Vikings’ Justin Jefferson is highest-paid non-QB in NFL history; another MLB gambling scandal

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Good morning everyone, but especially…

JUSTIN JEFFERSON AND THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS

There’s a new, richest non-quarterback contract in NFL history, and it’s hard to find anyone more deserving. Justin Jefferson agreed to a four-year, $140 million extension that includes $110 million guaranteed and more than $88 million at signing.

You shouldn’t need statistics to prove Jefferson’s incredible career, but Only in casehere they are:

• The production: Jefferson’s 98.3 receiving yards per game is on pace for most in a career in NFL history. The current brand belongs to Calvin Johnson at 86.1.
• No empty stats: Since entering the NFL in 2020, Jefferson’s 0.43 expected points added per target ranks third in the NFL (min. 100 targets), behind only Brandon Aiyuk It is Tee Higgins.
• The quarterback’s best friend: According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Jefferson has 40 more receptions than expected (based on various factors such as defender positioning, depth of target, etc.), most in the NFL since 2020 .

This last point means a lot considering Minnesota is transitioning from Kirk Cousins for first round rookie JJ McCarthy and/or Sam Darnold. Completing Jefferson, 24, by 2028 is just one of many reasons why the Vikings were crushed this offseasonwrites Cody Benjamin.

The wide receivers as a whole are also happy. Jefferson ($35 million per year) is one of five wide receivers making more than $28 million per year. Four of those five signed their contracts this offseason. That means CeeDee Cordeiro, Ja’Marr Chase, Brandon Aiyuk It is Tee Higgins they will probably be the next to receive big payouts. Furthermore, agent Drew Rosenhaus suggested Mount Tyreek It is looking for more money in Dolphins after Jefferson’s compromise.

Honorable mentions

And it wasn’t such a good day for…

TUCUPITA MARCANO

Priests field player Tucupita Marcano It is under investigation by MLB for allegedly violating the league’s gambling policyan MLB spokesperson confirmed to CBS Sports.

• Marcano, 24, is accused of gambling in Pirates games while he was on Pittsburgh’s injured list last year. If he is found to have broken the rules, he will face a lifetime ban.
• Marcano joined the Padres as an amateur free agent in 2016 and debuted with San Diego in 2021. He was traded to Pittsburgh in 2021 and played for the Pirates in 2022 and 2023.
• He returned to the Padres in November 2023, but has not played in any games this season due to a torn ACL.
• Four minor league players were also accused of betting on MLB games.

MLB players can legally bet on non-Diamond sports, but cannot bet on any level of baseball or softball. Those who bet on diamond sports face a one-year ban for the first offense and a lifetime ban if they bet on their own team.

Gambling scandals have marred the still-young MLB season. In March, Ippei Mizuhara — Shohei Ohtaniformer interpreter of – was accused of stealing more than $16 million from Ohtani to pay off gambling debts with an illegal bookie. Mizuhara faces up to 33 years in prison. David Fletchercurrently a Bravos minor league player, is being investigated for placing bets with the same betting agent. Neither Mizuhara nor Fletcher are accused of betting on baseball.

RJ Anderson has a Complete History of Baseball Betting Scandals.

Gambling scandals are not limited to baseball, of course, and have become more prevalent recently with the rise of legalization of gambling. Since the beginning of 2023, in addition to the scandals above…

The Supreme Court struck down sports gambling bans in 2018.

Not so honorable mentions

NBA Finals Expert Picks: Our Team Is Divided

It may not be the NBA Finals matchup we were hoping for – at least on one side of the bracket – but it’s shaping up to be exciting.

From the West we have an offensive supernova, an absolute force, a superstar of the highest order taking to the biggest stage for the first time in Luka Doncic. From him Independents supporting cast, led by a rejuvenated Kyrie Irvingcommercial term acquisitions PJ Washington It is Daniel Gafford and newbie surprise (even for yourself) Derek Lively II there is nothing to splash about. Dallas is in its first final since 2011.

Outside the East, we have the Celts, who are no strangers to postseason success. Over the past eight seasons, Boston has won more playoff games than anyone else, but is still searching for its first title since Doctor Riossquad led presenting Kevin Garnet, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and an emerging Rajon Rondo beat the Lakers In 2008. Jayson Tatum It is Jaylen Brownthe pillars of this era of Boston hoops still lead the charge, but Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Vacation It is Derrick White complement one of the best teams we’ve seen in a long time.

Doncic can stake another claim to world’s best status. Brown and Tatum can finally complete the biggest task of a successful but incomplete era and answer all the remaining questions. There’s plenty of intrigue, drama and great basketball to come.

That’s why our experts are exactly divided on their choices. Sam Quinn likes Dallas.

• Quinn: “If the Thunder and Timberwolves struggled to get to the rim against Dallas, I think Boston will too, and I’m not going to bet on them making enough close triples to win this series that way. A healthy Porzingis could offer your offense enough space and versatility to swing this thing around, but until I see what he looks like on the floor in a high-leverage moment, I’m just not going to believe he’s in the kind of shape he’s in. it would need to be for Boston to win this series.

Meanwhile, Colin Ward-Henninger stayed with Boston.

• Ward-Henninger: “So for me, this series comes down to which team will sustain excellence most consistently. Despite having a path to the Finals paved in gold, the Celtics have given us no reason to believe they won’t continue to be the juggernaut we’ve seen all season. Most importantly, they have a versatile defensive roster seemingly designed to make life hell for players like Doncic and Irving.”

We’ll have a lot more in the coming days, so stay tuned!

WNBA Power Rankings: Sun’s suffocating defense puts them in first place

Let’s look at some numbers from Sun8-0 season start:

• Seventh WNBA team to start 8-0
• Five games since the best start to the season (2016) Lynx started 13-0)
• Best defensive rating in the WNBA this season (89.1)

But here’s my favorite: The Sun already has two games allowing 50 points or less this season, the first team with multiple such games in a season since 2008. They are the first team to do so multiple times in the first eight games since O 2001 Cleveland Rockers.

So yeah, it’s no fun playing Sun. Add five double-digit scorers to the mix and Connecticut is an easy decision at the top. Jack Maloney’s WNBA Power Rankings.

1. Sun
2. Freedom
3. Aces
4. Lynx
5. Storm

Cowboys Legend Larry Allen, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Dies at 52

Hall of Fame offensive lineman Larry Allena long-time supporter of Cowboys and one of the most decorated strikers of all time, died suddenly on Sunday while on vacation in Mexico with his family. He was 52 years old.

• Allen, drafted by Dallas in the second round in 1994, played a dozen seasons with the Cowboys and the final two years of his career with the 49ers.
• The career accolades are staggering: 11 Pro Bowl selections, six first-team All-Pro selections, a Super Bowl ring and selections to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 1990s and 2000s All-Decade Teams.
• He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013, two years after being inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

At 6-foot-4 and 335 pounds, Allen was an incredible athlete who played every position on the offensive line except center throughout his marvelous career, opening holes for the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith. Strikers rarely stand out, but Allen was an exception, destroying defenders, running alongside or faster than players much smaller than him and lifting jaw-dropping amounts of weight.

Bryan DeArdo classifies Allen as a top-10 player – and best offensive lineman – in Cowboys history.

What we will watch on Tuesday

Twins at Yankees7:05 pm on TBS
Freedom in the sky8pm on NBA TV
USWNT x South Korea8pm on truTV
Mercury in Storm10pm on CBS Sports Network