Brady’s Buccaneers deal changes coverage
Tom Brady’s move to Tampa Bay didn’t just create ripples with fans. It caused networks to drastically rework their last-minute requests with the NFL scheduling office to make sure the Buccaneers got as many high-profile dates as possible.
When the NFL’s regular-season schedule was announced Thursday night, all of the league television partners were satisfied with how Tampa Bay’s games were distributed. The Bucs are slated to make five prime-time appearances (one Thursday, two Sunday nights, two Monday nights) with all of them slated between Weeks 5-12. That’s a pretty big audible for a team that was expected to have maybe two at best before signing Brady.
“I can’t think of a single player move ever that adjusted requests and turned the process upside down as much as this,” said Fox Sports senior vice president Michael Mulvihill about Brady signing with Tampa Bay. “I think the league treated everyone well with Tampa Bay because they knew how great everyone’s interest was. It was a significant curveball.”
Titans
Burke Nihill was promoted to Tennessee’s president/CEO to replace Steve Underwood, who is retiring from a fulltime role. Underwood, who joined the organization in 1991, will remain as a senior counselor for the team. Nihill, in his fifth season with the Titans, was promoted in
February to a senior vice president position that gave him control of stadium and facility operations. He held the additional title of chief legal officer.
Saints
New Orleans cut three-time Pro Bowl right guard Larry Warford, whose three-year run as a starter was cast into doubt by the club’s selection of interior lineman Cesar Ruiz in the first round of the NFL draft. Warford, whose termination was announced by general manager Mickey Loomis, started all 44 games in which he played for New Orleans since signing a fouryear, $34 million contract in 2017.
Patriots
New England signed four additional members of their 2020 draft class. New England announced that linebacker Anfernee Jennings, tight end Devin Asiasi and offensive linemen Mike Onwenu and Dustin Woodard agreed to terms on rookie contracts. The Patriots entered the recent draft with 12 picks and after making several trades over three days, wound up selecting 10 players.
Jaguars
Jacksonville agreed to terms with journeyman quarterback Mike Glennon, giving them a veteran backup behind Gardner Minshew. Jacksonville also has fourth-year pro Joshua Dobbs and rookie Jake Luton on its roster. Dobbs has never started an NFL game.
Elsewhere
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is pushing for a change that would allow football players to enter the NFL draft after one year in college. “My first proposal is that we put this decision to ‘go or stay’ in the hands of the individual and his family, not in the form of an NFL, NFLPA or NCAA rule while allowing the player to return to college football if he does not sign,” Harbaugh wrote in an open letter to the football community. Currently, players are not eligible until three NFL regular seasons have begun and ended after either their graduation from high school or graduation of the class with which they entered high school, whichever is earlier.