Month: March 2023

One day before the franchise tag deadline, the Seattle Seahawks announced they have come to terms with quarterback Geno Smith on a contract extension

Seattle and Smith agreed to terms on a contract initially reported at $105 million over three years with $52 million guaranteed in 2023, with more details sharing that the new deal has a base value of $25 million per season, with $40 million fully guaranteed at signing. Geno will reportedly earn $28 million in the first year, and has $30 million in incentives.

Smith, a second-round pick of the New York Jets in 2013 out of West Virginia, went 8-8 in his rookie season, and then 3-10 in 2014. Smith has also spent time with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers before settling in Seattle in 2019. Geno made just three starts in his first three seasons with the Seahawks but took over the starting spot following the trade of Russell Wilson.

In 2022, Smith completed 69.8% of his passes for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, with his completion percentage ranked first in the league. Reno took the Seahawks to the playoffs last season, and earned his first career Pro Bowl bid, as well as winning NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

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Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is in discussions with the New York Jets regarding a potential off-season trade.  According to the NFL Network, the Packers gave permission to Rodgers to speak with the Jets, with a report stating: “If he still wants to play and he and the Packers agree it’s time for him to play somewhere else, the Jets appear to be a realistic option.”  Rodgers is also contemplating a return to the Packers, a trade elsewhere, or retirement; he said last week on the Aubrey Marcus Podcast that he will “make a decision soon enough.” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters last week that the team would like to have “some answers” from the quarterback by the start of free agency — March 15.

The 39-year-old Rodgers is set to make a $59.5 million guaranteed this upcoming season and is under contract until 2024.   He signed a three-year, $150.8 million contract extension last March, and is set to receive a guaranteed $59.5 million this season.

Rodgers completed 64.8% of his throws for 3,695 yards, 26 scores and 12 interceptions in 17 starts this past season.

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Red Sox infielder Justin Turner excited Monday’s spring training game against the Tigers after suffering hit to the head during the first inning.  During Turner’s first at-bat of the game, a pitch from Tigers right-hander Matt Manning ran inside and struck Turner directly in the head.  Turner went to the ground in pain, and was eventually taken to the clubhouse by Boston’s medical staff. Blood could be seen on his face where he was hit by the pitch.

The 38-year-old veteran player was transported by ambulance to a hospital in the nearby Fort Myers, Fla., area. The exact nature of his injuries remain unclear, and the Red Sox have not provided details, saying in a statement: “He’s receiving treatment for soft tissue injuries, and is being monitored for a concussion He will undergo further testing, and we’ll update as we have more information. Justin is stable, alert, and in good spirits given the circumstances.”

Turner signed with Boston in the offseason with a two-year, $21.7 million deal, after nine years with the Dodgers. Turner was expected to serve as the Red Sox’s designated hitter in 2023, while also occasionally playing infield.

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Police in Colorado are investigating Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant after he appeared to be brandishing a firearm while at a Glendale, Colo., nightclub, seen in an Instagram Live video that was posted Saturday morning, hours after scoring 27 points in the Grizzlies’ 113-97 loss to the Nuggets on Friday night. Glendale police are reportedly investigating whether the 23-year-old Morant broke state gun laws — even though Colorado is an open-carry state, it is illegal to possess a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. People around Morant were seen drinking alcohol in the Instagram Live, but Morant himself was not was not.

The NBA also opened an investigation into Morant over the weekend, and the Grizzlies announced he is expected to miss at least two games, with no timeline set to return. Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said that the team takes the incident “very seriously” and it is an “ongoing healing process.”

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