SPORTS FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021 C3 Preferred Historic victory Drake picks up first Mary’s in the first NCAA Tourna- destination ment game in nearly two years. NCAA Tournament It was the second straight Long, Thuney ready First Four victory for the Tigers win in 50 years (17-8), who also won in 2018 to protect Mahomes WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — their most recent tournament appearance. Texas Southern, the By the Associated Press (AP) — Joseph Yesufu scored 21 points and Drake beat Wichita No. 16 seed in the East Region, was just as certain he wanted to State 53-52 on Thursday night won its 10th straight game and return to the NFL after a year in retirement as in the First Four, the Bulldogs’ faces top-seeded Michigan (20- the three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman first NCAA Tournament win in a 4) on Saturday. was he wanted to protect half-century. Damian Chong Qui scored 14 quarterback . Drake’s previous tournament points and Mezie Offurum had So, when free agency began, that’s exactly victory was 50 years ago to the 10 points and 16 rebounds for who he called. day — March 18, 1971, against the Mountaineers (12-11), who “I absolutely did talk to Pat. I reached out Notre Dame. fell to 1-9 in tourney play. to him, said, ‘Patrick, get me in there, man. Wichita State’s Dexter Dennis Norfolk State 54, I’d love to come play for you,’” said Long, made a 3-pointer with 8 seconds who agreed Wednesday to a $5-million con- Appalachian State 53 remaining to trim Drake’s lead to BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — tract for the 2021 season. “I’m so happy here, a point. The Bulldogs got the ball Devante Carter made two free so happy to be a Chief.” in to Yesufu, who was fouled. He throws with 8.6 seconds remain- It wasn’t always that way. Long is the son missed the front end of a 1-and- ing, and Norfolk State held on of longtime Raiders defensive end Howie 1 to give the Shockers a chance, to beat Appalachian State after Long, so he grew up in a household knowing but Wichita State’s Alterique Gil- blowing an 18-point second-half the intensity that marked the Los Angeles- bert settled for a long 3-pointer lead. turned-Oakland-turned-Las Vegas rivalry that hit the front rim as time The Mid-Eastern Athletic with Kansas City. AP expired. Conference champion Spartans But after Long, who spent his first seven In this Sept. 11, 2016, file photo, Kyle Long celebrates after the Bears scored Tremell Murphy added 11 completed a sweep by historical- seasons in Chicago, spent a year watching a touchdown during their game against the Texans in Houston. points for 11th-seeded Drake ly Black colleges and universities from afar as an analyst for CBS, he realized outs and injuries, was ransacked by Tampa center. I’m left-handed. I don’t know many (26-4), which advanced to play on the first day of NCAA Tourna- the Midwest suited him just fine: He gets Bay in the . left-handed centers. But I’ll try anything.” sixth-seeded Southern Califor- ment play, joining Southwestern to play for coach Andy Reid, protect one Most players that started that game were Well, if the Chiefs can’t find a replace- nia in the West Region on Sat- Athletic Conference champion of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in one of its headed for free agency, and more holes ment for Austin Reiter, he just might have to. urday. Texas Southern. Norfolk State most dynamic offenses, all while getting to opened up when the Chiefs waived tackles They could still find an offensive lineman in Morris Udeze scored a advanced to face top overall bulk up on some of Kansas City’s famous Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz to create the upcoming NFL draft, but they also have career-high 22 points and Den- seed Gonzaga on Saturday. barbecue. nis added 13 for Wichita State Jalen Hawkins scored 20 of In fact, that’s what Long did Wednesday some salary cap space. holes to plug at wide receiver, linebacker and (16-6). his 24 points before halftime for night with , the former Patriots Thuney provides a durable anchor at one in the secondary. the Spartans (17-7), who earned offensive lineman that earlier in the week of the guard spots after starting every game As for Long, the Chiefs hope he can be Texas Southern 60, their first tournament win since agreed to a five-year, $80-million contract over the past five seasons in New England, the durable Pro Bowl standout he was his Mount St. Mary’s 52 upsetting No. 2 seed Missouri to begin the overhaul of the Chiefs’ belea- and the Chiefs expect Laurent Duver- first three seasons with the Bears and not BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — in 2012. guered offensive line. nay-Tardif — the physician who opted out the player waylaid by injuries entering his John Walker III scored a sea- Justin Forrest had 18 points “I got to meet Joe last night and if there’s to help treat COVID-19 patients in his native prime. He hurt his ankle in 2016, his neck, son-high 19 points and Jordan one thing I know about Joe, I know he’s Canada — to return next season and hold shoulder and elbow the following year, had a Gilliam had 12 to help Texas for App State (17-12), which shot tough, he’s intelligent and he knows the down one of the other guard spots. foot injury midway through 2018 and landed Southern erase a 10-point half- 27 percent and missed its final game of football,” Long said during a Zoom “I just want to help the team out in any on injured reserve in 2019 with a foot injury. time deficit and beat Mount St. 10 attempts. call Thursday. way I can, in any capacity,” Thuney said. All told, the 32-year-old Long has played “When I had a chance to break some “First time joining a new team. I’m sure it’ll in just 30 games since 2015. bread with him over some barbecue, it felt be great. I just want to come in and work “I’ve been in one place my entire career like he wasn’t a stranger, and I don’t think I’ll hard every day and show the guys I can con- and it was home for me,” he said, “and the ever be a stranger to him.” tribute to help the team.” opportunity to come to a place like this — I So what about Mahomes, the 2018 league Third-round pick , who also wanted to schedule it early in free agency, MVP and proud new papa? opted out of his rookie season, provides an because I know there are a litany of players “I’ve never been around a guy that can option at one of the tackle spots, and Long that want to come into a building like this throw it from any inch of the football field to could end up at the other one. He played and play for a coach like this. … I knew right every inch of the football field,” Long said. guard for six seasons in Chicago but also away when I was let go in Chicago that I “It’s a unique opportunity. He’s a special spent one season at right tackle. would be back, and I needed to do every- talent.” “I’m comfortable with anywhere on the thing in my power to get back to where I The Chiefs knew they had to rebuild their offensive line,” he said. “One thing I can could come in and play at a level I know I offensive line, which was decimated by opt- tell you with conviction, I’ve never played can play.” Cashing in on broacdast rights had an average minute audience son games decreasing by 7 per- on Saturday in the final week of Amazon gets TNF, of 4.8 million. That was the larg- cent after two years of growth. the regular season with playoff NFL nearly doubles est audience to stream an NFL The declines have been large- implications for the first time, game. ly attributed to the coronavirus and a divisional round playoff value of TV deal “Over the last five years we pandemic and a presidential game to go with their wild-card By the Associated Press have started the migration to election. weekend contest. The two Sat- streaming. This is another large Even with declines, regu- urday games will begin this year Much like they did with cable step in this direction,” said New lar-season games last year aver- as part of the bridge agreement. in the 1980s and satellite tele- England Patriots owner Robert aged 15.6 million television and While the other networks saw vision in the 1990s, the NFL on Kraft, chairman of the league’s digital viewers, according to the their rights fees double, Disney’s Thursday made another signif- media committee. “Our fans league and Nielsen. increase came to 35 percent. It icant transition in the way its want this option and understand Here are other key points of will still pay the most though as games are viewed. streaming is the future. We have the new contract: its contract averages $2.7 billion The league’s new rights created a unique hybrid of view- • With the hefty new contracts per season. AP agreements, worth $113 billion ing options and streaming. This the 32 NFL teams and their play- • Fox will remain the primary Rebound battle during the 11 seasons of the new should provide a smooth tran- ers can look forward to increased network for the NFC while CBS deals that begin in 2023, include sition to the future of content salary caps throughout the will have the AFC. Eric Shanks UCLA’s Johnny Juzang and Michigan State’s Rocket Watts a streaming service receiving an distribution.” decade. The cap decreased by and Sean McManus, chairmen exclusive full season package compete for a rebound during Thursday night’s NCAA Marie Donoghue, Amazon’s nearly $16 million this year due of the respective networks, said Tournament game in West Lafayette, Ind. UCLA defeated for the first time when Amazon vice president of global sports to the coronavirus pandemic. it was important to retain those Prime Video will be the home video, said the next couple sea- The broadcast partners also unique identities. Michigan 86-80 in overtime. of 15 “Thursday Night Football” sons will be used to test certain figure to get an extra game per Fox will average $2.25 billion games. things. season, likely beginning this a year and CBS’ rights fees come “This is a seminal moment for “Our relationship with the year. NFL owners are getting to $2.1 billion. Both networks the distribution of our content,” NFL has been a process. It is ready to implement a 17-game also have provisions for their commissioner Roger Goodell incredible trust the league has regular season. Goodell said dis- streaming services: Tubi for Fox said. “These deals remind me put in us which is largely based cussions about the new sched- and CBS’ Paramount+. of back in the ’60s, how NFL on our track record with them,” ule will be conducted during • NBC’s next four Super content and games were a big she said. “It is a game changer the owners meetings later this Bowls, beginning with next part of the broadcast TV growth, for us. We are really excited for month with an announcement year’s game in Los Angeles, will and then going into the ’80s, with the innovative technologies and expected within the next three also come during the Winter our first commitment to cable ways to serve fans.” weeks. Olympics, which was important television, and then the ’90s with Games on Amazon will also The media deals have to the network. “Sunday Night our commitment to satellite tele- be carried on over-the-air broad- wrapped up a hectic 12 months Football” has been the top-rated vision and our Sunday Ticket cast stations in the cities of the for the league, which included prime-time program since 2011. package. I’m sure we’re going participating teams, also the completing a new labor agree- NBC also retains the open- to look back on these deals the case with games aired on ESPN ment and having no games can- ing Thursday night NFL Kickoff same way that we did back in and NFL Network. celed in the midst of the corona- game as well as a Thanksgiving the 1980s. ABC gets back in the Super virus pandemic. night game and flex scheduling “This provides our fans with Bowl rotation with two games • Without a doubt, the big beginning in Week 5. greater access. We want to pro- during the 11 seasons. ESPN gets winner is ESPN and ABC. Not • After the success of CBS vide our games on more plat- some flexibility in its schedule only does ABC return to the doing a kids-friendly broadcast forms than ever before.” on Monday nights, with the NFL Super Bowl rotation for the first on Nickelodeon, and ESPN’s Like puzzles? Then The new contracts also mean agreeing to potentially move as time since the 2005 season, but MegaCast during the NFL play- you’ll love sudoku. the NFL will nearly double its it finally gets those flex schedul- offs, there will be an increase This mind-bending media revenue to more than $10 many as five games from Sun- day, and will have three double- ing options for “Monday Night in alternate presentations. The puzzle will have you billion a season. The league took hooked! headers, up from one. Football”. That was a right only networks will also have great- in $5.9 billion a year in its current previously given to NBC when er flexibility to use stats and The contract also expands Here’s How It Works: contracts. flex scheduling was introduced integrated social feeds on their The total of $113 billion is digital rights for the other net- Fill in the grid so that works as well. ESPN+ will air in 2006. ESPN’s flex option will digital presentations. Amazon every row, every an increase of 80 percent from start in Week 12 and can be done experimented with on-demand the previous such period, a per- one of the London games and column and every on 12 days notice. highlights and increased use of 3x3 box contains son with direct knowledge of NBC’s “Peacock” platform will There will also be three weeks Next Gen stats during Thursday the digits 1 through the contracts said. The person also have one exclusive game per season for six years beginning of multiple games, including two night games last season. 9 with no repeats of spoke on condition of anonymity the same number because the money figures were in 2023. in any row, column not made public. Games will continue to air on MidmoclassifIEDS.COM or box. Good luck! Amazon has partnered with CBS, Fox, NBC as well as ESPN/ the league to stream 11 Thursday ABC. ESPN’s deal was scheduled Sponsored by night games since 2017, but it to end after 2021, while the oth- You never will take over the entire pack- ers expired a year later, but ESPN know what age from Fox, which has had it will have a bridge deal for 2022. since 2018. Amazon streamed a The new deals kick in with you’ll FInd. Week 16 Saturday game between the 2023 season and expire after the 49ers and Cardinals last year the 2033 schedule. The league that was seen by an estimated was able to get a sizable increase 11.2 million total viewers and despite ratings for regular-sea- www.newstribune.com