What’s up, everybody?

Check out this week’s cover of Sports Illustrated. Kyler Murray is the new baller on the block in Arizona, while Josh Rosen has been passed over to Miami.

I’m digging the symbolism here, with the whole cover ripped away to reveal a fresh surface is them saying in effect “out with the old (not even that old) and in with the new”. How this all played out for Rosen wasn’t exactly ideal for him, but at the end of the day it’s a business, and he still has every opportunity to make something of himself in the league. As for Murray, it’s about time to he takes over and shows the NFL what he can really do against the best of the best.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say Kyler Murray is the type of player that can change things up for the Arizona Cardinals.

Now for today’s Hot Links! There are updated CFP Title and Heisman odds for the Oklahoma Sooners, Gerald McCoy could potentially land in Cleveland, Esa Lindell goes for the Oscar on ice and more!

OU Links

• In keeping with Kyler Murray-related news, the rookie QB is expected to sign a contract worth roughly $35 million for four years. Kliff Kingsbury and the Cardinals will obviously want to win immediately, but also in order to take advantage of the value that comes with K1’s initial deal.
• If you’re a season ticket holder for Oklahoma football, make sure you’ve renewed your 2019 tickets. Today is the deadline, and the list of those waiting for spots to open up is long and raring to go.

• CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd released his Post-Spring Top 25, and Oklahoma sits at No. 4. I think the 3-6 range is about where the Sooners should be once the initial polls are revealed in August. What I don’t agree with is where he has Texas. Way too high for all the losses on both sides of the ball. At least he’s showing some love for Army!
• Speaking of the 2019 season, Oklahoma currently has the fifth-best odds to win next year’s CFP Title, according to SuperBookUSA. Also, if you’re into low-risk, high-reward moves, keep an eye on Michigan State. You heard it here first. I’m not saying, I’m just saying.

• Heisman odds have also been updated, and it looks like Jalen Hurts is tied for having the third-best odds to win the trophy. The household names at quarterback this year run deep with guys like Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa, Hurts, Sam Ehlinger, Jake Fromm and Justin Herbert. It’s going to be fun to see how it all plays out!

• This is definitely a weekly occurrence, but truly deserved for these outstanding Oklahoma softballers. Giselle Juarez and Jocelyn Alo were named Big 12 Pitcher and Co-Player of the Week, respectively. Congratulations, ladies!

• In case you missed it, four-star ATH Drew Sanders has flipped his commitment from Oklahoma to Alabama. It sounds like he wants to play defense, and Oklahoma had recruited him primarily as an offensive guy. Additionally, if defense was the call, Alabama was going to be tough to beat. It’s a bit of a blow to the 2020 class, but not an alarming sign of things to come.
• In other recruiting news, class of 2020 four-star offensive guard Andrew Raym trimmed his list of potential destinations down to five, and the Sooners made the cut. The Broken Arrow product is rated as the No. 1 player in Oklahoma, and originally committed to OU in November of 2017 before re-opening his recruitment six months later.

• In former Oklahoma Sooners news, Cleveland Browns GM John Dorsey has expressed interest in trading for Tampa Bay’s Gerald McCoy. The Buccaneers still have a few positions that need to be addressed with the draft now in the books, and these two teams could help each other out. Seeing Baker Mayfield and Gerald McCoy, two former OU players with some of the best personalities in the game teaming up for the Browns would be amazing to watch.
• Don’t forget to check out Allen’s piece about how the former Sooners fit with their new NFL teams. With eight players drafted and four more signed as undrafted free agents, it would be great to see most if not all of their situations work out long-term.

Around the Sports World

• Okay, here goes my top five halftime shows: Quick Change, Red Panda and dog relay racing (or really anything with dogs). I understand that it’s probably a hot take for my No. 1 act to be placed above Red Panda’s incredible unicycle bowl balancing routine, but you can’t beat real magic in my book. I’m telling you, that Quick Change stuff is legitimate sorcery. I honestly don’t know why more people aren’t talking about this.

• Steve Kerr had some fun with the media while also making fun of the Houston Rockets for crying for foul calls in Game 1 against his Golden State Warriors. Nicely done, Coach.

• If there’s one rule in hockey I think should exist in all sports, it’s the embellishment penalty, aka getting in trouble for flopping. Check out the Dallas Stars’ Esa Lindell dive not once, not twice, but three times. Fortunately for the sanctity of the sport, he was reprimanded for this heinous acting job.

• West Virginia’s Will Grier was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and for him it’s a moment that was made even more special since he already lives in Charlotte. Check out this inside look as he anxiously waited for the call that would change his life. Good stuff.

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