Senators Call for More Games on Free TV

A group of 13 U.S. senators wrote a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell urging the league to make the games televised on the league-owned NFL Network more widely available.

Among those signing the letter, dated Tuesday, were Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), the committee's ranking Republican who was highly critical of the NFL and Goodell earlier this year for the league's handling of the videotaping scandal involving the New England Patriots.

The letter pointed out that the league chose to have last year's regular season finale between the Patriots and New York Giants, in which the Patriots completed an unbeaten regular season, simulcast on NBC and CBS in addition to the NFL Network.

"We write today because we are disappointed that, rather than building on this success, the NFL will return to restricting games to the NFL Network beginning November 6," the letter read. "That the NFL would choose to have fewer viewers for select games again this year is an indication of its interest in moving toward a pay television model.

Citing the league's antitrust exemption, which the senators said "facilitated the nationwide broadcast success of the NFL," the letter continued, "We are concerned that the NFL is now leveraging the success of its over-the-air broadcasts to move games to pay television, to the detriment of NFL fans across the country."

The letter acknowledged that the NFL makes games carried on the channel also available on major network TV in the home markets of the competing teams, but said the league defines the markets of the teams too narrowly, to the detriment of viewers in nearby areas.

The letter also was signed by Democrats Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Ken Salazar of Colorado and Richard J. Durbin of Illinois; Republicans Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico, Wayne Allard of Colorado, John Thune of South Dakota and Mike Enzi and John Barrasso of Wyoming; and independents Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernard Sanders of Vermont.

The NFL said in a written statement that its TV policy "makes the NFL the only league that has all of its regular season and playoff games on free TV, including our limited number of cable games that also are televised on free TV in participating team markets."

The NFL said in its statement that its goal for games on the NFL Network "is to show them to a national audience" but that goal has been "undercut" by the league's ongoing disputes with several large cable companies over pricing and distribution.

"Any help that Senator Specter or his colleagues could lend to encourage Comcast or other cable operators to reach a fair agreement with us would be in the best interests of their constituents and our fans," the league said in its statement.

Quick Hits

Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork will be fined but not suspended for a hit on Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler during a recent game, the Associated Press reported. Wilfork met Tuesday in New York with Goodell. . . .

Former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin filed a grievance with the league, claiming he is owed $2.6 million from the three-year contract he signed before his firing last month, according to the AP. . . .

The Baltimore Ravens placed wide receiver Demetrius Williams on injured reserve because of an Achilles' tendon injury and signed Terrance Copper, the AP reported. . . .

The Carolina Panthers signed place kicker John Kasay to a four-year contract extension running through the 2012 season.