The NFL's Black Monday took a heavy toll on New Year's Eve, as six teams decided to head in a new direction for '19. The Browns and Packers fired their coaches earlier in the season. 

• Marvin Lewis' time with the Bengals is over after 16 seasons, as the team "played in front of a nearly half-empty stadium for late-season games" (CINCINNATI.com, 12/31).

• The Broncos moved on from coach Vance Joseph after just two years, as his .343 winning percentage was the "second-worst in Broncos history" (DENVERPOST.com, 12/31).

• The Buccaneers fired Dirk Koetter and are now "looking to hire their fifth head coach" since firing Jon Gruden after the '08 season (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/31).

• In N.Y., the Jets "made it official" on Sunday night that they were moving on from Todd Bowles, while they will retain GM Mike Maccagnan (N.Y. POST, 12/31).

• First-year Cardinals coach Steve Wilks met with his staff this morning to "tell them he will not be back." GM Steve Keim is "expected to continue his duties" (AZCENTRAL.com, 12/31).

• Dolphins coach Adam Gase said that he "has been fired" after three seasons. Meanwhile, the team promoted GM Chris Grier to VP/Football Operations, while the person formerly in that job -- Mike Tannenbaum -- was "demoted to another unspecified position" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 12/31).

The NFL finished it regular season yesterday with Fox, CBS and NBC all seeing ratings gains for '18. The combined overnight ratings for the four afternoon windows (Fox and CBS) were up over '17. There was no NBC "SNF" in Week 17 last year. Fox led the way yesterday, with its national window featuring Bears-Vikings and Eagles-Redskins drawing a 13.5 overnight rating. CBS drew a 10.7 overnight for its national window, which featured Browns-Ravens and Bengals-Steelers. CBS also finished the season up 8% in overnight ratings.

NBC got another primetime win with a 10.7 overnight for Colts-Titans, which had been flexed to "SNF." Despite the playoff implications, that marked the lowest Week 17 "SNF" game since '08, when Chargers-Broncos drew a 10.6. But for the season, NBC was up 8% in ratings.

Download the NFL Week 17 overnights

The CFP semifinals saw a sharp drop in viewership this year, as both games saw lopsided scores early on and did not have the benefit of airing on New Year’s Day. In the late Saturday afternoon window, ESPN drew a total audience delivery -- which includes ESPN2's "Coaches Film Room" and streaming -- of 16.8 million viewers for Clemson's 30-3 win over Notre Dame in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, down from 26.8 million viewers for the early semifinal game last year, when Georgia beat Oklahoma 54-48 in an OT Rose Bowl game that aired on New Year's Day. Two years ago, Alabama's convincing win over Washington in the early window drew 19.3 million.

In Saturday's primetime window, Alabama's 45-34 win over Oklahoma in the Capital One Orange Bowl -- in which Alabama raced out to a 28-0 lead -- drew a total audience delivery of 19.1 million viewers. That is down from 21.1 million last year, as Alabama beat Clemson in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Two years ago in primetime, Clemson's 31-0 win over Ohio State drew 19.2 million viewers.

The merger of Learfield and IMG College is complete. The two sports marketing giants will start the new year as one fully merged company, they told employees today, signaling a new era in collegiate marketing and media. Mark Shapiro, President of Endeavor, IMG College’s parent company, delivered the news this morning on a conference call with the college division’s employees. He was joined on the call by Learfield President & CEO Greg Brown, who will oversee Learfield-IMG College going forward. The company will be based in Plano, Texas, where Learfield is headquartered.

The merger is a 50-50 deal between Learfield, which is owned by Atairos Group, and IMG College. Combined, Learfield-IMG College owns the multimedia rights to 55 of 65 schools in the power five conferences and more than 200 schools in all, giving one company an unprecedented bundle of rights to sell in the college space. The closely watched blockbuster deal originally was signed in October ‘17, but a longer-than-expected merger review by the Department of Justice left both businesses operating separately until now. Brown will run the merged business and sit on a board that will have representation from Atairos and Endeavor. Michael Angelakis, Atairos Group Chair & CEO, will also sit on the new board. IMG College will be represented by Endeavor Exec Chair Patrick Whitesell and Global CFO Jason Lublin. The merged company is believed to be valued at more than $2B.

A couple of major personnel moves were part of the announcement. Learfield Chief Revenue Officer Andy Rawlings will oversee the multimedia rights business for the merged company. IMG College President Tim Pernetti and Exec VP/Sales & Marketing Andrew Judelson will transition back to Endeavor. Both will serve as advisors through the integration process. Primarily, though, Judelson will sell across Endeavor properties, while Pernetti will land in a soon-to-be-determined position. Also, as part of the deal, all non-compete clauses for employees will be waived, a move intended to free up competition by allowing GMs and other execs to move more freely.

The EPL has been "forced to launch a fresh search" for a CEO after Susanna Dinnage pulled out "before even taking up the post." Dinnage agreed in November to succeed former CEO Richard Scudamore, but "stunned" the EPL by saying that she had "decided to remain as a television executive instead." Dinnage's "reasons for changing her mind have yet to become fully apparent" (LONDON TIMES, 12/31). BBC Studios CEO Tim Davie has now "emerged as the frontrunner" for the position after he "narrowly missed out on the job when Dinnage was appointed" (London TELEGRAPH, 12/31).

Penn State is "on the verge of approving a contract extension" for AD Sandy Barbour. Barbour said that she "believes her new deal is awaiting approval" from the BOT, which should take place in early January. Her current contract is "set to expire" on Aug. 31. Barbour has said that fundraising "continues to be a priority" as PSU looks to "upgrade its facilities, including Beaver Stadium at some point down the road" (PENNLIVE.com, 12/31).

The Raiders are hiring NFL Network’s Mike Mayock as their new GM, according to sources. Raiders coach Jon Gruden yesterday following a loss to the Chiefs said that Mayock is a “passionate personnel man.” Gruden: “He loves it. He has done it for a long time. I know he has had opportunities to get back into the NFL as a general manager. We will see what happens. We will see how the dust settles” (ESPN.com, 12/31).

Saturday night's UFC 232 at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., which had a late move out of Las Vegas and featured Jon Jones' win over Alexander Gustafsson, recorded a live gate of $2.066M in front of a sellout crowd of 15,862. The co-main event featured Amanda Nunes' win over Cris Cyborg. 

Meanwhile, UFC and Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions reached a new agreement to live stream up to 72 pro boxing events over the next three years on UFC Fight Pass. The inaugural event will be Jan. 31 (UFC).

The NHLPA fired back at Stars CEO Jim Lites for "derogatory comments" he directed at Stars C Tyler Seguin and LW Jamie Benn. Lites on Friday said Seguin and Benn have been "f---ing horses---; I don't know how else to put it." Lites also said that the "feeling also was shared" by Stars Owner Tom Gaglardi (ESPN.com, 12/30).

Disney and Verizon have agreed on a "new distribution deal, averting a threatened blackout of Disney-owned channels on Verizon Fios television systems" (L.A. TIMES, 12/31). A source said that Disney was able to "win price increases for its programming and the pickup of a new channel, the ACC Network" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/31).

To combat extreme heat at the Australian Open, a newly developed "heat stress scale" will be applied along with "more comprehensive measuring of conditions across Melbourne Park." A 10-minute break between the third and fourth set "will be introduced in men's singles matches," and during women's singles matches "between the second and third set" (AAP, 12/28).

"Expansion will happen long before the current playoff contract is over (in 2026). I think it will happen within the next year or two" -- UCF President Dale Whittaker, on CFP expansion (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/31).

"Why not eight? Why not 16? I think probably 16 is the best number. I think eight is very doable. There is no reason not to. I don’t think there’s any way it won’t happen in the next few years. I really do" -- Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham, on CFP expansion (DESERET NEWS, 12/30).

"I feel like I have more of a purpose now -- I just have to find out what it is. I’ve got to figure out what my Holy Grail is for the rest of my life. I can’t waste this opportunity" -- Big Ten Network analyst Matt Millen, after undergoing a recent heart transplant (NBCSPORTS.com, 12/31).

Tomorrow, NHL will announce 2020 Winter Classic will be in Dallas. Not sure yet who the Stars’ opponent will be.

— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) December 31, 2018

There are currently two black coaches in the league -- Anthony Lynn & Mike Tomlin. Ron Rivera in Carolina makes three minority coaches. The Rooney Rule is going to be put to a big test in this cycle.

— Judy Battista (@judybattista) December 31, 2018

With Mike Mayock getting a GM job it’s only a matter of time ( probably should’ve happened before ) @LRiddickESPN gets his shot. Young. Fresh innovative perspective. Will be great to see

— Booger (@ESPNBooger) December 31, 2018

Jim Nill doesn’t condone Jim Lites language, but doubles down on the message that Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin need to be better. He knew Lites was going to do this, but didn’t know it was going to be delivered in this language

— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) December 30, 2018

What will fuel the expansion of the CFP??
Ratings Ratings Ratings

When games are over in the 1st half of a playoff, I’m already getting dressed to get dinner plans going. 🤷🏽‍♂️

— Kirk Morrison (@kirkmorrison) December 30, 2018