NFL News:

• Combine idiocy:
  • The Bengals met with, and somehow didn’t turn off, Joe Burrow on Wednesday.
    • Partaking in the interview on the team’s side were owner Mike Brown, head coach Zac Taylor, offensive coordinator Brian Callahan and others involved with the Bengals combine scouting.
    • Nowhere does it ask his opinion on Skyline chili.
  • The Raiders informed TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock when they interviewed him that he had 37 campus parking tickets from his time at TCU.
    • He didn’t know, and said they just must have taken the money out of his student account.
    • At least they didn’t ask if his mother was a prostitute, or if he preferred the company of men.

• Dreamboat idiocy:
  • Apparently, the Chargers, Raiders and Colts have met with Brady’s agent.
    • They can’t talk with Brady directly since he’s still under contract until the league year expires on March 12.
  • He hasn’t met with the Patriots yet, because they are letting him see what value a 43 year-old free agent has on the open market before they make their offer.

• The Giants have cut LB Alec Ogletree, saving $8.25 million against the cap.
  • He had one year remaining on his contract, so it will cost the Giants $3.5 million.
    • Because the contract was both back-end loaded & not guaranteed.

• Former Seahawks backup QB Trevone Boykin was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to beating his ex-girlfriend.
  • The assault occurred in March 2018, resulting in his immediate cut by the team.
    • Occurring just a year after a March 2017 arrest on charges of public intoxication and misdemeanor marijuana possession after a car in which he was a passenger struck a tavern, hitting seven people on the sidewalk.
  • He will be eligible for parole in a year.

Well, the CBA negotiations sure have the players offering opinions.

• Aaron Rodgers:

My thoughts. # pic.twitter.com/VOmCSNiI4f

— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) February 26, 2020

• Richard Sherman, on Aaron Rodgers’ thoughts:

Health and Wellness of our men is always the most important aspect. There is no price you can put on that and that is why I Voted No. I respect the Men that have been part of this discussion and stood up for their locker rooms. https://t.co/mL0Yj3E6d9

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) February 26, 2020

One of the key details that is coming out is that the owners have structured the new CBA to make it harder to hold out for a new contract.

• The daily training-camp fines would become mandatory for players operating under their second contracts.
  • Teams could no longer ‘excuse’ the fines once the player reports.
  • Fines likely also went up in the new agreement (but haven’t been released yet).
• In addition, the player will lose an accrued season toward free agency by failing to show up for camp, or by leaving camp, for more than five days.
  • This would eliminate the current rule that says the holdout player will only lose a year if they fail to show up 30 days before the first regular season game.

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL: (all Canadian teams are regional broadcasts)
  • Stars at Bruins – 7:30PM | NBCSN / Sportsnet
• NBA:
  • Knicks at 76ers – 7:00PM | Sportsnet1
  • Trail Blazers at Pacers – 8:00PM | TNT
  • Lakers at Warriors – 10:30PM | TNT / TSN3
• NCAA:
  • Indiana at Purdue – 7:00PM | FS1
  • Wisconsin at Michigan – 7:00PM | ESPN2
  • Temple at Wichita State – 8:00PM | ESPN
  • Ohio State at Nebraska – 9:00PM | ESPN2
  • Arizona at Southern California – 10:00PM | ESPN
• Futbol:
  • CONCACAF Champions League Soccer:
    • Los Angeles FC vs. León – 10:00PM | FS1

Seamus has you tomorrow night. I’ll be by on the weekend with some pre-recorded mumblings, and then back in the saddle on Monday.