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NFL owners vote to approve private equity investment

Wed Aug 28 8:56am ET
Field Level Media

The NFL is opening its doors to private equity funds.

At a meeting in Eagan, Minn., on Tuesday, NFL owners voted in favor of a resolution that allows funds to purchase up to 10 percent of a franchise.

The league met with several firms earlier this month as it explored whether to change its rule disallowing institutional money in team ownership. The NFL was the only major North American sports league that prohibited private equity ownership in a franchise before Tuesday's vote.

Private equity funds will only be able to achieve "passive ownership," which would not come with any decision-making power within a team's ownership suite or front office.

The league provisionally approved eight funds to buy a stake in a franchise. Sixth Street Partners, Ares Management and Arctos Partners are operating on their own. Another five funds make up a consortium interested in investing: Blackstone, the Carlyle Group, CVC Capital Partners, Dynasty Equity and Ludis.

New York Jets Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin founded Ludis, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday that Martin took the initiative to form the consortium.

ESPN reported that the owners voted 31-1 in favor of the measure, with the Cincinnati Bengals the lone holdout.

"They spent a lot of time, a lot of work and I'm appreciative of the kinds of interest that we have from the financial community that spent the time they did putting this together," Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, per ESPN. "This is a win for the game."

An Ares Management spokesperson said in a statement, "Ares is honored to have been accepted by the NFL to be able to invest in its iconic football franchises. The NFL has long engendered deeply loyal fanbases, innovative approaches to media and some of the most viewed and highest valued sports franchises in the world. We are excited for the opportunity to support the continued growth of NFL teams through Ares' extensive investment experience and strong relationship networks in the sports, media and entertainment sector."

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Player Notes
Nick Bosa Aug 28 9:50pm CT
Nick Bosa

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Leonard Floyd (knee) was seen at practice on Wednesday. Floyd was labeled day-to-day after injuring his right knee in last Friday's preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter when a teammate landed on his leg. Floyd avoided a serious injury, though, and should be fine for the Week 1 regular-season finale on Monday, Sept. 9, against the New York Jets. The 31-year-old specialized in pass-rushing in his lone season with the Buffalo Bills in 2023, which led to a career-high 10.5 sacks, but he also recorded a career-low 32 tackles (21 solo) in 17 regular-season games (16 starts). The former ninth overall pick by the Chicago Bears in 2016 out of Georgia has had at least nine sacks in each of the last four seasons and should be pretty productive again in 2024 for a strong 49ers defense across from All-Pro Nick Bosa.

From RotoBaller

Elijah Molden Aug 28 9:50pm CT
Elijah Molden

The Los Angeles Chargers acquired defensive back Elijah Molden from the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday in exchange for a seventh-round pick in 2026, according to sources. Molden was a starter for most of last season in Tennessee and will now get a fresh start in 2024 on the west coast while giving the Chargers more secondary help. The 25-year-old former third-round selection (100th overall) in 2021 out of Washington had a career-best 73 tackles (47 solo), an interception returned for a touchdown, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 15 contests (eight starts) in 2023 in his third year in the league. Molden is likely to move around a bit in his new home alongside fellow safeties Derwin James and Alohi Gilman.

From RotoBaller

Michael Pratt Aug 28 9:20pm CT
Michael Pratt

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed quarterback Michael Pratt to their practice squad, according to PewterReport. The Buccaneers were reportedly interested in drafting Pratt back in April, and now they get him after he was cut loose by the Green Bay Packers. Tampa Bay released John Wolford on Tuesday, so Pratt will take his job as the Bucs' No. 3 quarterback. Barring additional roster moves, we can expect Pratt to operate as the Buccaneers' emergency third-string quarterback on gameday this season.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Aug 28 9:13pm CT
Isiah Pacheco

Dynasty | The Chiefs have signed running back Samaje Perine. Dynasty Analysis: The former Bengal. Commander and Bronco will take his talents to Kansas City and attempt to carve out a meaningful role for the Chiefs. It's a decent enough landing spot as Perine will compete with Clyde Edwards-Helaire for backup or change-of-pace duties for Isiah Pacheco. Perine has been productive at times but he's a long way from looking like an absolute must-add in dynasty leagues.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Donald Parham Aug 28 9:13pm CT
Donald Parham

Dynasty | The Broncos have signed tight end Donald Parham. Dynasty Analysis: It sounds like Parham will land on the practice squad, at least to start. He was a bit of a surprise cut by the Chargers and while Denver likes Greg Dulcich, he has yet to show an element of consistency (or health) to make them feel very comfortable. Parham should stay on watch lists and be monitored if and when he's called up to the active roster.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Terrace Marshall Jr. Aug 28 9:13pm CT
Terrace Marshall Jr.

Dynasty | Terrace Marshall has signed on with the San Francisco 49ers and will join their practice sqaud. Dynasty Analysis: The 49ers seem to collect wide receivers like baseball cards, so this makes sense. Marshall flamed out in Carolina but it's clear he has real talent. San Francisco will likely try to stash him for a while. then either call him up on their own or attempt to block another team from signing him off their squad. It's hard to keep a player on a practice squad on your dynasty roster, but you could make a case for Marshall.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Allen Robinson Aug 28 9:13pm CT
Allen Robinson

Dynasty | The Lions have signed wide receiver Allen Robinson to their practice squad. Dynasty Analysis: Detroit looks to be the latest team to see what Robinson left. The Bears, Rams, Steelers, and Giants have all given him a chance over the past few years but it seems as if Robinson is simply not the same player he once was at 31 years old. With a loaded receiving corps and Tim Patrick also waiting in the wings, it's hard to see a path to dynasty relevancy for Robinson any time soon.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dyami Brown Aug 28 9:13pm CT
Dyami Brown

Dynasty | The Commanders have signed wide receiver Noah Brown. Dynasty Analysis: Hmm. This one is interesting as the Commanders recently traded Jahan Dotson. He has a chance to emerge as their WR2 opposite Terry McLaurin, though that's far from a given. Brown will compete with the likes of Olamide Zaccheus, Dyami Brown, Jamison Crowder, and Luke McCaffrey for targets but he's worthy of a roster spot again based on this landing spot.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Taylor Heinicke Aug 28 9:13pm CT
Taylor Heinicke

Dynasty | The Falcons have traded quarterback Taylor Heinicke to the Los Angeles Chargers. Dynasty Analysis: Heinicke was likely deemed expendable months ago after the Falcons shockingly took Michael Penix Jr early in the NFL Draft. He should have the inside track to back up Justin Herbert and could push Easton Stick either to the QB3 spot or even off the roster. This is a decent landing spot for Heinicke, who has proven to be effective as a spot starter but far from a player to build a team around. He's off the dynasty radar, despite the positive move from Atlanta to LA.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Kene Nwangwu Aug 28 9:10pm CT
Kene Nwangwu

The New Orleans Saints have claimed running back and punt returner Kene Nwangwu off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Nwangwu had been cut loose when the Vikings trimmed their roster down to 53 players on Tuesday. The 26-year-old is primarily a return specialist, having attempted just 14 rushes over the last two seasons. On the other hand, he led the NFL with 35 punt returns in 2022 and tacked on another 15 over nine games last year. He owns an impressive 27.6 yards per return and three return touchdowns over 37 career contests. It's no surprise that Nwangwu was claimed off waivers given his special teams talent, but it's an interesting landing spot given that the Saints already have Rashid Shaheed on their roster. Presumably, Shaheed will handle kick returns and Nwangwu will get the nod for punt returns in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Mitchell Trubisky Aug 28 9:00pm CT
Mitchell Trubisky

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane is "cautiously optimistic" that quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (knee) will avoid being placed on injured reserve, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. However, the team won't rule anything out until Trubisky is able to practice. Nevertheless, Beane's comments are promising. The same is true of the Bills' decision to release quarterback Ben DiNucci, leaving the Bills with only Josh Allen and Trubisky on the 53-man roster. Buffalo wouldn't enter the season with Allen as their only healthy quarterback, so perhaps Trubisky is trending in the right direction. We should know more within the next week.

From RotoBaller

Rashid Shaheed Aug 28 8:50pm CT
Rashid Shaheed

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (foot, toe) was spotted at practice on Wednesday. This was a positive sign for the up-and-coming pass-catcher given that he'd missed time with an assortment of injuries this summer, including foot, toe, and hamstring issues. He has 11 days to get fully healthy before the Saints' season kicks off against the Carolina Panthers. Shaheed projects as the team's No. 2 receiver behind Chris Olave, giving him legitimate appeal as an occasional FLEX option in fantasy football. His speed makes him quite the boom-or-bust weapon.

From RotoBaller

Odell Beckham Jr. Aug 28 8:40pm CT
Odell Beckham Jr.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (undisclosed) had surgery over the offseason, according to David Furones of the Sun Sentinel. Miami reportedly knew about Beckham's injury and procedure before signing him in free agency. Although Beckham wanted to play Week 1, the Dolphins placed him on the PUP list, delaying his debut with the team until Week 5 at the earliest. Furones notes that the team was comfortable with Beckham's injury status and made their decision based on the "long play" essentially banking on the fact that Beckham will get healthy over the next month and make a big impact down the stretch. From a fantasy football perspective, the veteran will operate behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, making it difficult for him to rack up points.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Aug 28 8:30pm CT
Rashee Rice

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is not expected to be suspended by the NFL until after his legal process plays out, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post. Furthermore, the NFL does not intend to place Rice on the commissioner's exempt list. These developments point to Rice being available for most or all of this season. The legal process can take a while, especially if Rice's representation manages to delay parts of the process until next offseason. Fantasy managers should still tread carefully with Rice, but the odds of him suiting up for a full season are a bit higher with today's news. If he does play most or all of the Chiefs' 17 games this season, he'd be Patrick Mahomes' No. 1 wide receiver and would teeter between the WR2 and WR3 tiers on a weekly basis.

From RotoBaller

Taylor Heinicke Aug 28 7:30pm CT
Taylor Heinicke

The Los Angeles Chargers are acquiring quarterback Taylor Heinicke from the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick. Not only is starting quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) recovering from plantar fasciitis in his foot, but backup Easton Stick regressed in training camp and the preseason. The 31-year-old Heinicke will be an upgrade at the QB position behind Herbert entering the regular season next week. In Atlanta, the Falcons were expected all along to try and trade Heinicke after taking rookie Michael Penix Jr. in the first round in April. Heinicke made his NFL debut back in 2017 with the Houston Texans and has appeared in 38 games (29 starts) since then with four different teams. His best year came in 2021 with Washington, when he threw for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 picks on 321 pass attempts over 16 games (15 starts).

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye Aug 28 7:20pm CT
Drake Maye

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo will talk to the players on Thursday and announce the decision on the starting quarterback between rookie first-rounder Drake Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett. A decision has already been made, it just hasn't been announced. Maye, the third overall pick in this year's draft out of North Carolina, has outplayed Brissett the last few weeks, but the new coaching staff remains hesitant to throw the 21-year-old out there right away in Week 1 versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Brissett also suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason finale, although it won't keep him from being ready for the regular-season opener. Brissett could very well start in Week 1, but Maye is the more attractive upside QB3 play in superflex leagues, and it's only a matter of time before he would take over under center in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Aug 28 7:10pm CT
Brandon Aiyuk

Updating a previous report, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (back, neck) was not seen during warmups before the team's practice on Wednesday. The 49ers expected Aiyuk to return to practice on Wednesday. "I know he's been cleared by our doctors. So I hope he's out there practicing today," Shanahan said. It's yet another strange turn in the Aiyuk saga as he continues to hold-in as he seeks a long-term contract extension with just over a week until Week 1 against the New York Jets on Monday night. The 26-year-old has apparently been dealing with a back/neck issue during training camp despite not practicing or playing at all during the preseason. The possibility of the Niners trading the former first-rounder seems remote at this point, but each passing day that Aiyuk isn't on the field should give fantasy managers pause as to whether they should draft him as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2.

From RotoBaller

Keenan Allen Aug 28 6:10pm CT
Keenan Allen

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (foot) missed practice Wednesday. GM Ryan Poles asserts that it was minor discomfort related to a cleat issue and isn't figured to be an issue for Week 1. The injury won't help an aging wide-out in a crowded receiving room. The 32-year-old is part of a hyper-talented WR room that includes DJ Moore and ninth-overall pick Rome Odunze. It's clear Allen won't have the 8.5 or more targets per game he's enjoyed in each of his last seven seasons, but he will be catching passes from rookie No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Fantasy managers will still want to watch to ensure Allen returns to practice in the coming days heading into their drafts.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Aug 28 5:50pm CT
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor admitted he may have been premature in his comments about wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase's status, stating that Chase is now considered day-to-day. Taylor acknowledged he "spoke too quickly" on Tuesday regarding Chase's availability and expressed hope that Chase will return "hopefully at some point soon." Despite Taylor's earlier statement that Chase would practice this week, the star wide receiver did not participate in Wednesday's session as the team prepared for its season opener. Chase has essentially been "holding in" throughout the preseason as he seeks a better contract than the $1.1 million he's set to earn in 2024. However, his salary will increase to over $21 million in 2025 due to the Bengals picking up his fifth-year option in April. Taylor also mentioned he expects Chase to play in Week 1 against the New England Patriots, but the final outcome remains uncertain with the situation evolving rapidly.

From RotoBaller

Noah Brown Aug 28 5:30pm CT
Noah Brown

The Washington Commanders have signed former Houston Texans wide receiver Noah Brown. Brown, who previously worked with Commanders head coach Dan Quinn during their time with the Cowboys, was recently waived by the Texans as part of their roster cuts. At 28 years old, Brown is coming off two consecutive seasons with over 550 receiving yards, having played for the Cowboys in 2022 and the Texans in 2023. With the Commanders having traded Jahan Dotson to the Eagles last week, their current receiver lineup includes Terry McLaurin, Olamide Zaccheaus, Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown, Byron Pringle, and Jamison Crowder. Washington needs reliable contributors to support McLaurin and Zaccheaus, though rookie third-round pick McCaffrey might also see some action. Despite missing part of training camp due to a shoulder injury following offseason labrum surgery, it appears the Commanders expect Brown to be ready for Week 1 against Tampa Bay.

From RotoBaller