The Cleveland Browns have made cornerback Denzel Ward the highest-paid player in his position in NFL history. Ward signed a five-year extension with the Browns worth $100.5 million with $71.25 of that guaranteed, per Adam Schefter.
Browns are signing Pro-Bowl CB Denzel Ward to a 5-year, $100.5 million contract extension that includes $71.25 million guaranteed, per source. At age 24, Ward is the highest-paid CB in NFL history.
Tory Dandy of CAA Sports, who negotiated the contract, confirmed the deal to ESPN
Ward is now set to earn $20.1 million per year on average, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. He narrowly beat out Los Angeles Rams’ All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey, who took to Twitter to show some. love to Ward.
I been waiting on somebody else to touch that 100 club & you DEFINITELY DESERVE IT @denzelward … congrats
Ward has accumulated an effective career, standing as one of only four players with 10-plus interceptions and 50-plus passes defense since being drafted in 2018. He’s earned trips to the Pro Bowl in 2018 and 2021 while also posting elite Pro Football Focus grades, owning the fourth-highest coverage mark among corners since 2018 (minimum 1,000 snaps) and allowing the sixth-lowest completion percentage in his career among corners with 100-plus targets since 2018.
Ward will look to help get the Browns back in the playoff mix in the loaded AFC with a new contract under his belt.
Joel Embiid loves to talk trash while on the court, and it now appears coaches aren’t safe from his antics either. During the game two big win for Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers over the Toronto Raptors, Embiid had an in-game conversation with Raptors’ head coach Nick Nurse.
You couldn’t tell what during the game, but afterward, Embiid revealed what was said with Nurse’s back-and-forth.
“He’s a great coach obviously, what he has been able to accomplish,” said Embiid of Nurse. “I’ve always been a big fan. But I told him, respectfully told him to stop b—-ing about calls.”
Embiid finished the game with 31 points, with 12 coming from the free-throw line. He attempted 14 free throws for the game. It seems Nurse didn’t like the number of times Embiid went to the line in the game.
“If you’re going to triple-team somebody all game, they are bound to get to the free-throw line, or if you’re going to push them off and try to hold them and all that stuff, they’re bound and get to the free-throw line,” Embiid said. “So I feel like every foul was legit and probably should have been more, honestly.”
The Raptors head back to Toronto down 2-0 in their first-round matchup with the 76ers. Maybe Nurse’s complaining to Embiid and the refs way benefit the Raptors in game 3, have Embiid more motivated to keep the pressure on.
The Golden State Warriors are putting the Western Conference on notice with their outstanding play in the first two games of their matchup with the Denver Nuggets.
The Warriors have taken a commanding 2-0 lead. They have neutralized defending league MVP Nikola Jokic and the entire Nuggets team with a new death lineup with Jordan Poole playing the role of former Warrior Kevin Durant.
The full unit took the court with 6:02 remaining in the second quarter, with Golden State trailing 43-35. By the time the halftime whistle sounded, the Warriors had led, 57-51. The new death lineup, which has yet to receive a proper nickname, launched a 22-8 run in half a quarter, and the way they did it should terrify the Nuggets, but whichever teams get in their way in upcoming playoff rounds.
“It’s a passer’s paradise for me,” Green said after the Game 2 win. “You’ve got those three guys [Curry, Thompson and Poole] out there at the same time, for me as a passer, that’s heaven. … You can’t ask for anything more on the offensive end, any more options than that.”
Steph Curry came off the bench and shot. Curry shot 12-for-17 (71%) from the field, the highest field goal percentage of his playoff career. It’s the first time in his career he scored 30-plus points in fewer than 25 minutes (regular season or playoffs), even though it was the 48th time he played 25 minutes or less.
The only player in the shot clock era to score 30+ points in 23 minutes or less of play during a Playoff game:
The Boston Celtics took game one of their first-round matchups against the Brooklyn Nets on a buzzer beating layup by Jason Tatum. The battle between Kyrie Irving and the Celtics fans could have gotten lost in such a great game.
After hitting a difficult shot over Jaylen Brown late in the third quarter, Irving can be seen flipping the middle finger to fans in the crowd.
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 17, 2022
After the game, Irving talked about how he felt about the Celtics Fans and how they showed a lack of respect for him and the game of basketball.
“Look, where I’m from, I’m used to all these antics and people being close nearby,” Irving said after scoring a team-high 39 points in 42 minutes. “It’s nothing new when I come into this building what it’s going to be like — but it’s the same energy they have for me, I’m going to have the same energy for them.
“And it’s not every fan, I don’t want to attack every fan, every Boston fan. When people start yelling ‘p—y’ or ‘b—-‘ and ‘f— you’ and all this stuff, there’s only but so much you take as a competitor. We’re the ones expected to be docile and be humble, take a humble approach, f— that, it’s the playoffs. This is what it is.”
For decades, Boston has been a tough place to play for African American players. Irving was a Celtic for two seasons, and during that time, it was all love. After signing with the Nets two years ago, the disconnect and animosity started to occur.
“I know what to expect in here,” Irving said after Sunday’s game. “And it’s the same energy I’m giving back to them. It is what it is. I’m not really focused on it, it’s fun, you know what I’m saying? Where I’m from I’ve dealt with so much, so coming in here you relish it as a competitor. … This isn’t my first time at TD Garden so what you guys saw, what you guys think is entertainment, or the fans think is entertainment, all is fair in competition.
“So if somebody’s going to call me out on my name, I’m gonna look at them straight in the eye and see if they really ’bout it. Most of the time they’re not.”
Irving put up amazing numbers despite the drama and appears to be willing to be the villain in Boston. Game 2 is set on Wednesday night, right back in Boston.
Errol Spence Jr put on a boxing clinic in front of his hometown in Dallas at AT&T Stadium against Yordenis Ugas to add another belt to his collection. Spence fractured Ugas’ left orbital bone en route to a 9th-round stoppage victory.
Ugas was gamed all night and proved a great opponent for Spence in his first fight in two years.
“I didn’t have any doubts at all. I believed in myself 100% and trained 100%,” Spence said. “I didn’t want a tune-up fight or someone I knew I could beat. I wanted someone who would bring out the best in me and Ugas did that.
“The nutritionist helped a lot. I lost the weight and they did a great job. It was just my work in the gym. I felt like my timing was off [early in his return] but I just kept working. I think that was due to the long layoff and I was super psyched to get in the ring and push the pace.”
Spence added Ugas’ WBA welterweight title with the WBC and IBF titles he already owned with the victory. Spence only needs Terence Crawford’s WBO title to become the undisputed 147-pound champion.
“Everybody knows who I want next; I want Terence Crawford next,” said Spence. “That’s the fight that I want; that’s the fight everybody else wants. Terence, I’m coming for that motherf—ing belt.”
For years, the culture and boxing world have begged for this fight. Shorty after Spence’s victory, Crawford expressed his level of interest in making that fight happen.
Lenard “Charlamagne Tha God” Mckelvey has declared plans to expand his media empire by creating new graphic novels and comic book series lines. Charlamagne Tha God has enlisted the help of famous creative and comic book pro Kevin Grevioux to pen an original graphic novel project called Darkstorm, published by Charlamagne’s Black Privilege Publishing, a Simon & Schuster brand. In addition, Charlamagne and Grevioux have collaborated on original comic book series with AWA Studios, an independent creator of daring and relevant stories from the world’s most exceptional artists, authors, and crafters.
“If you know anything about me, then you know how much I love comics. I’m the guy who got Wolverine holding a microphone tattooed on his arm when he was 17 because of my love of comics. Partnering with Kevin Grevioux to present this new universe, filled with Black and Brown GOD Level superheroes is a dream come true. A lot of the black superheroes I loved growing up were street level and that’s cool but I want to see Omega Level superheroes that look like me and people around me and that’s exactly what we are giving you with Darkstorm and The Vindicators,” said Charlamagne. “I AM Blessed and excited to continue the important work with my Black Privilege imprint on Simon & Schuster and begin partnerships with comic book veterans like Bill Jemas, Axel Alonso and the whole team at AWA Studios. It’s collaborations like this that help to build an empire and I’m grateful to have found good ones.”
Charlamagne and Grevioux are working on original IP that will be adapted into graphic novels and comics. Grevioux is a seasoned entertainment industry veteran with decades of experience as a writer, producer, director, actor, and comic book expert. He is most known for creating the Underworld film franchise and just made his directorial debut with his screenplay King of Killers, based on his graphic novel. He graduated from Howard University. Grevioux brings a wealth of experience to the relationship, having written for Marvel and DC Comics.
Kevin Grevioux 1
“I feel blessed to be working with a guy that is as successful as Charlamagne, a one-of-a-kind cultural icon with global reach,” said Grevioux. “He also has an incredible genre IQ for science fiction, comics, and fantasy. So, I truly believe that he is the absolute perfect partner for these ventures. The world’s really not ready for what we have in store.”
Charlamagne and Grevioux’s first collaboration will be a hallmark superhero epic series called Darkstorm, published and distributed under Charlamagne’s imprint, Black Privilege Publishing. With art by KEN LASHLEY, the comic novel will tell the story of a PTSD-affected and hesitant superhero who is portrayed as an anti-hero by everyone except those who know him best. Black Privilege Publishing’s objective to promote Black and brown perspectives will be reflected in the stories recounted in this initiative.
Lashley added, “When you get the opportunity to work on some great characters you jump at the chance. l am drawn to strong characters of color, and there are not many in mainstream comics, but Darkstorm is just that. It’s also created by Kevin Grevioux who is a very talented writer and created another powerful character in The Blue Marvel, so it’s a win-win… it’s very exciting.”
Vindicators Cover Art
In addition to the Black Privilege graphic novel series, Charlamagne has signed an agreement to develop original comic book series with AWA Studios, the rising comic entertainment firm headed by former Marvel execs Bill Jemas and Axel Alonso. The first series under creation, The Vindicators, is a new and fascinating take on a diverse superhero team, with an uber-realistic origin story that is accessible even against the backdrop of a dystopian future, albeit a gloomy one.
The 2022 WNBA draft returned to live presentation format after going virtual for two years. The Atlanta Dream selected Kentucky standout Rhyne Howard, number one in the draft.
Howard fills an immediate need for the Dream, which went 8-24 last season. Howard is an elite scorer who can shoot from outside and get buckets in the paint.
The Indiana Fever selected NaLyssa Smith with the second pick in the draft. The Baylor standout averaged 22 points and 15 rebounds last season. The Teas native won the Wade Trophy as the nation’s best player last season.
The Washington Mystics selected Shakira Austin from Ole Miss with the third pick. Austin averaged 15 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks per game last season.
She averaged 15.2 points per game and nine rebounds and is a two-time All-SEC forward. Austin also helped Ole Miss get their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007.
The Fever used the fourth pick to select forward Emily Engstler of Louisville. A transfer from Syracuse, the Queens, N.Y. native was a finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award as the nation’s best small forward and a semifinalist for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year award. The senior led the ACC in steals (2.7 spg), was third in rebounding (6.7 RPG), and was an All-ACC First Team and All-Defensive Team selection.
The New York Liberty selected Nyara Sabally of Oregon with the fifth pick. The two-time All-Pac-12 selection was a finalist for the 2021-22 Katrina McClain Award, leading Oregon in scoring (15.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.8 rpg).
That rounds out the top five picks of a very deep draft. The WNBA season tips off on May 6, with training camps opening later this week.
After a controversial season filled with injuries and COVID-19 mandates, the Brooklyn Nets clinched the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. With the 7th seed secured, the Nets will host the Cleveland Cavaliers for the right to play the 2nd seeded Boston Celtics.
The loser of the Nets vs. Cavaliers game will host the winner of the Atlanta Hawks vs. Charlotte Hornets game in a win-or-go-home game Friday night, with the victor in that game entering the playoffs against the No. 8 seed and taking on the Miami Heat starting next weekend.
The Nets finished the season winning four straight games to avoid playing the play-in tournament on the road. With a win on Tuesday, the Nets will begin a quest to be the first 7th seed to reach the NBA Finals. With a healthy Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the top seeds in the Eastern Conference way do not feel secure with their seedings.
After Los Angeles Lakers played their regular-season finale, it was a matter of when, not if, they would let head coach Frank Vogel go. Well, it appears we have an answer.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers are expected to fire Vogel as soon as Monday. The report came after their 146-141 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday to close out the regular season.
Frank Vogel has coached his final game for the Lakers, a decision that’s expected to be shared with him as soon as Monday, sources tell ESPN. Lakers’ search expected to be lengthy and expansive with no clear initial frontrunner.
After the Lakers’ win, Vogel talked to the media as the Wojnarowski report was Tweeted out. “I haven’t been told s— and I’m going to enjoy tonight’s game, celebrate what these young guys did in terms of scratching and clawing and getting back in this game and getting a W, and we’ll deal with tomorrow, tomorrow,” he told reporters during his postgame media availability.
Frank Vogel addresses reports he has coached his last game as head coach of the Lakers pic.twitter.com/QxXiIfyibW
The Lakers failed to make the playoffs, let alone the play in-game. The team is only two years removed from winning the 2020 NBA Championship. Since then, it was a first-round exit last season and a complete failure of a season this time around. Clearly, the organization is painting Vogel as the scapegoat when the championship roster was scrapped for older veterans who couldn’t hang all season long.
Next for the Lakers’ organization is to begin an extensive such for the team’s next head coach. That next head coach will have to find a way to get the best out of a core that includes LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook.
Captain Marvel is headed to the Fast & Furious franchise. Brie Larson has been announced as the newest cast member of the high-speed, action franchise. With production for Fast & Furious 10 underway, series star Vin Diesel hit Instagram and revealed Larson’s inclusion.
“Yeah yeah yeah… you see this angel over my shoulder cracking me up, you say to your self ‘that’s captain Marvel.’ Clearly there is love and laughter in this image. What you don’t see however, is the character you will be introduced to in Fast10. You have no idea how timeless and amazing she will be in our mythology. Beyond her beauty, her intellect… her Oscar, haha is this profound soul who will add something you might not have expected but yearned for. Welcome to the FAMILY Brie.”
excited doesn’t even begin to explain how I feel about joining the Fast family thank you for welcoming me in with so much kindness and excitement, @vindiesel.
Previously, Vin Diesel took to Instagram to try to convince The Rock to put their differences aside and reprise his role for the final Fast & Furious movie.
In an interview with CNN, Johnson said that Diesel’s post was “manipulative,” and he did not like how he brought up his children or the late Paul Walker in the post. He added that he spoke with Diesel in private and said that there “was not a chance” that he would return for the final F&F installment.
“I was very surprised by Vin’s recent post. This past June, when Vin and I actually connected not over social media, I told him directly – and privately – that I would not be returning to the franchise. I was firm yet cordial with my words and said that I would always be supportive of the cast and always root for the franchise to be successful, but that there was no chance I would return. I privately spoke with my partners at Universal as well, all of whom were very supportive as they understand the problem.
“Vin’s recent public post was an example of his manipulation. I didn’t like that he brought up his children in the post, as well as Paul Walker’s death. Leave them out of it. We had spoken months ago about this and came to a clear understanding. My goal all along was to end my amazing journey with this incredible ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise with gratitude and grace. It’s unfortunate that this public dialogue has muddied the waters. Regardless, I’m confident in the ‘Fast’ universe and its ability to consistently deliver for the audience, and I truly wish my former co-stars and crew members the best of luck and success in the next chapter.”
thank you for welcoming me in with so much kindness and excitement, 
)