The contract also includes expanded international rights, 3D distribution rights, and the right to show Monday Night Football and NFL studio shows on mobile devices.
ESPN's current deal is worth $1.1 billion a year to the NFL and goes through the 2013 season.
More Giant concerns
The banged-up New York Giants defense has another injury to worry about, and it involves two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck.
The Giants' defensive captain didn't practice Thursday because of a sore neck, and he indicated he would not play in the season opener against the Redskins in Washington unless it improved.
HGH concerns
The NFL's goal to be the first major professional sports league to implement testing for human growth hormone appears a long way from coming to fruition.
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said that players have serious questions about the safety and reliability of the test. He said the World Anti-Doping Agency has not turned over the information the players association has requested and will not agree to the test until that time. Smith spoke to the Associated Press after addressing students during a sports law symposium at Santa Clara University.
HGH is naturally occurring in the body. The isoform test first used by WADA since 2004 - and which became more widespread in 2008 - is designed to detect synthetic HGH by measuring the ratio naturally occurring in the body against a population test.
WADA handles drug testing for the Olympics and is largely accepted as the gold standard for worldwide drug testing. Smith said he is concerned that it does not take into account the different types of bodies and conditioning routines of football players.
News of note
Two-time Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson has re-signed with the Miami Dolphins five days after they cut him. . . . The Jacksonville Jaguars have requested and been granted a 24-hour extension to the NFL's blackout deadline, meaning the team likely will televise its home opener locally and in secondary markets. . . . For the first time since Arizona's 2008 Super Bowl season, head coach Ken Whisenhunt won't be the Cardinals' primary play caller. He has relinquished those duties to Mike Miller, promoted in February to offensive coordinator.
- Associated Press
