The NFL’s Multibillion-Dollar Problem: Antitrust Lawsuits and Missing Sons

The National Football League (NFL) is no stranger to controversy, but two recent stories have brought the organization’s integrity into question. In one case, the NFL has been ordered to pay a staggering $4.7 billion in damages for violating antitrust laws in distributing out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on a premium subscription service. In another, a former NFL player and his wife were arrested after their missing 14-year-old son was found at a religious compound in Indiana.

The NFL’s legal troubles continue to mount.

The antitrust lawsuit, which was filed in 2015, claimed that the NFL broke antitrust laws by selling the package at an inflated price and restricting competition by offering “Sunday Ticket” only on a satellite provider. The jury found the NFL liable for $4.6 billion in damages to residential subscribers and $96.9 million in damages to commercial subscribers. With damages potentially tripling under federal antitrust laws, the NFL could be on the hook for a whopping $14.1 billion.

Former NFL player Daniel Muir and his wife were arrested after their missing son was found.

In a separate incident, former Indianapolis Colts lineman Daniel Muir and his wife Kristin were arrested after their 14-year-old son, Bryson, was found at a religious compound in Logansport, Indiana. Bryson had been missing since June 16, and his grandmother had reported him missing after she became concerned for his safety. The couple was charged with obstruction of justice and domestic battery, respectively.

The religious compound where Bryson Muir was found is affiliated with Straitway Truth Ministries, a Tennessee-based organization that has been described as a cult.

The investigation into the Muirs and the religious compound, which is affiliated with Straitway Truth Ministries, is ongoing. The organization has been described as a cult and has drawn in several former NFL players as members.

The NFL’s legal troubles and the Muir case raise important questions about the organization’s values and priorities. As the league continues to grapple with issues of player safety, domestic violence, and concussions, it’s clear that the NFL has a lot of work to do to restore its reputation and regain the trust of its fans.

The NFL has a lot of work to do to restore its reputation and regain the trust of its fans.