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The Best of the Day: March 22nd, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from March 22, 2021 including NYG landing Adoree' Jackson, NBA great Elgin Baylor passing away, and more!
USA TODAY Sports
The ‘Best of the Day’ is a daily PSO original series showcasing the most significant stories, highlights, and facts going on in the land of the NFL, NBA, & MLB every day. Get a recap on EVERYTHING that happened on 3/22 here.
Free agency in the NFL continues as the New York Giants made another significant offseason move by signing CB Adoree’ Jackson. Jackson has shown promise through his first four seasons and could form a nice partnership with top CB James Bradberry. Also, the Rookie of the Year race is wide open after LaMelo Ball’s season-ending injury, Ja Morant’s airplane dunk sparked Memphis’ OT victory, and the sports world mourns the loss of NBA legend Elgin Baylor, who passed away on Monday.
Here is the best of the day from March 22, 2021:
New York Giants landed CB Adoree’ Jackson on a 3y/$39M deal
Just two days after landing the top free agent at WR in Kenny Golladay, the New York Giants made a second major investment by signing CB Adoree’ Jackson. The 3y/$39M deal includes a $13.5M signing bonus with $20M fully guaranteed and could be worth up to $44.5M with incentives. This past season, Jackson suffered a knee injury before Week 1 that kept him out for all but three games in 2020.
New York Giants added CB Adoree' Jackson on a 3y/$39M deal ($26.5M gtd) plus $5.5M incentives pic.twitter.com/SYPbeKHlDi
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 23, 2021
Drafted by the Titans with the 18th pick in the 2017 NFL draft, Jackson accumulated 33 passes defended, two interceptions, and 200 tackles in 46 games played in Tennessee. During his four years with the Titans, he has flashed elite potential on several occasions. Jackson should solidify the No. 2 cornerback spot, allowing Isaac Yiadom to add depth as the No. 4 corner and be the primary backup behind shutdown corner James Bradberry.
Highest coverage grade when lined up outside since 2018:
— PFF (@PFF) March 19, 2021
🔒 Jaire Alexander 90.6
🔒 Richard Sherman 89.0
🔒 Stephon Gilmore 87.7
🔒 Adoree Jackson 85.6 pic.twitter.com/hidywtRQ9W
This is a make-or-break year for GM Dave Gettleman, who has now overseen a complete transformation of the Giants’ secondary over the last two years. New York acquired SS Jabrill Peppers along with a first and third round pick in a trade that sent WR Odell Beckham Jr. to Cleveland in 2019. That same offseason, the Giants let 3x Pro Bowler and 2016 All-Pro SS Landon Collins go to a division rival in free agency and have since added Bradberry, Jackson, and Logan Ryan to form one of the NFL’s top DB units.
The Giants have been unafraid to be aggressive this offseason, inking 3 notable deals:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 22, 2021
1️⃣ DL Leonard Williams: 3-years, $63M ($21M/year)
2️⃣ WR Kenny Golladay: 4-years, $72M ($18M/year, max value of $76M)
3️⃣ CB Adoree' Jackson: 3-years, $39M ($13M/year, max value of $44.5M)
Related: Stories of the Day
THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RACE IS BACK TO BEING WIDE OPEN
LaMelo Ball recently suffered a severe wrist injury, which has ruled him out for the rest of the season. Ball has had a sensational debut season in the NBA, and was the clear favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award until he recently suffered a season-ending injury. Ball, the third overall pick of the last draft, had helped the Hornets off to a surprising .500 record, which currently has them sitting at the 6th spot in the Eastern Conference.
With LaMelo Ball out for the rest of the season, the award that seemed to be the most secure is now up for grabs just like the rest o the NBA awards (MVP, DPOY, COY, and MIP). With LaMelo missing the rest of the season, Vegas has announced a new odds-on favorite, and that is Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who was the first overall pick in the 2020 draft class.
Next to Edwards, the other man with a legitimate chance of claiming this award is Tyrese Haliburton of the Sacramento Kings. Haliburton was the 12th overall pick of the draft, falling well behind counterparts Edwards and Ball. In the first night of action without LaMelo, Haliburton had 28 points in a win over the Cavs, and showed he can win rookie of the year.
It’s no secret that the Kings will be sellers at the deadline, and if Sacramento ends up moving on from Buddy Hield and/or Harrison Barnes, it will open up even more opportunities for Haliburton to shine and claim what was once the locked-up 2020-21 ROY award away from LaMelo Ball, who will miss a total of 31 games this year when it’s all said and done.
COLORS KEY | FULL HORNETS OUTLOOK
LaMelo Ball this season (rookie rank):
— ESPN (@espn) March 22, 2021
652 points (2nd)
240 rebounds (1st)
251 assists (1st)
65 steals (1st) pic.twitter.com/x73VDkqwPz
Anthony Edwards has now scored 105 points in his last three games.
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 19, 2021
He's the 1st teenager in NBA history with 100 points in a 3-game span 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Yknx20kCEe
Tyrese Haliburton tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 23, 2021
28 PTS (career-high)
11-15 FG
4-5 3P
The ROY race is wide open. pic.twitter.com/ZtmPrRhcFn
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Ja turned on AIRPLANE MODE
JA CAN FLY 😳 pic.twitter.com/7AFZt8FTkn
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 23, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights
PG Jrue Holiday, MIL (W v.IND): 28 PTS (11-15 FG | 5-6 3P), 14 AST, 5 REB, 1 BLK, 2 STL, 2 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (3/22/21) - G Jrue Holiday, MIL
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 23, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- Beat Pacers by 27 without Giannis playing (knee)
- Bucks 7th straight win; won 12 of last 13 games
- Season-high 14 assists; Bucks shot 61.5% on 3PA
KEY STATS:
28 PTS, 14 AST, 5 REB, 11-15 FG (73%), 5-6 3P (83%) https://t.co/O1zTtI9Qt7
Related: Players of the Day
Atlanta Hawks (110) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (119)
[Highlights] @CLIPPERS (-260; $9.86) d. HAWKS (+213; $12.18) 119-110 [LAC -6.5 | o225.5]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
The sports world will miss NBA legend Elgin Baylor, who was one of the greatest players to ever live
Elgin Baylor HOF resume:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 22, 2021
- Most PTS (61) in a NBA Finals game
- 11x All-Star
- 10x All-NBA 1st Team
- 1959 Rookie of the Year
- 1959 All-Star Game MVP
- Lakers #22 jersey retired
- 1958 No.1 overall pick
- 9 Finals appearances in 14 years
- Won only Championship in his final game pic.twitter.com/wznIw8vbYR
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