NFL looking for big increase in next TV deals + Giants, DT Dexter Lawrence trade talks at stalemate (4/17 Hour 2)

The PFT Live episode on April 17, 2026, dives into major developments across the NFL landscape, beginning with the league’s aggressive push for a 100% increase in TV rights deals—potentially doubling payments from networks like CBS, Fox, NBC, and Amazon. Host Mike Florio and co-host Michael Hawley analyze the financial and strategic implications, noting that the NFL is leveraging CBS’s change in ownership via Skydance to renegotiate contracts, with the potential for a 'lame duck' scenario if networks resist. They debate whether the NFL’s demand is justified, especially after the NBA’s massive new deal, but caution against a scorched-earth approach that could alienate broadcasters and streamers. The conversation shifts to the Mike Vrabel-Diana Rossini scandal, where Rossini’s resignation and a controversial tweet by reporter Chrissy Freud led to her termination by USA Today, sparking debate over journalistic ethics, gender bias, and the dangers of social media commentary. The hosts stress the importance of staying on target with verifiable facts and warn against whataboutism. The segment concludes with the ongoing impasse in New York over Dexter Lawrence’s contract, as the Giants face pressure to either re-sign the star defensive tackle or trade him before the draft, with implications for head coach John Harbaugh’s leadership and the team’s future. The episode ends with a lighthearted look at new Rams uniforms and a personal note on a potential Olive Garden sponsorship.