Because, dear Commentists, this is my last Open Thread before we yield the week to the esteemed King Hippo for all things Madness.

Editor’s note: This is to remind you of DFO’s Bracket Challenge!

DFO Bracket Challenge

Group Name:  DFO Brackets

Password:  Dickjoke

Link:  http://games.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2018/en/group?groupID=2250147

Allow me to share with you the “how to join” tutorial put together by some pigeons discussing whether to eat gum off the street:

It’s just that simple! It’ll be Madness, I tell you.

MADNESS!

NFL News:

• Free agency negotiations officially started at 4:00ET today.
  • Signings can’t take place until after 4:00ET Wednesday, the official start of the 2018 League year.
  • The scariest factoid – some teams are so desperate to land Kirk Cousins they are considering making their offers “fully guaranteed”.
    • In advance, the Vikings gave Drew Brees a call, leading to palpitations by a different Drew.

• Notable releases today:
  • Actual:
    • Tamba Hali – from the Chiefs
    • Sean Smith – from the Raiders
      • because he’s going to jail for a year for a felony count of “assault with great bodily injury”
        • he tuned up his sister’s ex-boyfriend, to the point where “doctors inserted a metal plate and screws underneath Woods’ right eye. He also underwent reconstructive surgery on his left eye socket to repair five fractures”.
  • Expected:
    • Orlando Scandrick – from the Cowboys, at his request
    • Adrian Peterson – from the Cardinals
    • Ndamukong Suh – from the Dolphins

• An actual trade – the Bills send T Cordy Glenn & their 21st pick in the first round to Cincinnati for the Bengals 12th pick in the first round.
  • Leading to speculation the Bills might try and move up in the draft to top-5 & take a QB.

• Richard Sherman said he chose the 49ers out of “vengeance”.
  • Peter King has “inside info” on how the deal with the Niners went down.
    • PK wants you to know that Sherman “spent four hours on Saturday afternoon negotiating his own contract with no agent”. He seems shocked that a neg- … colo- … (black) player might be able to negotiate his own contract after researching every other CB contract in the NFL.
      • Why, it’s almost like Richard Sherman might have a degree from Stanford.

Did someone say, “vengeance”?

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Vegas at Flyers – 7:00PM | Sportsnet
  • Blues at Ducks – 10:00PM | Sportsnet
• NBA:
  • Spurs at Rockets – 8:00PM | ESPN / Sportsnet1
  • Heat at Trail Blazers – 10:30PM | ESPN / Sportsnet1
• Paralympics:
  • Alpine Skiing; Biathlon; Sled Hockey (U.S. vs. South Korea) – 9:00PM | NBCSN
• WWE:
  • Monday Night Raw – 8:00PM | USA / Sportsnet360
    • They’re announcing Kid Rock for the WWE “Hall of Fame” tonight.
      • I can’t believe they beat the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on that one.

Like I said, Hippo’s got your evenings covered for the rest of the week. So, I’ve got more time to research alcohols for DFO University. ALES VS. LAGERS – WHO YA GOT?!