Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton answers questions after the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos won 24-10. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) NFL is over; what now?
OK, football is done. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
The next month of the NFL calendar is about contracts and combine. The 2016 officially starts a month from today - March 9 - but there are a lot of moving pieces (including a DeflateGate hearing early in March) about various contracts and salary cap numbers.
Here's a great and detailed breakdown of a lot of the big names http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25475602/agents-take-18-key-nfl-offseason-dates-and-theyre-important who teams will have to make decisions on and the salary cap ramifications.
Beyond that, here are our quick five questions about what happens around the league between now and that official start of the NFL season.
- What does Cam do next? It was far from a good finish to an amazing year for the NFL MVP. The news conference exit and the fumble avoidance has drawn a bonanza of backlash - some deserved; some over the top. His next appearance or chance to speak with the media will be key, and here's thinking he handles it well.
- What does Peyton do? If he stays in Denver, the Broncos will owe him in excess of $19 million, so that seems like a long shot. Does he retire? Hopefully. Does he retire as a Colt? That would be fitting. Does he go to Houston or place X that has a quarterback nightmare? It's possible. (We're still holding out for retiring.)
- Winning is expensive, so who off the Super Bowl teams will be cast-offs? Malik Jackson's days in Denver may be up, that is unless the Broncos would rather keep the defensive tackle over, say, quarterback Brock Osweiler. Carolina will certainly put a franchise tag on Josh Norman, but there likely will be a lot of moves since the Panthers have to shore up the tackle spots.
- Does anything change in the DeflateGate mess? The March 3 hearing is the court of appeals hearing the NFL's plea to overturn the ruling that overturned Tom Brady's four-game suspension. It's hard to see the appeals court siding with the NFL, and in truth, since we're now more than a year removed, we would not be completely shocked if the NFL just quietly let this one fade to black.
- What first-rounder is going to shoot up draft boards? The first name that comes to mind is Braxton Miller, the Ohio State quarterback-turned-receiver who turned heads at the Senior Bowl with his blend of size and athleticism. The big thing to watch in this draft is that the NFL is a copycat league, and a lot of teams - especially those that have to face the Panthers - will be looking for Von Miller-type prospects who can get after the passer. Expect no fewer than eight defensive ends/outside pass rushers in Round 1, and it could be higher than that.
NASCAR changes
There is a news conference scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today at which NASCAR poobah Brian France is expected to announce a charter system for the sport.
The charter system is a way for owners to buy into the sport - and into the field - in a way that helps stabilize the teams financially. This especially helps in terms of investing and selling the teams.
Reports have put the number at 36 charters and even talks of reducing the race field from 43 to 40 this year. Those 36 charter teams are secured a spot in each race.
NASCAR is in a precarious spot moving forward, and anything the sport can do to help team owners seems wise. Sure the big-name guys like Childress and Hendrick and Gibbs are on pretty solid footing, but there are a whole lot of teams out there that need the knowledge of being in the field every week.
As always, NASCAR answers to no one - remember the France's own it as opposed to being commissioners or the like in other leagues and sports - so anything could happen today.
Mocs mean BID-ness
OK, that's nine in a row.
UTC basketball is rolling at a level we have not seen in more than 30 years.
The Mocs are 22-3 and 11-1 in the Southern Conference after last night's overtime win at Mercer http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/college/story/2016/feb/09/mocs-wot-mercer/349152/.
The trends - and balance - are overwhelmingly impressive. (And the last two wins against Furman and at Mercer are especially impressive considering the varying styles they offer. Side note: Mercer is going to be a tough out in the tournament.)
As for first-year coach Matt McCall, well, how's this for a stat: The all-time leader in college basketball winning percentage is Sam Burton, who went 210-42 (.833) in 12 years at West Texas A&M from 1921-Among active coaches, Gonzaga's Mark Few (.809), UNC's Roy Williams (.789) and Kentucky's John Calipari (.780) have the top winning percentages in college hoops.
McCall's career winning percentage is a crisp .880.
This and that
- Man, Johnny Football. Something has to change, right?
- Can she whip? Can she Nae-Nae? You bet. This UCLA gymnast hits all the moves in her floor exercise https://www.yahoo.com/news/lit-gymnast-hits-quan-dab-183200104.html.
- A very poor attempt by this Family Feud contestant https://www.yahoo.com/tv/steve-harvey-experiences-the-worst-family-feud-000644959.html.
- Interesting look behind the scenes at the changes to Mike&Mike http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/02/mike-mike-espn-new-set-super-bowl.
Today's question
Happy 29th birthday to Michael Jordan. No, the other one.
Yes, Michael B. Jordan of "Creed" fame celebrates his birthday.
That got us thinking, what's the Rushmore of famous people who happen to be the second-most famous person with that name?
Go.