Slay it ain’t so | Sports Daily Newsletter
The Eagles are releasing their veteran cornerback.
Less than a month removed from their Super Bowl victory, the Eagles are releasing one of the starters from the rout of the Chiefs.
Cornerback Darius Slay might return at a reduced salary, of course, but two NFL sources confirmed Monday that the team is cutting him loose. Slay, 34, hopes to play another year after making the Pro Bowl in six of his 12 NFL seasons. He would prefer to play here or in Detroit, where he spent the first seven years of his career.
Big Play Slay made an impact here as an anchor at cornerback, breaking up 56 passes and posting nine interceptions in five seasons. The Eagles appear to have options at the position with Quinyon Mitchell on one side, Kelee Ringo waiting in the wings, and Cooper DeJean in the slot.
And Slay could still be back. In the meantime, Howie Roseman is clearing out some salary-cap space and moving on.
— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
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❓ Where does Darius Slay rank among the Eagles’ all-time great cornerbacks? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.
The starting lineup is mostly set and so is the starting pitching, so this spring training has been mostly drama-free for the Phillies. There are still questions to ponder in Clearwater, though. The Phillies are short on right-handed-hitting outfielders. Could this be the year that Brandon Marsh finally gets a run of playing time against lefties? And is Taijuan Walker’s resurgence for real?
Larry Bowa answered a few questions himself in a sit-down with Scott Lauber. Bowa is already a fan of Phillies prospect Aidan Miller.
It’s the busiest week of the year to be an NHL general manager’s phone, and Danny Brière’s cell figures to be among the busiest.
With coveted veterans like Scott Laughton and Rasmus Ristolainen, Brière has some tough decisions to make. Will he stick or twist with two pillars of the team’s culture? Jackie Spiegel sat down with the Flyers GM last week to discuss all things trade deadline.
Speaking of Ristolainen, the rugged Finn isn’t paying much attention to the rumors linking his name with a move.
“It’s one of those things I can’t really control,” Ristolainen says. “So I don’t really bother my mind with it. I just come in every day and work hard.”
Tyrese Maxey has been playing with a sprained finger on his right hand, and it has shown on the score sheet. Maxey made only two of 14 shots Saturday in a win against the Warriors, but he’ll keep on plugging away.
“He came out for walk-through with no tape on it,” coach Nick Nurse said. “I said, ‘Where’s the tape?’ And he said, ‘Forget that tape, man.’ I said, ‘Feeling better?’ He said, ‘Nope.’”
Maxey’s suffered a back contusion in the third quarter and never returned in the Sixers’ 119-102 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Jalen Milroe and Jalen Hurts have a lot in common beyond sharing a first name.
Both starred at the University of Alabama, both are dual-threat quarterbacks, and both entered their respective draft processes with question marks about their ability as passers.
Hurts, the recently crowned Super Bowl MVP, has answered those questions and then some. Now can Milroe prove the doubters wrong? Milroe, who has long looked up to Hurts, is using him as inspiration as he prepares for the NFL draft.
Worth a look
Meet and greet: The Eagles’ Moro Ojomo huddled with Nigeria’s president.
Conference tourney time: Here are 10 women’s players from the Big 5 to watch.
Women’s flag football: The Atlantic East Conference kicks off with an event at the Linc.
🧠 Trivia time
Who was the last Eagles cornerback to be named a first-team All-Pro? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.
A) Eric Allen
B) Troy Vincent
C) Lito Sheppard
D) Asante Samuel
What a Run! traces the remarkable journey that was the 2024 campaign, from Saquon Barkley’s 2,000-yard breakout season in his first year in Philly to Vic Fangio’s formidable defense to the exhilarating playoff wins against the Packers, Rams, and Commanders that paved the way for revenge against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Featuring electrifying stories and photos from The Inquirer, this commemorative book takes fans from Week 1 in São Paulo, all the way to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans. What a Run! is available at Barnes & Noble, on Amazon, and at other retail outlets. Or you can order your copy here.
What you’re saying about the Phillies
We asked you: Who will be the most valuable Phillie this season and why? Among your responses:
I think it will be between Harper and Turner. Barring injuries I am expecting good years from both of them. — Jack H.
My money is always on Harper. Extremely talented player who is clutch in the big moments and is the heart and soul of the team. — Kathy T.
I think the 2025 MVP will either be Wheeler, Harper, or Turner. I think Zack will have another outstanding year especially if one of the potential 5th starters really comes through and takes some of the workload off him and the other three. I think both Bryce and Turner were not 100% pleased with 2024 and are ready to really turn it on this season barring injuries. It will be Turner’s 11th and Bryce’s 14th seasons so they both know the clock is ticking for them personally as well as for this current group of Phillies. Long shots are Nola and Bohm. If you named a MVP at AS time last year it would have been Bohm. This will be my 77th season with the Phils so time is running out for me as well. — Everett S.
Hot on the heels of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX championship, The Inquirer’s hit podcast, unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane, announces another live taping — and you’re invited. In a subscriber-exclusive event in partnership with the Fitler Club, join us in person on March 6 as McLane talks with Eagles legend and radio broadcaster Mike Quick. The two will discuss all things Super Bowl and what made the 2024 season so special. Limited seating is available exclusively to our subscribers on a first-come, first-served basis. RSVP now.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Olivia Reiner, Jackie Spiegel, Keith Pompey, Scott Lauber, Gabriela Carroll, Devin Jackson, Katie Lewis, and Mia Messina.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Thank you for reading. Bella will be at the newsletter controls on Wednesday. — Jim