Back to the Pack

03/09/2022

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning,

The sports world jumped to life yesterday with NFL news bombs. We now know the Aaron Rodgers saga was all for nothing, and one of the biggest trades in NFL history sent shockwaves through the league. Meanwhile, NCAA Tournament tickets are getting punched and nets are getting cut across the nation. Champ Week rolls on…

Letter Rip!

NFL

Back to the Pack

Photo: Nic Antaya / Getty Images

Packers & Aaron Rodgers Agree to 4-Year, $200 Million Extension

The saga is finally over in Green Bay. On Tuesday, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers agreed to terms on a 4-year, $200 million extension that makes him the highest-paid player in league history. His $50 million annual salary eclipses the mark set by Patrick Mahomes ($45 million/year), and it will likely keep him in Green Bay until retirement. Rodgers is 38, but he’s coming off back-to-back MVP seasons where the Packers made the playoffs. The once-disgruntled quarterback appeared to be on his way out of Green Bay last offseason, but changes to management style and communication from the front office, along with a big bag of cash, have smoothed things over.

Read: Rodgers & Packers Agree to 4-Year, $200 Million Deal

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Mile-High Wilson

Photo: Stephen Brashear / Getty Images

Broncos Acquire QB Russell Wilson From Seahawks for 3 Players & 5 Draft Picks in NFL Blockbuster

Moments after Rodgers’ contract extension with the Packers, which took the Broncos’ pursuit of him off the table, Denver swung one of the biggest trades in NFL history by acquiring Russell Wilson from the Seahawks. In exchange for the Super Bowl-winning QB, Seattle received three players and five draft picks. The players included QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant and DL Shelby Harris, while the picks included two first-rounders, two second-rounders and one fifth-round selection. Wilson’s 10-year run in Seattle comes to an end pending his approval to waive the no-trade clause, and the nine-time Pro Bowler joins a Denver team with 11 different starting QBs since Peyton Manning retired in 2016 — the most in the NFL.

Read: Broncos Acquire Seahawks QB Russell Wilson

Other NFL News

Additional Storylines

SI: Aaron Rodgers’ Return to the Packers Went Against Two Years of Clues

Yahoo! Sports: Why Russell Wilson Chose the Broncos Over the Commanders

_________________________________________________________________________________________

NCAA

Champ Week Ticket-Punchers

Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

11 NCAA Tournament Tickets Punched as Gonzaga Wins West Coast Conference Title

The ticket takers are coming! Eleven teams have secured their bid to the big dance as of Tuesday night. That list includes No. 1 Gonzaga who beat No. 17 Saint Mary’s (82-69) for the West Coast Conference championship — their third straight title and ninth of the last decade. A number of tickets were punched over the weekend before Tuesday’s finals. Another 21 automatic bids will be handed out in the coming days, and bid thieves are lurking. Bubble teams beware.

Tickets Punched (NCAA Men’s Basketball)

Gonzaga (West Coast Conference)

South Dakota State (Summit League)

Wright State (Horizon League)

Murray State (Ohio Valley)

Longwood (Big South)

Loyola Chicago (Missouri Valley)

Chattanooga (Southern)

Georgia State (Sun Belt)

Jacksonville State (ASUN)

Bryant (Northeast)

Delaware (Colonial)

Conference Tournaments Beginning Today

ACC, Pac-12, Big East, SEC, Big Ten

Today’s Schedule

Additional Storylines

ESPN: 10 Rivalries, Grudge Matches We Want to See Play Out During Champ Week

USA Today: Seven Potential March Madness Bid Thieves That Could Ruin Bubble Teams

_________________________________________________________________________________________

SOCCER

The Bayern Blowout

Photo: Alex Grimm / Getty Images

UCL Knockouts: Bayern Blasts Salzburg Behind Lewa’s Hat Trick, Liverpool Advance Past Inter

Leg 2 of the Round of the 16 in the UEFA Champions League kicked off yesterday, and two teams are moving on to the quarterfinals. Bayern Munich proved their masterclass with a 7-1 thrashing of RB Salzburg thanks to Robert Lewandowski’s record-setting hat trick. Lewa scored all three goals in the first 23 minutes, including all three goals in an 11-minute window for the fastest hat trick in Champions League history. Then came the Bayern onslaught. Over in Italy, Inter outlasted Liverpool (1-0) with a second-half goal from Lautaro Martinez, but it wasn’t enough to beat Liverpool in the aggregate goal count (2-1). More knockout second legs are on the way this afternoon.

Highlights (Round of 16, Leg 2)

Bayern def. RB Salzburg (7-1) | Agg. 8-2 (Bayern)

Inter def. Liverpool (1-0) | Agg. 2-1 (Liverpool)

Today’s Schedule (3:00 pm ET)

Manchester City vs. Sporting | Agg. 5-0 (Man. City)

Real Madrid vs. PSG | Agg. 1-0 (PSG)

Additional Storylines

EuroSport: Bayern Score 7, Lew Hits Hat-Trick to Crush RB Salzburg

Goal.com: Sluggish Liverpool Make It Through But Must Improve

_________________________________________________________________________________________

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

NBA: Kyrie’s 50-Ball Makes History

Kyrie Irving suited up for an away game in Charlotte and dropped 50 points on just 19 field-goal attempts (15-for-19 FG, 9-for-12, 3-pt). Irving became the third player in league history to score 50 on 20-or-fewer shots, and he led the Nets past the Hornets (132-121).

Other NBA Highlights

Darius Garland Drops 41 in Cavs Win

Giannis Antetokounmpo Fires 39 in Bucks Rout

NHL: Ovechkin Ties Jagr in All-Time Goals

With his 766th NHL goal, Alex Ovechkin tied Jaromir Jagr for third place on the all-time NHL goals list. Ovi scored twice in the Capitals’ 5-4 win over the Flames, and he now trails only Gordie Howe (801) and Wayne Gretzky (894).

Other NHL Highlights

Auston Matthews Nets Hat Trick in Maple Leafs Win

Patrick Kane Notches 6-Point Game for Blackhawks

Dylan Strome Scores Hat Trick in Blackhawks Win

_________________________________________________________________________________________

THE STORYLINES

The Players Championship Odds

There’s a lot of value to be had at TPC Sawgrass this week, but also a ton of randomness. It’s unusual to see a PGA Tour field in which no golfer enters as a single-digit favorite, and that’s because Sawgrass is difficult to predict. (CBS Sports)

Brittney Griner’s Russia Relations

Griner is under investigation for large-scale transportation of drugs and facing up to 10 years in Russia’s prison system. And with negotiations between the U.S. and Russia at an ugly crossroads, her release could be a long ways away. (Yahoo! Sports)

MLB Sets Yet Another Deadline

The back-and-forth continues. While a 162-game season is still theoretically on the table, the latest talks could lead to another week of canceled games. And it appears that’s next. (New York Times)

_________________________________________________________________________________________

THE HEADLINES