NFL makes another move for big money

There is a monster story not enough folks are discussing circling in the NFL.

No, it’s not the draft. I love the draft. You know this. But the draft is a month away, so calling it a monster story today is a misnomer. Plus, everyone is talking about the draft.

(Side question: Seriously, if you are a Florida Gators fan, how crazy is it that Anthony Richardson is now being discussed as going to the Houston Texans with the second overall pick? Side note to the side question: If you are an Indianapolis Colts fan, you would be in high cotton if that plays out because the Arizona Cardinals pick third, and they assuredly will look pass rusher, which would mean Ohio State’s CJ Stroud or Alabama’s Bryce Young would be on the board as a potential quarterback for Indy at No. 4.)

As for the NFL monster story, no it’s not Lamar Jackson’s beef with Baltimore or Aaron Rodgers’ pout-off with the Packers. Sure, both are sizable stories — former MVP QBs potentially on the market — but again, everyone is talking about that.

(Side question: Would you want your favorite team to chase Jackson or Rodgers considering the price and the cap hit? Maybe if you are Indy, Rodgers could be what you prayed Matt Ryan was going to be last year — but, man, multiple No. 1s for the chance to give Lamar Jackson a quarter of a billion guaranteed considering he has missed 10 games over the past two seasons and running QBs age in dog years in the league? No thanks.)

OK, this NFL monster story is also not the Washington Commanders, although again, that’s a big one because multiple groups have met

Daniel Snyder’s asking price of $6 billion — yes, billion with a “B” — for the franchise. It would be the highest price tag for any professional sports organization.

The symmetry there is when Snyder bought the Washington franchise from Jack Kent Cooke’s family in 1999, he also paid a then record-price of … wait for it … almost there … $800 million. Yeah he made out OK, increasing his original investment by 650% in less than a quarter- century.

Which leads us to the monster story not many are aware of in terms of the NFL. Tuesday, the league’s leaders voted to allow sports books in stadiums in state where sports betting is legalized.

Yep. CHA-ching. Say what you want about Roger Goodell — and a lot of us have — but the commissioner’s pledge to exponentially increase the revenue stream of “The Shield” has been exceeded at almost every new decision.

Think of the revenue chances, whether the teams get into the betting business themselves or farm it out to online operators. Think of the expansion of the stadium as a venue — a sportsbook, restaurant, entertainment option — that allows stadiums way more than their 10 to 12 home football games a year. Think of the states with NFL teams that are haggling about legalizing sports betting and the extra pressure/influence the NFL can assert.

Because even the hint of a team leaving or the promise to host the Super Bowl or the NFL draft could swing hundreds of millions in consumer spending in either direction.

So yeah, Lamar and Aaron and the draft are monster stories. And the Commanders are going to demand a record-setting monster asking price whenever that deal gets finalized.

But the real monster across the American entertainment realm is the NFL, which never misses a step when it comes to finding ways to generate more revenue.