The NFL is conducting a search for a new CMO after a series of high-level organizational changes, outlined in a memo sent today by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to teams and league officials. Mark Waller is dropping his CMO title to fully focus on international, a role he previously had before taking over marketing. He will be promoted to Exec VP and report directly to Goodell. Waller joined the NFL in '06 to run international and assumed the CMO role in '09.

Eric Grubman will focus on "critical league priorities, including stadium development, the return of a team presence to the Los Angeles area, the league’s strategic investment fund, and other key strategic initiatives," Goodell wrote. Grubman had been Exec VP/NFL Ventures & Business Operations. NFL Exec VP/Media and NFL Network President & COO Brian Rolapp adds consumer products to his oversight, according to the memo. Chris Halpin will be promoted to Senior VP and have responsibility for Consumer Products, the commissioner wrote.

The new CMO will oversee events. Previously, events reported to Grubman, who will continue to oversee the area until a new CMO is found. The NFL last week promoted Peter O'Reilly to Senior VP/Events, replacing Frank Supovitz. The memo also noted Jeff Miller, who runs security, is promoted to Senior VP.

The NCAA today said that COO Jim Isch will retire in early '15 after transitioning away from his current position this fall into an advisory role to NCAA President Mark Emmert. Isch has worked at the NCAA since '98. With Isch's departure, Emmert announced a reorganization of senior staff, including the creation of a new Exec VP position to oversee all regulatory matters. The COO duties will be reallocated to other staff. A committee of member reps and national office staff, chaired by Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, will guide an outside firm in a national search for a new Exec VP (NCAA).

CBS Sports today revealed "We Need To Talk" as the name of its new all-female weekly sports talk show. The hour-long show, set to debut Sept. 30 on CBS Sports Network, will feature a core group of CBS personalities in addition to a group of rotating panelists from across the sports and media spectrum (CBS Sports).

NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith appeared on ESPN's "SportsCenter" this morning to discuss the penalties being meted out to players for violent hits to the head. On the issue of whether players feel the league should be doing more for player safety, Smith said, "We have a group of players who have been committed to the issue of safety for decades. … Every year we take a look at the range of issues that affect player safety: their interaction with their team doctors, field issues, equipment issues, enforcement-of-rule issues. We're always striving to try to come up with ways to make a very violent game safer each and every day. If those are things that we can do a better job of, I know that we and the league agree that there are things we should always be striving for."

Smith said of the firestorm surrounding the punishment Ravens RB Ray Rice received for his domestic abuse case, "The punishment needs to fit the crime, but I also believe that we need to make sure that we are impressing upon our young men that they need to be good husbands, good fathers, good members of their community" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 8/26).

The Lions today announced that the college bowl game at Ford Field will be called the Quick Lane Bowl based on a multiyear tie-in with Michigan-based auto service chain Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The chain was "created by Ford Motor Co. for its Ford and Lincoln dealerships." Members of the Ford family also own the Lions (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 8/26).

Also today, Popeyes Louisiana Chicken announced a deal to title sponsor the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, to be played Dec. 24 in Nassau. The game featuring Conference USA and MAC teams will be televised on ESPN. This marks the first time the QSR has sponsored a college bowl game (Popeyes Louisiana Chicken).

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and Liberty National co-Founder Paul Fireman today appeared on CNBC to promote the announcement of the Tour's 25-year partnership with the golf club. Finchem said despite signs the business of golf is declining, the "professional game has never been stronger." Finchem: "The participation side, we took a hit with the 2007, 2008 and 2009 downturn … (but) that's really corrected itself now. ... We feel real good about the future." Fireman said the lagging golf retail industry is not because of a "lack of innovation." Fireman: "They've done a great job of forwarding the game with new clubs, new technology" ("Squawk on the Street," CNBC, 8/26).

An Illinois federal court scheduled a jury trial for next fall for American Needle's antitrust lawsuit against the NFL. That would come a full 16 years after the event that sparked the lawsuit: the NFL's award of an exclusive cap license to Reebok. American Needle in '04 sued under antitrust law, but the NFL countered it was exempt from antitrust rules for the purpose of such commercial contracts. The case made it to the Supreme Court, which ruled in '10 that the NFL was not exempt and would have to defend itself.

Four years later, after settlement talks earlier this summer, the parties will move toward a trial date on either October 28, 2015, or November 2, 2015, the court wrote in a notice. The contract at issue has long since expired. Nike took over for Reebok in '11 as the league's apparel provider. New Era caps currently has the exclusive cap license.

The Mets have parted ways with Senior VP/Ticket Sales & Services Leigh Castergine, who had worked with the team since '10. She also has worked in ticketing and sales with the Bruins, Magic and Comcast-Spectacor. A national search is on for her replacement (Terry Lefton, Editor-At-Large).

UEFA President Michel Platini this week is set to announce that "he will challenge former mentor Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency" (AP, 8/26).

Goody's is leveraging its Dale Earnhardt Jr. endorsement by rolling out new special edition packaging, TV ads, radio spots, exclusive video and augmented reality fan photos featuring the NASCAR driver. TV ads will run through the end of the '14 season and into '15 (Goody's).

NFL UK today announced that Def Leppard will perform the pregame show at the Sept. 28 Raiders-Dolphins Int'l Series game at Wembley Stadium (NFL UK).

Columbia Sportswear and the Cowboys today announced a licensing partnership for co-branded sportswear, outerwear and accessories for men, women and youth. Product will be available starting in late spring '15 (Columbia).

"The moment that even one of these self-serve beer machines opens for business will be the moment that unionized workers throughout Miller Park will begin to take a hit" – Excerpt from a letter by Service Employees Int'l Union members to the Milwaukee Common Council Licenses Committee over proposed DraftServ units (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/26).

“He wants to do all of it. The truth of the matter is, he’s not going to be a 25-year-old, Super Bowl-champion quarterback his whole life. ... We need to worry about what we can do now" – Seahawks QB Russell Wilson's agent, Mark Rodgers, on the commercial opportunities for his client this past offseason (SI.com, 8/26).

“To think I am living middle-class to be one of the best in my sport really frustrates me, as I watch all of these athletes make millions of dollars” – 20th-ranked bowler Ryan Ciminelli, who earned $57,942 last year on the PBA Tour (WSJ.com, 8/26).

ESPN.com's Wright Thompson: "My rule for attending a bowl game is: can i wear this hat with a straight face? So Cotton, yes. Cap One, no. Popeye's is a game changer."

Globe & Mail's James Mirtle: "Leafs PR staff still in flux too. Some let go. Some have option to be reassigned. Camp approaching fast."

CBSSports.com's Chip Patterson: "Josh Shaw could be a cautionary tale for schools looking to serve as THE primary outlet for news. USC reported 1st."

KRCG-TV's Ashley Zavala: "Derrick Washington on taking action vs. ESPN: 'it's in the talks.. in contact with a lot of people to see what type of action they can do.'"

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

In honor of National Dog Day, digital outlet 120 Sports posted this image of college dog mascots and encouraged followers to submit their favorites.

With today's release of EA Sports' "Madden 15," Walmart rolled out this ad about a promotion in which fans can win a chance to play the game on the center-hung video board at AT&T Stadium.

NASCAR will announce its '15 race and broadcast schedules on special editions of FS1's "NASCAR Race Hub" and NBCSN's "NASCAR America" at 5:00pm ET.

$40,000 – Amount donated by the Colts to USA Football’s “Heads Up Football” program, which "will be offered to all Indiana high school coaches" next year (IBJ.com, 8/26).