March 13, 2024

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The shocking paydays earned during NFL free agency aren’t always what they seem. … Political strife is threatening to disrupt the future of college sports. … Dak Prescott is going to court over an alleged $100 million extortion plot. … The Royals’ $2 billion ballpark plan is irking local businesses. … And the Front Office Sports Today podcast [[link removed]] goes behind the scenes in an exclusive story [[link removed]] of how three reporters uncovered new details in the Vince McMahon lawsuit.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]] and David Rumsey [[link removed]]

NFL Free Agency: $1B+ Plus in Deals, but the Fine Print Shows True Value [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL free agents can’t officially sign with their new teams until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, but already, well north of $1 billion in contracts, and counting, have been agreed to during the league’s two-day negotiating period that began Monday afternoon. However, given it’s the season of misinformation [[link removed]], those payouts likely won’t all end up being as high as what’s been reported.

For example, take the five contracts below, which involve some of the biggest names in the market. Together, the deals represent $627.75 million over 21 years. The catch is that just 55% of that money is fully guaranteed, and opportunities for teams to end deals early could reduce the deals to as little as $394.8 million.

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins The headline: Four years, $180 million The fine print: $100 million is guaranteed, with a potential out after 2026 that would essentially turn the contract into a three-year, $135 million deal. (Nothing is guaranteed in ’27, when Cousins will turn 39 and would be owed $45 million, carrying a cap hit of $57.5 million.) Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield The headline: Three years, $100 million The fine print: $50 million is guaranteed, with a potential out after 2025 that would essentially turn the contract into a two-year, $60 million deal. Packers RB Josh Jacobs The headline: Four years, $48 million The fine print: $12.5 million is guaranteed (just over 25% of the total contract value), with a potential out after 2024 that would essentially make it a one-year, $14.8 million deal. Chiefs DE Chris Jones The headline: Five years, $158.75 million The fine print: $95 million is guaranteed, with a potential out after 2026 that would essentially turn the contract into a three-year, $95 million deal. (Base salaries of $28.25 million in ’27 and $35 million in ’28 are not guaranteed.) Giants DE Brian Burns The headline: Five years, $141 million The fine print: $87.5 million is guaranteed, with a potential out after 2026 that would essentially turn the contract into a three-year, $90 million deal.

For the players’ sakes, hopefully that full $627.75 million amount will be realized. But unfortunately, most NFL fans know that won’t be the case. (contract numbers via Spotrac)

College Football Dominance Could Shift As Anti-DEI Sentiment Grows [[link removed]]

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Is the competitive landscape in college football about to change radically due to a new funding provision in Florida higher education? Perhaps, if the NAACP has its way.

The NAACP is now urging [[link removed]] Black college athletes to reconsider playing at public colleges in the Sunshine State following a newly signed bill, championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, that prohibits the use of state funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Several schools, including the University of Florida, North Florida, and Florida International, have closed DEI programs as a result.

“If any institution is to reap the benefits of Black talent, it is only right that they completely invest in Black futures,” wrote [[link removed]] NAACP leaders Leon Russell and Derrick Johnson in a letter to NCAA president Charlie Baker. “This is not simply about sports; it’s about acknowledging and advocating for the rights and supports of Black students within educational environments.”

If the NAACP call for Black players to play elsewhere is heeded in large-scale fashion, that could create seismic shifts among college football’s top teams, as Florida’s public schools have long been dominant forces in the sport.

Though currently trying to reverse losing seasons the last two years, the Gators have won three national titles and posted 13 10-win seasons in the last three decades. The Seminoles, meanwhile, just posted [[link removed]] an undefeated regular season, and have two national titles and 16 10-win seasons of their own in that same 30-year span. The University of Central Florida left the AAC and upgraded to the Big 12 last year, while the University of South Florida, meanwhile, is building [[link removed]] a new on-campus stadium.

That success was achieved with rosters heavily made up of Black players.

“The value Black, and other college athletes bring to large universities is unmatched,” Johnson said. “If these institutions are unable to completely invest in those athletes, it’s time they take their talents elsewhere.”

The NAACP quickly gained support from notable alumni of those Florida public schools. Among those decrying the closing of the DEI programs include former Gators star and Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith [[link removed]] (above). But the situation might not just be confined to Florida. A similar ban on public funding for DEI programs is developing in Alabama, home to another college football powerhouse with the Crimson Tide, and a bill to do that just passed the Alabama House.

“Although I’m the biggest Bama fan, I have no problem organizing Black parents and athletes to attend other institutions outside the state where diversity and inclusion are prioritized,” said [[link removed]] Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin recently.

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FRONT OFFICE SPORTS TODAY Behind the Break in the Vince McMahon Sex-Trafficking Story

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this week, Front Office Sports’ director of news and features, Tim Marchman, along with journalists John Pollock and Brandon Thurston, revealed the identities [[link removed]] of two unnamed men in a January suit brought against WWE, Vince McMahon, and former talent-relations executive John Laurinaitis. Marchman and Thurston join the show today to tell us how they were able to identify WWE president Nick Khan and COO Brad Blum, and what their reporting says about the state of the company.

🎧 Listen and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Google [[link removed]], and Spotify [[link removed]].

ONE BIG FIG Alleged Extortion Plot?

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

$100 million

Amount of money in a possible extortion plot [[link removed]] that Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is suing an alleged victim and her lawyers over. Prescott, who has not been charged with any crime, filed a defamation lawsuit [[link removed]] Monday in Collin County, Texas, in response to a demand letter sent by attorneys for a woman who says the Dallas star sexually assaulted her in 2017. In exchange for not pressing criminal charges or going public, the letter to Prescott—called “extortionary” by his defense team—requests the woman to be compensated. Prescott, in turn, seeks at least $1 million in damages from the plot and intends to donate anything he might receive to the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization that aids survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault.

LOUD AND CLEAR Battle Royal

Kansas City Royals

“It’s devastating. We survived the pandemic … and to see it turn into a sports district is disappointing.”

—Kayla Albright, owner of Opal & Orchid Hair Studio in Kansas City’s Crossroads District, said [[link removed]] about a new $2 billion ballpark for the Royals and mixed-use development project that would push out several businesses. The MLB club selected [[link removed]] a 4.7-acre site near downtown Kansas City, situated next to the T-Mobile Center and the former Kansas City Star printing press pavilion. Initially not considered for the Royals’ project, the team began seriously considering the location in November.

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What’s Next for College Athletics

The business of college sports [[link removed]] is reaching new heights.

Historic media rights deals have networks and streaming paying billions for the privilege of broadcasting college football. NIL came along, let players get paid, and changed the entire culture on campus overnight. Women’s college sports are setting attendance and viewership records in rapid succession, not to mention the transfer portal and conference realignment.

Join us [[link removed]] today at 1 p.m. ET for the Future of Sports: College Athletics virtual summit, presented by Magnifi. This eye-opening conversation includes four panels designed to dive into the billion-dollar spectacle that encompasses everything from March Madness to the College Football Playoff and everything in between.

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Conversation Starters Georgia Tech’s 3,700-seat ballpark, nestled within the Atlanta skyline, boasts a brand-new, multimillion-dollar clubhouse offering stunning views of the city. Take a look [[link removed]]. Logan Paul and KSI’s Prime has been named [[link removed]] the official sports drink of the Lakers. Last year, Colorado’s spring game was the sole college football matchup broadcast on ESPN. This season, it’s Alabama’s turn [[link removed]], with the remainder of spring games scheduled for ESPN+ or conference networks. Editors’ Picks Company Behind Stories Populating ‘Zombie Deadspin’ Frustrated by Inability to Reach Owners of Zombie Deadspin [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]Who exactly bought the sports website remains a mystery. Former Jaguars Employee Sentenced to Prison for Theft of $22 Million [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]Amit Patel stole millions from the Jaguars over three-plus years. Congress Is Finally Talking About College Athlete Employment Status [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]Federal lawmakers are focusing on the biggest question—and it's not NIL. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Sports Careers [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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