The Cleveland Browns and defensive end Myles Garrett have engaged in contract discussions, according to sources, setting the stage for a potential mega-extension for the 2017 No. 1 overall pick.
Garrett has two years left on his rookie contract after the Browns picked up his fifth-year option. He could follow Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, a fellow member of the 2017 draft class who saw his contract extended after three NFL seasons.
The Browns have several core players they might need to pay in coming years — including cornerback Denzel Ward, quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Nick Chubb — so they can get ahead of a pricey pass-rush market now by extending Garrett.
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After 10 sacks in as many games last year, Garrett is widely viewed as one of the game’s most feared pass-rushers.
But in 2019, Garrett served a six-game suspension for hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with his own helmet during an end-of-game skirmish on Nov. 15. Garrett apologized for the hit, calling it a “terrible mistake” that was “selfish and unacceptable.”
The NFL reinstated Garrett in February, and Garrett alleged in an interview with ESPN’s Mina Kimes that Rudolph had called him a racial slur. Rudolph has vehemently denied that claim, and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin aggressively defended Rudolph in an interview with ESPN’s First Take, saying he was “hacked off” by Garrett’s comments that neither team corroborated after the fight.
“We do see Myles as a long-term member and pillar in our organization,” general manager Andrew Berry told 105.7 the Fan Baltimore last month. “Great player, great person. Obviously, he did make a mistake last year that he’s learned from. But our confidence in and faith in Myles has not wavered and we’re looking to seeing what he does this year and certainly for years to come.”
Chicago’s Khalil Mack tops all pass-rushers with an average of $23.5 million per year, followed by Dallas’ DeMarcus Lawrence ($21 million) and Kansas City’s Frank Clark ($20.8 million).
Garrett’s agent is Bus Cook, who also represents free-agent pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney, a player Cleveland attempted to sign this offseason. Opposite Garrett is veteran Olivier Vernon, who’s due $15.25 million in base salary this season.
Paris Saint-Germain mainstays Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva will leave the club when their contracts expire this summer, director Leonardo said Saturday.
“Yes, we’re coming to the end. It was a very difficult decision to make,” Leonardo said, according to Goal’s Robin Bairner. “Maybe we’re wrong … there’s never a perfect moment.”
Cavani, the club’s all-time leading scorer with 200 goals, was on the verge of joining Atletico Madrid in January. A deal fell apart when PSG reportedly demanded €20 million for the pending free agent.
Silva, who joined PSG in 2012 from AC Milan, has been linked with a return to the Rossoneri.
Cavani and Silva are expected to stick around until the end of PSG’s Champions League campaign, which is expected to resume sometime in August. The French government ordered the end to the Ligue 1 season due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving PSG as champions.
Cavani fell down the pecking order after the arrival of Mauro Icardi on loan from Inter Milan. PSG have since made Icardi’s move permanent for a reported €60-million fee.
The Uruguayan striker has made just 12 starts across all competitions this term.
Silva has served as club captain for several seasons. He’s won seven Ligue 1 titles, four French Cups, and five French League Cups.
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh voiced his frustrations Thursday over the guidelines sent to the 32 NFL teams outlining procedures for the full reopening of their practice facilities, which were closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’ve seen all the memos on that, and to be quite honest with you, it’s impossible what they’re asking us to do. Humanly impossible,” Harbaugh said in an interview with 105.7 The Fan. “So, we’re going to do everything we can do. We’re going to space, we’re going to have masks. But, you know, it’s a communication sport. We have to be able to communicate with each other in person. We have to practice.”
The protocol requires physical distancing in the locker, meeting and weight rooms as well as cafeterias. Harbaugh said he is unsure how those standards can be realistically applied everywhere.
“I’m pretty sure the huddle is not going to be 6-feet spaced,” Harbaugh said. “Are guys going to shower one at a time all day? Are guys going to lift weights one at a time all day? These are things the league and the [players’ association] needs to get a handle on and needs to get agreed with some common sense so we can operate in a 13-hour day in training camp that they’re giving us and get our work done. That’s the one thing, you can tell by my voice, I’m a little frustrated with what I’m hearing there. And I think they need to get that pinned down a little better.”
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Unlike the top-four and top-six races, which come with spots in Europe, there’s no actual reward for finishing in the top half of the table.
Still, a top-10 finish serves as a point of pride for clubs, and while it’s not one of the more popular markets, there’s certainly value to be found in it for bettors.
Here’s how the middle of the Premier League table looked when the season was suspended.
And here are the odds for clubs to secure a top-10 finish.
CLUB
ODDS
Wolverhampton
-3500
Tottenham
-2000
Arsenal
-1500
Sheffield United
-1200
Everton
-140
Burnley
+190
Crystal Palace
+200
Southampton
+700
Newcastle
+1500
I’m of the belief that the top-nine teams will remain in the top nine through the end of the season. Wolves and Sheffield United are backed by excellent managers in Nuno Espirito Santo and Chris Wilder, and that will keep them competing for a spot in Europe next season. Tottenham will receive a massive boost by the return of Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son, and Moussa Sissoko, aiding in their top-four push, while Arsenal have a game in hand over all the clubs below them and still have four matches remaining against the bottom-six teams.
That leaves one spot up for grabs, currently shared by Burnley and Crystal Palace. The prices on these two clubs are about the same, with the Clarets sitting at +190 and the Eagles at +200, but they have contrasting outlooks.
Burnley are excellently managed by Sean Dyche, who’s a terrific motivator and tactician. There’s cohesion in the team with little turnover in personnel, and that familiarity will aid in the club’s form upon the restart. Where Burnley have typically struggled is against the “big six” sides. The Clarets are 1-2-7 in games against the “big six” this season but have just two such matches remaining, while four of their final nine fixtures are against the bottom-six sides, with whom they are 5-2-1 against this season. Expect a strong finish from Dyche’s side, as the club provides excellent value to keep its place in the top half of the table at +190.
Should the Clarets falter, don’t expect Palace to take advantage. Roy Hodgson’s side has overachieved considerably this season. Jordan Ayew has been serviceable up top, but there simply aren’t enough goals on their side. The Eagles have been the beneficiaries of some timely scoring, but with a lack of goalscorers on their side, that’s not something they can keep relying on.
Palace also have a daunting fixture list ahead of them, with seven of their last nine matches coming against top-10 sides, including Liverpool (away), Leicester (away), Chelsea, Manchester United, Wolves (away), and Tottenham. The Eagles are likelier to drop to 14th by season’s end than they are to break into the top half of the table.
Everton are strong candidates to leapfrog both Burnley and Palace and finish inside the top 10, with oddsmakers pegging them as favorites to do so at -140. The Toffees have experienced something of a resurgence since Carlo Ancelotti took over, posting a 5-3-3 record in the league under the Italian. That being said, their remaining schedule poses a number of hurdles with three of their next four matches coming against Liverpool, Leicester, and Tottenham. If they can get through those relatively unscathed, there’s a clear path to a top-10 finish, but I’m not comfortable backing the Toffees at such a short price.
Sitting a bit further down the table are Southampton, who are especially interesting at +700. The Saints have bounced back impressively following a miserable start to the campaign in which they lost eight of their first 12 matches, and there’s a lot to like about this side under Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Southampton had the league’s worst home record when the season was suspended and will be one of the clubs least effected by playing in an empty stadium. Their toughest remaining fixtures are against Arsenal, Everton, and the two Manchesters, but there’s nothing especially daunting about those matches. If they can claim even six points from those four fixtures, the rest of their schedule maps out well for them to break into the top 10.
Best bets: Burnley +190, Southampton +700
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
