Sources said that the EPL as soon as today could tell media-rights bidders NBC, Fox and ESPN "if a second round will be necessary" for the next slate of U.S. rights starting with the '16-17 season. Each network was "asked to submit bids for three- and six-year contracts." The league "wants one network to take the package rather than let two networks share it," and it has told networks that the "highest offer must exceed the second-highest" by at least 15% to avoid a second round. NBC is paying a "bargain-priced" $250M for its current three-year deal (N.Y. TIMES, 8/7).

The Pro Football HOF last night presented the '16 induction class with their ceremonial gold jackets, and as former Packers GM Ron Wolf "slipped on the jacket, he had a quick message" for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Wolf said, "Way to go on that Brady thing." The comment was "met by a big smile and a laugh from Goodell, so it probably wasn't a shot at the commissioner" (SUNTIMES.com, 8/6).

Meanwhile, a banner that will be greeting HOF visitors in Canton this weekend "shows Junior Seau wearing a Patriots jersey and not a Chargers jersey." The late Seau spent 13 of his 20 seasons as a Charger, but only four with the Patriots (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/6).

The MLL today is scheduled to make an expansion announcement regarding a new outdoor lacrosse franchise in Atlanta, and the league as yet "has not announced the name of the new team." However, the MLL "has filed to trademark the logo 'Atlanta Blaze Lacrosse' with flames coming out of both sides of the design." Commissioner David Gross "will be in attendance for the announcement" at Kennesaw State Univ. (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/6).

The Rams today "for the first time in several years" are returning to Lindenwood Univ. for their annual camp practice/rookie scrimmage. Admission to the 5:00pm CT event is free to the public, and "concession stands will be open, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis." Rams Exec VP/Football Operations & COO Kevin Demoff said, "While we like the practice at the Edward Jones Dome, it just always felt more empty when you had 14,000-15,000 in the (66,000-seat) building. They get lost." At Lindenwood, "if 10,000 people show up, the stadium will be packed" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 8/7).

Last night marked the end of an era in late-night television as Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart hosted his final episode of “The Daily Show.” The broadcast featured many of the former and current contributors and correspondents returning to honor Stewart, many of them having gone on to very successful careers of their own, including Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert. Stewart: “I’ve been in show business a long time, I’ve worked in a lot of different atmospheres at varying levels of toxicity and this is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been, and I’ll never have that again. I had to come to terms with that before leaving, knowing what I was walking away from.” 

Stewart said in closing, “Comedy Central gave me this opportunity 16 and 1/2 years ago. The people that worked here gave me the talent and inspiration to develop it over all those years. It's the most incredible place. Honestly, today it still feels like a dream a little bit and walking around the building today, nobody was making eye contact, because I think there's so much love and pride filling the building right now that we just don't want to drown it in saline” (“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” Comedy Central, 8/6).

NYRA has "decided to cap paid attendance on Travers Day, Aug. 29, at Saratoga Race Course to 50,000 regardless of whether Triple Crown winner American Pharoah decides to race or not" (SARATOGIAN.com, 8/6).

Bundesliga clubs Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke 04 today announced that they "will stage their winter training camps in Florida and will play in the Florida Cup" (REUTERS, 8/7).

Honda is running a full-page ad in USA Today congratulating Verizon IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal on winning last Sunday's Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio: "A Dream Come True" (THE DAILY).

"Unless you're the owner, everybody has got a boss. I assume going forward I'll have a boss. Those are details that need to be worked out and I'm sure will" – Red Sox GM Ben Cherington, on Larry Lucchino stepping down as the team's President & CEO (BOSTON HERALD, 8/7).

"We don't have delusions that we're going to compete for national championships. Our strategy is to give ourselves top-notch facilities for a mid-major program" – UAB Athletics Campaign Committee Chair Hatton Smith, on the effort to build a new practice facility and stadium for the reinstated football program (AL.com, 8/7).

"I want them to be comfortable with it. You only get one chance at this" – Blair Buswell, chief sculptor of the busts for the Pro Football HOF (ESPN.com, 8/7).

Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with Astros-A’s, followed by Twins-Blue Jays, Dodgers-Phillies, Giants-Cubs and the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Royals-Tigers, followed by Red Sox-Yankees, Dodgers-Phillies, Browns QB Johnny Manziel performing well in training camp and Bills coach Rex Ryan's press conference.

The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER notes the NASCAR "behemoths" of Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske "have major advantages as far as resources, sharing of testing data and marketing support." That is "making it harder all the time for smaller operations to compete or even to survive."

SI.com on NHL outdoor games: "There have been 13 outdoor games in the wake of Winter Classic's epic debut in Buffalo back in 2008. ... All things considered, the outdoor games continue to bring spectacle to a long and sometimes tedious regular season."

Also:

• Why Disney, ESPN will survive this new media climate.
• Boxing is more popular than ever as a fitness activity.
• Nike, Under Armour compete in high school basketball space.
• Raptors' partnership with rapper Drake paying dividends.
• Chris Mortensen never faced the music for Deflategate report.
• Bernie Miklasz set to pen final column for St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
• Downtown ballpark is not essential to K.C.'s civic future.
• New book about rape a must-read for all in college football.
• Oscar Robertson reflects on growing up poor in Indianapolis.
• Concerns about Pan Am Games were greatly exaggerated.

I wonder if Obama watching this is the same as LeBron watching First Take.

— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) August 7, 2015

Hopefully not getting into the overhype game here, but that was a great finale to a great show. First Kilborn sighting since ESPN's 25th.

— Paulsen (@paulsen_smw) August 7, 2015

Awesome last episode for Jon Stewart. The bullshit monologue was way way way up there. I don't think he's gonna be gone for long.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) August 7, 2015

we've spent the last 48hrs watching critics and Wall Street predict crumbling of TV market... Lots of evidence they're wrong tonight.

— Jason Kint (@jason_kint) August 7, 2015

In other words the Levi's field is a sh-- show.

— Ann Killion (@annkillion) August 7, 2015

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Tunnels.”

“These two islands that begin with the same letter are linked by the 33.5-mile Seikan Rail Tunnel, the world’s longest in operation.”

“What are Honshu and Hokkaido?” The two islands are of part of the Japanese home islands.