NFC WEST

SAN FRANCISCO

Matt Barrows and David Lombardi of The Athletic discuss the appropriate workload for RB CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY in his age season.

No NFL running back played a higher percentage of his team’s offensive snaps in 2023 than Christian McCaffrey, a fact that wasn’t lost on fans who spent the fourth quarter of games pleading for the San Francisco 49ers to bring the star tailback safely to the sideline.

The 49ers were reluctant to do that for two reasons.

For one, their top backup, Elijah Mitchell, had another injury-marred season and missed six games. And, most significantly, McCaffrey, 28, was too good to take off the field.

He led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards — 292 more than the next best runner, Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans. His 21 touchdowns tied for the league lead and he had 564 receiving yards, which ranked fourth on the 49ers. His 339 total touches were the second most of his career behind his 2019 season with the Carolina Panthers in which he topped 1,000 yards as both a rusher and receiver.

As a result, McCaffrey was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year and was recently rewarded with a two-year contract extension that further cements him as the highest-paid runner in the league.

His combination of rushing and receiving talents also meant he rarely came off the field. He played 100 percent of the team’s offensive snaps in three games and played all but 11 possible snaps in the 49ers’ three playoff games.

McCaffrey did have one blemish.

Heading into the season, he’d lost only two fumbles since entering the NFL in 2017. He lost three during the 2023 campaign, two on promising opening drives. One of those occurred in a five-point loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7, the other during an overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. — Barrows

By the numbers

McCaffrey’s massive workload simplified the statistical summary of the rushing attack this season.

2023 49ers’ rushing efficiency

                                                 ATT           YDS/C              YAC

Christian McCaffrey                 272                5.4                3.35

Elijah Mitchell                             75               3.7                2.9

Jordan Mason                           40                5.2                3.1

Brock Purdy                              39                3.7                2.53

Deebo Samuel                          37                6.1               3.21

The 49ers featured a group of efficient runners,. McCaffrey’s share of carries, though, dwarfed the rest of the field.

In addition to his excellent clip above, McCaffrey averaged 1.32 rushing yards over expectation (RYOE) per carry, behind only the Miami Dolphins’ De’Von Achane. That’s compiled by NFL Next Gen Stats, which uses tracking data to estimate how many yards the average running back would gain on a given carry and compares that with a play’s actual yardage. McCaffrey’s 349 RYOE led the league by a wide margin. Achane, who had fewer carries, finished No. 2 at 279 total RYOE.

Though the 49ers enjoyed efficient running from the rest of their options, there’s a reason McCaffrey saw so many more opportunities than his teammates: He was, by far, the most explosive and reliable option at running back in the passing game. That’s a huge deal in an offense predicated on balance and pre-snap optionality between run and pass.

Fullback Kyle Juszczyk was also a multifaceted threat, although he didn’t get nearly as much action with the ball among the 49ers’ crowded room of targets. Still, it’s worth noting how the 49ers used Juszczyk. His average depth of target, 4.3 yards, led all the league’s players coming out of the backfield. He made big catches in the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl. The 49ers are thankful Juszczyk accepted an offseason pay cut that preemptively streamlined their salary-cap situation. He’s a blocking lynchpin who’ll likely again see chances to contribute as a receiver in critical moments.

The strong lean to the left side of the field is notable. This is to be expected in the run game because that’s All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams’ side of the field. But to keep defenses off balance, perhaps the 49ers will look to establish McCaffrey more prominently on the right side of the field as a receiver in 2024. — Lombardi

Offseason plan

The 49ers would love a repeat performance from McCaffrey — with perhaps a little less wear and tear.

A healthy Mitchell would help that cause. He’s the only other tailback on the roster who’s started an NFL game and the 49ers love his combination of power and speed. He took the bulk of the first-team carries in the spring and looked sharp.

But he’s missed six or more games in each of his three NFL seasons with an array of injuries. Given that history, and the fact Mitchell is slated for free agency in March, the 49ers would like to see another runner step up.

Jordan Mason has been a reliably hard runner when given opportunities, though the 49ers have seemed reluctant to lean on him too heavily. The team also brought in three newcomers this season: free agent Patrick Taylor Jr., who had only scant carries in three seasons for the Green Bay Packers, and rookies Isaac Guerendo and Cody Schrader.

Guerendo has the type of speed the 49ers haven’t seen since Raheem Mostert was on their roster and he could have an early role as a kick returner. Schrader, meanwhile, seems like a newer version of Jeff Wilson Jr. There’s nothing flashy about him, but he runs hard and coaches like him. That Schrader ran in a similar system at Missouri also gives him an advantage. — Barrows

2024 outlook

Earning playing time under running backs coach Bobby Turner in Kyle Shanahan’s system is a function of trust. If those two coaches can count on a back to consistently deliver in all facets of the game, he should see at least some time on the field, especially given Shanahan’s recent statement about potentially reducing McCaffrey’s workload.

“We have guys that can run the ball,” Shanahan said earlier this month. “We have to protect Christian from himself. He doesn’t like to ever come out no matter what the situation is and I do think that’s something we could protect him with more. When you are such a threat in the pass game, it’s a little bit different. … But if he’s just taking the wear and tear with 20 carries and stuff every game — and he’s definitely good enough to do that and he has proved he can stay healthy — but you’d like to take some of that off of him and give it to other guys also.”

Before McCaffrey’s arrival via a 2022 trade, the 49ers ranked No. 24 DVOA in run offense. They surged to No. 3 over the rest of that season and finished No. 2 behind only the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. They have the personnel to continue excelling in 2024, especially because quarterback Brock Purdy has secured such a stable passing counter-threat.

Of course, health remains a key variable. The 49ers have generally enjoyed good fortune in this department, at least at the top of the running back room, over the past two seasons. In 2021, when the team was exceptionally bruised at the position, receiver Deebo Samuel had to make a full-time move there to keep the offense afloat. That experience illustrated the importance of a premium rushing threat in Shanahan’s system and has helped shape the 49ers’ outlook.

There are no exceptions. The 49ers need premium talent and capable depth at running back. They have both on the roster, and that’s a promising starting point for 2024. — Lombardi

AFC WEST

KANSAS CITY

In the 1850s, there was a small war between Missouri and Kansas, known as The Border War.

In the late 2020s, the two states are preparing for battle again.

Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Chiefs failed in their effort to get voters to support taxpayer financing of Arrowhead Stadium renovations, but competition between Missouri and Kansas may help the team get the money it wants.

After the governor of Kansas signed legislation that would finance most of the costs for stadiums for both the Chiefs and Royals to move out of Missouri and into Kansas, Missouri Governor Mike Parson said today that his state is committed to keeping the teams.

“We’re going to make sure that we put the best business deal we can on the line,” Parson said, via the Associated Press. “Look, I can’t blame Kansas for trying. You know, if I was probably sitting there, I’d be doing the same thing. But at the end of the day, we’re going to be competitive.”

Voters have been largely unpersuaded by teams’ efforts to get tax money for stadiums, but Parson said, “the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals are big business,” and that public aid to keep them could be beneficial. He also said a stadium deal “has to work out on paper, where it’s going to be beneficial to the taxpayers of Missouri.”

AFC SOUTH

JACKSONVILLE

Charles McDonald of YahooSports.com on the tough spot the Jaguars find themselves in – paying money for a great QB to a guy who has only been good so far.

Big money comes with big expectations. That’s the world that Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence finds himself in after becoming the highest-paid player in franchise history and one of the highest-paid players in the NFL today.

Jacksonville has a ton of expectations for its franchise quarterback, and rightfully so. Lawrence has all the talent in the world to take the next step toward the elite tier of quarterbacks, and he’s already provided the Jaguars with a level of sustainability they’ve rarely seen in their brief history. He’s capable of achieving great heights in the league, but it is fair to wonder after a shaky offseason if the Jaguars have set him (and themselves) up for success for the upcoming season.

By now, the story has been told ad nauseam. The Jaguars dragged their feet on the Josh Allen extension, forcing them to use the franchise tag on Allen while star wide receiver Calvin Ridley signed a deal with the division rival Titans. That set off a chain reaction where the Jaguars wound up selecting LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round to join the newly signed Gabe Davis and an entrenched starter in Christian Kirk. That is not the most exciting group of wide receivers to throw to, unless Thomas takes off and goes nuclear for his rookie campaign. This group will need some time to mesh together considering there’s a rookie and another newcomer, but the Jaguars might not have the time to use 2024 as a test run.

Jacksonville has talent on the offensive line, but they’ll need the interior to play better than it did last season to win what has suddenly become an incredibly tough AFC South division. If the wide receiver room is going to be shaky, they’ll at least need a strong performance from the offensive line, which has a new center in Mitch Morse who came over from Buffalo.

At some point, general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson need to get some results that solidify the Jaguars as a yearly playoff team. They were certainly on track last season before going on a historic slide in 2023 that saw them miss the playoffs. The Jaguars were 8-3 coming into the final stretch of the season before finishing 9-8. It’s hard to see Baalke and Pederson surviving another disaster like that, barring major injury to Lawrence or core pieces on defense. They’ve already shown they can win a playoff game from behind with their rally over the Chargers a couple seasons ago. They’ve shown they can compete for a top seed for the majority of a season. It’s time to get across the finish line and have something they can really be proud of.

The Jaguars have been wading around in the waters of expectations after a brutal stretch prior to drafting Lawrence in 2021. At some point, this regime needs to build a team that appears capable of sustained success, but as training camp starts and another season arrives, the Jaguars are one of the biggest question marks in the NFL.

AFC EAST

NEW YORK JETS

Now it can be revealed.  Who had Egypt as the mysterious destination of QB AARON RODGERS?  Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post:

Aaron Rodgers is officially back on U.S. soil.

Rodgers, the 40-year-old quarterback of the Jets, missed the team’s mandatory minicamp earlier this month with what head coach Robert Saleh deemed an “unexcused absence,” and rumors were that the quarterback was overseas somewhere.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who was Rodgers’ former teammate on the Packers, joined “The Herd” on FS1 on Thursday and told host Jason McIntyre that he was working out with the quarterback in the Los Angeles area on Wednesday.

“Me and Aaron have been great friends since I had been in Green Bay. I hit him up, told him I was coming out to LA, and said, ‘Let’s run some routes,’” Valdes-Scantling said.

“So we got it in. Went out to some high school and ran some routes together. We’re good. It was good.”

McIntyre, a longtime Jets fan, responded, “All the New York media can stand down. Aaron Rodgers is back from Egypt! It’s not a secret anymore!”

Valdes-Scantling played with the Packers from 2018-21, then spent two years on the Chiefs, winning Super Bowl championships with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Andy Reid both seasons.

This offseason, Valdes-Scantling signed a one-year deal with the Bills worth up to $4.5 million.

If he’s won a “golf tournament” and we’re not sure he has, Rodgers put forth a bucket list a few years ago, and Egypt would seem to be the finale:

Aaron Rodgers crossed one item off his bucket list Tuesday after winning “Celebrity Jeopardy!” but there are still several things he would like to accomplish in his lifetime.

Rodgers provided ESPN Wisconsin with five more items from his bucket list, all of which seem doable for the Green Bay Packers quarterback.

1. Host “Saturday Night Live”

Rodgers has been very open about his desire to host “SNL”. He regrets not using “Turd Ferguson” as his answer during Final Jeopardy (a nod to Norm McDonald’s Burt Reynolds character) when he failed to recognize Harley-Davidson.

2. Play in London

Rodgers could get his chance to play at Wembley Stadium in 2016, as the Packers are scheduled to play the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have agreed to make another trip across the pond.

3. Win a golf tournament

Rodgers is an avid golfer who has competed in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am and the American Century Celebrity Classic. He may have to wait until after his NFL career is over to devote the amount of time needed to win a pro-am, though.

4. Travel to Egypt

5. Play golf in Scotland and Ireland

More golf! These last two items also require international travel, which Rodgers hasn’t had a whole lot of time for over the past 10 years.

– – –

WR RANDALL COBB and his family are safe after a Tesla charger caught fire.  Amos Morale III in The Athletic:

Wide Receiver Randall Cobb and his wife Aiyda said on social media late Wednesday night that they and their three sons are “safe and healthy” after escaping a fire in their Nashville home.

“We are lucky to be alive,” Aiyda said in an Instagram story.

Aiyda said a Tesla charger caught fire and spread through their home. Cobb said he was able to go back into the house and rescue the family’s dog, Louie.

In a separate post, the couple shared videos of the damage and said they were grateful for the efforts of the Nashville Fire Department.

“I can’t get the image of the brave firefighter getting into position out of my head; he didn’t even have water to shoot yet,” they said. “I truly thought the cars were going to explode and that we would lose him to this tragedy. He is a true hero.”

They called the incident a “reminder that nothing is more important than the health of our family,” and said they are unsure if any of their affected belongings will be “salvageable.”

Cobb, 33, spent last season with the New York Jets where he appeared in 11 games and caught five passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

He spent most of his career with the Green Bay Packers, playing the first eight seasons of his career at Lambeau Field before playing stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans, respectively, before joining the Packers for two more years in 2021.

Throughout his career, Cobb caught 630 passes for 7,624 yards and 54 touchdowns.

THIS AND THAT

HALL OF FAMERS?

We love a good discussion of whether someone is Hall of Fame worthy (although remember, a Hall of Famer is someone who a panel thinks is one of the five best candidates in any particular year).  Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com (we’ll throw in the DB’s two cents along the way):

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the two main pillars of the Kansas City Chiefs’ current dynasty, will undoubtedly be immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when their careers are over. Several other current NFL players are shoo-ins, too, but what about the dozen or so current players whose future Hall of Fame candidacy isn’t as certain?

To find that answer, my CBS Sports NFL colleagues Tyler Sullivan, Jared Dubin, Garrett Podell, Jeff Kerr, Cody Benjamin, Jordan Dajani, Shanna McCarriston, and Kyle Stackpole helped me make the call on 12 current players who have compelling cases but aren’t currently considered Hall of Fame locks. In order to be considered, a player has to currently be on a roster and have played at least eight seasons.

With all of the votes tallied, here’s a look at each player and whether or not we feel their career is currently good enough for induction in Canton, Ohio. I’ve included how many votes each player received, out of a possible nine. A player needed to get a majority of the votes (five being the minimum) in order to get the nod as a future Hall of Famer.

Davante Adams

Hall of Fame? Yes (DB – probably not, maybe after a long wait)

Votes: 6

Adams’ six Pro Bowls and three All-Pros give him a good chance at future induction. Leading the NFL in touchdown grabs multiple times also helps.

Adams’ career numbers, while extremely good, might not be enough just yet, though. He’s currently 29th all time in receptions (872) and 44th in receiving yards (10,781). He is, however, 12th all time in career touchdown receptions and is five touchdown catches away from the 100 mark.

Adams’ career numbers may be somewhat lacking, but he nonetheless received more than enough votes to be considered a future Hall of Fame player.

Keenan Allen

Hall of Fame? No

Votes: 1 (DB – needs to compile for many more years, probably not)

Allen has put together an impressive career that includes six Pro Bowl nods since 2017. But zero All-Pro nods and good but not great career marks (he’s 26th all time in career receptions, 47th in receiving yards and 99th in touchdown catches) would probably result in Allen being left out of Canton if his career ended today.

What Allen does in Chicago will likely determine his future Hall of Fame fate.

Mike Evans

Hall of Fame? Yes

Votes: 7 (DB – not at first, but he will have compiled huge numbers, probably in time)

Like Allen, Evans’ career does not include an All-Pro nod. Evans, though, has the distinction of being the first player in NFL history to start his career with 10 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, an accomplishment that should significantly help his future Hall of Fame case.

Evans is also one of just four players in NFL history to have at least 750 catches, 10,000 receiving yards and 90 touchdown catches in his first 10 seasons (Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison and Randy Moss are the other three) also has a Super Bowl ring to boot.

Derrick Henry

Hall of Fame? Yes

Votes: 7 (DB – if he’s about done, not sure he makes i, not at first)

King Henry’s career stats leave something to be desired (he enters the 2024 season less than 500 rushing yards from 10,000 for his career), but some of his single-season marks probably make up for that and then some.

Henry is a two-time rushing champion who has also led the NFL in touchdown runs on multiple occasions. He is also just one of eight players in league history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season. In 2018, Henry tied Tony Dorsett’s long-standing record for the longest run in NFL history, a 99-yard jaunt against the Jaguars on prime time that in hindsight appeared to jump-start his career.

Cameron Heyward

Hall of Fame? No

Votes: 4 (DB – eventually, probably)

It’s a shame that the league didn’t recognize Heyward as a defensive tackle earlier in his career. Listed as a defensive end during his first seven seasons, Heyward didn’t receive his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl nod until 2017, a year before he was officially labeled as a defensive tackle.

Since then, Heyward has added five more Pro Bowl and two more All-Pro selections to his accolades. He has been named an All-Pro at both DE and DT, a fact that should help his future HOF case.

Tyreek Hill

Hall of Fame? Yes

Votes: 7 (DB – yes with a few more big years, probably in first couple years of eligiblity)

At this point, Hill has done everything he can do to warrant a future spot in Canton. He was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons (he was an All-Pro returner as a rookie), has five All-Pro nods to his credit and has also led the NFL in touchdown receptions and touchdown catches (both occurred in 2023).

Hill was also on the receiving end of the momentum-changing play in Super Bowl LIV that paved away for the Chiefs’ first Super Bowl win in 50 years. It was part of a nine-catch, 105-yard performance on pro football’s biggest stage.

DeAndre Hopkins

Hall of Fame? No

Votes: 4  (DB – think he gets there eventually if he can put together a few more good years)

Hopkins would likely be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame if not for injuries and a suspension during the 2021 and ’22 seasons. At this point, Hopkins’ career stats are very similar to the ones compiled by former Steelers great Hines Ward, who is still waiting for his call to Canton.

Cameron Jordan

Hall of Fame? Yes

Votes: 7 (DB – yes, his longevity with one team will help)

Compelling is the best word to describe Jordan’s Hall of Fame case. He’s an eight-time Pro Bowler who has amassed an impressive 117.5 career sacks. Jordan is also a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team, a distinction that should further help his case.

Based on our voting result, it doesn’t appear that Jordan’s single All-Pro selection will hurt his future Hall of Fame chances.

Kyle Juszczyk

Hall of Fame? No

Votes: 2 (DB – no)

Juszczyk has the bona fides as an eight-time Pro Bowler and earned his first All-Pro in 2023. But no fullback has ever made the Hall of Fame without putting up some numbers, which is something Juszczyk doesn’t have.

Juszczyk’s career is similar to Matthew Slater, a recently retired, 10-time Pro Bowl special teams standout. While both players have been recognized as being arguably the best at their position, neither one will likely sniff Canton unless the Hall’s voters change their thinking.

Jalen Ramsey

Hall of Fame? No

Votes: 3 (DB – like Darrelle Revis, he’s famous, we say yes, again with some added productivity)

Ramsey has a lot going for him as a seven-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion. But 22 career picks would significantly hurt his case if his career ended today.

The only cornerback who is currently in the Hall of Fame who does not have 30 career interceptions is Darrelle Revis, who was inducted in his first year of eligibility. But Revis’ career included a Defensive Player of the Year award, which is something Ramsey does not currently have.

Matthew Stafford

Hall of Fame? No

Votes: 3 (DB – yes, won’t wait long, a QB who endured, compiled and has enough wins)

Stafford’s two Pro Bowl and zero All-Pro nods prevents him from being a future Hall of Fame lock. His Super Bowl win and his place in several career statistical standings, however, give him a compelling argument. He’s currently 11th all time in both career passing yards (56,047) and touchdown passes (357).

Russell Wilson

Hall of Fame? No

Votes: 2 (DB – yes, but with reservations and he may wait, 2024 is important to candidacy)

An unsuccessful two-year stint with the Broncos has put Wilson’s Hall of Fame future into question. But unlike Stafford, Wilson has a slew of Pro Bowl nods (nine) to his credit in addition to one Super Bowl win and two trips to the big game.

Wilson can make himself a future Hall of Fame lock if he is able to have success in Pittsburgh.

THE NEW KICKOFF RULE

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com thinks that for all the discussion of the new kickoff rule, teams will trade five yards versus defending the new returns with 10 tacklers and a kicker.

We’ve been kicking around the possibility that the revolutionary new kickoff formation will result in plenty of teams banging the ball out of the end zone and giving up the 30-yard line for the start of a drive. As the start of the season creeps closer and closer, it’s becoming more and more clear that teams will be seriously thinking about doing it — perhaps sooner than later.

I’ve previously predicted that, by the trade deadline on the Tuesday after Week 9, half of the league will be kicking the ball out of the end zone. That might be low, and it might be late.

Consider this. Earlier this year, Cowboys special-teams coordinator John Fassel said that the projected starting field position with the new XFL-style kickoff formation will be the 28 or 29 yard line. So why not just give up the extra yard or two and avoid the possibility of a long return or a touchdown?

Then there’s the possibility, as one smart coach explained it recently, that some teams will choose to kick out of the end zone at the outset of the season, so that the play can be studied based on the teams that choose to be the guinea pigs for it. And that makes a lot of sense. One long return in Week 1 could be the difference between a win and a loss. When Week 18 rolls around, that loss that could have been a win could be the thing that causes the team to miss the playoffs. Which could get the coach fired.

Coaches want to control what they can control. They can better control the performance of the defense than the roll of the dice associated with putting the ball in play under the new electric football-style approach, which freezes 19 players in place until the kick is caught or strikes the playing field in the landing zone.

As originally developed, the starting point for kickoffs out of the end zone under the new formation would have been the 35. The proposal was revised on the weekend before owners discussed and voted on the new kickoff formation.

The easy fix would be to move it back to the 35. Several weeks ago, a source with knowledge of the dynamics said it’s too late for that.

So it’s the 30 — barring something that would be unrealistic, unexpected, and unconventional. And if it’s the 30, the dead play might slide back to life support. It will be far from resurrected.

SUNDAY TICKET

The NFL’s legal team failed miserably before a California jury that didn’t want to pay more for football.  Perhaps they will do better on appeal.  ESPN.com”

A jury in U.S. District Court ordered the NFL to pay more than $4.7 billion in damages Thursday after ruling that the league violated antitrust laws in distributing out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on a premium subscription service.

The jury awarded $4.7 billion in damages to the residential class and $96 million in damages to the commercial class. Since damages can be tripled under federal antitrust laws, the NFL could end up being liable for $14.39 billion.

The lawsuit covered 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses in the United States who paid for the package of out-of-market games from the 2011 through 2022 seasons on DirecTV. The lawsuit claimed the league broke antitrust laws by selling its package of Sunday games at an inflated price. The subscribers also say the league restricted competition by offering “Sunday Ticket” only on a satellite provider.

The NFL said in a statement that it will appeal the verdict.

“We are disappointed with the jury’s verdict today in the NFL Sunday Ticket class action lawsuit. We continue to believe that our media distribution strategy, which features all NFL games broadcast on free over-the-air television in the markets of the participating teams and national distribution of our most popular games, supplemented by many additional choices including RedZone, Sunday Ticket and NFL+, is by far the most fan friendly distribution model in all of sports and entertainment,” the league said.

“We will certainly contest this decision as we believe that the class action claims in this case are baseless and without merit. We thank the jury for their time and service and for the guidance and oversight from Judge [Philip] Gutierrez throughout the trial.”

Post-trial motions will be heard July 31, including one to set aside the verdict. If the verdict isn’t set aside, the NFL will appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court.

Should the NFL end up paying damages, it could cost each of the 32 teams approximately $449.6 million.

The trial lasted three weeks and featured testimony from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

“Justice was done. The verdict upholds protection for the consumers in our class. It was a great day for consumers,” plaintiffs attorney Bill Carmody said.

During his closing remarks, Carmody showed an April 2017 NFL memo that showed the league was exploring a world without “Sunday Ticket” in 2017, where cable channels would air Sunday afternoon out-of-market games not shown on Fox or CBS.

The jury of five men and three women deliberated for nearly five hours before reaching its decision.

Payment of damages, any changes to the “Sunday Ticket” package and/or the ways the NFL carries its Sunday afternoon games would be stayed until all appeals have been concluded.

The league maintained it had the right to sell “Sunday Ticket” under its antitrust exemption for broadcasting. The plaintiffs said that only covers over-the-air broadcasts and not pay TV.

Other professional sports leagues were also keeping an eye on this case since they also offer out-of-market packages. A major difference though is that MLB, the NBA and the NHL market their packages on multiple distributors and share in the revenue per subscriber instead of receiving an outright rights fee.

DirecTV had “Sunday Ticket” from its inception in 1994 through 2022. The league signed a seven-year deal with Google’s YouTube TV that began with the 2023 season.

The lawsuit was originally filed in 2015 by the Mucky Duck sports bar in San Francisco but was dismissed in 2017. Two years later, the 9th Circuit, which has jurisdiction over California and eight other states, reinstated the case. Gutierrez ruled last year the case could proceed as a class action.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com thinks the plaintiff’s attorneys will make $50 million for taking $14 billion away from the NFL:

The biggest expense for the NFL arising from Thursday’s verdict will be the $14.088 billion ($4.696 billion, times three) for antitrust violations arising from the Sunday Ticket class action.

There will be other expenses.

The antitrust laws allow for the recovery of reasonable attorneys’ fees. Given that the case goes back nine years, the final bill submitted by the lawyers representing the class will be a big one, probably somewhere between $50 million and $100 million.

Then there’s interest — prejudgment and postjudgment. Nine years of interest on the front end, and who knows how many years of interest on the back end?

Even if the NFL ultimately wins (and it still could), the league surely has paid many millions to its own lawyers since the case was filed.

That’s what big law firms do. They all want what they call “cost-insensitive clients,” who have big money and big problems and who pay big monthly invoices without batting an eye.

Whatever happens, the NFL isn’t going out of business. But the NFL might eventually have to dig very deep into the couch cushions to come up with the cash. If the final number is indeed $14.088 billion, there will be a lot more on top of that.

But, hey, when $14 billion is already sailing away and never coming back, what’s another billion or so?

TOP 10 HEAD COACHES

A list from Gordon McGuinness of ProFootballFocus.com to get you started:

There are different head coaching styles throughout the NFL. Some have a strength on one side of the ball while others are more of a CEO-style approach who let their coordinators call plays on both sides of the ball.

That, along with separating quarterback success from coach success, makes ranking head coaches in today’s NFL pretty difficult. But it’s late June, so rankings are in right now. To make things easier we eliminated anyone who wasn’t a returning coach in their current role.

Here are the top 10 returning head coaches in the NFL heading into the 2024 NFL season.

1. ANDY REID, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Pairing Reid with Patrick Mahomes has been a cheat code that has led the Kansas City Chiefs to four Super Bowl appearances and three Super Bowl wins. On offense, they have ranked inside the top five in EPA per play every season from 2018-2022, even predating Mahomes’ arrival. They dropped to 12th last season, but with some significant improvements at the wide receiver position, expect them to be back inside the top five again in 2024.

2. KYLE SHANAHAN, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Shanahan has yet to get over the hump and win a Super Bowl despite holding leads in one as the Atlanta Falcons‘ offensive coordinator and two as the San Francisco 49ers‘ head coach, but he is the main reason why the 49ers are the favorites to come out of the NFC once again in 2024. They led the NFL in averaging 0.161 EPA per play in 2023 and while they ranked 12th on the defensive side of the ball, Shanahan was bold enough to make the change from Steve Wilks to Nick Sorensen at defensive coordinator heading into this season. That’s good news for Sorensen’s future career prospects, as three of Shanahan’s former coordinators are currently NFL head coaches.

3. JOHN HARBAUGH, BALTIMORE RAVENS

Before the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson in 2018, it looked like John Harbaugh could be on his way out as their head coach. The former Heisman Trophy winner helped turn things around, and Harbaugh has also improved as a coach in recent years. Harbaugh’s strength has been his ability to make the right decisions on coordinators, as the switch to Mike Macdonald in 2022 led to a defense that allowed an average of -0.134 EPA per play in 2023. On offense, he switched from Greg Roman to Todd Monken, which helped them bounce back to eighth in EPA per play in 2023. They have been the No. 1 seed twice in the Mahomes-Reid era in Kansas City but just haven’t been able to make it count in the playoffs yet.

4. SEAN MCVAY, LOS ANGELES RAMS

While two Super Bowl appearances and one win are obviously the key highlights of McVay’s time with the Rams, you can make the case that getting the Rams to the playoffs last season, when they were tied for 24th worst odds to win the Super Bowl due to a roster that ultimately ranked sixth and second in snaps by rookies on offense and defense respectively, was up there with his best achievements. There are more challenges upcoming for McVay as the Rams deal with Aaron Donald‘s retirement this offseason while Matthew Stafford is now 36 years old and likely nearing the end of his career. Luckily, McVay has proven himself as a head coach at this point.

5. MIKE TOMLIN, PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in T.J. Watt’s career, which isn’t great considering that he’s heading into his eighth season in the NFL in 2024. That being said, if you look at what Tomlin has had at the quarterback position over the past five seasons, even getting to the playoffs is a huge accomplishment. The Steelers didn’t have a quarterback earn a PFF passing grade above 70.0 in 2023. Kenny Pickett was the best of the bunch at 68.8. With Russell Wilson and Justin Fields arriving this offseason, there’s a big opportunity for the Steelers to finally make an impact in the playoffs once again.

6. MATT LAFLEUR, GREEN BAY PACKERS

If there was any doubt that LaFleur’s success in Green Bay in his first four seasons with the Packers was simply down to Aaron Rodgers, that narrative was put to bed in 2023. With Jordan Love in his first season as a starting quarterback, the Packers were tied with the Detroit Lions for fourth place in the NFL with 0.086 EPA per play and took down the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs before pushing the San Francisco 49ers all the way.

7. DAN CAMPBELL, DETROIT LIONS

As a head coach, Campbell has gone from the guy everyone laughed at for the comments about biting kneecaps to the guy who has turned the Detroit Lions franchise into a legitimate Super Bowl contender. He, along with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, has helped revitalize Jared Goff‘s career. The former No. 1 overall pick enjoyed the highest-graded season of his career with an 85.7 PFF grade last year. Campbell’s next step is getting the Lions to the Super Bowl, but you wouldn’t bet against them doing that sooner rather than later.

8. DEMECO RYANS, HOUSTON TEXANS

Like Campbell in Detroit, Ryans has led a significant turn of fortunes as the Texans’ head coach. After bringing fellow former 49ers coach Bobby Slowik to Houston as offensive coordinator, the Texans were able to turn a team expected to be among the worst in the league into a team that made the divisional round of the playoffs, all with a rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud. A big offseason has increased expectations for the Texans and if they can improve on the defensive side of the ball, where they ranked 19th in EPA per play allowed in 2023, they can contend with the Chiefs in the AFC. Because Ryans’ strength is on the defensive side of the ball, they are more than capable of doing just that.

9. KEVIN STEFANSKI, CLEVELAND BROWNS

The NFL’s reigning Coach of the Year, Stefanski proved his worth as a head coach by making the playoffs with a Browns team that was really lacking at the quarterback position in 2023. They had four quarterbacks attempt 100 or more passes, and Joe Flacco was the best of the bunch with a 70.6 PFF passing grade. With the talent the Browns have on this roster, their success in 2024 will likely be determined by how Stefanski manages the quarterback position once again. Deshaun Watson hasn’t lived up to the price tag the Browns paid for him when they traded three first-round picks and gave him a fully guaranteed contract, and if things don’t improve early in 2024, they may need to consider a switch. Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley were brought in for depth this offseason.

10. SEAN MCDERMOTT, BUFFALO BILLS

Filling the last spot in the top 10 was tough, as numerous coaches were worthy of consideration. Were it not for the late-season turnaround last season, there’s a good chance that I wouldn’t have gone with McDermott here. The Bills ranked third in the NFL with 0.104 EPA per play on offense in 2023 despite a coordinator change midseason. They actually dropped back a little when Joe Brady took over as interim coordinator but still ranked sixth from Week 11 through the end of the season. This upcoming season is a big prove-it year for McDermott, and he likely can’t afford for the Bills to start slow again like they did in 2023.

So no Sean Payton.  That would seem to be the obvious absence.  Kevin O’Connell?