Kickoff Chaos: Kickers Bulk Up as NFL Braces for Tackle Frenzy 💪

Good morning. This is the Opening Drive, the weekly newsletter that brings you the best of the NFL so you’re always the smartest one at the water cooler.

Lions lose an OTA practice for violating CBA, Kansas is trying to steal the Chiefs away from Missouri, Vikings dropped a new uni 🥶, Justin Tucker is packing on the LB’s, and we’ve got a breakdown of the ‘NFL Sunday Ticket’ anti-trust lawsuit.

Let’s dive in.

QUICK HITS

• Work week ends without Falcons, Eagles tampering punishment (PFT)

• B.J. Thompson 'trending upward' after cardiac arrest at Kansas City Chiefs OTAs (on3)

• Colts hold Anthony Richardson out of practice as precaution (ESPN)

• Lions punished for violating OTA contact rules (NFL.com)

• J.J. McCarthy 'squarely behind' Sam Darnold on Vikings depth chart, per report (SI.com)

• Legislators hope to make a run at landing Chiefs in Kansas (Yahoo Sports)

• NFL teams weighing the risks of exposing kickers to more tackles under new kickoff rule (PFT)

• Ravens K Justin Tucker bulking up to prepare for new kick-off rules (NFL.com)

• Vikings will wear all-white alternate uniforms in Week 15 (PFT)

• Browns general manager Andrew Berry, head coach Kevin Stefanski sign contract extensions (NFL.com)

• Christian McCaffrey, 49ers agree to 2-year extension worth $19 million per season (The Athletic)

• CB Cam Sutton signs one-year deal with the Steelers (ESPN)

• Former Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen dies at age 52 (SI.com)

• Jury selection began in L.A. in the massive antitrust lawsuit regarding the NFL’s Sunday Ticket package (PFT)

• Charlotte business leaders champion Bank of America Stadium renovations (Axios)

• Jason McCourty leaving NFL Network’s ‘Good Morning Football’ as show moves to LA (NY Post)

• Check out Pro Football Focus’ projected starting lineups for all 32 teams here

OPENING DRIVE REQUIRED READING

• SI.com’s Albert Breer opens the mailbag to answer questions on Mike McCarthy’s contract year, potential trades, and where Dak Prescott might end up in 2025.

• What’s so important about mandatory minicamps anyways? PFT has a breakdown here.

WHO’S UP? WHO’S DOWN?

Who’s up?
Dallas Clark. The Indianapolis Colts have announced that former tight end Dallas Clark will be inducted into the team's prestigious Ring of Honor, cementing his legacy as one of the most prolific players in the franchise's illustrious history.

During his nine-year tenure with the Colts, Clark established himself as a crucial cog in the team's high-powered offense, serving as a reliable safety valve for quarterback Peyton Manning. His combination of size, athleticism, and sure hands made him a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses, and he played a pivotal role in the Colts' Super Bowl XLI victory in 2007.

Clark's statistical accomplishments are equally impressive. He racked up 3,824 receiving yards and 46 touchdowns, both franchise records for a tight end. His crowning achievement came in 2009, when he hauled in a career-high 100 receptions, the most ever by a tight end in a single season.

Beyond the numbers, Clark's impact on the Colts' offense cannot be overstated. His ability to make plays in critical moments and stretch the field vertically created opportunities for the team's wide receivers and running backs. This, in turn, helped Manning and the Colts maintain their status as one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL during the 2000s.

As the Colts faithful prepare to welcome Clark back into the fold, it's a testament to the indelible mark he left on the franchise. His induction into the Ring of Honor is a well-deserved honor for a player who embodied the spirit and success of the Peyton Manning era in Indianapolis.

Who’s down?
The Dallas Cowboys (again — see parts I and II). The Dallas Cowboys find themselves in a precarious contractual situation, as they face the daunting task of securing long-term extensions for their top three players: quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and linebacker Micah Parsons.

With Prescott's current deal set to expire after the 2024 season, the Cowboys must act quickly to prevent the franchise quarterback from testing the open market. Lamb (who skipped Cowboys’ mini-camp), is entering the final year of his rookie contract, making him an enticing target for other teams. And Parsons, fresh off a Defensive Player of the Year campaign, is also in line for a major payday.

The worst-case scenario for the Cowboys is a nightmare scenario, where they are unable to retain all three of their stars. Losing Lamb, a dynamic playmaker who has become Prescott's top target, would be a devastating blow to the offense. And with Parsons emerging as one of the league's premier defensive talents, his departure would leave a gaping hole in the Cowboys' championship aspirations.

The financial implications of this scenario are equally dire. Trying to replace such high-caliber talent would require the Cowboys to dip deep into the free-agent market, where they would likely have to overpay to fill the void. This could hamstring the team's salary cap flexibility for years to come, making it increasingly difficult to build a competitive roster around Prescott.

As the Cowboys' hierarchy, led by owner Jerry Jones, navigates this contractual minefield, the pressure to make the right decisions has never been higher. The stakes are simply too high for the team to falter in its efforts to secure the long-term futures of its most valuable assets.

NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
A deep dive into the anti-trust lawsuit over “NFL Sunday Ticket”

The NFL is facing a high-stakes antitrust lawsuit over its highly lucrative "NFL Sunday Ticket" package, a case that could have far-reaching implications for the league and the broader sports streaming landscape.

At the center of the lawsuit is the allegation that the NFL's exclusive agreement with DirecTV to provide the Sunday Ticket package violates antitrust laws by restricting consumer choice and inflating prices. The plaintiffs, a group of football fans, argue that the league's stranglehold on out-of-market games has allowed it to charge exorbitant fees for the Sunday Ticket service, which currently costs $300 per season.

The stakes are high for the NFL, as the plaintiffs are seeking a staggering $21 billion in damages. This figure is based on the estimated overcharges paid by Sunday Ticket subscribers since the package's inception in 1994. If the plaintiffs prevail, it could not only result in a massive payout but also force the league to rethink its approach to broadcasting rights.

The NFL's defense is that the Sunday Ticket package is essential for maintaining the league's national reach and fan engagement. They argue that the exclusive deal with DirecTV has allowed them to invest in infrastructure and content, ultimately benefiting the sport as a whole.

However, the legal landscape has shifted in recent years, with courts taking a more critical view of exclusive media rights deals. The success of streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ has also raised questions about the viability of traditional cable TV bundles, potentially weakening the NFL's argument.

The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications, not just for the NFL but for the entire sports streaming industry. A victory for the plaintiffs could pave the way for greater consumer choice and more affordable options for fans, while a win for the league could solidify its control over the distribution of its most valuable content.

BEST LOOK 🔥 

Vikings announce their new “Winter Warrior” alternate uniforms. 🥶 Drip or drop?

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