It is Friday, July 15, 2022, and the Cleveland Browns are just one week away from rookies reporting to training camp.
All of the offseason drama will need to be put aside to focus on preparation for the 2022 NFL season.
While fans continue to await the decision on Deshaun Watson‘s punishment, here is the Friday edition of Browns Nation news and notes.
1. NFL Sunday Ticket Set To Change Providers In 2023
Directv subscribers who are only using the satellite television service to have access to the NFL’s Sunday Ticket package which allows access to all Sunday afternoon games (unless otherwise blacked out) will soon have a decision to make.
The 2022 season is the last one with Directv holding those exclusive rights.
The NFL’s relationship with Directv has spanned 25 years.
After more than 25 years on DirecTV, NFL Sunday Ticket appears to be heading to a streaming service.
Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed Friday he aims to have a deal done by the fall.@Justin_A_Byers has more ⤵️
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 8, 2022
Indications are that the NFL will award the rights to a streaming partner in 2023; Apple TV is the one most frequently mentioned though Disney and Amazon are still in the race.
Apple is the "most-likely" winner of NFL Sunday Ticket rights, per @DylanByers, with the potential price as high as $3 billion per year.
Other finalists include Disney and Amazon. pic.twitter.com/513MYLZ0XG
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 14, 2022
The NFL moving Sunday Ticket to Apple will save me $1200 per year in satellite TV service….finally the day has come! No longer can they hold us out of state #Browns fans hostage!
— ApexDawg (@ApexDawgNC) July 15, 2022
This is a huge departure from the NFL’s business model of the past fifty years of allowing American fans to watch arguably the most beloved sport on Sunday afternoons on network television.
It is an interesting follow-on to Amazon winning the rights to Thursday Night Football in 2023, but the NFL opted to move TNF off of NFL Network one year early.
With a proposed price tag of between $2 and $3 billion which is significantly higher than what Directv is paying, some fans are concerned.
Buffering, lag, and cost are the biggest concerns.
2. Flashback Friday
In his 27 years as a head coach, Bill Belichick has amassed many head coaching successes, and it all began in Cleveland.
https://twitter.com/VintageBrowns/status/1547908254709059584
His career win and loss record stands at 290-143.
In 5 years at Cleveland, he was below .500 at 36-44.
Clearly, Cleveland gave Belichick his start as a head coach, and he learned a lot that he took with him to New England.
Though not widely considered a player’s coach, at the time of his firing and the team’s subsequent move to Baltimore, his players spoke up for him.
In February 1996, Keenan McCardell told The Baltimore Sun.
“Bill was stuck in a really tough situation. We had started losing already, but it was a media circus in Cleveland when everyone found out we were moving. Bill tried to keep us away from all the distractions, but it was tough.”
“Losing your job in the NFL is part of the business. However, getting another job relatively quick is also part of the business. Bill is an extremely hard-working and intelligent person. I wish him well wherever he goes.”
Happy Friday Browns fans!
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