U.S. women's national soccer team players settled their class action lawsuit over equal pay with the U.S. Soccer Federation for a total of $24 million, pending the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement between the players and the sport's national governing body. The players, who initially sought $66.7 million in backpay, will receive a lump sum payment of $22 million, while the USSF pledged to pay the women's and men's national teams equally moving forward, including for the World Cup. (ESPN)
The Beijing Winter Olympics were the least-watched Games on record in the United States, with NBCUniversal's primetime coverage averaging 10.7 million viewers on television and 11.4 million when including streaming. Last year's Tokyo Summer Olympics, which set the previous low mark, averaged 15.6 million viewers, pending revision from Nielsen, which acknowledged it undercounted viewership for those Games. (Sports Media Watch)
Amazon Inc. reportedly told the NFL that it would like the league to schedule a game on Black Friday — the popular shopping day after Thanksgiving — for the platform to stream, but the league's response has been lukewarm. Meanwhile, the NBA will likely have competition from football again on Christmas Day, which falls on a Sunday this year, as the NFL is expected to air a late afternoon and "Sunday Night Football" game that day while moving other games that would typically be played on Sunday afternoon to Christmas Eve, a Saturday. (Sports Business Journal)
NFL
More time for Goodell? Ben Fischer and John Ourand, Sports Business Journal
Roger Goodell is negotiating a contract extension for the fourth time, sources said, believing it is likely the NFL commissioner will have a new deal in place in the coming months. The NFL team owners' desire to renew Goodell's contract marks a big vote of confidence in his leadership through the pandemic.
NFL keeping watchful eye on volatile crypto market before setting policy Ben Fischer and Terry Lefton, Sports Business Journal
NFL Chief Revenue Officer Renie Anderson said she is "hopeful" a policy can be approved by owners at the annual league meeting March 27-30 in Palm Beach, Fla. But during Super Bowl week, she acknowledged it "may or may not happen" by then.
Judge rules Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson can be questioned under oath in nine civil cases John Barr, ESPN
A judge in Houston ruled Monday that Deshaun Watson can face questions under oath in at least some of the 22 civil cases filed against him by women who have accused the Houston Texans quarterback of actions ranging from harassment to sexual assault during massage sessions.
COLLEGE SPORTS
Michigan men's basketball coach Juwan Howard suspended for rest of Wolverines' regular season after postgame altercation at Wisconsin Jeff Borzello and Adam Rittenberg, ESPN
Michigan men's basketball coach Juwan Howard has been suspended five games — the remainder of the regular season — and fined $40,000 for hitting Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft in the face after Sunday's game, the Big Ten Conference announced on Monday. Wisconsin coach Greg Gard was fined $10,000 for violating the conference's sportsmanship policy but not suspended.
Penn State Athletics Reports Nearly $24 Million Deficit Following COVID-Impacted 2020-21 Fiscal Year Ben Jones, StateCollege.com
Penn State Athletics reported a negative balance of nearly $24 million following the conclusion of the 2020-21 Fiscal Year, according to its annual financial report made to the NCAA. The 2020-21 fiscal years covers the entirety of the main COVID-19 impacted athletic calendar that featured limited to no fan attendance across the department.
