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Roger Goodell: NFL disagrees with Sunday Ticket verdict

Thu Jul 11 12:23pm ET
Field Level Media

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday that the league feels "very strongly about our position" and plans to follow the litigation in response to the recent verdict involving DirectTV's Sunday Ticket packages.

A Los Angeles jury ordered the NFL last month to pay $4.7 billion in damages to the residential class and $96 million to the commercial class after it voted unanimously that the league, DirecTV, CBS and Fox colluded to increase the price of the game packages. The NFL could be on the hook for billions more, however, because damages are tripled under federal antitrust laws.

"We obviously disagree with the jury verdict and we are committed, obviously, to following the legal process," Goodell said during an interview with CNBC. "It's a long process and we're aware of that. But we feel very strongly about our position, our policies, particularly on media.

"We make our sport available to the broadest possible audience. Sunday Ticket is just a complementary product. We're committed to following the litigation all the way and making sure that we get this right."

The class-action lawsuit began in 2015 with a complaint filed by a San Francisco sports bar named the Mucky Duck that was dismissed in 2017. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later reinstated the case, which last year became a class action and covered more than 2.4 million residential subscribers and more than 48,000 businesses that purchased DirectTV's Sunday Ticket package of out-of-market games from the 2011 through 2022 seasons.

The NFL's next step is expected on July 31, when it presumably will ask Judge Philip Gutierrez to set aside the verdict. Should that not be the case, the league is expected to appeal to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court.

Sunday Ticket was offered on DirecTV from 1994-2022 before the NFL reached a seven-year contract with Google's YouTube TV that began in 2023.

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Player Notes
Trey Benson Aug 17 10:10pm CT
Trey Benson

Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Trey Benson took advantage of a resting James Conner as he rushed nine times for 43 yards in the Cardinals' loss to the Colts in Saturday's preseason matchup. Per PFF's Nathan Jahnke, Benson saw 16-of-22 possible first and second-down snaps outside of two-minute drills, which gives a clue that the Cardinals may have other backs like Emari Demercado and/or Michael Carter ticketed for a third-down role outside of Conner. Benson was drafted in the third round this past April as the eventual successor to Conner, but for now, Benson is only a contingency-based fantasy pick in the event of a Conner injury. He's still a worthy upside RB4/5 bench stash and could carve out a bigger role later this season.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Aug 17 10:10pm CT
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving made some noise during the team's preseason opener last week. Sadly, Irving wasn't able to have the same level of success during Saturday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The fourth-round pick rushed six times for 26 yards in the loss. The yardage is about the same, but last time around Irving was able to find the end zone. He'll continue to compete with Sean Tucker for the primary backup role behind Rachaad White in the backfield. The Bucs don't seem too concerned with getting their starters reps in the preseason. That being said, Irving and Tucker should get one more chance to impress the coaching staff during the final preseason game.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Trask Aug 17 10:00pm CT
Kyle Trask

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask was given the start under center once again for the second preseason contest on Saturday. The former second-round pick looked better on the field during this outing. He completed 12-of-19 passing attempts for 108 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions in the loss. This performance should give Trask the edge in his competition with John Wolford for the backup job behind Baker Mayfield. During the second half, Wolford completed 7-of-14 passing attempts for 52 yards in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. There is still one preseason game left on the schedule. Possibly, Mayfield gets into that contest, but it'll likely be Trask and Wolford for a majority of the snaps.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Aug 17 10:00pm CT
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed all five of his passes for 51 yards and one touchdown in Saturday night's 13-6 victory against the Washington Commanders. It is unclear whether head coach Mike McDaniel intended to play his starters for a drive or a quarter on Saturday, but they were the same either way. Jayden Daniels and the Commanders' offense got the ball first, and the rookie navigated them down the field, though the drive would ultimately culminate in a missed field goal. Tagovailoa took the field and immediately made his mark on the game. Despite being without star wideouts Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, Miami's fifth-year veteran dinked and dunked his way down the field efficiently. His reported weight loss over the offseason showed up in his game as he looked nimble while evading pressure. Tua's highlight came on a 4th-and-1 inside the Commanders' 15-yard line, -- the second fourth-down the Dolphins would convert -- where he threw a beautifully lofted pass to River Cracraft for a touchdown in the back of the end zone. It remains to be seen whether we will see Miami's starter next Friday when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Dolphins' final game of the preseason. However, it wouldn't be surprising if we didn't, considering how crisp he looked Saturday down his top weapons. As we head into the regular season, he's Yahoo!'s QB14 in ADP.

From RotoBaller

Keon Coleman Aug 17 10:00pm CT
Keon Coleman

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman made an appearance in Saturday night's preseason victory over the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, hauling in one of this three passes for 12 yards in the win. Coleman began the second quarter with a 12-yard reception from a short pass via backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky on Saturday against Pittsburgh, but it's also worth noting he failed to haul in a would-be touchdown catch despite creating separation on the route later in the period. The rookie second-rounder out of Florida State gives QB Josh Allen a big-bodied wideout to work with alongside slot men Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir as well as tight end Dalton Kincaid, but he'll need to make the most of his opportunities to emerge as a consistent WR3/flex fantasy starter in Year 1. There should be ups and downs for Coleman, who profiles as a young Allen Robinson based on workout metrics.

From RotoBaller

Micah McFadden Aug 17 9:58pm CT
Micah McFadden

New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden (hip) won't return to Saturday's preseason matchup with the Houston Texans. The 24-year-old was injured after tackling Dameon Pierce in the first quarter and remained down. Of course, any injury is never good. However, it's even worse that McFadden was carted off the field. The 2022 No. 146 overall pick has spent his first two years with the Giants, totaling 160 tackles, three sacks, four fumble recoveries, and one pick. McFadden was replaced by Darius Muasau and will likely undergo further testing soon.

Jeff Driskel Aug 17 9:50pm CT
Jeff Driskel

Washington Commanders quarterback Jeff Driskel went 11-for-15 with 82 passing yards and added 45 rushing yards on the ground on Saturday evening. With Marcus Mariota resting, Driskel served as the backup to Jayden Daniels and played quite well through the majority of the game. This performance could have solidified him as the No. 3 QB in the offense, as he threw for 87 yards last week against the Jets. Sam Hartman (shoulder) served as the No. 4 QB last week but did not play Saturday evening due to a shoulder injury. This opened the door for Trace McSorley to play in the final quarter. Driskel showcased his rushing upside on Saturday evening by picking up a nice 41-yard carry on his first drive. In the passing attack, Driskel connected with third-round pick Luke McCaffrey twice for 30 yards. In addition, he found veteran Jamison Crowder three times for 25 yards. Both McCaffrey and Crowder are shaping up to serve as depth options to begin the regular season but could eventually earn a role later on. Mariota clearly has the backup spot locked up to begin the regular season, putting Driskel in no better position than 3rd on the depth chart. There is no foreseeable route where Driskel carries any fantasy relevance right now, and it would require some injuries to find his way to anyone's roster in 2024, especially in non-superflex leagues.

From RotoBaller

Frank Gore Jr. Aug 17 9:50pm CT
Frank Gore Jr.

Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. offered solid returns in Saturday night's preseason win over the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, rushing eight times for 41 yards in the victory. Gore consistently found room to run on Saturday against the Steelers, with his longest play going for nine yards. Although fourth-round rookie Ray Davis looks fairly locked into Buffalo's No. 2 role in the backfield, there remains an open competition to maintain a roster spot amongst Gore as well as veterans Ty Johnson and Darrynton Evans. Johnson is the most likely of the three backs to make the Bills' roster this fall, and Evans also impressed with 37 yards on seven carries in this one. The undrafted Gore aims to leave a final impression on the coaching staff in next Saturday's preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers.

From RotoBaller

Ray Davis Aug 17 9:40pm CT
Ray Davis

Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis found plenty of room to run in Saturday night's preseason win over the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, taking the ball eight times for 58 yards in the victory. Davis had a long pickup of 19 yards on the ground, leading the team in rushing yards on Saturday against the Steelers after totaling only 21 yards in last weekend's preseason opener. Starter James Cook remains Buffalo's obvious lead back to begin the season, but Davis is primed for his fair share of involvement as a change-of-pace back on a Bills team that placed more of an emphasis on the running game during the second half of last year. The 24-year-old rookie fourth-rounder has a versatile skillset and can be used in both early-down and pass-down situations, but he's best suited as an RB4/5 stash for fantasy managers in the final rounds of drafts.

From RotoBaller

Riley Patterson Aug 17 9:40pm CT
Riley Patterson

Washington Commanders kicker Riley Patterson carried over his struggles from last week as he went 2-for-4 on field goal attempts on Saturday evening. Patterson missed his two attempts from 49 yards and 43 yards, respectively, while he converted on a 46 and a 38-yard attempt. Last week, the 24-year-old went 0-for-1 from 39 yards out, while Ramiz Ahmed went 1-for-1 from 40 yards out on his lone attempt. While Patterson is currently the only kicker listed on the Washington depth chart, as Ahmed was cut earlier this week to make room for wide receiver Martavis Bryant, his inconsistency this preseason could open the door for a kicking competition. Fantasy managers should continue to pay close attention to the depth chart over the next few weeks as the starting kicker on the Commanders could be viable in standard leagues if Jayden Daniels is able to quickly adjust to the NFL.

From RotoBaller

James Cook Aug 17 9:40pm CT
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook got involved in Saturday night's preseason victory over the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, rushing six times for 25 yards in the win. Cook tacked on a six-yard catch on Saturday against Pittsburgh, running for a long gain of eight yards. The star third-year back trailed only superstars Christian McCaffrey and Breece Hall among RBs with 1,567 yards from scrimmage in 17 games as Buffalo's lead back last season, but even though incumbent veteran Latavius Murray is no longer around to vulture touchdowns from him, Cook now has rookie fourth-rounder Ray Davis to worry about in the backfield this fall. Davis is a threat to siphon the occasional carry on early downs and also has pass-catching ability, but Cook will start the season as a surefire RB2 option in what became a run-heavy Bills offense during the second half of last year.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Aug 17 9:40pm CT
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. led the rushing attack with the first-team on Saturday evening as he totaled 22 yards on three carries. The Alabama product was the lead back on the opening drive of the game but ceded those duties to Austin Ekeler on the second possession with the starters. While Ekeler only saw one target go his way on Saturday and did not have a rushing attempt, he will still have a large role in the Washington offense as he almost split the first-team snap counts with Robinson. Seeing that the Washington starters logged two full possessions, fantasy managers could expect Robinson and Ekeler to alternate drives in the regular season as they did on Saturday evening. However, given Ekeler's ability to succeed as a pass catcher, he could eventually serve as the go-to third down option while Robison handles the early down work. Nonetheless, this may be a difficult running back room to predict for fantasy this season as they may hinder each other's production. If Jayden Daniels can continue to showcase his elite potential, this offense may be able to produce two reliable running backs, even in a potential 50-50 split.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Daniels Aug 17 9:30pm CT
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels performed well in his second professional game on Saturday evening against the Miami Dolphins. He went 10-for-12 with 78 passing yards and 13 yards on the ground on two attempts. The former number-two overall pick led the offense for two possessions compared to just one last week. On the first possession, he hit Dyami Brown for three catches and Terry McLaurin for two. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. shined in the second drive, but Daniels did complete two nice passes to tight end John Bates for 20 total yards. Fantasy managers should continue to pay attention to who Daniels targets in the final preseason game, as he is clearly building a connection with Brown, who caught 55 receiving yards last week. The former Heisman winner will be a popular pick in redraft leagues at his 105.6 Yahoo! ADP, given how poised he has looked through his first two professional games.

From RotoBaller

Dyami Brown Aug 17 9:30pm CT
Dyami Brown

Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown shined once again on Saturday evening and is making a strong case to be the No. 2 wideout in the nation's capital. On Saturday, Brown saw three targets from Jayden Daniels, which tied Terry McLaurin for the most looks from the rookie quarterback. Brown caught all three of these targets in the opening drive for 19 yards. Earlier this week, head coach Dan Quinn expressed that there is still an open competition for the No. 2 wide receiver spot on the depth chart and currently, Brown may be in the lead. Last week, Brown caught 55 yards, which was highlighted by an impressive 42-yard catch. Fantasy managers should continue to pay close attention to how Brown finishes the preseason, as he could be a steal in deeper leagues this fall.

From RotoBaller

Quintin Morris Aug 17 9:20pm CT
Quintin Morris

Bills tight end Quintin Morris sustained a shoulder injury during Buffalo's 9-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Morris finished the game with two catches on four targets for 20 yards and led the team in targets. It was a low-scoring defensive affair on Saturday, and Buffalo racked up a ton of injuries, including backup QB Mitchell Trubisky and veteran WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. While Morris is listed as the third-string TE on the Bills' unofficial depth chart, he is reportedly a strong favorite to make the team as such. It is similar to the other Buffalo injuries tonight, as the severity is unknown, but there is sure to be an update shortly. The third-year TE has spent more time on special teams than offense throughout his first two seasons and is a distant third option at tight end behind Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Brown Aug 17 9:13pm CT
Anthony Brown

Carolina Panthers CB Anthony Brown (thumb) is questionable to return to the preseason game against the New York Jets Saturday, Aug. 17, after exiting with a thumb injury.

From TheHuddle

Dennis Allen Aug 17 9:00pm CT
Dennis Allen

New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen has opted to play his starters again this Sunday when they square off against the San Francisco 49ers. The sentiment around the team is that the starters will see "a decent amount of work." This is an apparent deviation from how things unfolded last season when the Saints' first team saw just one drive in the preseason opener and nothing after that. Allen could be straying from his previous habits for many reasons, including how last year played out for New Orleans. There is also a chance this is in response to the Saints' joint practices with the 49ers being canceled due to "mounting injury concerns" by San Fran's coaching staff. It remains to be seen exactly how much run the offensive and defensive first teams will get. However, Allen could opt to play his starters a bit longer than usual to get them some extra competitive snaps as we creep toward the regular season.

From RotoBaller

Jaren Hall Aug 17 8:40pm CT
Jaren Hall

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall played most of the second half against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, looking sharp in his limited passing opportunities. The 2023 fifth-round pick completed four of his five passes for 87 yards and two scores, including an incredible 71-yard bomb to Jeshaun Jones. The Vikings were ahead by multiple scores for much of Hall's playtime, so he did not have many chances to show off his arm, but he was effective when he could. The second-year quarterback bounced back from a disappointing first preseason game, as the backup quarterback position in Minnesota has been in flux with rookie J.J. McCarthy (knee) being placed on injured reserve earlier this week. Hall made his case to be on the 53-man roster for the Vikings and will need to fight off Nick Mullens and newly signed Matt Corral for the opportunity.

From RotoBaller

Marquez Valdes-Scantling Aug 17 8:40pm CT
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (neck) will not return to the team's preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Valdes-Scantling caught a ball in the second quarter, and after being taken to the ground, he remained down for an extended period of time. The Bills' training staff actually stabilized his neck before he sat up and was escorted over to the blue medical tent. He was carted to the locker room shortly after. MVS's night would end with one catch on one target for eight yards. Although the veteran wideout was mobile, neck injuries are no small matter, and the injury's severity is unknown. While MVS is not listed as a starter on Buffalo's depth chart (WR5), this would be a blow to the offense as Josh Allen is missing 241 targets from 2023 with the departure of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. He's Yahoo!'s WR117 in ADP.

From RotoBaller

Marquez Valdes-Scantling Aug 17 8:33pm CT
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Buffalo Bills WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (neck) won't return to the preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Saturday, Aug. 17, after exiting with a neck injury.

From TheHuddle