How much is a top NFL running back worth? And, more importantly, which teams are willing to pay that price?

Those questions should come into focus this offseason, as a star-studded group of ball carriers is set to hit free agency amid what continues to be a depressed market at the position. Among the notable players headed for the open market are Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard.

But perhaps the best microcosm of the running back situation is Saquon Barkley, the two-time Pro Bowler who has established himself as one of football’s premier all-purpose threats. But after he failed to land a significant long-term deal last season and instead settled for an adjusted franchise tender, he now stands as somewhat of a riddle for teams as a 27-year-old with a notable injury history and his last season featuring under 1,000 rushing yards.

While his market has still yet to take shape after he was not given the franchise tag again on Tuesday, here’s a look at nine possible landing spots for Barkley if he doesn’t return to the Giants, ranked from most sensible to least sensible:

1. Houston Texans

In a season during which the Texans exceeded expectations in almost every facet, a ground game that ranked just 29th in yards per carry (3.71) was one of the few letdowns. DeMeco Ryans vowed this offseason to address the issue, though it wasn’t clear whether that meant through a drastic personnel shift. But Devin Singletary is set to become a free agent after taking over for Dameon Pierce as the lead option, and the Texans have $70 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap. Barkley could help unlock something new in Bobby Slowik’s scintillating scheme and C.J. Stroud’s impressive development by giving the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year the added elements of a breakaway threat who can also shoulder a heavy load in the passing game. With the groundwork already set for this team to compete for years to come, Houston has the flexibility to take a flier on a high-upside talent like Barkley, even if it ends up being a relatively pricey proposition.

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2. Chicago Bears

Ryan Poles has proven he’s not afraid to throw money around in free agency, including at spots others might not prioritize. With Chicago seemingly poised to take its quarterback of the future at No. 1 in the draft with USC’s Caleb Williams as well as potentially a wide receiver at No. 9, could Barkley make for a full skill-position overhaul? Poles seems more committed than his peers to having a ferocious run game, with his choice of investments along the offensive line serving as a clear indicator. Barkley would no doubt further change the complexion of the attack, giving new coordinator Shane Waldron the explosive threat he seems to covet but would lack with Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson as his top options.

3. Baltimore Ravens

Having Barkley join the NFL’s top-ranked rushing offense helmed by Lamar Jackson would be something to behold. Baltimore essentially has a blank slate at running back with J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards set to become free agents and Keaton Mitchell recovering from a torn ACL suffered in December. Even though a splashy move like this wouldn’t be in keeping with the Ravens’ previous approach at the position, Barkley would be a tantalizing solution. But given how snakebitten the team’s backfield has been with injuries in recent years, could the organization really make this kind of bet for him to stay on the field?

4. New England Patriots

Jerod Mayo boasted that the Patriots are ready to ‘burn some cash’ in free agency, though he later walked back that remark in an interview with MassLive. But de facto general manager Eliot Wolf made the offseason priority clear, saying at the combine the Patriots ‘need to weaponize the offense.’ While the moribund receiving corps should be at the center of that effort, bringing on Barkley seems like a reasonable step for an organization that has more than $88 million in cap space at its disposal and could be looking for several ways to support an incoming rookie quarterback. And even if the addition won’t push the Patriots up a full tier in the AFC pecking order, any move that gets New England closer to being competitive is sure to be met with Robert Kraft’s approval.

5. Los Angeles Chargers

For whatever mysteries there are about what Jim Harbaugh’s return to the NFL might look like, there’s no lingering question regarding his dedication to a run-heavy approach after he reunited with offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Barkley was asked on ‘Up & Adams’ about the possibility of linking up with Harbaugh and said he ‘definitely wouldn’t be against it.’ The Bolts are still $19 million over the cap, however, and have to be more cost-conscious than many other options on this list.

6. Cincinnati Bengals

Fun hypothetical to consider, though it only becomes plausible if the Bengals cut Joe Mixon. Even then, that move would seem to be a precursor to the team curbing its spending at the position rather than revving it up. If Cincinnati is only certain to have Tee Higgins for one more season, though, might it be worth some significant push to make the plodding running game more dynamic? His addition, however implausible, would be quite the way to welcome Joe Burrow back from the torn wrist ligament that prematurely ended his 2023 season.

7. Las Vegas Raiders

Doesn’t seem like it makes much sense for the Silver and Black to split with Josh Jacobs only to end up with a likely more expensive alternative. But the Raiders have made no secret about their interest in finding a young quarterback to take the reins, and Barkley could help ease some of the burden on any inexperienced passer. Still, a full-fledged backfield youth movement feels like ticket here.

8. Philadelphia Eagles

Howie Roseman is perhaps one of the least likely candidates to find himself anywhere near the upper portion of the running back market, as Philadelphia has repeatedly scrounged for ball carriers in the bargain-bin portion of free agency. Still, can this option truly be ruled out given the Eagles’ dire straits after a late-season tailspin that led to the team making changes at both offensive and defensive coordinator? Unless the market for Barkley and other backs is far worse than many have predicted, this possibility is difficult to envision – however fun it might be.

9. Dallas Cowboys

Don’t be fooled by Jerry Jones’ comment at the Senior Bowl about the Cowboys being ‘all in’ for 2024. The owner’s remark was more double speak than a pledge to engage in any sort of uncharacteristic spending sprees. Left tackle Tyron Smith’s expected exit, per multiple reports, is a reminder that Jones seldom budges from his financial stances, and it’s difficult to envision him paying up for this kind of external move. Remember, the Cowboys are currently $10 million over the cap and still have a $6 million dead cap hit for 2024 from Ezekiel Elliott’s release last March. Never say never, but Dallas seems primed to go in a much more cost-effective route to find its next primary ball carrier.

Jason Kelce was very emotional during his retirement news conference on Tuesday, and during this week’s New Heights podcast with his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis, the tears continued to flow.

Travis Kelce shared his thoughts on Jason’s retirement and said his older brother had been his ‘flotation device’ throughout the years.

‘In this game, you have always been a step ahead of me, and it’s always been that way,’ Travis Kelce said. ‘To have you out of it, man, it feels empty, and it definitely feels like it’s complete. It was a success.’

The All-Pro tight end then took a moment to compose himself before speaking again.

‘It was a fun ass journey to watch and, like I said yesterday, I just appreciate you showing me the way and bringing us all along the way, big guy,’ Travis said.

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Jason Kelce said he will still attend games to get a further appreciation for his brother amid talk that Jason could be a studio analyst this season.

Jason also mentioned former teammate Nick Foles during the episode. One of the highlights of his retirement speech was reminiscing about how Foles suggested running the ‘Philly Special’ during their Super Bowl 52 victory over the New England Patriots.

‘I won’t forget Nick Foles having the biggest game of his life, on the biggest stage possible – and the biggest (expletive) on the team, going up to Doug Pederson, and asking for the Philly Special,’ Kelce said during the speech.

‘And Doug Pederson having the biggest (expletive) in the stadium … to say, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.”

Kelce said he gave Foles and his wife a heads-up that he was going to mention it in his speech.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz − It has been 11 long years, and even after retirement, the memories refuse to fade. 

Kyle Lohse knows exactly what Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, the two talented and decorated pitchers still remaining on the free-agent market, are feeling these days. 

He felt the same frustration, anger, anxiousness, and depression eating away at his soul each day. 

“I definitely feel for those guys, it’s so tough,’’ Lohse tells USA TODAY Sports. “You want to be in camp. You want to be there with your new teammates. You want to get acclimated. 

“But you also know what you’re worth. 

HOT STOVE UPDATES: MLB free agency: Ranking and tracking the top players available.

“The wait is very lonely.’’ 

Lohse, now 45, was coming off the finest season of his career back in 2012 with the St. Louis Cardinals. 

He was 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA, leading the league with 33 starts while pitching 211 innings, and leading the Cardinals to within a game of the World Series. He finished seventh in the NL Cy Young race. 

Certainly, he expected to be rewarded, with reports that agent Scott Boras was seeking a four-year, $60 million contract. 

He instead waited all winter, into the spring, and nearly into the season before the Milwaukee Brewers stepped up and signed him to a three-year, $33 million contract. 

He signed on March 25, 2013 − seven days before opening day. 

“There are days you wake up frustrated, there are days you wake up angry, there are days you feel down, there are days you feel all of that,’’ Lohse said. “You’re property of a team for so many years, you get your shot for free agency, and then most teams don’t want to talk to you. You try to stay positive, but it’s hard. It’s a gut-check.’’ 

Lohse was the guinea pig for the new draft pick compensation in free agency for players who rejected qualifying offers. Teams liked him, and wanted him, but kept reiterating they didn’t want to forfeit a first-round draft pick to sign him. Free agents Anibal Sanchez of the Detroit Tigers (five years, $80 million) and Edwin Jackson (four years, $52 million) signed lucrative deals, but neither required draft compensation. 

It’s similar to the sentiments that Snell is hearing this winter. He may have won two Cy Young awards, but with teams like the New York Yankees who are over the luxury tax coveting him, they don’t want to surrender second-round and fifth-round draft picks along with $500,000 in international pool money to sign him. 

“I was kind of a test case going through the qualifying offer stuff,’’ Lohse said. “Teams were putting all of this value on draft picks instead of signing someone who could improve your team at the big-league level. It was like, we don’t want to pay you money and give up a draft pick, so we’re not going to pay you what you’re wroth. 

“You had teams trying to low-ball you and take advantage of the situation. You felt very slighted, that you’re downgraded and forced into a corner when you’ve worked your whole career to reach that point.’’ 

Certainly, no one expected former MVP Cody Bellinger to get only a three-year, $80 million contract from the Chicago Cubs or four-time Gold Glove winner Matt Chapman to get a three-year, $54 million deal from the San Francisco Giants. 

Yet, with opening day approaching, and the number of interested teams dwindling, you have no choice but to sign unless you’re prepared to be home when the season starts. 

“I don’t want to throw around the C-word (collusion),’’ Lohse said, “but it’s pretty weird when you have guys who are proven winners, and not have people fighting to get you on your squad.’’ 

It has become clear that Snell isn’t going to receive anywhere close to the $325 million Yoshinobu Yamamoto received from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Montgomery, the Texas Rangers’ postseason pitching star, likely won’t approach the $172 million deal that Aaron Nola got from the Philadelphia Phillies. 

They now are willing to exchange long-term deals for flexible, short-term contracts, if necessary, just as Bellinger and Chapman did. The Boston Red Sox could use a starter now that Lucas Giolito could require season-ending elbow surgery. The Los Angeles Angels still have a gaping hole in their rotation. The Yankees, Giants, Rangers and Phillies continue to lurk. 

“I think there’s a pitching panic going on in Major League Baseball right now,’’ Boras, who represents Snell and Montgomery, said Monday. “We’ve got so many starting pitchers who are now compromised − maybe short term, but some long term. The calls for elite starters are certainly starting to increase.’’ 

While it’s getting late, with opening day three weeks away, Lohse may be living proof that the shortened spring won’t affect Snell and Montgomery. 

Lohse, even after missing all but a week of spring training, pitched in the Brewers’ fourth game of the season and never missed a start. 

He struck out three Arizona Diamondbacks’ hitters in the first inning of his Brewers’ debut, and finished 11-10 with a 3.35 ERA, pitching 198 ⅔ innings. He came back the next year and pitched another 198 ⅓ innings. 

“It taught me that you don’t really need spring training,’’ Lohse said, laughing. “I actually had fresher legs because I didn’t spend all of that time shagging and doing drills. I was doing everything on my own, simulating games. 

“The only thing I didn’t simulate was getting up at 5 in the morning and getting to the park at 6.’’ 

Lohse spent his time working out at Boras’ training institute in Newport Beach, Calif., while pitching simulated games at local colleges in Phoenix. Snell is doing the same now in California, while Montgomery is working out at Boras’ training institute in Florida. 

The two pitchers, Boras says, each are up to 50 pitches and three-inning outings, much like the starting pitchers who have been in camp since mid-February. 

“It really wasn’t a problem for me,’’ Lohse said. “I had a pretty good system going with own mini-camps, throwing, working out, covering first base. And Scott set me up with simulated games against different schools. 

“When the season started, I was right on schedule.’’ 

Montgomery and Snell, each who are 31, three years younger than Lohse when he hit free agency, haven’t called Lohse for advice or guidance. It’s not easy to share your fears and anxiety to strangers. Lohse just hopes they have the support system they need. 

“I remember having a chip on my shoulder, and I’m sure they will, too,’’ Lohse said. “You remember. I held onto those talks we had with GMs that winter, the ones trying to low-ball me, the rest of my career. 

“You hate to see anyone go through this. You’ve just got to keep reminding yourself there’s going to be an end to it. 

“Eventually.’’ 

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale 

The deadline for NFL teams to apply the franchise or transition tag to one of their pending free agents expired at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Nine players were tagged – all but one with the non-exclusive franchise version – a list that includes Jacksonville Jaguars OLB Josh Allen, Carolina Panthers OLB Brian Burns, New England Patriots DB Kyle Dugger (transition tag), Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins, Chicago Bears CB Jaylon Johnson, Baltimore Ravens DT Justin Madubuike, Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr., Kansas City Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed and Tampa Bay Buccaneers FS Antoine Winfield Jr.

They all have until July 15 to reach long-term extensions with their current clubs – any could be traded in the interim or untagged and released into the free agent market – or otherwise would have to play the 2024 season on a tag’s guaranteed one-year tender, which is valuated based on the player’s position.

Yet the ramifications of the tags can go well beyond the guys bearing them, especially with the free agency negotiating window set to open Monday. Here’s a look at the winners and losers of Tuesday’s tag deadline:

WINNERS

Baker Mayfield

Good as he was for the NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, he wasn’t going to get a $38.3 million franchise tag – the going rate for quarterbacks in 2024. But the Bucs handled their rather extensive business otherwise, tagging Winfield after reaching a two-year extension with WR Mike Evans on Monday. With the core of the team remaining intact, Tampa Bay looks fairly well positioned to pursue a fourth consecutive division title next season … assuming GM Jason Licht can come to an accord with Mayfield, preferably before he’s able to peddle his services on the open market again.

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Ja’Marr Chase

The Bengals’ No. 1 wideout has been a Pro Bowler each of his first three seasons and is now eligible for a long-term extension for the first time. Receivers don’t generally get their first huge payday after Year 3 (see: Justin Jefferson), yet Chase is in a good spot. Maybe he gets paid in the coming weeks or months. If not, he goes into the 2024 campaign knowing QB Joe Burrow will return healthy, while Higgins will also be back – meaning teams likely can’t afford to constantly roll coverage at Chase without paying dearly. Another big year would mean even bigger money in 2025 amid an ever-expanding salary cap.

Wide receivers

Higgins is the No. 2 option in Cincy’s offense. Pittman is coming off his best season (career-best 109 catches for 1,152 yards) but has generally been a reliable chain mover, if not a guy considered among the position’s elite performers. But both are now just outside the top 10 of the wideouts’ compensation rankings, each set to earn at least the $21.8 million the tag will afford them in 2024 – a nice show of faith from Cincinnati and Indianapolis given the receiver depth in this year’s draft. Only the quarterback tag is more lucrative among offensive players.

Outside linebackers

For Allen and Burns, matters are even greener. Both pass rushers will rake in at least $24 million next season after being franchised. Only the quarterback tag is more lucrative among all players.

Tua Tagovailoa

The Miami Dolphins did not tag trusty DT Christian Wilkins – obviously there’s still time to re-sign him, unlikely as that now seems before next Monday – as the club continues to seemingly clear the decks for what should be a huge windfall for Tagovailoa, the quarterback fresh off his first Pro Bowl effort after leading the NFL with 4,624 passing yards in 2023. The Fins still have more cap cutting to do despite parting ways with CB Xavien Howard, LB Jerome Baker and DE Emmanuel Ogbah. All signs point toward Tua overtaking Burrow ($55 million annually) as the league’s top-paid passer in terms of average seasonal salary.

TBD

Kansas City Chiefs

They control Sneed’s fate for now, though have empowered the ascending cover man to seek a trade. All-Pro DT Chris Jones seems committed to remaining in K.C. with the league’s newest dynasty … but 31 other teams could soon have the opportunity to float a massive enough bag to change his mind.

Houston Texans

They struck a three-year pact to retain TE Dalton Schultz on Tuesday but didn’t use the opportunity to tag popular DE Jonathan Greenard, who had a career- and team-high 12½ sacks for the AFC South champs in 2023. He now likely gets exposed to numerous suitors.

LOSERS

Tua Tagovailoa

A Dolphins team that hasn’t been able to win in the playoffs with (or without) him the past two seasons is now bleeding defensive mainstays – and perhaps more – in order to mint Tagovailoa as he comes out of his rookie contract. Almost certainly not going to get any easier for Miami to snap the 23-year drought since its last postseason win, currently the league’s longest such streak.

Kyle Dugger

Notably, the Patriots list him as a “DB” on their official roster – and why not, given Dugger played more than 200 snaps at corner, either wide or in the slot, last season? But not only did he get the less profitable transition tag Tuesday, he was classified as a safety (where he did line up for more than 800 snaps in 2023). Dugger’s tag is worth $13.8 million, $3.3 million fewer than a safety’s franchise tag. And had the Pats sweetened a franchise tag – something that’s been done in the past if a player mans multiple positions – he’d probably be due something closer to $18 million. Per Over The Cap, the Pats have nearly $90 million in cap space, most in the AFC.

Running backs

Their positional tag increased to $11.95 million in 2024, nearly a $2 million bump from last year – yet still the lowest among any group save specialists. But not a single back was tagged ahead of what should be a robust buyer’s market. Seven runners who had more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 2023 are set to go free: the New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley, Las Vegas Raiders’ Josh Jacobs, Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Pollard – all three were franchised in 2023, Barkley and Jacobs embittered by the process – the Tennessee Titans’ Derrick Henry, Philadelphia Eagles’ D’Andre Swift, Houston Texans’ Devin Singletary and Los Angeles Chargers’ Austin Ekeler. Another, the Ravens’ Gus Edwards, had 990 yards. The Colts’ Zack Moss had 986 in 14 games. Now they forge ahead into a market that could be even unkinder than the tag game given teams’ general unwillingness to pay proven backs when they can simply burn through the capable ones readily available in the draft or opt for cut-rate contractual investments with less-talented vets.

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.

Jason Kelce had already played his final game as a NFL player, but he still needed his ankles wrapped up one last time. He wasn’t concerned about spraining any joints. The ritual, with Philadelphia Eagles trainer Joe O’Pella, was what mattered.

O’Pella battled cancer throughout Kelce’s final season. Treatments forced him to miss practice and games, preventing him from doing what he’d done the previous 12 years: taking care of, and taping, Kelce.

‘You all know about the on-field accomplishments, and many of the off-field ones, too, but what this man has meant to me and now my family over the past decade plus is nearly indescribable,’ O’Pella wrote in a post on Instagram.

Kelce offered O’Pella his beach house in New Jersey during his recovery should he and his wife want to escape. He also wanted to pay for meal services for the couple.

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‘He called me randomly when I had been home, too sick to come in (because) of chemo, just to check on me and chat about random things,’ O’Pella wrote. ‘That’s who he is as a person.’

When O’Pella, who was promoted to associate athletic trainer in 2018, expressed regret that he wouldn’t be the last person to tape Kelce, the six-time All-Pro had a solution.

‘I hope these stories can add to an already unbelievable legacy,’ O’Pella wrote.

Major League Soccer might have a budding rivalry on its hands.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will face Nashville SC to begin their Concacaf Champions Cup Round-of-16 matchup, with the first leg of the series Thursday night in Nashville, Tennessee. The second leg will be March 13 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The teams will also meet four times this year after those matches – the most any opponent has faced Messi. Both sides played to a draw in their last matchup, but the first time they met Messi last year was a memorable one. Messi hoisted Inter Miami’s first championship trophy after beating Nashville in the Leagues Cup final Aug. 19, 2023, which Inter Miami won 1-1 (10-9) after penalty kicks.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC live stream?

The Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC match will kickoff at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tenn.

The match is available in English on FS2 and in Spanish on TUDN.

TICKETS: See Messi and Inter Miami in person vs. Nashville SC

Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC predictions

Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter: Inter Miami 3, Nashville SC 0

Nashville will play Inter Miami close early, but Messi and Inter Miami are well-rested and coming off a heater against Orlando City last week. Messi scores once, and has an assist to Luis Suarez, while one other Inter Miami player, let’s say Julian Gressel, finds the back of the net in a 3-0 win.

Jacob Shames, Nashville SC beat writer for The Tennessean: Inter Miami 2, Nashville SC 0

Even if Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge don’t play, Nashville’s defensive structure still will frustrate Messi and Suarez, but Inter Miami’s superior talent will overwhelm when it’s all said and done. But if Nashville is at or close to full strength, can it generate offense to match? In that regard, there’s little to go off of.

What to know about Inter Miami

Messi scored twice, while Luis Suarez had two goals and two assists during Inter Miami’s 5-0 victory over Orlando City last Saturday. Inter Miami is 2-1-0 (win-draw-loss) through three games of the 2024 MLS season.

Inter Miami is pursing the Champions Cup, will defend its Leagues Cup title, and hopes to compete for the MLS Cup by season’s end. Messi is also expected to join Argentina in this summer’s Copa America 2024, while his participation in the Paris Olympics is unlikely but still up in the air.

“I think that with the pressure on us, we’re conscious of the team, and what we’ve built and we are going to prepare ourselves to fight for the MLS title,” Messi said during a postgame interview with Apple TV last Saturday.

“We know that is a long road and it’s just getting started, but the reality is that all of us are aware that we have a group ready to compete and we are going to go for it. It is also important that we start the season off well, especially in the first few games because then the league will pause, and other tournaments will begin.” 

SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami gear from the MLS Store

What to know about Nashville SC?

Nashville has only one goal and played to draws in their first two MLS games this season, but advanced past Dominican team Moda FC 7-0 on aggregate to reach the Champions Cup Round of 16.

Nashville has been without standouts Hany Mukhtar (hamstring) and Sam Surridge (left shoulder), Randall Leal (hamstring) to start the season. They finished in scoreless draw against the New York Red Bulls on Feb. 25, and finished 1-1 against the Colorado Rapids last Saturday.  

Nashville was eliminated by Orlando in the first round of the MLS playoffs last November.

Who will Inter Miami and Nashville play on Sunday?

Inter Miami and Nashville each have a regular-season match Sunday before the second leg of their Champions Cup matchup.

Nashville hosts L.A. Galaxy at 3 p.m. ET, while Inter Miami will host CF Montreal at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The second leg of their matchup will be at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on March 13 at 8:15 p.m. ET.

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In a meeting Wednesday morning, the New York City Planning Commission unanimously voted in favor of building the new stadium in Queens. The decision marks a significant step in moving the plans closer to fruition and the beginning of construction.

At noon, NYCFC released new renderings of the stadium and announced ‘The Cube:’ the seven-story main entry to its planned new stadium featuring more than 11,000 square feet of LEDs.

According to the team, The Cube’s design symbolizes the ‘stability and permanence’ of the new stadium, which is planned to open in 2027 and be the city’s first soccer-specific stadium. It also symbolizes ‘equality and fair play’ with its equal dimensions: ‘two values that are at the heart of the club.’

NYCFC’s new stadium will be located across the street from Citi Field and near the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which hosts the U.S. Open.

Social media reacts to ‘Naming Rights Sponsor Stadium’ in new NYCFC renderings

In the video to announce The Cube, NYCFC’s rendering included ‘Naming Rights Sponsor Stadium’ in block letters above the main entry. Users on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) were amused by the inclusion of that detail.

New York City FC stadium history

Since its inaugural season in 2015, the MLS club has primarily used Yankee Stadium in the Bronx as its home field.

Over the years, the club has faced several scheduling conflicts with the New York Yankees. As a result, NYCFC have played several regular season games at Citi Field (home of the New York Mets) in Queens and Red Bull Arena (home of the New York Red Bulls and NY/NJ Gotham FC) in New Jersey.

In November 2022, NYCFC and New York City made an agreement to build a 25,000-seat stadium in Willets Point, Queens as part of a mixed-use development at the site.

The full development, known as the Willets Point Project, will also include 2,500 affordable housing units, a 650-seat public elementary school, a hotel and retail shops, and 40,000 square feet of public open space.

On March 6, the plans for the stadium were approved by the city’s planning commission. It will go to the New York City Coucil next, then will require approval from Mayor Eric Adams. There are not expected to be any major roadblocks along the way, according to The Athletic.

Caitlin Clark, who holds the record as the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer, has announced that she will be entering the 2024 WNBA Draft. Clark has decided to forgo a fifth year at the college level, which has led to speculation about a potential pay cut compared to what she currently earns through NIL deals.

Clark, the point guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes, was awarded an additional year after the COVID-19 pandemic impacted her freshman year and has built a roster of impressive endorsements.

Clark has stated that her major sponsors will not drop her when she turns pro, and it is likely that her deals will continue to grow as she advances to the next level, squashing the storyline that she will lose money going to the WNBA.

Who is Caitlin Clark?

Hawkeye’s college basketball star Caitlin Clark has set numerous records during her time in Iowa, including becoming the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer in men’s and women’s basketball by surpassing Pete Maravich’s record at LSU. Clark has also surpassed AIAW all-time leader scorer, Lynette Woodard and NCAA’s women’s all-time leading scorer Kelsey Plum.

Clark is the first Iowa women’s basketball player to be named First Team All-Big Ten in four years, was named the consensus Big Ten Player of the Year by coaches and media.

Clark’s possible WNBA salary is shocking

In general, rookie contracts in the WNBA typically last for three years, with a team option for a fourth year.

The salary for rookies is determined by their draft position, and according to Spotrac salary ranges from $64,154 to $76,535 for the first year. The salary increases by a little over $1,000 each year thereafter.

Caitlin Clark is expected to be the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. In her first year, she would earn a base salary of approximately $76,000, with the possibility of earning additional incentives.

If she is named the WNBA Rookie of the Year, she would receive a bonus of $5,150. Additionally, if Clark is selected to participate in the All-Star game, she would earn an extra $2,575.

How much do WNBA players make?

According to Statista, there is a significant pay gap between NBA and WNBA players, with the highest paid player in the 2023 WNBA season, Erica Wheeler of the Indiana Fever, earning $242,000.

Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings comes in second with earnings of $234,000 followed by Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury also earning $234,000.

On average, NBA players make more than 10 million dollars every year compared to WNBA players who earn $116,000 a year.

Caitlin Clark’s NIL Deals

Caitlin Clark has signed a long list of deals with companies to use her name, image, and likeness. Clark has signed with the biggest names in sports appeal, electronics and even insurance. Here is the list of companies that have added the college basketball star to their roster.

Nike
Gatorade
Bose
State Farm
Buick
Hy-Vee
H&R Block
Topps
Shoot-A-Way
Goldman Sachs

Facing the task of retaining Kirk Cousins, the Minnesota Vikings are very much on the clock.

Arguably no other contemporary player has bet on himself more than Cousins, whose longest-tenured contract, including both of his franchise tag seasons in Washington, remains his four-year rookie deal. With the NFL scouting combine now concluded, a pair of suitors appear to have emerged for Cousins: the Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons.

Here’s everything to know about the potential landing spots for Cousins, including cases for — and against — Minnesota and Atlanta.

The case for the Vikings

This all comes down to familiarity and stability. Cousins, who will turn 36 in August, has spent the last six seasons in Minnesota and has become one of the faces of the organization. He connected instantly with coach Kevin O’Connell, from the moment the Vikings hired O’Connell ahead of the 2022 season. That made sense; O’Connell served one season as quarterbacks coach in Washington in 2017, a season in which Cousins led the NFL in game-winning drives, with four.

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This connection goes a little deeper. The Vikings announced earlier this offseason that they were promoting Chris O’Hara from quarterbacks coach to passing game specialist. O’Hara had worked closely with Cousins after he joined Minnesota when O’Connell came on. The Vikings also announced in late February that they had hired former NFL quarterback Josh McCown as their new quarterbacks coach. Cousins undoubtedly is familiar with McCown, especially since both share an agent in Mike McCartney.

There’s another reason why stability could be particularly appealing for Cousins; he tore his Achilles in late October and has been rehabbing the injury with the intent to be ready for the start of the 2024 season. Though Achilles recovery times have quickened with advances in modern medicine, it’s still rare for franchise quarterbacks to switch teams immediately after suffering such injuries.

The case against the Vikings

Because of the the nature of Cousins’ voiding contract, if Minnesota were to re-sign him after March 13, the new deal would trigger a dead money overlay on the salary cap of $28.5 million, according to ESPN. While not prohibitive, that certainly makes the prospects of signing Cousins after March 13 significantly trickier as Minnesota navigates its salary cap considerations. That also means the Vikings would perhaps be less inclined to match other lucrative offers Cousins could potentially field in the open market. Cousins, throughout his career, has prioritized guaranteed money and maximizing his contractual value, complicating the situation further.

The Vikings have even acknowledged that they expect the process to retain Cousins to be challenging.

‘I know Kirk is going to go through a full process,’ O’Connell said last week in a revealing interview with NFL Network. ‘He’s a process guy. Hopefully we continue to be a strong part in that process and we figure out a way to keep him a Minnesota Viking. My expectation is that we aren’t going to be the only ones that want Kirk Cousins to be the quarterback of our team in 2024.’

The other question with Minnesota relates to the rest of the roster. The Vikings have invested in receiver and tight end, though star receiver Justin Jefferson is set to enter the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. While the Minnesota front office has expressed a desire to retain Jefferson, it’s far from a certainty that it will be able to do so.

The case for the Falcons

Perhaps no team in the NFL has more young, untapped potential at the offensive skill positions than the Falcons. Loaded with players like running back Bijan Robinson (eighth overall pick in 2023), receiver Drake London (eighth overall pick in 2022) and tight end Kyle Pitts (fourth overall pick in 2021), the Falcons appear to be a quarterback away from being an intriguing upstart in the NFC South. But there’s more to why Cousins would be a seamless plug-and-play option.

New coach Raheem Morris brought on Zac Robinson to be Atlanta’s offensive coordinator. Robinson, 37, is a former quarterback and spent five seasons on the coaching staff of the L.A. Rams, working his way up to quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator.

Here’s where this gets interesting: Robinson coached under Sean McVay in Los Angeles. McVay and Cousins have a connection back from their days in Washington, when McVay was an up-and-coming offensive coordinator from 2014-16. Cousins recorded his first Pro Bowl season in 2016.

O’Connell is also from the McVay coaching tree, and was the Rams offensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021 — when Robinson was also on the coaching staff. Cousins shined in two seasons in O’Connell’s system. If Robinson implements a scheme similar to McVay’s — and there’s no reason to expect he would do otherwise — this may be the optimal non-Vikings spot for Cousins.

As if that wasn’t enough, there’s a family link, as well. According to People.com, Cousins’ wife, Julie, is from Alpharetta, Georgia, which is about 25 miles north of Atlanta. People also reported that Julie went to college at the University of Georgia, in Athens.

The case against the Falcons

Despite similarities in system and philosophy, it would still take some time to acclimate to his new teammates, new facility, new everything. And Cousins would still be leaving an environment in which he had instant success; in his two seasons playing under O’Connell, Cousins completed 67.1% of his throws for 6,878 yards, with 47 touchdowns against 19 interceptions. A transition to Robinson is a transition nonetheless.

The other issue with Atlanta is that the Falcons may need to consider alternate plans in their pursuit of a quarterback. That could mean potential interest in a player like Chicago’s Justin Fields, a native of nearby Kennesaw, Georgia, who would need to be acquired through a trade.

Atlanta may also be looking at even more options, like Russell Wilson. That could theoretically lower the leverage Cousins would have with the Falcons, if Atlanta would choose to be careful about its spending. As mentioned above, this is particularly magnified since Cousins has been savvy throughout his career in maximizing his market value.

Are there any other teams interested in Kirk Cousins?

Any time a player of Cousins’ caliber hits the market, several teams are going to have varying levels of interest. While that interest may be passing or serious, quarterback-deficient teams — especially ones that are close to competing — could emerge as potential suitors.

Other teams in need of quarterbacks include the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Washington Commanders (where Cousins played from 2012-17) and Las Vegas Raiders.