Happy Friday 👋
Yesterday brought sports news in bunches. More Winter Olympics, an NBA blockbuster trade, NFL awards and much more. But first, we head into the weekend edition with the Super Bowl LVI Primer. The big game just two days away...
Letter Rip!
NFL The Super Bowl LVI Primer 
Photo: Picture Alliance / Getty Images Everything You Need to Know for Sunday’s Big Game
Here. We. Go. After a wild month of NFL playoffs, two teams remain. The 4-seed from the AFC and the 3-seed from the NFC are gearing up for America's biggest night in sports and entertainment. Two quarterbacks and one unlikely underdog team square off in Los Angeles. The Rams are 3.5-point favorites at home, but it’s the Bengals who will be the “home” team on the scoreboard. Here’s a look at the quarterback comparisons and team stats between the two similar squads, plus a smorgasbord of previews to sink your teeth into. We crown the NFL champion on Monday morning...
Super Bowl LVI: Sunday (6:30 pm ET, NBC)
QB Comparison M. Stafford (LAR): 4,886 yards, 41 TDs, 17 INTs, 67.2% Comp. J. Burrow (CIN): 4,611 yards, 34 TDs, 14 INTs, 70.4% Comp.
Yards (Offense) Rams: 372.1 yards per game (9th) Bengals: 365.1 yards per game (15th)
Scoring (Offense) Rams: 27.1 points per game (8th) Bengals: 27.1 points per game (7th)
Yards Allowed (Defense) Rams: 344.9 yards per game (17th) Bengals: 350.8 yards per game (18th)
Points Allowed (Defense) Rams: 21.9 points per game (15th) Bengals: 22.1 points per game (17th)
Halftime Show This year’s Pepsi Halftime Show features five performers, mostly from the early 2000s era. They are: Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige.
Super Bowl Previews ESPN: Rams-Bengals Score Prediction, Strength, Weaknesses, Surprises & Storylines to Watch CBS Sports: Super Bowl Records That Could Fall SI: How the Bengals & Rams Punched Their Tickets to Super Bowl LVI USA Today: 32 Things We Learned From 2021 Conference Championships: Unexpected Super Bowl Matchup
NBA Deadline Domino: Harden & Simmons Swapped 
Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images 76ers & Nets Complete Harden-Simmons Blockbuster Ahead of NBA Trade Deadline
The deal we’ve all been waiting for! The Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets made one of the biggest deadline deals in NBA history on Thursday, swapping all-stars James Harden and Ben Simmons, along with multiple other players and picks. The move completely changes the landscape in the Eastern Conference with Philly replacing their holdout headcase, Simmons, with a scoring threat in Harden to compliment MVP candidate Joel Embiid. The Nets are still a threat, and they added depth with the release of Harden, as well as future picks. Here are all the deals from a busy deadline day in the NBA.
NBA Trade Deadline Tracker
76ers Get: James Harden Nets Get: Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummong, Two 1st-Round Picks
Bucks-Clippers-Kings-Pistons Trade Bucks Get: Serge Ibaka, Two 2nd-Round Picks Clippers Get: Rodney Hood, Semi Ojeleye Kings Get: Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Jackson, Trey Lyles Pistons Get: Marvin Bagley
Mavericks Get: Spencer Dinwiddie, Davis Bertans Wizards Get: Kristaps Porzingis, 2nd-Round Pick
Raptors Get: Thaddeus Young, Drew Eubanks, 2nd-Round Pick Spurs Get: Goran Dragic, 1st-Round Pick
Celtics Get: Daniel Theis Rockets Get: Dennis Schroder, Enes Freedom, Bruno Fernando
Hornets Get: Montrezl Harrell Wizards Get: Ish Smith, Vernon Carey Jr.
Celtics Get: 2nd-Round Pick Magic Get: Bol Bol, PJ Dozier
Additional Storylines The Ringer: The Harden-for-Simmons Blockbuster Raises a Whole New Set of Questions CBS Sports: Joel Embiid’s Hilarious Tweet & Other Best Reactions to Harden-Simmons Trade
OLYMPICS Shaun White's Final Run 
Photo: Clive Rose / Getty Images Shaun White Fails to Medal, But Ends Epic Career on a High Note
The world’s most notable snowboarder made his final run on Thursday in Beijing. And even though he failed to medal, Shaun White will be remembered as one of the United States’ great winter olympians. The three-time gold medalist finished fourth in the men’s halfpipe final. He smiled through tears in his final interview and hinted at the next phase of his career after competition. The 35-year-old competed in five Winter Olympics.
Watch: Shaun White’s Final Run in Snowboard Halfpipe
Other Olympic Highlights
Men’s Figure Skating: USA’s Nathan Chen Earns Gold in Free Skate
Women’s Super-G: Shiffrin Completes First Event, Finishes 9th
Women’s Hockey: USA Beat Czech Republic (4-1) to Reach Semifinals
Men’s Hockey: USA Crushes China (8-0) in Opening Game
Medal Count 🏅 Austria (14) Canada (12) Norway (12) ROC (11) United States (10) Germany (9) Netherlands (8) Italy (8) Japan (8)
🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS 🏀 NBA: Luka Doncic’s Goes for 51 Have a night, Luka Doncic! Luka poured in a career-high 51 points, including 28 in the first quarter before the Mavericks beat the Clippers (112-105). Doncic buried seven 3s and added nine rebounds and six assists.
🏒 NHL: Avalanche Extend Streak to 18 With a 3-2 win over the Lightning on Thursday, the Avalanche added another tally to their now-18-game point streak. Devon Toews recorded a goal and an assist in the victory. Colorado (33-8-4) has won 11 of their last 12, and they’re the first team in the NHL to 70 points.
🏀 NCAA: Michigan Thrashes #3 Purdue Unranked Michigan hammered 3rd-ranked Purdue on Thursday night in college hoops (82-58) behind 22 points from Hunter Dickinson and a full-team effort. All five Michigan starters scored in double figures.
⛳️ PGA: Theegala Goes Low at Scottsdale Plenty of low numbers hit the scorecards in Round 1 of the Waste Management Open at TPC Scottsdale in Phoenix, but no one went lower than Sahith Theegala (-7). Brooks Koepka (-5), Xander Schauffele (-4), Justin Thomas (-4), Patrick Cantlay (-4) and Jon Rahm (-4) are in pursuit.
NFL NFL Honors Aaron Rodgers won his second straight MVP award and fourth total on Thursday night at the NFL Honors ceremony in Los Angeles. Here’s a list of all the winners:
Offensive Player of the Year: WR Cooper Kupp (LAR) Defensive Player of the Year: DE T.J. Watt (PIT) Offensive Rookie of the Year: WR Ja’Marr Chase (CIN) Defensive Rookie of the Year: LB Micah Parsons (DAL) Comeback Player of the Year: QB Joe Burrow (CIN) Coach of the Year: Mike Vrabel (TEN) Walter Payton Man of the Year: OL Andrew Whitworth (LAR)
NBA NBA All-Star Draft Full Rosters for NBA All-Star Game Team captains LeBron James and Kevin Durant made their picks for the upcoming NBA All-Star Game on Thursday. Here’s a look a the ASG rosters:
Team LeBron Starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL), Steph Curry (GSW), DeMar DeRozan (CHI), Nikola Jokic (DEN)
Team Durant Starters: Joel Embiid (PHI), Ja Morant (MEM), Jayson Tatum (BOS), Andrew Wiggins (GSW), Trae Young (ATL)
📰 THE HEADLINES MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred Refuses to Concede Spring Training Delay (Yahoo! Sports)
Edmonton Oilers Fire Dave Tippett After Another Loss (ESPN)
Universal Designated Hitter Coming to MLB in 2022 (SI)
Lakers Reportedly Declined Russell Westbrook & John Wall Trade (CBS Sports)
Richard Seymour & Dick Vermeil Headline 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class (NBC Sports)
🗓️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE The Must-Watch List It’s time for the big game! The 2021-22 NFL season concludes with a new champ on Sunday night, but that’s not the only thing to look forward to this weekend. Here’s what we’re watching.
Super Bowl LVI Rams vs. Bengals (6:30 pm, NBC)
Winter Olympics
NBA Lakers at Warriors (Sat. 8:30 pm) Hawks at Celtics (Sun. 2:00 pm)
NHL Hurricanes at Wild (Sat. 8:00 pm) Avalanche at Stars (Sun. 2:00 pm)
NCAA Men’s Basketball #20 Texas at #10 Baylor (Sat. Noon) Oklahoma at #8 Kansas (Sat. 1:00 pm) Indiana at #17 Michigan State (Sat. 3:30 pm) Florida at #5 Kentucky (Sat. 4:00 pm) #16 Ohio State at Michigan (Sat. 6:00 pm) #22 Saint Mary’s at #2 Gonzaga (Sat. 10:00 pm) #12 UCLA at #21 USC (Sat. 10:00 pm)
NCAA Women’s Basketball #12 Oklahoma at #16 Texas (Sat. 8:00 pm) #1 South Carolina at #17 Georgia (Sun. Noon) #18 Notre Dame at #3 Louisville (Sun. 2:00 pm) #5 NC State at Duke (Sun. 2:00 pm)
PGA Tour Waste Management Phoenix Open (All Weekend)
UFC 271 I. Adesanya vs. R. Whittaker (Sat. 10:00 pm)
*All Times Eastern
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