Mariota takes cut in pay to remain team’s backup QB
Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota has agreed to restructure his contract and return to the Raiders, a team source confirmed to this news organization Tuesday.
Mariota, who was in jeopardy of being released by the Raiders had he not redone his deal, is signing a oneyear, $3.5 million deal, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. If Mariota is pressed into service in relief of starter Derek Carr for an extended period, he’ll have an opportunity to earn up to $8 million next season.
Mariota, 27, signed a two-year contract worth $17.6 million plus incentives, and his 2021 cap number was in excess of $15 million according to overthecap.com — second only to Carr on the roster and higher than that of recently signed defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.
Shaving more than $10 million off the cap gives the Raiders more room to operate in free agency.
In a training camp truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mariota was essentially a spectator while Nathan Peterman got the work as Carr’s backup. Then camp got underway, and Carr put the starting job in vice-grips while Mariota could only watch.
As the shoulder and ankle injuries imported from Tennessee slowed Mariota, he then had a pectoral strain which led to him opening the season on injured reserve.
Mariota wasn’t on the 53-man roster for a game until Week 6.
When Carr had a groin strain early in Week 15 against the Chargers, Mariota came off the bench and played better than most anyone expected. Mariota completed 17 of 28 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown, and added 88 rushing yards on nine carries, including a 2-yard touchdown run.
— Jerry McDonald
Colleges
EMMERT TO MEET WITH PROTESTING PLAYERS >>
The National College Players Association said that NCAA President Mark Emmert has informed a group of basketball players who started a social media campaign to protest inequities in college sports that he will meet with them after March Madness.
NCPA executive director Ramogi Huma said in a statement he received a letter from Emmert in response to the advocacy group’s request for a meeting between the head of the NCAA and three players who led the #NotNCAAProperty protest that started last week.
Michigan’s Isaiah Livers, Rutgers’ Geo Baker and Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon are pushing for the NCAA to change its rules restricting athletes from earning money for personal sponsorship deals, online endorsements and appearances.
Baseball
TATIS JR. LEAVES GAME WITH SHOULDER DISCOMFORT >>
San Diego Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. left Tuesday’s spring training game in Peoria, Arizona, with left shoulder discomfort after making a backhanded play.
Tatis fielded the ball, made the throw to first base and then began walking off the field. He was met by manager Jayce Tingler and a trainer. After a few minutes in the dugout, Tatis headed toward the clubhouse accompanied by a trainer. The Padres said Tatis will be re-evaluated today. RANGERS’ DAVIS INJURES QUAD RUNNING TO FIRST >> Texas Rangers designated hitter Khris Davis strained his left quadriceps running out a bunt single in a Cactus League game and could start the season on the injured list. Davis pulled up before reaching first base and left the game against the Los Angeles Angels.
The injury to Davis means the two leading candidates at DH for the Rangers could begin the season on the injured list. Willie Calhoun is dealing with a hamstring injury.
NFL
TEXANS QB WATSON FACING 14 LAWSUITS ALLEGING SEX ASSAULT >>
A 14th woman has filed a lawsuit accusing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and harassment.
The claims in the latest suit, which was filed late Monday night in a Harris County state district court, are similar to those in the earlier cases in which the women accuse Watson of exposing himself, touching them with his penis or kissing them against their will while he got a massage. The most recent lawsuit was filed by a woman who alleges Watson assaulted her in July 2020 in Beverly Hills. Six others lawsuits were filed earlier Monday while the others were filed last week.
Golf
KISNER DRAWS TOUGH PATH TO MATCH PLAY REPEAT >>
Kevin Kisner picks his battles carefully at this stage of his career.
The 37-year-old isn’t among the PGA Tour’s big hitters and readily admits competing on longer courses can be a struggle. He crafts his schedule carefully, which is why he won’t be at next week’s Valero Texas Open despite typically liking to play the week before a major.
TPC San Antonio plays longer than 7,400 yards as a par-72 track. But Kisner far prefers this week’s venue — the par-71, 7,108-yard Austin Country Club, host of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
He returns to Austin this week as the defending champion after the event was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The first of three round-robin matches for each group is today.
The Match Play groupings were revealed Monday, with Kisner paired with second-seeded Justin Thomas, No. 22 Louis Oosthuizen and No. 52 Matt Kuchar.
Thomas is coming off a win at The Players and is the pre-tournament betting favorite at +1100 by PointsBet. As the No. 34 seed, Kisner is a +6000 longshot. Despite his recent success in the event, Kisner has shorter odds than only Kuchar (+12,500) in his group.
Tennis
VENUS WILLIAMS BOUNCED ON DAY 1 OF MIAMI OPEN >> Three-time winner Venus Williams fell in straight sets on opening day at the Miami Open in Miami Gardens, Fla. Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas defeated Williams 6-2, 7-6 (10) in nearly 1½ hours. Williams committed 16 unforced errors.