Chaim Bloom, the team’s chief baseball operator, announced Thursday that Chris Sale will undergo Tommy John surgery. The left-hander decided to do the procedure now in order not to miss significant time in the 2021 season.

Sale, 30, has felt discomfort as early as the Red Sox world series run in 2018, and pain has been on and off since then, which caused his velocity to fluctuate. He was shut down last August after discomfort caused him to have the worst season of his career (6-11, 4.40 ERA), but Sale knew it was for real when the problems returned during Spring Training.

Recovering from ligament repairs in the elbow typically takes 12-14 months which would schedule him to return sometime in the early-mid 2021 season. Many pitchers have done the now famous Tommy John surgery with close to 90% returning to pitch, although with mixed success.

The team did not specify that the delayed 2020 season was the reason for scheduling the surgery now, but it seems like a good time considering the Red Sox ace could potentially miss much less games than the average Tommy Johner.

This adds another brick in the offseason of change for Boston, who dealt star Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, replaced Dave Dombrowski with Bloom, and fired manager Alex Cora amidst his involvement with the Astros sign-stealing scandal.

The post Red Sox Ace Chris Sale Will Undergo Tommy John Surgery appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Chicago Bears will have a new quarterback this season after trading for Nick Foles. The deal will send a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Foles has had a lot of ups and downs in his career and has been part of six trades. Most of his career has been spent playing backup QB, although he has shined when given the opportunity. He will always be remembered in Philadelphia for leading the Eagles to their first Super Bowl championship while replacing the injured Carson Wentz.

Foles was signed to a hefty contract by the Jaguars after beating the Patriots in Super Bowl LII and playing well again in two playoff games the year after. The former Super Bowl MVP will cost the Jags $18.75 million in dead money in 2020. The trade means that Jacksonville will go with second-year Gardner Minshew as their starting quarterback for the upcoming season.

It’s uncertain if the Bears brought in Foles to be their starter, or if they acquired him to give some veteran competition to their struggling QB Mitchell Trubisky. Either way, he will be a big boost to Chicago’s offense which greatly underperformed this past season.

The post Bears Acquire Nick Foles From Jaguars For Draft Pick appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Tom Brady era in New England is officially over as the star QB announced on social media that he won’t be returning for the 2020 season. His emotional message to the fans ends the greatest run in NFL history by a quarterback and leaves the legendary Patriots franchise with much uncertainty.

Since his first season in 2001, Brady has been the star of the best franchise run in NFL history, helping his team appear in nine Super Bowls and winning an unprecedented six. Tom Brady won four of the six Super Bowl MVPs, three NFL MVPs, and was named to 14 Pro Bowls.

New England hasn’t had a losing season since Brady took over, and they won 17 AFC East titles with him under center, including an NFL record 11 straight. Brady leaves New England as the undeniable GOAT, and at the age of 42, may still have a few great seasons left in him.

Both Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft, the longtime masterpieces of the Patriots, expressed sadness and wished him well through statements by the team. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to be the front-runners to sign Brady, although the Los Angeles Chargers or a host of other teams could take the NFL by surprise and give Brady the deal he is looking for.

The post Tom Brady Announces He Won’t Return to Patriots appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Ravens are showing that they are serious business this offseason as they addressed one of their biggest needs, a veteran pass rusher. After a record-setting offensive rushing season, Baltimore improved the pass rush with a big addition in defensive end Calais Campbell.

The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to trade Campbell to the Ravens for a 5th round pick in the upcoming draft. Baltimore will pay him $15 million in what is the final year of a 4 year $60 million lucrative contract he signed with the Jags in 2017.

Campbell was a big part of the Jaguars’ great defense the past few seasons and he will go down as the best free-agent signing in Jacksonville history. He had 31.5 sacks in 48 games with “Sacksonville,” making the Pro Bowl in all 3 of his years with the team. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2017 and won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2019 for his charitable works.

Jacksonville now has 11 picks in the upcoming 7 round NFL draft. After upsetting the Steelers and making it to the AFC Championship game in 2018, the club seems to be doing a little bit of rebuilding following a disappointing 6-10 finish to the 2019 season.

The post Sources: Jaguars DE Calais Campbell Will be Traded to Ravens appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Green Bay Packers released tight end Jimmy Graham on Thursday after two underachieving seasons. His 2019 stats of 38 catches for 447 yards and 3 touchdowns, were similar to his 2018 season and the Packers were looking for something more.

Graham, 33, was scheduled to take up the second-most salary cap space for tight ends in the NFL. His projected $11.66 for 2020 was only slightly behind Philadephia Eagles star Zach Ertz ($12.23 million).

Graham holds a couple of NFL records including the only TE to register four consecutive seasons with 85+ catches (2011-14), and the only TE with two seasons of 1,200+ receiving yards and 10+ touchdowns (2011 and 2013). Both of these records occurred in his prime with the New Orleans Saints.

Without Graham, the Packers will save $8 million in salary-cap space. A source told ESPN last month that Green Bay is expected to pursue tight end Austin Hopper during free agency to replace Graham and improve the offense.

The post Packers Release Struggling TE Jimmy Graham appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is close to making a deal with WWE Pro Wrestling promotion. Reports are unsure exactly how he will be used, but he will likely appear on WWE SmackDown within the next month.

Gronk played nine seasons with the Patriots, was selected to five Pro Bowls, and helped New England win three Super Bowls. He retired after the end of the 2019 season despite being only 30-years-old, saying that the pain and injuries he suffered during his career have worn him down mentally.

Gronkowski has hinted that he’d be interested in working with WWE in the past and took part in Andre the Giant Battle at WrestleMania in 2017. His friend Mojo Rawley, a pro wrestler, told ESPN in October that the idea of Gronk participating in WWE is not far off.

In August, Gronkowski spoke at a sponsor’s news conference: “With wrestling, I don’t feel like I would be a full-time wrestler, but there is one thing I’m down for,” Gronkowski said. “And that’s to do one crazy match. Practice it for a little bit, go out there- like in a royal rumble.”

The post Gronkowski Close to Deal With WWE appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Baltimore Ravens will have big shoes to fill after guard Marshal Yanda decided to call it quits on Tuesday. Yanda played all 13 seasons with the Ravens earning himself eight Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl win. Yanda, Alan Faneca, and Larry Allen are the only three guards to have the distinction of making it to eight Pro Bowls along with a championship ring.

Yanda was a third-round pick in 2007, but was not the most sought after draft pick as there were nine offensive linemen drafted before him. His toughness and grit is what enabled him to put in the effort and become one of the best guards of the past decade.

Yanda pondered retirement last year but stayed long enough to help the Ravens break the single season team record in rushing yards (3,296). Known as a powerful run blocker and sometimes shoving 3 defenders out of the way on a run, Yanda was the leader of the offensive line on a Ravens squad known for their outstanding defense.

Baltimore will have a lot to replace this offseason both in terms of team leadership and on the line if they want to continue their dominant running game.

The post Ravens Eight-Time Pro Bowler Marshal Yanda Decides to Retire appeared first on SportzBonanza.

LeBron James made a strong statement by saying he wouldn’t play if the NBA decides to ban fans due to the coronavirus outbreak. His interview came after the Lakers beat the Milwaukee Bucks Friday night in a possible Finals matchup.

Although there haven’t been any official rules about this yet, the NBA sent a notice to all 30 teams warning them of the possibility of playing closed-door games to help prevent the spread of the outbreak.

“We play games without the fans?,” James said after dropping 37 in the big showdown. “I ain’t playing. I ain’t got the fans in the crowd. That’s who I play for. I play for my teammates. I play for the fans. That’s what it’s all about. If I show up to an arena and there are no fans in there, I ain’t playing. They can do what they want to do.” 

A Division III NCAA tournament in Baltimore was the first U.S. sporting event to be held without fans because of the virus. Yeshiva University defeated Worcester Polytechnic Institute in their first-ever NCAA tournament win, as the sounds of basketball with no outside noise echoed through the court.

The post LeBron Says He Won’t Play If League Bans Fans appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The 2020 Hall of Fame finalists has been announced highlighted by newcomers Troy Polamalu and Reggie Wayne. Five other NFL stars made their first appearance on the ballot, including former Rams wide receiver Torry Holt (1999-2008) and Packers safety LeRoy Butler (1990-2001), although all five have been eligible previously.

Newcomers have been the highlight of the past few Hall of Fame enshrinements, and this year looks no different. The Flyin’ Hawaiian (Polamalu), played 12 outstanding seasons with the Steelers and his long hair and great energy were a staple of the early 2000’s Steelers defense. Reggie Wayne was a star receiver for the Indianapolis Colts his whole career and he teamed up with WR Marvin Harrison and QB Peyton Manning to form one of the best passing games in football.

While these two seem like a sure bet to get voted into the Hall of Fame, there is great talent to be considered from returning candidates as well. Steelers guard Alan Faneca (5th ballot) and Rams receiver Isaac Bruce (4th ballot) highlight a list of great returning talent that haven’t been able to make it over the voting threshold yet.

Up to five finalists will be chosen on February 1st, the day before the Super Bowl. The Class of 2020 will be formally announced later that evening during the NFL Honors show.

The post NFL Hall of Fame Finalists Announced appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The NHL Winter Classic featured the hometown Dallas Stars take on the Nashville Predators in a “Southern showdown.” The crowd of 85,360 got an incredible show, not only from the Stars 4-2 win, but from all the festivities that came along with it.

The south, and especially Texas, is known for its love of college football but with the incredible turnout at iconic Cotton Bowl Stadium on the site of the Texas state fair, it showed how much popularity hockey has gained. Jugglers, bull riders, and pig races were just some of the shows put on during the festivities.

The Stars came into the stadium dressed as cowboys, while the Predators dressed in all black as an ode to Johnny Cash. Nashville took a 2-0 lead in the first period on two power-play opportunities, but Dallas came back with four unanswered goals. The crowd erupted with chants of “Dallas! Stars! Dallas! Stars!,” only this time with 3 times as many voices as in their home arena at American Airlines Center.

65,000 seats were planned originally, but with tickets selling out quickly, many more sections were opened. It was the 12th Winter Classic and 2nd in attendance only to the crowd of 105,000 in the 2014 game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The post Stars Beat Predators in Incredible Winter Classic appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Chaim Bloom, the team’s chief baseball operator, announced Thursday that Chris Sale will undergo Tommy John surgery. The left-hander decided to do the procedure now in order not to miss significant time in the 2021 season.

Sale, 30, has felt discomfort as early as the Red Sox world series run in 2018, and pain has been on and off since then, which caused his velocity to fluctuate. He was shut down last August after discomfort caused him to have the worst season of his career (6-11, 4.40 ERA), but Sale knew it was for real when the problems returned during Spring Training.

Recovering from ligament repairs in the elbow typically takes 12-14 months which would schedule him to return sometime in the early-mid 2021 season. Many pitchers have done the now famous Tommy John surgery with close to 90% returning to pitch, although with mixed success.

The team did not specify that the delayed 2020 season was the reason for scheduling the surgery now, but it seems like a good time considering the Red Sox ace could potentially miss much less games than the average Tommy Johner.

This adds another brick in the offseason of change for Boston, who dealt star Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, replaced Dave Dombrowski with Bloom, and fired manager Alex Cora amidst his involvement with the Astros sign-stealing scandal.

The post Red Sox Ace Chris Sale Will Undergo Tommy John Surgery appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Chicago Bears will have a new quarterback this season after trading for Nick Foles. The deal will send a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Foles has had a lot of ups and downs in his career and has been part of six trades. Most of his career has been spent playing backup QB, although he has shined when given the opportunity. He will always be remembered in Philadelphia for leading the Eagles to their first Super Bowl championship while replacing the injured Carson Wentz.

Foles was signed to a hefty contract by the Jaguars after beating the Patriots in Super Bowl LII and playing well again in two playoff games the year after. The former Super Bowl MVP will cost the Jags $18.75 million in dead money in 2020. The trade means that Jacksonville will go with second-year Gardner Minshew as their starting quarterback for the upcoming season.

It’s uncertain if the Bears brought in Foles to be their starter, or if they acquired him to give some veteran competition to their struggling QB Mitchell Trubisky. Either way, he will be a big boost to Chicago’s offense which greatly underperformed this past season.

The post Bears Acquire Nick Foles From Jaguars For Draft Pick appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Tom Brady era in New England is officially over as the star QB announced on social media that he won’t be returning for the 2020 season. His emotional message to the fans ends the greatest run in NFL history by a quarterback and leaves the legendary Patriots franchise with much uncertainty.

Since his first season in 2001, Brady has been the star of the best franchise run in NFL history, helping his team appear in nine Super Bowls and winning an unprecedented six. Tom Brady won four of the six Super Bowl MVPs, three NFL MVPs, and was named to 14 Pro Bowls.

New England hasn’t had a losing season since Brady took over, and they won 17 AFC East titles with him under center, including an NFL record 11 straight. Brady leaves New England as the undeniable GOAT, and at the age of 42, may still have a few great seasons left in him.

Both Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft, the longtime masterpieces of the Patriots, expressed sadness and wished him well through statements by the team. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to be the front-runners to sign Brady, although the Los Angeles Chargers or a host of other teams could take the NFL by surprise and give Brady the deal he is looking for.

The post Tom Brady Announces He Won’t Return to Patriots appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Ravens are showing that they are serious business this offseason as they addressed one of their biggest needs, a veteran pass rusher. After a record-setting offensive rushing season, Baltimore improved the pass rush with a big addition in defensive end Calais Campbell.

The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to trade Campbell to the Ravens for a 5th round pick in the upcoming draft. Baltimore will pay him $15 million in what is the final year of a 4 year $60 million lucrative contract he signed with the Jags in 2017.

Campbell was a big part of the Jaguars’ great defense the past few seasons and he will go down as the best free-agent signing in Jacksonville history. He had 31.5 sacks in 48 games with “Sacksonville,” making the Pro Bowl in all 3 of his years with the team. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2017 and won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2019 for his charitable works.

Jacksonville now has 11 picks in the upcoming 7 round NFL draft. After upsetting the Steelers and making it to the AFC Championship game in 2018, the club seems to be doing a little bit of rebuilding following a disappointing 6-10 finish to the 2019 season.

The post Sources: Jaguars DE Calais Campbell Will be Traded to Ravens appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Green Bay Packers released tight end Jimmy Graham on Thursday after two underachieving seasons. His 2019 stats of 38 catches for 447 yards and 3 touchdowns, were similar to his 2018 season and the Packers were looking for something more.

Graham, 33, was scheduled to take up the second-most salary cap space for tight ends in the NFL. His projected $11.66 for 2020 was only slightly behind Philadephia Eagles star Zach Ertz ($12.23 million).

Graham holds a couple of NFL records including the only TE to register four consecutive seasons with 85+ catches (2011-14), and the only TE with two seasons of 1,200+ receiving yards and 10+ touchdowns (2011 and 2013). Both of these records occurred in his prime with the New Orleans Saints.

Without Graham, the Packers will save $8 million in salary-cap space. A source told ESPN last month that Green Bay is expected to pursue tight end Austin Hopper during free agency to replace Graham and improve the offense.

The post Packers Release Struggling TE Jimmy Graham appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is close to making a deal with WWE Pro Wrestling promotion. Reports are unsure exactly how he will be used, but he will likely appear on WWE SmackDown within the next month.

Gronk played nine seasons with the Patriots, was selected to five Pro Bowls, and helped New England win three Super Bowls. He retired after the end of the 2019 season despite being only 30-years-old, saying that the pain and injuries he suffered during his career have worn him down mentally.

Gronkowski has hinted that he’d be interested in working with WWE in the past and took part in Andre the Giant Battle at WrestleMania in 2017. His friend Mojo Rawley, a pro wrestler, told ESPN in October that the idea of Gronk participating in WWE is not far off.

In August, Gronkowski spoke at a sponsor’s news conference: “With wrestling, I don’t feel like I would be a full-time wrestler, but there is one thing I’m down for,” Gronkowski said. “And that’s to do one crazy match. Practice it for a little bit, go out there- like in a royal rumble.”

The post Gronkowski Close to Deal With WWE appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Baltimore Ravens will have big shoes to fill after guard Marshal Yanda decided to call it quits on Tuesday. Yanda played all 13 seasons with the Ravens earning himself eight Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl win. Yanda, Alan Faneca, and Larry Allen are the only three guards to have the distinction of making it to eight Pro Bowls along with a championship ring.

Yanda was a third-round pick in 2007, but was not the most sought after draft pick as there were nine offensive linemen drafted before him. His toughness and grit is what enabled him to put in the effort and become one of the best guards of the past decade.

Yanda pondered retirement last year but stayed long enough to help the Ravens break the single season team record in rushing yards (3,296). Known as a powerful run blocker and sometimes shoving 3 defenders out of the way on a run, Yanda was the leader of the offensive line on a Ravens squad known for their outstanding defense.

Baltimore will have a lot to replace this offseason both in terms of team leadership and on the line if they want to continue their dominant running game.

The post Ravens Eight-Time Pro Bowler Marshal Yanda Decides to Retire appeared first on SportzBonanza.

LeBron James made a strong statement by saying he wouldn’t play if the NBA decides to ban fans due to the coronavirus outbreak. His interview came after the Lakers beat the Milwaukee Bucks Friday night in a possible Finals matchup.

Although there haven’t been any official rules about this yet, the NBA sent a notice to all 30 teams warning them of the possibility of playing closed-door games to help prevent the spread of the outbreak.

“We play games without the fans?,” James said after dropping 37 in the big showdown. “I ain’t playing. I ain’t got the fans in the crowd. That’s who I play for. I play for my teammates. I play for the fans. That’s what it’s all about. If I show up to an arena and there are no fans in there, I ain’t playing. They can do what they want to do.” 

A Division III NCAA tournament in Baltimore was the first U.S. sporting event to be held without fans because of the virus. Yeshiva University defeated Worcester Polytechnic Institute in their first-ever NCAA tournament win, as the sounds of basketball with no outside noise echoed through the court.

The post LeBron Says He Won’t Play If League Bans Fans appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The 2020 Hall of Fame finalists has been announced highlighted by newcomers Troy Polamalu and Reggie Wayne. Five other NFL stars made their first appearance on the ballot, including former Rams wide receiver Torry Holt (1999-2008) and Packers safety LeRoy Butler (1990-2001), although all five have been eligible previously.

Newcomers have been the highlight of the past few Hall of Fame enshrinements, and this year looks no different. The Flyin’ Hawaiian (Polamalu), played 12 outstanding seasons with the Steelers and his long hair and great energy were a staple of the early 2000’s Steelers defense. Reggie Wayne was a star receiver for the Indianapolis Colts his whole career and he teamed up with WR Marvin Harrison and QB Peyton Manning to form one of the best passing games in football.

While these two seem like a sure bet to get voted into the Hall of Fame, there is great talent to be considered from returning candidates as well. Steelers guard Alan Faneca (5th ballot) and Rams receiver Isaac Bruce (4th ballot) highlight a list of great returning talent that haven’t been able to make it over the voting threshold yet.

Up to five finalists will be chosen on February 1st, the day before the Super Bowl. The Class of 2020 will be formally announced later that evening during the NFL Honors show.

The post NFL Hall of Fame Finalists Announced appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The NHL Winter Classic featured the hometown Dallas Stars take on the Nashville Predators in a “Southern showdown.” The crowd of 85,360 got an incredible show, not only from the Stars 4-2 win, but from all the festivities that came along with it.

The south, and especially Texas, is known for its love of college football but with the incredible turnout at iconic Cotton Bowl Stadium on the site of the Texas state fair, it showed how much popularity hockey has gained. Jugglers, bull riders, and pig races were just some of the shows put on during the festivities.

The Stars came into the stadium dressed as cowboys, while the Predators dressed in all black as an ode to Johnny Cash. Nashville took a 2-0 lead in the first period on two power-play opportunities, but Dallas came back with four unanswered goals. The crowd erupted with chants of “Dallas! Stars! Dallas! Stars!,” only this time with 3 times as many voices as in their home arena at American Airlines Center.

65,000 seats were planned originally, but with tickets selling out quickly, many more sections were opened. It was the 12th Winter Classic and 2nd in attendance only to the crowd of 105,000 in the 2014 game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The post Stars Beat Predators in Incredible Winter Classic appeared first on SportzBonanza.