Upheaval is everywhere in the NFL. It won’t likely end soon.
A free agency frenzy that has seen steady player movement — yes, players beyond Tom Brady have changed addresses — has been the focal point. With little to nothing else going on in sports, the NFL has grabbed headlines with business deals between players and teams.
Those transactions have changed the league landscape. But so have many other moves involving the draft, off-season programs and perhaps the upcoming season itself as the new coronavirus pandemic affects every aspect of our lives.
Here’s a look at all of those elements in America’s most popular and lucrative sport.
FREE AGENCY
Awkwardness might be the keyword. The NFL barred players from visiting teams courting them and banned club personnel from travelling to meet with the free agents — both wise and necessary moves.
Physicals on which contract agreements are reliant could only be performed locally or by doctors mutually agreed upon between franchises and players. Signed contracts must be registered with the league before anything becomes official and players can get paid on their new deals.
That led to dozens of leaks of deals without teams being able to confirm them when the NFL business year began last Wednesday.
Through all that, million-dollar pacts emerged everywhere — some of them still unannounced by teams.
Brady leaving New England has been the mind-blowing move, naturally. Suddenly, a franchise that hasn’t seen the post-season in a dozen years has some cachet. And the most dominant team of the past two decades, with Brady leading the Patriots to six championships in nine Super Bowl trips, has lost its essence.
And the other relocations through free agency and trades will require some studying up by fans. The most impactful moves so far, and with several big names still on the market, seem to be:
—All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins dealt to Arizona by Houston.
—QBs Teddy Bridgewater to Carolina and Philip Rivers to Indianapolis as free agents.
—Standout cornerback Darius Slay leaving Detroit for Philadelphia, which released star safety and leader Malcolm Jenkins, who returned to New Orleans.
—WR Stefon Diggs dealt by the Vikings to the Bills, who haven’t had such an accomplished receiver in years.
—Todd Gurley, merely the league’s best running back from 2015-17 but now with knee issues, cut by the Rams and landing in Atlanta.
—Calais Campbell, one of the best edge rushers around, dealt by Jacksonville to Baltimore.
THE DRAFT
With the huge extravaganza the draft has become scrapped, the NFL soon will announce its altered format.
Look for something resembling a studio TV show with much of the information (and misinformation) flow fans are accustomed to. There’s even chatter about prospective picks being asked to allow camera crews in their homes for reactions to being selected.
By far the biggest effect of the pandemic on the draft is the elimination of pro days at various schools. While some see those as outings manufactured and managed by the collegians and their representatives, many NFL teams find significant value in them.
As for Las Vegas, it will get another draft, perhaps the 2022 selections that are unspoken for right now. Next year will be in Cleveland, 2023 in Kansas City.
OFFSEASON PROGRAMS
Losing OTAs and minicamps in the spring would seem minor — most everything about the machinations of sports right now can feel that way — but they are important to teams in several ways.
If a new coaching staff is in place, those get-togethers are when players begin grasping new playbooks and philosophies and strategies. Not to mention getting to know the coaches they’ll be working under. And new teammates.
Team chemistry begins to build during those sessions. Fitness can be gauged. So can dedication and perseverance.
Out-of-shape players will be the norm this summer, and getting them back into football fitness will present a real challenge.
THE SCHEDULE
The schedule might not be in flux for the regular season set to begin on Sept. 10, probably in Kansas City. But the preseason, from when training camps can open and what restrictions exist — caused by the new coronavirus or by the labour agreement that went into effect this month — to actually playing exhibition games could be in question.
We’ve already seen how shoddy September contests can be with so many regulars sitting out August games. What if the NFL needs to cancel preseason games?
Then again, many fans might applaud that, eager for the real stuff, no matter how sloppy it might be early on.
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TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
