The Colts are making some strong moves, just ahead of tomorrow’s start of NFL free agency. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the club’s agreed to a 3-year, 31 and a quarter million dollar contract extension for linebacker Zaire Franklin. The new deal follows his original extension that came 2 years ago. Last season, Franklin was second in the entire league in tackles, with 179. He also tallied a sack and a half, and forced 2 fumbles.
The Colts have also, according to the Indianapolis Star, agreed on a new 3-year contract for star receiver Michael Pittman, Junior. It’s said to be worth about 70 million dollars, 46 million guaranteed. Pittman confirmed the deal himself last night, with an Instagram post that simply said in one word, he’s– “HOME.”
Partially involving both of our nearest NFL teams, there were reports last night that the Bengals were cutting their top running back the last 7 seasons, Joe Mixon, and replacing him right away with ex-Colt Zack Moss, under a 2-year, 8-milion dollar deal. But things changed a little. Before cutting Joe, Cincy found a club that wanted him, so according to CBS Sports, Mixon’s now being sent to the Houston Texans. He’s the Bengals’ 3rd all-time leading runner with more than 6400 yards, and second in rushing touchdowns, with 49. Joe only entered the NFL in 2017, as a second-round pick from Oklahoma. He ran for a thousand-34 yards last year, the 4th time he’d topped a thousand.
This is the first official day of high school baseball practice in Indiana. And checking the pre-season coaches’ poll as things get underway, the state’s top team in Class 3A is expected to be Andrean of Merrillville, followed by Guerin Catholic. But look at this– ranked at number 9 going into the year—the Batesville Bulldogs! They’ve already got one top player, Jack Grunkemeyer, heading for college on scholarship, as a Northwestern Wildcat.
Men’s college basketball this afternoon features a rematch of last Friday’s regular season finale, in which Cincinnati’s Bearcats hammered West Virginia, 92 to 56. Today the Mountaineers try the Bearcats again, in the Big 12 Conference tournament.
More Cactus League baseball on the way tonight, as the Reds face the White Sox. The broadcast begins at 8:50 this evening, only on the Sports Voice, 103.9 FM WRBI.
South Ripley High senior Evan Eaglin has signed a commitment to swim for Ohio’s Heidelberg University, in NCAA Division III. Evan’s been swimming competitively the last 7 years, for several club teams and for South Ripley, where his mom’s the coach. His Raider career includes 2 individual school records. He’s also raced on several relay teams. Evan says he’ll be studying History Education at Heidelberg.