Latest news with #TorreFindsOut
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Private texts from Arizona Cardinals owner, GM during Kyler Murray's contract negotiation
Pablo Torre revealed documents from a collusion hearing last year, and Kyler Murray, Michael Bidwill and Steve Keim are involved. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was part of a closed-door hearing held last summer that involved NFL owners, quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Russell Wilson, the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and more. How do we know this? Pablo Torre, a reporter who used to work for ESPN, on his podcast "Pablo Torre Finds Out," revealed he obtained 61 pages of a document the NFL did not want to go public. The hearing was about whether NFL owners were colluding to avoid giving fully guaranteed contracts. So, what is there to know about how Murray and the Cardinals are involved? Let's dive in. Kyler Murray's contract extension in 2022 It was the 2022 offseason and Murray was due a contract extension after his third NFL season. He had just taken the Cardinals to the playoffs, although they finished the season poorly and were blown out in the first-round game against the LA Rams. He ended up with a five-year extension, keeping him under contract through 2028, worth $230.5 million with $160 million in guarantees, although $103 million was fully guaranteed at signing. At the time, it was the most money given to a quarterback and the most guarantees, excluding Deshaun Watson's fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. Now this is where the document comes in. According to it, after Watson got his deal, Murray's agent, Erik Burhardt communicated to the Cardinals that it was important to him and Murray that he get a fully guaranteed deal like Watson, believing that Murray was both "better and more deserving" than Watson of such a deal. If we recall, Burkhardt's "manifesto" in spring 2022 indicated that he had presented a contract offer to the team (reportedly with roughly a $42 million per-year average). With this new information, that was probably a fully guaranteed deal. That is why the Cardinals didn't consider it. Texts between Bidwill and Keim According to this document, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and then-general manager Steve Keim had texts about Murray and about Watson's contract. Bidwill texted Keim about a potential extension, noting, 'We are going to load up this contract with … so many incentives to earn the real money.' Keim responded with a shot at the Browns and Watson's deal. 'Why the Browns felt so compelled to pay Watson like that is baffling,' he texted Bidwill. So, looking at the Murray deal, Bidwill made sure millions of dollars was tied up in incentives — more than $9.3 million in workout bonuses (participating in the offseason program after he held out in 2022) and more than $4 million in per-game roster bonuses. And then, of course, there was the famous study clause that was later taken out. Bidwill's texts to other owners Bidwill was congratulated for the deal with Murray, as it was not full guaranteed. Los Angeles Chargers owner Dean Spanos texted Bidwill, "Congratulations on signing Kyler Murray." Bidwill responded, "Thanks Deno! These QB deals are getting expensive but we limited the fully guaranteed money and have some pretty good language. Thankfully, we have a QB that's worth paying.' Spanos followed up with, "Your deal helps us for our QB next year,' referring to quarterback Justin Herbert, who would get a $262.5 million contract extension in 2023. Of that, $193.7 was guaranteed and $133.7 million was fully guaranteed. Bidwill then responded, showing how the Murray deal would make other owners happy, especially after the Watson deal earlier that year. "I think many teams will be happy with it once they have a chance to review,' he responded. 'Cleveland really screwed things up, but I was resolved to keep the guaranteed money relatively 'low.'' In conclusion The collusion accusation was dismissed ultimately, but now what was said is out in the public. This whole issue of full guarantees is becoming an issue again, not for quarterbacks, but now for second-round draft picks. Of the 32 picks, 30 are unsigned, including Cardinals second-round pick Will Johnson. The two who signed already, linebacker Carson Schwesinger of the Browns and receiver Jayden Higgins of the Houston Texans, both the top two selections in the second round, got fully guaranteed contracts, the first two fully guaranteed contracts for second-rounders ever. Once again, the Browns are setting precedent. Now the rest of the teams behind the Browns and Texans have to decide where to go next. No. 3 in the second round is safety Nick Emmanwori, selected by the Seattle Seahawks. How far down the round will players get fully guaranteed deals? Will we see collusive behavior this summer like we have seen with quarterback deals? That is what will be determined in the weeks to come with training camp about a month away. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
NBC Sports
24-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Why did the NFL and NFLPA hide the collusion ruling?
From the moment System Arbitrator Christopher Droney signed the bottom of a 61-page written decision in the landmark collusion case, both the NFL and the NFL Players Association kept it secret. The secret was finally exposed today, thanks to Pablo Torre. The next question becomes why both sides zipped their lips over Droney's decision? Torre and I delved into the subject during the latest episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out. Although the NFL ultimately won, the NFL had every reason to keep the decision quiet. The case proved that the NFL tried to get its teams to collude. From the decision: 'There is little question that the NFL Management Council, with the blessing of the Commissioner, encouraged the 32 NFL Clubs to reduce guarantees in veterans' contracts at the March 2022 annual owners' meeting.' The NFL avoided what could have been multi-billion-dollar liability (more on that later) because Droney accepted the self-serving testimony of no fewer than eight owners that they didn't heed the Management Council's encouragement to collude. The document nevertheless includes more than enough evidence, in our view, on which a finding of actual collusion could have been based. The best metaphor (or at least the best one my relaxed brain can come up with) is this: The league was caught with its hand in the cookie jar and with crumbs on its shirt. But because Droney didn't actually see the league eating the cookies, he accepted as truthful their claim that they did not. Keeping it secret had another benefit, which also will be discussed later. By hiding it for more than five months, the NFL may have prevented other potential victims of collusion (starting with quarterbacks who since 2023 have not received fully-guaranteed contracts) from pursuing a grievance of their own. The far bigger question is why would the NFL Players Association not trumpet this ruling? The union should have been shouting it from the rooftops. They've finally proved that which had been suspected for years — that the quarterly meetings are (as former NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith calls them) 'collusion meetings.' The details are unprecedented, and the takeaway is unmistakable. With the Deshaun Watson contract lighting the fire for fully-guaranteed contracts, the league needed to put it out. Quickly. And the league (through the Management Council, with the blessing of the Commissioner) grabbed a hose and started spraying. Even though Droney ultimately failed to connect the dots and/or apply common sense (in my opinion), the union proved that the league WANTED the teams to collude. That's a massive finding. One reason to keep it secret deals with internal union politics. New executive director Lloyd Howell is viewed as a business person who can secure gains through negotiation, not litigation. Smith, who filed the collusion grievance, was the wartime consigliere. With a ruling that tends to prove Smith's approach works, Howell has no reason to do a victory lap with the fruits of Smith's brainchild. That's just a theory. And if it's accurate, it's a mistake. It doesn't serve the interests of the players. And it may have slammed the door on the ability of other players to parlay this partial (but significant) victory into a case of their own. The other potential explanation comes from the fact that former NFLPA president J.C. Tretter criticized in text messages then-Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson for failing to parlay the Watson contract into a fully-guaranteed contract of his own. The decision refers to Tretter's criticism of Wilson. As best Torre and I could determine, Tretter at a minimum referred to Wilson as a 'wuss.' Tretter also said this, I was told: 'Instead of being the guy that made guaranteed contracts the norm, he's the guy that ruined it for everyone.' As Torre has reported, the union kept the ruling quiet in part to protect Tretter. If the former union president and current NFLPA chief strategy officer has designs on becoming the executive director after Howell (and some think he does), it does not help Tretter's cause to have been caught making pejorative remarks about a member of the union. Of course, that cat is now out of the bag. And one of the big questions going forward is whether and to what extent the union's failure to use the collusion ruling as a sword against the NFL will have practical consequences for current NFLPA leadership.
New York Post
13-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Thunder once thought about hiring ESPN's Brian Windhorst
Brian Windhorst has built his career by reporting on the inner-workings of NBA front offices, and it turns out he almost joined one himself. In Thursday's episode of 'Pablo Torre Finds Out,' Torre reported that Thunder general manager Sam Presti once explored hiring Windhorst away from ESPN to be an 'information guy' for Oklahoma City. 'A little over a decade ago, [Presti] actually explored hiring our extremely plugged-in buddy Brian Windhorst away from ESPN to work as an information guy for the Thunder,' Torre said. Torre noted that the reason the longtime general manager pursued Windhorst was because 'information, to Sam Presti, is currency.' 'It is an edge,' Torre added. 'A competitive advantage, and you don't surrender that information.' Windhorst stayed put at ESPN, but he wouldn't have been the first NBA reporter or media personality to take a role within an organization. John Hollinger joined the Grizzlies' front office after working at ESPN, and then moved back into the media realm as a writer for The Athletic. Longtime Sports Illustrated profile writer Lee Jenkins took a job as the Clippers' Executive Director of Research and Identity, and now works with the team as Vice President of Basketball Affairs. 3 ESPN's Brian Windhorst before Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals. NBAE via Getty Images Others have been unsuccessful in making similar jumps with Bill Simmons campaigning to be GM of the Timberwolves in 2009. Windhorst, though, has remained firmly on the media side of things, and is now ironically reporting on the Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. 3 Pablo Torre during Thursday's episode of 'Pablo Torre Finds Out.' @pablofindsout/X The Akron, Ohio native kickstarted his career by covering LeBron James in high school, with the two both attending St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, though Windhorst graduated seven years before James. He moved on to become the Cavs beat writer at the Akron Beacon Journal and Cleveland Plain Dealer before joining ESPN in 2010, after LeBron took his talents to South Beach and joined the Heat. 3 Thunder GM Sam Presti during the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery. NBAE via Getty Images And the Windhorst tidbit wasn't the only news Torre revealed about Presti on his show. It turns out Presti made a jazz-rap album called 'Milk Money,' which had been wiped off the internet, before becoming an uber-successful basketball executive. A man of many talents, clearly.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pablo Torre slammed for stupidest story ever as he fixates on Bill Belichick's 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson
Pablo Torre defends his deep dive into Bill Belichick's relationship with Jordon Hudson (Image via Reuters) The sports media world lit up this week after a war of words ignited between two of its biggest voices—Pablo Torre and Bill Simmons. At the center of the controversy? Torre's extensive coverage of former Patriots coach Bill Belichick's relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson—a saga that continues to stir public fascination and criticism alike. Pablo Torre defends his deep dive into Bill Belichick's relationship with Jordon Hudson Pablo Torre, host of Pablo Torre Finds Out, has gone all in on the story, offering detailed reports that include allegations of Jordon Hudson being banned from UNC's football facilities, which the university denied, and even securing an Airbnb once used by the couple. 'Dear @BillSimmons: Since you have such a strong public opinion about my work… I happen to have a few questions for you,' Torre tweeted, adding, 'Unless you're afraid of @pablofindsout and someone just 'pretending to be a journalist,' of course. ' Bill Simmons, founder of The Ringer, took a sharp jab at Torre during a recent episode of his 'Rewatchables' podcast. 'I've never seen anybody dine on a stupider story for a week and a half while pretending you're a journalist. What the f–k was that? Seriously. 'Belichick's dating a girl. Oh, let me do nine shows about it. Settle the f–k down,'' Simmons scoffed. While he later admitted the topic was publicly relevant, he suggested Torre was milking it: 'Maybe do two shows about it. ' Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson (Getty Images) The irony? The two are reportedly set to appear together on an upcoming podcast—an episode that may bring more sparks than insights. Torre's reporting hasn't been casual. He has pursued public records, explored legal options for transparency, and unpacked the impact of the Belichick-Hudson drama on UNC's football program, where Belichick currently works in an advisory role. Meanwhile, critics debate whether this is journalism at its boldest or a tabloid-style obsession wrapped in podcast branding. With the June 1 date—marking Belichick's drop in buyout—from $10 million to $1 million now passed, speculation around his future continues to mount. So does curiosity over what Torre might release next. Also Read: Hollywood bribe? Derrick Henry offered movie role—but only if he breaks NFL record again Whether fair game or media overreach, the feud between Simmons and Torre has pushed this story beyond sports into the realm of media ethics and professional rivalry.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill Belichick has tried to land Jordon Hudson ‘6-figure' jobs, insider says
Bill Belichick has reportedly been trying to line up some lucrative gigs for his girlfriend (and rumored fiancée) Jordon Hudson. Journalist Pablo Torre, who has been prolific in reporting about the Belichick-Hudson relationship, told Pro Football Talk that the former Patriots coach has tried to boost Hudson's career. Advertisement 'Bill Belichick has told multiple people that I've talked to directly – he has called her brilliant. He has tried to get her six-figure jobs on the media enterprises that he was also working for," Torre said. Torre, the host of Pablo Torre Finds Out, has been vocal in highlighting the significant role Hudson plays in Belichick's life and business. Torre noted that, sure, the 49-year age gap is something that draws attention. However, he notes that there's a big story here. As the head coach at North Carolina, Belichick is the highest-paid public employee in the state. At the same time, Hudson has been acting as his agent, manager and PR specialist. Torre disputed the idea that Hudson was merely handling 'lower level stuff' like social media. He insists that Hudson is 'at the top' of Belichcick's operations. Advertisement 'She is the CEO of Belichick Productions, even if that LLC is not actually incorporated anywhere. That's the LinkedIn profile,' Torre said. 'She is his idea mill and creative muse, per the acknowledgments page of his book. She is the person that you had to deal with if you were Matt (expletive) Damon. The whole idea of, 'No, she's doing the lower level stuff.' No, this is at the top.' Why mention Damon? Torre noted earlier in the interview that Damon and Ben Affleck were put in the usual position of having to negotiate with Hudson when they tried to get Belichick to be in their Dunkin' Super Bowl commercial. Per Torre, the meeting left the actors 'flabbergasted.' More Patriots Content Read the original article on MassLive.
