NFL Nuggets:

• Trevor Lawrence signed his rookie contract today. 
  • It’s the usual four-year deal rookie-length contract, but worth $36.8 million, with a $24.1 million signing bonus.
    • He will only count $6.7 million against the salary cap this season.
  • According to Spotrac, the Jags are doing that thing the Patriots did for years with Brady’s contract.
    • His base salary starts at $660,000 & rises to a million over the four years.
    • His annual signing bonus is $6,029,725, and he has roster bonuses starting next season.
    • His cap hit rises to $11.7 million by 2024.
  • No word on a fifth-year option, but there likely is & it favours the team, based on the graphic at Spotrac’s site.

Lawrence, of course, is thrilled to get this aspect of his career started.

Gonna give #Duval everything I got. Couldn’t be more proud to represent Jacksonville. Let’s go!!! https://t.co/uGhKxqVkq4

— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) July 5, 2021

• Speaking of the Jags:
  • They, along with the 49ers & Cowboys, have been fined for OTA violations.
    • According to Schefter,
      • The Jaguars were fined $200,000 and coach Urban Meyer $100,000.
        • The Jags were ordered to forfeit two OTA practices during the first week of the 2022 offseason.
      • The 49ers were fined $100,000 and coach Kyle Shanahan $50,000.
        • They were also ordered to cancel the final week of OTAs last month.
      • The Cowboys were fined $100,000 and coach Mike McCarthy $50,000.
        • They were also ordered to forfeit one OTA practice during the first week of the 2022 offseason.
    • There’s no details as to why, but the phrase “CBA violations” came up a lot in the piece & on Schefter’s Twitter page.
  • File this under “That’s My Raiders” as a future installment, or – more likely – a “Very Special Episode”: Raiders TE Darren Waller says he’s willing to mentor Tim Tebow as he learns the position.
    • “If he thinks he can learn from me,” Waller said of Tebow, “then I’d love to help him and help make his transition smoother.”

• Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: Afterschool Special topic Josh Gordon has applied for reinstatement.
  • The NFL has apparently been randomly drug testing Gordon for the past three months, and he is said to have passed all tests.
    • It’s his sixth suspension since the 2013 season.
  • If successful, he would become a free agent.

• Speaking of Very Special Episodes – The NFL has fined Washington $10 million for creating & perpetuating a toxic work environment. 
  • All senior executives, including the Snyders, will take part in training in workplace conduct, covering topics such as bullying, diversity and inclusion, LGBTQ+ issues, microaggression and unconscious bias.
  • And on the apology front,
    • “It is now clear that the (workplace) culture was not what it should be, but I did not realize the extent of the problems, or my role in allowing that culture to develop and continue.”
    • “I can’t turn back the clock, but I promise that nobody who works here will ever have that kind of experience again, at least not as long as Tanya and I are the owners of this team.”
  • On the CYA front,
    • The League didn’t ask for a written report.
      • This is despite the fact that the cost for the report into the organization cost $7 million in legal fees.
      • Lawyers representing the harassed employees are expected to ask the NFL to save all documentation in advance of discovery motions.
    • The theory is that they didn’t want a written report to avoid documentation being leaked.
      • Which is what happened with the Jerry Richardson investigation.
• As always, friend of the site DrawPlayDave has the proper summation:

Finally, this is more of a “social problem film” than Very Special Episode – the Cowboys will be this season’s team on “Hard Knocks”.

• It’s their third appearance.
  • They previously appeared in 2002 & 2008.
• HBO and NFL Films announced Friday that the five-episode season will debut on August 10th at 10:00pm ET.
  • It’s the 16th season, and HBO and NFL Films have an agreement to continue the series through 2024.

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Tampa Bay at Montreal – 8:00pm | NBC / CBC / Sportsnet
    • Game 4 – Lightning are up 3-0
      • Bettman will be in the building.
• NBA:
  • The Finals starts tomorrow night
• Futbol:
  • Copa America 2021: Semifinal
    • Brazil vs. Peru – 7:00pm | FS1 / TSN4/5
• MLB:
  • White Sox at Twins – 7:00pm | ESPN / TSN3
  • Red Sox at Angels – 10:00pm | ESPN / TSN3
• Wrestling:
  • Monday Night Raw – 8:00pm | USA / Sportsnet360

I’m thinking Tampa plans a parade & Montreal prepares for fires.