The Sportsletter - Signing Day & Untouchable Tom

BY JEFF YODER

FEB. 3, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  BROWSER VIEW

Good Morning,

Big news Thursday… From National Signing Day to Winter Olympics and a Tom Brady Underdog, today’s edition is loaded. Make sure to scroll to the bottom for our TB12 sendoff.

Letter Rip!

CFB

National Signing Day 2.0

Photo: Wesley Hitt / Getty Images

Texas A&M  Lands Top Recruiting Class With Seven 5-Star Signings

Alabama made it close, but Texas A&M hung onto the top spot after National Signing Day 2.0. The Aggies added five-star defensive lineman Shemar Stewart and locked down the top-ranked class in 2022, as well as the top-rate signing class of all-time. Wednesday marked a significant milestone for Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher in his program’s arms race with SEC powerhouses from Alabama and Georgia. After those three programs went 1-2-3, no other  SEC teams cracked the top-10.

Top Recruiting Classes (2022)

1. Texas A&M (330.61)

2. Alabama (322.29)

3. Georgia (316.91)

4. Ohio State (300.46)

5. Texas (288.75)

6. Penn State (277.81)

7. Notre Dame (272.97)

8. Michigan (260.42)

9. North Carolina (257.61)

10. Oklahoma (266.11)

Rest of Top-20: (11) Clemson, (12) LSU, (13) Kentucky, (14) Missouri, (15) Miami, (16) Tennessee, (17) Stanford, (18) Auburn, (19) Florida, (20) Florida State

Full 247Sports Composite Rankings

Additional Storylines

SI: Winners & Losers From National Signing Day

CBS Sports: Texas A&M Locks Up No. 1 Class of All-Time on National Signing Day

NFL

The Washington Commanders

Image via Washington Commanders 

Washington Football Team Announces New Nickname

Two seasons after retiring the name ‘Redskins’ due to racial insensitivity, the Washington Football Team has a new nickname: Commanders. The team unveiled its new logo and nickname on Wednesday, keeping some similarities in the ‘W’ logo and color scheme. The new moniker pays homage to the city’s identity and representation as the nation’s capital. Washington’s new uniforms also look quite different, including a black option that hadn’t been used previously.

"As an organization, we are excited to rally and rise together as one under our new identity while paying homage to our local roots and what it means to represent the nation's capital.” — Team Owner Dan Snyder

Additional Storylines

NBC Sports: Dan & Tanya Snyder Reveal Washington Commanders’ New Uniforms (Video)

ESPN: Washington Commanders: Inside the Franchise’s Search for New Logo & Nickname

OLYMPICS

Winter Olympics Underway

Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images

Opening Ceremonies are Scheduled for Friday, But Sports Are Off and Running in Beijing

We’re officially a go in Beijing! The 2022 Winter Olympics won’t light the torch until Friday morning, but Wednesday’s initial action featured curling, skiing and women’s ice hockey. Once again, the geographical challenges mean we’ll have overnight sports with re-airs and morning updates on delay. The Games run until Feb. 20. Here’s a look at what’s coming in the next few days.

Upcoming Schedule (Thursday—Friday)

Figure Skating, Rhythm Dance, Freestyle Skiing

(8:00 pm — 12:00 am ET, NBC)

Freestyle Skiing, Curling

(3:00 am — 7:30 am ET, USA Network)

Women’s Ice Hockey: USA vs. Finland

(8:10 am — 10:30 am ET, USA Network)

Opening Ceremony

(6:30 am — 9:00 am ET, NBC)

Full Upcoming Winter Olympics Schedule

Additional Storylines

NBC Sports: USA Steals Win in Mixed Doubles Curling (Video)

NPR: The 7 New Olympic Events to Watch in Beijing

The Ringer: Every Winter Olympic Event, Ranked By NOPE Factor

🎥THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏀 NBA: Nets Lose 6th Straight Without KD

Title hopes are slipping in Brooklyn. The Nets lost to the Kings on Wednesday (112-101) to mark their sixth consecutive loss after losing Kevin Durant to an injury that should keep him out through February. Suddenly, Brooklyn is sixth in the East.

🏒 NHL: Oilers Salvage Blown Lead vs. Caps

The Oilers blew a three-goal lead against the Capitals after Leon Draisaitl, Evander Kane and Connor McDavid opened the game with a trio of lit lamps in the first five minutes. Edmonton bounced back to win (5-3) thanks to two third-period goals from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

⚽️ SOC: USMNT Freezes Out Honduras

The U.S. Men’s National Team shut out Honduras (3-0) on a frigid night in Minnesota for the latest CONCACAF World Cup qualifier. Weston McKennie (8’), Walker Zimmerman (37’) and Christian Pulisic (67’) scored to give the U.S. three crucial points.

🏀 NCAAM: Kofi Cockburn Drops 37 for Illini

Wednesday’s game ball in college hoops belonged to Kofi Cockburn (37 points, 12 rebounds) for his dominating performance as #18 Illinois took down #11 Wisconsin (80-67). Cockburn’s Player of the Year bid got a massive boost as he went 16-for-19 from the floor.

🏀 NCAAW: OU Beats Baylor in Final Seconds

In the women’s game, #18 Oklahoma swiped an upset against #9 Baylor with a game-winning layup by Liz Scott in the final seconds (78-77). The victory jumped Oklahoma into a tie for first in the Big 12 standings.

THE STORYLINES

⛳️  PGA Best Bets for Pebble Beach Pro-Am

The PGA Tour continues Thursday at the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Which players are the favorites this time around? Who offers good odds? And what props are worthwhile? (ESPN+)

🏀  Updated 2022 NBA Mock Draft

The top of the 2022 NBA draft is looking stronger by the month. And as conference play moves along, scouts are learning about new prospects worth tracking. (Bleacher Report)

🏈  Will Aaron Rodgers Follow Tom Brady?

Consensus GOAT Tom Brady hung up his cleats on Tuesday, calling it a career after 22 seasons. If Aaron Rodgers decides to drift into retirement in the coming weeks, he’ll have a tough act to follow. (FOX Sports)

📰 THE HEADLINES

Jimmy Garoppolo Expects to be Traded From 49ers to Winning Franchise

(ESPN)

Denver Broncos Franchise Releases Statement that Team is Officially for Sale

(Yahoo! Sports)

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Undergoes Ankle Surgery

(Bleacher Report)

Jim Harbaugh Spurns NFL Interest to Return to Michigan

(CBS Sports)

Vikings Expected to Hire Rams’ OC Kevin O’Connell After Super Bowl

(NBC Sports)

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The GOAT: Untouchable Tom

Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images

Football’s Greatest Underdog Became the Game’s Greatest of All-Time

Twenty-two seasons. Seven Super Bowl rings. Countless records that will likely go untouched in time. Tom Brady retired from football this week at 44 years old, and the sports world waved goodbye to the GOAT.

Alongside icons like Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Serena Williams, Brady sits on the Mount Rushmore of those household names who ruled American sports in the 21st century. The difference? Brady came out of nowhere.

Tiger was a child prodigy. James, a high school phenom and No. 1 overall pick. Williams won her first grand slam at 18 years old. Then, there’s Brady.

The scrawny quarterback from San Mateo, California traveled to Michigan where he became a two-year starter in his junior and senior seasons. He led the Wolverines to a 20-5 record (not bad), then entered the pros as the 199th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. He was the seventh quarterback taken, and the New England Patriots had no idea what they were getting…

QBs Drafted Before Tom Brady in 2000: Chad Pennington, Giovanni Carmazzi, Chris Redman, Tee Martin, Marc Bulger, Spergon Wynn

Brady was drafted to be the backup for quarterback Drew Bledsoe, but one hit changed the course of NFL history. Bledsoe suffered a concussion after a shot from Jets linebacker Mo Lewis in 2001. In stepped Brady, going 5-for-10 for 46 yards. The beginning...

Bledsoe had recently signed a 10-year, $103 million contract extension that was the largest in NFL history at the time. But Brady took over and led New England to Super Bowl glory. That was Ring No. 1 of seven, and the end of the Bledsoe era.

Head coach Bill Belichick and his young quarterback won two more Super Bowls in the next three years, cementing the Pats as the NFL’s undisputed dynasty. But after a decade of failing to capture their fourth ring, Brady and Bill caught a second wind. They won three more Lombardi trophies in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Six championships over 18 years — one of every three Super Bowls was claimed by the Patriots.

A scenery change to Tampa Bay paved the way for Ring No. 7, and proof that Brady was still immortal. Even after the Bucs failed to reach the promised land this season, Brady — at 44 years old — still led the league in yards (5,316) and touchdowns (43).

Tom Brady’s Career (By the Numbers)

22 Seasons

7 Super Bowl Rings (1st All-Time)

5 Super Bowl MVPs (1st All-Time)

3 NFL MVPs (T-2nd All-Time)

243 Wins (1st All-Time)

624 Passing TDs (1st All-Time)

84,520 Passing Yards (1st All-Time)

35 Playoff Wins (1st All-Time)

Tom Brady’s Retirement Post

“I have always believed the sport of football is an ‘all-in’ proposition—if a 100% competitive commitment isn't there, you won't succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game. There is a physical, mental, and emotional challenge EVERY single day that has allowed me to maximize my highest potential. And I have tried my very best these past 22 years. There are no shortcuts to success on the field or in life…

“This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”

Many young sports fans can’t recall a time when Tom Brady didn’t reside atop the NFL. He’s one of one. And one of four on the Mount Rushmore of 21st century American sports heroes. And the truest underdog among them.

His records, endless. His trophies, abundant. His legacy, untouchable.

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