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Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
NCAA president weighing tournament expansion to 76 teams
March Madness could soon become even bigger, if Charlie Baker has his way. Speaking Thursday during the Big 12 spring meetings, the NCAA president said he sees value in expanding the NCAA Tournament to potentially 76 teams with hopes of coming to a decision on the matter in the next few months. "We've had good conversations with CBS and WBD (Warner Bros. Discover)," Baker said. "Our goal here is to try to sort of get to either yes or no sometime in the next few months because there's a lot of logistical work that would be associated with doing this. "If we were to go down this road, you just think about the opening weekends, who has to travel the longest, it gets complicated." The tournament field expanded from 65 teams to 68 in 2011, creating the First Four round that pits the two lowest-seeded at-large teams against one another as well as the two lowest-seeded conference champions for a chance to reach the traditional 64-team bracket. Baker said he has discussed growing the field to 72 or even 76 teams. As the NCAA president put it, the current format contains flaws, noting that even with 68 teams in the field, there are still some who believe their teams were snubbed. "The point behind going from 68 to 72 or 76," Baker said, "is to basically give some of those schools that were probably among the 72, 76, 68, 64 best teams in the country a way into the tournament." Kansas coach Bill Self said Big 12 coaches favor expansion. His conference featured seven tournament entrants in 2025, compared with 14 boasted by the SEC. "There was a little bit that was brought forth and the consensus among the coaches, even though it was very little, would be in favor of that," Self said. "I don't know if you could make it where it was totally equitable all the way across the board for everybody. Certainly, there's going to be outliers on every situation." --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Browns sign first-round DT Mason Graham
Cleveland Browns first-round draft pick Mason Graham signed his four-year rookie contract. Graham's representation told multiple outlets on Tuesday that the deal was fully guaranteed and is worth $40,874,191, which is slightly more of the rookie scale ($40,806,872), per Spotrac. The contract includes a $26.4 million signing bonus, per Spotrac, and the standard fifth-year option. The Michigan defensive tackle was selected by the Browns with the fifth overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Cleveland entered the draft with the No. 2 pick and moved back in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, acquiring a first-rounder in 2026 as part of the package. Graham, who was the Rose Bowl MVP in Michigan's win over Alabama, totaled 45 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2024. In 37 games at Michigan, Graham had 107 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, three passes defended and one forced fumble. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Aaron Rodgers offers hint at joining Steelers in jab at Bears
Aaron Rodgers may have tipped his hand as to the identity of his next NFL employer. While making an appearance at a Mike Stud concert in Austin, Texas on Friday, Rodgers was asked by a young fan whether he'd play for the Chicago Bears. Her question was met with a bit of laughter from the audience, given Rodgers' previous claim that he "owned" the rival Bears during his time as the star quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. "No, but I believe there's a team that might play in Chicago this year on a road trip," Rodgers said. "I love Chicago, though. Way more than they love me." If one is willing to read into Rodgers' comment, the Pittsburgh Steelers play in Chicago on Nov. 23. The Steelers, of course, long have been rumored to be the eventual landing spot for Rodgers. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were the starters in Pittsburgh last season and both signed free agent deals to play in New York -- Wilson with the Giants, Fields with the Jets. Quarterbacks currently on Pittsburgh's roster are Mason Rudolph, a former Steeler who is returning after a season with the Tennessee Titans, Skylar Thompson and sixth-round draft pick Will Howard. Rodgers, 41, passed for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns with the Jets in 2024, returning from a season-ending Achilles injury suffered in his first game with the team in September 2023. A four-time NFL MVP and 10-time Pro Bowl selection, Rodgers ranks fifth in league history in touchdown passes (503) and seventh in passing yards (62,952). --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Bills DE Joey Bosa injures calf, RB James Cook absent from OTAs
Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa likely will be out until training camp with a calf injury, coach Sean McDermott confirmed Tuesday. McDermott said all players were present for OTAs except for running back James Cook, who is seeking a long-term contract extension. Bosa, 29, signed a one-year, $12.6 million deal with the Bills earlier this offseason following nine seasons, 72 sacks and five Pro Bowl selections with the Los Angeles Chargers (2016-24). Injuries have hampered the star pass rusher in recent years, as he played only five games in 2022 and nine in 2023. Last season, Bosa suited up for 14 contests, recording 22 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles. He generated 19 quarterback pressures and 13 quarterback hits. Cook, 25, also was absent from voluntary workouts last month. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Cook has seen three teammates from his 2022 draft class earn four-year contract extensions this offseason: wide receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Christian Benford. Cook posted his second straight 1,000-yard season in 2024 while also tying the franchise record with 16 rushing touchdowns. In three seasons, he has rushed for 2,638 yards and 20 TDs. Cook publicly has stated his desire to lock up a new contract. In February, he took to Instagram Live and pinned the comment "15 mill year" to the top of the feed, referring to his asking price of $15 million per year. That would make him the third-highest-paid running back behind Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million) and San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey ($19 million). --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
F Alex Condon opts out of NBA draft, returns to Florida
Forward Alex Condon, who played a key role in Florida's run to the national championship, will return for his junior season after telling ESPN on Tuesday that he is withdrawing from the 2025 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-11 native of Australia averaged 10.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 37 games (35 starts) for the Gators in 2024-25. "It's a really good situation waiting for me there," Condon told ESPN. "A great coach with Todd Golden. Teammates I won a national championship with. I have great chemistry with those boys. We have a good transfer class coming in. I expect guys to make a leap. My big man coach Carlin Hartman is returning, so I will keep developing my game with him." The deadline for players to withdraw from the June 25-26 draft and maintain their college eligibility is Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET. Condon is ranked No. 38 in ESPN's latest draft projections. The third-team All-Southeastern Conference selection shot 49.3 percent from the field and 32.8 percent (19 of 58) from 3-point distance this season. He contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals in Florida's 65-63 victory against Houston in the NCAA Tournament final on April 7. "It's a hard thing to do, winning back-to-back," Condon said. "We're not taking it lightly. We need to get together as a team. ... Part of the reason we were so good last season was we got used to playing with each other for two years. We need to continue that. When guys have your back, that's what makes a great team." --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
