Michael Whitaker Articles - Page 23

The contract standoff between the Dallas Cowboys and star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has extended into the preseason with no resolution in sight. Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones raised eyebrows among the Cowboys fan base when he stated there was no urgency to finalize a deal. But he is now walking back from […]

There was an air of anticipation among the Washington Commanders for Saturday’s preseason opener against the New York Jets, as No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels was set to make his (unofficial) NFL debut at MetLife Stadium. Not only did he shine during his brief time on the field, but he also marked the […]

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost their exhibition opener on Friday night against the visiting Houston Texans, falling by a 20-11 final score. But it was the performance of first-year Steelers quarterback Justin Fields that drew particular criticism from former QB Chase Daniel. Not only was Fields sacked twice, but he also fumbled the ball twice during […]

The Atlanta Falcons have added some depth on the offensive side of the ball, agreeing to terms with speedy former Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl wide receiver Jakeem Grant, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The contract is reportedly for one season; financial terms have yet to be disclosed. Grant has also been a […]

The Vegas Golden Knights failed to defend their 2023 Stanley Cup championship, falling to the Dallas Stars in the first round of the 2024 playoffs and getting sent home early for the summer. To make matters worse, they’ve lost several key players to free agency following their playoff setback. Jonathan Marchessault, the 2023 Conn Smythe […]

Entering the 2023-24 season, the Vancouver Canucks were several years removed from their last appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They had gone through a handful of head coaches as well as notable overhauls of their roster. Not many realistically expected them to be a force in the Pacific Division, but the team had other […]

The Dallas Cowboys have been without star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb during offseason team activities and now into training camp, as he seeks to secure a more lucrative contract. Iconic former Cowboys player Emmitt Smith has expressed his displeasure, criticizing how his former team has handled the situation. Presently, the two sides remain far from […]

The NFL world was thrust into mourning when it was announced that former Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl hero Jacoby Jones had passed away at the age of 40. He was discovered unresponsive in his New Orleans home last month and was later pronounced deceased. Following an investigation, the cause of death is now known. TMZ […]

It was the end of an era for the Tampa Bay Lightning with the departure of longtime captain and icon Steven Stamkos, who departed the only franchise he’s ever played for by signing a four-year contract with the Nashville Predators. Sensing that a split between the two sides was inevitable, Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois acted […]

The Pittsburgh Steelers raised eyebrows everywhere this offseason when they completely overhauled their quarterback room. Not only did Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph both depart via free agency, but Kenny Pickett was unceremoniously traded to the Philadelphia Eagles after he reportedly voiced opposition to the signing of Russell Wilson. In addition to signing Wilson after […]

While sports rivalries often spill out from the field of play to the passionate respective fan bases, there are often examples of individuals who choose to take things too far. One particular fan of the Minnesota Vikings has run afoul of the law after making threats of violence against Kansas City Chiefs players who were […]

The Carolina Panthers were among the worst teams in the NFL last season, a mark they’re hoping to avoid in 2024. But as training camp continues, the Panthers were just dealt a significant blow thanks to an ijury suffered by wide receiver Xavier Legette. Panthers head coach Dave Canales confirmed Legette is dealing with an […]

Football is a rough, physical sport played by some of the most highly competitive athletes in the world. Naturally, tempers can flare and boil over, even among teammates. The Pittsburgh Steelers experienced this firsthand during a recent practice session as they continue preparations for the upcoming 2024 season, though fans needn’t worry about any lingering […]

The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for what is going to be a critical 2024 campaign for head coach Mike McCarthy, especially after their latest playoff disappointment earlier this year at the hands of the Green Bay Packers. And right now, there remains a cloud of confusion over the franchise after they failed to make […]

The Vegas Golden Knights were on top of the world just over one calendar year ago, celebrating the first Stanley Cup victory in just the sixth year of their existence since entering the NHL. Essentially, the Golden Knights went from the loveable team that could to the League’s new villain, especially due to their creative […]

The first wave of the National Hockey League free agency period has come to a close, and there was a whirlwind of activity that saw plenty of the bigger names change destinations. And perhaps no team made more meaningful and impactful additions to their squad than the Nashville Predators, who put the rest of the […]

The Nashville Predators have been fortunate enough to employ a pair of the NHL’s top players between the pipes over the last decade and a half, starting with franchise icon Pekka Rinne and his successor Juuse Saros. The Predators then landed another standout goaltender, selecting Yaroslav Askarov in the first-round of the 2020 NHL Draft. But […]

The Chicago Blackhawks have had a difficult transition period, going several consecutive years without a postseason appearance. However, they’d be hard-pressed to find anyone feeling sorry for them considering what they accomplished during their glory years with three Stanley Cup victories in seven seasons that also included an additional pair of trips to the Western […]

The 2024 NHL offseason is in full swing for the Calgary Flames, who missed out on securing a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive year. Since the Flames last played beyond the regular season in the spring of 2022, there have been massive changes within the organization, both on the ice, […]

The Dallas Cowboys have their work cut out for them, as cornerstone players like CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, and Dak Prescott will all need new contracts in short order. But it’s Lamb who is working to force management’s hand with a new, more lucrative contract by having been a no-show during offseason team activities and […]

It was a whirlwind of literal historic proportions yesterday, as the NHL free agency period began officially at noon. By the end of the day, over a billion dollars worth of contracts had been signed, the most in League history. Several notable names have new destinations, while other teams are still looking to pick up […]

It’s the unfortunate reality of the business that is the National Hockey League, and now-former Philadelphia Flyers forward Cam Atkinson has found that out the hard way. He’s been bought out of the final years of his contract and is now a free agent. Frequently a healthy scratch under demanding bench boss John Tortorella, Atkinson […]

There will be another veteran defenseman up for grabs when the NHL free agency period begins on Monday, as the Dallas Stars have decided to buy out the remaining term of Ryan Suter’s contract. This marks the second time in his career that Suter has been bought out, as he’s still getting paid by the […]

He’s going to be one of the bigger (literally) players to hit free agency when the annual open marketplace begins this Monday afternoon, but where exactly are the best potential landing spots for Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers? It doesn’t appear as though there has been any meaningful progress between the two sides on a […]

The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading for another crucial offseason following their latest early exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their Round 1 loss against the rival Boston Bruins was the seventh time in the last eight years that they’ve failed to advance to Round 2, calling into question how much longer management will continue […]

What seemed like an impossible situation has played out in stunning fashion in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. The Edmonton Oilers, who initially trailed three games to none against the Florida Panthers, have roared back to tie the series at three games apiece. This has set up a winner-take-all Game 7 on Monday night at […]

What was once a comfortable three games to none series lead in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final for the Florida Panthers has suddenly turned into a three-games to-two lead following two straight victories by the Oilers not only to stave off elimination but to plant the seeds of doubt in the minds of the Panthers […]

It was an almost impossible situation to find oneself in, especially given the circumstances that led to it. The Columbus Blue Jackets have decided to fire head coach Pascal Vincent after only one season on the job, the 2023-24 campaign was nothing short of a miserable death march for the franchise that has only made […]

He’s going to be one of the key upcoming free-agent defensemen that will be hitting the open market, and he’ll have no shortage of suitors. But where exactly are the best potential destinations for Nikita Zadorov? This will mark the second time in just over a few months that there will be a sweepstakes for […]

For the second consecutive season, the Calgary Flames missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Adding to their frustration, their provincial rivals Edmonton Oilers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. Meanwhile, their former cornerstone, Matthew Tkachuk, is close to winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers. In contrast, the player the Flames acquired in the major […]

For the first time in their history, the Florida Panthers enjoy a series lead in the Stanley Cup Final in their third appearance as one of the final two National Hockey League teams standing. They’ve frustrated the Edmonton Oilers in the first two games, holding their vaunted offensive attack to a single goal in 120 […]

The Edmonton Oilers have thus far experienced a cruel reversal of their fortunes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, having dropped both Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. What’s even more alarming is the fact that the vaunted offensive attack of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman has […]

The Florida Panthers will be playing for the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive season. This time, they’re hoping for a better result than their five-game series loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. And considering the fact that they entered this year’s postseason as the Atlantic Division champions, they’re in a much better position to […]

He’s been one of the more consistent point producers in the NHL during his career, and he’s once again set to become a free agent. Tyler Toffoli, who played last season with the New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets while amassing an impressive output of 33 goals and 22 assists. It marked the second straight […]

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov will forever be known as the first goaltender since Ed Belfour in 2004 to help the franchise advance past the 1st round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, that likely won’t be enough to entice management to offer him a 3rd year wearing the Leafs crest. Joseph Woll’s emergence […]

Jake Guentzel was one of the biggest fish being dangled at the 2024 National Hockey League Trade Deadline, and he found his new home (at least temporarily) with the Carolina Hurricanes. But what does the future hold for Guentzel? Guentzel was selected with the 77th overall pick (Round 3) of the 2013 NHL Draft by […]

The season for the Colorado Avalanche is over following their defeat at the hands of the Dallas Stars in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite their Round 1 series victory over the Winnipeg Jets, the Avalanche failed to overcome the balanced attack that the Stars boast — and they certainly weren’t aided by the notable […]

The Edmonton Oilers have returned to the Western Conference Final for the second time in the last three seasons. They’re hoping for a better outcome than their last trip in 2022 that saw the Oilers promptly swept at the hands of the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. This time, they’re matched up against the […]

The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs began with four Canadian National Hockey League teams qualifying for the annual tournament. As the Western Conference Final commence, the only one that remains is the Edmonton Oilers. This marks the Oilers’ second trip to Round 3 since 2022, and they are aiming for a longer run when taking on […]