2024-25 NFL Thread

[Billy Hoyle]

My daughter takes gymnastics at the local high school. There's some intramrual basketball league that plays in the gym next door. A few months back, I heard a group of boys who were HS freshmen at most talking about what bets they missed on the night before.

We're screwed

I was at a game earlier this season sitting in front of some students (males and females) who spent the entire first half talking about their bets they were making during the game on first-half and second-half spreads and individual prop bets. It was non-stop. My brother and I were keeping track of the spreads and hoping the kids wouldn't hit.

Nothing will beat being at the BET (before betting apps) and hearing some obnoxious Wall Street bro down the row from me talking about his bet $1k on Georgetown, which he ended up losing. So he calls his bookie and says "I just went double on Notre Dame to cover. When asked who ND was playing he said "I don't know, but it's a sure thing." It was MU. He did not win his bet.   

I think it was Ceasars that reported in 2023 of the over $1 billion bet they were taking home revenue of over $700 million. The sad part is so many bet with the idea they're going to win, that it's a sure thing.

[tower912]

That is why the news that Fan Duel is taking a beating this NFL season made me smile.  If you like watching those sites suffer, root for Detroit.   Lots of money went that way early, and if they finish the job, Vegas will take a hit.

[Shaka Shart]

Truly despise George McCaskey

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43439332/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-agents-package-deals-consultants-goodell-concern

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

That is why the news that Fan Duel is taking a beating this NFL season made me smile.  If you like watching those sites suffer, root for Detroit.   Lots of money went that way early, and if they finish the job, Vegas will take a hit.

Vegas always wins in the end

[WhiteTrash]

Truly despise George McCaskey

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43439332/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-agents-package-deals-consultants-goodell-concern

McCaskey is a football idiot.

Poles has to go and Armstrong should never show his face in Chicago ever again. Armstrong needs to find another "train to rob".

[Hards Alumni]

Vegas always wins in the end

This man doesn't know Danny Ocean.

[Billy Hoyle]

moving on from gambling.

Any thoughts on Tom Brady continuing to call games (he's not good anyway, especially compared to Gregg Olsen) while owning the Raiders and being heavily involved in the coaching search? Seems like a massive conflict of interest that wouldn't be pushed aside for anyone other than Tom Brady

https://frontofficesports.com/newsletter/tom-bradys-tv-restrictions-are-a-problem/

[cheebs09]

I personally wish he would focus on the Raiders. Especially with the restrictions placed on him, I don't see huge improvement coming.

[Pakuni]

moving on from gambling.

Any thoughts on Tom Brady continuing to call games (he's not good anyway, especially compared to Gregg Olsen) while owning the Raiders and being heavily involved in the coaching search? Seems like a massive conflict of interest that wouldn't be pushed aside for anyone other than Tom Brady

https://frontofficesports.com/newsletter/tom-bradys-tv-restrictions-are-a-problem/

Notwithstanding his broadcasting skill, this seems to be a very dumb and manufactured controversy.
What's the conflict, exactly?
Will the way he broadcasts somehow impact the game? Do people believe the Fox job gives Brady access he wouldn't otherwise have (cause Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn wouldn't otherwise give him the time of day)? Both have already interviewed with him anyhow.
Is the worry that Brady will lavish undue praise on Johnson, and that Johnson will somehow hear the broadcast and decide he wants to go to Vegas as a result?

Just struggling to see why this is a thing. Brady is going on TV to talk about a football game, not negotiating a Gaza ceasefire or trading in state secrets. It ain't that important.

[CreightonWarrior]

Notwithstanding his broadcasting skill, this seems to be a very dumb and manufactured controversy.
What's the conflict, exactly?
Will the way he broadcasts somehow impact the game? Do people believe the Fox job gives Brady access he wouldn't otherwise have (cause Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn wouldn't otherwise give him the time of day)? Both have already interviewed with him anyhow.
Is the worry that Brady will lavish undue praise on Johnson, and that Johnson will somehow hear the broadcast and decide he wants to go to Vegas as a result?

Just struggling to see why this is a thing. Brady is going on TV to talk about a football game, not negotiating a Gaza ceasefire or trading in state secrets. It ain't that important.

I believe the broadcasters do in fact have a ton of access to the teams and have a good idea of what they're going to do each game. Brady will lose all that and it makes that job very difficult.

[RJax55]

Notwithstanding his broadcasting skill, this seems to be a very dumb and manufactured controversy.
What's the conflict, exactly?
Will the way he broadcasts somehow impact the game? Do people believe the Fox job gives Brady access he wouldn't otherwise have (cause Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn wouldn't otherwise give him the time of day)? Both have already interviewed with him anyhow.
Is the worry that Brady will lavish undue praise on Johnson, and that Johnson will somehow hear the broadcast and decide he wants to go to Vegas as a result?

Just struggling to see why this is a thing. Brady is going on TV to talk about a football game, not negotiating a Gaza ceasefire or trading in state secrets. It ain't that important.

Yeah, it's dumb. So he "might" get some additional facetime with Ben Johnson on Saturday. I'm sure that time will be spent hammering out a contract with the Raiders, lol.
 

[RJax55]

I believe the broadcasters do in fact have a ton of access to the teams and have a good idea of what they're going to do each game. Brady will lose all that and it makes that job very difficult.

True, but access isn't going to help Tom. He has no rhythm in the booth and is constantly tripping up on basic stuff.

He does offer good observations on QB play. Tom would be significantly better in studio.

[Pakuni]

I believe the broadcasters do in fact have a ton of access to the teams and have a good idea of what they're going to do each game. Brady will lose all that and it makes that job very difficult.

Sure, but again, I'm not talking about his broadcasting abilities. I'm talking about the brouhaha over him calling the game in which Ben Johnson is coaching and the supposed conflict of interest there.

[The Sultan]

moving on from gambling.

Any thoughts on Tom Brady continuing to call games (he's not good anyway, especially compared to Gregg Olsen) while owning the Raiders and being heavily involved in the coaching search? Seems like a massive conflict of interest that wouldn't be pushed aside for anyone other than Tom Brady

https://frontofficesports.com/newsletter/tom-bradys-tv-restrictions-are-a-problem/

I don't care about any conflict of interest. I care that I have to listen to him.

[WhiteTrash]

Yeah, it's dumb. So he "might" get some additional facetime with Ben Johnson on Saturday. I'm sure that time will be spent hammering out a contract with the Raiders, lol.
 

These are the things NFL owners worry about. 0.001% problems.

[RJax55]

These are the things NFL owners worry about. 0.001% problems.

No. It's dumb fans and media members who are making the fuss about this.

Team owners already have a back-channel to perspective coaching candidates through their agents.

[WhiteTrash]

No. It's dumb fans and media members who are making the fuss about this.

Team owners already have a back-channel to perspective coaching candidates through their agents.

Actually there are league rules. (according to the NFL Radio guys)

[Jockey]

McCaskey is a football idiot.

Poles has to go and Armstrong should never show his face in Chicago ever again. Armstrong needs to find another "train to rob".

Since 2018, agent and ex-Chicago defensive end Trace Armstrong and his agency, Athletes First, have represented two fired Bears head coaches, Matt Nagy and Eberflus; three fired offensive coordinators, Mark Helfrich, Luke Getsy and Shane Waldron; as well as current general manager Ryan Poles.

"I've never seen one agent have so much influence on one team and had so little success, but they keep going back and taking his guys," said one coaching agent, who requested anonymity to speak freely on the topic. "And we all kind of shake our heads like, have they not figured this out yet?"


And yet, some Bears fans are still hopeful.

[Jockey]

Notwithstanding his broadcasting skill, this seems to be a very dumb and manufactured controversy.
What's the conflict, exactly?
Will the way he broadcasts somehow impact the game? Do people believe the Fox job gives Brady access he wouldn't otherwise have (cause Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn wouldn't otherwise give him the time of day)? Both have already interviewed with him anyhow.
Is the worry that Brady will lavish undue praise on Johnson, and that Johnson will somehow hear the broadcast and decide he wants to go to Vegas as a result?

Just struggling to see why this is a thing. Brady is going on TV to talk about a football game, not negotiating a Gaza ceasefire or trading in state secrets. It ain't that important.

People can argue about this forever.

But there should be a disclaimer before each broadcast that he does. I think one big problem that people (including me) have is that he is banned from speaking honestly about officiating calls during the game.

In the end, it won't matter though. Ben Johnson will be in Vegas and Bears fans will be whining that this is part of the reason why.
The real reason is far different though, as I alluded to in my last post.

[MU82]

Here's the applicable part of The Athletic's sports media writers' take on the Brady situation. Don't shoot the messenger; I'm only relaying this passage ...

Brady wasn't formally approved as a minority owner of the Raiders until last October, but he reached an agreement with controlling owner Mark Davis to do so way back in May 2023. That's why the topic of the level of access Brady would have with teams as a Fox broadcaster was already a hot topic going into the 2024 season, which was his first on the job.

Ultimately, Brady, Fox and the NFL agreed before the season to put extensive restrictions on what he's allowed to do in place. He's not allowed access to other teams' facilities and practices, nor can he attend broadcast production meetings, which usually include interviews with coaches and players before games.

That's been the case all season, but the topic surfaced again after the Raiders fired GM Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce earlier this month. Davis consulted Brady prior to making those firings. And, since then, Brady has been involved with reaching out to GM and head coach candidates as well as participating in interviews.

It's created a situation where Brady is calling the games of coaches and executives that he's either already interviewed or could at some point. For instance, Brady will call the divisional round matchup between the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders on Saturday. Brady will be called upon to analyze the decision-making of Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, even though he's interviewed them both to potentially become the Raiders' next head coach. He may also speak to Johnson and/or Glenn on the sidelines before kickoff.

That's a pretty obvious conflict of interest, but it's one that — at least for now — the NFL and team owners have accepted living with.

[CreightonWarrior]

Sure, but again, I'm not talking about his broadcasting abilities. I'm talking about the brouhaha over him calling the game in which Ben Johnson is coaching and the supposed conflict of interest there.

oh to be honest I completely missed this

[WhiteTrash]

In the end, it won't matter though. Ben Johnson will be in Vegas and Bears fans will be whining that this is part of the reason why.
The real reason is far different though, as I alluded to in my last post.

If the Bears want him, they have the ability to get him. A little extra time with a minority owner will not be a decision point.

Whether it's Johnson or somebody else, I don't trust the Bears to get it right.

[Dish]

I've never believed for a second that Ben Johnson is going to be the next Bears head coach. Most meatball Bears fans will be upset when he doesn't take/get offered the job, but it was never a real possibility.

[tower912]

Nor have I.  The whole 'aligned vision' thing.   

[cheebs09]

Here's the applicable part of The Athletic's sports media writers' take on the Brady situation. Don't shoot the messenger; I'm only relaying this passage ...

Brady wasn't formally approved as a minority owner of the Raiders until last October, but he reached an agreement with controlling owner Mark Davis to do so way back in May 2023. That's why the topic of the level of access Brady would have with teams as a Fox broadcaster was already a hot topic going into the 2024 season, which was his first on the job.

Ultimately, Brady, Fox and the NFL agreed before the season to put extensive restrictions on what he's allowed to do in place. He's not allowed access to other teams' facilities and practices, nor can he attend broadcast production meetings, which usually include interviews with coaches and players before games.

That's been the case all season, but the topic surfaced again after the Raiders fired GM Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce earlier this month. Davis consulted Brady prior to making those firings. And, since then, Brady has been involved with reaching out to GM and head coach candidates as well as participating in interviews.

It's created a situation where Brady is calling the games of coaches and executives that he's either already interviewed or could at some point. For instance, Brady will call the divisional round matchup between the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders on Saturday. Brady will be called upon to analyze the decision-making of Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, even though he's interviewed them both to potentially become the Raiders' next head coach. He may also speak to Johnson and/or Glenn on the sidelines before kickoff.

That's a pretty obvious conflict of interest, but it's one that — at least for now — the NFL and team owners have accepted living with.

Thanks for sharing. I thought he was more of a figurehead like Jay-Z with the Nets.This shows he's much more involved.

I feel he would do great on a panel show, especially on Fox with Gronk. I doubt that justifies what they paid him.