, Merrimack 47

• Horizon League Final | Oakland 83, Milwaukee 76

• Summit League Final | South Dakota State 76, Denver 68

• ACC, Round 1 | NC State 94, Louisville 85

• ACC, Round 1 | Notre Dame 80, Georgia Tech 80

• Big 12, Round 1 | UCF 77, Oklahoma State 62

• Big 12, Round 1 | Cincinnati 90, West Virginia 85

Women’s

• Big 12 Final | #5 Texas 70, Iowa State 53: The Lady Longhorns stamped their final Big 12 game with a ring as freshman and co-conference Player of the Year Madison Booker (40 MIN, 26 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST) put on a show to lead Texas to a wire-to-wire win over Audi Crooks (25 PTS, 9 REB) and the Cyclones, marking UT’s second conference tournament title in three years

• WCC Final | Portland 67, #14 Gonzaga 66: After losing by 50 (yes, fifty!) to the Zags on Feb. 28, the Pilots stunned the Bulldogs to snap their 24-game win streak, as Gonzaga’s Kaylynne Truong’s (4 PTS, 3 AST) last-second three bricked off the backboard, giving Portland their second straight WCC tournament title - Portland (21-12) was a projected 11-seed for the NCAA Tournament, and Gonzaga (30-3) hadn’t lost since Nov. 26

• Horizon League Final | Green Bay 64, Cleveland State 40

• Summit League Final | South Dakota State 67, North Dakota State 54

See the full NCAAM scoreboard here and the current rankings here. See the full NCAAW scoreboard here and the current rankings here.

NBA - Top Games

• Minnesota Timberwolves 118, LA Clippers 100: In a game between two of the best in the West, Anthony Edwards (37 PTS) and the T-Wolves erased a 22-point first-half deficit to surge past Paul George (22 PTS, 3 AST) and the Clippers. But the story of the night was Kawhi Leonard (12 MIN, 6 PTS, 2 AST), who suffered back spasms in the 1st quarter and was seen leaving the arena in street clothes before halftime - the severity of Leonard’s injury is still unknown

• New York Knicks 106, Philadelphia 76ers 79: In OG Anunoby’s (14 PTS, 4 REB) return from an 18-game absence due to an elbow injury, the Knicks lit up Tyrese Maxey (17 PTS, 4 AST) and the Sixers at the Garden behind Josh Hart’s (20 PTS, 19 REB, 10 AST) triple-double and Jalen Brunson’s (20 PTS, 4-8 3PT, 9 REB) usual artistry - Maxey also made his return last night after missing four games with a concussion, and Philly beat the Knicks on Sunday while holding them to an NBA season-low 73 points

• Boston Celtics 123, Utah Jazz 107: Jayson Tatum (38 PTS, 13-25 FG, 6 REB) confirmed suspicions that he is very good at basketball, and the C’s went on a 20-0 run in the second half to groove past Keyonte George (26 PTS, 6 AST) and the Jazz in Salt Lake - Utah (28-37) has gone 2-11 since Feb. 6 and is 6.5 games back of the final play-in spot in the West

See the full NBA scoreboard here and the current standings here.

NHL - Top Games

• Florida Panthers 4, Dallas Stars 3: The Cats trailed 3-0 in the 2nd period but then clawed their way back as Sam Bennett (1 G) tied things up late in the 3rd before Aleksander Barkov (1 G) netted the game-winner just 38 seconds later to steal one from Wyatt Johnston (1 G, 1 A) and the Stars in Dallas - Florida (45-17-4) leads the league with 94 points

• Chicago Blackhawks 7, Anaheim Ducks 2: In a marquee tankathon tango, Connor Bedard (1 G, 4 A) apparently never got the “must-lose” memo, as last year’s No. 1 overall pick posted a career-high five points to give the Ducks a resume-boosting loss - San Jose (16-41-7) still leads Chicago (18-43-5) and Anaheim (23-39-3) for the league’s worst record

• Buffalo Sabres 7, Detroit Red Wings 3: Detroit fell out of the final wild-card spot in the East last night with their sixth loss in a row, as Bowen Byram (2 G), Zach Benzon (1 G, 2 A), and the Sabs flattened the Winged Wheels in Buffalo - there’s still a glimmer of playoff hope for Buffalo (31-30-5, 69 PTS), who is now six points back of the Islanders (29-21-14, 72 PTS) and Red Wings (33-26-6, 72 PTS) for the final wild-card spot; New York currently holds the tiebreaker over Detroit

See the full NHL scoreboard here and the current standings here.

UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 (2nd Leg)

• Barcelona 3, Napoli 1 (BAR advances 4-2 on aggregate): After a 1-1 draw in the opening leg, Barcelona took control in yesterday’s winner-take-all affair with early goals from Fermin Lopez (15’) and Joao Cancelo (17’), and although Napoli’s Amir Rrahmani (30’) cut the lead in half before the break, Sergi Roberto’s clinical helper to Robert Lewandowski (83’) iced the game in the final minutes, as Barca ousted the Italian champions 4-2 on aggregate - Barcelona hadn't reached the quarterfinals in four years, and is seeking their first Champions League title since 2015

• Arsenal 1, FC Porto 0 (Tied on aggregate - ARS advances 4-2 via PKs): Entering the day down 1-0 on aggregate, Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard (41’) scored the match’s lone goal to ultimately force a decisive penalty shootout, where goalkeeper David Raya played hero by stopping two attempts, giving the Gunners a dramatic victory to book their first UCL quarterfinals appearance in 14 years - the quarterfinal draw will take place on Friday at 7:00am ET

See the full international scoreboard here and the full UCL results here.

Men’s College Basketball - Conference Tournaments

ACC, Round 2

• Virgina Tech vs. Florida State 12:00pm ET, ESPN

• Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame 2:30pm ET, ESPN

• Syracuse vs. NC State 7:00pm ET, ESPN2

• Clemson vs. Boston College 9:30pm ET, ESPNU

Big East, Round 1

• Butler vs. Xavier 4:00pm ET, FS1

• Providence vs. Georgetown 6:30pm ET, FS1

• Villanova vs. DePaul 9:00pm ET, FS1

Big Ten, Round 1

• Maryland vs. Rutgers 6:30pm ET, Peacock

• Penn State vs. Michigan 8:30pm ET, Peacock

Big 12, Round 2

• #20 BYU vs. UCF 12:30pm ET, ESPN2

• TCU vs. Oklahoma 3:00pm ET, Big 12 / ESPN+

• Texas vs. Kansas State 7:00pm ET, Big 12 / ESPN+

• #16 Kansas vs. Cincinnati 9:30pm ET, ESPN2

Pac-12, Round 1

• Washington vs. USC 3:00pm ET, Pac-12

• UCLA vs. Oregon State 5:30pm ET, Pac-12

• California vs. Stanford 9:00pm ET, Pac-12

• Utah vs. Arizona State 11:30pm ET, Pac-12

SEC, Round 1

• Arkansas vs. Vanderbilt 7:00pm ET, SECN

• Georgia vs. Missouri 9:30pm ET, SECN

NBA

• Denver Nuggets @ Miami Heat 7:30pm ET, ESPN

• Golden State Warriors @ Dallas Mavericks 8:30pm ET, Local

• Los Angeles Lakers @ Sacramento Kings 10:00pm ET, ESPN

• Full Schedule

NHL

• Los Angeles Kings @ St. Louis Blues 7:30pm ET, TNT

• Nashville Predators @ Winnipeg Jets 7:30pm ET, NHLPP / ESPN+

• Washington Capitals @ Edmonton Oilers 10:00pm ET, TNT

• Colorado Avalanche @ Vancouver Canucks 10:30pm ET, NHLPP / ESPN+

UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 (2nd Leg)

• Internazionale @ Atletic Madrid 4:00pm ET, Paramount+

• PSV Eindhoven @ Borussia Dortmund 4:00pm ET, Paramount+

Trivia Time Answer

D. 4. Get this: Of the 11 highest-paid players in the 2022 NFL free agency class, only four are still rostered by the team they signed with. In other words, seven of the 11 highest-paid free agents from two years ago are no longer with their signed team. Two of the four players who remain with their team have had to take pay cuts.

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Thanks for reading! Enjoy a beautiful day of college hoops!