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It takes two to tango.
That was Rory McIlroy’s frank assessment of the current negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
In clarifying his position, McIlroy confirmed that his Arthur Murray dance reference meant that the discussions between the two parties are not going as swimmingly as PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said just a day earlier to a gaggle of media.
“They are moving backwards,” McIlroy confirmed the direction of the discussions, which was what was meant by his tango reference or more specifically, the two sides are further apart.
For Monahan’s part, he said something completely different about the progress of discussion but also used a dance reference.
“I don't think we would be, we would have the cadence, and we would be in the position we're in to get a deal done, but for the President and we're thankful for him,” Monahan said.”
What is Monahan suggesting as a cadence?
It could be a Texas Two-Step, Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha Cha, or Samba—all legitimate possibilities—but ultimately, Monahan suggested that the deal was progressing.
While rumors are not facts, the rumors permeating Bay Hill are that the conversations in the Oval Office on February 20th did not go as well as Monahan suggested.
On February 20th, the PGA Tour made the following statement:
“Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, we have initiated a discussion about the reunification of golf,” The statement said. “We are committed to moving as quickly as possible and will share additional details as appropriate,”
This statement never made sense since the two sides had discussed reunification before the Framework Agreement was announced on June 6th, 2023.
So, suggesting that the president initiated the discussions on reunification that have been ongoing for years is odd.
McIlroy is not only a player, but also the co-founder of TGL and sees the PGA Tour narrative as growing in stature.
“I think the narrative around golf, I wouldn't say needs a deal, I think the narrative around golf would welcome a deal in terms of just having all the best players together again, but I don't think the PGA Tour needs a deal,” McIlroy said. “I think the momentum is pretty strong.”
McIlroy went on to say that he took a different position in San Diego two weeks ago.
“The landscape might have looked a little different then than it does now over these past couple of weeks, and I think a deal would still be the -- I think it would still be the ideal scenario for golf as a whole,” McIlroy said. “But from a pure PGA Tour perspective, I don't think it, I don't think it necessarily needs it.”
The landscape includes the PGA Tour signing $400 million in business over the last 90 days and television ratings rebounding from last year.
Add in the fact that the Tour has $4 billion of revenue committed through 2035, it's clear what changed McIlroy’s mind.
More must-reads:
- Vikings' J.J. McCarthy drops massive update amid Aaron Rodgers rumors
- Of record seven SEC teams in Sweet 16, which have the best chance of advancing?
- The 'PGA Players Championship winners since 2000' quiz
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Vikings' J.J. McCarthy drops massive update amid Aaron Rodgers rumors
The Minnesota Vikings let 2024 starting quarterback Sam Darnold leave the club as a free agent, and Minnesota hasn't yet approached Aaron Rodgers about possibly serving as a bridge option at the position. Thus, many have assumed the Vikings are planning to name 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy their new QB1. According to McCarthy, he hasn't yet been promised anything regarding the upcoming campaign by head coach Kevin O'Connell. "They haven't told me," McCarthy said during a Tuesday appearance on FanDuel TV's "Up Adams" program about conversations he's had with O'Connell and Co., as shared by Kevin Patra of the NFL's website. "I'm happy they didn't because I try to earn it every single day. I never want that to be given to me. It's such a privilege and an opportunity to give me that chance. I'm just gonna make the most of it every single day." The Vikings could've retained Darnold's rights for 2025 via the franchise tag after he guided the club to a 14-3 record, but Minnesota instead allowed him to begin speaking with other teams when the legal tampering portion of free agency began on March 10. He ultimately agreed to a three-year, $100.5M contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Meanwhile, some within the Vikings have "supported the idea of adding Rodgers" to the roster this spring because McCarthy is "a less-than-certain option" coming off the full meniscus repair that sidelined him for his entire rookie season. On Tuesday, McCarthy insisted he's feeling "fantastic" after he spent his rookie campaign learning as a sidelined spectator. "It was an ultimate blessing because, you know, it's just such a time of stillness where you really get to reflect and introspect and find a routine," McCarthy said about completing a redshirt pro season. "Especially early on in this career, in this profession, it's huge for young guys to find that habitual routine that they can rely on and stay consistent with. So, I would say that was the biggest thing for me." It was previously reported that it's a "safe bet" Rodgers will eventually sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but McCarthy's update suggests the Vikings could give the future Hall of Famer a call depending on how the 22-year-old performs during springtime workouts. As long as Rodgers remains unsigned, some outsiders will continue to believe he's an option for the Vikings amid McCarthy's ongoing injury recovery.
Chicago Bears Add Another Former Notre Dame Standout to Their Roster
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Have Browns already made Shedeur Sanders draft decision?
The Cleveland Browns may be the most interesting team as it pertains to the 2025 NFL Draft. For her latest mailbag, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer indicated the club will have no problem with making Colorado signal-caller Shedeur Sanders the second choice of the draft on the night of April 24, assuming predictions that the Tennessee Titans will select Miami QB Cam Ward with the first overall pick prove correct. "I don’t think the Browns will really have a shot at Ward, and they might even like Shedeur Sanders better for their organization," Cabot explained. "We won’t know the answer to that until draft night, but I still think they’ll take a QB at (pick No. 2)." The Browns potentially leaking that "they might even like" Sanders over Ward is interesting considering draft expert Todd McShay of The Ringer recently said that "it's apparent that Cleveland is on the list of acceptable spots for Shedeur to land." Browns reporter Tim Bielik of the Cleveland Plain Dealer predicted Tennessee will grab Ward and the Browns will take Sanders. In his latest mock draft published on Monday morning, Ben Standig of The Athletic echoed Bielik's take. "Despite his impressive accuracy, Sanders is seen by some teams as a Day 2 selection," Standig wrote. "That’s easier to say when your team doesn’t have an answer at the sport’s most important position. That doesn’t mean drafting him at No. 2 isn’t a reach." It now appears Cleveland's disastrous Deshaun Watson era is over after he suffered a torn Achilles on Oct. 20 and then tore the Achilles again during his recovery. As much as some NFL personnel are down on the quarterbacks in this year's draft class, Browns general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski may need to find a long-term replacement for Watson this spring to save their jobs. On March 21, multiple ESPN reporters suggested it's unlikely Sanders will "fall out of the top 10-15 picks" even though he allegedly "hit the wrong notes in combine interviews" with some teams. It sounds like more and more in-the-know individuals are convinced Berry won't get cute with a potential move down the draft order and will end April 24 with Sanders as Cleveland's eventual QB1.
Steelers' Quarterback Situation Gets More Complicated After Unexpected Report Out Of Minnesota
The Pittsburgh Steelers are still patiently awaiting a decision from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The polarizing figure has drawn the most interest from Pittsburgh and the New York Giants throughout free agency, and he is still deciding what he wants to do with his future. Retirement is still an option as well, although it is more likely he winds up playing football in 2025. Reports in recent weeks have indicated that Rodgers wants to play with the Minnesota Vikings, although the Vikings have not shown much interest back. The Vikings have been an interesting team to follow over the last year. The organization selected their potential franchise quarterback in JJ McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He wound up missing his entire rookie season due to a knee issue, which led to Sam Darnold leading the Vikings to 14 wins and a Pro Bowl nod. Minnesota allowed Darnold to walk in free agency as he signed with the Seattle Seahawks, which should open the door for McCarthy to enter his second season as the starting quarterback. The young quarterback went on the Up Adams Show on Tuesday, where he was asked by Kay Adams how he felt when he found out he was "the guy" in Minnesota. "Um, they haven't told me," McCarthy said. "I'm happy they didn't because I try to earn every single day, and I never want that to be given to me. It's such a privilege and an opportunity to give me that chance and I'm just going to make the most of it." The question from Adams was sparked by the reports that made it seem like the Vikings had zero interest in Rodgers, and the odds of the veteran coming to Minnesota were essentially zero. However, McCarthy not yet being told he is the unquestioned starter is a bit bizarre, unless the organization had other plans at the position. McCarthy has zero NFL experience outside of some preseason action, so it isn't unheard of for a franchise to wait to announce someone as a starter in that situation. However, there was a ton of outside noise about the quarterback situation in Minnesota throughout the 2024 season. Many pundits in the NFL world were wondering whether or not the Vikings should sign Darnold to a long-term deal and consider trading McCarthy. With the way those kinds of rumors and ideas were swirling, one might think the Vikings would want to shut down any external distractions at that position. The second-year quarterback is still rehabbing his knee injury from 2024, and he still hasn't seen a starting-caliber defense at the NFL level. He has plenty of weapons throughout the offense and Head Coach Kevin O'Connell is considered a "quarterback whisperer" after he helped revive Darnold's career. All the tools should be there for McCarthy to succeed, so it is a bit concerning and mysterious that the organization has not committed to a plan at quarterback - especially when it rosters a first-round pick from a season ago. Steelers Should Still See Minnesota As A Potential Threat The Steelers are the frontrunners to land Rodgers, but the Vikings could still swoop in and land him rather easily. It is reportedly his desired destination, so if there is any interest from the other side, it could make things difficult for the Steelers. It is hard to imagine who else could be the starter in Minnesota outside of McCarthy. The only other quarterback under contract is Brett Rypien, so the in-house competition is minimal. The franchise would be out of its mind to draft another quarterback as well. The only feasible option would be that the organization is still considering Rodgers, which contradicts a ton of reports from a week ago. How do you see the quarterback situation in Minnesota playing out?
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