An expanded Wild Card weekend led to lower average viewership for the NFL, but the move from four games to six meant overall consumption increased. The games this past weekend across Fox, NBC, CBS, Nickelodeon, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and Freeform averaged around 24.2 million viewers. Last year, four games across ABC, ESPN, Fox, NBC and CBS averaged 30.5 million viewers. However, there were over 28 billion minutes consumed of NFL Wild Card action in '21, up 16% from the same weekend last season.

Bears-Saints in the late Sunday afternoon window led the way with 30.7 million viewers across CBS and Nickelodeon, down from 35.1 million for Seahawks-Eagles on NBC in the same window last year. Bears-Saints does mark CBS’ best Sunday Wild Card in seven years. The 2.1 million viewers for Nickelodeon’s youth-centered telecast of the game marks the network’s most-watched program in nearly four years and is up 245% vs. the network’s comparable window a year ago.

The Browns’ upset of the Steelers was No. 2 for the weekend with 24.8 million (26 million with streaming). There was no primetime Wild Card game in previous years. The NBC audience marks TV’s most-watched primetime show since the Super Bowl in '20. Meanwhile, NBC averaged 21.4 million viewers for Buccaneers-WFT on Saturday night, down from 31.4 million for Titans-Patriots last year. Bucs-WFT is the most-watched Saturday primetime show on any network since the Titans-Ravens '19 AFC Divisional Playoff on CBS.

The Ravens-Titans megacast on ESPN, ABC, ESPN2 and Freeform averaged 24.8 million. That is the least-watched 1pm Sunday Wild Card since Ravens-Dolphins in 2013. It was the first time ESPN/ABC did not have the 4pm Saturday window since it got a playoff game in 2015. Last season, ESPN/ABC averaged 26.3 million for Texans-Bills. While down from last season, the megacast audience is higher than the 22.8 million that ESPN/ABC drew for Colts-Texans in 2019 and the 22.2 million it drew for Titans-Chiefs in 2018.

Fox drew 24 million viewers for Rams-Seahawks on Saturday afternoon. Earlier on Saturday, Colts-Bills averaged 20.1 million on CBS, which is the lowest audience for any WC game in at least 15 years.

The NBA and the NBPA announced new health and safety protocols as COVID-related game postponements increase. Players must wear facemasks on the bench at all times and the league for the next two weeks will require players and staff to stay at home at all times except for team-related activities at arenas or practice facilities, outside exercise or to conduct essential activities. Players and team staff during road trips will be prohibited from leaving their hotel other than for team activities or emergencies. Players are prohibited from interacting with non-team guests at the hotel. 

Pre-game meetings in locker rooms are limited to no more than 10 minutes for the next two weeks and all other meetings involving players and team staff must continue to occur either on the court in a league-approved space or at the arena in a room large enough to provide for at least 6 feet of distance between individuals. Teams must also create a seating plan on planes so that players whose assigned seats are closest to each other on the bench for games are also closest to each other on the team plane and treatment sessions at a hotel, such as massages and physical therapy, must occur in a ballroom or other large open space, with at least 12 feet between individual stations with facemasks and face. 

NCAA President Mark Emmert today "expressed frustration" with the delay in "moving ahead with proposals surrounding athletes’ ability to make money and to freely transfer to another school and said he remains committed to getting those things done in 2021." The Division I Council yesterday "postponed votes on NIL and transfers." Emmert: “We have to pause on this progress, and I’m very disappointed in that. More importantly, all of our college athletes are profoundly disappointed and I suspect even angry." He added, "We’re still committed, we’re still determined to move forward ... we promised this to our students. We’re going to get it done."

Emmert also "voiced his opposition to critics who are pushing for schools in the Power Five conferences to break away from the NCAA and govern themselves." Emmert acknowledged that some sports "generate significant revenue but that the NCAA model serves the interests of the participants" (AP, 1/12).

MLS continues to provide its clubs make-good sponsorship opportunities for the upcoming season, including co-branded player face masks to be used during local and national broadcasts, multiple sources said. At this point, the opportunity is only available through the ‘21 season, the people said, and is available for all matches. It is believed that coaches will also have an opportunity to wear the co-branded face coverings.

Sources said that teams may only have one sponsor on the face masks throughout the season, with the league recommending teams work with their health care sponsor. If a team decides to work with a company from a different sponsorship category, it must be submitted to the league for approval, the people said. MLS declined comment.

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, who is considered to be the lock No. 1 pick in this year's NFL Draft, has selected his on- and off-the-field representation. Lawrence has signed with MGC Sports for NFL playing, contract and draft preparation work. NFL player agents Jay Courie, Kyle Strongin, Sean Howard and Alan Bullington are representing him. Lawrence has also signed with Excel Sports Management for marketing and all off-the-field endeavors. Excel partner Alan Zucker, who represents multiple current and former star QBs, including Peyton and Eli Manning, and the Chargers' Justin Herbert, also will represent Lawrence. 

Beginning with tomorrow’s home opener against the Penguins, the Flyers will host a frontline worker and up to three family members at all home games during the '20-21 season. The Flyers, who still aren’t authorized for general admission inside Wells Fargo Center, worked with city officials to gain approval, according to Chief Business Officer Mike Shane. Flyers sponsor Belfor Property Restoration will be attached to the initiative, dubbed the Flyers Frontline Families Program. Honorees will be selected through a nomination process via the team’s website.

“It’s really the next step in the efforts that we started back in the spring to help support and recognize the men and women of our community who have either been impacted by or are helping to combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” Shane said to THE DAILY. “What we’ve seen over the past 10 months in the Philadelphia area is an incredible sense of service and outreach. With the season coming up, we’ve made it a priority to help celebrate people who’ve helped service others through this extremely difficult stretch.”

The ‘21 Masters will be held “with limited fans” on hand at Augusta National Golf Club after no patrons were allowed at November’s tournament. ANGC “did not announce how many patrons it would allow in, but did say it was in the process of communicating with all ticket holders of record, and refunds will be issued to those patrons not selected to attend.” Additionally, both the Augusta National Women's Amateur and the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals -- both of which were canceled in ’20 -- also are “scheduled to return with limited patrons” (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 1/12). Ticket holders who are not selected for '21 will have the opportunity to attend in '22 (THE DAILY).

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers today revealed that he will be one of several “Jeopardy” guest hosts while the show searches for a new permanent host. Rodgers said one of his “idols growing up” was late host Alex Trebek, adding, “I’m excited about that opportunity with ‘Jeopardy.’” SiriusXM's Pat McAfee responded, “You’re going to crush it.” Rodgers appeared on the broadcast in ’15 on a “Celebrity Jeopardy” episode, winning his match against former astronaut Mark Kelly and Kevin O’Leary from “Shark Tank.” The win earned $50,000 for the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer Fund (“The Pat McAfee Show,” SiriusXM, 1/12).

The NWSL expansion club in K.C. unveiled its temporary inaugural season crest and team colors this morning, with a focus on developing permanent branding and a team name beyond the '21 season. The club has developed a brand advisory council led by co-Owner Brittany Matthews -- fiancee of Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes -- to spearhead development. Additional council members include K.C. Sports Commission President & CEO Kathy Nelson as well Steinberg Sports CEO Chris Cabott (Mahomes’ agent) among others.

You've waited patiently for it, and we couldn't be more excited to share our Inaugural Season KC Crest! We Play For You, Kansas City. #WePlayForKC pic.twitter.com/bFoziQqkft

— KC NWSL (@KCWoSo) January 12, 2021

Unilever brand Degree’s new 60-second spot stars Nets F Kevin Durant. The ad -- “Tears of Joy” from BBDO -- follows Durant’s "journey of more than a year rehabbing after an Achilles tendon tear" in June '19 (ADAGE.com, 1/12).

Gillette Stadium will serve as the "first large-scale" vaccine facility in the state of Massachusetts. The facility is "scheduled to start offering 300 vaccines per day" (MASSLIVE.com, 1/12).

The Seahawks signed GM John Schneider to a "contract extension running through the 2027 NFL draft" (TWITTER.com, 1/12).

Relevent Sports Group reached a multiyear deal with Stage Front that will see the Maryland-based ticketing company focus on increasing sales to the Int'l Champions Cup. Stage Front also will provide enhanced customer experience and consumer behavioral data to Relevent (Mark J. Burns, THE DAILY).

Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co., the football-themed resort being built around the Pro Football HOF, said that is has "picked Tickets.com as the official digital ticketing provider for live events at the Hall of Fame Village" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/11).

Major League Fishing signed a sponsorship agreement with MossBack Fish Habitat, a full-line manufacturer of artificial habitat for fishing and fisheries management. MossBack Fish Habitat is now an official conservation partner of MLF and will be showcased throughout the '21 tournament season (MLF).

“I really don’t have much patience for giving into this thing because it isn’t over. It is hard. It is a challenge. Heck yeah it is, it is for everybody. But we also found that by facing it up and going for it and not backing off the challenge ... we stayed strong" -- Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, on COVID-19. The Seahawks finished the season without a single player testing positive (NBCSPORTS.com, 1/12).

“This is a business decision as much as it is a baseball decision for the Cubs. He’s a year away from free agency. His agent is Scott Boras. He’s not signing, they’re cutting payroll and rebuilding. What does all that add up to? It adds up to me that Kris Bryant has got to get moved this winter at some point” -- MLB Network’s Jayson Stark, on reports the Cubs could trade their star 3B (“Hot Stove,” MLB Network, 1/12).

The fact that the NBA is just now restricting visits from non team members to hotels is pretty shocking.

— Ann Killion (@annkillion) January 12, 2021

On this day in Los Angeles sports history:

+ Jan. 12, 1946: Rams announce they've moving from Cleveland to L.A.

+ Jan. 12, 2016: NFL owners OK the Rams relocating from St. Louis to L.A.

+ Jan. 12, 2017: Chargers say they're moving from San Diego to L.A.

— Nathan Fenno (@nathanfenno) January 12, 2021

NFLPA's De Smith says he has no reliable figures yet on what this season's revenues are and what the implications will be for next season's final salary cap figure.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) January 12, 2021

If I’m @deshaunwatson I will stand my ground. The Texans organization is known for wasting players careers. Since Jack Easterby has walk into the building nothing good has happened in/for the organization and for some reason someone can’t seem to see what’s going on. Pathetic!!!

— Andre Johnson (@johnson80) January 12, 2021

idk who needs to hear this, but starting tomorrow, there are NHL games scheduled for 116 consecutive nights 🤯

— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) January 12, 2021

We're writing this story together, #ClipperNation.

Share yours for the chance to be in an upcoming @CedarsSinai 'Write the Story' feature.

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 12, 2021

The @Player_Alliance semi is now headed west for the final leg of its ambitious national tour.

Along the way @MLB_Players worked together to make a difference in the lives of tens of thousands. 💪🏾@CameronMaybin ⚾️ @bruter24@kschwarb12 ⚾️ @jhay_da_man pic.twitter.com/gQBAc1TOlD

— Infield Chatter (@InfieldChatter) January 12, 2021

$313.1M -- The amount of sports betting wagers the state of Indiana took in for the month of December. The state ended '20 with four consecutive record months in sports betting (Play Indiana).