Leadoff with Lee 3.8.15 #NFLFreeAgency #Kentucky #Boeheim #Browns

By @cleeverizon

- The Green Bay Packers and WR Randall Cobb agreed to a 4 year, $40 million contract. While he was offered more from other teams, like the Raiders, Cobb decided to stay in Green Bay and catch passes from the MVP, Aaron Rodgers.

- Cornerback Kareem Jackson and the Houston Texans agreed to a 4 year, $34 million deal, that includes $20 million in guaranteed money. The soon to be 27 year old Jackson has 10 interceptions and 50 passes defensed in his career with the Texans. If Kareem Jackson can pull in this type of contract, what will be offered to Browns (or former Browns) cornerback Buster Skrine?

- Mary Kay Cabot of Northeast Ohio Media Group reported 8 teams have expressed interest in Browns cornerback Buster Skrine in the first 3 hours of the negotiating window on Saturday. With so many teams involved, I don't see the Browns getting into a bidding war to re-sign Skrine. Ray Farmer has said multiple times he wants to build a team through the draft. It seems as if Farmer has his eyes set on another slot/nickel corner in the draft. And with the emergence of K'Wuan Williams and the depth of Pierre Desir, Skrine becomes expendable.
- According to a league source 4 teams have showed interest in quarterback Brian Hoyer, including the Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills.

- The Browns announce they resigned punter Spencer Lanning and running back Shawn Draughns. Recently released former Eagles defensive end, Trent Cole, is scheduled to meet without the Browns on Sunday. Cole has played defensive end in the 4-3 and outside linebacker in the 3-4 schemes.

- The Chicago Bears trade the often troubled wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets for a 5th round draft pick. In 13 games last season with the Bears, Marshall had 61 receptions for 721 yards, scoring 8 touchdowns.Prior to the 2014 season Marshall had 7 consecutive seasons with 1,000 plus yards receiving. The Jets are expected to cut ties with wide receiver Percy Harvin, who is rumored to sign with the New England Patriots.

- Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch agrees to a 3 year, $31 million dollar contract extension. Lynch will receive $12 million this year, in the form $7.5 million signing bonus and a $4.5 million fully-guaranteed base salary. In 2016, Lynch  will receive a base salary of $9 million dollars, and  In 2017 a base salary of $7 million in addition to a $3 million roster bonus due on the fifth day of the 2017 league year.

- Former Colts safety LaRon Landry suspended 10 games for violation of the Performance Enhancing Drug policy. In the 2014 season, Landry was suspended 4 games for the same violation. Indianapolis released the veteran in February.

- Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski has signed his franchise tag tender worth $4.59M for the 2015 season.

- The New Orleans Saints and wide receiver Marques Colston have agreed to restructure his contract and will remain with the team next season. The Saints were debating releasing the teams all-time leading receiver if the two side couldn't come to terms. Colston was set to make $9.7 million next season and it would have went against the Saints low salary cap. Details on his restructured contract are expected to be made public as early as Monday.

- The Saints also agreed to a new 4-year, $16 million deal with running back Mark Ingram.

- The Colts have announced they won’t re-sign wide receiver Reggie Wayne. The 14-year veteran of the team had 64 receptions for 779 yards in 15 games and scoring only 2 touchdowns last season. Wayne ranks 7th in all-time NFL receptions and 8th in all-time receiving yards.

- The NCAA suspended Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim for nine ACC games, took away 12 scholarships, and ordered that 108 wins be vacated as a result of a multiyear investigation into the university's athletic programs. The following article by Emily Jones from NCAA.org details the infractions and penalties for the university. Click here to read that

- The University of Kentucky men's basketball team and number one team in the country finishes the regular season 31-0. Kentucky is the first team from a major power conference to complete the regular season unbeaten since Indiana did it in 1976. This is the Wildcats first unbeaten regular season since 1954. The Wildcats wore t-shirts after the game that read "31-0 Not Done". With nine more wins Kentucky will finish 40-0 and be crowned "National Champions" (Alcorn State was also undefeated in the 1976 season but didn't make it to the national tournament. The field at the time was only 32).

- Cavaliers forward LeBron James tied Mark Price for the Cavaliers' career assist record of 4,206.