‘Mad Dog’ Russo Shreds NFL for ‘Stupid’ Decision to Make Playoff Game a Peacock Exclusive for $110 Million: ‘That Is Being a Pig!’
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo struggled to make sense of the NFL making one of its upcoming playoff games an exclusive on NBC streaming service Peacock.
Before the season began, it was reported that the NFL sold the rights to NBC for around $110 million. The rights were for the Saturday primetime game during wildcard weekend. With playoff seeding locked in, it’s now confirmed the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins will play that game.
One of the most anticipated matchups of the season — which will see Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill returning to Arrowhead Stadium to face his old team — will not be on cable for most of the country. Instead, they’ll have to subscribe to Peacock.
Russo said the move was unnecessary considering how much money the NFL already makes.
“You mean to tell me right now that the NFL — that’s got packages for billions and billions and billions of dollars,” Russo said on First Take on Wednesday. “You’re gonna tell me right now that they had to sell this Miami-Kansas City game to Peacock for $110 million?”
“Do the math. There are 32 teams That’s three-and-a-half million dollars per owner. Even (Stephen A. Smith) doesn’t need that money. Three-and-a-half million dollars per owner and we sell the team to the Peacock?
“If you live in Missouri, there’s no other football teams in Missouri. Wichita’s a long way from Kansas City. That’s not part of the blackout rule. So, the poor person who’s 75 years of age, who’s followed the Chiefs (Hank) Stram and Len Dawson, has gotta figure out on his remote where to get the stupid game and pay for the streaming service to see a playoff game!”
Russo wasn’t alone in his thinking. Fellow NY sports radio icon — and former colleague on Mike and the Mad Dog — Mike Francesa blasted the league for the move earlier in the week.
“All for $110 million?” Russo continued. “I mean, the NFL, which prints money — that’s got more money than God — they gotta make another $110 million for that stupid Peacock game and make the Dolphins go out there and play. Oh my God, that drove me crazy! That is being a pig! That’s what that’s being.”
Watch above via ESPN.
