In his weekly Football Morning in America column, sportswriter Peter King released a list of the 22 most influential people in the NFL.
Topping that list, of course, is NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. And coming in third, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
Speaking of Brady, King writes, "The NFL chose the Bucs to play the first league game ever in Germany this year, leading one NFL wag to tell me: ‘Brady in Germany will be like the Beatles coming to New York City.’ An exaggeration of that half-century-old event, but I do expect some mayhem in Munich when Brady and the Bucs play Seattle on Nov. 13.”
What may surprise you is the player in the number-two slot, Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns.
“Watson will be more in the news for his legal troubles than his football exploits…It’s hard to imagine the NFL’s disciplinary process won’t result in a long suspension of Watson, or some suspension this year and perhaps more next year after the civil suits have been adjudicated. I am still amazed that [Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy] Haslam showed so much faith in a man with 22 (now 23) women accusing him of sexual misconduct.”
Other notables who made the list include Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at number four, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at nine, ESPN fantasy football guru Matthew Berry at 10, and Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder at 14.
One surprise: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did not make King's final 22, though he did receive an honorable mention, "just because."
Cover Photo: Getty Images