Around the NFL: News & Updates

NFL plans Business as Usual

Despite the fact that the other North American Sports Leagues were, and continue to be, interrupted the NFL is planning their season for nothing other than the status quo. Fortunately for everyone, teams and fans alike, the league was not in season when the novel coronavirus gripped the nation and paralyzed professional sports. But the winter has turned to spring and before we know it summer will be upon us, which is the time when NFL teams begin their training camps as preseason action gets underway in August. The sportsbooks are dealing odds as usual and the Super Bowl favorite is the Kansas City Chiefs at +750 followed closely by the Baltimore Ravens at +800.

Odds by sportsbookreview.com

We know much can happen between now and then, therefore, the powers that be are keeping a stiff upper lip and maintaining that not only will the season arrive on time, and on schedule, but the stadiums will be full of fans. However, they are also aware that COVID-19 could very well still be omnipresent and adjustments might need to be made.

Troy Vincent, executive vice president of football operations, stated, “Now remember when we’re talking — we’re talking about August, September. So, there’s a lot that can happen here. So, we’re planning for full stadiums. We also know that we have to plan for half stadiums, three-quarters. So, we’re planning for all of these different scenarios. But first and foremost, we’re making every effort, working with the medical community, if we can have those stadiums with all people until they tell us otherwise when that time comes, that’s our plan. That’s our plan of action.”

Troy Vincent says NFL is still planning for full stadiums this season “until the medical community tells us otherwise” https://t.co/AqUTmm3RVQ

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 24, 2020

Dak Prescott Dilemma

Dak Prescott picked a miserable time to holdout for the largest contract in NFL history. He reportedly wants an estimated $45 million per season which would shatter Russell Wilson’s $35 million per annum and has already rejected what would have been the largest contract in NFL history when he rebuffed a five-year, $175 million offer by the Cowboys.

Former NFL quarterback and current NBC football analyst, Chris Simms, stated the following, “From what I know of the situation, and I know from some people who are in the know that he’s been offered five years, $175 million,” Simms told 105.3 The Fan’s “K & C Masterpiece” via Sports Illustrated. “He wants a four-year deal. If they do agree to a five-year deal, they would like a really big number at the end of that fifth year to cover their butts for what the market might be at the position five years from now. And I’ve heard he’s asking for somewhere like north of $45 million in that fifth year.”

What impact the global pandemic will have on NFL revenues remains to be seen but if there is no live gate and the games are played in empty stadiums, that will have a direct correlation on the money teams will be able to spend on its players. Prescott seems to be blissfully whistling past the graveyard in that respect and although he has posted some impressive numbers over his relatively short career, it’s hard to ignore the cold, hard, facts when he battles the mettle of the league. Consider for a moment that Prescott’s career record against teams that ended the season with nine or fewer wins is 35-11 versus a 5-13 mark against teams that ended with 10 wins or better. In 2019, the Cowboys were a dismal 0-5 versus teams that ended with 10 wins or more, and had they won just one of those games they could have supplanted the Eagles as NFC East winners and copped a postseason berth.

As of this moment the Cowboys have put an exclusive franchise tag on Prescott which means he can’t even listen to offers from other teams and will be paid roughly $31.4 million this season for that one-year guaranteed deal. But the Cowboys do want Prescott as their quarterback of the future and have made that clear by offering him the aforementioned $175 million over five years. Yet, it’s a tough time for players to be holding out and if this pandemic drains the NFL’s coffers then we can expect that players’ salaries will be adversely affected as well.

Dak Prescott Is Delusional – Turns Down Highest Contract In NFL History https://t.co/d6AbZh66xR

— Branded Sports (@branded_sports) May 21, 2020

Prescott is letting his agents deal with the situation and stated, “So yeah…This is my first time doing this. Ask me in a few years, and I’ll be able to tell you, ‘OK, we’ve sent this; they’ve sent this one. We’re about to get done.’ As of right now, I’m learning the process, too, and letting my team handle their business.”