Ryan Poles: Plan is to start Justin Fields, but have to do homework on QB class - profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

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The Bears have the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and what they’ll do with it will be a storyline in the coming weeks and months.

Monday brought a report that said the team is leaning toward trading the pick away to a team looking for a quarterback, which would leave them to move forward with Justin Fields running the offense. There was also word that they intend to meet with the top quarterback prospects in this year’s class, which General Manager Ryan Poles confirmed during a press conference from the Scouting Combine on Tuesday.

Poles said that isn’t a sign that they’re looking to move on without Fields, however. He said he has not spoken to other teams about trading the 2021 first-round pick and that the team’s mindset is to move forward with the quarterback, but that they need to do their due diligence on the players entering the league this year.

“That’s the plan right now. We’re going to do our homework on this class,” Poles said.

Poles reiterated that he’d need to be blown away by a prospect in order to shift gears at quarterback this offseason. If that doesn’t happen, it seems likely that another team will be on the clock when the draft begins in April.

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NFL Draft: The Chicago Bears' Bryce Young vs. Justin Fields dilemma. - Slate

Bryce Young can be the sun, the moon, and the stars. The Heisman Trophy–winning quarterback out of Alabama is the betting favorite to be the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft, and that status alone—No. 1 pick who plays quarterback—confers a lot of status. NFL people clearly think Young could be great. But I think he’s more than a big bundle of potential. I think he’s going to fulfill that promise, because he’s a football assassin whose feel for the sport is otherworldly. The draft is an ocean of cautionary tales, but none of this is any fun at all if we aren’t allowed to fall in love with players we think are great.

The moment I gave myself to the Church of Bryce Young was in the second week of the 2022 season, at the end of a game against Texas. Alabama was in fourth-quarter danger of an upset loss when the Longhorns sent a cornerback blitz after the QB. Young should’ve been dead to rights, but he shook the more athletic defender off, turning a likely game-losing sack into a run for a first down that set up a winning field goal. That came at the end of one of Young’s least prolific college games. There were lots of other occasions for people to become Young zealots, games when he put up much bigger numbers and made equally stunning plays in high-pressure moments. Betting against Young having a long, prosperous NFL career seems silly. The tangible and intangible both point toward brilliance.

It should be simple, then, for the Chicago Bears to spend the first overall pick on Young. The Bears are terrible, and they have had an endlessly brutal QB situation for just about this whole century. In a vacuum, there should be no drama about who shakes Roger Goodell’s hand first on April 28 or which team’s jersey the two men hold up for the cameras. But life is complicated.

In fact, the Bears are probably not going to wind up taking Young at No. 1, as ESPN reported to start the week of the NFL Scouting Combine. The most quarterback-deprived franchise in the NFL is likely to pass on a QB who could change everything. And while Chicago not drafting Young would have the whiff of a front office outsmarting itself, the Bears might perversely be doing the right thing for themselves, Young, and the QB already on the roster whose presence is a big reason for all this uncertainty. The team’s situation is weird enough that attempting a bit of three-dimensional chess is not out of order.

Young is spectacular in ways that his very good numbers don’t fully get across. Alabama is a machine, and many quarterbacks during Nick Saban’s dynastic tenure there have gotten statistical boosts from playing in a supercharged offense. For much of his two-year run as the starter, Young was the supercharge. While other Bama QBs have had a rotating cast of elite future NFL stars at wide receiver, Young played this past season with the most nondescript wideout corps his school has had in ages. (He had two great receivers the year before, but both got hurt in the postseason, and Young’s lack of great targets at that point was a big reason Georgia beat Alabama to win the first of back-to-back national titles.) Some of Alabama’s offenses have been masterfully designed in ways that everyone could see. The past two years’ offenses weren’t that way, and the offensive coordinator, Bill O’Brien, was the subject of all the usual yelling that comes when a unit seems as if it’s underperforming. Alabama still scored 41 points per game in 2022 because, when you have Young, it’s just not possible for things to go all that wrong.

The reason for skepticism about Young’s NFL future is out of his control: He is not a big dude. Alabama listed him at 6 feet, and it may soon become clear that the Tide’s measurement was accurate only in the tippy-toes sense. There have been great NFL QBs in Young’s height range (Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, for example), but they are few. Young has a slight build that lends itself to reasonable fears about how he’ll handle getting beaten up by NFL defenders. He isn’t a dropback-passing giant like Trevor Lawrence or Justin Herbert, and he isn’t a dual-threat bulldozer like Jalen Hurts. I mostly roll my eyes at this line of commentary, because a special player is a special player, whether he’s big or not. But it’s not nothing, and you can picture a world where Young is injured a lot and doesn’t develop optimally.

A different QB’s development comes into play too. The Bears took Justin Fields with the 11^th pick in 2021. Fields was about as compelling a prospect then as Young is now: a former five-star recruit who’d been hugely successful at a blue-blood college program in a hard conference (Ohio State in the Big Ten, in his case) and who had few attributes not to love. Fields’ first two years in the NFL have been mostly bad. He’s thrown interceptions on 3.6 percent of his throws, more than any other regular starter over that time. The Bears have frequently sputtered around him, and a month into last season, Fields and his team were locked in a battle over who could fail the other more comprehensively. But things got a lot better as the year went on. Fields became one of the most prolific running QBs the league has had in a while and finished the season with more than 1,100 yards on the ground. He showed flashes as a passer too, most notably when he had a big day in a loss to the Green Bay Packers (the archrival the Bears are eternally trying to be respectable against) in Week 13. Fields finished a respectable 17^th in ESPN’s QBR, a stat that bakes in rushing as well as passing efficiency. He had been dead-last 31^st among qualifiers in his rookie year. His overall passing numbers are bad, but not bad enough to obscure that Fields is on an upward arc.

Fields, at a listed 6-foot-3 and 228 pounds, carries none of the size quibbles that Young does. He’s a running asset in a way Young will never be. Young is probably a more valuable prospect—again, in a vacuum—but growing into an NFL career is a process for everyone. Fields has already spent two years in the crucible that is “playing football for the Chicago Bears,” and they have been hard, but he’s gotten a lot better. The Bears remain terrible, and it’s not clear that Young would have a more enjoyable first few years in Chicago than Fields has had. Fields’ second-year improvement came under a new coach, Matt Eberflus, and a new offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy. The team would be ripping out valuable continuity for an upgrade that might not actually be an upgrade, as certain as I am that Young has the juice to be a star. Young’s size is a small reason to look elsewhere, but the much better reason is that Fields exists. Even after two rocky years, one doesn’t have to strain to imagine Fields taking the Bears to the playoffs and, one day, being a Pro Bowl–caliber QB.

Rostering both QBs is a waste of resources, so the Bears’ options are simple. They can keep Fields and draft someone else, maybe the absurd Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, with the first pick. They can trade Fields and pick Young. (They could also draft a QB who isn’t Young, but let’s assume they don’t.) Or general manager Ryan Poles can send off the first pick for the most handsome ransom he can find, as current reporting indicates he’ll do. Trading picks is a little easier than trading players, anyway, because picks don’t have preexisting contracts attached to them. The first overall pick should bring back another high first-round pick and a fruit basket of other picks. The Bears have dozens of problems, and Fields’ progression in 2022 gives them the option of addressing several at once instead of pressing the reset button at QB.

No matter what the Bears do, they’ll be risking long-term embarrassment. No team wants to be the one who could’ve drafted Peyton Manning and didn’t. But it’s only mildly more appealing to be the team that traded Brett Favre before Favre’s career truly got started, as the Atlanta Falcons did in 1992. The looming specter of humiliation is the cost of doing business in the NFL, and it could take years for the Bears to ascertain if the call they made this spring was the right one.

Being made to pick between QBs of this caliber is a good problem. For as long as anyone playing in the NFL today has been alive, Bears passers have topped out at levels somewhere between Jim McMahon (a fine-enough QB who happened to play on a 1985 team with Walter Payton and the best defense in the history of football) and Jay Cutler (a fine-enough QB who did not play on the ’85 Bears). Chicago quarterback play has been a barely interrupted parade of misery for decades, with all due respect to the Nickelodeon Valuable Player honor Mitchell Trubisky took home in the 2020 season’s playoffs. Soon enough, Bears fans are going to learn what it’s like to have a genuinely good NFL quarterback leading their offense. And if it doesn’t happen soon, at least the faithful can stop hoping that it ever will.

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NFL free agency 2023: Commanders place franchise tag on defensive tackle Daron Payne - CBS Sports

Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Commanders became the first team in the NFL to deploy the franchise tag this offseason. The club did so early Tuesday morning, announcing that they have tagged star defensive tackle Daron Payne. Under the tag, Payne is projected to make roughly $18.9 million fully guaranteed for the 2023 season. 

This move was an expected one from Washington, who cleared significant cap space on Tuesday following the release of quarterback Carson Wentz. The deadline for the team to use the franchise tag was March 7, otherwise, Payne would have become an unrestricted free agent. Now that the tag has been placed on Payne, the Commanders have until July 17 to sign him to a long-term deal. Once that deadline passes, however, the team will not be able to negotiate with him on a new contract until after the 2023 season.

Because this is not the exclusive franchise tag, Payne also can negotiate with other teams along with the Commanders. If he agrees to a contract with another club, Washington would have the right of first refusal. If they decided to let him go, Payne's new team would have to send the Commanders two first-round picks as compensation or work out some other agreement.  

Payne, 25, has been with the franchise dating back to 2018 when the Commanders took him with the No. 13 overall pick out of Alabama. The 6-foot-3, 320-pounder is coming off a breakout season in 2022 where he was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. In 17 games, he notched a career-best 11.5 sacks, 64 tackles, and 20 quarterback hits. He also broke up five passes and had a fumble recovery. 

Payne has also been a reliable piece along Washington's defensive line, missing just one game through his first five seasons and played 87% of the defensive snaps in 2022.

This is one of many decisions that the Commanders will have to make along their defensive line over the next few offseasons. The team already extended fellow defensive lineman and former first-rounder Jonathan Allen back in 2021 and have him under contract through the 2025 season. Meanwhile, defensive end Montez Sweat is entering the final year of his rookie contract and the team will need to decide on whether or not they'll pick up the fifth-year option of fellow pass rusher Chase Young, who has been limited to 12 games over the last two seasons. 

Payne was the No. 4 free agent on CBS Sports Senior NFL Analyst Pete Prisco's top 100 list. 

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Houston, Alabama top AP Top 25; Marquette climbing, Pitt in - The Associated Press - en Español

The top five spots in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll remained the same. The rest of the AP Top 25 was a big jumble.

Houston was No. 1 for the second straight week in the poll released Monday, receiving 49 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel. No. 2 Alabama had five first-place votes and No. 3 Kansas received eight.

UCLA and Purdue rounded out the top five. The Boilermakers held at No. 5 despite losing to No. 15 Indiana.

In the rest of the poll, only No. 20 Providence kept the same position from last week as teams get ready for conference tournaments next week and the start of March Madness.

Alabama held its spot after winning two games despite a challenging week off the court. Brandon Miller had a pair of huge games since police alleged that he brought a gun to former teammate Darius Miles, who is charged with capital murder in a fatal shooting.

Against Arkansas on Saturday, Miller’s regular pregame introduction with a Crimson Tide staffer giving him a pat down didn’t sit well with coach Nate Oats — or anyone else.

“I can assure you it definitely will not happen again the remainder of this year,” Oats said.

Miller had 24 points in the 86-83 win over the Razorbacks after scoring 41 in a two-point win over South Carolina.

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SOARING EAGLES

Marquette has made a quick rise under coach Shaka Smart.

The Golden Eagles wrapped up a share of their first Big East regular-season title in a decade with a 90-84 win over DePaul on Saturday and climbed four spots in this week’s poll to No. 6. It is Marquette’s highest ranking hitting No. 1 in 1977-78.

HOUSTON ON TOP

Houston moved into the top spot last week and held onto it after a pair of routs last week. The Cougars’ 76-57 win at East Carolina on Saturday clinched the American Athletic Association regular-season championship, the fourth time in five seasons they’ve at least shared the conference title.

“Our kids know how to win — I say that a lot,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “But we’ve figured out how to play our system, be unselfish.”

RISING/FALLING

Marquette matched No. 14 UConn and No. 18 San Diego State with the week’s biggest jump among teams in the poll, each climbing four spots.

No. 13 Virginia took the biggest tumble, losing seven spots following losses to Boston College and North Carolina last week.

IN AND OUT

No. 21 Maryland is back in the AP Top 25 after wins over Minnesota and then-No. 23 Northwestern.

No. 23 Kentucky returned to the poll after a seven-week absence. The Wildcats had a rapid fall from being No. 4 in the preseason poll, but reeled off wins over No. 12 Tennessee, Florida and Auburn.

No. 25 Pittsburgh is ranked for the first time since 2016 after beating Georgia Tech and Syracuse last week.

Northwestern’s return to the poll for the first time in two years didn’t last long. The Wildcats dropped out this week after losses to Maryland and Illinois.

Iowa State fell out from No. 23 after three straight losses and consecutive losses knocked out Creighton from No. 19.

___

AP college basketball: https://ift.tt/jhKagGZ and https://ift.tt/KlVy23e and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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How to watch 2023 NFL Combine: Drills schedule, TV channel, press conferences - Pride Of Detroit

It’s officially 2023 NFL Combine week, as the next wave of NFL players have already started to descend upon Indianapolis for one of the most important weeks of their professional lives. Even though it seems like more and more players opt out of the on-field drills, this week still holds massive importance for these draft prospects as they meet individually with teams, provide critical medical information, and flash their personalities to the media.

The NFL keeps tweaking the Combine schedule, both to accommodate the players the best, while also trying to make this a television event worth watching. This year, the main difference is that they have moved all the skill position players’ on-field drills to the weekend, as that’s what people enjoy watching the most.

But there have been other little adjustments here and there, so here’s a full outlook of the 2023 NFL Combine schedule, including when and where you can watch.

Note: If I’m being completely honest, there’s not much information for fans to consume until Wednesday, when the players start meeting with the media. For Detroit Lions fans, Wednesday is also when GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell will speak to the media. On-field drills—and NFL Network’s live coverage of the event—start on Thursday.

Monday, Feb. 27

Defensive linemen and linebackers

• Registration
• Pre-exams
• Orientation
• Team interviews

Tuesday, Feb. 28

Defensive linemen and linebackers

• Medical exams
• Team interviews

Defensive backs and special teamers

• Registration
• Pre-exams
• Orientation
• Team interviews

Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends

• Registration
• Team interviews

Wednesday, March 1

---

• Lions GM Brad Holmes at the podium at 4:15 p.m. ET
• Lions coach Dan Campbell at the podium at 4:30 p.m. ET

For the rest of the press conference schedule, click here.

---

Defensive linemen and linebackers

• Medical exams
• Media interviews
• NFLPA meeting
• Team interviews

Defensive backs and special teamers

• Medical exams
• Team interviews

Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends

• Pre-exam
• NFLPA meeting
• Team interviews

Offensive line and running backs

• Registration
• Orientation
• Team interviews

Thursday, March 2 — Televised on NFL Network from 3 p.m. ET - 8 p.m. ET

Defensive linemen and linebackers

• On-field drills
• Measurements

Defensive backs and special teamers

• Media interviews
• NFLPA meeting
• Team interviews

Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends

• Medical exams
• Broadcast interviews

Offensive line and running backs

• NFLPA meeting
• Team interviews

Friday, March 3 — Televised on NFL Network (3 p.m. ET - 8 p.m. ET)

Defensive backs and special teamers

• On-field drills
• Measurements

Defensive linemen and linebackers

• Bench press
• Broadcast interviews

Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends

• Media interviews
• Team interviews

Offensive line and running backs

• Medical exams
• Broadcast interviews

Saturday, March 4 — Televised on NFL Network (1 p.m. ET - 8 p.m. ET)

Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends

• On-field drills
• Measurements

Defensive backs and special teamers

• Bench press
• Broadcast interviews

Offensive line and running backs

• Media interviews
• Team interviews

Sunday, March 5 — Televised on NFL Network (1 p.m. ET - 8 p.m. ET)

Offensive line and running backs

• On-field drills
• Measurements

Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends

• Bench press

Monday, March 6

Offensive line and running backs

• Bench press

---

If you’re more of a visual consumer:

---

Here’s a link to all the NFL Draft prospects invited to the Combine. (Note: There are some that end up backing out at the last minute.)

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Celts' Jayson Tatum hits winner; Embiid's 70-foot heave ruled late - ESPN

1:22 AM ET

• 

  Tim BontempsESPN

PHILADELPHIA -- When Jayson Tatum's step-back 3-pointer fell through the net at Wells Fargo Center with 1.3 seconds to go in Saturday night's thriller between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, it looked to all the world like he'd just won the game for the Celtics.

As it turned out, Tatum did -- but just barely.

Joel Embiid caught the ensuing inbounds pass, and his 70-foot heave hit nothing but net at the other end -- yet it came a split second after the final buzzer sounded. Instead of sending this game to overtime, it somehow made what became a 110-107 loss for the 76ers even more discouraging.

"I don't care," Embiid said when asked if it was almost worse that his shot went in late. "It didn't count. But I guess it's a good highlight for everybody, social media and all that stuff.

"But it didn't count, and we lost the game. It's frustrating losing these types of games, especially when you're winning by so much. It's frustrating."

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Embiid was spectacular, finishing with 41 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in just under 40 minutes for Philadelphia (39-20). But that didn't stop the 76ers from losing for a third time in three meetings with Boston (44-17) this season. That coupled with Boston holding a four-game lead in the standings with 23 games to play severely hurt the 76ers' chances of catching their rivals.

The Sixers blew a 15-point lead, letting the Celtics back in the game during a 23-3 run that spanned the final few minutes of the third quarter and the opening minutes of the fourth.

For Boston, the memorable moment was Tatum stepping up and burying that step-back 3. It wasn't the prettiest of performances overall from Tatum, who finished with 18 points on 7-for-17 shooting to go with 13 rebounds, six assists and five turnovers in 36 minutes. But when Boston needed him to deliver, he stepped up, hitting the dagger trey over the strong defense of 76ers guard De'Anthony Melton.

"Get separation and make a play," Tatum said of his thoughts on the final play. "Felt [Melton] leaning, snatched it back for the move and shot I worked on a thousand times before."

Tatum's shot came out of a similar set Boston used against the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season. It's a play the Celtics have employed time and again over the past several years, initially created by current president of basketball operations Brad Stevens during his coaching days with Boston.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said afterward that he stole the play from Stevens.

"I think it's a read," Mazzulla said. "You can do a bunch of different stuff out of [that set]. So it's just a matter of reading where the defenders are. [Marcus] Smart made a great play. [Tatum] did a good job making separation.

"Situations like that, players have to make plays, and they did."

The Sixers said they could accept how Boston's final possession played out, with coach Doc Rivers praising Melton's defense and tipping his cap to Tatum.

"I mean, he came down, they threw him the ball, he pulled back. ... It's probably a shot he works on," Rivers said. "Best-case scenario was to make it hard on him. He hit a tough one.

"Sometimes, you've got to live with those."

Philadelphia also had to live with Embiid's miraculous shot not counting. While many of the 20,993 in attendance went berserk after the shot went in, the 76ers -- led by Embiid himself -- didn't need to see a replay to know it didn't count.

P.J. Tucker, who immediately grabbed the ball after Tatum's shot and inbounded it to Embiid, said Sixers players realized it was late.

"The other guys on the bench knew right away," he said.

Rivers agreed.

"Yeah, I was pretty sure of it," the coach said with a smile when asked if he knew it wouldn't count. "I was hoping [I was wrong], but I was pretty sure."

Embiid credited Celtics guard Derrick White for getting in his way just enough to force him to make an extra move before letting the shot go.

"I mean, I wish I would have shot it sooner," Embiid said, "but when I turned, I saw Derrick White there, so I couldn't really get it off, so I had to kind of go back to my right side to try to get it up."

Then Embiid -- tongue firmly in cheek -- added: "So, unfortunately, the story of my life."

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Purdue Basketball: Indiana Preview - Hammer and Rails

#5 Purdue (23-4, Big 10 13-4) vs. #17 Indiana (19-9, Big 10 10-7)

February 25, 2023, 7:30 p.m. EST

Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana

TV: Fox

Roster

Indiana Starting Lineup

Position	#	Player	Class	Height	Weight	Hometown	Previous Team
Position	#	Player	Class	Height	Weight	Hometown	Previous Team
C	23	Trayce Jackson-Davis	Jr	6'9"	245	Greenwood, IN
F	25	Race Thompson	RS Sr	6'8"	235	Plymouth, MI
F	12	Miller Kopp	Sr	6'7"	215	Houston, TX
G	32	Trey Galloway	So	6'4"	203	Culver, IN
G	1	Jalen Hood-Schifino	Fr	6'6"	213	Pittsburgh, PA

Indiana Bench

Position	#	Player	Class	Height	Weight	Hometown	Previous Team
Position	#	Player	Class	Height	Weight	Hometown	Previous Team
C/F	5	Malik Reneau	Fr	6'9"	233	Miami, FL
F	22	Jordan Geronimo	So	6'6"	225	Newark, NJ
G	53	Tamar Bates	So	6'5"	198	Kansas City, KS

Indiana On Offense

They’ve stayed shooting the ball incredibly well. With an effective FG% of 54.4 (28th), the Hoosiers are hitting a killer 38% from three point land (17th) and 53.4% inside (57th). Sure, a lot of that is having a physical presence down low, but in the teams’ last meeting, Indiana was very adaptive to Zach Edey’s presence around the rim and had an impressive showing of mid-range jumpers and floaters.

The Hoosiers’ pace has slowed down a tad to 16.5 seconds per possession, but still only 52 teams in men’s college hoops play faster. If Purdue can play tighter than they did in the first half of the last matchup, things slow down to the Boilermakers’ preferred tempo.

This statement from my previous Indiana preview still rings true: They are a very good passing team, especially in close quarters down low. Misdirection and threading the needle through tight passing windows may be their best bet in getting points down low with Edey in the fray. Even though they shoot well from three, they’re disciplined enough to pass up open deep shots with a fake-out drive, bounce pass, and layup while defenders are scanning the floor and getting caught in transition.

In that loss, Purdue’s defense got a taste of their own medicine in terms of offensive style. Early on, Indiana was moving the ball, Purdue was looking lost and allowing open shots while not being very aggressive from half court to the top of the key.

Indiana on Defense

The Hoosiers have seen slight decreases in most defensive categories since the beginning of the month, but still boast an adjusted defensive efficiency of 97.5, 43rd best in college basketball.

Really the only defensive knock on them overall is the fact that they don’t create turnovers; their 16.7% turnover percentage puts them at 278th nationally. The most frustrating part of Purdue’s loss on February 4th, for me, was that the Boilers allowed the Hoosiers 11 steals. In Indiana’s games since, they’ve recorded five steals (Rutgers), then three (Michigan), then one (Northwestern), then eight (Ilinois), then five (Michigan State). When you’re not known for creating turnovers, to have 11 steals against a team who takes pretty good care of the rock is definitely an anomaly.

Beyond that, they allow a 46th-ranked field goal percentage of 47.2, including allowing 32.5% from beyond the arc (92nd) and just 46.2% from inside (33rd). They remain one of the best shot blocking teams in the land with a block percentage of 14.2 (10th).

Indiana plays very physical defense, especially down low, and saw success with the hard double team on Zach Edey a few weeks ago. It’s the only time you ever see the big man panic, and he’s thrown the ball away quite a few times in such a scenario over the course of the season. In and around the painted area, they’re also quite adept at cutting off angles for driving guards, forcing less-than-ideal angles that are a little farther off to the side than somebody like Braden Smith or Fletcher Loyer would prefer. The result: layup attempts that border on circus shots, and Edey can’t always be there to clean up.

One thing I noticed in Purdue’s late comeback attempt in Bloomington was that once the Boilers started to maintain offensive rhythm and execute their style of basketball, Indiana was prone to getting lost with ball movement and over-committing to the double team, leaving open jumpers to shooters like Mason Gillis, David Jenkins, and Brandon Newman, each of whom are capable of getting hot and staying hot from long range. So long as Purdue doesn’t have a start like they did on the February 4th and can maintain pace from start to finish, the Boilers should be fine on offense. Such is to say: I don’t see Indiana doing it again.

X-Factor - Having More Than Two Boilers In Double Figures

Indiana’s success in double teaming Zach Edey left him “limited” to 33 points and 18 rebounds. The next leading scorer was Fletcher Loyer with 12. Beyond that, a few players had five or six points. And that’s all well and good, basketball is, of course, a team sport, and even point distribution with one dominant star going off is sustainable for some teams. Purdue has shown they can get by that way, but for a game of this magnitude, it’d be great to see more guys hover around 10 points while Edey goes, in the words of great American poet Waka Flocka Flame, hard in the [redacted] paint.

Even if Edey has one of those insane statlines and only one other Boilermaker hits double digits, it has to be more than 12 points. Somebody else has to get hot-handed against a very good Indiana defense.

Draft Kings Odds

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details

*Draft Kings Odds Provided by Jed

Spread

Purdue: -6.5

Over/Under (Total)

138

Moneyline

Purdue: -185

Indiana: -105

Prediction

KenPom

Purdue - 75

Indiana - 67

77% Confidence

Garrett

Purdue - 72

Indiana - 62

Indiana is a very good team, but they played out of their minds in the first half at home and the game still came down to the wire. I’d be very surprised to see that energy matched on the road in one of the toughest buildings to visit with a home crowd experiencing a certain degree of bloodlust.

I see Purdue getting back to their preferred pace of play and, while I do think it’ll be a solid back-and-forth for the first, let’s say 30 or 32 minutes, the Boilers should pull away down the stretch and outlast the Hoosiers who need to win out (with Purdue and Northwestern losing a few more) for any shot at the regular season conference title and a #1 seed in the Big 10 tournament.

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MUST SEE 2OT ENDING Kings vs Clippers | February 24, 2023 - NBA

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F1 testing podcast: An ominous first day from Red Bull - The Race

We bring you everything you need to know about the opening day of Formula 1 testing in Bahrain in the first of our daily editions of The Race F1 Podcast.

Scott Mitchell-Malm and Edd Straw were in the paddock and trackside throughout today’s running and explain why Red Bull’s first-day form looks so ominous.

We also hear from Mark Hughes, who spent the day crunching the numbers to bring you his laptime analysis, and Gary Anderson, who takes a close look at the new Red Bull RB19.

But it’s not just about Red Bull as we also examine Ferrari and Mercedes, in particular looking out for any signs of the dreaded porpoising.

Using trackside observations, laptime analysis and chats with the key players in the paddock, we finish off by running through the other seven teams to ask who is looking good in F1’s midfield.

The Race F1 Podcast is available free to subscribe to from all good podcast suppliers, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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Green Bay Packers complete history with the franchise tag - Packers Wire

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Green Bay Packers complete history with the franchise tag  Packers WireView Full Coverage on Google News
Green Bay Packers complete history with the franchise tag - Packers Wire
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Michigan State Spartans battle emotions, beat Indiana Hoosiers - Detroit News

Here's a Look at Some Important Dates on the 2023 NFL Offseason Calendar - chiefs.com

The Kansas City Chiefs are champions of the National Football League after winning Super Bowl LVII, but the work to defend that title is already underway.

Here's a look at some important dates to keep in mind on the NFL calendar over the next several months.

February 21: Teams may designate Franchise or Transition players between this date and 3 p.m. CT on March 7.

February 28 – March 6: The NFL Scouting Combine takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana.

March 7: The deadline for teams to designate Franchise or Transition players is at 3 p.m. CT.

March 13 – March 15: Teams are permitted to contact and enter into contract negations with the certified agents of players (or the player himself, if they do not have an agent) who will become unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their 2022 contracts at 3 p.m. CT on March 15. This is referred to as the negotiating period.

March 15: The 2023 League Year begins at 3 p.m. CT, meaning that unrestricted free agents are permitted to sign contracts with any team. The onset of the new League Year also means the following:

• Prior to the 3 p.m. CT deadline, teams must exercise options for 2023 on all players who have an option clause in their contracts.

• Additionally, prior to the 3 p.m. CT deadline, teams must submit qualifying offers to their restricted free agents with expiring contracts in order to retain a right to refusal (and compensation) should the player sign an offer sheet with another team.

• The trading period begins at 3 p.m. CT. No trades can officially take place before this time.

• Prior to 3 p.m. CT, all teams must be under the 2023 salary cap.

• Lastly, prior to 3 p.m. CT, teams must submit a minimum salary tender to players with expiring contracts and who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agent credit in order to retain exclusive negotiating rights.

April 17: Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.

April 21: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 26: Deadline for teams to exercise their right of refusal to restricted free agents.

April 27 – 29: The NFL Draft takes place in Kansas City.

May 1: Deadline for teams to exercise fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

May 5 – 8 or May 12 – 15: Teams are permitted to hold one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp between one of the two indicated weekends.

For a look at the entire offseason calendar, click here.

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NFL free agency 2023: Franchise tag candidates for all 32 teams, as window opens to retain key players - CBS Sports

The NFL free agency period will start ramping up over the next few weeks as teams will get a head start on their 2023 salary cap situation, thanks to a crucial date on the league calendar. Tuesday marks the start for teams to decide whether to place the franchise tag or transition tag on any one of their players for the 2023 season, creating some cap maneuvering around the league. 

Some teams will use the franchise tag right away in the hopes of negotiating a long-term extension with that player in the weeks leading up to free agency. Other teams will wait to the very last minute to decide if any unrestricted free agent is worth the franchise tag -- or some teams won't even use the tag at all. 

Eight players received the franchise tag last season, meaning 25% of the league applied the tag on their pending free agents. Three of those players signed long-term deals with the team that applied the tag on them, and one was traded (Davante Adams) while the other four played the year on the tag. Whether a long-term extension will be settled with that player will be processed in due time, yet teams will maneuver to keep their key players on the roster for 2023 and beyond. 

Per CBS Sports contributor and former NFL agent Joel Corry, below is the projected tag salary at each position for every player who is franchise tagged in 2023 (The 2023 salary cap is set at $224.8 million):

Position	Projected franchise tag
Quarterback	$32,416,000
Linebacker	$20,926,000
Wide receiver	$19,743,000
Defensive end	$19,727,000
Defensive tackle	$18,937,000
Cornerback	$18,140,000
Offensive line	$18,244,000
Safety	$14,460,000
Tight end	$11,435,000
Running back	$10,091,000
Kicker/punter	$5,393,000

Which players are franchise tag candidates for every team over the next few weeks? Let's take a look at the unrestricted free agent for each team who could have a franchise tag placed upon them over the next few weeks (if there are any free agents worth tagging). 

Note: Cap space listed is from our 2023 free agency primer. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

There aren't many players worth tagging on the Cardinals this offseason, as the franchise has plenty of free agents it can part ways with next month. Zach Allen is the only player worth tagging on this roster, the only player worth keeping on this defense. 

Going from a salary of $2.8 million to $19.3 million is a significant raise, especially for a rising player like Allen. A career-high 35 pressures, 8.5% pressure rate and 5.5 sacks is worth retaining Allen -- but not for that amount. They can afford to re-sign him without applying the tag. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

The Falcons are another franchise that don't have any players worth tagging this offseason, the closest being Kaleb McGary. Is McGary really worth giving $18.2 million this offseason?

McGary has been a starting right tackle for Atlanta, but that's it at this stage of his career. While he's allowed 33 sacks over his four seasons in the league, the 3.9% pressure rate allowed last year was the lowest of his career. McGary is getting better, but he's not worth the tag. 

Potential franchise tag player: Lamar Jackson (QB)

This is a no-brainer for Baltimore. Jackson is the team's franchise quarterback and the Ravens will lose him for nothing if they just let him walk. The exclusive tag won't allow Jackson to negotiate with other teams while Baltimore would receive two first-round picks if they placed the non-exclusive tag on Jackson and don't match the offer from another team. 

Jackson is worth more than two first-round picks and the Ravens shouldn't let him walk anyway. The Ravens are 45-16 with Jackson as a starter and 8-18 without, averaging 28.0 points per game in Jackson's starts and 20.0 without him. They need Jackson on their roster in 2023. 

Potential franchise tag player: Jordan Poyer (S)

The Bills actually have two choices here: Poyer and linebacker Trumaine Edmunds. Poyer is the older player, but also a leader this defense can't afford to lose. Giving the tag to a safety is much more forgiving, as Poyer would make $14.5 million in 2023 compared to Edmunds at $20.9 million. 

Poyer had a huge year at the age of 31, finishing with 63 tackles, eight passes defensed and four interceptions. The Bills were 12-0 when Poyer played last season and is the only player with 20-plus interceptions and 10-plus sacks since 2017. 

Poyer is the heart and soul of the Bills defense. He's worth the tag. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

The Panthers are another team that doesn't have anyone worth applying the tag toward this offseason. The best candidate is running back D'Onta Foreman, who had a career-high 203 carries for 914 yards and five touchdowns last season (4.5 yards per carry).

Carolina can retain Foreman for a much cheaper rate than $10.1 million. There's no need to apply the tag here, especially given their cap situation. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

The Bears have $94 million in available cap space -- and no free agents worth applying the franchise tag on. Riley Reiff would be the only player in consideration for the tag, but he's not worth $18.2 million. 

Chicago would be wise to sit this one out. 

Potential franchise tag player: Jessie Bates III (S)

Bates had the same impact this year as he had in previous years, finishing with 71 tackles, eight passes defensed and a career-high four interceptions. Opposing quarterbacks had just a 49.8 passer rating targeting Bates, completing just 59% of their passes.

The Bengals should just tag Bates again and try to work out a long-term deal. He's too good a player to let walk. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

Cleveland's free agent crop isn't great this year, with Deion Jones being the best player who's going to hit the market. Jones, a former Pro Bowl linebacker, was traded to the Browns prior to the deadline and finished with 44 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception in 11 games with Cleveland. 

Jones is a good player, but the Browns can retain at a much cheaper rate than $20.9 million. 

Potential franchise tag player: Tony Pollard (RB)

If there's a running back to place a tag on, Pollard is one of a few. An explosive player since he's entered the league, Pollard has averaged 5.1 yards per carry in his four seasons. Dallas was explosive when Pollard finally was used in the featured role, as he finished with 1,007 yards, nine rushing touchdowns and 5.2 yards per carry. He also averaged 9.5 yards per reception in earning a Pro Bowl appearance. 

Pollard is worth $10.1 million as Dallas buys more time to seek a long-term deal. Pay Pollard and cut Ezekiel Elliott. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

The Broncos don't have a player worth tagging in 2023, as their free agent class won't be in high demand as in previous years. They also have a limited number of draft picks available, so applying the tag isn't necessary.

If there was a player Denver could tag, it would be Kareem Jackson. While durable and coming off a career high in tackles (94), Jackson is 34 and not worth paying $14.5 million in 2023. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

Detroit has free agents worth retaining, but none is worth slapping the tag on prior to free agency. Jamaal Williams had a huge year with 1,066 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns (which led the league), but the Lions can keep him around for much less than $10.1 million. 

Amani Oruwariye is also worth re-signing, but not worth the tag rate of $18.1 million. He didn't have an interception last season and opposing quarterbacks had a 97.9 passer rating targeting him. The Lions can re-sign Oruwariye for a cheaper rate as he's still a key piece of that defense. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

The Packers don't have a lot of free agents this offseason as they await the decision of Aaron Rodgers -- again. If there's any player worth slapping the tag on, it would be Adrian Amos, who has been a key piece in that defense for several years. 

Amos had a very poor year in coverage as opposing quarterbacks had a 103.8 passer rating targeting him while he allowed six touchdown passes and a 70.2% completion rate. Amos did have a career-high 102 tackles, but giving him $14.5 million with their cap situation would be asinine. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

The Texans don't have a single free agent worth tagging. They are better off sitting this one out and adding talent through other teams. Having that No. 2 draft pick and finding a franchise quarterback should be their key focus this offseason. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

Indianapolis is in the same situation as Houston, needing to find that franchise quarterback for a roster that should be better than what they've shown over the past few seasons. Yannick Ngakoue would be worth the consideration of placing the tag on after a season which he finished with 9.5 sacks, 44 pressures and a 10.8% pressure rate. 

Ngakoue can still get to the quarterback and has been one of the consistent pass rushers over the past several seasons, never having fewer than eight sacks in a season. 

Potential franchise tag player: Evan Engram (TE)

Engram had a career year in Jacksonville, arguably the greatest season for a tight end in Jaguars' franchise history. He finished with a career-high 73 catches for 766 yards, both franchise records for Jaguars tight ends in a season. 

Engram was a reliable target for Trevor Lawrence and was crucial for his development. With Calvin Ridley set to come back, Engram is worth paying $11.4 million until he and the Jaguars can reach a long-term deal. 

Potential franchise tag player: Orlando Brown (LT)

The Chiefs are expected to tag Brown again -- and they absolutely should. Brown wants to remain in Kansas City and would easily be the top free agent tackle on the market if the Chiefs didn't tag him. 

Brown allowed four sacks and 39 pressures in the regular season while allowing 10 pressures in three postseason games (just one in the Super Bowl). Brown hasn't allowed a sack since Week 15 against the Houston Texans and just two sacks since Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans.

Brown is a franchise left tackle and is worth the $18.2 million the Chiefs would pay him. 

Potential franchise tag player: Josh Jacobs (RB)

Jacobs was the NFL rushing champion and arguably the most productive back in the one year he was with Josh McDaniels, rushing for 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also led the league in yards from scrimmage with 2,053 and was the first Raiders player since 1985 to win the league rushing title. 

Jacobs is worth the $10.1 million for 2023 -- and the tag gives the Raiders time to see if they can sign him to a long-term deal. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

The Chargers went on their free agent spending spree last offseason, so placing the franchise tag on any player in this crop is unnecessary. Nasir Adderley is a good player, but he's not worth placing the tag on at this stage (even though opposing quarterbacks had just a 38.9 passer rating targeting him last year). 

Simply put, the Chargers just don't have the cap space to use the tag with the Justin Herbert extension looming as the top priority. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

There are no free agents on the Rams roster that are worth placing the tag on this year. The best option would be Nick Scott and he struggled with more coverage snaps this season. No player in this free agent class is worth giving top dollar to this offseason. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

The Dolphins have a lot of free agents, but there aren't any who are worth using the franchise tag on. Mike Gesicki played under the tag in 2022, but he won't be back this year. Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson are free agents, yet both are replaceable and not worth top dollar for a tag -- even if the Dolphins bring both back. 

Elandon Roberts had a career-high 104 tackles and 4.5 sacks, but is he a fit in Vic Fangio's defense? Another free agent who isn't  worth placing the tag on. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

The Vikings have two players they should re-sign in Garrett Bradbury and Dalvin Tomlinson, but none of them are worth placing the tag on over the next several weeks. Bradbury is an improving center, but not at the price of $18.2 million. 

Tomlinson had a career-high 29 pressures and a 9.9% pressure rate this season, but the franchise tag is too high for a player of his caliber. The Vikings can retain him for cheaper.

Potential franchise tag player: Jonathan Jones (CB)

While the Patriots have plenty of cap space, Jones is the one free agent they shouldn't let hit the open market. He did allow six touchdowns this season, but opposing quarterbacks only had a 60.9 passer rating targeting him -- the second consecutive year the passer rating was below 65. 

Jones allowed a career-low 51.1% completion rate this year and has just one pass interference penalty over the last four years. He's an ideal fit for Bill Belichick's defense and worth the money at this stage of his career. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

Given the Saints' salary cap situation, the franchise tag is out of the cards. New Orleans has several starters who are free agents, but none worth slapping the tag on. Michael Thomas would have been an easy tag candidate at one point, but he has just 609 yards and three receiving touchdowns over the past three years. 

If Thomas ever gets back to pre-injury form, he may be that impact player again. 

Potential franchise tag player: Saquon Barkley (RB)

The Giants would be taking a risk tagging Barkley, but this could be the best one-year solution. Barkley set a career high in rushing yards (1,312) in a Pro Bowl season, playing behind an offensive line that wasn't great. Put Barkley in an offense with playmakers at wide receiver, and his receiving numbers (338 yards, zero touchdowns) will significantly increase as a receiver out of the backfield. 

The Giants can afford to pay Barkley $10.1 million on a one-year commitment, avoiding the long-term deal while still using his strengths as a difference-maker in their offense. They can use the 2023 season to decide if Barkley is worth giving top dollar to in the future. 

This is actually less than what Barkley wants to make in free agency. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

The Jets have a few starters who will be free agents, none who could be worth franchise tag consideration. Quincy Williams is a good player who had a career-high 12 tackles for loss (106 tackles) and three sacks this season while Lamarcus Joyner matched a career-high three interceptions in his age-32 season. 

Kwon Alexander isn't worth the top dollar anymore for a linebacker, but he's still a starter in the league. Sheldon Rankins is still a force on the defensive interior, but not enough to pay a top-five salary at his position. 

Of this group, Williams could be worth slapping the tag in 2023 -- but the Jets can retain him for cheaper. 

Potential franchise tag player: James Bradberry (CB)

The Eagles have quite a few free agents worth slapping the tag on, none had as good of a season as Bradberry. In his lone season with the Eagles, opposing quarterbacks had just a 43.5% completion rate targeting Bradberry -- finishing with a 44.5 passer rating. 

Bradberry was arguably the best cover corner last season, worth the $18.1 million he would make in 2023. Another year with him and Darius Slay would be huge for the Eagles in their hopes of winning the Super Bowl next season. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

The Steelers don't have any players worth slapping the tag on this year. Terrell Edmunds would be the most ideal candidate, but Pittsburgh can get him cheaper than $14.5 million.

Edmunds had two sacks and 70 tackles last season, but no interceptions and a 102.3 passer rating when targeted. The Steelers can retain him for much cheaper. 

Potential franchise tag player: Tashaun Gibson (S)

The 49ers have two players in the secondary worth tagging, but Emmanuel Moseley was injured last season and only played five games (43.6 passer rating against when targeted). Tagging a safety like Gibson would be easier for the 49ers, especially after the year he had. 

Gibson was excellent in coverage last season, finishing with five interceptions and eight passes defensed at the age of 32. Opposing quarterbacks had just a 19.3 passer rating targeting Gibson this season. Even in his 30s, Gibson may be worth slapping the tag on -- but the 49ers can make sure he stays for cheaper. He will be in demand this free agent season. 

Potential franchise tag player: Geno Smith (QB)

The Seahawks have to make sure Smith doesn't bolt for Tampa Bay with quarterbacks coach Dave Canales (now the Buccaneers offensive coordinator), so they may have no choice to franchise tag him and hope to work out an extension. Paying Smith $32.4 million isn't the worst idea given how inflated quarterback contracts are going to be this offseason. 

Smith completed 69.8% of his passes for 4,282 yards with 30 touchdowns to 11 interceptions (110.9 rating). He finished in the top 10 in league MVP voting and led the NFL in completion percentage. 

Perhaps Smith can be even better in 2023 -- at good value, too. 

Potential franchise tag player: Jamel Dean (CB)

Paying both Dean and Carlton Davis at cornerback probably isn't the wisest move, but the Buccaneers can buy time to lock up Dean to a contract extension. While Dean's allowed a career high in pass touchdowns (five), he's a very good starting cornerback in the league. 

Opposing quarterbacks have just a 66.2 passer rating targeting Dean this year (47.9% completion rate) and he'll get an opportunity to prove himself as a No. 1 cornerback if he hits the open market. The Buccaneers probably won't pay Dean $18.1 million, but that could be what he gets in free agency. 

Potential franchise tag player: None

The Titans have a player who could be worth placing the tag on, if they weren't in salary cap hell to start the offseason. David Long had a career-high 86 tackles this season in 12 games (with two interceptions and five passes defensed), standing out in a defense that suffered a slew of injuries. He is an excellent off-ball linebacker and can play all three downs. 

Is Long worth $20.9 million? No, which is why the franchise tag isn't good for this position. 

Potential franchise tag player: Daron Payne (DT)

Payne is going to be one of the best players to hit the open market, a player the Commanders will probably lose if they don't place the franchise tag on him. Payne didn't make the Pro Bowl despite notching a career-high 11.5 sacks this year, along with 49 pressures and 20 quarterback hits (9.6% pressure rate).

Payne would be a disruptor for any defense, well worth the $18.9 million he would receiver if he was tagged. At just 25 years old, the best is yet to come for a player of Payne's caliber. 

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Aurélien Tchouaméni is about to send Jude Bellingham transfer message and Liverpool must respond - Liverpool.com

Just as it is set on Jude Bellingham for the upcoming summer market, Liverpool knew who it wanted in last year's transfer window. The top target was Aurélien Tchouaméni, who had made a serious impression in Ligue 1 while contracted to AS Monaco.

The French starlet was painting himself as an elite prospect, and one who was also capable of delivering immediately upon a hypothetical arrival at Anfield. He was physical and proactive, while offering a solid degree of contribution in attack and particularly defense.

Given how Jürgen Klopp's midfield department had developed since the manager's appointment back in 2015, it was time for fresh legs to be installed. Tchouaméni's signature would have been perfect timing just weeks after Liverpool fell short of securing an unprecedented quadruple, but Real Madrid managed to attract him to the Bernabéu.

READ MORE: Steven Gerrard knows Liverpool finally has Real Madrid edge but Luka Modrić warning must be noted

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After trying and failing to land the signature of Kylian Mbappé, the Spanish giant was determined to land Tchouaméni, eventually overpaying through desperation in their attempts to sign him.

On the back of losing out to Real Madrid, Klopp seemed to make a strange decision. Instead of sourcing an alternative option from the market, he initially decided to stick with his options, presenting 37-year-old James Milner with a one-year contract extension.

The Reds boss seemed to think that everything would be fine, but it didn't take long for reality to change his mind. Liverpool failed to win any of its first three Premier League matches, and the usual suspects in his squad picked up injuries.

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It became apparent that Klopp's engine room was shattered. After playing 63 matches in all competitions in the previous season, the Anfield outfit had no energy left, with Milner, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcântara aging beyond their prime years.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keïta suffered fitness setbacks, while the likes of Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Fábio Carvalho battled for consistency as youthful talents who weren't yet ready to deliver every single week.

Klopp panicked and sanctioned the loan move for Arthur Melo from Juventus, a player who hasn't yet featured in a Premier League match for Liverpool, as he picked up a serious injury just weeks after arriving on Merseyside.

Since, Liverpool has truly suffered, against the ball in particular. It has appeared wide open on the defensive side of the game, conceding almost twice as many goals as fifth-placed Newcastle United. It has simply been too easy to cut the Reds apart.

Klopp has publicly called for his midfielders to 'win more challenges' on several occasions this term, which is ominous considering one of Tchouaméni's biggest strengths.

Liverpool wanted Aurélien Tchouaméni in the summer, only for Real Madrid to win the transfer race. (Image: Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

The Frenchman is the ball-winning presence that Liverpool has been lacking in the center. He's ranked inside the top three players across Europe's top five leagues for tackles and interceptions in each of the last two full campaigns, placing joint-top in 2020/21 and third last season.

This week, the Champions League is due to return and Liverpool is scheduled to face Real Madrid on Tuesday night. Even with Tchouaméni a fitness doubt, having missed the last match with flu, the heavyweight clash will act as a timely reminder for Klopp ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

With Bellingham touted for a move to Merseyside in the coming months, the Reds boss boss must be ruthless with his midfield renovation and even if he fails to land his top target from Borussia Dortmund, he must explore alternative options.

Nobody knows how Liverpool would have fared with Tchouaméni on the pitch this term, but it is reasonable to suggest the 23-year-old would have addressed many of Klopp's concerns.

Next season, perhaps Bellingham will get a chance to show supporters exactly why he was deemed to be worth the wait.

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