Burke Sports Talk

NFL Panthers sign QB Andy Dalton to two-year, $8 million contract Dalton, 37, is still one of the NFL’s better backup quarterbacks. The 2011 second-round pick can’t start for a playoff team anymore, but he’s a perfect mentor and fallback option to Bryce Young. For just $4 million per year, that’s a steal for Carolina.…

MLB Padres sign SP Kyle Hart to one-year, $1.5 million contract This is interesting. Hart’s only MLB season was 2020, when the left-hander pitched to a 15.55 ERA across four outings. The 32-year-old is a much different — and better — pitcher now after excelling in the KBO, but it remains to be seen if…

NFL Saints hire Kellen Moore as head coach I thought this hire was a done deal a while back, but the likes of Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport called it breaking news yesterday, so I guess we’ll go with that. The Saints job is daunting. The franchise is in salary cap hell, there’s no franchise…

NBA Pistons 112, Hornets 102 There are numerous reasons behind the Pistons’ surprising 27-26 record, but it’d be overthinking things to look any further than their best player, Cade Cunningham. While his 54.9 true shooting percentage isn’t a beacon of efficiency, the All-Star’s numbers are up across the board this season. Those overall contributions by…

NBA 76ers receive: SG Jared Butler and four second-round picks Wizards receive: PG Reggie Jackson and 2026 first-round pick The Wizards are the winners of this trade from a pure asset perspective, but I understand the goal of each franchise. The 2026 first rounder, projected to fall in the back half of the round, is,…

NBA Bucks receive: Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin and second-round pick Wizards receive: Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and 2028 first-round pick swap After years as a vital contributor, the clock ran out for Khris Middleton in Milwaukee. Injuries surely played a role in the 33-year-old’s regression, and as a result, the Bucks went looking for an…

NBA 76ers receive: SG Quentin Grimes and 2025 second-round pick Mavericks receive: SF Caleb Martin Following the beyond-puzzling Luka Doncic trade, Dallas is at again. This time, however, the Mavericks made out well. For starters, Grimes’ restricted free agency looms, and moving him for Martin, under team control for at least the next three seasons,…

MLB Rays receive: RP Alex Faedo Tigers receive: C Enderson Delgado and cash Faedo was recently designated for assignment, a roster move correspondent with the Tigers signing fellow reliever Tommy Kahnle. In the event of a club designating a player for assignment, it’s always smart — if possible — to trade the player, as opposed…

NFL Jets hire Tanner Engstrand as offensive coordinator Can Engstrand finally be the offensive mind to jumpstart the Jets’ offense? That’s a big ask, but the 42-year-old surely has the requisite background. Serving as the Lions’ passing game coordinator the past two seasons, Engstrand helped guide a strong Detroit attack. It’ll be a tougher assignment…

NCAAB 2025 five-star SG Alijah Arenas commits to USC First-year head coach Eric Musselman needed a jolt to get his newest program up and running, so why not turn to a familiar source? Arenas, of course, is the son of Gilbert Arenas, who played briefly for Musselman with the Golden State Warriors. It’s no certainty…

NFL Lions hire John Morton as offensive coordinator Given their recent success, I expected the Lions to target an in-house replacement for Ben Johnson. Morton doesn’t quite fit that description, although he did serve as a senior offensive assistant with Detroit in 2022. Regardless, Morton has big shoes to fill in his new role. Grade:…

NFL Raiders hire Pete Carroll as head coach After missing on Ben Johnson, the Raiders are pivoting to a short-term play. Carroll, 73, brings credibility and a winning mindset to Las Vegas, even if he probably won’t coach much longer. It’s an interesting choice, as adding veteran starting quarterback is now on the table for…

MLB Braves sign LF Jurickson Profar to three-year, $42 million contract This time last offseason, Profar signed for just $1 million with the Padres, an admission — by team and player — that the end could be near for the veteran. What a difference a year makes. The 31-year-old had a career season in 2024,…

NFL Patriots hire Terrell Williams as defensive coordinator This is a solid move. Williams and Mike Vrabel have a prior working relationship with the Titans, so that familiarity should help the first-time defensive coordinator. Williams also comes from a recently successful Lions organization, where he coached a strong defensive front. This is an upgrade over…

NFL Patriots hire Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator Once the Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as head coach, McDaniels became the heavy favorite to land this position. And why wouldn’t he be? This will mark McDaniels’ third stint as New England’s offensive coordinator, so he has experience on his side. He also benefits from familiarity, as…

MLB Dodgers sign RP Tanner Scott to four-year, $72 million contract Can we go ahead and pencil the Dodgers in for 110 wins this season? Advanced metrics will likely be on the more conservative side and go under that total, but this team is loaded. Los Angeles doesn’t have a weakness, and even if it…

NFL Chiefs 23, Texans 14 Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are unflappable. Despite being outgained in yardage 336-212 and forcing zero turnovers, Kansas City is heading to its seventh consecutive AFC Championship Game. The NFL’s other 31 teams would surely love to have the Chiefs’ voodoo magic. Back to Mahomes, the quarterback didn’t light up…

MLB Mets sign LF Jesse Winker to one-year, $7.5 million contract After making the All-Star team with the Reds in 2021, Winker’s career seemingly crashed and burned. The corner outfielder struggled in extended action with the Mariners in 2022 and then in limited action in 2023 with the Brewers. Winker’s career was inching toward the…

NBA Hornets receive: SF Josh Okogie and three second-round picks Suns receive: C Nick Richards and second-round pick After canvassing the market regarding Richards, this is the offer the Hornets settled on? Yes, netting two second-round picks is decent business, but not while swapping Richards for Okogie. Richards, while far from elite, should assume the…

NFL Browns promote Tommy Rees to offensive coordinator Rees, 32, has been a fast riser through the coaching ranks, and he’s now landed his biggest job yet. Previously serving as the offensive coordinator at both Notre Dame and Alabama, Rees is used to having the talent advantage on his side. That won’t be the case…