If goal is any news, NFL wins the game
Man, the NFL is a monster. A shield-toting, news-churning, interest-clamoring monster.
After a full-blown trade-a-palooza of big-name stars and a leaguewide game of QB musical chairs that has Russell Wilson in Denver, Matt Ryan in Indy and
Carson Wentz teetering on being a backup wherever he landed, the big bosses are now taking center stage.
The NFL owners met this week in Palm Beach, Florida.
(Side question: Have you ever noticed that none of these league meetings for the big-time sports are in, say, Topeka or Cookeville? I am pretty sure you’re not going to hear “Let’s go to Chris Mortenson, live from the NFL owners’ meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi” from any of the ESPN anchors any time soon.)
There were several things on the agenda this week that we know of, and goodness knows how many topics those billionaires are kicking around behind the scenes.
(Side note: I would love to be a fly on the wall as teams try to discuss the DeShaun Watson stuff and what is and is not said around Robert Kraft, Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder — three powerful team owners who have not had the best histories in terms of dealings with women.)
On the public docket for the most powerful dudes in the most powerful sports league on the planet are a slew of head-turners.
We know that at least two teams — Tennessee and Buffalo — are well along in the power process of securing hundreds of millions (and even billions) of state funds for new stadiums. (Side question: Anyone notice that every facility in every locale in Tennessee that hosts anything bigger than a pickleball tournament or a four-square match is getting a rubber stamp of state-produced greenbacks save one? Yeah, me neither.)
The offseason momentum has led to change in the overtime rule, and now each team will get to possess the ball in overtime in playoff games. No word on whether every team will get a trophy at the postseason banquet at the
Western Sizzlin’ however.
As for me, I’m with Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who said Monday that he prefers the sudden death model of OT. When asked about each team getting the ball and having a chance to win, Tomlin said something along the lines of “We just played four full quarters, what about the chances to win during regulation?” Amen, Coach.
There also is talk out there that the NFL could start its own streaming service. Friends, when/if the NFL redirects its products and eliminates the middle distributors like the networks and the ESPN and such, Katie Couric bar the door. Cash by the crate, friends.
And there was talk of diversity, of course, because there has to be, right?
Call it the Brian Flores wrinkle to the Rooney Rule if you want — and rumors are swirling that two other Black football coaches are going to join Flores’ lawsuit against the league and specific teams for discrimination — but the NFL is expanding its longstanding rule about interviewing minorities.
First, interviewing a female will count as fulfilling the Rooney Rule. OK. The interview of a minority — or a female — must be in person to satisfy the Rooney requirements. (No word, though, if it counts if John Elway shows up hungover.)
Finally, every team is being forced to hire a minority or female offensive assistant for the 2022 season.
Cool. I guess. Mandated change rarely actually produces meaningful long-term change, but hey, why not, right?
Just as long as the first female offensive assistant is not left along with DeShaun Watson, that is.