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Good morning! Watch out for Scoot coming down the lane.
Narratives
What’s up with Lamar?
Sunday night, the Ravens will play the Bengals in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Lamar Jackson, the former league MVP and longtime franchise cornerstone, probably won’t suit up.
We might never see him in a Ravens uniform again, either. What gives?
- Jackson sprained his PCL in Baltimore’s Dec. 4 games against the Broncos and hasn’t played since. It’s Jackson’s second straight season marred by injury.
- He’s also up for a new contract next season, and it’s unclear whether he and the Ravens can agree on terms. He reportedly turned down a $250 million contract offer ($133 million guaranteed) last offseason, hoping for a deal closer to the fully guaranteed contract Cleveland gave Deshaun Watson. Jackson has acted as his own agent.
- If Baltimore wants to keep him another season, it can. The Ravens still have a franchise tag to use, and we’re talking about a former MVP still in his prime. Seeing Jackson in a different uniform would say a lot about how much they’ve valued Jackson — or how poorly negotiations went.
Jackson, 26, is still so young by modern quarterback standards. Just one year older than … reigning college national champion Stetson Bennett.
Something to watch this offseason. For now, Jackson still looms large over this weekend’s playoff matchup with the Bengals. If he can’t go, the Ravens will try to beat the red-hot Bengals with either Tyler Huntley or Anthony Brown. They’ll have to rely on another stout defensive effort if they have any shot of winning.
Good luck.
Feedback Loop
You’re certified Fields believers
Nearly 83 percent of you think Justin Fields is the starting quarterback for the Bears next season. Congratulations to him for instilling such confidence against the No. 1 pick. Bryce Young received 13 percent of the vote, while CJ Stroud got 4 percent.
Thanks as always for voting.
Mock Draft SZN
Don’t sleep on Scoot
Sam Vecenie makes his triumphant return with a new 2023 NBA mock draft today, and it’s no surprise to see Victor Wembanayama at the top. Barring something major, we can write that one down in ink.
But let’s talk about Scoot Henderson, as sure a No. 2 picks as there’s ever been. Vecenie notes Henderson would’ve been No. 1 overall in either the 2020 or 2022 draft.
- The young point guard is as athletic as Ja Morant and Derrick Rose, with a preternatural feel for the game. Scary. Just watch this poster dunk from the other night. He’s 18.
- Henderson is impressive off the court, too. Mike Vorkunov has a great profile on the young Henderson that’s worth your time. Henderson has already adjusted to life in the G League, trademarked his personal motto and started his own AAU program.
- I loved this quote from G League Ignite GM Anthony McClish: “I can understand why you got Victor No. 1 on your board, but that’s your conscience that you have to live with if you pass on [Scoot].”
Wembanyama might be the best prospect since LeBron James, but we should be excited to see Scoot play, too.
After no. 2, though, the questions begin. See the rest of Sam’s mock for answers.
Briefs
PaytonWatch has started
Expect to see former Saints coach Sean Payton’s name dominate the news cycle in the coming weeks. Payton, who stepped away from the Saints after 15 years, is the market’s clear-cut best candidate and has already received significant interest from teams with openings. Denver, Arizona and Houston reportedly already have interviews lined up.
Jeff Howe broke down each opening — plus potential openings. Payton will have his pick of vacancies, most likely, although there is a catch: Whichever team hires him must trade for him, as the coach is under contract in New Orleans until 2024.
Dodgers trade for SS
Los Angeles missed out on every elite free-agent shortstop this offseason, so trading for the Marlins’ Miguel Rojas yesterday made sense. Rojas debuted with the Dodgers in 2014 and landed in Miami, ironically via trade after that rookie season.
Correa speaks
You have to credit the Twins for persistence. They stayed in contact with Carlos Correa’s camp through two megadeals for the star shortstop, making sure they didn’t squander their chance to re-sign him. He said yesterday in his reintroduction press conference that his “heart was (in Minnesota).” Dan Hayes has a great story about Correa’s “euphoric” return to the Twins.
Pulse Picks
・Damar Hamlin is home from the hospital, just nine days after going into cardiac arrest on the field in Cincinnati. Superhero stuff. He’ll continue rehab at home.
・It’s going to be very, very hard to pick Eastern Conference All-Stars.
・Who’s the NFL Coach of the Year? It’s a tight race.
・Frankie Muniz — of “Malcolm in the Middle” fame — is going to be a professional race car driver. Seriously.
・David Beckham’s son, Romeo, is playing lower-tier soccer in England. Jay Harris has a fun story.
・No college football program has won three AP titles in a row. Georgia already seems hungry to become the first. They even ate wings during Monday’s title game.
・Trent Williams and Nick Bosa are close because they kept beating each other in practice — something neither is used to.
・Division I football in Chicago? Sign us up.
・Justin Jefferson is a “franchise changer” in Minnesota, ready to join a long legacy of elite wide receivers. Alec Lewis profiles the young star.
(Photo: Mitch Stringer / USA Today)
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