NFL Nuggets:

• Franchise tag updates:
  • Well, all the fun happened after I put the Open Thread to bed yesterday aboot 2:00PM Best Coast time:  
    • The Cowboys tagged DeMarcus Lawrence – $20 million (2nd time tagged)
    • The Chiefs tagged Dee Ford – $15 million
    • The Seahawks tagged Frank Clark – $17 million
    • The Falcons tagged Grady Jarrett – $15 million
    • The Bucs avoided a tag on Donovan Smith, signing him to a three-year deal worth $41.25 million over three years, with $27 million guaranteed at signing.
  • The deadline for applying the tag to a player was 4:00/1:00PM today.
    • So there were six total applications – the four above, plus Robbie Gould (49ers) & Jadeveon Clowney (Texans).

• Mark Davis must really hate – in order – the City of Oakland, his players, the NFL, Stan Kroenke and the City of Vancouver, because reports are that he is looking to play a preseason game in Regina, Saskatchewan at the home of the Green Riders.
  • His mom probably gave him a £10 note from a recent trip, and he probably thinks it’s cheaper to go to Canada to spend it.
  • He also wants to have joint practices & camp with the Rams.
    • Who themselves are thinking of playing Dallas in preseason in Honolulu.
  • By playing one pre-season game in Canada & their International game in London, that commits the Raiders to the minimum eight games in Oakland.
    • The Canada & London games also reduce the number played on the mixed-use field conditions.

• It appears the Raiders, Broncos & Cardinals are the leading contenders for acquiring Antonio Brown.
  • NFL.com lines up how AB could be a good fit for each team, and gives the Raiders a slight advantage due to having the most cap space available.

• Our prayers have been answered: Marc Trestman is back in organized professional football.
  • All the qualifiers used above means that he is the newest XFL hire.
    • He is the fourth coach hired by the new league, joining Bob Stoops (Dallas), Jim Zorn (Seattle) and Pep Hamilton (Washington DC).

I’ve really got nothing to add to this story from Deadspin, I just think it’s hilarious that a guy got caught blood doping during a doping raid.

It makes for the best “gotcha” photo.

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Hurricanes at Bruins – 7:00PM | Sportsnet
  • Wild at Predators – 8:00PM | NBCSN
• NBA: (on low TSN because curling is on the main channels)
  • Magic at 76ers – 7:00PM | Sportsnet1
  • Rockets at Raptors – 8:00PM | TNT / TSN4
  • Celtics at Warriors – 10:30PM | TNT / TSN5
• NCAA:
  • Wake Forest at Duke – 7:00PM | ESPN
  • Nebraska at Michigan State – 7:00PM | ESPN2
  • Virginia Tech at Florida State – 7:00PM | ESPNU
  • Kentucky at Mississippi – 9:00PM | ESPN
  • Kansas at Oklahoma – 9:00PM | ESPN2
  • Auburn at Alabama – 9:00PM | ESPNU
• WWE:
  • Smackdown – 8:00PM | USA / Sportsnet360
• Futbol:
  • SheBelieves Cup Soccer: U.S. vs. Brazil – 8:00PM | FS1

A fairly heady day for some NFL players. The next big date is Monday, February March 11, when the free agent discussion window opens. CAN’T SIGN UNTIL WEDNESDAY, FELLAS!