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New York Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Wild's Judd Brackett discusses 2025 NHL Draft plans, Marco Rossi, prospects and more
This year's NHL Scouting Combine was different for Minnesota Wild director of amateur scouting Judd Brackett. The Wild don't have a first-round pick (thanks to the David Jiricek trade), nor did they have a third-rounder. So there weren't nearly as many interviews in Buffalo as they focused on who they might take as their second-rounder (No. 52). Advertisement 'It's certainly harder to predict,' Brackett said on the 'Fellowship of the Rink' podcast. 'Years past, when you know whether it's 13 or a specific number, you can start to ballpark maybe four, five, six players. Forecasting 52 is way out of your control.' The Wild feel they've hit on some gems in the second round in recent years, from Ryder Ritchie last year to Riley Heidt (2023) and Hunter Haight (2022). Does the fact they don't have a first or third put more pressure on Brackett and his staff to hit on this year's second? 'To say, 'Is there more pressure?' Probably not — we want to hit on all these players,' Brackett said. 'Do we have less insurance in terms of if we do miss, we don't have the backup third-round pick or didn't already maybe hit on the first-round pick. So, yes, in that instance, yes, this second-round pick becomes our first chance at a National Hockey League Player. 'The odds, as we all know, go down as the draft progresses, so this is our best chance.' The Wild have the No. 2-ranked prospect pool in the NHL, according to The Athletic's Scott Wheeler. That's driven a lot from the top of the list, with last year's first-rounder Zeev Buium already getting his first taste of the NHL during the Stanley Cup playoffs (then winning a World Championship with Team USA). There's Danila Yurov, who signed his three-year, entry-level contract a few weeks ago and is expected to be part of the lineup next season. Brackett discussed how the Wild stick to their philosophy on drafting and the characteristics they seek in players. 'There's always biases year to year,' Brackett said. 'We'll see in a couple weeks the winner of the Stanley Cup. That blueprint might change a little bit. Is it a heavy two-way physical team that gets in your face? Or is it speed and skill? Not that you can find a guy that fast (Connor McDavid) anywhere else. The blueprint can change when teams have success. You have to be firm in your beliefs and stick to what you believe is going to be the causality behind a Minnesota Wild championship team.' A lot of great stuff from #mnwild director of amateur scouting Judd Brackett on latest @FOTRshow. *Approach w/no 1st, 3rd*Team philosophy *Any regrets?*Insight on Rossi, Stramel, Yurov, Haight, Ohgren + moreYouTube: — Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) June 12, 2025 Hindsight is always 20-20, especially when it comes to the draft. It's an inexact science, prime for second-guessing. There was the Charlie Stramel pick at No. 21 in the 2023 NHL Draft, with Gabe Perreault going a couple picks later to the New York Rangers. Sam Rinzel and Jimmy Snuggerud went after Liam Ohgren at No. 19 in the 2022 draft (the Wild got a strong combo of Oghren and Yurov in the first round). Wyatt Johnston went three picks after the Wild took potential goalie of the future Jesper Wallstedt at No. 20 in 2021. The Wild took defenseman Jack Peart in the second round that year (No. 54). Matthew Knies went three picks later. Advertisement Does Brackett, in general, ever have any regrets? 'Always,' Brackett said. 'This is an incredibly humbling business. We're talking about 17-, 18-year-olds. This is a draft and development, much like MLB. It's not a plug-and-play into your lineup and your scheme. It can be very humbling. What you thought might happen doesn't. There's always times where you love a player and someone picks them two picks in front of you. The opportunity wasn't there to do it. 'There's always retrospect and looking back and learning from it. I try not to name names on the record. But there are players we look back on and say, 'Man, we were so close, or 'We had it this way, imagine if it was one or two off?' But you stay to your core values and stick with your staff and truly believe in the picks you make, you're going to be thrilled with what you have and stand behind the player you picked and hope they continue to develop the way you envisioned on draft day.' The Wild made Marco Rossi the No. 9 pick in 2020. He's overcome a missed year of development due to COVID-19 and a subsequent heart condition. Rossi was the team's second-leading scorer last season, though he could be moved this summer if the Wild can't come to an agreement on a contract with the pending restricted free agent. Brackett and the team's brass took Rossi over the likes of Anton Lundell, Seth Jarvis. 'I think on draft day, what it was with us for Marco, outside of the 40 goals, 80 assists, the monster production, it was the detail he played with,' Brackett said. 'An import player coming over that's undersized that takes the OHL by storm, that doesn't happen. And, you know what, more than just the production, it was the driver. It was making others better. We were steadfast that he was going to be a National Hockey League center and he would be a top-six center. His hockey sense was unparalleled. It probably was a slower roll to becoming that player, but I think Marco has become the player we thought he'd be.' Advertisement When asked what prospects Brackett is most excited about, he said the 'headliner' is Buium. 'He wins another World Junior, goes to win the World Championship, gets the taste of the National Hockey League,' Brackett said. 'He's the headliner in a sense that he continues to deliver. There's excitement about his play, the skill level. It goes without saying what he brings. 'He's got an infectious personality. The skill level is there. This is where he wants to be. I think honestly, when he steps on the ice every night, he wants to be the best player. I don't see that from a cocky, arrogant standpoint, he truly thinks he can and will be. That'll continue to drive his game and I think what his future potential might be is honestly up to him.' Brackett also weighed in on several other Wild prospects: On Ryder Ritchie: 'He's an August birthday, still 18 years old. His age is also a part of where he is in his maturity. You see his body is still changing. He looks like he's pushing around 6-1 right now. A player who dealt with injuries in his draft year, settled in nicely, had injuries this year with a skate to the eye, still finished with 40 goals. There's no question about his ability to release the puck and mesh with other high-end talent. His game is still very much in its infancy.' On David Jiricek: 'The hallmark of David's game is his compete level. You've got the huge, hulking frame, 6-4, right shot. Moves well enough; it's still an area he continues to work on. But you see him off the ice, he's still very much got pounds to put on and man strength to come. I think with that you'll see more strength, more balance, more engagement on the ice. He plays a very assertive game, loves to pinch at the offensive blue line and get involved. He has a huge shot. 'At the time of his draft year, he already had played in a men's league, had world junior experience, had been on the big stage and a leader for his team nationally. He's a player we believe in. He just needs a bit of streamlining in his development path. There's been a lot of ups and downs for him. That speaks to the caliber of player — he's so close that, at times, you think he's ready. But sometimes he needs a little bit more seasoning. A player we're excited about. Great attitude, comes to work every day. It's a really hard player to find. Right shot with that size with that pedigree. Looking at your defense for under-23 with (Brock) Faber, Buium and Jiricek, there's a lot to be excited about.' Advertisement On Danila Yurov: 'Another player who had surgery. Even if you saw how quickly he came back from the last injury, you see how much fire there is in this player. Another one of ours who won a championship. He led his team in scoring. Plays up the middle. Two-way. Can skate, handles the puck, terrific shot. I'm excited to see his integration to North America. He's got a great personality, there's always a smile on his face. He's been talking about being in North America since the day we met him in Montreal. I expect him to attack it with that kind of vigor.' On Charlie Stramel: 'That was the perfect situation this year. A familiar coach, a program on the rise. A big opportunity. I think it goes without saying that Will Morlock and the strength and conditioning staff at MSU did a great job. Charlie is significantly lighter this year, moving great. I think also with (coach Adam Nightingale), his identity is very clear. He's straight-line, he's getting to the net, he's making room, he's winning faceoffs. It was fun to watch Charlie, he was enjoying hockey again. It was a tough track for him. He's been through some things off the ice, he went in early to school, had a coaching change, maybe lacked some support as well. He had a great year and we want to see him go back and do it again and hopefully win a national championship.' On Liam Ohgren: 'For Marco and Liam, the conscientious two-way game can sometimes supersede the offensive ability. Liam can shoot the puck as well as anybody. For me, one of his strengths his draft year was his ability to forecheck. As he gets more and more comfortable and more of an opportunity to get in and pressure pucks and create turnovers, you're going to see how strong he is at that. He's great at angling, has a really good stick, can create turnovers down low. He can beat goalies clean from that level with his shot, which is not easy to do. He's coming. The confidence is there. I'm excited to see how he arrives at camp. He's built like a tank.' On Hunter Haight: 'I think a big one for Hunter is his mindset. He's already had that first good step, quickness and speed, skill, hockey sense. But I think for a guy in his frame, part of what makes him really successful is he chose to be. He chose to engage in battles, he chose to win pucks, never takes the long route. He's quick on pucks, he forces things and he can read and react off others. A lot of it is he decides to be as good as he is going to be. That was his choice for him to go out and make an impression (in AHL Iowa). It started at rookie camp, even amongst his peers, he wanted to stand out. It's not always about ability, sometimes it's also about that drive and that compete, that will to want to get there, and I think Hunter has that.' (Top photo of Marco Rossi: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Quarterback to the future: Why Jaxson Dart remains undeniable part of NY Giants' present
EAST RUTHERFORD - This was the first conversation between Brian Daboll and Jaxson Dart as head coach and quarterback of the New York Giants, and there was no denying the connection made in the three months since their initial meeting in Mobile, Alabama. Moments after Dart was officially selected with the 25th overall pick in the NFL Draft, as he stepped away from his celebration with friends and family, the pomp and circumstance quieted down enough for this reality to set in. Advertisement 'I'm banking on you,' Daboll told Dart, in the midst of a congratulatory phone call from the Giants. 'You got me?' To which the rookie quarterback replied: 'Smart man.' Any validation of that sentiment with respect to Dart will depend on his ability to back up those words, of course. Because the Giants were in desperate need of a reboot at quarterback this season, there's no debate about that, and the arrivals of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston certainly represented a personality implant of epic proportions. How that'll play on the field remains to be seen as the Giants move into the second half of their spring workouts with all eyes on the quarterbacks. Wilson is the starter with Winston and Tommy DeVito also having started games in this league, and as Winston said back in March: "This team is looking for a complete paradigm shift." Advertisement That will only prove successful – both in the short and long term – if the Giants get this quarterback puzzle right, on and off the field. And make no mistake: Dart represents the future, that's undeniable. How quickly he can emerge as a legitimate option for this team as presently constituted will set a tone for this season and beyond. No matter how well Wilson plays, regardless of what Winston and DeVito do, it'll take a massive upset for any of the three to stand in Dart's way once he's ready, whenever that may be. And Daboll knows this, which is why the dance between the development and eventual deployment of a 21-year-old quarterback is a delicate one. Advertisement Dart might not play a down for the Giants this season. There's also a chance he starts much sooner than anticipated. Embrace this as Big Blue reality, which remains a mystery because of what we know and what we don't. Daboll and Dart hit it off essentially from jump, and that rapport became more obvious once Dart represented himself extremely well during his '30' visit to New Jersey just three days after the Scouting Combine. Daboll liked his moxie, his intelligence and his swagger; Dart sensed something special from a coach who talks and teaches the game to quarterbacks like he plays it. In the weeks that followed, Daboll wound up texting with Dart a lot. His engagement with the player the Giants would select as their franchise quarterback came relatively easy during the pre-draft evaluation process. Advertisement Because of those interactions, the Ole Miss star was gaining confidence in just how much Daboll respected his game, loved his intangibles. Everything seemed to mesh with his personality and a plan for how he could reach new heights in the NFL with the Giants. So Dart started to let himself believe in what became reality: he was going to be a Giant. But the truth is: he did not know for certain, and neither did Daboll. And then the guy Dart wanted as his next head coach essentially ghosted him. The communication just stopped, and there was really no explanation. Just part of the dance, Dart tried to convince himself, and he was eventually proven correct. Advertisement Dart fought the temptation to envision himself as a Giant, just as Daboll resisted the hope to start working with him as his quarterback because of the fickle nature of the draft. All that ended on the draft night phone call when Daboll and Dart embraced the challenge they now share. May 10, 2025; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) throws a pass during rookie minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images A year ago, the Giants seemingly accepted their fate at quarterback. They tried to trade up in the NFL Draft for Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye - as much as they could with teams that had no desire to move - but to no avail. They wanted Tyrod Taylor back in free agency, but instead got Drew Lock. They did not entirely believe in Daniel Jones, yet because of the money they had already invested in him, their Hail Mary of a choice involved giving Jones one final chance to bounce back. He did not, was benched and then released at his request in early November. Advertisement Hope is not a plan, as team brass learned the hard way last season. The Giants used three different quarterbacks in Daboll's second season and four last season en route to a three-win campaign. "They went from milquetoast to Fireball [whiskey],' which is how one league source described the personality makeover of the Giants' quarterback room, and that was before Dart became the centerpiece. Dart has signed his fully guaranteed, four-year, $17 million contract, including a signing bonus of $9 million and a fifth-year option, two individuals with knowledge of the financial details told and The Record. Advertisement Wilson is on a one-year deal worth $10.5 million with incentives. Winston is on a two-year deal worth $8 million. DeVito is on a one-year non-guaranteed deal worth $1 million. Wilson has the Super Bowl ring and the resume that's hard to ignore. He's also on his third team in three years, and at 36 years old, while he still carries himself as he once did, there are questions if his game is enough to get this team into contention against the Eagles, Commanders and Cowboys in the NFC East. Winston and DeVito are not what you would call fade-into-the-background players, given the way each connects with various corners of the locker room. Head coach Brian Daboll and Russell Wilson, quarterback with the NY Giants, are shown during practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center, East Rutherford, NJ, May 28, 2025. Sure, the defense is what should give the Giants their identity in 2025 with the addition of prized rookie Abdul Carter to a front led by Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Advertisement The timeframe is uncertain, given the complicated schedule by which Daboll and the coaches must operate. If this were only about the maturation of Dart, that'd be challenging enough. Now consider that will be happening at the same time Daboll and his staff must dedicate time and effort to the entire team, especially on the heels of a three-win season with the urgency to be ready to compete. So we'll chart plays during passing drills, highlighting what Dart does in an attempt to assess how far he has come. "As a competitor, you see yourself as the best any time you step on the field," Dart said. "I think if you don't see it that way, especially as a quarterback, the team is not going to believe in you at the highest level." Advertisement This is where he believes he was meant to be, the pressure of being the next QB of the Giants and everything that comes with that expectation is part of the job. "What we're looking for from him is to grow each and every day with a positive mindset," Daboll said. "I think he has the tools physically and mentally to do that." Eat Rutherford, NJ -- May 9, 2025 -- Quarterback, Jaxson Dart and head coach Brian Daboll talk during warm up drills at Giants Rookie Minicamp. One day in the future, the Giants will expect Dart to be their starting quarterback, the face of the franchise and the player to whom an entire locker room looks when the chips are down. That day is not today or next week. Whether we're any closer to that in two months when training camp begins, at some point in the regular season or not until 2026, it's really up to Dart and how he handles everything that'll be thrown his way. Advertisement 'You're where you're supposed to be,' Daboll told Dart in that draft night conversation. And now that Jaxson Dart is here, his presence is going to be impossible to anyone - Daboll included - to ignore. This article originally appeared on Jaxson Dart: Why Giants QB of future is undeniable part of the present
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shawn Horcoff's Son Would Love To Play With Oilers' Star
EDMONTON – The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Or in the case of this former Edmonton Oilers' son, he would like to stay close to the tree. Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. William Horcoff, son of former Oilers forward (and captain) Shawn Horcoff, is one of the players eligible to be drafted in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Advertisement This past weekend, the Cup Final took a backseat to the Scouting Combine, where all the greatest prospects dreaming of their name being called on draft day gathered for interviews and testing. Trending Oilers Stories 'Everything At Once': Oilers' Leon Draisaitl On Strong Nugent-Hopkins Performance 'Everything At Once': Oilers' Leon Draisaitl On Strong Nugent-Hopkins Performance EDMONTON – 'We all know that he's capable of putting up numbers and scoring and making great plays.' 'We Are In The Final For A Reason': Corey Perry Keeps Oilers' Cup Final Loss In Perspective What Do Oilers Fans Chant? Playoffs Edition 'I Really Hope We Score': Oilers' Stuart Skinner And His Remarkable Talent Of Staying Ready Advertisement Oilers Secretive Of New Victory Song, "Pink Pony Club" EXCLUSIVE: Mark Messier On Oilers, Budweiser, His Future & More EXCLUSIVE: Mark Messier On Oilers, Budweiser, His Future & More EDMONTON – Mark Messier loves Edmonton. William's dad, Shawn, is now a member of the Detroit Red Wings management, operating as the GM for their AHL affiliate as well as Assistant GM to the Red Wings. But Shawn spent many years playing for the Oilers. He played with a current member of the Oilers when they were a rookie. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins entered the NHL in the 2011-12 season. Shawn and Nugent-Hopkins didn't spend much even-strength ice time together, but they did skate together on the powerplay for two years before Shawn was traded to the Dallas Stars. Advertisement When speaking to the press during the combine, William revealed a few Oilers-related tidbits. For starters, he's cheering for the Oilers to win the Cup Final. Additionally, William said that the one player he would love to play with, who his dad played with, is Nugent-Hopkins. The draft hopeful also revealed that he first met Nugent-Hopkins when he was five years old. William also commented that Nugent-Hopkins looks like he hasn't aged a day since he turned 18. William is a US-born player who spent this past season split between the USNTDP and the NCAA. He joined the University of Michigan mid-way through the season. Advertisement The 6-foot-5 and 199-pound centerman is ranked 24th among North American skaters according to NHL Central Scouting. That could increase his chances of being drafted by the Oilers, who's highest draft pick is a 3rd-round selection. If that happened, the apple would be pretty close to that tree. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
Forbes
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Top 2025 Draft Prospects Put Through The Paces At NHL Scouting Combine
After missing most of the 2024-25 season due to injury, 2025 NHL draft prospect Roger McQueen was a ... More full participant in the June 7 fitness testing at the NHL Scouting Combine. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/NHLI via Getty Images) Looking through the newly released lists of the top historical performers in fitness testing at the NHL Scouting Combine, it's clear that the correlation between high test results and NHL success is, let's say, loose. There are certainly some familiar stars among the top 20 all-time performers in each of the eight categories, as well as some developing players who have not yet reached the NHL level. All told, it's a reminder that physical testing is only one component of the combine, and not a clear predictor of future NHL success. The formal part of 2025 edition, which ran from June 2-7 in Buffalo, also included medical evaluations and the opportunities for teams to meet with the 90 prospects on hand and get to know them better ahead of the 2025 Draft later this month. And with the draft moving to a decentralized format that won't bring hockey's powerbrokers together in Los Angeles, this year's combine was also an important opportunity for GMs and agents to gather and start laying the foundation for off-season trades and signings. From a medical standpoint, the biggest news of the week is that top prospects Matthew Schaefer and Roger McQueen were cleared to participate in the fitness testing despite missing large parts of their seasons due to injuries. Top 2025 NHL draft prospect Matthew Schaefer prepares to perform the Wingate Cycle Ergometer test ... More during the 2025 NHL Scouting Combineon June 7, 2025 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/NHLI via Getty Images) Schaefer, a defenseman with the OHL's Erie Otters, went wire-to-wire as the top-ranked North American skater in the 2024-25 rankings from NHL Central Scouting. After a standout showing as captain of Canada's gold-medal team at last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, Schaefer posted 22 points in 17 games with Erie last fall before breaking his clavicle at the wold junior championship. While pronouncing himself 'fully healed,' Schaefer did not take part in the upper-body-centric bench press or pull-up tests at the combine, 'because I haven't been doing that,' he told reporters. He did rank 15th in the grueling VO2Max bike test of aerobic fitness and measured well in both peak and mean anaerobic performance and grip strength. McQueen, a center with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings who clocked in at 6-foot-5.25 and 198 pounds, brings the kind of size in the middle that NHL teams covet. But he has struggled with back issues for the last two years. After missing five months of the 2024-25 regular season, he returned to the Wheat Kings in March, but played just three playoff games before being sidelined once again. Originally misdiagnosed with a bulging disk, a surgeon discovered a spinal fracture during McQueen's time off this season, and got him on a proper healing regimen. The playoff injury was a muscle issue related to the fracture, McQueen told reporters this week. After two weeks of healing, he's now at 100 percent. Sitting eighth among North American skaters in the Central Scouting rankings despite having missed so much time, McQueen passed his medical at the combine and took part in all the fitness tests. His best showing was an eighth-place finish in the horizontal jump. Carter Bear poses for a portrait during the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine at the HarborCenter on June ... More 05, 2025 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images) Two other top-ranked prospects were not able to participate in the fitness testing. Carter Bear, a left wing with the WHL's Everett Silvertips, was leading his team in scoring with 82 points in 56 games when he suffered a partial tear of his Achilles tendon in early March. Ranked 10th among North American skaters, Bear is back on the ice and told reporters at the combine that his physiotherapist says he's a month ahead of schedule in his recovery. Because he has just begun doing weight-bearing exercises on his injured leg, he did not take part in any of the fitness testing, but expects to be 100 percent for training camp. Caleb Desnoyers, ranked seventh among North American skaters, attended the combine just days after his Moncton Wildcats were eliminated in the semi-final of the CHL's 2025 Memorial Cup. He also did not test, as he is dealing with wrist issues. After their draft-lottery win a month ago, the New York Islanders hold the top pick in the 2025 draft. According to Mike Morreale of new Islanders GM Mathieu Darche took nothing for granted, interviewing more than 60 of the 90 players on hand at the combine over the course of the week. Another hot topic around the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine was the new opportunity for CHL players to join NCAA squads starting next season. The biggest names at the combine who have announced their intention to change tracks next year were 17th-ranked left wing Malcolm Spence of the Erie Otters, who's headed to the University of Michigan, and 25th-ranked center Cole Reschny of the Victoria Royals, who has committed to the University of North Dakota. Other participants have yet to make their final decisions; some will be visiting schools during the weeks leading up to the draft on June 27-28.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL, NFLPA continue to hide ruling from collusion grievance
The NFL benefits from an endless stream of bright, shiny objects. Even in the offseason, there's always something to distract fans and media from taking a closer look at something the powers-that-be are trying to hide. As it relates to a significant collusion grievance that resulted in a 61-page written ruling from an arbitrator, both the NFL and the NFL Players Association continue to conceal the document. Advertisement The grievance focused on the refusal to give fully-guaranteed contracts to specific veteran quarterbacks — with primary focus on Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, and Kyler Murray. The arbitrator found, we're told, that the NFL encouraged teams not to give those players fully-guaranteed contracts. However, the evidence presented regarding the impact of this approach on the three quarterbacks at the heart of the case wasn't strong enough to trigger damages. So it was a mixed result. The NFLPA won, to the extent that evidence of collusion was found. The NFL won, to the extent that no money was awarded to any of the players. But neither side felt sufficiently good about the outcome to disclose it. The NFL danced around it in January. The NFLPA has said nothing about it, either. If this dispute had played out in court, the ruling would be a matter of public record. The NFL and NFLPA have created a private system for resolving disputes. And while the arbitrators who handle such matters typically insist on confidentiality while the cases are pending, there's nothing that prevents either the league or the union from publishing the ruling. Advertisement From the Super Bowl to the Scouting Combine to free agency to the draft to OTAs, it's been easy to forget about the 61-page collusion grievance ruling. A ruling that apparently contains something they don't want us to see. So what can it be? It could be (and we're not saying it is) that the evidence in the case includes some frank and candid internal communications that one side doesn't want to see the light of day — and that the other side has gone along with that. It also could be that the two sides were at one point actively negotiating redactions to the 61-page order to ensure that such frank and candid internal communications would not be communicated externally. Whatever the explanation, there's an important document that the NFL and the NFLPA are hiding from everyone. Despite the private nature of the arbitration agreement, pro football is an inherently public entity. It has millions of customers. It finagles billions in taxpayer money. It has a federal antitrust exemption that results in significantly more valuable TV rights. The NFL should be expected to release this document. The union should be, too. But with no one pressuring them to do it, they can jointly continue to hide behind the various bright, shiny objects that will continue to keep us properly distracted.
