Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman advocating for players to get paid more when TV rights deals explode

The NFL’s media rights deals bring in billions each year to the league, but it’s expected to rip up its current paperwork for an even more lucrative one as early as the start of the 2026 campaign. 

The NFL reportedly had a fall timeframe to complete a new media rights deal, but John Ourand of Puck reported earlier this month that it is now believed the league wants it done before Week 1 in September. The league technically can’t exit the current media rights deals until after the 2029 season...