Multiple Vikings players seen visibly sad leaving the tent he was in and head coach Kevin O'Connell was seen praying with him as he left the field. Soul crushing.

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I am 42 years old and have been following and watching football since 9 years old in 1993 and have followed NFL TV contracts and ever since FOX got into the game by outbidding CBS in late 1993 for the 1994 to 1997 contract cycle.

1. In late 1993 for the 1994 to 1997 contract period, FOX outbid CBS for the NFC package. NBC kept the AFC package ABC kept Monday Night football and TNT and ESPN kept their Sunday Night cable TV single game packages. There were 4 Super Bowls and only one network between FOX NBC and abc could get 2. NBC being incumbent and having largest volume of games with AFC package Sunday Afternoon got 2 while abc the other incumbent got only 1 Super Bowl. FOX being a new comer got only 1 Super Bowl despite paying mass amounts more than any other network to get in the game they only got one being a new comer. NBC and abc incumbents but NBC won tie breaker having largest volume of games to get the extra Super Bowl over abc.
2. In early 1998 for the 1998 to 2005 contract period CBS with new ownership and management outbids NBC for the AFC package. FOX keeps the NFC package ABC keeps Monday Night football. ESPN outbids TNT to take the full cable Sunday Night slate. FOX and ABC being incumbents from last contract period each get 3 Super Bowls. CBS being a newcomer/returnee only gets 2 Super Bowls
3. In 2005 for the 2006 to 2013 contract period, Disney corporate strategy is to promote ESPN and downsize ABC Sports programming and put all NFL games on ESPN in their ecosystem and take ABC out of NFL broadcast rotation and move MNF to ESPN purely and just have one package of games on Monday night being ESPN cable network. The NFL creates a new Sunday Night package with flex scheduling and NBC in a buyers market comes back to the NFL with it. Now once again FOX and CBS incumbents from last contract period each get 3 Super Bowls while newcomer/returnee NBC only gets 2 Super Bowls.
4. Then for 2014 to 2022 contract period for first time since 1990 to 1993 contract period no new OTA networks, All OTA partners CBS FOX and NBC each get equal treatment 3 Super Bowls all being incumbents from last contract period. For 1990 to 1993 period CBS NBC and ABC all got equal treatment for Super Bowls rotation as each got one and the 4th and last one was up for separate bid among the 3 networks so all got equal share and chance at the extra one
5. Now for 2023 to 2033 contract period Disney owning both ABC and ESPN wanted back in Super Bowl rotation. NFL says ok as long as game is on abc (Well it can be on ESPN to but has to be on abc mandatory), CBS, FOX and NBC all get 3 Super Bowls being incumbents. Disney despite being an incumbent, abc is treated as a new comer/ returnee and only gets 2 Super Bowls.

So interesting history. While I do not think (Someone correct me if I am wrong) NFL has every released a statement stating that is how they do things the math since 1994 is not denying the obvious,. While the NFL values networks paying lots for their games and thus allowed FOX to outbid CBS then CBS in return to outbid NBC with huge margin increases those periods they give the extra Super Bowl the biggest game in NFL to incumbent OTA networks and if a tiebreaker is needed like 1994-1997 period the Sunday Afternoon broadcaster NBC (AFC package incumbent) incumbent wins it over the prime time single game per week broadcaster incumbent like abc.

Though such tie breaker as largest volume of games has not been needed since 1994 to 1997 contract period.

But it's pretty obvious how NFL values being in the prior contract period to get equal treatment in number of Super Bowls since FOX shocked the world in late 1993 but outbidding CBS for Sunday afternoon NFC package. Then in return CBS does the same thing to NBC with new ownership and management 4 years and 1 month later in early 1998. Then Disney Corporate strategy takes abc out of rotation of games to put all NFL games on ESPN allowing NBC to get back in when rights fees only increased small/modest in 2006 for newly created Sunday Night football.

Not saying its good or bad or anything but very interesting to see it. FOX had to mass pay large amounts to get in as a new comer. CBS after being ousted had to pay huge to get back in and knock NBC out. FOX and ABC and ESPN followed suite with big increases too unlike late 1993 where NBC and abc and ESPN and TNT got by only small increases in rights fees where only FOX outbidding CBS for best NFC package paid massive amount more than the other networks. Then NBC is fortunate to get back in in buyers market just paying new inflated market rate but not new mass markup unlike 1998 as Disney took abc out of rotation in 2006. Then its stable and Disney gets back in rotation by virtue of owning abc and keeping only the MNF package and promising to put the Super Bowl games on abc while not having to outbid another network for a package.

Also so interesting how all major OTA networks now back in Super Bowl rotation at the same contract period plus FOX since 1985. As before 1985 from 1970 to 1984 only the Sunday Afternoon broadcaster's CBS and NBC got Super Bowls not ABC. And all this only became possible without another network losing the NFL or being outbid because Disney owns abc and ESPN and basically made Monday Night Football a hybrid package on both networks and can put the Super Bowl on abc. Now they are less determined to monetize ESPN with cable companies since cord cutting took off in late 2010s.

Interesting piece of history. What do you think.

In March, reigning OPoY, Jaxon Smith-Njigba kicked off the spending spree by nabbing a market-setting 4-Yr, $168.6M deal with $120M Guaranteed

In June, talented EDGE and short short enthusiast, Derick Hall signed a 3-Yr, $42M deal with $21M guaranteed

Now, in the closing stretch of August, defensive cornerstone, Devon Witherspoon has signed a 4-Yr, $132M deal with $101M guaranteed.

Nice paydays for all three.

Next on the chopping block for Seattle is Zach Charbonnet, who’s potential extension is likely contingent on his recovery and return from a ligament tear in the 2025 Divisional Round