Welcome to Deals & Deadlines with Hadley Engelhardt and Matt Chernoff—your go-to podcast for the business side of sports.

This week, we break down everything from NFL owners meetings and the push for an 18-game schedule, to media rights battles, NIL impact on March Madness, and the latest on Kirk Cousins finding a new home. Plus, what’s really driving decisions in pro sports—money, player safety, or both?

We also dive into the future of Super Bowl host cities, the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix in live sports, and why college basketball is THRIVING in the NIL era.

⏱️ CHAPTERS
0:00 – Intro to Deals & Deadlines
0:35 – NFL Owners Meetings: What Really Happens Behind Closed Doors
1:12 – 18-Game Season & International Expansion Talks
1:36 – Short Weeks vs Player Safety Debate
3:43 – Potential Referee Lockout & Replacement Officials
5:29 – NFL Expands Mental Health Services: Genuine or PR?
7:49 – Netflix “Make Goods” After NFL Christmas Ratings Miss
9:09 – Future Super Bowl Cities & Nashville Buzz

11:12 – Kirk Cousins Lands with the Raiders: Smart Move or Done Deal?
15:36 – March Madness Ratings BOOM & NIL Impact
19:15 – Georgia Basketball NIL Concerns

22:00 – MLB Opening Week & Streaming Success
25:02 – Michael Jordan’s $4.5 BILLION Empire & NASCAR Success

26:50 – Puka Nacua, Rehab, and Off-Field Responsibility
28:46 – Tiger Woods, Legacy, and Tough Conversations

💰 From billion-dollar TV deals to player contracts and league decisions—this is the business of sports explained.

📺 Watch on the 680 The Fan YouTube channel
🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for weekly episodes

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March Madness is breaking records, the NFL Draft is getting a major TV-friendly tweak, and Major League Baseball is heading to Netflix 👀 — this week’s Deals & Deadlines is LOADED with sports business storylines. Matt Chernoff and Hadley Engelhardt break down why the NCAA Tournament is seeing record-setting viewership, how NIL and the transfer portal are actually HELPING the product, and what it all means for the future of college sports. Plus, the NFL is speeding up the Draft — and it’s all about maximizing TV and ad revenue. What does that mean for teams, trades, and fans? We also dive into MLB’s streaming push with Netflix, the chaos around local TV deals (including the Braves), new tech like the ABS challenge system, and how teams are finding new ways to make money — even selling game-used bases. And that’s just the start… 🔥 Other topics include: Bijan Robinson extension buzz and RB market strategy NBA salary cap changes tied to local TV struggles Mike Tomlin heading to TV and what that means for networks Frank Thomas lawsuit over jersey sales Masters + Thomas Rhett marketing play 📺 Watch on the 680 The Fan YouTube channel 🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday 📻 Listen to Matt Chernoff on Chuck & Chernoff weekdays 2–6pm ET

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NFL Free Agency is officially underway, and the business side of the league is moving fast. On this episode of Deals & Deadlines, Matt Chernoff and sports agent Hadley Engelhardt break down the biggest sports business stories of the week — from major NFL deals to the future of sports media and ticketing. Topics in this episode include: • The Maxx Crosby trade drama between the Raiders and Ravens • Why Tua Tagovailoa signing with the Falcons for $1.3M actually makes sense • The biggest winners and losers of NFL free agency deals • The Braves launching Braves.TV and BravesVision — what it costs fans • The business impact if Team USA is eliminated from the World Baseball Classic • Why the Hawks canceled Magic City Night after announcing it weeks earlier • How the Ticketmaster monopoly case could change ticket prices • The WNBA labor negotiations and what’s at stake for the league Plus, insight into how agents and teams negotiate during the NFL’s legal tampering period and why free agency is considered the “Super Bowl” for agents. Watch new episodes of Deals & Deadlines every Wednesday. Subscribe for more sports business insight from the 680 The Fan team. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Deals & Deadlines 00:32 NFL Free Agency Begins & Legal Tampering Explained 01:39 Maxx Crosby Trade Drama with the Ravens 03:36 Who Really Won the Crosby Situation? 04:23 Falcons Signing Tua Tagovailoa for $1.3M 06:08 The Dolphins’ $99M Dead Cap Decision 07:56 What This Means for Michael Penix Jr. 09:08 Jordan Davis’ $78M Extension & DT Market Reset 10:30 Browns Continue Dealing with the Deshaun Watson Contract 12:02 Why Certain NFL Teams Drive Up Free Agent Prices 13:39 BravesVision & Braves.TV Streaming Explained 15:03 Will Fans Actually Pay for Braves.TV? 18:25 World Baseball Classic & Team USA Controversy 20:38 Why the Hawks Canceled Magic City Night 24:00 Ticketmaster Antitrust Case & Ticket Price Changes 27:02 WNBA Labor Negotiations Explained 29:46 Olympics Softball Games Moving to Oklahoma City

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The sports business world is buzzing this week. On this episode of Deals & Deadlines, Matt Chernoff and super agent Hadley Engelhardt break down: 🏈 What REALLY matters at the NFL Combine (it’s not the 40 time) 💰 The new salary cap numbers and teams that MUST spend big ✂️ Kirk Cousins’ release — what it means financially for the Falcons 📺 The Braves’ new “Braves Vision” TV model and how it could reshape MLB economics 👑 LeBron James ownership rumors in Las Vegas 👔 Should NBA coaches bring back suits? 🍌 Why the Savannah Bananas might be the smartest business in sports From cap mechanics to TV contracts to expansion ownership, this episode dives deep into the money side of sports. Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday.

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Super Bowl week might be over, but the business storylines are just getting started. Matthew is joined by sports business insider and super agent Hadley Engelhardt to break down the biggest numbers and decisions coming out of Super Bowl 60 — from TV ratings and ad revenue to incentive bonuses that can reshape a quarterback’s entire market. 📌 On this episode, we cover: • Super Bowl ratings: 125M viewers and why the NFL stays “bulletproof” • Sam Darnold’s $4M in incentives — and how winning changes leverage (and the next contract) • NBC’s Super Bowl ad haul: $8M average spots, some hitting $10M, and the $800M revenue estimate • Halftime show viewership spikes and why it still drives the conversation every year • Rumors the Seahawks could be up for sale — and what a record $7–8B price tag could look like • A look ahead at the NFL calendar: franchise tag window, Combine, legal tampering, new league year, and Draft dates • Crisis management from the agent side: navigating the James Pearce Jr. situation and the contract implications • College football money & leverage: Gunnar Stockton’s Georgia deal and the portal PR game • Eligibility fights in the NCAA and scheduling trends that could kill big non-conference matchups • NBA load management vs. tanking — and what the league can (and can’t) do • WNBA CBA negotiations and where the leverage really is • Plus: a CEO “said the quiet part out loud” moment about pricing power 🎧 New episodes of Deals & Deadlines drop every Wednesday — subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and watch the full show on the 680 The Fan YouTube channel. 00:00 Welcome to Deals & Deadlines (Super Bowl business edition) 00:44 Super Bowl 60 ratings: 125M viewers (still bulletproof) 01:56 Sam Darnold’s incentive bonuses: $4M breakdown + leverage 03:46 Why winning QBs become “forever” marketable in a city 04:58 NBC ad revenue: $8M average, $10M top end, $800M total 06:06 Halftime show numbers + in-stadium vs TV experience 07:40 Seahawks sale rumors: potential $7–8B valuation 09:00 Next Super Bowl is on Valentine’s Day + future host cities 09:22 Super Bowl host city economic impact (LA/Atlanta ahead) 10:09 NFL offseason calendar: tags, Combine, legal tampering, draft 10:46 Inside an agent’s busiest stretch (FA + draft prep) 11:48 NBC’s 16-day gauntlet: Super Bowl → Olympics → All-Star 13:20 Agent crisis management: James Pearce Jr. situation 18:06 Gunnar Stockton/UGA deal: portal leverage vs “loyalty” talk 20:41 Ole Miss eligibility fight: Trinidad Chambliss waiver push 21:52 SEC nine-game schedules + Alabama/Ohio State uncertainty 23:35 Load management vs tanking: NBA’s OKC investigation 27:24 WNBA CBA counteroffer: salary cap talks and leverage 28:49 Chipotle CEO “because we can” pricing lesson #NFL #SuperBowl #SportsBusiness #NBA #WNBA #CollegeFootball #NIL #FreeAgency #NFLDraft #DealsAndDeadlines #680TheFan

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Welcome to a new episode of Deals & Deadlines — where we break down the biggest stories in the sports business world. 🎙️ Matt Chernoff is joined by sports business insider / super agent Hadley Engelhardt to discuss: ✅ The business machine behind Super Bowl week ✅ The NFL’s projected 2026 salary cap jump (and what media revenue means for players + owners) ✅ ESPN’s major deal to acquire NFL Network and digital assets ✅ The league’s continued push into international markets ✅ College Football Playoff schedule changes for 2026–2027 (and why the calendar keeps growing) ✅ Is the Pro Bowl slowly disappearing? What replaces it in contracts? ✅ The business ripple effects of a potential LeBron James move ✅ Disney’s latest earnings — and where their real profits still come from ✅ Plus: what the Braves could do next as regional sports network uncertainty continues across MLB 📅 New episodes every Wednesday 🎧 Listen anywhere you get your podcasts 📺 Watch on the 680 The Fan YouTube channel — and don’t forget to subscribe! Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Deals & Deadlines 04:46 The business of Super Bowl week 07:47 NFL salary cap projection for 2026 10:32 International expansion + new markets 12:24 CFP schedule changes (2026–2027) 16:51 Is the Pro Bowl going away? 19:39 LeBron’s future and economic impact 24:54 ESPN buys NFL Network + NFL equity stake 26:38 Disney earnings: parks vs. media margins 29:39 Chief Kindness Officer + what’s next… #DealsAndDeadlines #SportsBusiness #NFL #SuperBowl #NFLSalaryCap #ESPN #NFLNetwork #SportsMedia #MediaRights #StreamingSports #Braves #MLB #RegionalSportsNetworks #CFP #CollegeFootballPlayoff #NBA #LeBronJames #Disney #SportsMarketing #SportsEconomy #AgentLife #BusinessOfSports #Podcast #AtlantaSports #680TheFan

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The college football season may be over, but the business of the sport is booming. Super agent Hadley Engelhardt and Matt Chernoff break down how Curt Cignetti took Indiana from the bottom of college football to a national championship — and a nearly $15 million payday. What does that kind of financial leap mean in the NIL and transfer portal era, and is Indiana’s run a blueprint or a perfect storm? The guys also dive into the College Football Playoff money machine, including sky-high ticket prices, nearly $250 million in postseason ad revenue, and what expansion to 16 teams could mean for TV networks, conferences, and fans. Plus, how academics and the transfer portal calendar may finally force real change. From there, it’s the NFL coaching carousel, where leverage, timing, and agents shape decisions — including why Atlanta moved fast to hire Kevin Stefanski. Finally, the business of baseball takes center stage with the Dodgers’ latest blockbuster: Kyle Tucker’s $240 million deal, complete with deferrals, opt-outs, and big implications for parity and the next MLB CBA. 🎧 New episodes of Deals and Deadlines drop every Wednesday on all podcast platforms 📺 Watch every episode on the 680 The Fan YouTube channel Chapters 00:00 – Intro 00:40 – Indiana title run & Curt Cignetti’s payday 02:10 – Ticket prices, demand & postseason ad revenue 06:05 – CFP expansion: 12 vs 16 vs 24 teams 08:45 – NIL, transfer portal timing & academics 15:10 – NFL coaching carousel & Kevin Stefanski hire 24:40 – Dodgers, Kyle Tucker & MLB financial imbalance #DealsAndDeadlines #SportsBusiness #CollegeFootball #NIL #TransferPortal #CFP #CollegeFootballPlayoff #NFL #CoachingCarousel #MLB #Dodgers #KyleTucker #680TheFan

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The NFL coaching carousel is officially underway — and Deals & Deadlines is breaking down the sports business, coaching interviews, front office hiring, and NIL money driving the biggest decisions in football right now. Matt Chernoff and sports agent Hadley Engelhardt cover the latest on NFL head coach openings, GM job searches, the real behind-the-scenes interview process, the Rooney Rule, and why John Harbaugh unexpectedly hitting the market changes everything. Plus: the Falcons’ use of consultants, the buzz around Matt Ryan as President of Football Operations, the wild west of NIL and the transfer portal, and major uncertainty in sports TV rights that could impact teams like the Atlanta Braves. If you follow the Atlanta Falcons coaching search, the NFL head coach hiring cycle, college football NIL, or the future of regional sports networks (RSNs) — this episode is for you. ✅ Topics in this episode include: NFL coaching carousel 2026: Falcons, Giants, Titans, Browns, Raiders, Cardinals openings John Harbaugh firing fallout and why teams pivot their shortlists How agents schedule interviews, manage optics, and prep candidates (Zoom vs in-person) Rooney Rule explained + what “real” interviews look like Falcons hiring consultants: how search firms vet candidates + potential conflicts Matt Ryan Falcons front office role: why trust + branding matter in ownership decisions NIL valuations: QB $3.5M high-end, WR $1M–$2M, edge rushers $1M+ and more Transfer portal chaos: leverage, re-entering portal, “pay-for-play” reality Braves TV rights risk: FanDuel/Main Street Sports issues & what it means for payroll ESPN/Disney lawsuit & carriage disputes (Dish vs Disney) Ratings: CFP numbers, brand power, and why the NFL keeps setting records ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to Deals & Deadlines (2026 kickoff) 00:43 – NFL coaching carousel: job openings + surprise Ravens move 01:03 – Agent perspective: HC vs GM interviews & preparation 01:32 – Rooney Rule explained + what “real” interviews look like 02:50 – Who calls who? How interview requests actually happen 03:28 – Choosing the right job: fit, roster, ownership, resources 04:33 – Zoom interviews vs in-person finals: what teams evaluate 05:48 – Why teams hire consultants for GM/HC searches (how it works) 06:14 – Consulting fees + “CYA” factor + hidden agenda risk 07:36 – Falcons front office: Matt Ryan as President of Football Ops? 08:22 – Trust vs experience + branding/optics for ownership 09:30 – Can a former player lead football ops? Learning on the job 11:19 – College football business: transfer portal & NIL market explodes 12:05 – NIL pricing tiers: QB market, WR market, OL/DL, defensive positions 13:40 – “Pay for play” reality + why there’s no loyalty in the portal 15:52 – Braves TV rights uncertainty: FanDuel/Main Street Sports payment issues 18:14 – RSNs, payroll pressure, free agency, and work stoppage worries 19:32 – Dish vs Disney: ESPN leverage, carriage disputes, market power 22:05 – CFP ratings: brand power vs storylines (will numbers drop?) 25:12 – NFL ratings: CBS best season ever + playoff viewership outlook 26:22 – Subscribe + where to watch/listen (new episodes every Friday)

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