Morning Buzz

NFL teams “tapped into their creativity” Thursday night while “rolling out a variety of takes revealing their schedules for this season with a mixture of art, video games, movie references” and more. The Saints used a “season forecast” approach that included people like Jim Cantore from The Weather Channel. The Rams tapped the movie “Napoleon Dynamite” for “A Dynamite schedule” reveal. The Buccaneers “went with a nod to the TV show ‘Baywatch’ protecting Tampa Bay,” while the Raiders used QBs Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza for a “take on the 2008 movie ‘Step Brothers.’” The reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks had actor Josh Lucas “introducing the schedule in the form of a cologne commercial, with opponents having their own signature scents” (AP, 5/14).

References to the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini saga “seemed inevitable,” and it was the Chargers’ social media team that chose to “poke fun” at it in its schedule release. In the “Halo-themed video,” the Chargers “made a couple references to the ongoing drama when revealing their Thanksgiving weekend game” against the Patriots. A “sign with the words ‘Next Photo Dump 1 Mile’ was in the video as was a pop-up notification from the New York Post.” The decision is not “surprising,” as the Chargers’ last game was a playoff loss to Vrabel’s Patriots -- “so nothing short of an edict from the NFL probably would have stopped the franchise’s social media team from referencing the Vrabel-Russini controversy” (L.A. TIMES, 5/14).

USA TODAY compiled all 32 teams’ schedule releases for easy viewing.

ESPN “leveraged” NFL Network’s air to “simulcast its two-hour ‘SportsCenter’ schedule release show” Thursday night -- which was also shown on the ESPN flagship station. In the past, NFL Network’s “NFL GameDay Morning” crew -- including anchor Rich Eisen, Pro Football HOFer Kurt Warner and others -- “had done a three-hour broadcast to celebrate the schedule reveal” (USA TODAY, 5/14). The move comes after NFL Network produced and televised its own version of the 2026 NFL Draft, “despite the fact that both ESPN and ABC had their own version of the show.” That decision “created the impression that NFL Network will continue to do its own thing.” But the “decision to strip NFL Network of its schedule-release show underscores the reality that there’s a new reality for NFL Network” as a part of the ESPN conglomerate (PROFOOTBALLTALK, 5/14).

Hillsborough County staff on Thursday released a nonbinding agreement between the Rays, the county and the city of Tampa, which outlines a $967M “public contribution toward the cost” of a $2.3B ballpark. The Rays previously proposed a $1.065B “subsidy from the city and county.” The document comes a week ahead of expected votes by the Tampa City Council and Hillsborough’s Board of County Commissioners -- and roughly two weeks before the Rays’ June 1 deadline for the city and county to approve nonbinding agreements. County officials “could vote on May 20 with Tampa voting the following day.” County Commissioner Ken Hagan said the document is a “positive step forward.” However, he noted that there are “still details left to resolve.” Team leaders have reiterated that they “hope to have nonbinding agreements approved by the end of May as they seek state funding” to redevelop the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough College -- the site of the proposed ballpark (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/14).

The Canucks on Thursday named Hockey HOFers Henrik and Daniel Sedin co-presidents to “lead the next era of the team’s hockey operations,” with Assistant GM Ryan Johnson promoted to GM. The announcement of the front office moves ends an “extended search filled with twists and turns.” The Sedins have been working with the Canucks in “various capacities since the spring of 2021.” The Sedins “dabbled in hockey operations during their first year working with the franchise,” but they decided to “lean into player development and on-ice coaching” after the Canucks brought in President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford and GM Patrik Allvin. Allvin was fired on April 17, while Rutherford last week revealed that he would step down.

Johnson joined the Canucks in 2013 and has “moved up the ranks,” from development coach to Assistant Dir/Player Development to Dir/Player Development to the GM of Vancouver’s AHL affiliate Abbotsford Canucks and Assistant GM. Johnson’s track record with Abbotsford is “impressive and displays the sort of outside-the-box thinking required in the contemporary NHL.” He has also had “significant input on NHL depth-level signings” (THE ATHLETIC, 5/14). In Vancouver, Patrick Johnston writes there is “every reason to think that the Sedin twins will thrive as management leadership,” while Johnson is “well regarded for his management abilities.” They are going to “guide the Canucks through a rebuild, emphasizing youth above all else and creating a culture” (Vancouver PROVINCE, 5/14).

The WTA on Friday will debut the first episode of a fashion-focused short-form content series called “Style Unpacked” on its YouTube channel. Created in partnership with creative agency Run Deep and produced by Spanish production house Far Media, the first of four weekly episodes follows WTA No. 83 Camila Osorio as a local stylist dresses her for the Laureus World Sports Awards, which were held in Madrid in April (at the same time as the Madrid Open). Future episodes will feature world No. 9 Victoria Mboko, No. 33 Xinyu Wang and No. 84 Oksana Selekhmeteva -- all of which were recorded last month in Madrid.

WTA Ventures Chief Brand Officer Sarah Swanson characterized the series as an extension of the WTA’s recent rebrand, which she said aimed to position the WTA as a culture and entertainment brand, in addition to sports. “Fandom is because people care about athletes,” Swanson said. “We’re always looking for ways to create connection between fans and athletes. The off-court storytelling is part of that brand positioning and part of bringing the players’ personalities to life.”

In “Style Unpacked,” Swanson said the WTA is creating “repeatable, programmable content” that speaks to fans and participating athletes. Other examples include a recent slate of “challenge” videos produced at last month’s Charleston Open and an interview series she said will release soon. The WTA also leans heavily into fashion around its year-end finals by styling its players for glamorous photoshoots. “There’s a few different areas that we’re looking at,” Swanson said. “Then as we move into content and production planning moving forward -- working with our broadcast partners, working across our social, our YouTube -- [we’ll decide] what are the right programs that we can invest in that can help bring our players to life?”

The future of the “Style Unpacked” series will be decided by engagement from viewers and feedback from athletes, she added. The ATP has also recently sharpened its focus on fashion by, among other efforts, operating “Styling Studios” for athletes at tournaments.

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast, Tennis Channel CEO Jeff Blackburn talks about his dream tennis match.

The Bills “will once again make WGRF-FM their official flagship radio station” after a 15-year absence. The team is “ending its relationship with WGR-AM” and will “produce, manage and sell advertising on all broadcasts on the Buffalo Bills Radio Network, including pregame and postgame coverage.” Play-by-play announcer Chris Brown and analyst Eric Wood “will be joined by” sideline reporter Steve Tasker, who replaces Sal Capaccio after Capaccio had been in that role for WGR. Cumulus station WSKO-FM “will serve as the Syracuse affiliate,” and Bills President of Business Operations Pete Guelli said that the team “is in advanced negotiations to add affiliate stations in Rochester and southern Ontario.” Guelli “declined to reveal terms of the deal and whether Cumulus paid a rights fee to carry the games” (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/14).

China Media Group, the parent of China’s national broadcaster, has “reached a ​World Cup broadcasting deal with FIFA,” ending a standoff over TV rights less than ‌a month before the tournament. State broadcaster CCTV reported the package “covers the 2026 and 2030 men’s tournaments as well as the Women’s World Cups in 2027 and 2031.” CMG has secured “exclusive media and sub-licensing rights in mainland China for ​the four-tournament cycle, spanning free-to-air and paid TV as well as online and mobile platforms," CCTV said, “without disclosing financial terms.” Broadcast rights “for the upcoming tournament alone cost” $60M, according to China’s state-backed outlet The Paper. FIFA earlier this month said that it “had concluded broadcast agreements in more than 175 territories worldwide, while ​negotiations in China and India were ongoing” (REUTERS, 5/15).

The Royals are looking for a VP/Corporate Partnerships. The K.C.-based position is responsible for creating strategic planning and marketing new sponsorship opportunities that fulfill the revenue and brand needs of the team (Royals).

The 76ers are looking for a Senior Manager/Business Strategy. The Camden-based position is responsible for developing presentations and strategic recommendations for senior leadership and driving strategic initiatives by collaborating with stakeholders across all business functions (76ers).

Bay FC is looking for a Manager/Business Insights & Analytics. The S.F.-based position is responsible for owning the sponsorship measurement framework end-to-end by integrating brand exposure, fan sentiment and digital performance data into compelling partner recaps (Bay FC).

CBS Sports is looking for a VP/Marketing Creative Content. The N.Y.-based position is responsible for leading the narrative and visual strategy for marketing campaigns across the networks largest events and franchises and owning end‑to‑end conceptual creative development, including campaign ideation, messaging and storytelling frameworks (CBS Sports).

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“This 1982 no. 1 hit was inspired by ‘Splendor in the Grass,’ a classic film about the failed expectations of teens Wilma & Bud.”