Tag: nfl owners

NFL owners approve flex scheduling for Thursday Night Football

NFL owners voted to introduce flex scheduling for Thursday Night Football games. The Bears were one of eight teams to vote against it.

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Thursday Night Football is about to get more interesting for the 2023 season. On Monday, the NFL owners voted 24-8 in favor of introducing flex scheduling for Thursday Night Football games from Weeks 13-17. The news was first reported by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. The Chicago Bears and chairman George McCaskey were one of the eight teams who voted no on the rule change.

According to the full resolution shared by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the league must give teams 28 days notice before flexing them from a Sunday afternoon game. Teams are also limited to one flexed game and cannot have more than two games take place on Thursday Night Football.

Since the Bears already play on Thursday Night Football twice, their games will be exempt from getting flexed. The Bears play at the Washington Commanders in Week 5 and at home against the Carolina Panthers in Week 10.

Since Amazon Prime became the new home of Thursday Night Football in 2022, the league has looked to bolster its slate of games with premium matchups. Allowing games to be flexed later in the season provides more competitive games with teams in the playoff hunt, but could make for a sloppier product on the field.

It will be interesting to see how this experiment goes since flex scheduling is only in effect for the 2023 season for the time being. While it won’t impact the Bears, it could affect their opponents or division rivals later on in the season.

NFL owners vote to approve flexible scheduling for ‘Thursday Night Football’

The NFL has officially voted to approve flexible scheduling for “Thursday Night Football” games from Week 13-17. The #Chiefs were among the teams to vote in favor:

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The NFL is intent on having the best matchups on television during prime-time and their latest rule change approved during the spring league meetings further proves that point.

NFL owners voted to ratify flexible scheduling for “Thursday Night Football” games from Weeks 13-17 during the upcoming 2023 season. There were some big changes made to the previous proposal, which seemed to make a difference when it came to a vote on Monday. Teams will get 28-day notice before a Thursday night game is flexed and a maximum of just two games can be flexed per year. Teams also aren’t allowed to play two away “TNF” games in a given season.

A total of 24 teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, voted in favor of the newly-adopted proposal. Only 22 teams previously voted in favor at the last NFL owner’s meetings, with the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers abstaining. Those two clubs flipped their votes in favor in order to get the required 24 votes needed for approval.

The New York Giants, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers all voted against the change according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This is a big win for the league and for television networks, but fans who plan out their season and travel in advance could get the short end of the stick here. Players also won’t be thrilled, with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Reid among those voicing opposition when the change was initially proposed. The Chiefs play their “Thursday Night Football” game in Week 6, so they won’t be at risk of having a game flexed out.

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NFL owners approve third QB rule for 2023 season

NFL owners have approved a new bylaw allowing teams to dress a third quarterback on gameday without the player counting against the roster.

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The spring league meetings are officially underway and NFL owners on the competition committee have already approved a significant change for the 2023 NFL season.

According to multiple reports, the league has approved what will be known as the “Third QB Rule.” Teams will now be permitted to have an emergency quarterback dress for action on gameday without that player counting against the team’s gameday active list.

This rule would be beneficial to a team like the Kansas City Chiefs, who carried three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster a season ago, but made Shane Buechele inactive every week. It’d allow Buechele or another quarterback to dress for gameday, just in case.

NFL PR chief Brian McCarthy shared the full proposal on Twitter.

This comes after both Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson were injured for the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, leading to a lopsided win for the Philadelphia Eagles. This actually almost came into play for the Chiefs in the AFC’s divisional round game when Patrick Mahomes went down with a high ankle sprain against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Had Chad Henne been injured during that game, the team’s emergency backup quarterback would have been Jerick McKinnon.

Now, under the new rules, the team wouldn’t have to play someone out of position if their top two quarterbacks got hurt. There are stipulations about how the third QB can be utilized:

“Activation cannot be a result of a head coach’s in-game decision to remove a player from the game due to performance or conduct.”

Essentially, this rule only comes into play in case of emergency with injuries or otherwise.

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Roger Goodell to receive multi-year contract extension as NFL Commissioner

Roger Goodell is expected to receive a contract extension from NFL owners

Roger Goodell will continue to be the facet that runs the place when it comes to NFL and its business endeavors.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday Goodell and NFL owners are expected to finalize a contract extension for the commissioner at next week’s league meetings in Phoenix.

Per Schefter:

The NFL’s compensation committee is slated to present the proposed extension to team owners during a special privileged session Tuesday afternoon. Only one member from each team is permitted in that meeting.

Goodell’s extension has been in the works since last season, when the compensation committee was granted permission by the full membership to get an extension done, according to sources. The sides have discussed a three-year extension, according to sources, but no length of time has been agreed to yet.

Goodell took over as commissioner from Paul Tagliabue on Sept. 1, 2006.

It has been reported Goodell earns more than $63 million annually on his current contract.

 

Report: Commanders’ sale at a standstill?

It’s been a wild week regarding the potential sale of the Commanders.

What a crazy week it has been regarding the potential sale of the Washington Commanders.

A Washington Post report on Monday stated that Washington owner Daniel Snyder demanded that other NFL owners and the league indemnify him from future legal liabilities and costs if he sells the team. As expected, the other owners were furious and opened the possibility that they’d vote to remove him from ownership if he doesn’t sell.

The big news item of the week came Tuesday when investigative reporter Don Van Natta Jr. of ESPN dropped the bombshell report centering around Snyder acquiring a $55 million loan from Bank of America without the knowledge of his three minority owners at the time, leading to the three eventually selling their 40% stake to Snyder.

There was much more included in Van Natta’s report, which sent shockwaves around the NFL.

Oh, and there’s also the back-and-forth that Amazon founder — and owner of The Washington Post — Jeff Bezos is not allowed to bid on the Commanders or that he still remains in the mix.

Are you confused yet?

On Friday evening, A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports published his latest regarding the sale of the Commanders, saying it was at a standstill. Perez has been all over this story from the beginning.

Sources told Front Office Sports that there are multiple factors as to why the process that just a week ago seemed to be coming to a crescendo has stalled. One source laid out the biggest: Jeff Bezos.

While Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta have placed bids on the Commanders, Bezos remains on the outside looking in. However, that could change at any time. Perez noted that if the owners vote to remove Snyder, that would be a game-changer.

Bezos is the potential owner many would want due to his vast wealth. In addition, Snyder taking a lesser bid to spite Bezos would infuriate other owners as it impacts the value of their teams.

Then there are Washington’s financial woes, which were highlighted in Van Natta’s report. The NFLPA survey was another black eye for the organization as it highlighted the franchise’s problems, many of which were financial, such as the facilities and travel.

Perez touched on those woes as a potential problem.

The financials for the Commanders that have been reviewed by those interested in acquiring the team paint a fairly bleak picture. The Commanders — which were among the most profitable franchises in the NFL when Snyder purchased the team in 1999 — are at or near the bottom in multiple categories from ticket to merchandise revenue.

Bezos would obviously be in the best position to face some of these issues.

The NFL had hoped to have Washington’s ownership situation resolved by the owner’s meetings, which begin on March 26, but that doesn’t look possible for now.

However, as we’ve learned, things can change quickly. You hear multiple reports, and all probably have truth to them when initially reported, but the nature of this potential transaction is complicated.

Stay tuned.

Twitter reacts to Dan Snyder potentially selling Commanders

Some of the best reactions to the latest news involving Dan Snyder potentially selling the Commanders.

Forbes had the NFL world buzzing just before 11 a.m. ET Wednesday morning when breaking a story that Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder is considering selling the franchise.

The report stated, “Snyder and his bankers are exploring all options, and a transaction could be for the entire NFL team or a minority stake.”

Washington fans are a pessimistic bunch, and rightfully so. Naturally, the final two words [minority stake] had many fans pausing their excitement. Nonetheless, it was a significant development for a fan base continuously searching for hope.

Here are some of the best Twitter reactions to the latest Snyder news.

The NFL has no plans to vote on Commanders owner Daniel Snyder next week

There will be no vote on Daniel Snyder at next week’s owner’s meetings.

The ESPN bombshell report from Tuesday morning gave insight into the NFL’s feelings on Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder. And also Snyder’s plan if the owners attempt to remove him as Washington’s owner.

Well, according to Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press, there is no plan to vote on Snyder’s status as owner of the Commanders at next week’s owner’s meetings.

This news is sure to disappoint Washington fans, who’ve grown tired of constant negative news surrounding the once-proud franchise.

Of course, this doesn’t mean it can’t happen. As Mike Florio of NBC Sports noted, when a group of 24 NFL owners decides the time is right to vote Snyder out, they can do it whenever and wherever they choose.

There is also the possibility that the other owners are waiting until Mary Jo White’s investigation is complete. As the ESPN report noted, the other owners fear what Snyder could do, so having White’s investigation, along with Washington’s financial struggles and failed stadium search, could give some owners what they need in order to potentially remove Snyder.

 

Commanders’ dysfunction continues to be a distraction

Another day of drama for the Washington Commanders.

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Mike Florio and Chris Simms responded Tuesday on Pro Football Talk to the Washington Commanders’ statement:

“There has been absolutely no withholding of ticket revenue at any time. Those revenues are subject to independent audits by multiple parties. Anyone who offered testimony suggesting a withholding of revenue has committed perjury, plain and simple.”

Jason Friedman recently made the allegation and also recently testified before the Committee of Oversight and Reform. Friedman’s attorney, Lisa Banks then responded to the Commanders’ statement:

Florio: “Let this guy tell his story, Washington Commanders. If he is wrong and tells his story publicly, sue him for defamation…If he wants to speak publicly, let him do it, at his own legal peril, if he is telling a lie about the Commanders…Let’s go, let’s find out, let’s see the evidence, let’s hear the testimony. Let’s see whether or not there is something to this.”

Simms: “It’s unbelievable where Washington is; it seems they have enemies in every corner. You get the feeling they have mistreated and not been great to people for so long it seems the pied piper has finally come home. Karma is here; it is like the payback. It is dysfunctional to say the least down there (DC). If this is found to be true, Holy Cow, see you later Dan Snyder.”

Florio: “How can the league not be looking into this? If you are the NFL and this lands on your radar screen unexpectedly…maybe the league doesn’t want to look into this because they were supposed to catch it.”

Simms: “Maybe the NFL doesn’t even want to be associated with Washington right now. Let them deal with this crap, the releasing of the statement, let it all pile on them right now.”

Florio: “Yes, good point. Right now it is crumbling, and we are just going to let it keep crumbling. We are not going to help, we are not going to throw a life line. We are not going to make it worse, we are not going to make it better. Right now, we are just going to let it happen.”

The ongoing chaos is good for us (media) but it is not good for the league. Every day it is something with the Commanders… At a certain point, this is not good for anybody.”

Simms: “I know all this is allegedly, but there is a point where this is not helping the NFL in any way, shape or form. It’s not. It looks horrible right now. With Washington it’s gotten to the point where (I was with the Rodgers and Brady stories) would you just go away? I am so sick and tired of talking about them every day…Holy Cow, Washington is a disaster.”

Florio: “The only person who probably likes this is Jerry Jones since no one is paying the kind of attention to the things that have been going on with the Cowboys that they normally would be. It is a nice distraction.”

 

When will the NFL say, ‘Enough of Daniel Snyder?’

When will the NFL say, “enough is enough” with Washington owner Dan Snyder?

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Daniel Snyder could indeed again be in big trouble.

On Saturday night, A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports reported Congress is not only looking into the accusations of inappropriate behavior by Snyder toward Tiffani Johnston but also digging into a new accusation that the Commanders withheld funds the NFL had arranged to be surrendered to the visiting-team pool.

Washington fans have experienced several times over the last few years where bad news was reported on Snyder, their hopes spiked that he would be removed as owner, only to be disappointed yet again.

But this time, it looks as if other NFL owners “MIGHT” have been shorted ticket receipts the NFL arrangement says is rightfully theirs. “Might” because this is so early in this story’s path, Washington Wire doesn’t want to be premature.

However, “if” this is the case, has Dan Snyder lost enough of the trust of his fellow NFL owners? Might that be the beginning of the end of their working relationship?

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk was rather direct Sunday posting, “His (Snyder) partners have protected him when it comes to the investigation regarding workplace misconduct because, indirectly, they are protecting themselves from having similar allegations threaten the hold on their franchises. If it can be proven that he has been picking his partners’ pockets, his partners quite likely will be kicking his ass out of the house.”

A major concern for me at this point is Snyder, having built a reputation for being litigious, might NFL owners determine it appropriate to punish the Commanders via salary cap reductions, lost draft choices and who knows what else?

That would permit owners to keep Snyder, avoiding a litigious mess on their hands, yet be the worst possible news for current business and football staff, coaches, players, and yes, true fans. It would serve to punish many others innocent in this, while also leaving Snyder as the owner.

I can already envision the other three NFC East owners voting for such a proposal for competitive reasons. Personally, I am already dreading that possibility, as it would be most unfair to most of us.

After completing this story, I see my friend Mark Tyler of “Hogs Haven” had also tweeted the same concern a couple of hours earlier.

More troubling allegations have emerged against the Washington Commanders

More trouble for Washington owner Daniel Snyder.

For the second time this week, troubling allegations have emerged against the Washington Commanders. A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports reported Saturday that Washington kept ticket revenue that was supposed to be shared with the other 31 teams.

The House Oversight Committee uncovered the new allegations during its current investigation into the widespread sexual harassment in the workplace. Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported alleged financial improprieties by the Commanders during the same investigation. Washington responded to the new allegations.

NFL bylaws state that every team is required to pass along 40% of ticket sales from each home game to the NFL, which then distributes the profits to the visiting teams.

Per Perez, the Commanders and the NFL learned about these allegations in recent weeks. It isn’t clear how long this went on, or if this is directly connected to the Washington Post’s report of financial improprieties.

If these allegations prove to be true, could this be what ends owner Daniel Snyder’s tenure? While the other owners have overlooked Snyder’s other transgressions, this one directly impacts the other owners.

Of course, the allegations must be proven. As of this writing, Washington has yet to respond.