Scott Cole Show

Speaking just a couple of hours before Vogel’s firing was made official, James wouldn’t even acknowledge that a season in which the Lakers went 33-49 and missed the playoffs was a failure.

“It’s not a failure at all,” James said. “We came to work every single day, put our hard hats on and tried to get better every day. And the results just didn’t happen for us. But it’s not a failure.”

Scott Cole with Nick Mizesko talking how Tiger Woods Plans to Play in the Masters.

Scott Cole with Nick Mizesko talking Tyreek Hill vs Davante Adams and should the Lakers just throw in the towel.

The Cleveland Browns called their research and investigation into Deshaun Watson, including the allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct against him, "extensive" in a statement the team released Sunday announcing the trade.

"We are acutely aware and empathetic to the highly personal sentiments expressed about this decision," Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam said in a statement. "Our team's comprehensive evaluation process was of utmost importance due to the sensitive nature of his situation and the complex factors involved. We also understand there are still some legal proceedings that are ongoing and we will respect due process.

"It was pivotal that we, along with Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski, meet with Deshaun to have a straightforward dialogue, discuss our priorities, and hear directly from him on how he wants to approach his career on and off the field. He was humble, sincere and candid. In our conversations, Deshaun detailed his commitment to leading our team; he understands and embraces the hard work needed to build his name both in the community and on the field. ... We are confident in Deshaun and excited about moving forward with him as our quarterback and supporting his genuine and determined efforts.''

On Friday, the Browns acquired Watson from the Houston Texans. Cleveland traded its 2022, 2023 and 2024 first-round draft selections, as well as two other picks, in the deal. The Browns also gave Watson a new five-year contract worth $230 million guaranteed, the most guaranteed money on a single contract in NFL history by $80 million.

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Unlike the Texans, who announced the trade shortly after it was agreed to Friday, the Browns waited two days before publicly acknowledging it.

"We have done extensive investigative, legal and reference work over the past several months to provide us with the appropriate information needed to make an informed decision about pursuing him and moving forward with him as our quarterback," Browns general manager Andrew Berry said in a statement. "Deshaun has been among the very best at the position and he understands the work needed to re-establish himself on and off the field in Cleveland. We are confident that he will make positive contributions to our team and community as we support his return to football."

In a week rife with quarterback dealings, Tuesday’s news that the Denver Broncos were acquiring Pro Bowl QB Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks for a package of picks and players might have been the most league-altering. For one thing, it ended Wilson’s iconic, decadelong stay in Seattle — one that brought the team a championship, two Super Bowl appearances and (early in Wilson’s tenure) one of the strongest multi-year runs in NFL history. It also shipped an elite passer to a Denver team that finished last season third in scoring defense, providing the ingredients for a potential Super Bowl recipe next season.

Moreover, the move to add Wilson gives Denver yet another name to add to its ongoing quarterback carousel — one it’s hoping is the last for a while.

Much has been made about how this trade provides the Broncos with their long-sought-after replacement for Peyton Manning, who retired after the 2015 season. But things go back even further than that. In the 23 seasons since the retirement of John Elway — who is now the team’s president of football operations — after a win in Super Bowl XXXIII, the Broncos have gone through 11 different primary starting QBs

The beautiful mystery tour will continue. Aaron Rodgers is not done with the Green Bay Packers just yet, and now there really is a chance the four-time NFL MVP will finish his career in the same place it started.

Rodgers announced Tuesday on Twitter that he will return to the Packers for the 2022 season.

The sides are working on a new contract that would lower his salary-cap figure for the 2022 season while giving Rodgers, 38, contractual clarity well into his 40s.

Kiper said Pickett could become a "Derek Carr-type" quarterback at the next level, with ESPN colleague Todd McShay labeling the ACC Player of the Year the "safest bet" at the position.

Pickett had a prolific final year at Pitt, throwing for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns.

But he'll turn 24 in June and may not have the physical upside of Matt Corral, Malik Willis or Desmond Ridder. The 6'3" signal-caller ran for 801 yards over five college seasons compared to 1,338 for Corral, 2,180 for Ridder and 1,822 for Willis in two seasons at Liberty.

Listing Carr as the ceiling for an incoming rookie may not be exactly what a fanbase wants to hear, but Carr is a three-time Pro Bowler who's averaging 249.6 yards per game through the air.

That would be a massive upgrade over what the Commanders have had.

"Unstoppable," Embiid said with a smile after finishing with 37 points -- including 23 free throws made on 27 attempts (the most attempts by any player in a single game in nearly three years). He also added nine rebounds and four blocked shots in Philadelphia's 125-109 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday afternoon.

"What are you really going to do?" Embiid said. "He's a great passer, and obviously I've got someone [next to me] that attracts a lot of attention to him, so you've got to make a decision. Do you stay on me, or do you stay on him? And if you want to guard both of us with the other guys, now you've got Matisse [Thybulle] diving to the rim or wide-open shooters that have got one job to do, and that's make shots. That's all we got to keep doing.

"Like I was saying in the locker room, I'm happy I don't have to post up every single possession, so it's great."

Through those first two games, the results are hard to argue with. Philadelphia has averaged 129 points per game -- even after shooting 10-for-33 from 3-point range Sunday -- and Embiid and Harden are, predictably, making regular trips to the foul line. The two combined for 22 free throw attempts in Friday's 133-102 win in Minneapolis over the Timberwolves, and had 37 Sunday against the Knicks. Harden was a perfect 10-for-10 from the line.

Embiid got to the line more than anyone since Anthony Davis also shot 27 free throws in an October 2019 game against the Memphis Grizzlies. It got to the point on Sunday where both New York centers, Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims, had fouled out by the early stages of the fourth quarter.

"That's our job every single night, is to put pressure on that rim," said Harden, who had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists to post his first triple-double as a 76er. "That creates opportunities for ourselves and our teammates. There's a lot of opportunities Joel had with and-1s where he just didn't convert, but that pressure night-in and night-out consistently is going to be tough for teams to cover."

It has taken no time at all for Harden and Embiid to find a rhythm in the pick-and-roll. While Embiid has never preferred to be a roll man in two-man actions -- something Tyrese Maxey gave him a hard time about when Embiid was asked about it after Sunday's game -- he had plenty of success with it against the Knicks.

MLBPA player leaders agreed unanimously not to accept MLB's final proposal, and there will be no deal on a new collective bargaining agreement before MLB's 5 p.m. ET deadline.

MLB has threatened to cancel its March 31 Opening Day without a new deal.

The sides will head home after negotiating for nine days and determine next steps for returning to the bargaining table.

MLB's final proposal, which was delivered before 4 p.m. Tuesday, featured an increase from $25 million to $30 million in a pre-arbitration bonus pool each year for the length of the deal, while the union wants to begin with $85 million in the pool and go up by $5 million each year. On collective balance tax thresholds, the league's last offer remained the same as its previous one, which started at $220 million and was flat for three years before going up to $224 million in Year 4 and $230 million in Year 5. The union wants to start at $238 million with raises to $244 million, $250 million, $256 million and end at $263 million.

Brady to 49ers. Lebron and Bronny. NBA Allstar Let Down. Juwan Howard was suspended. Nick Mizesko joins at our brand new co-host.