He said it is “important in every league that everyone is a good partner and no one perceives themselves to be bigger than the league itself.” Kraft: “It’s more important that the people running the league do the right thing for the league than for any one franchise. And, in our case, we had a situation [with Deflategate] where the league really messed up big time, and, you know, we were very disappointed, and we decided to step back because we are in this business for the long term and we tried to be a good partner.” Kraft was on stage with his son, Jonathan, for a rare father-son interview this morning.

Meanwhile, Kraft said he hopes a new contract for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be completed by Dec. 13, when league owners meet in Dallas. Kraft, a member of the league's compensation committee, made the comment after his on-stage appearance. There was speculation earlier that the committee might approve a new contract yesterday at its meeting in N.Y., but that did not happen.

Kraft Group President Jonathan Kraft today said that the Revolution are as “optimistic as we’ve ever been” that they will be able to secure a piece of land in downtown Boston for a soccer-specific stadium in '18. Speaking at the inaugural Dealmakers in Sports conference, Kraft noted that while the search for a stadium site has taken longer than fans have wanted, “if you settle by being outside the urban core or by moving into a building that isn’t right, you are just creating problems for yourself 10 years down the road. We want to solve it permanently.” The Revs have played home games at Foxboro Stadium and Gillette Stadium since the team’s inception in '96.

The NFL in an "unprecedented move" for a major pro sports league has "proposed partnering with its players to effect social justice change, though not all players are in agreement on the proposal." On Monday, the league "submitted to players the final draft of a proposal" that would contribute nearly $100M to causes "considered important to African-American communities." The NFL "hopes this effort will effectively end the peaceful-yet-controversial movement" that Colin Kaepernick started last season.

Players tonight are "expected to discuss the offer during a scheduled conference call." However, some players who have actively protested since '16 are "displeased with the NFL's approach and plan to break from the Players Coalition, a group of roughly 40 players who negotiated with the league office, over how its leaders have handled negotiations." Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins and former NFLer Anquan Boldin are "regarded as the leaders of the coalition" (ESPN.com, 11/29).

The potential sale of the Hurricanes to a group led by sports attorney Chuck Greenberg has "stalled." Hurricanes President Don Waddell said the team has not heard from Greenberg in "four to five weeks." Waddell: "He's still out there, but not one of the groups we're talking to right now." Since July, when Hurricanes Owner Peter Karmanos and Greenberg initially discussed a sale, other groups have "been involved," including one led by Topgolf Chair Thomas Dundon. Waddell said that the Hurricanes "continue to work with 'several groups' who are interested in buying the franchise" (WRALSPORTSFAN.com, 11/29).

The Cincinnati City Council today voted to "support an infrastructure financing plan" for a new FC Cincinnati stadium after MLS made the USL club one of four finalists for expansion. The "debate was short" today before the civic body passed the deal by a 5-3 margin. Earlier today, the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners "voted unanimously" to build a $15M, 1,000-space garage for a stadium. The county resolution "leaves out details such as location and design, which will be determined if and when FC Cincinnati wins its bid in December" to join MLS (CINCINNATI.com, 11/29).

MLS Commissioner Don Garber today spoke about the future of the Crew, saying, “No league, certainly no commissioner, wants to move a team, but you’ve got to deal with what you need to do to ensure that you have the healthiest possible league so that you can continue to drive opportunity for our fans and opportunity for our owners and all of our partners.” Speaking at the Dealmakers in Sports conference, Garber said, “In Columbus, we’ve been struggling in a wide variety of metrics that matter … and that’s been a problem for us for a long time.” Garber said that investments in the team, as well as in marketing and branding, have not delivered for Owner Anthony Precourt (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer).

Meanwhile, Columbus officials "suggested two public parks" to the Crew as "site options for a new stadium as they try to find ways to keep the team from moving" to Austin. Mayor Andrew Ginther and Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer sent a letter "restating offers made over several meetings and calls since September." Redeveloping the state fairgrounds where Mapfre Stadium sits "also was mentioned." The letter states all of the options would include turning the "surrounding area into an entertainment district." The letter also offers to help the Crew to "line up local sponsors" (DISPATCH.com, 11/29).

Former esports organization Immortals GM Nick Phan has left to join FlyQuest in the same role. The news comes less than a week after Riot Games announced that FlyQuest, owned by Bucks co-Owner Wes Edens, will join the franchised "League of Legends" circuit, but Immortals will not. The GM role at Flyquest had previously been held by Ryan Edens, who now takes a CEO title.

Fenway Park next year will host the annual Harvard-Yale football game on Nov. 17 (Fenway Sports Management).

Fox Sports and NBC Sports today were jointly honored with the '17 NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award at the NMPA Myers Brothers Awards. The networks collaborated to implement a strategy to cross-promote races on both nets during the season (NASCAR).

Puma has signed USMNT and Toronto FC F Jozy Altidore to a long-term contract. He will be the face of the company's North American soccer campaign (Puma).

"We'd take him in a second" -- CBS Chair, President & CEO Les Moonves, on if the net would be interested in Eli Manning as an NFL analyst next season (TMZ.com, 11/29).

"It’s not just the increased availability of NFL games but also increased college game availability. At the height of the season, football fans can watch seven days a week. At some point, the audience is diluted by so many games" -- Ball State telecommunications professor Dom Caristi, on the NFL ratings slide (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/29).

Alright Tennessee fine, I'll take the job for 7M a year, but all my position coaches are former OL. Take it or leave it.

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) November 29, 2017

There's curiosity among some evaluators if any of 30 teams don't send a response on Ohtani, as requested by agent. To repeat: It would be like a GM's version of not running out a ground ball, because it costs nothing other than time and effort. Failure to do so would look lazy.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 29, 2017

Is it selfish that I want listen to Vin Scully sing himself happy birthday today? Only because I know it’ll sound so gosh damn beautiful.

— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) November 29, 2017

Awesome achievement: @MartinTruex_Jr and @SherryPollex win the prestigious Myers Brothers Award for their charitable efforts. What a year for them.

— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) November 29, 2017

Yankees RF Aaron Judge "received 10 write-in votes" in the N.Y. mayoral election, while Knicks F Kristaps Porzingis received nine, according to a Board of Elections certification report. There were "over 2,000 write-in votes," and Porzingis "actually should've received 11, but a pair of voters didn't spell his name correctly" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 11/29).

Hornets F Frank Kaminsky shows off his archery skills in a clip from SI.

How is @FSKPart3 at shooting a bow and arrow? Kind of amazing, actually. pic.twitter.com/iYYzvb5qwh

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 29, 2017

$7.5M -- Amount the Univ. of Florida will pay former football coach Jim McElwain over the next four years after firing him earlier this month (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/29).