March 22, 2022

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MLB clubs spent a record $3.3 billion on free agents this offseason, surpassing the previous record of $2.4 billion in 2016. Opening Day is in two weeks.

Buccaneers Bring Back Leonard Fournette for 3 Years, $21M

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

Tom Brady is back [[link removed]] — and now one of the key weapons in his last Super Bowl run has re-upped.

On Tuesday, the Bucs re-signed RB Leonard Fournette to a three-year, $21 million ($9M guaranteed) contract worth a maximum of $24 million, per multiple reports.

Signing a 27-year-old to a multiyear deal could be a dubious prospect — an RB’s average career length is 2.6 years, the shortest [[link removed]] of any position.

But the market value and Fournette’s production could justify Tampa’s move.

The $7 million AAV is tied for 10th in the league among RBs.In 2021, Fournette set a career high in yards per attempt (4.5) and was top-10 in the league in rushing TDs (8).Fournette led all NFL RBs in receptions per game (4.9) and recorded a career-high two receiving TDs.During the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV run, he led the playoffs in rushing yards (300), rushing TDs (3), and RB receiving yards (148).

Tampa shored up its receiving corps following Brady’s unretirement, signing Chris Godwin ($60M) and former Falcon Russell Gage ($30M) to three-year pacts to complement Mike Evans.

The only pieces still missing: TE Rob Gronkowski, who remains unsigned, and O-line reinforcements — G Ali Marpet retired, and G Alex Cappa signed with the Bengals.

The Buccaneers are currently second-favorites (+750*) behind the Bills (+650*) for their second Lombardi Trophy in three seasons.

UConn Women Extend Historic Sweet 16 Streak

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

Like death and taxes, you can always count on Connecticut for a deep run in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

On Monday, the 2-seed Huskies edged Central Florida 52-47 in the second round to extend their record Sweet 16 streak to 28 consecutive seasons.

Geno Auriemma has dominated the landscape since taking over the program in 1985, thanks to a steady stream of future WNBA superstars.

Under Auriemma, UConn has won 11 national championships (most recently in 2016) and reached 21 Final Fours — both women’s records.The eight-time Naismith Coach of the Year was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.In 2021, Auriemma signed a five-year extension with a $600,000 base salary and an additional $2.2M for speaking, consulting, and media obligations.

This season has been a challenging one, as Paige Bueckers missed more than two months with a knee injury. But in her absence, projected top-10 pick Christyn Williams (14.5 PPG) and freshman Azzi Fudd (12.4 PPG) kept the Huskies’ title hopes alive.

With Bueckers back and UConn four wins from a championship, the Huskies have the second-best odds (+300*) behind South Carolina (+105*).

UConn will face Indiana on Saturday (2 p.m. ET) in Bridgeport, Connecticut, for an opportunity to advance to the Elite Eight for the 27th time in school history.

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First-Year HC Ime Udoka Has Led Celtics’ Resurgence

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

In his first season, Ime Udoka has the seventh-best odds (+3000*) to win Coach of the Year, and the Celtics have the seventh-best odds (+1200*) to win the Finals. Both feel terribly miscalculated.

On Dec. 29, Boston was the 9-seed fighting to maintain a play-in spot. After a fourth straight win on Monday, Boston is the 4-seed in the East, just 2.5 games back of conference-leading Miami.

As an assistant, Udoka made his reputation [[link removed]] as a defensive guru, but he’s also getting the most out of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, with whom he developed [[link removed]] a strong relationship as an assistant with Team USA this past summer.

The Celtics are first in defensive rating (105.8), OPP PPG (103.8), OPP FG% (43%), and OPP 3PT (33.8%).In their last 26 games, the Celtics are 22-4 with 13 wins against playoff teams.On Sunday, Tatum and Brown became the first pair of Celtics to score 30+ points in back-to-back games since Larry Bird and Kevin McHale in 1988.

In November, Boston was reportedly [[link removed]] talking to Philadelphia about potentially breaking up the duo and flipping Brown for Simmons.

With Tatum and Brown jelling, the league’s best defense, and Udoka at the helm, the C’s ceiling is perhaps its highest since they made the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals.

Ime Udoka earned $3.5 million in five full seasons as an NBA player, and while his current salary is unknown, he’s likely [[link removed]] made more in his first season as Celtics head coach.

What is certain is that Udoka is exceeding expectations in Boston.

Making Headlines

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

Golf: Three-time Masters champ Phil Mickelson will not play in this year’s edition for the first time since 1994; the six-time major winner has come under fire for recent remarks about the breakaway Saudi-backed Super Golf League.

NFL: OLB Za’Darius Smith signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Vikings worth up to $47 million with incentives, per NFL Network [[link removed]]. Also: In the wake of trading QB Matt Ryan to the Colts, the Falcons signed Marcus Mariota to a two-year deal worth a reported $18.8M.

MLB: The Blue Jays and 3B Matt Chapman reached agreement on a two-year, $25M extension, according to ESPN [[link removed]].

NBA: Nets coach Steve Nash announced Monday that Ben Simmons has a herniated disk and will remain out indefinitely. Also: the Trail Blazers officially announced that Damian Lillard will be sidelined for the rest of the season.

Tennis: Rafael Nadal will be sidelined 4-6 weeks with a rib injury; the French Open begins on May 22.

Today's Action

NHL

07:37 PM

Senators (+175) at Islanders (-215)

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NBA

07:30 PM

Hawks (-155) at Knicks (+135)

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NHL

07:07 PM

Blues (+130) at Capitals (-150)

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*All times are EST unless otherwise noted.

*Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See [[link removed]] for details.

Written by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]], Chris Kuc [[link removed]], Anthony Puccio [[link removed]]

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