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Good morning! A 1,600 percent raise, but you get yelled at all the time? We’re listening.
While You Were Sleeping
All aboard the Purdy express
The playoff picture just got Purdy-ed. With some Michael Myers-esque invincibility, the 49ers keep rolling out quarterbacks that just win games. OK, an all-world defense helps, too.
Brock Purdy tossed two touchdowns and was mostly mistake-free last night in calmly guiding San Francisco to its seventh straight win.
Things are looking pretty darn good for the 49ers. They’re 10-4, Jimmy Garoppolo could return in the playoffs — should they need him — and they clinched the NFC West for the third time in the past 10 years. The previous two times ignited Super Bowl runs.
Big Deals
Rodón heading to the Bronx
(Photo: Lon Horwedel / USA Today)
The next big domino in MLB free agency fell last night: The Yankees signed Carlos Rodón, the best left-handed starter on the market this offseason, to a six-year, $162 million contract. He was the top free agent left unsigned as of yesterday.
- The deal is an obvious risk for New York. The 30-year-old has a long injury history — but not a worse one than some of the other top starters who had already signed new deals (Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw).
- He’s expected to slot in as the Yankees’ No. 2 starters behind Gerrit Cole. That’s followed by Luis Severino, Nestor Cortes and Frankie Montas. Best rotation in baseball? Close? If healthy…
The Yankees kept Aaron Judge and got a starter. Left field next?
Career Changes
Why a governor will run the NCAA
The headline was startling yesterday: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker will be the NCAA’s next presidentreplacing Mark Emmert.
Baker was an athlete — averaging a cool 1.6 points per game for the 1977-78 Harvard basketball team. But that has little to do with why he got the job.
For Baker, the job will be a change in a couple of ways. Per Morning Consult, he’s the most popular governor in the US This role is basically getting yelled at all day. The other change? Compensation. Being Massachusetts governor paid $185,000. Emmert made $2.99 million.
Potential Tailspins
Curry to miss time with injury
Steph Curry appears likely to have avoided a truly major injury. The superstar suffered a left shoulder subluxation; Shams Charania reports the injury caused some damage to Curry’s labrum and he will be reevaluated in two weeks.
But it’s not all good. We’ve covered the scary road woes already (2-13!), but with four games left on the current road trip and 10 games total over the next three weeks, it seems like Golden State at 14-15 will be hanging on for dear life just not to slide into a hole. All eyes are on Jordan Poole.
Briefs
Brees joins the Boilermakers
Drew Brees is temporarily returning to football, joining his alma mater Purdue’s staff as an interim assistant coach under new head coach Ryan Walters to help with preparations for the Citrus Bowl. Could more coaching be in his future? Larry Holder writes that the one-time Super Bowl MVP might be the NFL legend most suited to become a coach. Remember: he’s a broadcasting free agenttoo.
The Ravens have a QB
Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley is expected to start Saturday’s game against the Browns. Huntley suffered a concussion in last Sunday’s win over the Steelers. Lamar Jackson has not practiced this week and was ruled out with the PCL injury he sustained in Week 13.
Pulse Picks
(Top photo: Joe Nicholson / USA Today)
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