While the men of the NFL (National Football League) are back this week, the women are the big discussion point of this season. (Okay, and you too, COVID).
Here we go,
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. The NFL will have a record 12 women coaches this season, and six are women of color. Included in the 12 are Maral Javadifar and Lori Locust, who were the first women to win Super Bowl as coaches with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The growth of women in the NFL is credited to a few programs that include the "Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship" and the league's annual Women's Careers in Football Forum. The two aim to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches. A SEAT AT THE TABLE
2. COVID protocols for unvaccinated and vaccinated players are very different this season. So different that some coaches have had to backtrack on comments that insinuated that they kept vaccinated players over those who were not. If vaccinated players test positive, they can return to the team as soon as 48 hours after testing positive (provided they have two negative tests 24 hours apart). Unvaccinated players must isolate for a minimum of 10 days, even if they're asymptomatic. WHY IS THIS NOT PART OF OUR FANTASY FOOTBALL CONVERSATION?
3. Last year was the first season in 14 seasons that the NFL did not play a game in London. And while it might be tough for you to get to London this fall, the city will be hosting two NFL games in October. The Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets will play on Sunday, October 10, and the Jacksonville Jaguars will take on the Miami Dolphins the following weekend, on October 17. The teams will play at the home of Tottenham Hotspur (soccer). FINGERS CROSSED IT'LL HAPPEN
4. Despite concerns about the toll a season takes on a player's body, money talks. During the off-season, team owners voted to expand the regular season from 16 to 17 games starting this season. This season there will also be a change with how players get paid. Players will receive at least 48% of all league revenue. That figure could increase depending on the upcoming TV negotiations. SHOW ME THE MONEY
5. If you find the idea of the broadcast team talking stats and not strategy or providing interesting insights to the game, now you're in luck. Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks and brothers Peyton and Eli Manning will provide a simulcast of Monday Night Football. Basically, it'll be the two of them sitting around and watching the game. And if you've ever followed them on social media or even Peyton's SNL hosting gig, they're pretty funny. It's two dudes, a football game and a microphone. PASS THE POPCORN
