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🏈 Good morning to everybody however particularly …

THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 

It is Tremendous Bowl weekend! The Chiefs-49ers showdown is simply two days away, and our specialists’ picks are in. I am nonetheless going forwards and backwards, so do not ask me till minutes earlier than Sunday’s kickoff — and be sure to know the right way to watch.

Tyler Sullivan, in the meantime, has been rolling this postseason with a 9-3 report straight up and towards the unfold. Here is his choose:

• Sullivan: “Whereas the Niners are actually a gifted membership, it simply seems like extra of the benefits lean within the Chiefs’ favor. They’ve the higher protection, quarterback, and coach in my estimation. Kansas Metropolis is battle-tested successful back-to-back playoff video games on the highway, whereas the Niners have wanted to dig themselves out of holes taking part in at residence. … Patrick Mahomes can also be 9-0-1 ATS in his profession as an underdog away from Kansas Metropolis and is 3-0 straight-up in his profession as an underdog within the playoffs. Projected rating: Chiefs 24, 49ers 20. The choose: Chiefs +2“

Listed below are all of our knowledgeable picks:

Pete Prisco | John Breech | Jason La Canfora | Tyler Sullivan | Jeff Kerr | Cody Benjamin 

I really like the Brock Purdy story as a lot as anybody — the man even embraced the “recreation supervisor” description, although he is been rather more than that. However Mahomes has the clear edge on the recreation’s most necessary place. Might San Francisco’s working recreation shut that hole? Cody breaks down why the 49ers’ floor recreation goes far past Christian McCaffrey.

• Benjamin: “Left deal with Trent Williams headlines the trenches, however it’s truly the soiled work of talent gamers like tight finish George Kittle and extensive receiver Jauan Jennings that serves as a catalyst for the sort of MVP-level manufacturing of McCaffrey and, by extension, Purdy. … With each Kittle and Jennings, once more, it is not simply the willingness to dam; it is the eagerness to dam throughout, pushing the boundaries when it comes to driving opponents off the ball.”

Whereas Kansas Metropolis’s protection has been higher this postseason, it allowed 131.5 yards speeding per recreation in six regular-season losses.

Listed below are extra of my favorites …

NOTE: WE’LL HAVE A SPECIAL SUPER BOWL EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER ON SUNDAY! LOOK FOR IT!

😃 Honorable mentions

😕 Not so honorable mentions

🏀 NBA commerce deadline: Knicks, 76ers make huge strikes on busy day

We bought 15 — rely ’em, 15! — offers on NBA commerce deadline day, and whereas the most important names within the rumor mill did not have to pack their luggage, there have been loads of sturdy strikes by among the league’s strongest groups.

Let’s begin with the Knicks, who had already made an enormous (and very good) transfer in late December, buying OG Anunoby. As for the commerce deadline, the identical day New York came upon Anunoby will miss not less than three weeks resulting from elbow surgical procedure, the group acquired Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks from the Pistons. James Herbert approves of the transfer all-around, rewarding each groups an “A-” in his commerce grades.

• Herbert: “Bogdanovic, 34, has made greater than 41% of his 3s in his final two seasons, and he is shot 27-for-48 (46.6%) on pull-up 3s in 28 video games this season. He can nonetheless create offense in pick-and-roll and isolation conditions, too, and his post-up recreation is beneficial towards groups that change. … New York is sending a easy message right here: This season is critical. The entrance workplace believes within the group it has assembled, and it would not wish to lose the momentum it generated in January. … The most effective half, although, is that New York nonetheless hasn’t mortgaged its future.”

The 76ers additionally made an enormous transfer, including Buddy Hield from the Pacers. Sam Quinn says Philadelphia got here out on high right here, and I agree: Hield has been constant, sturdy and one of many league’s greatest shooters his complete profession. If Joel Embiid returns, he, Hield and Tyrese Maxey kind a wonderful trio.

The Bucks made essentially the most out of restricted assets, too, buying Patrick Beverley from the 76ers. Milwaukee wanted protection, and Beverley will deliver it.

Here is extra from a busy day:

Deadline day could also be over, however there’s loads of exercise to come back. Colin Ward-Henninger broke down the buyout market.

🤫 Lakers, Warriors, Bulls quiet at deadline

The Lakers, Warriors and Bulls have been entrance and middle of commerce rumors for weeks. All three stood pat on the deadline. The Lakers’ choice to take action landed them among the many losers in Colin’s commerce deadline winners and losers whereas the Warriors’ alternative earned them reward from Brad Botkin.

However the Bulls? Ugh. The Bulls. They tried to clarify why they made no strikes; vp of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas stated “We wish to keep aggressive.”

Aggressive for what, precisely? One other play-in berth — at greatest? Sam handed out commerce deadline grades for all 30 groups. Just one earned an “F.” … Care to guess which group?

• Quinn: “There isn’t any worse place to be within the NBA than the center. The Bulls aren’t even caught there. They’re selecting to not go away. … They tried to maneuver Zach LaVine. No person would take him. That is out of their management. However certainly they might have discovered a house for impending free agent DeMar DeRozan on the proper asking worth. … Each contender needed Alex Caruso. … They did not even choose up some spare property for Andre Drummond. … The Bulls are a company with no plan or path.”

I could not have stated it higher myself.

🏆 NFL Honors: Lamar Jackson wins MVP; Corridor of Fame class introduced

Lamar Jackson‘s season did not finish the way in which he needed it to, however he is bringing residence some {hardware} and becoming a member of an unique membership regardless. The Ravens celebrity received his second profession MVP Award, changing into one in all 11 gamers to have earned the respect a number of instances. He is additionally the second-youngest participant to succeed in two MVPs, solely behind Jim Brown.

In different award information …

• Christian McCaffrey received Offensive Participant of the Yr.
• Myles Garrett received Defensive Participant of the Yr. T.J. Watt didn’t agree.
• The Texans had each the Offensive Rookie of the Yr (C.J. Stroud) and the Defensive Rookie of the Yr (Will Anderson Jr).
• Kevin Stefanski received Coach of the Yr thanks to at least one extra first-place vote than DeMeco Ryans.
• Joe Flacco received Comeback Participant of the Yr.
• Cam Heyward received Walter Payton Man of the Yr.

Shifting from present stars to previous ones, here is the 2024 Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame class:

• Dwight Freeney
• Andre Johnson
• Devin Hester
• Randy Gradishar
• Patrick Willis
• Steve McMichael
• Julius Peppers

How Antonio Gates did not make it’s past me, however he ought to have an excellent likelihood in 2025. Here is our lookahead to the record of these nominees, which incorporates Marshawn Lynch, Luke Kuechly and Eli Manning.

😳 WWE makes Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes official for WrestleMania with The Rock lurking

We at CBS Sports activities are nothing if not group gamers. And for the reason that world {of professional} wrestling shouldn’t be my forte, I am tapping in Johnny Flores, one in all our esteemed editors, to shut out our recap of yesterday’s occasions.

The WrestleMania 40 major occasion image is much more difficult than it was earlier than Thursday’s press convention occasion in Las Vegas’ T-Cell Area, although most of the firm’s followers are pleased with the result. Expectations surrounding the occasion have been that Roman Reigns vs. The Rock can be formally introduced for the undisputed WWE common championship, although that’s not the case.

After seemingly giving up his WrestleMania title shot final week, Cody Rhodes has elected to “end his story” by dealing with Reigns for the second consecutive 12 months, a choice made official by WWE chief content material officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

Reigns, in storyline style, selected to face The Rock, his cousin. The Rock, who final formally wrestled in 2013 towards John Cena and was not too long ago appointed TKO’s board of administrators, confirmed his choice to step again into the ring Thursday.

In the course of the kickoff occasion, a mix of storyline and real-time engagement, The Rock accepted Reigns’ problem to the dismay of followers, who needed Rhodes to get the chance.

Rhodes stepped in to take again his title shot and traded barbs with the duo about their respective households. Cody is the son of Dusty Rhodes, whereas Reigns and The Rock’s huge household tree contains the likes of Yokozuna and Jey and Jimmy Uso. The occasion ended with everybody having to be separated after The Rock slapped Rhodes for disrespecting his lineage.

Whereas Reigns vs. Rhodes II has been introduced, it stays to be seen the place The Rock will match into all of this.

📺 What we’re watching this weekend

Friday

🏀 Hawks at 76ers, 7 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 No. 24 San Diego State at Nevada (M), 8:30 p.m. on CBS Sports activities Community
🏀 Nuggets at Kings, 10 p.m. on NBA League Move

Saturday

🏒 Blues at Sabres, 1 p.m. on ABC
🏀 Illinois at Michigan State (M), 2 p.m. on CBS
🏀 TCU at No. 14 Iowa State (M), 2 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 Thunder at Mavericks, 3 p.m. on NBA TV
🏒 Capitals at Bruins, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
🏀 Gonzaga at No. 17 Kentucky (M), 4 p.m. on CBS
🏀 No. 3 North Carolina at Miami (M), 4 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 No. 5 Houston at Cincinnati (M), 4 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 No. 13 Baylor at No. 4 Kansas (M), 6 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 St. John’s at No. 7 Marquette (M), 6 p.m. on FS1
🏀 Indiana at No. 2 Purdue (M), 8 p.m. on Fox
🏀 Suns at Warriors, 8:30 p.m. on ABC

Sunday

🏀 No. 2 Iowa at Nebraska (W), 1 p.m. on Fox
🏀 Celtics at Warmth, 2 p.m. on ABC
🏀 No. 11 UConn at No. 1 South Carolina (W), 2 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Alabama at No. 14 LSU (W), 4 p.m. on ESPN2
🏈 Tremendous Bowl LVIII: Chiefs vs. 49ers, 6:30 p.m. on CBS