3 & Out - More NFL Schedule Release thoughts + NFL Offseason Mailbag

What’s up everybody—quick Sunday check-in from the John Midd podcast.

Fast hitter today while I fire up the grill: golf fizzled, so we’re jumping to the NFL schedule chaos and the streaming tug-of-war, from that new Wednesday night Rams-Packers slot with the odd no-bye wrinkle to Amazon’s growing sway while Netflix cherry-picks big one-off events.

I could absolutely see Amazon stacking Thursday and maybe Sunday night before long, and an international morning slate with around ten to fifteen early kickoffs feels like a when, not an if.

I grew up without cable and literally stumbled into Sunday night football at a relative’s house, so I don’t fear change; I’ll gripe when a playoff game hides on Peacock, but I won’t complain about Amazon since almost everyone already has it.

You asked for more on the Mendoza buzz: the consistent theme from people around him is sharp mind, presence, and fast processing; the big lift now is getting comfortable under center after so much shotgun, which is why veteran guidance matters in this install.

On the 49ers being 'old,' that’s overstated; they win a dozen a year, handled the division, and while a few stars are older or rehabbing, the core window is still wide open.

You asked if the NFL is drifting into NBA-style confusion; football’s weekly cadence keeps it simple, which is why that freezing Peacock playoff still drew a big number, and yes, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving might feel like a lot, but we’re all watching.

Tahoe questions came in too: it’s a chill lake escape more than a scene, so think water time, a paddleboard or kayak, maybe the Heavenly gondola or the lakeside walk near Incline, and if you golf, Edgewood is stunning and very pricey.

You pushed back on my Vikings outlook; I love the coaching with Kevin and Flores, but the quarterback room is unsettled, so seven wins feels live while eight or more would surprise me.

On the Seahawks sale, the trust setup and single-owner rule explain the move; if the rules allowed it, I’d never sell an NFL team because the lifestyle and perks are the same, plus you still get to be the owner.

NIL has become pay-to-play, and I expect some guardrails soon; the collateral damage is non-revenue sports that football used to float, which may fade without dedicated donors.

Why the age flag on twenty-five-year-old rookies? It’s ceiling and runway—early you want the younger body that can grow, but in the middle rounds I’ll happily take a twenty-five-year-old if the tape says he gives me three solid years.

On Caleb Williams, the swagger isn’t new and the arm is top tier; if he learns to play on time and keeps the off-schedule magic, defenses get a Josh Allen-type headache.

Contract mechanics question on Miami’s speed back: teams can front-load, but most smooth the hits across the deal, and we need the actual breakdown before drawing cap conclusions.

On TV partners, the league is mixing matchups across networks now, blurring those old AFC-CBS and NFC-Fox lines; everyone grumbles, and the NFL cashes bigger checks.

Bottom line on the business side: this is Goodell’s office squeezing the upside while attention and tech are hot; windows close fast, so when the sun’s out, you ask for a bigger umbrella.