Weekly Sports Update Feb. 4–10

MLB lockout update

The MLB lockout has reached 70 days and is now the second longest work stoppage in league history. MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred, will speak to the media on Feb. 10 to publicly address the lockout. Reports have said Manfred may officially announce the delay of spring training for 2022.

Core economic issues are still a point of emphasis in negotiations. Players are asking for better pay for young players and more control over contracts. The owners are against these requests. The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 12.

Amid lockout negotiations, the league reportedly stopped testing players for steroid use due to the expiration of the league’s drug agreement. Testing is expected to return, but the halt is a casualty of the lockout.

The MLB owners and players refused to comment on the issue. 

NFL head coach searches

Head coaching searches around the league have come to an end as every head coaching position has been filled.

Chicago Bears: Matt Eberflus

Denver Broncos: Nathaniel Hackett

Houston Texans: Lovie Smith

Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Pederson 

Las Vegas Raiders: Josh McDaniels

Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel

Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O’Connell

New Orleans Saints: Dennis Allen

New York Giants: Brian Daboll  

Brian Flores lawsuit

Former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores has sued the NFL along with the Broncos, Giants and Dolphins for discrimination during his interview process. 

Flores alleges Dolphins owner Stephen Ross bribed Flores to lose games on purpose in order to better their draft pick. Flores said he was offered $100,000 for each loss during the 2019 season. Flores also accused the Giants for interviewing him to adhere to the league’s Rooney Rule requiring teams to interview minority candidates for open positions.

In his 58-page lawsuit Flores said the NFL is racially managed and segregated. 

“In certain critical ways, the NFL is racially segregated and is managed much like a plantation,” Flores said. “Its 32 owners, none of whom are Black, profit from the labor of NFL players, 70% of whom are Black.” 

Washington Commanders

The Washington Football Team officially announced their new mascot and logo. As of the 2022-2023 season, the team will be the Washington Commanders. Their previous mascot was said to be insensitive to Native Americans.

NFL 2022 mock drafts

The first NFL mock drafts for the 2022 NFL draft are being released as pro days and the combine approach. In his first mock draft, Lance Zierlein, draft analyst for the NFL network, has Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal going No. 1 overall. Zierlein has Kenny Pickett going at No. 11 to the Washington Commanders as the first quarterback taken in the draft. Matt Corral at No. 27 is the only other quarterback Zierlein has in the first round.  

Zierlein’s full mock draft can be found here.   

NBA trade deadline

With the Feb. 10 trade deadline looming, NBA teams are making last-ditch efforts to improve their roster. CJ McCollum has been traded from the Portland Trail Blazers to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Indiana Pacers traded Caris Levert to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ricky Rubio. The New York Knicks acquired Cam Reddish from the Atlanta Hawks for Kevin Knoz and a 2022 first-round draft pick.

More moves are expected to be made before the 3 p.m. deadline on Feb. 10. 

College basketball

Upsets occurred in college basketball as No. 1 Auburn suffered a loss to unranked Arkansas, No. 9 Texas Tech fell to unranked Oklahoma, and No. 6 Houston lost to unranked SMU. The week 14 AP poll can be found here, although shake-ups are coming due to upsets on Monday, Feb. 14.