Legal - Football Wiretap

Texans Won't Be Disciplined For Tom Savage Concussion

Dec 29, 2017 12:57 PM

The Houston Texans will not be disciplined by the NFL for how they handled the concussion symptoms of Tom Savage in Week 14.

Savage suffered the concussion in the second quarter, when he took a hit on third down that left him on the ground with his hands twitching. But Savage was allowed to re-enter the game after being checked on the sideline. Savage was taken to the locker room one series later.

Bill O'Brien said Savage was checked immediately after he took the hit, and he was cleared by the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant to return to the field. 

The NFL and NFL Players Association, in a joint statement to confirm new changes to the concussion protocol, acknowledged that the outcome allowing Savage to return to the field was "unacceptable."

In the joint statement, the NFL and NFLPA said the medical staff saw the "initial broadcast video" but not the slow-motion replay that made clear Savage's fencing posture and the twitching of his hands.

The Texans put Savage on injured reserve before their Week 16 contest as he never practiced following the concussion.

Sarah Barshop/ESPN

Tags: Houston Texans, Legal

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Seahawks Fined $100,000 For Failing To Follow Concussion Protocol

Dec 21, 2017 2:57 PM

The Seattle Seahawks have been fined $100,000 by the NFL for not following the appropriate protocol after Russell Wilson took a hit to the head.

The incident occurred in their Week 10 win against the Cardinals.

The league and the NFLPA determined through a joint review that "there was a failure in the application of the protocol following the tackle."

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Seattle Seahawks, Legal

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NFL In-Game TV Ad Revenue Up From 2016

Dec 21, 2017 12:31 PM

While NFL ratings are down this season, in-game ad revenues have grown year-over-year.

From September to the end of November, revenue is up 2 percent among all networks. There was one additional nationally aired linear TV game than in the same time period in 2016.

The average cost of a 30-second spot among all networks rose slightly, $468,434 to $473,775 this year. The Percentage of makegoods has fallen to 21 percent in 2017 compared to 22 in 2016.

The average 30-second spot for NFL games in November jumped from $502,809 last year to $513,293.

The biggest increases in category spend for in-game advertising were insurance (41 percent), alcohol (23 percent), quick service restaurants (11 percent) and consumer electronics (4 percent). 

Jason Lynch/AdWeek

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Roger Goodell Refutes Retirement Timeline Provided By NFL Spokesman

Dec 13, 2017 5:15 PM

Roger Goodell refuted comments made by NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart that his new contract would be his final one and that he'd retire after the 2023 season.

"I haven't made any determinations," said Goodell about his future plans.

Goodell's new five-year deal was the subject of controversy as Jerry Jones attempted to delay or outright block the contract.

Lockhart said that Goodell would spend time over the next five years identifying and grooming his successor. 

Mike Garafolo/NFL.com

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Spokesman: Roger Goodell Will Retire As Commissioner After 2023 Season

Dec 13, 2017 5:13 PM

Roger Goodell's five-year extension to remain NFL commissioner will be his final deal, according to NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart.

Goodell will spend parts of the next five years working on identifying and grooming his successor. 

Goodell's deal expires after the 2023 season.

Goodell replaced Paul Tagliabue as commissioner in 2006. Tagliabue was 65 when he stepped down from his post and Goodell will be approximately the same age.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

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NFL Projecting 2018 Salary Cap Between $174M-$178M

Dec 13, 2017 3:02 PM

The NFL is projecting a salary cap for 2018 between $174.2 million and $178.1 million.

The final number will be determined in the spring.

The salary cap for the 2017 came in at $167 million.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Tags: Legal, Misc Rumor

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Verizon Signs $500M Annual Deal With NFL

Dec 11, 2017 8:23 AM

The NFL and Verizon have signed a five-year deal that will allow them to stream in-market and national NFL games via digital and mobile platforms starting next month. 

The deal is worth an average of nearly $500 million, which nearly doubles the current $250 million per year Verizon is paying.

The biggest part of that increase comes from an increase in media-rights fees, rather than sponsorship revenue.

The deal does not give Verizon mobile exclusivity. 

Verizon has been an NFL partner since 2010.

John Ourand, Daniel Kaplan/Sports Business Journal

Tags: Legal

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Jerry Jones Attempted To Delay Goodell Extension By Six Months

Dec 10, 2017 8:29 PM

Jerry Jones attempted to table the contract extension of Roger Goodell for six months. Goodell officially signed the agreement last week, which could be worth up to $200 million over the next five years.

Jones' proposal, on page 10 of the 32-page agenda for this week's league meeting, was submitted on Dec. 1, titled Proposed Resolution 2017 G-7, by the Dallas Cowboys. In it, Jones argued for a six-month "moratorium and any and all actions taken pursuant" to Goodell's new contract, "specifically, that the Commissioner's extension is not finalized during such moratorium."

Jones spent the past few weeks trying to build support to delay or derail Goodell's contract. 

"The owners who supported [Jones] are not exactly influencers and arm-twisters," one owner said. "They're just happy that Jerry wanted to talk to them."

Seth Wickersham/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Legal

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Roger Goodell's Probable Annual Pay Likely Below $30M

Dec 7, 2017 1:37 PM

While Roger Goodell's contract extension was announced as a five-year, $200 million deal, it is loaded with incentives he'll likely never receive.

Goodell will likely make in the mid-to high 20s during a solid year and get to the low 30s in a great year.

Goodell's max number of $40 million per year is highly unlikely.

Albert Breer/NFL.com

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Jerry Jones' Stance On Roger Goodell's Contract Galvanized Owners

Dec 7, 2017 1:33 PM

The compensation committee finalized Roger Goodell's contract extension ahead of next week's winter meeting in Dallas.

The committee wanted to avoid allowing Jerry Jones to take the issue to the floor at the meeting.

“Animosity towards Jerry is running very high,” said one league source. “The idea that the owners were going to waltz into Dallas and let Jerry dictate to them? That was never going to happen.”

Jones controlled the NFL's process of returning to Los Angeles and his fellow owners wanted to avoid allowing that to happen again.

“People that might have been willing to wait saw Jerry going crazy and it actually galvanized (the owners),” said one ownership source. “He’d already caused the damage, and even after he’d said he wouldn’t sue, he was organizing calls and lobbying owners. Enough people said, ‘It’s not Jerry’s league.’ Jerry’s done a lot for the league, but he’s pulling us apart.”

Albert Breer/NFL.com

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Legal

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Roger Goodell Signs Five-Year, $200M Extension
The base salary of Roger Goodell's new contract is in the single-digit millions with roughly 85 percent based on bonuses, which are subject to ownership approval.

Adam Schefter/ESPN