NFL

49ers sign RB Christian McCaffrey to two-year, $38 million contract extension

While this is framed as a contract extension, in actuality, the 49ers ripped up McCaffrey’s old two-year deal and replaced it with a four-year, $62.2 million contract. Either way, the new money in this pact averages at $19 million per year, far above the previous high for a running back.

McCaffrey is pretty comfortably the best running back in the sport, but he turns 28 in two days — a dangerous age for the position — and will be under contract through 2027. In the short term, McCaffrey is unquestionably worth this deal, and San Francisco won’t have feelings of regret until a couple years from now, if ever.

Now, the 49ers need to figure out what to do with Brandon Aiyuk.

Grade: B

NCAAF

2025 four-star QB Keelon Russell commits to Alabama

Alabama, even following Nick Saban’s retirement, can almost pick and choose which four stars it wants, so this commitment is less about the Crimson Tide and more about SMU, the program Russell flipped from. Entering the ACC, SMU is in solid standing — the Mustangs could open the season in the top 25 — but a player like Russell, ranked No. 38 in the country, is good enough enough to change SMU’s trajectory. The 2025 signal-caller would’ve been a likely successor to Preston Stone. Now, the Ponies will have to look elsewhere.

NCAAB

Kentucky transfer C Ugonna Onyenso commits to Kansas State

Onyenso was stuck in a crowded Kentucky center rotation last season with Aaron Bradshaw and Zvonimir Ivisic, so none of the three bigs were able to shine. To no surprise, all three centers have departed Lexington.

Starting 14 games in 2024, Onyenso didn’t fill up the scoring column (3.6 points per game), but he’s one of the nation’s best shot blockers, and will help Jerome Tang’s program immensely in the paint on defense.

MLB

Guardians 8, Royals 5

We’re barely past the one-third point of the season, so forecasting any end of season result can be dangerous, but I’ll do it anyway. Emmanuel Clase is on track to have one of the best seasons ever for a closer. Cleveland’s lights-out righty probably won’t eclipse Francisco Rodriguez’s saves record of 62 in 2008, but Clase already has 19 saves to go along with a 0.30 ERA. 0.30! If the Guardians have a lead entering the ninth inning, it’s a virtual lock they’ll win.

Seth Lugo is really good, but he was due for a bad outing. Kansas City’s ace was bombed for five earned runs last night, raising his ERA to 2.13.