Talky Tina and ESPN's Path to a NFL Wild-Card Playoff Game

Here's the background, as I see it.

ESPN Extends Deal With N.F.L. for $15 Billion. (The New York Times, 9/8/2011)

Previous deal, which expires this year, includes....

• rights to broadcast 17 regular season games.
• no playoff games
• no Super Bowl

Excerpt:   The new deal provides a path to adding a wild-card playoff game on the network by providing the league with an option to give one to ESPN — which would appear to mean taking one away from another network.

How that develops will probably be a part of continuing negotiations with CBS, Fox and NBC, which will be under pressure to retain their N.F.L. rights, at possibly steep fee increases, in a sluggish economy.

OK, let's make the transition to today's news.

ESPN Quits Film Project on Concussions in N.F.L.  (The New York Times, 8/22/2013)

The project is not supported by the NFL.

Excerpt:   [Chris] LaPlaca [ESPN spokesman] said ESPN’s decision was not based on any concerns about hurting its contractual relationship with the N.F.L.  [Frontline.  "League of Denial:  The NFL's Concussion Crisis".]

Yeah, well, I have this beautiful bridge to sell you, Chris.