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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 Lance Aug 24 6:40pm CT
Trey Lance

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance struggled in a preseason loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday. Lance attempted 49 passes, completing 33 of them for 323 yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions. He added 11 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown, leading the team in both carries and rushing yards. It was a strong game on the ground for Lance, but the passing game wasn't clicking, as the Chargers defense was all over Lance for the five picks and also two fumbles. If Lance makes the team as the third quarterback, he'll be behind starter Dak Prescott and backup Cooper Rush.

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Darrynton Evans Aug 24 6:40pm CT
Darrynton Evans

Buffalo Bills running back Darrynton Evans made his case to make the final roster in Saturday afternoon's preseason defeat to the visiting Carolina Panthers in Orchard Park, tying for the team lead in receiving with three catches for 28 yards and a touchdown while adding 15 rushing yards on three carries. Evans certainly put together a nice day on Saturday against the Panthers, shedding a tackle and high-stepping his way across the end zone to give the Bills a lead in the second quarter, but his performance was overshadowed by undrafted rookie Frank Gore Jr., who also scored but produced a whopping 101 yards. Evans, 26, is not as likely to make Buffalo's 53-man roster following Gore's standout showing, and he probably wouldn't be any greater than the No. 4 back on the depth chart even if he does stick around.

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Derius Davis Aug 24 6:40pm CT
Derius Davis

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Derius Davis touched the ball once in the Chargers preseason finale, but he made it count. Davis took the ball up the sideline for a 70-yard touchdown run, breaking tackles and avoiding defenders along the way. It was an impressive run for the former fourth round pick, but he appears to be headed for a special teams role as a returner who may occasionally fill in on offense.

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Simi Fehoko Aug 24 6:40pm CT
Simi Fehoko

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Simi Fehoko scored a long touchdown in a preseason win against the Dallas Cowboys. Fehoko was targeted twice, making two catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. His score came on a huge throw from Easton Stick that ended up as a 78-yard touchdown pass. Fehoko dominated the Chargers passing game in preseason play, but he's not expected to see much time on offense once the regular season begins.

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Frank Gore Jr. Aug 24 6:30pm CT
Frank Gore Jr.

Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. made a statement in Saturday afternoon's preseason loss to the visiting Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium, rumbling for 101 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. He caught one of his two targets for no gain. It was one chunk pickup after another on Saturday against Carolina for Gore, who plowed his way into the end zone for a Bills score in the third quarter. None of James Cook, Ray Davis, or Ty Johnson made an appearance in the preseason finale, so it was left to Gore and Darrynton Evans to compete for a spot on Buffalo's roster, with the former passing his final test with flying colors. While Evans hit paydirt through the air, Gore outproduced him in the yardage department in a big way, likely giving the 2024 undrafted rookie a leg up in the competition over the incumbent veteran.

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Easton Stick Aug 24 6:30pm CT
Easton Stick

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Easton Stick played all of Saturday's preseason finale against the Dallas Cowboys, leading the Bolts to a 26-19 win. Stick attempted 29 passes, completing 12 for 187 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He added 17 yards on the ground on four carries and took two sacks. Most of Stick's production came on a 78-yard touchdown pass to Simi Fehoko in the second quarter. Stick is the likely QB2 for the Chargers, a position that could be critical this season with starter Justin Herbert dealing with a foot injury that could linger into the season.

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George Pickens Aug 24 6:20pm CT
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens hauled in both of his targets for 26 yards in the team's 24-17 preseason loss to the Detroit Lions. Although he lost six yards on his first reception, the third-year pro made up for it on the very next play with a 32-yard gain on a perfect deep pass from quarterback Russell Wilson. The pair was pulled from the contest immediately following the opening drive, which resulted in a touchdown. Barring any last-minute surprises, Pickens appears primed to enter the regular season as Pittsburgh's undisputed WR1. He offers plenty of upside in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts with the Steelers' offense expected to improve in 2024.

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Frank Gore Jr. Aug 24 6:10pm CT
Frank Gore Jr.

Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. (knee) is scheduled to undergo X-rays after suffering an injury during Saturday's preseason finale. This is a shame considering how well Gore has been playing in the preseason. He rushed for 101 yards on 18 carries with one touchdown before exiting on Saturday. He's competing with Ray Davis and Ty Johnson for the backup role behind James Cook. Gore doesn't have a great fantasy outlook right away with Cook being the workhorse back in Buffalo. However, he has decent potential and is a solid hold in deep or dynasty formats, assuming the results from his testing come back negative for any significant damage.

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Cordarrelle Patterson Aug 24 6:10pm CT
Cordarrelle Patterson

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Cordarrelle Patterson handled three rushing attempts for 31 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's preseason loss to the Detroit Lions. Patterson worked with Pittsburgh's first-team offense as a complement to Najee Harris with Jaylen Warren (hamstring) sidelined. He exploded for a 31-yard score on the Steelers' opening drive and earned one touch on their second possession. Given Patterson's history with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and the lack of proven receiving options on Pittsburgh's offense, the 33-year-old could see utilization in the regular season, especially if Warren misses time. He is best left undrafted in most fantasy leagues, however.

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Eddy Pineiro Aug 24 6:00pm CT
Eddy Pineiro

Carolina Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro (hamstring) didn't return for the second half of Saturday's preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills. Pineiro was forced to exit the game due to mild hamstring soreness. Head coach Dave Canales said afterwards that Pineiro is fine and the team held him out for precautionary reasons. Before exiting, Pineiro made both his extra-point attempts and a 45-yard field goal during the first half of Saturday's game. The assumption is that Pineiro should be fine for the regular season opener against the New Orleans Saints.

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Justin Fields Aug 24 6:00pm CT
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields completed three of his four pass attempts for 40 yards and added four rushing yards on two carries in a preseason loss to the Detroit Lions. Fields followed up an impressive scoring drive led by Russell Wilson with a touchdown drive of his own and remained in the contest for two additional possessions. The 25-year-old looked sharp early, most notably on a strike to tight end MyCole Pruitt for a gain of 22 yards that set up an easy score for La'Mical Perine. His second drive was much less successful as Fields was credited with a fumble on a clear miscommunication with rookie center Zach Frazier. Following the game, head coach Mike Tomlin declined to name a Week 1 starter, but it would be surprising at this point to see Fields get the nod over Wilson. The situation is still worth monitoring for fantasy purposes due to Fields' immense rushing upside.

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Craig Reynolds Aug 24 5:50pm CT
Craig Reynolds

Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (leg) is expected to be available for the regular season opener, according to head coach Dan Campbell. Reynolds suffered a leg injury during Thursday's practice. It's not believed to be serious, but Reynolds was held out of the preseason finale for precautionary reasons. He's currently competing with Sione Vaki for the No. 3 role in Detroit. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are the two primary options in this backfield. It's unlikely that Reynolds or Vaki have a significant role in the backfield while Gibbs and Montgomery are healthy. Whether he's healthy or not, Reynolds can probably be avoided in most fantasy formats.

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Stetson Bennett Aug 24 5:40pm CT
Stetson Bennett

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett will serve as the backup for Week 1 and Week 2 of the regular season. This was expected to happen with Jimmy Garoppolo suspended for the first two weeks of the season. Bennett sat out of the preseason finale after starting the first two games. He threw for 437 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions during the preseason. Those aren't exactly great results, but Bennett isn't likely to see the field at all in 2024. Matthew Stafford should be full healthy and ready to go for the season opener. Garoppolo should take over as the primary backup once he's cleared to play, so Bennett is unlikely to play at all unless Stafford gets injured in the first two games.

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Russell Wilson Aug 24 5:40pm CT
Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson completed each of his two pass attempts for 26 yards in a 24-17 preseason loss to the Detroit Lions. George Pickens was the only player targeted by Wilson on the team's first drive of the contest. The duo connected for a 32-yard gain that eventually set up a Cordarrelle Patterson rushing touchdown. Although head coach Mike Tomlin declined to name a Week 1 starter on Saturday, the team certainly gave Wilson QB1 treatment when it pulled him from the preseason finale after one scoring drive. If Wilson struggles early in the regular season, Justin Fields could push for the starting job, making the veteran a risky selection as a low-end QB2 in superflex fantasy drafts.

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Greg Joseph Aug 24 4:20pm CT
Greg Joseph

Green Bay Packers kicker Greg Joseph was solid in his final preseason game, making both field goal attempts and kicking home an extra point in the Packers' 30-7 win against the Baltimore Ravens. Joseph made a 36-yard attempt in the beginning of the second quarter, nailed a PAT in the third quarter, and then with just under two minutes left in the fourth quarter, drilled a 55-yard attempt. Joseph is in a tough kicking competition with incumbent starter Anders Carlson, but the race is a bit close to call at this moment. The Packers wanted to give Carlson some legitimate competition and Joseph, last season's kicker for the Minnesota Vikings, was just that throughout camp. Wait and see before drafting either kicker in fantasy, but whoever wins the Packers' job should have decent value given how powerful the Packers' offense is.

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Anders Carlson Aug 24 4:10pm CT
Anders Carlson

Green Bay Packers second-year kicker Anders Carlson struggled as a rookie, missing five extra points and making 27-of-33 field goals last season. In today's final preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, Carlson made both extra point attempts and made a 54-yard field goal in the first quarter, but missed a 32-yard field goal wide right in the fourth quarter. While Carlson has been solid throughout camp in his battle with former Vikings kicker Greg Joseph to retain the starting kicker job, the final miss this preseason may linger in the head of head coach Matt LaFleur when making his decision. Carlson seems to have an edge on Joseph but could have a shorter leash once the season begins. Carlson is tough to trust as a fantasy selection at kicker, but could be a waiver wire add if things are going well as the Packers should be one of the better offenses in the league.

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Malik Heath Aug 24 4:00pm CT
Malik Heath

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Malik Heath led the Packers in all receiving categories during their final preseason tune-up against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday afternoon. Heath, the second-year receiver out of Ole Miss, led the Packers with five targets and a four-catch, 39-yard effort, including a third-quarter touchdown from Sean Clifford. The Packers sat Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks, leaving the starting wide receivers to be Heath and Bo Melton, of whom Heath is battling to be the team's WR5 this season. The Packers have an embarrassment of riches at the receiver spot, so the team may opt to keep six on the 53-man roster, but the race is too close to call if the Packers only keep one. Heath was a sporadic contributor last season but was not fantasy-relevant. He shouldn't be drafted, but if any of the receivers ahead of him are hurt, Heath could contribute if he makes the roster.

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Bo Melton Aug 24 3:50pm CT
Bo Melton

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Bo Melton scored a touchdown on a beautiful throw from rookie Michael Pratt on Saturday afternoon in the Packers' final preseason matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. With the Packers sitting Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks, Melton got some extra time to shine on Saturday and delivered with that second-quarter score. Melton only earned two targets and caught one, but made it count. While the first four receivers are set in stone for the Packers, the fifth wide receiver slot is up for grabs between Melton and second-year pro Malik Heath, who also caught a touchdown on the day. The Packers may opt to keep both Melton and Heath on the 53-man roster, but if not, it's likely a decision between the two. For fantasy purposes, there's no need to draft Melton but keep an eye on him if any of the other receivers get hurt as Melton was productive toward the end of 2023 for the Packers.

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Jaren Hall Aug 24 3:40pm CT
Jaren Hall

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall played well in the team's last preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, completing 17 of 25 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns while adding 11 yards on the ground. The 26-year-old led the Vikings on five consecutive scoring drives and left the game with a 23-3 lead. The second-year quarterback out of BYU was on the roster bubble with the possibility of joining the Vikings' practice squad but may have made the final cut as Hall looked sharp and decisive. If Hall does indeed get cut, expect him to be swiftly signed by another team. The former BYU Cougar likely will enter the 2024 regular season as the Vikings' QB3 behind starter Sam Darnold and backup Nick Mullens.

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Michael Pratt Aug 24 3:40pm CT
Michael Pratt

Green Bay Packers rookie quarterback Michael Pratt was solid in his final preseason outing against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday afternoon. Pratt was 8-of-12 for 80 yards with an 18-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to Bo Melton. He also threw an interception in the third quarter to Trenton Simpson, where Pratt recklessly came flying in to make the tackle and was shaken up on the play. In the post-game press conference, head coach Matt LaFleur said Pratt "lost his wind" when trying to make the post-interception tackle. Pratt is battling incumbent backup quarterback Sean Clifford to be the QB2 behind Jordan Love this season, but the race is too close to call yet. The Packers travel to Brazil and open their season on September 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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