How an ESPN-NFL deal could change how we watch football, plus McAfee's apology
Good morning! We have trivia today.
To the normal sports fan, what happens in media boardrooms can be boring and tedious. Yadda yadda, rights deals, big money numbers, whatever. Let me fast forward to when my favorite team is on the TV.
But those tedious things have a profound impact on where and how we find our favorite team on the tube. There's no better example than the exclusive report from The Athletic's Andrew Marchand, which we linked in yesterday's newsletter, detailing how an ESPN and NFL Media acquisition could happen.
It's so important I thought we should touch on it again, briefly. Two points:
Andrew's report is a fascinating read, and it explains the tangible ramifications of this potential deal well. We should probably prepare for a new viewing experience soon.
Let's keep moving:
Hockey Canada verdict coming today
A judge will render a verdict today in the trial of five members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team charged with sexual assault stemming from an incident that year. All five players have pleaded not guilty, and the case has rocked the hockey world in Canada. Read a recap of the trial, and then head to our live blog for coverage of the verdict as it breaks today.
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Commanders, D.C. close to stadium deal
The Washington Commanders and D.C. City Council are nearing an agreement to build a new stadium at the old RFK site, sources told The Athletic's David Aldridge. Everyone seems very pleased with the progress, and the final Council vote could happen next week. This all comes despite President Donald Trump's threat last week to hold up the deal to force a name change. See more in David's story.
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There's a tweet I love about the juxtaposition of what constitutes 'old' among normal folk and 'old' among professional athletes:
You: "I'm only 35, I have my whole life ahead of me."
Sports Broadcaster: "Here comes the oldest player in the league. He's 32. A miracle."
— Troy Johnson (@_troyjohnson) May 19, 2024
We've been pondering older athletes this week, too, as Royals pitcher Rich Hill and tennis legend Venus Williams — both 45 years old — returned to the top of their respective sports. Our news team, thusly, devised a fun quiz. A great sample question for Pulse readers:
Sometimes the truth can be even stranger than fiction. Which of these players was older?
Take the full quiz here. It's a delight. We'll run the answer tomorrow, too, in Pulse Picks.
📺 WNBA: Aces at Fever
7 p.m. ET on Prime Video
Will Caitlin Clark play? Remains to be seen, but this is still a fun game between two teams stuck in the middle of the standings. A'ja Wilson probably won't win MVP, but she's averaging 31 points per game in her last three regular-season contests. She's enough to watch this game.
📺 MLB: Mariners at Angels
9:38 p.m. ET on MLB Network
Seattle is solidly a wild-card team for now, but we watch, of course, for the Big Dumper. Cal Raleigh has 39 home runs, which means he's still on pace for 62 home runs this year. If it wasn't for Aaron Judge's existence, we'd be losing our minds over this.
Get tickets to games like these here.
The MLB trade deadline is less than a week away. We've updated our big board with the top 50 players that could be moved. Buckle up.
Wait, the Brewers are the best team in baseball? Eno Sarris explained how this team cannot stop winning, despite its own actions.
The NHL offseason has fizzled a bit for the moment. Let's check back in on the concern-o-meter for the league's pressing issues, which include growth, Connor McDavid and more.
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Here's an interesting story from earlier this week on Premier League ticket prices for each team and, most importantly, how those prices affect transfer spending.
Brooks Peck flipped through a binder of Michael Jordan cards that every '90s kid seemed to have … and let us know how much they're worth now. Click for dollar signs.
A related note: If you're attending The National Sports Collectors Convention on July 31 and you want The Athletic to help you find a specific card there as part of a video project, email us at collectibles@theathletic.com.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Matt Rhule's comments about his Nebraska predecessor Scott Frost. Read them here.
Most-read on the website yesterday: Venus' tennis return.
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Yahoo
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- Yahoo
Cowboys VP Stephen Jones says Micah Parsons has 'to want to be paid' as he enters second phase of training camp without an extension
Dallas Cowboys training camp entered a significant new phase on Sunday as players practiced for the first time with pads. They did so as Micah Parsons remained without a contract extension. Parsons, as he has been since the start of training camp on Tuesday, was present for drills. But he was a passive participant and declined to don pads himself amid the highest-profile contract stalemate in the NFL. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones, meanwhile, insisted that the Cowboys "want to pay" Parsons. He did so in a brief and not exactly clear statement to reporters, a day after Cowboys fans jeered his father and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones over the absence of a new contract. "It doesn't change anything," Stephen Jones said Sunday of fans calling for the Cowboys to 'pay Micah.' "We want to pay Micah too. He's gotta want to be paid.' What does that mean? "He's gotta want to be paid" can be read one of two ways: 1: Of course Parsons wants to be paid, why wouldn't he? 2: Parsons, a three-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler in four NFL seasons, still has something to prove to be paid in the eyes of the Cowboys. At least in the terms that he's seeking. It's not exactly clear what Jones meant from his comments. But Cowboys fans can be easily forgiven if they take them in the vein of the more contentious second option. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Jerry Jones jeered, pelted with 'Pay Micah' calls Jerry Jones took the contentious stance from the start of training camp with bizarre comments that inaccurately portrayed Parsons as injury prone while taking a sideswipe at Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. "Just because we sign him doesn't mean we're going to have him," Jones said of Parsons at a Monday news conference. "He was hurt six games last year. Seriously. I remember signing a player for the highest-paid at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year — Dak Prescott. "So there's a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does, when you're thinking about committing and guaranteeing money.' Parsons was not "hurt six games last year." He missed four of 17 games with injury. In his previous three seasons, Parsons played in 50 of 51 regular-season Cowboys games. He's played his entire career with elite production at the most valuable defensive position in football. Cowboys fans understand this. And they let Jerry Jones hear it on Saturday when he addressed them during a camp session that was open to the public. "Pay Micah," fans yelled at Jones alongside a chorus of boos. Jones powered through the jeering with his statement before walking off the dais to another round of jeering mixed with scattered applause. Where Parsons stands Parsons is seeking a deal that will make him among the highest-paid defenders in football after fellow All-Pro pass rushers Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt signed contracts in the offseason paying them $40-plus million per season. Watt signed a three-year, $123 million extension ahead of Steelers training camp that set the new bar. Parsons reported to training camp without his extension, but has been a limited participant since practices started on Tuesday. He watched Wednesday's session from the sideline with back tightness, but declined to call himself a hold-in. As practice escalated with pads on Sunday, Parsons was a passive participant. He showed up to the practice field without wearing pads. When hitting drills ensued, Parsons (No. 11) stood by and held a tackling dummy while his teammates took part. "Back tightness" or not, Parsons was not putting his body at risk in physical drills on Sunday in the absence of a new contract. Parsons addressed his stance with media on Tuesday when he told reporters that he was discouraged over the lack of progress on a contract extension as he approaches the final season of his rookie deal. "When you go around the league and you see these other teams taking care of their best guys," Parsons said. "I see T.J. got taken care of. Maxx [Crosby] got taken care of. Myles got taken care of. "He's got two years left on his deal. You see a lot of people in our league getting taken care of, you wish you had that same type of energy." As of now, that "same type of energy" remains absent in Cowboys facilities. And Parsons short- and long-term future with the franchise remains in flux.
New York Post
a minute ago
- New York Post
‘Devastated' Giants receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton suffers season-ending Achilles tear at training camp
Not again. The thought process had to be the same for Bryce Ford-Wheaton and so many others within the Giants on Sunday when testing confirmed that the depth receiver and special-teams coverage standout suffered a season-ending torn Achilles. Ford-Wheaton, 25, crumbled to the ground without contact at the snap during one play in Sunday's practice. He got to his feet, took another step or two, spiked his helmet in frustration and went down again. 4 Giants receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton is tended to after going down with an Achilles injury on July 27, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST 4 Giants QB Russell Wilson (l.), head coach Brian Daboll (second from l.) and others try to comfort Bryce Ford-Wheaton as he's carted off with an Achilles injury on July 27, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Teammates quickly ran over, dropped to a knee and huddled around the emotional Ford-Wheaton as he was loaded onto the medical cart and taken off the field. 'I'd be lying if I said I wasn't devastated!' Ford-Wheaton wrote on X. 'I did everything by the book! Didn't take a single shortcut, left no stone unturned, invested everything into my body and my health this year. 'I'm not sure why me but I promise I'm not going out on these terms. It's a long road ahead for sure but I know this is just part of Gods plan for me no matter how tough it may seem right now. Thank you all for your prayers, please continue to keep me in them. I WILL be back that's a promise!! God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers!' 4 Bryce Ford-Wheaton is carted off at Giants practice after tearing his Achilles on July 27, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST 4 Bryce Ford-Wheaton is carted off at Giants practice after tearing his Achilles on July 27, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST It is the second time in three seasons that Ford-Wheaton suffered a season-ending injury during the preseason. He tore his ACL just before cut day as an undrafted rookie with a strong chance to make the team in 2023, and bounced back to play in 14 games last season. The Giants signed linebacker Chris Board during the offseason to fill a similar special teams role. And undrafted rookie receiver Dalen Cambre — a long shot to make the roster when camp opened — is in the NFL right now because of his special-teams excellence in college.
Associated Press
2 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Naomi Osaka announces she is no longer working with coach Patrick Mouratoglou
WASHINGTON (AP) — Naomi Osaka and coach Patrick Mouratoglou are done working together after less than a year, the four-time Grand Slam champion announced Sunday on social media. 'Merci Patrick,' Osaka began her post, with a photo of her hitting a practice serve while he stands nearby. 'It was such a great experience learning from you. Wishing you nothing but the best. You are one of the coolest people I've ever met and I'm sure I'll see you around.' The news comes three days after Osaka lost her second match at the D.C. Open and just before she begins competing in Toronto. The U.S. Open, the year's last major tournament and an event Osaka won twice, begins in New York on Aug. 24. Osaka hired Mouratoglou — who was the longtime coach of Serena Williams — when she fired Wim Fissette shortly after her second-round exit at last year's U.S. Open. Osaka, a former No. 1, is currently ranked 51st and has a 21-11 record this season. She hasn't been past the third round at a Grand Slam tournament since winning the 2021 Australian Open. ___ AP tennis:
