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🏈 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

JOSH ALLEN, MYLES GARRETT, DK METCALF AND DAVANTE ADAMS

Present me the cash! On the eve of the NFL’s free agent negotiation window, Josh Allen and Myles Garrett received record-setting contracts, whereas DK Metcalf joined the celebration after being traded to the Steelers, and the Rams signed Davante Adams.

We’ll begin with Allen, as a result of … wow. It is a six-year, $330 million extension for the reigning MVP, together with an NFL-record $250 million assured. The $55 million per yr is tied for second-most of any participant, solely behind Dak Prescott. Allen nonetheless had 4 years left on his present deal, however this ties him to Buffalo by way of 2030.

After a testy final month, Garrett is not going anyplace, both. The 2023 Defensive Participant of the 12 months agreed to a four-year, $160 million extension; the $40 million per yr makes it the most profitable ever for a non-quarterback. Garrett requested a commerce greater than a month in the past, and as not too long ago as Friday, Browns proprietor Jimmy Haslam refused to fulfill with Garrett. However cooler heads (and some huge cash) prevailed.

This was additionally an enormous win for Micah Parsons, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson, the non-quarterbacks in search of large paydays, Garrett Podell notes.

As for a participant whose commerce request did come to fruition, Metcalf is heading to Pittsburgh for a second-round choose and getting a five-year, $150 million deal as properly. In his commerce grades, Bryan DeArdo favored this transfer for the Steelers, however when Cody Benjamin graded the largest strikes of the weekend, he wasn’t as optimistic.

Now the Steelers should work out who will throw the ball to Metcalf, George Pickens and others. Listed here are the choices.

The Seahawks additionally want a quarterback after buying and selling away Geno Smith, who’s reuniting with Pete Carroll in Las Vegas after he and Seattle could not decide on an extension. The Raiders despatched a third-round choose Seattle’s approach.

Lastly, Adams is becoming a member of the Rams on a two-year, $46 million deal. I just like the transfer for each side — Jared Dubin even had Adams and the Rams collectively in his NFC free agent matchmaking — and Sean McVay goes to have a ton of enjoyable with the Matthew Stafford/Puka Nacua/Adams/Kyren Williams four-headed monster.

Here is extra from the weekend:

• Xavier Worthy was arrested and initially confronted a third-degree felony cost of assault in opposition to a household or member of a family that features impeding respiratory or circulation. Nevertheless, the district lawyer is not going to press fees.
• The Chiefs re-signed Marquise Brown (1/$11M) and Nick Bolton (3/$45M).
• In sort out information: The Ravens prolonged Ronnie Stanley (3/$60M), and the Falcons prolonged Jake Matthews (2/$45M).
• In cross rusher information: The Patriots are signing Harold Landry (3/$45.3M), the Payments prolonged Greg Rousseau (4/$80M) and launched Von Miller (touchdown spots), and the Lions will launch Za’Darius Smith.
• Does the Titans releasing Landry influence Abdul Carter‘s probability to go No. 1?

Here is our stay weblog monitoring each transfer, and here is our prime 100 free brokers tracker.

😁 Honorable mentions

🏀 And never such an excellent morning for …

LEBRON JAMES AND THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS

The Lakers‘ glorious vibes got here to a right away and painful halt Saturday evening, with LeBron James exiting Los Angeles’ eventual 111-101 loss to the Celtics within the fourth quarter with a groin pressure. He’s anticipated to overlook a minimum of one to 2 weeks.

• James, 40, had been remarkably wholesome this season, enjoying in 58 of the Lakers’ 62 video games, and remarkably productive, too. He and Jokić are the one two gamers averaging 25 factors, eight rebounds and eight assists.
• With James and Luka Dončić main the way in which, the Lakers had gained eight straight earlier than falling to the Celtics. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown mixed for 71 factors and confirmed the street to a title nonetheless runs by way of Boston, Jack Maloney writes.
• The Lakers have climbed all the way in which to second within the West with their sturdy current play.

Sam Quinn particulars how Los Angeles can survive with out James.

😬 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Free company preview: High obtainable gamers, daring predictions

Sure, plenty of large names have come off the board by way of re-signings and launched gamers discovering properties.

However on the stroke of midday ET at this time, one other wave of insanity is coming because the free company negotiating interval begins.

Six of Pete Prisco’s prime 10 free brokers stay in the marketplace, with Sam Darnold main the way in which. In his daring predictions, Garrett has Darnold returning to considered one of his former groups.

Ensure you preserve our stay weblog and our prime 100 free brokers tracker up and operating all day. Here is extra:

🏀 Males’s faculty basketball: No. 7 Alabama stuns No. 1 Auburn

No. 7 Alabama actually misplaced some believers amid late-season struggles. The Crimson Tide could have simply gained plenty of them again this weekend, topping No. 1 Auburn, 93-91, in additional time in The Jungle on Mark Sears‘ floater as time expired.

Sears struggled a lot of the afternoon, however Grant Nelson (23 factors), Labaron Philon (15) and Clifford Omoruyi (15) have been glorious, serving to the Crimson Tide preserve tempo with Johni Broome‘s 34 factors, eight rebounds and 5 blocks. Not solely is that this an enormous win in a rivalry sport, but it surely places Alabama within the operating for a No. 1 seed, Jerry Palm writes.

Auburn, in the meantime, has misplaced two straight. Although the Tigers stay atop Gary Parrish’s High 25 And 1, Kyle Boone initiatives they fall to No. 2 in at this time’s AP High 25.

Kyle has No. 2 Duke surging to the highest spot, and for good purpose: The Blue Devils thumped North Carolina, 82-69, to take the ACC regular-season title. I used to be actually impressed by Duke, which went on the street and overcame not solely an enormous sport from R.J. Davis on Senior Evening but additionally Cooper Flagg‘s foul bother. Trailing by six with beneath 13 minutes left, Duke went on a 12-0 run and by no means appeared again, incomes a spot among the many winners in our weekend winners and losers.

North Carolina, in the meantime, stays within the “First 4 Out” of Jerry’s bracketology, and wins from fellow bubble groups like Oklahoma and Indiana did not assist.

Elsewhere …

Meaning this week’s convention event brackets are set. Listed here are the largest ones:

A number of groups have already clinched their bids as convention event champs:

• Lipscomb (ASUN)
• Excessive Level (Large South)
• Drake (Missouri Valley)
• SIUE (Ohio Valley)
• Omaha (Summit)

Two extra bids exit tonight. Here is our tracker.

🏀 Ladies’s faculty basketball: UCLA, South Carolina amongst convention event winners

I certain hope you were not simply targeted on the lads’s aspect this weekend, as a result of the ladies’s convention tournaments completely introduced the warmth, none extra so than the Large Ten Event, the place UCLA overcame a double-digit deficit to beat USC, 72-67, within the championship sport.

How large was this one? CBS Sports activities bracketologist Connor Groel initiatives the Bruins will earn the No. 1 general seed come Choice Sunday.

UCLA misplaced the primary two conferences, and it appeared just like the Trojans would make it a three-game sweep, main 48-35 early within the third quarter. However the Bruins outscored the Trojans 37-19 the remainder of the way in which, with Lauren Betts main the cost offensively (13 second-half factors) and everybody chipping in on protection. USC star JuJu Watkins managed simply 11 factors on 4 of 15 taking pictures within the second half. The Bruins dedicated to bottling up Watkins at each flip, but what additionally emerged was a UCLA squad that appeared to rediscover its mojo, writes Jack Maloney.

• Maloney: “If the Bruins get the second-half model of Betts within the NCAA Event, they’ll completely win the primary nationwide championship in program historical past,” 

The Bruins’ quest for the highest seed was aided by South Carolina thumping Texas, 64-45, within the SEC Event championship. The Longhorns had been No. 1 within the nation — and in line for the No. 1 general seed — earlier than an anemic offensive displaying doomed them.

The Longhorns aren’t the one ones who slumped on the unsuitable time. Duke upset Notre Dame, 61-54, within the ACC Event semifinals. The Blue Devils went on to beat NC State in Sunday’s remaining, however the stumbling Preventing Irish could be the larger story. Ranked No. 1 in late February, Notre Dame has misplaced three of 5 coming into the NCAA Event.

Here is our convention championship roundup, and here is our tracker for each event.

📺 What we’re watching Monday

🏀 Ladies’s Large East Event championship
     No. 23 Creighton vs. No. 3 UConn, 7 p.m. on FS1
🏒 Oilers at Sabres, 7 p.m. on ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+
🏀 Unmatched, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
🏀 Nuggets at Thunder, 8 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 Knicks at Kings, 10:30 p.m. on NBA TV