Comfortable Wednesday, everybody, and comfortable final day of August! Earlier than we get to the information, I encourage you to check out our Fantasy Football Today Draft-A-Thon from 6 p.m. to midnight tonight on CBS Sports activities HQ and YouTube. It is the right option to put together to your fantasy draft, and it is elevating cash for an important charity: St. Jude Kids’s Analysis Hospital. What could possibly be higher?
Okay, now let’s get to the information.
Good morning to everybody however particularly to…
CHAUNCEY GARDNER-JOHNSON AND THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Eagles have pulled off one more spectacular transfer to cap an offseason that is been filled with them. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, the do-it-all defensive again who spent his first three seasons in New Orleans, is headed to Philadelphia as part of a trade with the Saints. Listed below are the total particulars:
Eagles get:
- DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
- 2025 seventh-round choose
Saints get:
- 2023 fifth-round choose
- 2024 sixth-round choose
The transfer got here partly as a result of the Saints and Gardner-Johnson had been having hassle reaching an extension and in addition simply minutes after the Eagles launched beginning security Anthony Harris. Gardner-Johnson, who has performed each cornerback and security, is predicted to take over Harris’ function, and he needs to be a strong improve.
- Final season, Gardner-Johnson tied for the crew lead with three interceptions and had two sacks.
- He additionally allowed a 59.2 passer ranking because the closest protection defender, a quantity barely higher than his new teammate, Professional-Bowl cornerback Darius Slay.
For that cause, the Eagles earned an A- in NFL expert Jared Dubin’s trade grades. The transfer additionally continues a extremely productive offseason for Philadelphia that additionally included trading for A.J. Brown, signing Haason Reddick and signing James Bradberry.
Honorable mentions
And never such a superb morning for…
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NFL PLAYERS WHO GOT CUT
The ultimate roster lower day of the preseason has come and gone, and almost 900 gamers who began this week with a job not have one. Some will return to the follow squad or discover a new residence, however for a lot of gamers, that is the top of the road. A dream they have been working towards for a lot of their life is over.
Do not get me fallacious: There was loads of pleasure on Tuesday, too. Those that had been on the roster bubble and made it have fulfilled that dream. However they’re closely outnumbered by the gamers whose futures are unsure. Among the many most notable cuts from Tuesday:
There is a lengthy checklist of gamers who carved out strong NFL careers after being lower. Corridor-of-Famers akin to Johnny Unitas, Kurt Warner and Cris Carter are amongst them, although they’re true exceptions. Even when there are not any future Corridor-of-Famers on this yr’s bunch, there are plenty of potential contributors now looking for their next opportunity, writes NFL skilled Chris Trapasso. That features…
- Trapasso: “In some sure NFL circles, Duke Johnson‘s been criminally underrated and underutilized his whole professional profession. He hasn’t obtained greater than 100 carries in a single season since his rookie marketing campaign, and since that first yr within the NFL, he is averaged a wholesome 4.4 yards per carry and greater than 9 yards per seize. This preseason in Buffalo, Johnson regarded spry on his option to a 4 yards-per-carry common, and he scored twice on the bottom.”
You possibly can see all the cuts from across the NFL here.
Not so honorable mentions
Cameron Smith amongst six extra gamers becoming a member of LIV Golf 🏌
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Win your first main one month, go away for a brand new league the following. That is what Cam Smith — the reigning British Open champion and No. 2-ranked participant on the earth — has determined to do. He is among the many newest six players leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf. Here is the total checklist, together with their world rating.
- Cam Smith (2)
- Joaquin Niemann (19)
- Harold Varner III (46)
- Cameron Tringale (55)
- Marc Leishman (62)
- Anirban Lahiri (92)
It is one more spectacular haul for LIV. Niemann is just 23 and Varner III is a fan favourite. Leishman has six profession PGA Tour wins. But it surely’s Smith, a star coming into his prime, who’s the crown jewel. Not only is it a huge loss for the PGA Tour, but the move makes sense, notes golf skilled Kyle Porter.
- Porter: “Smith is the reigning Match of Champions winner, Gamers champion and Open Championship winner. The primary two of these occasions are among the many 13 elevated tournaments for the PGA Tour in 2023, and the defending champion will not be at both. … Along with his Open win this summer season, Smith is exempt into all the foremost championships for at the very least the following 5 years, and LIV will get the newest main winner so as to add to its steady of gamers that already contains Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka.”
These newest additions will make their LIV debuts in Boston beginning Friday.
Mike Tomlin stays mum on Steelers‘ beginning quarterback 🏈
There’s one quarterback battle nonetheless left unsolved — at the very least publicly — and Mike Tomlin isn’t budging on who will be behind center when the Steelers open their season on the Bengals two Sundays from now. The battle is between free agent addition Mitchell Trubisky and first-round rookie Kenny Pickett.
Mason Rudolph was additionally within the battle, however that is not the case, and Pittsburgh has fielded trade offers for him (although they plan to maintain him).
- Trubisky acquired many of the reps with the starters all through the preseason and accomplished over 70% of his makes an attempt with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
- Pickett additionally performed properly, finishing over 80% of his passes and throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions
Whereas Tomlin hasn’t declared a starter publicly, he did not rule out that it has been determined internally. He added, “We… will disclose it to you at our leisure, to be fairly sincere with you.”
MLB Free Agent Rankings: Decide a straightforward No. 1, however who’s subsequent? ⚾
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We’re someday away from the ultimate full month of the MLB common season, however earlier than we get there, let’s take a giant bounce forward and preview the upcoming free company class. This year’s group is headlined by loads of stars, and our MLB guru R.J. Anderson has ranked his top 20. Spoiler alert: It is no query who’s No. 1.
- Anderson: “1. Aaron Decide, OF, Yankees — He is within the midst of presumably the best stroll season in historical past, a marketing campaign that would quickly double because the league’s first 60-homer effort in 20 years. … He is not a one-year surprise, both. The one particular person to build up extra WAR than Decide throughout the Pandemic Period is Paul Goldschmidt — and he would possibly win the Nationwide League Triple Crown. Decide cannot change his age or his damage historical past, however he is carried out every thing inside his energy (actually) to spice up his inventory. He needs to be rewarded handsomely for it come winter.”
Talking of Goldschmidt, his teammate is available in second on this checklist. Here is the remainder of the highest 5.
- 2. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals
- 3. Trea Turner, SS, Dodgers
- 4. Jacob deGrom, RHP, Mets
- 5. Carlos Correa, SS, Twins
Coming off a wierd, lockout-interrupted offseason, this yr’s Scorching Range could possibly be completely scorching, and R.J.’s list reveals simply how deep the free company pool could possibly be.
What we’re watching Wednesday 📺
⚽ Serie A, Midday and a pair of:30 p.m. on Paramount+
🏈 Fantasy Football Right now Draft-A-Thon, 6 p.m. on CBS Sports HQ and YouTube
🎾 Serena Williams vs. No. 2 Anett Kontaveit, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Solar at Sky, 8 p.m. on ESPN 2
🏀 Storm at Aces, 10 p.m. on ESPN 2
