The NFL's out-of-market broadcast package, NFL Sunday Ticket, will remain with DirecTV for the foreseeable future. The communications giant has held the rights since Sunday Ticket debuted in 1994. DirecTV's current deal with the league was set to expire following the 2014 season, with multiple services vying to scoop the popular games package.
NFL news roundup: Jon Gruden won’t discuss return to coaching
Elsewhere, Panthers lose Frank Alexander for 10 additional games
Thearon W. Henderson
Renewing Sunday Ticket was a high priority for DirecTV. AT&T purchased the company for $48.5 billion in May contingent upon striking an extension with the NFL. In addition to providing out-of-market games, the new agreement will allow DirecTV to stream Sunday Ticket programing on tablets and phones. According to CNBC, the company’s stock spiked 2 percent following the announcement.
Frank Alexander suspended 10 more games
The Carolina Panthers defensive line took another hit this week when the NFL suspended end Frank Alexander 10 games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Alexander sat out the Panthers' first four games due to a prior suspension under the same policy. Now a repeat offender, Alexander faces an indefinite ban should he violate the policy a third time.
A fourth-round pick in 2012, Carolina was likely to lean heavily on Alexander with defensive end Greg Hardy already missing the season on the exempt/commissioner's permission list for his domestic abuse conviction. While Alexander is out, the Panthers will rely on a rotation of Wes Houston and rookie Kony Ealy to hold down the fort.
Jon Gruden isn’t thinking about coaching
When the Oakland Raiders fired head coach Dennis Allen Tuesday, team owner Mark Davis suggested that Jon Gruden, coach of the team from 1998 through 2001, might return to lead the moribund franchise. Asked on Wednesday whether he might consider returning to the place where he made his name, Gruden gave the typical non-answers, saying he's more interested in watching his brother Jay coach in Washington rather than coach himself.
When Oakland hired Gruden the first time, he was the league's youngest coach at 35. After coaching the Raiders for four seasons, the team traded him for a bevy of draft picks to Tampa Bay in 2002. That year, the Buccaneers won the franchise's first Super Bowl, defeating Gruden's old team, 48-21.
Austin Davis named Rams starter
After experiencing multiple injuries at the quarterback position, it appears St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher has settled on a starter moving forward. As he announced Wednesday during his regular media availability, Austin Davis will start against the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday without a short leash.
Davis started for St. Louis each of the last two weeks while Shaun Hill recovered from a thigh injury. Previously, Fisher stated that Hill would regain his starting job once he healed. However, it appears to be Davis’ job until further notice. During his starts, Davis completed a combined 73.2 percent of his passes for 562 yards, three touchdowns, and two picks. With Davis at the controls, the Rams are 1-1.
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