The 7,500 health care workers being invited by the NFL to the Super Bowl each will have received two vaccine doses by Jan. 24. Most will come from the Tampa area. Each other NFL team will identify four health care workers to send to the game and cover airfare and hotel costs.
The NFL is considering a protocol tweak that would allow vaccinated, asymptomatic players who test positive for the coronavirus to return to team activities sooner, sources say.
With David Culley's firing by the Texans after only one season, combined with Brian Flores's firing Monday by the Dolphins, the NFL has one active Black head coach, Mike Tomlin of the Steelers.
Exclusive from me and
@NickiJhabvala
: The House Oversight Committee tells the Federal Trade Commission that the Commanders and Daniel Snyder “may have engaged in a troubling, long-running, and potentially unlawful pattern of financial conduct."...
The Broncos appear to be the front-runner for Sean Payton, at least in the early stages of the process. Payton likes the franchise's stable ownership and would be happy to work with Russell Wilson, source says.
You keep waiting for the real version of the Chiefs to show up. But at some point, if this continues much longer, this becomes the real version of the Chiefs, circa 2021.
NEW: Daniel Snyder is demanding the NFL and owners indemnify him against future legal liability if he sells the Commanders or he will sue, sources say, angering some owners and renewing talk of removing Snyder. From
@NickiJhabvala
,
@lizclarketweet
and me.
The NFL believes the offside call on the Giants' Dexter Lawrence on Washington's missed field goal was correct, source says: "He was offside." That source says "two separate officials called it at the same time" and the accuracy of the call has been supported by video evidence.
Fox says the Washington-Dallas game Thanksgiving Day averaged 30.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched NFL telecast of the 2020 season and the most-watched telecast of any kind since the Super Bowl.
The NFL's investigation of the Patriots' video violation has not turned up any evidence thus far implicating Coach Bill Belichick or the team's football staff....
The Panthers are no longer an option for Sean Payton. And there was an issue with Payton's interview with the Broncos. Payton likes the idea of coaching Russell Wilson and having that defense but fears a potential power struggle with a member of the ownership group, source says.
The NFL decided not to fine Jadeveon Clowney for his hit on Carson Wentz during Sunday's playoff game, according to a source. Clowney was not penalized during the game by the on-field officials, who ruled the hit legal, and no fine by the league.
NEW: The NFL finance committee voted unofficially today to recommend approval of Josh Harris's deal to buy the Commanders, source say, and the league has reached an agreement with Daniel Snyder to resolve all remaining legal issues. With
@NickiJhabvala
.
NEW: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has hired a well-connected investment firm, the New York-based Allen & Company, to help him consider a possible bid for the Commanders. From
@NickiJhabvala
,
@lizclarketweet
and me....
New: The NFL plans to argue to new disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson for a “significant” suspension of Deshaun Watson for violating the personal conduct policy, multiple sources say....
Referee Bill Vinovich saying he hadn't seen the play so he can't comment on it is not acceptable. So go watch the play and then come out and comment. The league needs to say something. And the official who made the no-call should be made available. Players are held accountable.
NFL competition committee voted, 7-1, in favor of Broncos’ fourth-and-15 proposal. Only dissenting vote was by Giants’ John Mara, who said: “What are we, the Arena Football League?”
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee, announces that she is issuing a subpoena to compel testimony by Commanders owner Daniel Snyder in a deposition next week.
From our story... The NFL's partnership with Jay-Z will make him and his Roc Nation a co-producer of the Super Bowl halftime show. The deal does not contain a provision for him to perform. Roc Nation also will choose performers for other NFL events and content.
Clay Matthews was running directly at Alex Smith, tackled him and landed on him. There was no way not to land on him. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers was spun to the ground and thrown down earlier with no call. There has to be a consistent standard.
The Eagles were playing a rookie quarterback making his fourth NFL start. And they want people to believe it was a good time to get some playing time for Nate Sudfeld?
NEW: The office of D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine has nearly completed its investigation of the Commanders and Daniel Snyder and plans to take further action in the case, source says, from
@NickiJhabvala
,
@lizclarketweet
and me....
On Feb. 20, NFL owners ratified the CBA and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 29,348.03. Today the Dow closed at 21,200.62, some 27.8 percent lower. NFLPA's ratification vote concludes Saturday at 11:59 p.m.
Panthers owner David Tepper would give Sean Payton "just about anything he wants" to be the team's coach, one source says. It's not clear, however, how enthusiastic Payton is at this point about the opportunity in Carolina.
NEW: After Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales met with the NFL finance committee for 2.5 hours today, sources say their $6.05 billion deal for the Commanders is expected to be approved by the owners as soon as next month, barring setbacks. With
@NickiJhabvala
.
There are increasing hopes that a deal will be in place soon for Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich to be hired as the head coach of the Jaguars but nothing is official or certain yet, sources say.
NEW: The NFLPA told the Broncos in Nov. 4 letter their threat to bench Russell Wilson over injury guarantee in contract was illegal and violated the CBA, creating the possibility for litigation and arbitration against the team and NFL. Story upcoming at .
NFL team owners won't necessarily ratify Roger Goodell's pending contract extension at this league meeting, source says: “We just haven’t gotten around to pinning down the numbers. It’s not going to be a problem. Just maybe not at this meeting.”
New: Bank of America is about to release the prospectus on the Commanders to qualified potential buyers; sources say while it's not certain Daniel Snyder sells the entire team, they believe that's most likely. From
@lizclarketweet
,
@NickiJhabvala
and me.
The Ravens, Bills, Eagles and Bucs are proposing allowing a team to deny permission for a front office staffer to interview for a "secondary football executive position" (such as assistant GM) with another team until after the NFL draft. This would not apply to GM interviews.
The NFL is not expected to put Rashee Rice on paid leave via placement on the commissioner’s exempt list. The league is expected to make a decision about a possible suspension of Rice once the legal process plays out, source says, leaving him eligible to play in the meantime.
The Chiefs have no idea if Patrick Mahomes will play next Sunday. Patrick Mahomes has no idea. There is no way for them to know. The decision is not theirs. It's an independent medical decision. So speculation by outsiders about what they think is completely pointless.
NFL's options on Ravens-Steelers include: 1. Try to play the game Sunday; 2. Push game back to Monday or Tuesday, also delaying Ravens-Cowboys game; 3. Postpone game until later and possibly add Week 18 to season; 4. Make Ravens forfeit based on potential protocol violations.
One NFL player is being withheld from today's games "out of caution" because of a fever, according to a source familiar with NFL-NFLPA protocols. That player tested negative for covid-19, source said. All NFL players and coaches tested negative yesterday, multiple sources said.
Part of the investigation by NFL and NFLPA into Titans' compliance with protocols concerns whether or not some Tennessee players gathered away from the facility for unauthorized workouts over the past week after the Titans had been told to have no such gatherings, source says.
There were 71 concussions suffered by players on kickoffs over the last three seasons, according to Rich McKay. The injury data shows players are five times more likely to suffer concussions on kickoffs than on plays from scrimmage, according to Mark Murphy.
New: The final report by the House Oversight Committee says Daniel Snyder evaded questions by saying more than 100 times he didn't know or couldn’t recall information and gave “misleading” testimony in July. From
@lizclarketweet
,
@NickiJhabvala
and me....
The NFL says U.S. troops overseas will be able to watch Sunday's conference championship games at USO facilities worldwide using a free NFL Game Pass provided by the league, in response to American Forces Network being off the air due to government shutdown.
Todd Gurley when asked today about the prospect of the Rams reprising the Eagles' "Philly Special" trick play in last year's Super Bowl against the Patriots: “Goff can’t catch.”
Under the new protocols approved by the NFL and NFLPA, a vaccinated player who is asymptomatic can return to team activities with as few as one negative test plus a negative rapid-result test. So return can come as soon as one day.
Jerry Jones mentioned this publicly in recent days, the prospect for vaccinated players being tested only when they have symptoms.
@AlbertBreer
and the NFL Network reported this morning that an agreement could be near between the NFL and NFLPA.
The new set of NFL/NFLPA protocols being negotiated now could include vaccinated players being tested, for the most part, only when they have symptoms, source says. There also could be a modest level of surveillance testing. Unvaccinated players would continue to be tested daily.
The Commanders are about to fall to 2-5 in games started by Carson Wentz. There was (and is) zero evidence this is a better team with Wentz at QB. It is fair to wonder if Ron Rivera's QB move cost his team a playoff spot. This should not be about trying to justify the trade.
Message received today by Roger Goodell from one team's general manager: "As a GM who was against holding the draft as scheduled, thank you for having the vision to proceed. It was an experience with my family that I will never forget."
The Broncos remain in very strong position to be able to get Sean Payton, whatever the interest level by other teams. They have the NFL's wealthiest owners. Payton has told associates that he likes the Broncos' stable ownership and is willing to work with Russell Wilson.
Two former WFT employees hand-delivered a letter, signed by 12 former team employees, addressed to the NFL owners at their meetings in New York, urging the league to release materials from the investigation into the team.
Daniel Snyder will pay the NFL $60 million as part of the closing of the Commanders sale after the Mary Jo White investigation concluded that the team withheld revenues that should have been shared with other franchises and that he sexually harassed a former team employee.
Mary Jo White just entered the room in which NFL owners are meeting in Bloomington, Minn. It is anticipated that she will brief the owners on her investigation of the Commanders and Daniel Snyder.
The NFL fully backs the taunting call made Monday night against the Browns' Cassius Marsh, source says: "The call was the definition of taunting, with the player gesturing toward the sideline and opponent."
NEW: The NFL finance committee voted unofficially today to recommend approval of Josh Harris's deal to buy the Commanders, sources say, and the league has reached an agreement with Daniel Snyder to resolve all remaining legal issues. With
@NickiJhabvala
.
.
Matthew McConaughey is exploring the possibilities of joining or forming an investment group to bid on the Washington Commanders, according to a source close to the actor. He's a co-owner of the Austin FC franchise in Major League Soccer.
The new set of NFL/NFLPA protocols being negotiated now could include vaccinated players being tested, for the most part, only when they have symptoms, source says. There also could be a modest level of surveillance testing. Unvaccinated players would continue to be tested daily.
Update: The NFL has scheduled a special owners' meeting for July 20 for consideration of the Commanders sale and a potential vote, source says. The league notified the owners in a memo late Thursday. Revised story coming momentarily.
New: The NFL finance committee met remotely last week and is poised to recommend approval of Josh Harris’s $6.05 billion Commanders deal, barring any setbacks. The owners could meet July 20 to take their ratification vote. From
@NickiJhabvala
and me....
If Jim Harbaugh indeed is out the running for NFL jobs, that increases the urgency for the Broncos to get Sean Payton. He has told associates that he likes the Broncos' stable ownership and is willing to work with Russell Wilson.
NEW: The NFL is in discussions with Daniel Snyder's representatives, sources say, and the approval of Josh Harris's tentative $6.05 billion deal for the Commanders possibly could come in stages beginning as soon as this month. From
@NickiJhabvala
and me.
The NFL is forming an entertainment and social justice partnership with Jay-Z and his Roc Nation agency. It will make Roc Nation a co-producer of the Super Bowl halftime show and tie into the league's "Inspire Change" campaign. Story momentarily at .
The NFL informed the House Oversight Committee today that Roger Goodell has accepted the committee's invitation to testify at its June 22 hearing, source says, adding that Goodell will appear remotely at the hearing.
NFL owners were told in a memo Friday to be available July 20 and Aug. 8 as possible meeting dates to vote to approve the Commanders sale, source confirms, as
@BenFischerSBJ
reported.
What the NFL needs to clarify is, if Clay Matthews is running directly at Alex Smith and doesn't hit him too high or too low, how can he hit him at all without landing on him?
New: Sentiment among NFL team owners regarding Daniel Snyder's ownership of the Commanders is shifting, from
@NickiJhabvala
,
@lizclarketweet
and me....
Coach Ron Rivera plans to attempt to convince Trent Williams to return to the Redskins, source says, after hiring Ryan Vermillion as the team's new head athletic trainer....
The NFL announces that presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman will recite an original poem before the Super Bowl about an educator, nurse manager and Marine Corps veteran selected by the league as "community heroes" and honorary captains.
The Eagles are proposing the fourth-and-15 alternative to the onside kick, source says. That's a proposal that has had some support in recent years but not enough to be ratified by the owners. A team could opt to try for a first down on fourth and 15 instead of an onside kick.
The Rams' victory over the 49ers in Sunday's NFC title game averaged 50.4 million viewers on Fox and other platforms, according to Fox Sports. Viewership peaked at 55.2 million viewers.
From our story… The committee’s 79-page report says Bruce Allen testified that the NFL’s Lisa Friel told him the Commanders leaked the emails that led to the October 2021 resignation by Jon Gruden as coach of the Raiders.