The NFL has launched its own YouTube channel after years of negotiations in a deal that includes in-game highlights and NFL promotions on Google search pages. The multiyear deal will have YouTube sell the advertising. It will give the league a guaranteed payment, then the two will split the revenue. The service, which already is up and running, will make a limited number of in-game highlights available, numbering in the low single digits per game.

An interesting part of the deal will be the amount of promotion the NFL gets. Each of the highlight clips will have a link alerting viewers to where they can watch that game in the local market. It also will promote NFL products, said NFL Senior VP/Media Strategy, Business Development & Sales Hans Schroeder. The NFL will get a lot of promotion on Google search pages, as well. Under terms of the deal, when someone searches an NFL term, a box at the top of the first search page will feature highlights and links.

The Winter X Games drew an overall attendance of 115,500, the largest four-day total for an X Games in Aspen, thanks in large part to concerts held at the event. Saturday’s crowd of 48,500 was the largest single-day attendance at a Winter X Games. Performances from Chromeo and Skrillex on Saturday drew 3,917 and 6,215 fans, respectively. Shows by Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa averaged about 5,000 fans. Meanwhile, VIP ticketing “far surpassed” expectations, according to ESPN Dir of Event Development Ryan McGuiness.

The Patriots today will hold a Super Bowl pep rally in Boston before they embark to Arizona. The 11:00am ET event at City Hall Plaza will include appearances by team Owner Robert Kraft, President Jonathan Kraft, coach Bill Belichick, QB Tom Brady and other players. The cheerleaders, mascot Pat Patriot and the Patriots EndZone Militia will make appearances (Patriots). Boston Mayor Martin Walsh "will host" the rally (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/24).

Thousands of Seahawks fans yesterday morning "lined a mile-long stretch of road in SeaTac" to "cheer on the team as it headed for the airport." The event drew "60,000 people, maybe even more, all over the place" (Tacoma NEWS-TRIBUNE, 1/26).

The weekend news cycle was heavy with Deflategate coverage across sports and mainstream media. On "Meet the Press," NBC's Chuck Todd said, "This is the perfect storm of being America's most popular sport, a team preparing to play in the sport's biggest game with a coach that doesn't get the benefit of the doubt anymore. Ultimately, for all fans and especially Patriots fans, this is taking the fun out of the game and that's what's sad" (NBC, 1/25).

The N.Y. Times’ Brian McFadden and the Charlotte Observer’s Kevin Siers take shots at NFL with Deflategate editorial cartoons (THE DAILY).

See how "SNL" opened its telecast with a parody of the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick press conferences.

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships yesterday wrapped up a nine-day run at Greensboro Coliseum. The crowd of 11,416 on hand for Saturday night's women's free skate was the "largest single-session attendance" from the '15 or '11 event, when Greensboro previously hosted. However, attendance for the full event "will almost certainly fall short of the 110,787 from last time." Hill Carrow, who chairs the local organizing committee, said, "We're going to end up a little behind the overall ticket sales from 2011." As whole, the event "did run smoothly" (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 1/26).

The lawyer for Tom Benson's daughter and grandchildren sent an unsolicited letter to media members last night arguing the Saints and Pelicans Owner is being manipulated and his moves to strip his heirs of ownership of the teams are irrational. "Evidence suggests that Tom Benson, in a weakened mental and physical state, was unduly influenced to suddenly sever all relations with his daughter and grandchildren," wrote Randall Smith, counsel of record on the lawsuit. "Benson has been manipulated. We are confident that once all of the evidence has been brought to light that it will be clear that this attempted coup is not in the interest of Tom Benson, who is as much of a victim as his daughter and grandchildren."

Fox "plans to rotate" NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and a "handful of other Sprint Cup Series champions as analysts in the booth" during its '15 coverage of the Xfinity Series. The network today plans to formally unveil its '15 on-air talent lineup as part of the annual Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour. Gordon, heading into his last full season behind the wheel, will take turns on Fox telecasts with Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick (THATSRACIN.com, 1/25).

Conference USA ADs and school presidents will convene in Boca Raton, Fla., over the next three days for the league's annual winter meetings. Middle Tennessee State AD Chris Massaro said there will be "a couple of major issues that we're going to discuss," including "autonomy and paying cost off attendance." Massaro: "The other one is UAB. ... The president of UAB will be there, and he's scheduled to talk to the other presidents about their situation" (GANNETT, 1/26).

The conference is "obligated to finalize the schedule by Feb. 1 for its three major TV outlets." C-USA bylaws require members to have an FBS program, but UAB officials "will lobby C-USA to change its bylaws to allow the school to remain in all sports" (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 1/26).

Humana is "ending its relationship" with the PGA Tour event in the Palm Springs, Calif., area after this year's tournament, which concluded yesterday. But Tournament Dir & CEO Bob Marra said that he "expects the announcement of a new title sponsor 'soon.'" Marra: "It's a business deal that's being consummated." Meanwhile, the Clinton Foundation kicked off its three-day Health Matters conference yesterday as the golf event concluded (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 1/25).

Rob Manfred today will have his first day at the office as MLB Commissioner, rising early and taking a 6:00am ET commuter train into Manhattan. He was scheduled to "arrive in time to work out at a nearby gym and be at his desk" by 9:00am. He will "meet with his senior staff to get updates on their work and to continue plotting the year ahead." There "really won't be much" to mark the transition from Bud Selig's tenure to his (MLB.com, 1/25).

Meanwhile, Manfred pens a letter to fans introducing himself as the new Commissioner (MLB.com, 1/25).

With the Patriots and Seahawks set to meet in Glendale for Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, SportsBusiness Daily's and SportsBusiness Journal's annual Super Bowl pick 'em contest is open. Test your prognostication skills against those of your fellow subscribers. Those who best predict the game's outcome will receive an award perhaps second only to the Vince Lombardi Trophy itself – recognition of your feat in the Morning Buzz, The Daily and SportsBusiness Journal! Click here to enter.

The Nets unveiled a Brooklynized version of the ABA Nets "Stars and Stripes" uniform, worn from '72-76. The Nets will debut the alternate uniforms March 6 against the Suns and will wear them for four more games this season (Nets). 

The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee today announced that it has selected Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. to become the first official Tokyo 2020 Gold Partner (Tokyo 2020).

CBS Sports and Golf Channel analyst Peter Oosterhuis on Friday announced his retirement from broadcasting (CBS).

American Athletic Conference officials are “looking into the possibility of creating additional new bowl games” as part of an effort by the league to “expand its fledgling brand” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/24).

GoPro stock on Friday “shot up” 8.6% to $52.51 following the formal announcement of a deal with the NHL. The increase put shares 119% higher than the $24 commanded in the company’s IPO in June '14 (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/24).

A sold-out crowd of 18,901 attended last night's NHL All-Star Game at Nationwide Arena (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 1/26).

Nike runs a full-page ad in USA Today congratulating Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski for winning’s his 1,000th game. The ad features a collage of Krzyzewski with players throughout his career: “1,000 wins. Thousands of winners” (THE DAILY).

Former NFLer Ickey Woods “returned in a pair of new spots” for Geico during last night’s Pro Bowl (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/26).

“Will they be punished? Probably not. Not as long as Robert Kraft and Roger Goodell are still taking pictures at their respective homes” – Seahawks CB Richard Sherman, referencing a picture of Goodell attending a party at Kraft’s house on the eve of the AFC Championship game (Mult., 1/25).

“They hit these speed bumps, things happen but the public just can’t seem to get enough of it” – San Diego State marketing professor George Belch, on issues surrounding domestic violence and head injuries in football not affecting the NFL’s popularity (REUTERS, 1/26).

“It’s amazing how much traction it’s gotten. I think it goes to show you how big the NFL is and how much people care” – Falcons QB Matt Ryan, on the media coverage of the Patriots’ Deflategate controversy (USA TODAY, 1/26).

“We’re about halfway there. How long it takes to get to the finish line is anyone’s guess and I wouldn’t want to speculate” – Showtime Sports Exec VP Stephen Espinoza, on resolving open issues between his network and HBO for a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. bout (L.A. TIMES, 1/25).

“I assure you that even with the decline in the Canadian dollar, the salary cap doesn’t fall off a cliff” – NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, on a likely decrease in the NHL salary cap next season (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/26).

Under the header, "Albatross Of Debt Weighs On Super Bowl City," the N.Y. TIMES looks at how Glendale, Ariz., has been "overwhelmed by its debt payments" on sports facilities and "forced to slash public services."

THE MMQB examines Neil Hornsby's analytics firm Pro Football Focus, which "now counts 13 NFL teams – 40% of the league – as clients, including seven teams from this season's playoff field."

SEATTLE TIMES: "With the Internet offering new betting avenues, governments have de-criminalized gambling and even the NBA is openly supporting regulated sports betting. "

Also:

• Detroit sees new Red Wings arena as key to downtown development.
• What should USTA look for in a new head of player development?
• Winter X Games are essential for Aspen Skiing Co.'s business future.
• Does Andy Murray's new "77" brand ignore women's sports?
• Super Bowl has grown from curiosity to sports/cultural behemoth.

I'm at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu for the Pro Bowl. Where the hell is everyone????

— Eric Stangel (@EricStangel) January 26, 2015

Definition of "luck": Super Bowl was played in NY/NJ a yr ago. Two ft of snow would have zapped Media Day, SB Blvd. & jeopardized game prep.

— Frank Supovitz (@SupEvents) January 26, 2015

NFL Network, replaying Pro Bowl, keeps rolling final score on screen ticker. Smooth!

— Ron Judd (@roncjudd) January 26, 2015

Belichick would rather lose the ball on 4th-and-2 from his own 28 while wearing a suit and tie than face the media twice in one week...

— Jim Carlisle (@VCSJimCarlisle) January 26, 2015

Victory lane post confetti @DISupdates @CGRTeams pic.twitter.com/3Ap5zdxXbB

— Steve Lauletta (@slauletta) January 25, 2015

The Morning Buzz offers today's back page sports covers from some of the nation's major metropolitan tabloids:

N.Y. Post N.Y. Daily News  Philadelphia Daily News Boston HeraldNewsdayToronto Sun

Friday night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Rivers.”

“This North American river first sailed by Europeans in 1534 is named for a man who was martyred in Rome in the third century.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon: “President Obama is riding high this week. A lot of people thought he did a pretty good job with his State of the Union address on Tuesday, but not everybody's happy. In fact, Sarah Palin said that the Republican Congress has to be more aggressive with Obama and she added, ‘It's not only just the New England Patriots who are dealing with deflated balls right now.’ Then John McCain was like, ‘I told you that in confidence.’ … Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, our pal Jeff Gordon, announced yesterday that this will be his final season of racing. You could tell it was time for him to retire because during his last race he had his blinker on the whole time. … The other day, ESPN analyst Jerry Hamilton tweeted out a link about a football recruit and accidentally used a link to a porn website instead. Though to be fair, that's also how the Packers ended up drafting Ha Ha Clinton-Dix” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/23).

Following his monologue, Fallon aired his regular thank you notes segment. He said, “Thank you, the New England Patriots, for being accused of playing with deflated balls. Or as Hugh Hefner's wife put it, ‘Been there, done that’” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/23).

What is the St. Lawrence River?