Your “I Think We’ve Hit The Dregs of Sports” Wednesday Evening Open Thread

NFL News:

• Sunday Gravy‘s going to have to work on dough recipes now, because there’s a new official pizza of the NFL!
  • 24 hours after Papa John’s withdrew, Pizza Hut is your new official grease-bread.
    • their deal runs through 2021, one year longer than the Papa John’s contract.
  • Hilariously, Pizza Hut’s first official event will be at the Draft in Arlington.
    • Because Jerry Jones is an investor in a franchisee that owns 94 Papa John’s outlets, and the Cowboys have their own side agreement with Papa John’s.

• Muhammad Wilkerson has been cut by the Jets.
  • He still counts as $6 million against their cap, but they save $11 million, so…victory?
    • He’d look pretty in a Seahawks jersey, alongside Sheldon Richardson, but they don’t even have the cap space to sign me – let alone a guy who expects to be paid $12-16 million.

• Ryan Shazier has been officially shelved for the 2018 season.
  • Although expected, to hear the GM officially shut him down still forces the Steelers to have to coldly move on.

• Also expected: Mike Glennon will be released by the Bears.
  • He walks away with “only” $18.5 million of the $45 million he signed for, after playing in 4 whole games.
    • But at least he had a good view of the Bears future at QB.

• There will officially be a “Josh McDaniels” rule starting next season.
  • The League is changing its hiring guidelines so teams can actually sign head coaches that are still involved in playoff action.
    • Rather than having to rely on a verbal commitment until the end of that team’s run.

• Just when you though ESPN had found rock-bottom in terms of content when it broadcast the American Cornhole League on Monday night, the NFL Network says “hold my beer”.
  • The NFL Network has reached a deal to broadcast 11 games of the American Flag Football League between June 29 & July 19.
    • Featured coaches are Terrell Owens & Michael Vick.
  • On the subject of the ACL, check out their webpage. Naturally, it’s sponsored by Johnsonville Brats.
    • It looks like I owe e-sports an apology – there are lesser things that qualify as “sports”.
      • But they do have conferences & badges.

Finally, farewell Matt Forte.

https://t.co/DqIf5X7zIu pic.twitter.com/4PzGZNNdgM

— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) February 28, 2018

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Islanders at Habs – 7:00PM | Sportsnet
  • Red Wings at Blues – 8:00PM | NBCSN
  • Flames at Avalanche – 9:30PM | Sportsnet1
• NBA:
  • Raptors at Magic – 7:00PM | TSN
  • Warriors at Wizards – 8:00PM | ESPN
  • Rockets at Clippers – 10:30PM | ESPN / TSN
• NCAA:
  • Mississippi at Kentucky – 7:00PM | ESPN2
  • Pittsburgh at Notre Dame – 7:00PM | ESPNU
  • Villanova at Seton Hall – 8:30PM | FS1
  • Houston at SMU – 9:00PM | ESPN2
  • Florida State at Clemson – 9:00PM | ESPNU

Don’t forget – the Combine starts Friday. SO MANY OUT DRILLS!