August 23, 2024

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As the NFL season kicks off in under two weeks, the Chiefs are making headlines with another record-breaking contract. We dive into what’s driving their high-stakes moves.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]], Amanda Christovich [[link removed]], and Colin Salao [[link removed]]

The Chiefs Keep Breaking the Bank for a Chance at Making NFL History [[link removed]]

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The cost of success keeps going up for the Chiefs.

The two-time defending Super Bowl champions are nearing a four-year, $72 million contract extension with center Creed Humphrey (above), according to multiple reports. The deal includes $50 million in guaranteed money and will make Humphrey the highest-paid center in NFL history, in both overall and annual value.

The pact arrives less than three weeks after Kansas City made similar history in a four-year, $25.6 million extension with kicker Harrison Butker that makes him the highest-paid player ever at that position.

Since winning Super Bowl LVIII in February, the Chiefs’ active dealmaking also includes a five-year, $100 million deal for head coach Andy Reid [[link removed]] that makes him the highest-paid coach in all of U.S. sports, contract extensions for general manager Brett Veach and president Mark Donovan, and smaller agreements with several other key roster pieces.

And they’re still not done. Veach is well aware that several other Chiefs stars, including guard Trey Smith and linebacker Nick Bolton, likely will seek to reset the market in a manner not unlike Humphrey and Butker. That’s particularly so after a historic run for Kansas City that has included three titles, four trips to the Super Bowl, and six AFC championship game appearances in the last six seasons.

“They all want close to or top-of-market deals,” Veach told The Kansas City Star [[link removed]]. “They all deserve it. You have to systematically work through it.”

Of course, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes still has a $503 million pact [[link removed]] with the Chiefs that is No. 2 in U.S. team sports in overall value behind Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani [[link removed]]. Mahomes restructured his contract this past spring to help facilitate the Chiefs’ other roster moves, and the pact has been recently topped on an annual basis [[link removed]] by several other NFL quarterbacks.

Chasing History

The Chiefs are aiming to become the first team in the NFL’s Super Bowl era to win three straight titles. In the eight prior instances of back-to-back titles, none of those teams even reached a third consecutive Super Bowl, with a heightened strength of schedule, injuries, contract issues, and other factors all helping to derail the chance at that third championship in a row.

But Kansas City will seek to push through all that in pursuit of unprecedented success, in part through this aggressive spending, and the team still has salary cap space [[link removed]] as the 2024 regular season approaches.

Florida State’s Fight With the ACC Likely to Last All Season [[link removed]]

Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports

Florida State’s football team flew to Ireland on Wednesday night in preparation for Saturday’s season opener against Georgia Tech in Dublin. But the school’s legal representatives spent time this week meeting with officials from the ACC for a court-mandated mediation surrounding FSU’s efforts to leave the conference [[link removed]].

There was no immediate resolution to their litigation. Representatives for the ACC and FSU did not immediately respond to a request for comment about this week’s mediation.

FSU isn’t the only school embroiled in litigation with the ACC, though. Clemson is also using lawsuits to determine whether it can explore leaving the conference. Their sticky situations are making for an awkward start to the conference’s first year expanded to 17 members. And it may not end anytime soon.

Just Getting Started

FSU, Clemson, and the ACC will likely be duking it out in court for the entire football season, if not longer. After all, the schools’ demands seem hard to compromise on: FSU wants to be able to leave the conference without paying more than $100 million in exit fees—and Clemson, at the very least, wants the opportunity to do so. The ACC wants them to either stay or cough up the cash.

Neither FSU nor Clemson informed the ACC of their intention to leave in 2025 by an Aug. 15 deadline imposed by the conference.

In the past, schools and conferences have been able to privately renegotiate exit fees and end their relationships relatively amicably. These situations, however, are different. If FSU or Clemson prevail, it could put the league’s entire future at risk by deeming the contracts binding it together invalid. The ACC, therefore, appears to have no real motivation to settle.

Don’t Look Away

FSU enters the season ranked 10th in the AP Top 25 poll, and Clemson is 14th, with a high-profile matchup against No. 1 Georgia to kick off its season next weekend in Atlanta. Both football programs have a chance to be in the running for a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, which should keep their legal fights with the ACC in the limelight throughout the fall.

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LOUD AND CLEAR Keeping It Real

Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

“No … we’ve passed halfway, for sure.”

—Max Verstappen (above), who will take part in his 200th race when Formula One returns from its summer break [[link removed]] Sunday, on whether he’s striving to hit 400 races. While no driver has started 400 races, Fernando Alonso, 43, has started 391 and should hit the milestone this season, barring any injuries. Lewis Hamilton, 39, is third all-time with 346 starts.

Because the F1 calendar is up to a record 24 races in 2024, the 26-year-old Verstappen, who joined the grid when he was 17 as the youngest driver to start a Grand Prix, is on pace to hit 400 starts by his mid-30s. The three-time world champion has won 61 races, and he could conceivably vault past the record held by Hamilton, who has 105 race wins and counting.

STATUS REPORT Two Up, Two Down, One Push

Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Crimson Tide ⬇ Chuck Martin, football coach for Miami (Ohio), had choice words for Alabama regarding former placekicker Graham Nicholson (above, left). “Alabama stole our kicker. They illegally recruited our kicker and stole him for us,” Martin said in a preseason interview posted by the RedHawks [[link removed]]. Nicholson won the Lou Groza Award last year after converting 27 of 28 field goals.

Cardinals ⬇ The MLB franchise, traditionally one of the league’s top performers on and off the field, posted an attendance of 28,630 on Thursday—the smallest crowd at the 18-year-old Busch Stadium that wasn’t impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. One game under .500 and facing the possibility of a second straight season out of the playoffs, the Cardinals have recorded non-pandemic lows in attendance at the ballpark each of the last three days.

Commanders ⬆⬇ The franchise is paying consulting firm SMG Holdings more than $500,000 to create a plan to build a new venue at the RFK Stadium site, according to Axios [[link removed]]. However, the Commanders need to clear several hurdles to get a new stadium, including the passing of the RFK Stadium bill in Congress, which is threatened by Montana Sen. Steve Daines, who wants Washington to revert to its old logo [[link removed]].

Oklahoma City ⬆ Court Jeske, president of Echo Soccer, which manages the city’s pro soccer club Energy FC, told News 9 they hope to build a billion-dollar stadium [[link removed]] for the team and also bring in a women’s soccer team. Energy FC is part of the USL Championship, but it has not competed since the 2021 season. “It’s time to bring professional soccer back to Oklahoma City,” Jeske said.

Diamond Sports Group ⬆ The embattled Bally Sports parent company has completed expected rights deals with the NHL and NBA [[link removed]]. The regional sports network operator filed a petition with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to have full details of the pacts submitted under seal and a status conference on the matter held on Sept. 3. NHL teams remaining with DSG include the Blue Jackets, Ducks, Hurricanes, Lightning, Predators, Red Wings, and Wild. NBA teams staying include the Bucks, Cavaliers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Pistons, Spurs, Thunder, and Timberwolves.

WEEKEND PRIZE POOL Another Major for Nelly Korda?

Oisin Keniry/R&A

Front Office Sports tees up every weekend sporting slate with a ledger of the purses and prize pools at stake. Here’s what’s up for grabs this weekend:

PGA Tour: BMW Championship, Castle Rock, Colo.

When: Thursday to Sunday Purse: $20 million First place: $3.6 million (individual)

LPGA: AIG Women’s Open, the Old Course in St Andrews

When: Thursday to Sunday Purse: $9.5 million First place: $1.43 million (individual)

NASCAR Cup Series: Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona

When: Sunday Purse: $9.2 million First place: Individual payouts are no longer disclosed

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS AWARDS

Now’s Your Chance—Deadline Extended

The deadline has been extended to recognize the Best College Athletic Departments [[link removed]].

College athletic departments support athletes across a multitude of sports and through a variety of verticals. From education services to training facilities, athletic departments uniquely impact college athletes.

Powered by Sports Innovation Lab, the Best College Athletic Departments Award uses data-driven methodology to identify which programs are leading in the space.

Don’t miss your opportunity to recognize your school. Nominate your athletic department [[link removed]] by Sept. 4 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Conversation Starters Nike put up Kobe Bryant billboards in Los Angeles to honor the late basketball legend ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics. Check it out [[link removed]]. The sixth stage of the Vuelta a España, one of the three Grand Tours of cycling, started inside a Carrefour, a supermarket chain, as part of a sponsorship deal. Take a look [[link removed]]. The NWSL Players Association announced a new collective bargaining agreement that includes sweeping changes, including the abolishment of the college draft. Learn more [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Peloton Has Surprise Revenue Bump After Years-Long Slump [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]The fitness equipment company has struggled to adjust post-pandemic. Judge Says Deceptive Advertising Suit Against DraftKings Can Go Forward [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]Betting $276 daily for three months isn’t a free promotion, users say. The House v. NCAA Settlement Looks Like a CBA. But It Isn’t [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]Several industry stakeholders tell FOS athletes aren’t adequately represented in the settlement. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Sports Careers [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]], Amanda Christovich [[link removed]], Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Or Moyal [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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