Release
The Cardinals release Dockett, saving the team $6.8 million in salary cap space. Dockett spent 11 years with the team. Cardinals general manager Steve Keim:
We have been very clear about our feelings for Darnell and our desire to have him back. After speaking with him and his representatives, we decided that this move today makes the most sense for both the team and the player and allows each to keep all of its options open.
Trade
The Panthers acquire Jagr from the Devils for a second-round draft pick in the 2015 NHL draft and a conditional third-round draft pick in the 2016 draft. Florida general manager Dale Tallon:
We’re headed in the right direction. I’m excited about him coming here and just spending some time with him and watching him play. He’s an exciting guy to watch play. He’s still got it…We want to win. We want to win a championship and we’re putting the pieces together step-by-step and we’re hopeful that Jaromir can lead these young guys to the promised land. It’s a win-win for us.
Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello:
Jaromir never came to me. We never had a discussion about a trade. We never had a discussion about where, when, how, why. That is not something we feel is the way you should operate with players. You have to think of what is best for the organization.
Release
The Falcons release Jackson, saving the team $3.75 million against the salary cap.
In terms of what we hoped to accomplish as a team on the field, my time as a Falcon was a disappointment, but I will always be grateful for how the city and franchise treated me while I was there…Make no mistake: I can still punish a defense. I still have a warrior’s heart. There are 1,000-yard seasons left in these legs. I know what I am still capable of, and I have every intention of proving it.
Released
The Kansas City Chiefs release tight end Anthony Fasano.
Release
The Jaguars release Blackmon, clearing $920,000 in salary cap room.
https://twitter.com/willblackmon/status/570973951565926400
Release
The Eagles release Herremans. He spent nine seasons with the team. His release will leave the Eagles with $2.4 million in dead money on their salary cap.
Released
The Chiefs release Fasano, saving the team about $2 million against the salary cap.
Signs two-year contract
Rodriguez signs a two-year contract with the Brewers. The deal is worth a total of $13 million. Teammate Ryan Braun:
His personality fits really well on the team. He’s been really successful, and anybody that has that type of success is a lot of fun to be around.
Injury
Saunders tears cartilage in his knee by stepping on a sprinkler while catching foul balls. He is out until the All-Star break.
I just tried to walk off the field and not draw any attention to myself, then when I got into the training room, my knee felt like it was getting tight on the inside. I’ve never had any issues with my knees, so that’s when I knew that something was wrong.
Signs 10-day contract
The Heat sign Beasley to a 10-day contract. The signing is in response to the Heat’s loss of Chris Bosh, who is out for the season.
Release
The Lions release Bush, saving the team $1.7 million in salary space. Had the Lions kept Bush, they would have had a $5.28 million cap charge for 2015. Lions general manager Mayhew:
It’s not about Reggie Bush. It’s about the process of evaluating where you are as a football team. We have a bunch of meetings after the season. The coaching staff meets. The scouting department meets together and we evaluate everybody’s performance.
Part of that, from my standpoint as GM and in terms of setting up our team, is how much of a contribution each guy made to the football team that year. In Reggie’s situation, obviously last year he was injured so you have to look at the contribution versus how much you’re paying a player. It’s not just Reggie. It’s every player on the team.
Signs one-year contract
The Orioles sign Cabrera to a one-year contract worth $2.4 million with $600,000 in incentives.
VIDEO: Get your first look at the newest Oriole @CabreraEverth! Watch him take BP: http://t.co/9drR8TVkIs #Orioles
— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) February 25, 2015
Released
The Giants release Kiwanuka. The Giants list the move as “failed physical.” Releasing him saves the Giants $4.825 million against 2015’s salary cap and leaves Kiwanuka free to sign with any team, even before free agency begins. Coach Tom Coughlin:
The thing that has always impressed me about Kiwi is how serious he is about the game. He was always prepared and always in outstanding condition and played very hard. And he had some nasty in him. I always felt like you could count on certain things from him: eight [or] nine sacks, harass the quarterback, and you could move him around, inside, outside. He is dependable, reliable and there is no question about his professionalism. His character and professionalism and serious approach to the game will be missed.
Released
The Giants release Hillis. His contract was worth $945,000 against the salary cap this season.
Released after Pacquiao jibe
After making fun of Pacquiao’s basketball ability, Orton is released by Purefoods Star Hotshots. He is also fined $5,650.
[Pacquiao playing] is a joke… Professional boxer? Yeah. Congressman? All right. But professional basketball player? Seriously? It’s a joke.
Rene Pardo of the Hotshots:
Everyone is angry at him. It is like he went to the United States and insulted the name of Martin Luther King.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud:
This office disapproves of and frowns upon the cavalier manner in which Mr. Orton issued his comments and the unwarranted antics and liberties he has taken with the league and a fellow player. This insulting behavior will never be condoned by the league.
https://twitter.com/D_Orton33/status/569846326961311744
Injury
Kane suffers an upper-body injury. He is expected to miss six to ten weeks. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville:
Looks like he might miss some time, but we’ll know the extent of it tomorrow.
Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg:
You get ticked off when the best player in the league gets hit like that. I can’t totally comment because I didn’t fully see it. You never want to see that. People pay a lot of money to watch Patrick Kane play. It’s never good when he’s out of the lineup — not only for us, but for the league. Hopefully, he’s good. We’ll see how it goes.
Needs knee surgery
Rose has a torn meniscus in his right knee that requires surgery. Rose remains under contract through the 2016-17 NBA season. A surgery date and a recovery timeline have not yet been set.
11th career triple-double
Westbrook leads the OKC Thunder to a 105-92 win over the Pacers. The victory comes with Westbrook’s 3rd triple-double this season, scoring 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists with 2:40 remaining in the third quarter. This makes Westbrook’s 11th career triple-double and OKC’s seventh straight win. OKC coach, Scott Brooks:
He just continues to stack games up on top of one another. He’s played well. He’s doing a great job of leading us, leading the new guys and leading the group. Making it all come together.
Out two weeks
Marion is out at least two weeks due to a strained left hip. Marion has been experiencing discomfort in the hip ever since Cleveland’s five-game West Coast road trip last month. Coach David Blatt:
I knew before Shawn wasn’t feeling great and that’s the reason he wasn’t playing, because he wasn’t healthy. So we really wanted to give him a chance to get through this problem as we have done on several occasions this year with other players. And I think it’s good. It’s good that he’ll take this time to rest and rehabilitate and get the treatment that he needs and to come back when he’s fully ready to play.
Signs contract
Kirilenko signs to play basketball for CSKA Moscow.
The time has come to think about ending my career at the professional level.