NFL Speaks on Tom Brady Controversy

NHL Coach Placed on Leave, Kaprizov Turns Down Contract, MLB Drops Plans for Overseas game, and more!

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Sportie Newsletter
September 17, 2025

🏈 Football

NFL speaks out on latest Tom Brady controversy

The NFL has insisted Tom Brady didn't break any rules after being spotted in the Las Vegas Raiders' coaching booth on Monday night, despite his work as a broadcaster for Fox.

The seven-time Super Bowl winning quarterback is a minority owner of the Raiders and was spotted wearing a headset while sat among coaching staff during their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

But Brady is also Fox's lead NFL analyst and has just started the second season of his 10-year, $375million contract. 

The sight of Brady in the booth led to fans raising questions about a potential conflict of interest or violation of the rules set forth by the NFL dictating what Brady can and cannot do in both these roles. 

Brady was spotted sitting among the offensive coaching staff while ESPN spoke about how he works with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly every week.

Rashee Rice accident victim's lawyer blasts Travis Kelce and Chiefs

Travis Kelce and a Kansas City Chiefs teammate wearing 'Free 4' T-shirts, in reference to the suspended Rashee Rice, rubbed a lot of people the wrong way ahead of Sunday's game.

That included the attorney of one of the victims in Rice's multi-car crash.

Marc Lenahan, a lawyer representing Kathryn Kuykendall, ripped Kelce and teammate Tyquan Thornton for wearing shirts in support of a player whose actions hurt other people and noted that Rice has not paid any of a $1.1 million settlement owed to his client, via a statement to TMZ.

🏒 Hockey

Washington Capitals assistant Mitch Love placed on leave by team

Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love has been placed on a team-imposed leave pending results of an NHL investigation, the Capitals announced on Sunday.

Love was a hot coaching candidate during the offseason after helping the Capitals to back-to-back playoff appearances.

According to an NHL source, the league received a letter that detailed allegations relating to Love's personal conduct when Love was interviewing with teams this offseason. Two of the teams with whom he reportedly interviewed were sent a similar letter. The allegations predate his tenure with the Capitals.

Wild GM urges calm after Kaprizov reportedly rejects record deal

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin said he doesn't want "all-out panic" among the team's fans after star winger Kirill Kaprizov reportedly turned down an NHL-record contract extension this week.

Kaprizov is in the last year of a five-year, $45 million contract that carries a no-movement clause. He can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Wild offered him an eight-year contract extension worth $128 million that Kaprizov and his agent turned down in a meeting Tuesday, according to NHL reporter Frank Seravalli.

That average annual value of $16 million would have been $2 million more than that of Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl's contract, which currently has the highest AAV in the NHL.

⚾️ Baseball

Phillies beat Dodgers, wrap up 2nd straight NL East title

On Monday, after prevailing against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in a tense back-and-forth contest, the Phillies clinched a National League East title earlier than they ever have -- on the 15th night of September, with almost two full weeks of regular-season baseball remaining.

It was a product of the New York Mets' precipitous slide, but also of the Phillies' surge. They've won 11 of 14 games this month and boast the sport's best record since the start of August.

MLB drops plan for London games in 2026

Major League Baseball has abandoned plans to play two games in London next season because of scheduling issues with West Ham’s Olympic Stadium and the sport’s television partner.

MLB had hoped to have the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays meet in London on June 13 and 14, but West Ham is home for its Premier League finale against Leeds on May 24.

That left too little time to convert the field to baseball, and MLB was unable to schedule games there for later in June because Fox lacked available broadcast slots due to World Cup commitments.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday after his question-and-answer session at Front Office Sports’ “Tuned In” event that the London games were definitely off.