Shepard during recent offseasons has interned with the league and learned about the salary capGETTY IMAGES
Giants WR RUSSELL SHEPARD "wants to be an agent when he retires from the NFL" and was at the Combine this past week "laying the groundwork for his second career." Over the past two offseasons, Shepard "interned with the league and spent two weeks before the Combine" in DC "learning how the salary cap works." It is "all part of a plan." Shepard said, "I don't want to be the agent of old times. I want to be a modern-day agent, and that's a life coach, a mentor on and off the field, that's a guy that can help you maximize your brand. I think I can help these guys step into that role. The NFL and NFLPA want more former players as agents, and I'm here learning everything I can" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 3/2).
GANG GREEN NATION: On the latest episode of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Jets fan LARRY DAVID referenced the team "opting to pass on" Texans QB DESHAUN WATSON in the '17 Draft during a conversation with the widow of a friend named CARL, an "extremely emotional Jets fan that committed suicide." The widow said, "The Jets ruined our marriage. I couldn't stand to be around him. We had to paint our room green. One night, he just woke up and yelled, 'Watson!' What is that? Is that a Sherlock Holmes reference or something?" David replied, "No, I think that's a reference to Deshaun Watson, who the Jets passed on drafting in 2017. That's what I think it is" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/2).
LIVING VICARIOUSLY: Hurricanes emergency backup goalie DAVID AYRES had the "stick he used in his improbable win" over the Maple Leafs donated to the Hockey HOF. He "still hasn't gone back to his life as building operations manager at Mattamy Athletic Centre" since earning the victory on Feb. 22. Ayres said that he and his wife are "planning to mull the many offers that have come their way from various agents and book publishers and documentarians." Ayres was "back at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday in his role" as the Maple Leafs' emergency backup for their game against the Canucks (TORONTO STAR, 2/29).
UPDATED TERMS: The Rutgers BOG on Friday "approved a two-year contract extension" for men's basketball coach STEVE PIKIELL. From '19-20 through '25-26, Pikiell's new contract "stipulates guaranteed compensation" of $20M, plus "performance and retention bonuses." His buyout was set at $3M if he was to "leave after this season." The buyout now is $5M, and it decreases $1M "each following year during the term of the contract" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 2/29).
PLAYING HOST: Knicks rookie F RJ BARRETT "hosted ANTONIO SELLERS, a 16-year-old Hudson Catholic High School student who attended practice through the Garden of Dreams Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation." Sellers played basketball "before recently being diagnosed with brain cancer, and his wish was to meet Barrett" (NEWSDAY, 3/2)....Chiefs S TYRANN MATHIEU on Saturday spoke about the "importance of physical and mental health at Prepare to Play, a health and wellness event created by the National Athletic Trainers' Association." Mathieu and some other Chiefs players "played host to 150 area Girl Scouts and their parents" for the event (K.C. STAR, 3/1).
ALL THE RIGHT NOTES: Lakers C JAVALE MCGEE produced the song, "AVAILABLE," on JUSTIN BIEBER's newest album (N.Y. TIMES, 2/29)....Fanatics Founder & Exec Chair MICHAEL RUBIN was "featured in DRAKE's latest single, 'WHEN TO SAY WHEN'" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/2).
NAMES: NBC's JIMMY FALLON conducted the Syracuse pep band in the Carrier Dome at halftime of UNC-Syracuse on Saturday night (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 3/1). TOM BRADY and Patriots WR JULIAN EDELMAN joined Fallon a "few seats down" from Syracuse coach JIM BOEHEIM in the front row. The three were "guests of businessman ADAM WEITSMAN, who is known for bringing A-list athletes to the Carrier Dome" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 3/1)....Panthers QB CAM NEWTON was in attendance for Lakers-Grizzlies at FedExForum on Saturday (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 3/1)....LSU on Saturday retired former NBAer MAHMOUD ABDUL-RAUF's No. 35 jersey (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 3/1)....Knicks C MITCHELL ROBINSON "switched representation last month" and signed with Klutch Sports Group's RICH PAUL (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/2)....Mavericks G LUKA DONCIC on Friday night partied "into the wee hours at LIV Nightclub" in Miami to celebrate his 21st birthday (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/1)...."MAHOMIE," a bull named after Chiefs QB PATRICK MAHOMES, "elicited oohs and aahs from the Sprint Center Crowd" during the PBR Caterpillar Classic. Meanwhile, Cowboy BRADY SIMS "sported a No. 19 Chiefs jersey with his name on the back" (K.C. STAR, 3/2)....Lions QB MATTHEW STAFFORD and his wife, KELLY, are "expecting baby No. 4 this summer (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/2).
