NFL lowers salary cap 8% from 2020, to $182.5 million
Like Lamar Jackson under pressure from the pass rush, let the scrambling begin.
The NFL’s salary cap will be $182.5 million per team in the upcoming season, a drop of 8% from 2020. The league’s loss of revenues due to the coronavirus pandemic caused the first decrease in the cap since 2011, which followed an uncapped season.
Free agency begins next Wednesday, though the “legal tampering” period starts Monday.
The NFL is close to agreement on extensions of its broadcast contracts, but those deals will not affect the 2021 season. At least the current cap is $2.5 million higher than projected last month.
The Rams currently are $41 million beyond the cap. The Eagles were over by about $35 million and the Saints by $33 million.
On the other side of the ledger, the Jets, Patriots and Jaguars had the most money available, ranging from $65 million to $67 million.
COWBOYS LEAD COMPENSATORY DRAFT PICKS WITH 4 >> The Dallas Cowboys have been awarded the maximum four compensatory picks in April’s NFL draft, while the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers will get three apiece.
The NFL announced that there will be 32 such picks this year. Carolina, Chicago, Kansas City, the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota,
New England, New Orleans and Philadelphia get two apiece. Baltimore, the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Tampa Bay and Tennessee will have one each.
The league also is giving five special compensatory selections to four teams — the 49ers (two), Rams, Ravens, and Saints — for promoting equal employment opportunities and an inclusive workforce.
Those selections are made at the end of the third round. San Francisco’s is for the Jets hiring Robert Saleh as head coach.
Baseball RANGERS IN LINE TO BE FIRST TEAM BACK TO FULL CAPACITY >>
The Texas Rangers could have a full house for their home opener next month after opening their new 40,518-seat stadium without fans in the stands for their games last season.
On the same day that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s order took effect allowing businesses in the state to operate at 100% capacity, Rangers president of business operations and CEO Neil Leibman said that the team hopes to be at that for the April 5 opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Local officials would be able to impose “mitigation strategies,” such as reduced capacity, if virus hospitalizations exceed 15% of all hospital capacity in their region over certain periods.
Even with his order, Abbott has encouraged the public to continue practicing social distancing measures and wearing masks, though they are no longer mandated.
REDS STAR VOTTO OUT AFTER POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST>> Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto is out for an indefinite period after testing positive for COVID-19 at spring training, the team said.
The Reds put Votto on the injured list and he gave the team permission to announce he was sidelined because he had tested positive for the virus.
Reds manager David Bell said there were “no indications of any other issues with our team.” Players are tested at least every other day.
College football
KANSAS RESIGNS AFTER MILES DEBACLE >> Kansas athletic director Jeff Long resigned less than two days after the school mutually parted with Les Miles amid sexual misconduct allegations dating to the football coach’s time at LSU and one day after Long vowed he would lead the Jayhawks’ search for a replacement.
Kurt Watson will serve as the interim athletic director as the school searches for both an AD and football coach.
Hockey
ESPN, NHL ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT >> The National Hockey League and ESPN are together again: The two sides announced a sevenyear agreement beginning next season that includes four Stanley Cup Finals, the NHL All-Star game and comprehensive streaming rights.
Under the new agreement, the Stanley Cup Final will air on ABC in four of the seven years, beginning next season.