Friday Facts You Might Have Missed
NFL
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay has decided to stay on board after saying last week that he would take some time to decide his future. The Rams finished at a disappointing 5-12 this season as the defending 2021 Super Bowl Champs.
The Baltimore Ravens plan to begin negotiating a long term contract with quarterback Lamar Jackson despite the knee injury he suffered this season. If the 2 sides can not agree on a deal the team is expected to put a franchise tag on the 26-year-old.
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel made the announcement on Friday that rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson will make the start in Sundays wild card game against the Buffalo Bills. Backup Teddy Bridgewater is questionable, as he has been battling a dislocated pinky on his throwing hand.
Wild Card Weekend - Saturday - 4:30pm : Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49er's : FOX, 8:15pm : Los Angeles Chargers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars : NBC
NBA
The Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 115-103. The Nuggets were missing Nikola Jokic, who was managing a right wrist issue. Jamal Murray stepping up scoring 24 points and Michael Porter Jr. contributed 22. This was Denver's 5th straight win giving them sole possession of 1st place in the western conference.
The Golden State Warriors routed the San Antonio Spurs 144-113, in a game that shattered the regular season attendance record of 62,046. Jordan Poole scored 25 points, Donte DiVincenzo contributed 22 with a final attendance count was 68,323.
MLB
1st baseman Pete Alonso and the New York Mets narrowly avoiding arbitration by coming to an agreement on a 1-year $14.5 million contract for the 2023 season. Alonso hit .271/.352/.518 with 40 home runs and a league-leading 131 RBIs. The 28-year-old was an All-Star for the 2nd time in his career and also finished 8th in National League MVP voting.
Just moments after the Alonso deal came through, star 1st basemen Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays also agreed on a 1 year, $14.5-million contract for the 2023 season. Guerrero last season hitting .274/.339/.480 with 32 homeruns, 97 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases in a total of 160 games. The 23-year-old also earned an All-Star berth for the 2nd straight season, and his first Gold Glove award.
The Pittsburgh Pirates and veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen will reunite after agreeing to a 1-year contract worth $5 million. The 36-year-old did receive the same offer from the Minnesota Twins and even more from the New York Mets, but ultimately making the decision to go back to where he spent 9 years of his career, where he landed on the All-Star team 5 times and brought in NL MVP award in 2013.
The Minnesota Twins and right-hander Chris Paddack have come to an agreement on a 3 year contract extension. The deal is worth a guaranteed $12.5 million and he could also make upward of $2.5 million in performance bonuses. </