The NFL Network is now Jerry Jones' problem. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has tapped the Dallas Cowboys owner and GM to head up the league's NFL Network committee, which is trying to get the net into more and more homes -- as well as on your cell phone, iPod, satellite radio, you name it. Says Jerry: "My immediate and primary objective is to ensure broad distribution of NFL Network to our millions of fans across the land."
Jones first has to deal with the fact that in many states, such cable providers as Time Warner, Cablevision and Comcast don't carry the NFL Network -- because it's just too damned expensive, they insist. Those cable providers want the NFL Network offered amongst is basic sports-programming tiers -- alongside Versus, the Fox Sports networks and the brand-new NHL Network, which today takes it place as the new kid on the block. DirecTV and Dish Network offer the NFL Network to its subscribers at no extra charge. All this should get very interesting by November 29: That's when Jerry's Cowboys play the Green Bay Packers -- on the NFL Network, you gotta be kiddin'. --Robert Wilonsky
