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🏈 Good morning to everybody however particularly …

THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 

It is Tremendous Bowl weekend! The Chiefs-49ers showdown is simply two days away, and our specialists’ picks are in. I am nonetheless going backwards and forwards, so do not ask me till minutes earlier than Sunday’s kickoff — and ensure you know the right way to watch.

Tyler Sullivan, in the meantime, has been rolling this postseason with a 9-3 report straight up and towards the unfold. This is his choose:

• Sullivan: “Whereas the Niners are actually a gifted membership, it simply appears like extra of the benefits lean within the Chiefs’ favor. They’ve the higher protection, quarterback, and coach in my estimation. Kansas Metropolis is battle-tested profitable back-to-back playoff video games on the highway, whereas the Niners have wanted to dig themselves out of holes taking part in at residence. … Patrick Mahomes can also be 9-0-1 ATS in his profession as an underdog away from Kansas Metropolis and is 3-0 straight-up in his profession as an underdog within the playoffs. Projected rating: Chiefs 24, 49ers 20. The choose: Chiefs +2“

Listed here are all of our skilled picks:

Pete Prisco | John Breech | Jason La Canfora | Tyler Sullivan | Jeff Kerr | Cody Benjamin 

I like the Brock Purdy story as a lot as anybody — the man even embraced the “sport supervisor” description, although he is been far more than that. However Mahomes has the clear edge on the sport’s most vital place. Might San Francisco’s operating sport shut that hole? Cody breaks down why the 49ers’ floor sport goes far past Christian McCaffrey.

• Benjamin: “Left deal with Trent Williams headlines the trenches, however it’s truly the soiled work of talent gamers like tight finish George Kittle and vast receiver Jauan Jennings that serves as a catalyst for the sort of MVP-level manufacturing of McCaffrey and, by extension, Purdy. … With each Kittle and Jennings, once more, it is not simply the willingness to dam; it is the eagerness to dam right through, pushing the boundaries by way of driving opponents off the ball.”

Whereas Kansas Metropolis’s protection has been higher this postseason, it allowed 131.5 yards speeding per sport in six regular-season losses.

Listed here are extra of my favorites …

NOTE: WE’LL HAVE A SPECIAL SUPER BOWL EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER ON SUNDAY! LOOK FOR IT!

😃 Honorable mentions

😕 Not so honorable mentions

🏀 NBA commerce deadline: Knicks, 76ers make huge strikes on busy day

We acquired 15 — depend ’em, 15! — offers on NBA commerce deadline day, and whereas the largest names within the rumor mill did not must pack their baggage, there have been loads of robust strikes by among the league’s strongest groups.

Let’s begin with the Knicks, who had already made a giant (and very good) transfer in late December, buying OG Anunoby. As for the commerce deadline, the identical day New York came upon Anunoby will miss no less than three weeks as a consequence of elbow surgical procedure, the group acquired Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks from the Pistons. James Herbert approves of the transfer all-around, rewarding each groups an “A-” in his commerce grades.

• Herbert: “Bogdanovic, 34, has made greater than 41% of his 3s in his final two seasons, and he is shot 27-for-48 (46.6%) on pull-up 3s in 28 video games this season. He can nonetheless create offense in pick-and-roll and isolation conditions, too, and his post-up sport is helpful towards groups that swap. … New York is sending a easy message right here: This season is critical. The entrance workplace believes within the group it has assembled, and it does not need to lose the momentum it generated in January. … One of the best half, although, is that New York nonetheless hasn’t mortgaged its future.”

The 76ers additionally made a giant transfer, including Buddy Hield from the Pacers. Sam Quinn says Philadelphia got here out on high right here, and I agree: Hield has been constant, sturdy and one of many league’s greatest shooters his whole profession. If Joel Embiid returns, he, Hield and Tyrese Maxey kind a superb trio.

The Bucks made probably the most out of restricted assets, too, buying Patrick Beverley from the 76ers. Milwaukee wanted protection, and Beverley will carry it.

This is extra from a busy day:

Deadline day could also be over, however there’s loads of exercise to come back. Colin Ward-Henninger broke down the buyout market.

🤫 Lakers, Warriors, Bulls quiet at deadline

The Lakers, Warriors and Bulls had been entrance and heart of commerce rumors for weeks. All three stood pat on the deadline. The Lakers’ resolution to take action landed them among the many losers in Colin’s commerce deadline winners and losers whereas the Warriors’ selection earned them reward from Brad Botkin.

However the Bulls? Ugh. The Bulls. They tried to clarify why they made no strikes; vp of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas mentioned “We need to keep aggressive.”

Aggressive for what, precisely? One other play-in berth — at greatest? Sam handed out commerce deadline grades for all 30 groups. Just one earned an “F.” … Care to guess which group?

• Quinn: “There is no worse place to be within the NBA than the center. The Bulls aren’t even caught there. They’re selecting to not depart. … They tried to maneuver Zach LaVine. No one would take him. That is out of their management. However absolutely they might have discovered a house for impending free agent DeMar DeRozan on the proper asking worth. … Each contender wished Alex Caruso. … They did not even choose up some spare property for Andre Drummond. … The Bulls are a corporation with no plan or path.”

I could not have mentioned it higher myself.

🏆 NFL Honors: Lamar Jackson wins MVP; Corridor of Fame class introduced

Lamar Jackson‘s season did not finish the best way he wished it to, however he is bringing residence some {hardware} and becoming a member of an unique membership regardless. The Ravens famous person gained his second profession MVP Award, changing into one among 11 gamers to have earned the honour a number of instances. He is additionally the second-youngest participant to achieve two MVPs, solely behind Jim Brown.

In different award information …

• Christian McCaffrey gained Offensive Participant of the 12 months.
• Myles Garrett gained Defensive Participant of the 12 months. T.J. Watt didn’t agree.
• The Texans had each the Offensive Rookie of the 12 months (C.J. Stroud) and the Defensive Rookie of the 12 months (Will Anderson Jr).
• Kevin Stefanski gained Coach of the 12 months thanks to at least one extra first-place vote than DeMeco Ryans.
• Joe Flacco gained Comeback Participant of the 12 months.
• Cam Heyward gained Walter Payton Man of the 12 months.

Transferring from present stars to previous ones, here is the 2024 Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame class:

• Dwight Freeney
• Andre Johnson
• Devin Hester
• Randy Gradishar
• Patrick Willis
• Steve McMichael
• Julius Peppers

How Antonio Gates did not make it’s past me, however he ought to have an awesome probability in 2025. This is our lookahead to the record of these nominees, which incorporates Marshawn Lynch, Luke Kuechly and Eli Manning.

😳 WWE makes Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes official for WrestleMania with The Rock lurking

We at CBS Sports activities are nothing if not group gamers. And because the world {of professional} wrestling will not be my forte, I am tapping in Johnny Flores, one among our esteemed editors, to shut out our recap of yesterday’s occasions.

The WrestleMania 40 essential occasion image is much more difficult than it was earlier than Thursday’s press convention occasion in Las Vegas’ T-Cell Enviornment, although lots of the firm’s followers are proud of the end result. Expectations surrounding the occasion had been that Roman Reigns vs. The Rock could be formally introduced for the undisputed WWE common championship, although that’s not the case.

After seemingly giving up his WrestleMania title shot final week, Cody Rhodes has elected to “end his story” by dealing with Reigns for the second consecutive 12 months, a call made official by WWE chief content material officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

Reigns, in storyline trend, selected to face The Rock, his cousin. The Rock, who final formally wrestled in 2013 towards John Cena and was not too long ago appointed TKO’s board of administrators, confirmed his resolution to step again into the ring Thursday.

Through the kickoff occasion, a mix of storyline and real-time engagement, The Rock accepted Reigns’ problem to the dismay of followers, who wished Rhodes to get the chance.

Rhodes stepped in to take again his title shot and traded barbs with the duo about their respective households. Cody is the son of Dusty Rhodes, whereas Reigns and The Rock’s huge household tree consists of the likes of Yokozuna and Jey and Jimmy Uso. The occasion ended with everybody having to be separated after The Rock slapped Rhodes for disrespecting his lineage.

Whereas Reigns vs. Rhodes II has been introduced, it stays to be seen the place The Rock will match into all of this.

📺 What we’re watching this weekend

Friday

🏀 Hawks at 76ers, 7 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 No. 24 San Diego State at Nevada (M), 8:30 p.m. on CBS Sports activities Community
🏀 Nuggets at Kings, 10 p.m. on NBA League Move

Saturday

🏒 Blues at Sabres, 1 p.m. on ABC
🏀 Illinois at Michigan State (M), 2 p.m. on CBS
🏀 TCU at No. 14 Iowa State (M), 2 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 Thunder at Mavericks, 3 p.m. on NBA TV
🏒 Capitals at Bruins, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
🏀 Gonzaga at No. 17 Kentucky (M), 4 p.m. on CBS
🏀 No. 3 North Carolina at Miami (M), 4 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 No. 5 Houston at Cincinnati (M), 4 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 No. 13 Baylor at No. 4 Kansas (M), 6 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 St. John’s at No. 7 Marquette (M), 6 p.m. on FS1
🏀 Indiana at No. 2 Purdue (M), 8 p.m. on Fox
🏀 Suns at Warriors, 8:30 p.m. on ABC

Sunday

🏀 No. 2 Iowa at Nebraska (W), 1 p.m. on Fox
🏀 Celtics at Warmth, 2 p.m. on ABC
🏀 No. 11 UConn at No. 1 South Carolina (W), 2 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Alabama at No. 14 LSU (W), 4 p.m. on ESPN2
🏈 Tremendous Bowl LVIII: Chiefs vs. 49ers, 6:30 p.m. on CBS