[Rdd]

Speaking of the NFL, it seems like they're eyeing for ESPN, who are controlling NFL Media if the deal goes through:
www.c21media.net 

A number of things there. What seems to be suggested is that the NFL would sell NFL Media (ie NFL Network, Redzone and Films), which they have been trying without success to offload, to ESPN in return for a minority stake.
I don’t think it’s suggested the NFL would buy ESPN lock stock and barrel though. If it were I think there would have to be concerns on two fronts. One would be that the NFL would own a major player in terms of its own rights. Now the NFL’s rights are tied up for the next decade, so nothing would change there, and indeed they’ve already owned a chunk of their own rights in NFL Network and indeed have taken Thursday Night Football off it and left it with a handful of international and late season games (enough to keep the cable companies interested in carrying it but not enough to distort the huge market for its own rights). Still it’s the potential for what could happen in the longer term that could worry the networks.

Then there’s the notion to the other major leagues - the NBA, NHL, and MLB - would be happy with the NFL owing the biggest sports broadcaster in the US and the potential for what that could do for their own sports in terms of ESPN’s strategy going forward.