Heat guard Tyler Herro is no longer using a walking boot, the team confirmed on Monday, per Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Herro, who has been out of action since Nov. 8 after sustaining a Grade 2 right ankle sprain, was set to wear the boot for 10 days. Assuming the original plan is in place, he will be reevaluated later this week.
Reporting after Herro’s injury indicated that he could miss “several” weeks, so it would be surprising if he’s back on the court in the near future. Still, it’s encouraging that he seems to be on track with the recovery plan thus far. Herro is in the first season of a four-year, $120M+ rookie scale extension he signed last year. The 23-year-old was off to a strong start this season prior to the injury, averaging 25.3 points per game on .446/.410/.909 shooting in his seven healthy games (all starts) while also chipping in 5.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per night.
The Las Vegas Raiders have seen a total attitude shift since firing Josh McDaniels roughly three weeks ago, and things sound even more radical than previously thought. A source told Dianna Russini of The Athletic that Raiders players “have taken this place over” since McDaniels was fired, and ownership “is fine with it.” Interim coach Antonio Pierce is pushing players to be themselves, and changes have been made to accommodate their wishes even in the short time since he took over.
Another Raiders source told Russini that the mood around the team since McDaniels’ firing is “like ‘Ding dong, the witch is dead.’” Among the feedback the Raiders have taken from players: The team practiced in Las Vegas on Friday and flew to Florida Saturday for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins at the request of team leaders. The initial plan had been to fly to Florida on Friday and practice there Saturday.
The mood shift around the Raiders since McDaniels was fired has been obvious, even from the outside. McDaniels’ strict and demanding style grated on players, and they are relishing their increased freedom. Of course, if the team stops winning, questions will be raised about whether things have been allowed to get too relaxed, but for now, things appear much better off.
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh revealed some details Monday regarding how younger brother Jim Harbaugh spent his Saturday afternoon during Michigan’s win against Maryland. The Wolverines lead man is serving a suspension for the program’s alleged involvement in a sign-stealing scandal.
Michigan is now 2-0 since the Big Ten suspended the 59-year-old for the remainder of the regular season. The Wolverines are 11-0 and were ranked third in the most recent AP Poll. They defeated No. 9 Penn State 24-15 on Nov. 11 on the road and dropped the Terrapins 31-24 on Saturday at SECU Stadium in Maryland. The win against the Terrapins was the 1,000th in program history. Michigan will conclude its regular season at noon on Saturday with a home game against No. 2 Ohio State.
Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore has been filling in for Harbaugh as the interim head coach. Moore (who played as an offensive guard for Oklahoma) has also served as an assistant for Central Michigan and Louisville and has been with the team since 2018. The 37-year-old also stepped up as the interim leader when Harbaugh was suspended for the first three games of the 2023 campaign. The initial punishment was a self-imposed suspension for violating recruiting regulations.
In a thought-provoking Twitter thread, renowned numbers guy @Woodguy55, known for his astute insights, delved into the potential costs and implications of the Edmonton Oilers striking a deal with the Montreal Canadiens involving goaltenders.
The central focus was the prospect of sending Jack Campbell to the Canadiens in exchange for Jake Allen. Writing, “My guess is Allen for Campbell + big price (equivalent of 3 firsts??) and then MTL buys out Campbell next summer,” he adds, “Selling a buyout is expensive.” @Woodguy55 emphasized the significant cost attached to such a move, questioning its viability despite the Oilers’ urgency to alleviate themselves from the Campbell contract. The intricate thread presented a meticulous breakdown of the possible scenarios, anticipating Montreal’s willingness to part with Allen, particularly once they secure the signing of Sam Montembault. The suggested trade involved Allen for Campbell plus a substantial additional cost, akin to the equivalent of two, maybe three first-round picks. @Woodguy55 rationalized this by considering Allen’s performance over the past five years, utilizing Evolving Hockey’s Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx) as a metric.
The analysis covered all situations, even strength, and penalty kill scenarios, revealing fluctuations in Allen’s goaltending prowess. While Allen’s performance in even-strength situations raised concerns over the past three full seasons, his proficiency on the penalty kill was notably commendable.
@Woodguy55, contemplating the potential structural advantage for Montreal’s goalies in penalty kill situations, presented data highlighting Allen’s superiority in comparison to his peers, with Montembeault emerging as a standout in the current season.
Addressing doubts from fans about Allen being the ideal target for the Oilers, @Woodguy55 acknowledged the limited options, asserting that Campbell’s departure is imperative for the Oilers, even if the alternatives are less than ideal. Acknowledging the hefty real-dollar cost associated with trading Campbell, he suggested that Edmonton’s retention on Campbell’s contract could potentially lower the overall cost of the proposed swap. He wrote, “…the more EDM retains on Campbell in this scenario, the lower the cost to do this. My “equivalent of 3 1sts” guess was based on MTL taking the whole contract.” Cost to Fix a Huge Campbell Contract Mistake Could be Painful In response to concerns about the Oilers’ need to chase Campbell’s departure, @Woodguy55 acknowledged the slim pickings in available alternatives, reinforcing the urgency for the Oilers to make a move. While estimating the cost of moving Campbell as more than two first-round picks, he recognized the impact of the significant $9 million in real dollars tied to the trade.
At the end of the day, this deal would be as much about getting out from under one of the worst contracts the Oilers have signed in years. If the goalie that comes back is even remotely suitable as a backup to Skinner and call carry his weight (even if he’s not stellar), that might be a win for Edmonton given the circumstances. The intricate analysis and insights provided by @Woodguy55 shed light on the complexities surrounding a potential goaltender swap between the Oilers and Canadiens. While these two teams are being linked in a deal (at least, the Oilers were seen scouting the Canadiens), a trade won’t come without some heartache.
The Cardinals announced Monday that they’ve hired former infielder Daniel Descalso as their new bench coach. Last year’s bench coach Joe McEwing will join the Cardinals’ front office as a special assistant to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. The Cardinals still expect to make further additions to the coaching staff this winter, the team noted. Descalso, 37, spent five years in a Cardinals uniform from 2010-14 and appeared in parts of 10 MLB seasons between St. Louis, Colorado, Arizona and Chicago (Cubs).
He spent the 2023 season as a special assistant in the Diamondbacks’ baseball operations department. This will be his first professional coaching assignment. It’s the third time in the past two offseasons the Cardinals have effectively installed one of their former players as manager Oli Marmol’s bench coach. The Cards briefly hired Matt Holliday in that role last November, but Holliday had a change of heart just months after being appointed to the post, citing a desire to spend more time with his family as the primary reason for his resignation.
Holliday spent eight years playing for the Cards. McEwing, meanwhile, played for the Cardinals in both 1998 and 1999. He has spent more than a decade on the White Sox’ coaching staff. In 1,079 Major League games, Descalso tallied just shy of 2,900 plate appearances and posted a .235/.320/.362 batting line. He played every position on the diamond other than catcher and center field, with the bulk of his time coming at second base, third base and shortstop (in that order).
