For an organization worth billions, the NFL sure knows how to cut corners in ways that make you do a double-take. Despite its deep pockets, the league’s own media branch, NFL Network, has been making some eyebrow-raising budget decisions that leave its top talent scrambling. And now, FOX Sports’ Peter Schrager has pulled back the curtain on just how much penny-pinching is going on behind the scenes.

Schrager, a longtime host of Good Morning Football, recently revealed that NFL Network refused to send the show’s crew to cover Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas last year. Reason? “Cost-cutting” measures. The decision blindsided him, as it was the first time in 18 years that he was absent from Super Bowl week. Instead of accepting it, he paid his own way to attend, crashing in a friend’s hotel room, just so he wouldn’t miss the commissioner’s party—one of the most influential networking events in the league. “I was humbled and flattened,” Schrager admitted, making it clear that loyalty to the league doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll have your back.

His experience is just another chapter in the NFL’s ongoing effort to trim costs at the expense of its media arm. From relocating Good Morning Football from New York to Los Angeles. To laying off prominent reporters and canceling long-running shows, NFL Network has been shedding expenses wherever possible. Peter Schrager’s revelation confirms what many insiders have suspected—the league simply doesn’t prioritize its own network the way it does its on-field product.

Adding fuel to the fire, reports have surfaced that the NFL has re-engaged ESPN in talks about selling off its media assets, further signaling that NFL Network may not have a long-term future. If the league itself is looking to offload its media branch, it’s no surprise that cost-cutting has taken center stage. Meanwhile, Schrager, who also works with FOX, had no such issues this year, as the network made sure he was on site for Chiefs vs. Eagles Super Bowl LIX. The contrast is glaring—while FOX is investing in coverage, the NFL’s own network seems to be phasing itself out.

Ultimately, Peter Schrager’s story is more than just an anecdote about footing your own bill for the Super Bowl. It’s a telling sign of where NFL Media stands in the league’s pecking order. And with Goodell at the helm, the message is loud and clear—if you work for NFL Network, don’t count on the league to take care of you.

Now, shifting our focus on FOX, there’s another commentator who might be stepping away from her role, or at least that’s what it is looking like for now. So, what the deal?

Charissa Thompson’s future hangs in the balance

Charissa Thompson has built an incredible career at FOX. But now, her future with the network is up in the air. With her contract officially expired after the 2024 season, there’s been no word on an extension. Leaving fans wondering if she’ll stay or move on. For someone who started as a receptionist in FOX’s HR department before grinding her way to the top, this moment marks a major turning point. And while Thompson hasn’t revealed what’s next, she recently made one thing clear: No matter what happens, FOX will always be home.

On the latest episode of her Calm Down podcast with Erin Andrews, Thompson didn’t shy away from addressing the situation. “I just have to say one thing… it’s not just because my contract’s up,” she admitted before diving into what the network has meant to her. After spending over a decade at FOX (minus a brief ESPN stint). She expressed deep gratitude for the opportunities, friendships, and memories she’s built there.

Thompson went on to share how FOX has always felt like family. Especially when they welcomed her dad and brother at the Super Bowl, treating them like a part of the crew. “Fox’s family to me, so my own family like sharing in those moments… it was so fun,” she said. Emphasizing how much she values the culture and people she’s worked with for years. Between reminiscing about her time at the network and geeking out over meeting Marshawn Lynch (a big deal for a Seattle native like her). It was clear that FOX holds a special place in her heart.

But with no contract extension announced, the big question remains. Will FOX secure one of its most beloved broadcasters, or is Charissa Thompson about to start a new chapter elsewhere? Either way, she’s made her mark. And wherever she lands next, her journey proves that taking a chance on yourself can pay off in the biggest way.