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Up first in Chapel Hill, Bill Belichick's program is dealing with a distraction it did not need. North Carolina has placed football general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave, just weeks before the Tar Heels open their second season under Belichick. Lombardi has been one of the coach's closest confidants for decades, and losing that voice in the building — even temporarily — is significant.
Shifting to the NBA, the Miami Heat's pursuit of Klay Thompson is hitting a wall, and that wall is wearing a Dallas Mavericks uniform. Miami has been aggressive in free agency following LeBron James's move to Philadelphia, building around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, but a trade complication involving Dallas is slowing the Thompson chase considerably. Pat Riley does not like waiting.
And in the NFC East, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott made a comment after a seven and nine and one season that quietly turned some heads. The Cowboys had one of the league's best offenses and still finished below five hundred. Prescott played well, but the gap between potential and results in Dallas keeps demanding an answer, and this offseason may finally force one.
That's your play-by-play. Sports Desk, back to the booth.
