2017 salary cap currently pegged at $166-169 million
On the surface, the salary cap seems to be an objective, unambiguous formula. In reality, the specific team-by-team spending limit is finalized via back-and-forth negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Players Association.
For 2017, the final number will be announced soon, since each team must be in compliance with it by March 9. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the cap currently is expected to be in the range of $166 million to $169 million.
Last year, the cap was $155.27 million. In 2015, the cap was $143.28 million. The year before, $133 million. In 2013, it was $123 million.
Prior to that, the cap was going up much more slowly; in 2012, the cap was $120.6 million per team.
The end result, assuming the low end of the currently projected range for 2017, is a total increase of 37.6 percent in only five years. Which means a lot more money for teams to spend — and a lot more money for players to make.
Report: Bears not expected to tag Alshon Jeffery again
There’s no doubt Alshon Jeffery has talent, and hasn’t had the best supporting cast around him lately. But it doesn’t appear the Bears are willing to invest more than $17 million for a year to make sure he stays.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Bears are not expected to use the franchise tag again on the wide receiver.
This one is practically #asexpected, mostly because Jeffery hasn’t been very good the last two years. He’s missed 11 games with a combination of injuries and a PED suspension, and he’s barely topped 800 yards in each of them.
After totaling 2,554 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns the two years before, he seemed poised to break the bank. But it appears he’ll get a chance at the market now.
There should still be plenty of interest in the 27-year-old Jeffery, but it appears the Bears aren’t willing to pay a premium price for one more season of him.
SEC Leads - 66 players in 2017 NFL Scouting Combine!
The SEC will be well represented at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine…BIG TIME!
The SEC had 66 players invited to the annual showcase for top college football players entering the draft – the most of any one conference. Behind the SEC, the ACC has the second most with 60, while the Big Ten has 51. The Pac-12 has 47 and the Big 12 has 18.
Among SEC schools, Alabama and LSU have the most invited players with 10. Texas A&M comes up next with nine, while Florida and Arkansas each have eight apiece.
Georgia has 1 player going – WR Isaiah McKenzie
Only South Carolina had no players invited to the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.
NFL.com released the full list of invited players Monday, though it was later removed.
Pelicans: 0-3 With DeMarcus Cousins
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, 118-110. Anthony Davis scored 38 points. DeMarcus Cousins had
31 points, 10 rebounds and was called for his 20th technical foul of the season. Cousins is facing his second mandatory suspension of the season, unless this latest tech is rescinded like two others this season.
Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook had another triple-double, going off for 41 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. He even fouled out Cousins with a huge dunk late in the game.
The Pelicans are now 0-3 since acquiring Cousins from the Sacramento Kings. New Orleans is 3.5 games out of the 8th seed and the Timberwolves, uber-sensitive Mavericks, Blazers, Kings and Nuggets are all ahead of them.
For Los and his beloved Spurs...
Spurs are 88-37 in rodeo road trips since they began in 2002-03 .704 win pct on rodeo trips .694 in all other games under Gregg Popovich.
Report: Andrew Bogut Likely To Join Cavs After Buyout
The Dallas Mavericks veterans who are getting out of town are apparently all about Cleveland.
Center Andrew Bogut is the latest, with Mavericks sources reportedly indicating that he will likely join the Cavaliers once he’s bought out by the Philadelphia 76ers, where he was traded on Thursday.
Bogut’s buyout is expected to be just a matter of time. The Houston Rockets were also said to be interested, but it makes sense that the veteran center prefers Cleveland, as they offer an easier path to the NBA Finals and possibly another ring.
If the move does happen, Bogut would be the second veteran who spent the year with the Mavericks to wind up in Cleveland to end the season.
JaVale McGee's Mother Rips Shaq: "You Cyberbullied My Son!"
JaVale McGee‘s mother is FURIOUS at Shaquille O’Neal – calling for “Inside the NBA” to fire Shaq for blasting her son on TV and social media.
It’s the latest in a bitter feud between Shaq and McGee — a feud that started years ago when Shaq started mocking the Golden State Warriors player in his Shaqtin’ a Fool segment on “Inside the NBA.”
Now, with tensions at an all-time high after Shaq WENT IN on McGee again last week — on TV and on social media — JaVale’s mother (an ex-WNBA star herself) says O’Neal crossed the line.
“He cyberbullied my son,” Pamela McGee told The Undefeated … “Totally inappropriate. Shaquille needs to lose his job or be suspended. The NBA needs to make a stand.”
For his part, Shaq says HIS mother is also getting involved — and told him to cut the crap as well.
“I have orders from the top to leave it alone,” O’Neal said … “My mama.”
Shaq says his mother told him, “Stop this silliness. Leave him alone” … so he listened.
“That’s the end of the beef. You won’t be hearing about it from my side anymore. Mama has spoken.”
Inside The $100,000 Gift Bag Oscar Nominees Take Home
From Business Insider:
The “swag bag” given to Oscar nominees has become a regular part of the awards for years now. The company Distinctive Assets puts together “Everyone Wins” bags for major nominees in the best actor, best actress, best supporting actor, best supporting actress, and best director categories.
The items for the 2017 Oscar nominees total over $100,000 in value and include a wide assortment of both luxury and everyday products — from destination trips to ChapStick. Plus chocolates, jewelry, skin cream, and the more uncommon products like a pelvic exercise tracker and a vaporizer.
Here’s everything we checked out in the 2017 “Everyone Wins” gift bag that Oscar nominees will take home:
• Children’s book “Curlee Girlee”, which empowers girls to love themselves for who they are.
• Hand-dipped chocolate from Chubby Chipmunk.
• A limited edition pelvic floor exercise tracker and app from Elvie.
• An underarm patch from Dandi which prevents sweat marks and and protects clothes.
• Hydroxycut Platinum.
• Foot cream from Medice.
• A boardgame called “Watch Ya’ Mouth.“
• A massage mat from SweetCheeks.
• Plates from Slimware.
• A rest-rite sleep positioner which will help stop your partner from snoring.
• A piece of fine art from Reian Williams.
• Skincare products from Lizora.
• Nitro-Tech Crunch protein energy bars from MuscleTech.
• A pendant and brooch pole star constellation from Namira Monaco.
• A jar of pecans from the National Pecan Shellers Association.
• A 10-year supply of Oxygenetix foundation and moisturizer.
• Personal in-house sommelier Lelañea Fulton from The Loving Somm will help advise on perfecting any nominee’s wine collection.
• Stud earrings from Park and Buzz.
• 10 personal sessions with celebrity trainer Alexis Seletzky.
