• Report: "Serious Disagreements" Among Patriots' Kraft, Belichick, Brady
• NFL Indicates Raiders Likely Satisfied Rooney Rule In Coach Search
• Amazon Holds Talks For U.K. Media Rights To EPL Matches
• Bucks Today Start General Season-Ticket Sales For New Arena

ESPN today hits with an extensive look at the Patriots organization, noting Owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady have had "serious disagreements" this season, according to sources. The "three most powerful people in the franchise" reportedly "differ on Brady's trainer, body coach and business partner Alex Guerrero; over the team's long-term plans at quarterback; over Belichick's bracing coaching style; and most of all, over who will be the last man standing." Sources "described a palpable sense in the building that this might be the last year together for this group" (ESPN.com, 1/5).

The story is already making waves in sports media. NBCSPORTS.com goes with, "How To Process ESPN Piece On Pats 'Dysfunction.'" BOSTON SPORTS JOURNAL's Greg Bedard: "On ESPN’s Patriots story, And What I’ve Been Told About Kraft, Belichick And Brady."

We'll have full reax in today's SBD.

An NFL official on Thursday notified Fritz Pollard Alliance Chair John Wooten that the Raiders "have interviewed two minority candidates for their head coach position," marking the "most formal indicator of the Raiders' progress in their coaching search." Wooten said that he was "unaware of the identity of the two candidates, and the Raiders have a policy not to disclose candidates they interview." The search is "expected to culminate in the hiring of Jon Gruden as early as next week" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/5).

Amazon reportedly has "held talks" over the U.K. media rights to EPL games "ahead of next month's auction." Amazon has been "consulting industry experts about the practicalities of adding top-flight English football to its fledgling portfolio of live sport" (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 1/4). The "digital giant sees such sporting events as American football, tennis and soccer matches as a way to get more people to subscribe to Prime memberships" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 1/5). See more in SBD Global.

The Bucks today will begin their general season-ticket sales effort for the $524M arena set to open in the fall. The team previously began selling season tickets to the new facility as part of this season's sales at BMO Harris Bradley Center, but now are selling season tickets to the general public. The ticket prices in the new arena range from $15 in the upper bowl to an average of $115 in the lower bowl. The average season ticket price increase for the lower bowl from this year at BMO Harris Bradley Center to next year in the new arena is 14%, and 9.8% in the upper bowl. The team has a current season-ticket base of 7,500, with 92% of those buyers also buying season tickets for next season. “The full season goal is to reach 10,000 for the first year,” said Bucks President Peter Feigin. The Bucks also have sold 30 of 34 suites in the new arena’s inventory.

MLB and MLBPA officials expect to meet next week in N.Y. to "discuss pace-of-play initiatives that would go into effect" for the '18 season, according to a source. The "major changes under consideration are a pitch clock and a limitation on catcher mound visits." Commissioner Rob Manfred made this issue a "priority even before the average game time increased" in '17 to 3 hours, 5 minutes. He is "free to unilaterally institute changes" under the current CBA, but he has "consistently expressed a desire to reach a settlement with the union before new rules are implemented" (ESPN.com, 1/4).

PBR today will make multiple business announcements as it kicks off its 25th anniversary season in N.Y., led by official sponsor Monster Energy extending and expanding its relationship in a pact that will see it become the sport’s largest partner. As part of the extension, PBR’s premier series this season will be called the PBR 25th Unleash The Beast Tour, while Monster -- a PBR partner since '13 -- also will become the primary partner of PBR’s series in Australia, Brazil and Canada. The U.S. series was previously known as the Built Ford Tough Series, and PBR said that Ford retains its affiliation with the series as its official vehicle.

Also today, the bull riding series is announcing that Yeti has renewed for multiple years as its official cooler and drinkware. That deal includes a branded content series and entitlement of the sport’s bucking bull award. PBR’s season starts this weekend at MSG, and CEO Sean Gleason, rider JB Mauney and execs from sponsor Wrangler are ringing the Opening Bell this morning at the NYSE.

Kobe Bryant appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night and said Michael Jordan is a “good mentor." Bryant: "He’s like a big brother.” Bryant noted Jordan's competitive nature, saying the last time they had dinner together, Jordan told him in each player's respective peak year, “I would have kicked your ass.” Bryant: “I said, ‘Mike, come on now, please. Enjoy the salad. We both know that's not going to happen.’” Bryant added Jordan picked up the dinner check, because “big brother always picks it up.” Bryant said of coaching his daughter’s basketball team, “I'm very patient and calm. I take a lot after Phil (Jackson).” Bryant: “I sent Phil a couple of videos, actually, of the kids running the triangle offense” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/4).

New Nebraska coach Scott Frost "will be included on ESPN's coverage" of Monday's CFP national championship. Frost is "scheduled to appear on 'College GameDay'" alongside Auburn's Gus Malzahn and Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher, as well as "Championship Drive" (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 1/5).

North and South Korea are "due to hold their first official talks in more than two years next Tuesday, as both sides dial down tensions" ahead of next month’s Pyeongchang Games (WASHINGTON POST, 1/5).

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the Triple-A Int'l League Chiefs "will begin play as the Syracuse Mets" in '19. The Mets purchased the club back in October (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 1/5).

Sling TV will be the "inaugural user of a new cross-platform addressable advertising measurement service from comScore." The data will "join Sling's impressions and Dish set-top box impressions in assessing the reach of ad campaigns" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 1/5).

The Patriots today will distribute half of the 1,200 blankets donated by fans at last week's frigid game against the Jets to the Pine Street Inn in Foxborough, while the remaining 600 "will be distributed to homeless shelters" across New England (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/5).

"I’m not saying Isaiah shouldn’t get a tribute video. But, like, listen, on Feb. 11, the night I get my jersey retired, man, I’m not sure I want to look up at the jumbotron and see Isaiah highlights. After all the years I’ve been there" -- ESPN's Paul Pierce, speaking on ESPN’s "The Jump," on the Celtics potentially honoring him and former G Isaiah Thomas on the same night (BOSTON HERALD, 1/5).

"Our experience with Jerry and covering the Cowboys tells us that it takes really extreme circumstances for Jerry to want to hire somebody who as the head coach is going to be bigger in the organization and bigger in the national media than he is" -- NFL reporter Ed Werder, appearing on Dallas-based KESN-AM, on why Jerry Jones never considered pursuing a coach like Jon Gruden (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/5).

"When he gets on a stage, I think he’s clearly sending a message to somebody, many times it’s his own team, sometimes it’s his own fans, sometimes it’s to the conference commissioners and the people that are kind of making decisions about the sport. He knows what he’s doing at all times" -- ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, on how Alabama coach Nick Saban handles the media (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/5).

"It’s culture shock. One day their kid is the family disappointment locked away in his bedroom playing videogames. The next day he’s the highest-paid member of that family in its history" -- Esports agent Ryan Morrison, who represents players as young as 14 (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/5).

The ARIZONA REPUBLIC goes with, "College Football Bosses Care More About Money Than Justice." No other sport "butchers a Cinderella story like this one," as UCF is "expertly trolling their No. 12 finish in the rankings." It seems the "ideas that never float in college football are the ones that make the most sense." Meanwhile, YAHOO SPORTS presents a "radical new College Football Playoff plan that could (possibly) end the complaining."

The DALLAS MORNING NEWS writes under the header, "'Oh My God, This Is Really Happening.' Inside Mark Cuban's Mind When He Bought The Mavericks 18 Years Ago."

Also: 

• Raj Saha "at home" as Bucks' arena GM.
• Dave Gettleman opens up on the Giants' rebuild.
• Maui still "gathering place for golf's best" at PGA Tour Tournament of Champions.
• Interim NASL Commissioner, U.S. Soccer CEO respond to NASL.
• Why NHRA "needs to prepare now for the post-John Force era."

Clarification: Once John Currie is fired (he is suspended with pay) he'll make more money/month than when he was UT athletic director. His buyout says he gets $100K/month for each month left on contract (that’s
55 months) or $1.2M a year. As AD, he made $900K/year, or $75K/month.

— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) January 4, 2018

Gerald Green is a shoe deal free agent right now. Brands showing interest as Rockets are expected to make deep playoff push. https://t.co/xCBQ4sL0Vm

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) January 5, 2018

The Division I baseball committee supports proposal to allow four fall games (wouldn't count to 56 game spring schedule). Will be voted on as soon as April by the oversight committee

— Teddy Cahill (@tedcahill) January 5, 2018

Kevin Stallings on @937theFan talking about Louisville incident: "I felt the need to stick up for my team. My team comes first." He also said, "I probably would have chosen other words."

— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) January 5, 2018

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

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney at 9:30am ET will officially declare Saturday "Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation Day."

Former Penn State AD Jim Tarman's funeral services will begin at 11:00am ET at Grace Lutheran Church in State College, Pa. 

A 3-minute hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home.

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

“When it was introduced in 1953, this car model’s emblem had a checkered flag and a red flag with a fleur-de-lis.”

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “Parts of New England are reported to be colder than Mars, the planet, this week." Kimmel: "Boston is expected to get 18 inches of snow. The schools there were closed today, but football practice wasn't. This is what the New England Patriots -- for real -- had to endure this afternoon.” The broadcast then aired video of Patriots players walking to practice amidst a blustery winter storm, with a voice off-screen yelling, “No days off! No days off! No days off!” Kimmel: “No days off? How about one day off, I mean come on? They’re not even playing Sunday. They have a bye week and if they win people will be like, ‘Well, that’s why they won. No days off.’ But really it’s more like, ‘Well, that’s why Demarius got pneumonia. No days off’” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/4).

“What is a Corvette?”