“I think the more I hear about the Jets’ pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, the more it’d scare me — unless, and this is a big ‘unless’ — it involves at least a verbal agreement that he plays in 2024 as well.” – King on the potential stipulations in an Aaron Rodgers trade
“All I can say is the Ravens had better, deep in the back of their pragmatic minds, start to consider veteran alternatives — and maybe even the rookie second- and third-round QB market.” – King’s advice for the Ravens in the midst of the Lamar Jackson saga
STAMFORD, Conn. – March 27, 2023 – Peter King tackles the NFL owners meetings and the league’s biggest offseason news in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King breaks down the annual NFL Meetings in Arizona, the Aaron Rodgers and Jets saga, Bryce Young’s evaluation, and more.
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The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Football Morning in America:
Peter King on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s success rate and why he is reportedly expected to receive a contract extension: “He works for the owners, who are mostly happy with his performance; he has kept the game from any work stoppages that resulted in lost regular-season or playoff games, and this CBA doesn’t expire till early 2031; he has lorded over a league that dominates the sports landscape even when it’s not playing games; and there’s the matter of franchise values.”
King on who he thinks could succeed Goodell one day: “Speculation will center on Brian Rolapp, as it should, and Troy Vincent if the league looks internally for Goodell’s replacement, with Rolapp having an edge among active league office execs. Some club executives — Mark Donovan (Kansas City), Tom Garfinkel (Miami), Kevin Demoff (Rams) — could surface as well. My not-so-dark horse is Anthony Noto, the CEO of personal finance giant SoFi, and former CFO of the NFL (2008-2010).”
King on the future of punts in the NFL: “The NFL wants to significantly cut down on punts in the game. There’s a proposal here to have touchbacks on punts returned to the 25-yard line, not the 20-, in part to encourage teams with a fourth down near midfield to go for it instead of punting it away.”
King on Alabama QB Bryce Young: “I’d been told previously that Young, in not getting many passes batted down at the line, has a sense of playing bigger than he is.”
King on the Lamar Jackson/Ravens situation: “All I can say is the Ravens had better, deep in the back of their pragmatic minds, start to consider veteran alternatives — and maybe even the rookie second- and third-round QB market.”
King on LB Bobby Wagner returning to the Seahawks after one season with the Rams: “It is a tribute to Wagner being mature and burning no bridges when he was a cap casualty with the Seahawks last spring…And it’s a tribute to Seattle GM John Schneider for how he handled Wagner since drafting him in the second round of the 2012 draft. The mutual respect drips from this return. Let it be a model for other great players and franchises.”
King on the NFL ‘very likely’ continuing to allow ball carriers to be pushed from behind: “My problem, aside from the fact that it’s not a football play, is that it’s only a matter of time before a quarterback gets hurt on the play…I think the NFL’s going to live to regret this inaction.”
King on what he’s hearing about Daniel Snyder’s Commanders sale: “One source with significant financial knowledge about the league said (Daniel) Snyder is highly unlikely to get his dream price for the team – $7 billion. Snyder, this source said, is more likely to sell the full asset for something just over $6 billion.”
King on the NFL’s plan to create more storytelling content in partnership with Skydance Media: “One NFL executive told me the most important part of the partnership will be spreading NFL appeal to the globe.”
King on the potential of flexing Thursday night games: “I’m dubious it’ll pass…But I’m told this is something Roger Goodell really wants to have in his toolbox…It still will be bad for the product and for the fans in-stadium, but it is sensible to legislate not being able to do it more than once per year.”
King on Georgia DT Jalen Carter’s draft stock: “I think I won’t be surprised, unless Seattle takes him at five, if Jalen Carter drops out of the top 10.”
King on Aaron Rodgers and the Jets: “I think the more I hear about the Jets’ pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, the more it’d scare me — unless, and this is a big ‘unless’ — it involves at least a verbal agreement that he plays in 2024 as well.”
King on the Jets signing WR Mecole Hardman: “The Jets have added a speed guy Kansas City let walk after an injury-plagued season but have surrendered the advantage of a comfortable rookie contract, and Hardman will eat up perhaps $3-million-to-$4-million more for a parallel player. All in all, it’s a shaky deal.”
King on the Jets trading WR Elijah Moore: “Dumping the 32nd pick of 2021, with 4.35 speed, after two lousy seasons is bad business. And (Jets GM Joe) Douglas didn’t pick up an extra pick here — he moved up 32 spots. Valuable spots, of course. But early third-round picks are valuable, and the Jets are without theirs now.”
Read the full FMIA column here and catch the weekly Peter King Podcast here.
The following are additional highlights of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage:
- ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest news and updates.
- NBC Sports EDGE’s Rotoworld Football Show continues the NFL discussion and Bet The Edge Podcast provides daily betting insights.
- The NFL on NBC YouTube channel offers daily football content for free, with exclusive videos from Peter King Mike Florio, Chris Simms, and more. To access all of these videos and more, click here to subscribe
A new “Football Morning in America” posts every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com through the NFL season. It was announced in May 2019 that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.
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