\r\n\r\nTypically, Rapoport revealed, he spends Super Bowl week seeking to “set the table” for NFL fans about what’s expected to come up this offseason.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“At the start of the week, I broke the Myles Garrett trade request. I tracked it for five or six days, wanted to make sure it was perfect, wanted to get it first, which I was able to do, which is great, and that kind of splashed,” Rapoport said.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFor more on Ian Rapoport's approach to Super Bowl week and how it sets up the NFL offseason, you can read Ryan Glasspiegel's full story here.","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_label":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_title":"Reader Response","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image":167089,"newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link_tracker":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_credit":"Detroit Free Press","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_text":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_copy":"We got a reader email in response to our story about Tom Brady’s rocky first year in the broadcast booth for Fox Sports. “As a long-time football fan, over 45 years, I disagree with the premise that Brady is bombing,’” wrote Dove Levy. “He is very knowledgeable re play design. I particularly enjoy his insights into individual players. He knows nicknames, quirks, and insider stories. He has become my new favorite, replacing Troy Aikman.”\r\n\r\nBen DuBose liked our column expressing our annoyance at talking heads saying we’re lucky to be alive to witness the Chiefs’ greatness. “The 'you gotta appreciate greatness' nonsense (mostly from people who are either diehard fans of the team or employees of someone with a massive NFL contract) is about distracting and diverting you.”\r\n\r\nProfittCapper tweeted: “Goodell is telling us not to trust our lying eyes.” Mikewichter joked, “He knows the games are televised, right?”","newsletter_content_7_select_content_block":"qotd","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_title":"Do you think the NFL will opt out of its media-rights deals at the end of this decade?","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_0_content_qotd_choice_label":"Yes","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_1_content_qotd_choice_label":"No","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices":2,"newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_prev_results":"Friday's response: 43% of you think Greg Olsen will be the No. 1 announcer for an NFL rights-holder during the 2026 season."}},"postID":166571,"postFormat":"standard"};
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\r\n\r\n“I’m generally happy to do it, but I also want to work!” Rapoport said. “So it makes it kind of a challenge.”\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nTypically, Rapoport revealed, he spends Super Bowl week seeking to “set the table” for NFL fans about what’s expected to come up this offseason.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“At the start of the week, I broke the Myles Garrett trade request. I tracked it for five or six days, wanted to make sure it was perfect, wanted to get it first, which I was able to do, which is great, and that kind of splashed,” Rapoport said.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFor more on Ian Rapoport's approach to Super Bowl week and how it sets up the NFL offseason, you can read Ryan Glasspiegel's full story here.","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_label":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_title":"Reader Response","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image":167089,"newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link_tracker":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_credit":"Detroit Free Press","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_text":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_copy":"We got a reader email in response to our story about Tom Brady’s rocky first year in the broadcast booth for Fox Sports. “As a long-time football fan, over 45 years, I disagree with the premise that Brady is bombing,’” wrote Dove Levy. “He is very knowledgeable re play design. I particularly enjoy his insights into individual players. He knows nicknames, quirks, and insider stories. He has become my new favorite, replacing Troy Aikman.”\r\n\r\nBen DuBose liked our column expressing our annoyance at talking heads saying we’re lucky to be alive to witness the Chiefs’ greatness. “The 'you gotta appreciate greatness' nonsense (mostly from people who are either diehard fans of the team or employees of someone with a massive NFL contract) is about distracting and diverting you.”\r\n\r\nProfittCapper tweeted: “Goodell is telling us not to trust our lying eyes.” Mikewichter joked, “He knows the games are televised, right?”","newsletter_content_7_select_content_block":"qotd","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_title":"Do you think the NFL will opt out of its media-rights deals at the end of this decade?","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_0_content_qotd_choice_label":"Yes","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_1_content_qotd_choice_label":"No","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices":2,"newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_prev_results":"Friday's response: 43% of you think Greg Olsen will be the No. 1 announcer for an NFL rights-holder during the 2026 season."}},"postID":166571,"postFormat":"standard"};
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\r\n\r\nRapoport explained that trying to interview players from the Eagles and Chiefs at media night on Monday was “literally impossible” as other media members kept asking for two minutes of his time.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“I’m generally happy to do it, but I also want to work!” Rapoport said. “So it makes it kind of a challenge.”\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nTypically, Rapoport revealed, he spends Super Bowl week seeking to “set the table” for NFL fans about what’s expected to come up this offseason.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“At the start of the week, I broke the Myles Garrett trade request. I tracked it for five or six days, wanted to make sure it was perfect, wanted to get it first, which I was able to do, which is great, and that kind of splashed,” Rapoport said.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFor more on Ian Rapoport's approach to Super Bowl week and how it sets up the NFL offseason, you can read Ryan Glasspiegel's full story here.","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_label":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_title":"Reader Response","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image":167089,"newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link_tracker":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_credit":"Detroit Free Press","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_text":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_copy":"We got a reader email in response to our story about Tom Brady’s rocky first year in the broadcast booth for Fox Sports. “As a long-time football fan, over 45 years, I disagree with the premise that Brady is bombing,’” wrote Dove Levy. “He is very knowledgeable re play design. I particularly enjoy his insights into individual players. He knows nicknames, quirks, and insider stories. He has become my new favorite, replacing Troy Aikman.”\r\n\r\nBen DuBose liked our column expressing our annoyance at talking heads saying we’re lucky to be alive to witness the Chiefs’ greatness. “The 'you gotta appreciate greatness' nonsense (mostly from people who are either diehard fans of the team or employees of someone with a massive NFL contract) is about distracting and diverting you.”\r\n\r\nProfittCapper tweeted: “Goodell is telling us not to trust our lying eyes.” Mikewichter joked, “He knows the games are televised, right?”","newsletter_content_7_select_content_block":"qotd","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_title":"Do you think the NFL will opt out of its media-rights deals at the end of this decade?","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_0_content_qotd_choice_label":"Yes","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_1_content_qotd_choice_label":"No","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices":2,"newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_prev_results":"Friday's response: 43% of you think Greg Olsen will be the No. 1 announcer for an NFL rights-holder during the 2026 season."}},"postID":166571,"postFormat":"standard"};
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\r\n\r\n“A couple of years ago there were some openings that really hadn’t been decided. A couple of them broke during Super Bowl week. That’s the nightmare scenario because it’s hard to get a lot done at Super Bowl week. I’m not at my desk. There’s a lot of things going on. If you walk around, there’s people that grab you all the time.”\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nRapoport explained that trying to interview players from the Eagles and Chiefs at media night on Monday was “literally impossible” as other media members kept asking for two minutes of his time.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“I’m generally happy to do it, but I also want to work!” Rapoport said. “So it makes it kind of a challenge.”\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nTypically, Rapoport revealed, he spends Super Bowl week seeking to “set the table” for NFL fans about what’s expected to come up this offseason.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“At the start of the week, I broke the Myles Garrett trade request. I tracked it for five or six days, wanted to make sure it was perfect, wanted to get it first, which I was able to do, which is great, and that kind of splashed,” Rapoport said.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFor more on Ian Rapoport's approach to Super Bowl week and how it sets up the NFL offseason, you can read Ryan Glasspiegel's full story here.","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_label":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_title":"Reader Response","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image":167089,"newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link_tracker":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_credit":"Detroit Free Press","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_text":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_copy":"We got a reader email in response to our story about Tom Brady’s rocky first year in the broadcast booth for Fox Sports. “As a long-time football fan, over 45 years, I disagree with the premise that Brady is bombing,’” wrote Dove Levy. “He is very knowledgeable re play design. I particularly enjoy his insights into individual players. He knows nicknames, quirks, and insider stories. He has become my new favorite, replacing Troy Aikman.”\r\n\r\nBen DuBose liked our column expressing our annoyance at talking heads saying we’re lucky to be alive to witness the Chiefs’ greatness. “The 'you gotta appreciate greatness' nonsense (mostly from people who are either diehard fans of the team or employees of someone with a massive NFL contract) is about distracting and diverting you.”\r\n\r\nProfittCapper tweeted: “Goodell is telling us not to trust our lying eyes.” Mikewichter joked, “He knows the games are televised, right?”","newsletter_content_7_select_content_block":"qotd","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_title":"Do you think the NFL will opt out of its media-rights deals at the end of this decade?","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_0_content_qotd_choice_label":"Yes","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_1_content_qotd_choice_label":"No","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices":2,"newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_prev_results":"Friday's response: 43% of you think Greg Olsen will be the No. 1 announcer for an NFL rights-holder during the 2026 season."}},"postID":166571,"postFormat":"standard"};
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\r\n\r\n“The worst case scenario for my logistics is the coaching carousel’s still going on,” NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport told Front Office Sports in a hotel lobby in downtown New Orleans.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“A couple of years ago there were some openings that really hadn’t been decided. A couple of them broke during Super Bowl week. That’s the nightmare scenario because it’s hard to get a lot done at Super Bowl week. I’m not at my desk. There’s a lot of things going on. If you walk around, there’s people that grab you all the time.”\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nRapoport explained that trying to interview players from the Eagles and Chiefs at media night on Monday was “literally impossible” as other media members kept asking for two minutes of his time.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“I’m generally happy to do it, but I also want to work!” Rapoport said. “So it makes it kind of a challenge.”\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nTypically, Rapoport revealed, he spends Super Bowl week seeking to “set the table” for NFL fans about what’s expected to come up this offseason.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“At the start of the week, I broke the Myles Garrett trade request. I tracked it for five or six days, wanted to make sure it was perfect, wanted to get it first, which I was able to do, which is great, and that kind of splashed,” Rapoport said.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFor more on Ian Rapoport's approach to Super Bowl week and how it sets up the NFL offseason, you can read Ryan Glasspiegel's full story here.","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_label":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_title":"Reader Response","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image":167089,"newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link_tracker":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_credit":"Detroit Free Press","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_text":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_copy":"We got a reader email in response to our story about Tom Brady’s rocky first year in the broadcast booth for Fox Sports. “As a long-time football fan, over 45 years, I disagree with the premise that Brady is bombing,’” wrote Dove Levy. “He is very knowledgeable re play design. I particularly enjoy his insights into individual players. He knows nicknames, quirks, and insider stories. He has become my new favorite, replacing Troy Aikman.”\r\n\r\nBen DuBose liked our column expressing our annoyance at talking heads saying we’re lucky to be alive to witness the Chiefs’ greatness. “The 'you gotta appreciate greatness' nonsense (mostly from people who are either diehard fans of the team or employees of someone with a massive NFL contract) is about distracting and diverting you.”\r\n\r\nProfittCapper tweeted: “Goodell is telling us not to trust our lying eyes.” Mikewichter joked, “He knows the games are televised, right?”","newsletter_content_7_select_content_block":"qotd","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_title":"Do you think the NFL will opt out of its media-rights deals at the end of this decade?","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_0_content_qotd_choice_label":"Yes","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_1_content_qotd_choice_label":"No","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices":2,"newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_prev_results":"Friday's response: 43% of you think Greg Olsen will be the No. 1 announcer for an NFL rights-holder during the 2026 season."}},"postID":166571,"postFormat":"standard"};
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\r\n\r\nFor the most part, this year’s NFL coaching vacancies have been filled—the Saints are still lingering, but widely expected to sign Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore—and sights are set ahead to free agency, trades, and the draft. But that hasn’t always been the case.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“The worst case scenario for my logistics is the coaching carousel’s still going on,” NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport told Front Office Sports in a hotel lobby in downtown New Orleans.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“A couple of years ago there were some openings that really hadn’t been decided. A couple of them broke during Super Bowl week. That’s the nightmare scenario because it’s hard to get a lot done at Super Bowl week. I’m not at my desk. There’s a lot of things going on. If you walk around, there’s people that grab you all the time.”\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nRapoport explained that trying to interview players from the Eagles and Chiefs at media night on Monday was “literally impossible” as other media members kept asking for two minutes of his time.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“I’m generally happy to do it, but I also want to work!” Rapoport said. “So it makes it kind of a challenge.”\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nTypically, Rapoport revealed, he spends Super Bowl week seeking to “set the table” for NFL fans about what’s expected to come up this offseason.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“At the start of the week, I broke the Myles Garrett trade request. I tracked it for five or six days, wanted to make sure it was perfect, wanted to get it first, which I was able to do, which is great, and that kind of splashed,” Rapoport said.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFor more on Ian Rapoport's approach to Super Bowl week and how it sets up the NFL offseason, you can read Ryan Glasspiegel's full story here.","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_label":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_title":"Reader Response","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image":167089,"newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link_tracker":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_credit":"Detroit Free Press","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_text":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_copy":"We got a reader email in response to our story about Tom Brady’s rocky first year in the broadcast booth for Fox Sports. “As a long-time football fan, over 45 years, I disagree with the premise that Brady is bombing,’” wrote Dove Levy. “He is very knowledgeable re play design. I particularly enjoy his insights into individual players. He knows nicknames, quirks, and insider stories. He has become my new favorite, replacing Troy Aikman.”\r\n\r\nBen DuBose liked our column expressing our annoyance at talking heads saying we’re lucky to be alive to witness the Chiefs’ greatness. “The 'you gotta appreciate greatness' nonsense (mostly from people who are either diehard fans of the team or employees of someone with a massive NFL contract) is about distracting and diverting you.”\r\n\r\nProfittCapper tweeted: “Goodell is telling us not to trust our lying eyes.” Mikewichter joked, “He knows the games are televised, right?”","newsletter_content_7_select_content_block":"qotd","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_title":"Do you think the NFL will opt out of its media-rights deals at the end of this decade?","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_0_content_qotd_choice_label":"Yes","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_1_content_qotd_choice_label":"No","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices":2,"newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_prev_results":"Friday's response: 43% of you think Greg Olsen will be the No. 1 announcer for an NFL rights-holder during the 2026 season."}},"postID":166571,"postFormat":"standard"};
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\r\n\r\nNEW ORLEANS — In an ideal world, Super Bowl week is something of a lull in the perpetual news cycle for an NFL insider.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nFor the most part, this year’s NFL coaching vacancies have been filled—the Saints are still lingering, but widely expected to sign Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore—and sights are set ahead to free agency, trades, and the draft. But that hasn’t always been the case.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“The worst case scenario for my logistics is the coaching carousel’s still going on,” NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport told Front Office Sports in a hotel lobby in downtown New Orleans.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“A couple of years ago there were some openings that really hadn’t been decided. A couple of them broke during Super Bowl week. That’s the nightmare scenario because it’s hard to get a lot done at Super Bowl week. I’m not at my desk. There’s a lot of things going on. If you walk around, there’s people that grab you all the time.”\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nRapoport explained that trying to interview players from the Eagles and Chiefs at media night on Monday was “literally impossible” as other media members kept asking for two minutes of his time.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“I’m generally happy to do it, but I also want to work!” Rapoport said. “So it makes it kind of a challenge.”\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nTypically, Rapoport revealed, he spends Super Bowl week seeking to “set the table” for NFL fans about what’s expected to come up this offseason.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“At the start of the week, I broke the Myles Garrett trade request. I tracked it for five or six days, wanted to make sure it was perfect, wanted to get it first, which I was able to do, which is great, and that kind of splashed,” Rapoport said.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFor more on Ian Rapoport's approach to Super Bowl week and how it sets up the NFL offseason, you can read Ryan Glasspiegel's full story here.","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_label":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_title":"Reader Response","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image":167089,"newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_link_tracker":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_image_credit":"Detroit Free Press","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_text":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_button_link":"","newsletter_content_6_content_custom_copy":"We got a reader email in response to our story about Tom Brady’s rocky first year in the broadcast booth for Fox Sports. “As a long-time football fan, over 45 years, I disagree with the premise that Brady is bombing,’” wrote Dove Levy. “He is very knowledgeable re play design. I particularly enjoy his insights into individual players. He knows nicknames, quirks, and insider stories. He has become my new favorite, replacing Troy Aikman.”\r\n\r\nBen DuBose liked our column expressing our annoyance at talking heads saying we’re lucky to be alive to witness the Chiefs’ greatness. “The 'you gotta appreciate greatness' nonsense (mostly from people who are either diehard fans of the team or employees of someone with a massive NFL contract) is about distracting and diverting you.”\r\n\r\nProfittCapper tweeted: “Goodell is telling us not to trust our lying eyes.” Mikewichter joked, “He knows the games are televised, right?”","newsletter_content_7_select_content_block":"qotd","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_title":"Do you think the NFL will opt out of its media-rights deals at the end of this decade?","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_0_content_qotd_choice_label":"Yes","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices_1_content_qotd_choice_label":"No","newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_choices":2,"newsletter_content_7_content_qotd_prev_results":"Friday's response: 43% of you think Greg Olsen will be the No. 1 announcer for an NFL rights-holder during the 2026 season."}},"postID":166571,"postFormat":"standard"};
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Super Bowl week is underway, and the news cycle is moving fast. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed a wide range of topics Monday. We offer five media-centric takeaways for what he had to say, from his defense of Tom Brady’s dual role as broadcaster and owner to the prospects of the NFL opting out of its current media-rights deals.
NEW ORLEANS — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was more forthcoming than usual during Monday’s annual “State of the League” press conference. Here are five media-centric takeaways from Goodell’s comments.
Brady Rules
No, Goodell’s NFL does not care about Tom Brady’s alleged conflict of interest serving as Fox Sports’ No. 1 game analyst while simultaneously owning a minority slice of the Raiders. Brady said Goodell has been “incredibly cooperative” about balancing his dual responsibilities. “He calls frequently about it and says, ‘Am I doing O.K.?’” said Goodell. “I think he’s serious that he separates the two and doesn’t put the league or anyone in a position of conflict.”
I always thought this “Brady Rules” story was overblown. It’s good for the NFL to have a player with seven Super Bowl rings beam into American homes on football Sundays. It’s good for Brady and Fox, which pays $2.3 billion a year for the NFC package and Super Bowls (this will be its second Big Game telecast in three years). The notion that some Falcons assistant coach was going to blow Brady’s mind with a new X’s and O’s innovation was always spurious. The five-time Super Bowl MVP holds the record for most regular-season and postseason wins, most fourth-quarter comebacks, most passing yards, and most TD passes. If anything, he teaches them …
No Flopping Penalty
The NFL will not institute a “flopping for flags” penalty. The question was clearly a product of recent narratives around Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who’s perfected the art of dancing along the sidelines until he gets shoved, thereby drawing a late-hit penalty by dramatically flopping out of bounds.
Bottom line: I doubt the NFL is going to target the league’s golden boy as he, Travis Kelce, and the Chiefs draw millions of fans into the league’s TV orbit. To their credit, the zebras didn’t fall for Mahomes’s antics during the Chiefs’ divisional playoff win over the Texans. The three-time Super Bowl champ wisely kept that piece of gamesmanship in his back pocket during the AFC championship win over the Bills. “That has not been a significant issue for us,” said Goodell. “The competition committee has talked about that in the past. They probably could talk about it in the future. Wouldn’t surprise me.” Translation: Forget it.
League Favorites
Goodell did not humor the fan narrative that NFL refs favor the Chiefs. Goodell called it a “ridiculous theory.”
Really? Goodell and the NFL can lecture us all they want about how great their part-time refs are. But quite frankly, I think they stunk as a group this year. Fair or unfair, there’s a perception the Chiefs get preferential treatment. I think the NFL should try to get its arms around this issue rather than gaslighting us about how we don’t understand the speed of the game and its byzantine rules. Don’t blame it on social media either, commissioner. I hear this complaint everywhere.
A Rights Fee Raise
Goodell’s NFL is very likely going to opt out early from its current NFL media deals worth $111 billion in 2029. (The league can opt out early with Fox, NBC, CBS, and Amazon Prime Video that year, then Disney’s ESPN a year later.) The current deals run through 2033, but Goodell said the league always views its deals as “undervalued.”
Given the NBA’s 11-year, $77 billion windfall for hoops rights, you can bet Goodell and NFL owners are eager to reopen the bidding. “I think those opt-outs are incredibly valuable for the NFL,” he said. “We’ll look at Netflix, we’ll look at YouTube, we’ll look at Amazon,” Goodell added. “Not just look. We’ll continue to work with them to improve what we’re doing with them. Amazon had another 40% increase in audience. Their ratings are now coming very close to broadcast audiences and about to cross over. I think they will very shortly.”
International Expansion
The league sees overseas expansion as its last frontier for growth. Goodell confirmed he wants to eventually establish an NFL franchise overseas. “I do think there’s a potential that someday we’re going to have an international franchise. And if we do, it would not surprise me at all if the Super Bowl follows and is played there,” he said.
My money would be on either London, Munich, or Mexico City. Ditto for the NFL selling an international package of games to new or current media-rights partners once it reached Goodell’s goal of 16 international game telecasts per season. He pointed to the league’s successful Christmas Day partnership with Netflix. “We think that’s just the start.”
To sum up, the NFL wants more, more, more. More Brady. More media-rights fees in 2029. More international expansion. That’s good news for the league. But bad news for every other sports league as it tries to compete against the goliath that is the NFL.
EVENT
Like what you see? Join us Sept. 16 as we bring this newsletter to life at our Tuned In summit in New York. You can catch up on what our big event looked like last year and sign up for updates here.
NFL Insider Ian Rapoport on the Challenges of Super Bowl Week
Alika Jenner/NFL
NEW ORLEANS — In an ideal world, Super Bowl week is something of a lull in the perpetual news cycle for an NFL insider.
For the most part, this year’s NFL coaching vacancies have been filled—the Saints are still lingering, but widely expected to sign Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore—and sights are set ahead to free agency, trades, and the draft. But that hasn’t always been the case.
“The worst case scenario for my logistics is the coaching carousel’s still going on,” NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport told Front Office Sports in a hotel lobby in downtown New Orleans.
“A couple of years ago there were some openings that really hadn’t been decided. A couple of them broke during Super Bowl week. That’s the nightmare scenario because it’s hard to get a lot done at Super Bowl week. I’m not at my desk. There’s a lot of things going on. If you walk around, there’s people that grab you all the time.”
Rapoport explained that trying to interview players from the Eagles and Chiefs at media night on Monday was “literally impossible” as other media members kept asking for two minutes of his time.
“I’m generally happy to do it, but I also want to work!” Rapoport said. “So it makes it kind of a challenge.”
Typically, Rapoport revealed, he spends Super Bowl week seeking to “set the table” for NFL fans about what’s expected to come up this offseason.
“At the start of the week, I broke the Myles Garrett trade request. I tracked it for five or six days, wanted to make sure it was perfect, wanted to get it first, which I was able to do, which is great, and that kind of splashed,” Rapoport said.
Charles Barkley claims his wandering eye is stopping—for now.
The Hall of Fame basketball player turned broadcaster said on his Steam Room podcast with Ernie Johnson that he is sticking with TNT Sports and won’t accept an offer to join NBC’s NBA coverage ahead of next season, and is turning down inquiries with other league partners.
Barkley has been one of the most sought-after broadcasters for his work on Inside the NBA alongside Johnson and fellow former players Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. The show is well-liked by viewers, mainly due to the hosts’ sense of humor and chemistry, while also being tough on players, coaches, and executives.
In recent years, Barkley has flip-flopped on his broadcast career more than a politician. At one point he said he was retiring at the end of this current season when TNT’s agreement with the NBA comes to an end. Shortly after, he un-retired. Barkley signed a 10-year, $210 million contract extension with TNT in 2022, but has said the contract has an opt-out if the network loses the NBA rights, which has allowed him to meet with other networks.
Throughout the “will he or won’t he” saga, Barkley also discussed having his production company, Round Mound Media, license Inside the NBA to keep it on the air. Every week brought a different answer from one of TV’s biggest public negotiators.
In November, ESPN agreed to a deal with TNT Sports to licenseInside the NBA on its airwaves next season, but Barkley indicated on his podcast the agreement hasn’t been finalized in terms of his personal workload.
“The only thing I’m waiting on is between TNT and ESPN,” Barkley said on The Steam Room podcast released Friday. “I’m hoping this thing comes together and I can stay with TNT and ESPN, but as I’ve said it’s all going to be dictated on my work only. I’m not going to work more as I get older. And I’m going to sit down with ESPN and TNT more because I just need to know if I’m going to continue working. That’s my only decision going forward, how much I’m going to work.”
After the reported licensing deal was agreed to, Front Office Sports reported that ESPN was exploring ways to incorporate Barkley into other parts of the network, including alternate broadcasts. Barkley didn’t dismiss the idea, but he said he plans to bring whatever workload the two networks decide on to some of his advisers, which include Pardon the Interruption cohosts Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser, to gauge the feasibility of it.
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving [TNT],” Barkley said. “Because 25 years is a long time.”
While Barkley’s words reflect that he continues to stay put, his actions show he’s always willing to listen.
Around the Dial
Fox Sports
Fox Sports executive Charlie Dixon is on administrative leave after he was accused of sexual misconduct by former network talent Julie Stewart-Binks and former hairstylist Noushin Faraji, The Athletic first reported.
Colin Cowherd abruptly left his FS1 show during his monologue Monday, saying he fell sick. His show’s X account later tweeted that he is doing O.K.
Dick Vitale’s return to the college basketball booth will be Saturday on ESPN when Duke faces Clemson. Vitale had been away for two years as he battled multiple forms of cancer, and his return was delayed when he suffered a fall in his Florida home.
That’s the record TV audience that CBS Sports averaged across all platforms for its telecast of Super Bowl LVIII between the Chiefs and 49ers last year. Some doubt Fox Sports will be able to top that number Sunday, especially since the Chiefs and Eagles met only two years ago. But Nielsen’s addition of out-of-home viewers watching the Big Game in bars, restaurants, and dorm rooms will pad its total. Don’t count Fox out. We could be looking at a record audience for a third year in a row.
Reader Response
Detroit Free Press
We got a reader email in response to our story about Tom Brady’s rocky first year in the broadcast booth for Fox Sports. “As a long-time football fan, over 45 years, I disagree with the premise that Brady is bombing,’” wrote Dove Levy. “He is very knowledgeable re play design. I particularly enjoy his insights into individual players. He knows nicknames, quirks, and insider stories. He has become my new favorite, replacing Troy Aikman.”
Ben DuBose liked our column expressing our annoyance at talking heads saying we’re lucky to be alive to witness the Chiefs’ greatness. “The ‘you gotta appreciate greatness’ nonsense (mostly from people who are either diehard fans of the team or employees of someone with a massive NFL contract) is about distracting and diverting you.”
ProfittCapper tweeted: “Goodell is telling us not to trust our lying eyes.” Mikewichter joked, “He knows the games are televised, right?”
Question of the Day
Do you think the NFL will opt out of its media-rights deals at the end of this decade?