Ted Cruz: NFL has been "tiptoeing up to the rule" protecting college and high school football
The Senate Commerce Committee has proceeded with a hearing on the pivot from sports broadcasting to streaming, without any involvement by the NFL. (Commissioner Roger Goodell declined an invitation to appear.)
In his opening comments, Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (D-Tex.) made a pointed comment about the NFL. He said the league has been 'tiptoeing up to' the line that protects college and high school football from being diluted by pro football.
The line appears in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1960, which gave the NFL a broadcast antitrust exemption with one key concession — the NFL cannot broadcast games from the second weekend in September through the second weekend in December on Friday night or Saturday.
'One growing concern is that the NFL has used its special exemption in the SBA to the frustration of college and high school football schedulers,' Cruz said, via a transcript provided by the Committee. 'For example, the SBA explicitly excludes antitrust protection for the NFL if broadcasting a game on a Friday night or a Saturday between mid-September to mid-December. That's to protect the interests of high school and college football, and ultimately, their fans who are no doubt also followers of the NFL.
'The NFL has tiptoed up to this rule, now putting a game on streaming on Black Friday afternoon, which used to be a slot reserved for prominent college football rivalries, including in some years, Texas and Texas A&M. There are millions of sports fans who like being able to follow high school, college, and professional football without having to choose amongst them. And it's partly why Congress wrote the SBA in the manner it did.'
Cruz mentioned only the Black Friday game, which starts at 3:00 p.m. ET and ideally ends before the 6:00 p.m. ET witching hour, in support of his observation. The league also has started streaming games on the first Friday of September, when the first Friday coincides with the first week of the NFL season — and clearly conflicts with high school football.
There has been speculation that, with the Republican party controlling the White House and Congress, the NFL may press for revisions to the SBA that would eliminate the Friday night and/or Saturday exception. Given that a prominent Republican senator seems to be firmly in favor of enforcing the limits of the current law, Cruz likely would be against allowing the NFL to broadcast games within the current window that is regarded as off-limits.
The broader question is whether streaming fits within the SBA at all. That could be a question for the courts. Or it could become a subject for further legislation.
Today's hearing seems to be a step toward considering something that would counter the exodus of live pro sports from free TV to pay TV.
We'll continue to monitor the hearing for anything related to the NFL. You can watch it here , assuming you have consumed the appropriate amount of coffee and/or Red Bull.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Another candidate is running against Finstad in the 1st Congressional District
Jun. 16—ROCHESTER — Oliver Morlan, a Zumbro Falls native and member of a family-owned business, announced that he is running for Congress in the First Congressional District as an independent candidate. The seat is currently held by Rep. Brad Finstad, a Republican. "I'm running to increase independent representation," Morlan said. "I'm trying to inspire that not just here in the district, but across Minnesota. I just feel that the country is in need of desperate change." A 2018 graduate of Century High School and self-described lifelong musician, Morlan, 25, said there is public impatience with how Congress is conducting its business and an appetite for holding the body "fiscally and ethically responsible." He said both parties are guilty of passing misleading spending and budget bills that "run up the deficit, cause massive inflation and are too big to fully scrutinize." Jake Johnson, a longtime teacher with Rochester Public Schools, is running for the DFL endorsement to challenge Finstad for his congressional seat. Finstad was elected to Congress in a 2022 special election and has since been re-elected to two two-year terms in the GOP-leaning district. Given the dominance of the two-party system, independent and minor-party candidates have a poor track record, historically speaking, of winning elections. Often lacking the fundraising prowess and infrastructure of the major parties, they struggle to get the name recognition necessary for victory. There are currently no independent members serving in the House of Representatives. With little political experience, Morlan acknowledged that he was "running against all odds" and that he would be relying on his "own resources" and a "lot of community support" to compete. Still, he argues that the environment was favorable to an outsider and pointed to the criticism directed at Finstad for failing to hold in-person town hall meetings. "I think that kind of non-representation might be the key factor here," Morlan said. Morlan said he plays a leading role as a trainer for D&M Industrial Cleaners, a commercial cleaning business that serves clients across southeastern Minnesota. As a musician, Morlan worked a short stint as a teacher at Pure Rock Studios in Rochester. Morlan said he supported term limits and was a tax-cut advocate, but would vote against President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful" bill that would extend the tax cuts passed in 2017 because "it is just too big." "The way this country was set up was so that regular people from any background could throw their hat in the race and see if they could make change in this country," Morlan said. "And I feel that we've kind of gotten away from that in more recent times."
New York Post
15 minutes ago
- New York Post
GOP rep calls for ‘around-the-clock' security for congressional lawmakers using public funds after Minnesota shootings
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) expressed deep concern Monday over 'growing threats' to congressional lawmakers in a letter asking for clarification over whether members can use their taxpayer-funded allowances to pay for personal security. Burchett's letter to the top Republican and Democrat on the House Committee on Administration – the panel which oversees the use of Members' Representational Allowances (MRAs) – comes days after a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband were gunned down by an assassin targeting politicians. 'We are deeply concerned about growing threats to the safety of elected officials and request the Committee on House Administration to clarify that Members' Representational Allowances (MRAs) may be used for around-the-clock security services,' Burchett wrote in his letter, obtained by The Post. 3 Burchett asked whether taxpayer-provided funds can be used to pay for 24/7 security for congressional reps. AP The average MRA provided to House lawmakers last year was about $1.9 million per representative – money provided to support 'official conduct and representational duties.' The Tennessee Republican notes that under congressional rules, it appears lawmakers are only allowed to use MRA money on security expenses 'when those services are provided at official, member-hosted district events, during the performance of official duties, or at district offices during business hours.' Burchett called the current interpretation of the rules for MRAs 'inadequate' in light of the Saturday shootings targeting former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and state Sen. John Hoffman, along with their spouses, and the 2017 assassination attempt against Senate Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) at a Congressional Baseball practice. 'Had these lawmakers served in Congress, they would not have been allowed to use MRA funds for personal protection, despite being targeted,' Burchett said of the shooting that killed Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the separate assassination attempt against Hoffman, which left him and his wife badly wounded. 3 Burchett noted that the slain Minnesota state lawmaker could not have used MRA money, had she been in Congress, to secure her home. Getty Images 'The reality is, Members of Congress are publicly identifiable at all times,' Burchett continued. 'Our addresses are posted online and the threats are constant.' 'While we are grateful for the efforts of local law enforcement, the unique risks associated with serving in Congress require security beyond what is currently available.' The congressman called on the House panel to take 'all necessary steps to expand the permissible use of Members' Representational Allowances to include personal security, excluding campaign-related activity.' 3 The killing of Melissa Hortman and the serious wounding of another Minnesota state lawmaker sent shockwaves through Congress. Steven Garcia 'Protecting elected officials from political violence is critical for effective representation and a functioning government,' Burchett argued. The 'manifesto' of suspected Minnesota political assassin Vance Boelter contained the names of as many as 70 people — largely lawmakers and abortion advocates — he may have sought to target, according to authorities. The chilling list reportedly included Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.). Boelter, 57, was captured in a rural area outside Minneapolis Sunday night.
USA Today
23 minutes ago
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals rookie DL Walter Nolen already learning veteran health habits
Arizona Cardinals rookie DL Walter Nolen already learning veteran health habits The Cardinals' first-round pick hasn't been around the veterans long but is already doing veteran things for his health Defensive lineman Walter Nolen, the Arizona Cardinals' first-round pick of the 2025 NFL, is only 21 years old and is the youngest player in a defensive line room full of veterans — newcomers Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell and returners Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols. Nolen has only been in the building with the veterans for a few weeks and they haven't practiced in pads yet, and only one week of the offseason was mandatory for the veterans, but Nolen is already soaking in veteran knowledge, although it isn't as much about what is happening on the field as it is about what he does off of it. What has he learned from the guys like Campbell and Tomlinson? "Really just how to take care of your body," he told reporters on Monday. "That's your money maker, so just make sure your body is prepared every day to handle what's going on." He has even started doing things like old guys do. One way is focusing on his nutrition. "I never really focused on the eating part of it," he explained. "So, they say you're supposed to have two fists of color (when you eat). So, I get some broccoli or some fruit or something every day. So, I just going to keep that going and see what it takes me to." He is also doing more to care of his body, doing "some of the things like they do inside the building," nothing he is usually "one of the first people in the building." "I started going extra cold tub time and, getting in the sun every day and "Usually I'm one of the first people in the building, but uh, really just some of the things like they do inside the building. I done start doing like the extra cold tub time and you know, um, just getting in the sun every day and staying in the training room." The extra attention to his body will hopefully prepare him for the long NFL season and help him avoid injuries, as the Cardinals have had issues with injuries on the defensive line for many seasons. And by using old veteran habits as a youngster, he is preparing himself for a long, successful NFL career. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
