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Matthew Paras

mparas@washingtontimes.com

Matthew Paras was a digital sports writer for the Washington Times.

Articles by Matthew Paras

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) reacts next to guard Russell Westbrook (4) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) **FILE**

Bradley Beal’s rise, and snubs, paves way for first All-Star start

Beal was named Thursday as a starting guard for the Eastern Conference when the NBA announced the starters for next month's All-Star Game in Atlanta. The announcement marks the first time in Beal's nine-year career in which he was voted in as a starter, and it will be his third All-Star Game appearance overall.

February 18, 2021
Philadelphia Eagles' Carson Wentz warms up before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., in this Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, file photo. The Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade not only has whet fans' appetites for big deals, it's caused a social media frenzy about which quarterbacks are headed elsewhere. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke, File) **FILE**

Eagles trade Carson Wentz to Colts

The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to trade the quarterback to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick that can become a first-round pick, according to multiple reports.

February 18, 2021
Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith talk before the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) **FILE**

NFL salary cap floor set at $180 million

The league has not set the 2021 salary cap, but it will be no lower than $180 million after reaching an agreement with the player's union. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the league's revenues declined this past season and officials were embracing for a lower cap -- possibly as low as $175 million, down from the current number of $198 million.

February 18, 2021
Washington Wizards center Moritz Wagner (21) is called for a foul on Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Moritz Wagner leads Wizards’ big man by committee approach

Moritz Wagner went up for the layup and the Washington Wizards center was immediately stripped by John Wall. Rather than sulk, clap his hands out of frustration or plead for a foul, Wagner reacted fast: He swiped back -- stealing the ball from the Rockets guard. Wagner then dribbled to the corner, splashing a 3-pointer to further extend Washington's lead.

February 17, 2021
Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin plays during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond benching comes at unusual time

The choices to move on from Griffin and Drummond aren't terribly surprising. Detroit and Cleveland are rebuilding, and both players have been long rumored to be dealt. Griffin and Drummond, likewise, reportedly want a change. The timing of the announcement, however, is unusual -- to say the least. And it could represent a shift in how teams are approaching disgruntled players.

February 16, 2021
Houston Rockets guard John Wall (1) and Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) meet up after an NBA basketball game, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Washington. The Wizards won 131-119. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

John Wall legacy with Wizards defined in plenty of moments

Wall spent 10 seasons with the Wizards after he was drafted first overall in 2010. He holds the franchise's all-time record in assists and steals and is fourth in scoring. Just about every memorable Wizards moment of the last decade belongs to the perennial All-Star.

February 15, 2021
Fedex Field scoreboard displays the Washington Football Team name during warmups before the start of a NFL football game between Washington Football Team and Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Landover, Md. Washington has dumped its 86-year-old team name, handed over an investigation into workplace misconduct to the NFL, seen minority owners and Dan Snyder battle it out in court, coach Ron Rivera battle a form of skin cancer and reached the playoffs on the arm of a quarterback who hadn't played in two years because of an injury that looked career-threatening. All in a few months' work for arguably the biggest soap opera in professional sports with a playoff game against Tom Brady up next. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) **FILE**

Washington hires Chris Polian in executive role

Washington continued to shake up its front office Monday, hiring Chris Polian as the team's director of pro personnel. Polian is the son of former Bills, Panthers and Colts general manager Bill Polian, a Hall of Fame executive who has also served as an analyst for ESPN.

February 15, 2021
Philadelphia Eagles' Carson Wentz watches Jalen Hurts warm up before an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Eagles receiving trade interest in Carson Wentz

The Philadelphia Eagles hired coach Nick Sirianni, in part, because they hoped he could fix quarterback Carson Wentz. But that hasn't stopped the franchise from listening to inquires about Wentz's availability on the trade market.

February 4, 2021
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith warms up before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia, in this Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, file photo. Washingtons biggest offseason need is to figure out its quarterback situation. Trade for DeShaun Watson? Sign Cam Newton? Roll with Alex Smith and Kyle Allen? Coach Ron Rivera says nothing is off the table. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File) **FILE**

Ron Rivera, Martin Mayhew not rushing to ‘mortgage the future’ for quarterback

As Mayhew and Hurney were formally introduced Wednesday, Washington's plans for the position dominated the conversation. The team notably struck out on acquiring Matthew Stafford from the Lions over the weekend, but the pursuit was a possible indication that Washington could want to go big in order to secure its quarterback of the future.

February 3, 2021
Joe Theismann on an August 29, 2016 interview on the Fox Business Network. Screen captured from video.

Joe Theismann blasts Deshaun Watson: ‘This isn’t the NBA’

The possibility of Deshaun Watson becoming available on the trade market has NFL teams salivating at the chance to grab a 25-year-old franchise quarterback. Washington legend Joe Theismann, however, has an issue with Watson's actions.

February 3, 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) holds the championship trophy after winning the NFC championship NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. The Buccaneers defeated the Packers 31-26 to advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

NFL finally reaching finish line of unprecedented season

Sunday's Super Bowl between Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs and Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers marks the end of a trying season for the country's most popular sport. But the NFL has pulled off what was hard to imagine just months ago.

February 3, 2021