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Today: How are Roger Goodell’s comments being taken around the NFL, and what is going on with Sacramento’s MLS bid?

A+E Networks is set to announce it i taking an equity stake in the NWSL, according to sources. The cable programmer houses Lifetime, and sources said that A&E "hopes the move can lift ratings" for the female-focused channel. It is "unclear how much women's soccer Lifetime might broadcast as part of the proposed pact," but the deal is "said to involve the broadcaster helping the four-year-old league soup up its business dealings and help with its pitch to advertisers" (N.Y. POST, 2/2).

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg has scheduled a meeting for today with the key figures in a dispute over USL club Republic FC's brand: team President Warren Smith and Managing Partner Kevin Nagle. Steinberg is "worried about the impact on Sacramento's MLS chances." A rift between the two execs had been "simmering behind the scenes for months," and it "erupted in public when Smith accused Nagle of violating his agreement with the club by formally submitting a bid to MLS that omitted the Republic brand" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 2/2).

No major action items are expected today as MLB owners begin a two-day quarterly meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. Owners will hear an address from Under Armour Founder, Chair & CEO Kevin Plank, and the long-planned session comes in the wake of the company’s stock plummeting earlier this week by more than 25% following a disappointing earnings report. UA is slated to take over the league’s on-field uniform rights beginning in '20. Owners also will discuss ongoing plans for the fourth iteration of the World Baseball Classic, set to begin in earnest next month.

LeBron James received the NAACP's Jackie Robinson Sports Award last night during a pregame ceremony at Quicken Loans Arena prior to T'Wolves-Cavaliers. The award is presented for "high achievement in athletics and contributions in the pursuit of social justice, civil rights and community involvement." James is the "first athlete in 18 years to receive the honor." Previous recipients include Jim Brown and Michael Jordan (OHIO.com, 2/2).

St. Louis officials last night passed "major financing proposals for renovations to Scottrade Center and construction of a soccer stadium," but with "some changes." Most of the changes considered by the Aldermanic Ways & Means Committee "applied to the Scottrade Center proposal," which would total $105M from city funds over 30 years. The plan includes $50M from a tax on sales at the arena. The soccer stadium financing agreement puts $60M in public money toward the project, with the franchise bid group to pay $95M for the venue (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/2).

The Chargers yesterday paid the city of San Diego $12.575M for "breaking the team's lease at Qualcomm Stadium before it was due to expire" in '20. The team "made clear that it was going to terminate the lease" when Chargers Chair Dean Spanos last month announced he was moving the franchise to L.A. This "finally severs the team's ties to the city after 56 seasons" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/2). The payment was made via wire transfer, and the transaction was "spelled out in a two-paragraph letter" signed by Spanos (L.A. TIMES, 2/2).

The PGA Tour Waste Management Phoenix Open tees off today at TPC Scottsdale, and while "some of the top names might be missing" this week, the tourney "will feature one of the stronger fields in its history." The field includes 26 of the top 30 in the FedExCup standings, and 13 of the top 30 in the world rankings. Tournament Chair Andy Markham said that the event's advertising, which centers on the idea of "respect," is part of a "concerted effort to keep fans in line as crowd sizes swell." The event drew "more than 600,000 fans last year and more massive galleries are expected this week" (AZCENTRAL.com, 1/31).

A "capacity crowd of 16,000" was on hand yesterday at the par-3 16th as Jordan Spieth and Michael Phelps took part in the tournament's pro-am (N.Y. TIMES, 2/2).

Last night’s edition of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” featured a segment with Kimmel’s sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, attending the Super Bowl Opening Night media event. Host Jimmy Kimmel: “Many major journalists were there, but none bigger than our very own Guillermo.” Rodriguez asked players such questions as "Which Disney Princess are you?" and accused NFL Network's Michael Irvin of being "fake news." He also got some dancing lessons from Falcons Owner Arthur Blank (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 2/1).

“The Tonight Show” featured its recurring “Superlatives” segment, in which NBC's Jimmy Fallon gave out awards to Patriots and Falcons players ahead of their Super Bowl matchup (“The Tonight Show,” 2/1).

NBC’s Fallon said, “According to the National Chicken Council, Americans will eat over a billion chicken wings on Super Bowl Sunday, and as many as three pieces of celery” (“The Tonight Show,” 2/1).

With the Patriots and Falcons heading to Houston for Super Bowl LI 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 matched in sports business lore by only the Vince Lombardi Trophy itself – recognition of your feat in the Morning Buzz, The Daily and SBJ! Click here to enter.

S&P Global Ratings yesterday "lowered Under Armour Inc.’s credit rating to junk status" – from BBB- to BB+ – a day after the company "posted disappointing sales during the pivotal holiday shopping season" (WSJ.com, 2/1).

Six additional ads featuring NASCAR driver Danica Patrick have "debuted at DaytonaBeach.com, the official website of the Daytona Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/2).

NFL Network runs a half-page ad in today's N.Y. Times touting its "80+ hours" of Super Bowl week coverage from Houston (THE DAILY).

"I do regret those remarks. Looking back, it was not sensible language to use to express my thoughts at the time. My language was intemperate, and it led to serious misunderstanding" – Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, on calling concussions in the league "one of those pack-journalism issues" in '94 (AP, 2/1).

"I made a big deal that this stayed quiet. First of all, you know what I was doing? Part of the rumors are things fly out of that building. So I wanted to see could I trust (them), you know? So that was part of my thinking" – New 49ers GM John Lynch, on his insistence that the team keep his interviews for the position secret ("Murph & Mac," KNBR-AM, 2/1).

"Dan Snyder, who meddled in his own team’s affairs as much as any owner in the history of sports, never once said anything to Andy Pollin about you’re too harsh on the team. They both actually were coated in glory as a result of that" – ESPN's Tony Kornheiser, on former ESPN Radio 980 DC commentator Pollin's relationship with Redskins Owner Snyder, who also owns the station (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/1).

"It hasn’t reached a boiling point where everyone has to raise their hand and vote on it. But like I’ve always said, I think it’s important to give a star player a chance to represent their country and it’s a proud moment for them and I support that" – Canadiens Owner Geoff Molson, on the decision NHL owners will have to make about their players participating in the '18 PyeongChang Games (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 2/2).

USA TODAY's Christine Brennan shows a different side of Patriots coach Bill Belichick, writing the two "have been pen pals" since early in his career. Belichick "started it" with a handwritten note in the mid-'80s after Brennan wrote a story about his father. The coach would reach out again in the early-'90s when "word got around the NFL" that QB Bernie Kosar had beef with Brennan. Belichick wrote, "Don't worry. Bernie doesn't like me either."

ESPN.com wrote Super Bowl halftime shows were once "just another break in the action." Marching bands and drill teams "often were the main halftime performers" during the game's first two decades. It wasn't until the '90s that "bigger names began to hit the field." Halftime still "wasn't what it is today, though."

Also: 

• Is the NFL really declining? "Don't be fooled by media loathing or fan complaints."
• Some Patriots fans admit to feeling "conflicted" due to the team's ties to Trump.
• Under Armour's stock yesterday "showed no sign" of rebounding.
• The Phillies offer Dominican players a high school education at their academy.
• LAFC is developing its "growing fan base" without a stadium, coach or players.
• The Coyotes would "probably be wise to try to emulate" the Blackhawks.
• It is "time to recognize athletes as purveyors of cogent thought and valid opinions."

For the first time since 2003, Nike won't be making its players any special edition sneakers for this month's annual NBA All-Star Game.

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) February 2, 2017

#fiercecable American TV Alliance identifies 6 Fox affiliates that could be blacked from Super Bowl because of retransmission consent issues

— Brad Adgate (@badgate) February 1, 2017

The show Mike Francesa told me he's "never once watched"... @gmfb starts in 5 minutes. Carson Wentz, Antonio Brown, Sean McVay as guests.

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) February 2, 2017

Makes sense that it's Groundhog Day. Going to talk to Bill Belichick & Tom Brady again to get the same answers we did yesterday.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 2, 2017

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com

As part of Microsoft's Custom Cleat Design Competition, artist Marcus Rivero will create a pair of fan-designed cleats at Microsoft's NFLX space in Houston. The cleats will be worn by Patriots CB Malcolm Butler and Falcons RB Devonta Freeman in pregame Super Bowl warmups.

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Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Dual-Use Terms.”

“In 1812 the U.S. endured a literal one of these two-word terms and beginning in 1964 enjoyed a musical one.”

Movie director Judd Apatow appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” last night, with host Jimmy Fallon noting Apatow has his “own baseball card.” Apatow: “I threw out the first pitch at the Mets game and then today – they didn't even tell me – they just put it online that they turned it into a baseball card.” Fallon said the Mets “have celebrities who throw out the first pitch,” and Apatow’s card is the “the debut.” Apatow said of throwing the first pitch, “It's scary now, because you see all the bloopers online of different people throwing it, like Baba Booey and stuff. And then I meet all the Mets, but I don't know any of them because I haven't been following that carefully. So I don't know if it’s someone who never plays or the biggest star on the team, and then the only person I'm comfortable with is the mascot, Mr. Met.” Fallon: “You bonded with him?” Apatow: “I bonded with him, because we're both in show business” (“The Tonight Show,” 2/1).

TBS’ Conan O’Brien: “A top football prospect from Michigan state was unable to sign his letter of intent today because he's in jail. Sounds like somebody's ready for the NFL” (“Conan,” TBS, 2/1).

“What is a British invasion?”