A long NFL feud ends as the Patriots reach football’s biggest stage.

Dave Portnoy says the long tension between Barstool Sports and the NFL might finally be ending. On Monday, he shared that the league appears to have lifted its nearly nine-year ban on his company.

Portnoy posted the news on X as his New England Patriots get ready for a Super Bowl run. The timing feels especially big for him, both as a media figure and a lifelong Patriots fan.

“I’m hearing that the NFL ban on Barstool Sports has been lifted,” Portnoy wrote. “It’s not 100% confirmed yet, but the Cold War may be over.”

He joked that it felt like the ending of Rocky IV, pointing to how long and public the problem has been.

Portnoy’s Feud Born From Deflategate

Dave Portnoy (Photo Via X)
Dave Portnoy’s long fight with the NFL started in 2015 during the Deflategate scandal involving Tom Brady. That year, Portnoy and three Barstool Sports employees protested at NFL headquarters in New York.

They handcuffed themselves to the lobby floor and refused to leave. Police eventually arrested them. The protest drew national attention and upset league officials.

After that, the NFL cut ties with Barstool and Portnoy. League officials said they would not give credentials to people involved in “those kinds of stunts.” That decision kept Barstool staff out of NFL events, including Super Bowl week.

The ban also blocked Barstool from Radio Row, an important media area during Super Bowl coverage. Even as Barstool grew into a top brand, the NFL kept its distance for years.

Now, that appears to be changing. Portnoy said the league and Barstool have moved on from the dispute. The NFL has not officially commented.

The timing is notable. The Patriots are back on top this season. New England surprised the league under head coach Mike Vrabel. They won the AFC title with a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos.

Quarterback Drake Maye led the team in freezing conditions at Mile High Stadium. The Patriots are now headed to Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

They will face the Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Sam Darnold on February 8. If the ban is truly over, Portnoy could attend the Super Bowl with full access for the first time since the fallout.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.