NCAA barred from enforcing NIL rules
A federal judge on Friday barred the NCAA from enforcing its rules prohibiting name, image and likeness compensation from being used to recruit athletes, granting a request for a preliminary injunction from the states of Tennessee and Virginia in dealing another blow to the association’s ability to govern college sports.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Clifton Corker in the Eastern District of Tennessee undercuts what has been a fundamental principle of the NCAA’S model of amateurism for decades: Third parties cannot pay recruits to attend a particular school.
“The NCAA’S prohibition likely violates federal antitrust law and ha(r)ms student-athletes,” Corker wrote in granting the injunction.
The plaintiffs’ arguments in asking for the injunction suggest that since the NCAA lifted its ban on athletes being permitted to cash in on their fame in 2021 recruits are already factoring in NIL opportunities when they choose a school.
NFL
Salary cap climbs a record $30.6M
The NFL’S salary cap for 2024 will be $255.4 million, up a record $30.6 million from last year.
The cap number has gone from $198.2 million in 2020 to $182.5 million in 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic. It increased to $208.2 million in 2022 and $224.8 million last year.
The increased cap total could impact how teams use the franchise tag.
The 15-day window to apply the tag to impending free agents began on
Feb. 20.
Lewis, Philbin join Raiders’ staff:
As Antonio Pierce prepares for his first season as the Las Vegas Raiders’ full-time coach, he is counting on two experienced former head coaches to help guide him.
The Raiders announced their full staff on Friday, featuring former Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is the assistant head coach and ex-miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin is the senior offensive assistant.
Dolphins release Ogbah:
The Miami Dolphins announced Friday that they released defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah in a move that will clear up $13.7 million in cap space.
Ogbah, who signed with the Dolphins in 2020, was two seasons into a four-year extension worth $65 million.
NHL
Arizona waives forward Ruzicka
The Arizona Coyotes have put forward Adam Ruzicka on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract.
The move comes after Ruzicka posted to social media a video of a himself with a white powder appearing to be cocaine and a credit card on a counter.
The team announced Friday that Ruzicka was going on waivers for termination purposes and said it would have no further comment at this time.
Ruzicka is in the second season of a two-year contract worth $1.525 million.
Ruzicka has been with the Coyotes for about a month since they claimed him off waivers from the Calgary Flames on Jan. 25.
GOLF
Kim surges at LPGA Thailand
Former Women’s PGA Championship winner Sei Young Kim moved from second place into a three-way tie for the lead after two rounds of the LPGA Thailand tournament at Chonburi, Thailand, on Friday.
After sailing through the first 11 holes with four birdies and an eagle, Kim had two bogeys on Nos. 13 and 17 to finish with a 4-under 68.
She was tied with Madelene Sagstrom and Patty Tavatanakit, who each shot 67 on Friday. They had a one-stroke lead over three players.
Trio tied atop Kenya Open leaderboard:
Dutch golfer Darius Van Driel held a share of a three-way lead of the Kenya Open at Nairobi, Kenya, after the second round on Friday.
Van Driel, the overnight leader, went 2under 69 after his opening round 66. He was joined at 7 under overall by Scotland’s Connor Syme and Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen after both carded 68s.
TENNIS
No. 1 Swiatek upset at Dubai
Iga Swiatek was upset by qualifier Anna Kalinskaya 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals of the Dubai Championships after the world No. 1 squandered an early lead on Friday.
Swiatek was up 4-2 when Kalinskaya rattled off four straight games to take the first set en route to her third consecutive victory over a top 10 opponent.
Kalinskaya eliminated No. 3 Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals and No. 9 Jelena Ostapenko in the last 16.