King of U.S. sports rules even though chaos reigns
Only the NFL.
Only the NFL would continue like almost everything is normal while the coronavirus attacks America and the rest of the world.
Only the NFL would trumpet a new collective bargaining agreement, get ready for a 17-game season and extended playoffs and make a loud public push toward a free-agency bonanza at the same time states were shutting down restaurants and bars.
The United States has declared a national emergency as this disastermovie plot keeps getting crazier and crazier.
Ryan Tannehill will reportedly receive a fouryear, $118 million deal to remain a Tennessee Titan, including $62 million guaranteed.
I wrote in Sunday’s Chronicle about our sports world without sports.
Sunday, the big NFL train kept pumping steam. Real games are still six months away, which allows the league’s almighty shield to keep shining while the NBA, MLB, MLS, the NHL and the XFL go silent.
“We are pleased that the players have voted to ratify the proposed new CBA, which will provide substantial benefits to all current and retired players, increase jobs, ensure continued progress on player safety, and give our fans more and better football,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Sunday in a statement.
I’m glad someone is celebrating at this point in our nation’s history.
Where’s Tom Brady going? Will Bill Belichick and his longtime system quarterback have a storybook last-minute breakthrough, leading to New England forever?
What’s going to happen with Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper and Jerry Jones’ Cowboys?
Philip Rivers in Indianapolis?
The Texans giving De shaun Watson a franchise altering contract extension and Super Bowl champion Kansas City doing the same with Patrick Mahomes?
During a time when there are literally no live sports on TV, the NFL is about to own this barren, surreal landscape. Mostly thanks to luck.
NFL free agency is always big, big, big. But normally the buzzing joy of March Madness is cranking, MLB’s opening day is approaching, and spring sports are in full bloom.
Goodell and Co. could have postponed all this. But as of Sunday evening, free agency was still full go while everyone else was either canceling, postponing or self-quarantining.
Some will attack the NFL for its limited, narcissistic vision. Especially if billionaire owners start flying mid-level free agents across the country on private jets while hospitals are filling up and drivethrough testing lines back up.
We also need something to get us through this, and much of free agency can be conducted through modern technology. Phone calls, texts, emails, digital documents, etc.
For all the yelling at the NCAA, college sports’ governing body first announced it would hold March Madness without fans in the stands — jumping ahead of the NBA with its initial plan — then completely canceled the NCAA Tournament before Selection Sunday.
The Texans got in on the NFL-only action Sunday, agreeing to terms with veteran cornerback Bradley Roby via a three-year deal that could max out at $36 million. The reigning back-to-back AFC South champs have, as expected, initially prioritized resigning their own.
How much are they going to give Laremy Tunsil? (A ton. After already sending away first-round picks to finally acquire Duane Brown’s replacement.)
This will be the first time Bill O’Brien will officially be in charge of pretty much everything on Kirby Drive. He can put his stamp on his team’s 2020 offseason by remaining aggressive. He also has a ton of work to do as general manager/head coach, and this is a time when the Texans’ king can start winning back some of the fans the team pushed away with recent playoff letdowns.
The most important Texans-related news Sunday had nothing to do with another huge NFL payday. Star defensive end J.J. Watt and his wife, Chicago Red Stars forward Kealia Ohai Watt, donated $350,000 to the Houston Food Bank.
That’s the life balance the league must somehow find if it insists on acting like everything is normal when it’s clearly not.
The country is worried about saving money — or simply having enough — and finding a way to safely get through this chaos.
Pro football is about to hand out crazy money, with monster contract details instantaneously tweeted, then streamed across ESPN and the league’s TV station.
In the time of the coronavirus, the NFL is going to own an empty sports world.
Only the NFL would do that.