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Why does the NFL end Thursday Night games week 16? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter flysack
- Start date
tonyftony716
Footballguy
I don't know why but I do miss the Saturday games the last week or two of every season. Too early for me to get into college basketball and nothing else is on.
flysack
Footballguy
I still wouldn't mind a Thursday nighter though. I was getting used to them this season, and now that I'm on winter break, I could actually stay up and watch the whole thing.
Kwai Chang Caine
Footballguy
Every team has played now on Thursday. Including Denver and Baltimore twice counting the Thursday season opener.
I wonder if it has something to do with teams in contention complaining about playing another contending team that had ten days rest because of a Thursday? I have no idea, but there has to be a reason. The NFL doesn't miss opportunities to make money. And an additional prime time game each week is a sure money maker.
SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
Yes, because it affects the competitive balance and teams will complain they were at an unfair disadvantage.
Sarnoff
Footballguy
Lousy ratings. Very low household TV usage this time of year. Once we get a week past November sweeps, the wheels kind of come off the TV season. People are traveling, doing holiday shopping, college kids taking finals and flying home, winter vacations start... you'll notice most TV shows go into reruns or are pre-empted for music/movie award shows starting this week.
Shutout
Footballguy
This is the answer. If you have a team play on TNF and a team can know 3 days later that they can now rest, etc, I am sure it has a ripple effect to competitive balance. I believe (don't quote me) that this arguement was also behind, partially, of why the SNF game can be flexed. Of course, you want to flex out of a dog game, but you also might want to flex out of a situation that could allow a team to know if it could rest or not.
What they ought to do every year is just make all the NFC East games the SNF and MNF games the last two weeks. That division is always a jumbled mess.
Flying Elvis
Footballguy
I think it's a contract issue with the Networks that carry the Sunday games. Their regular season broadcasting generally begins this time of year and they likely worked a "non-compete" type clause into those massive contracts with the NFL. Can't have us schleps watching NFL instead of American Idol!
Long Ball Larry
Footballguy
These make a lot more sense than the rest/competitive balance theories.
Adam Harstad
Moderator
I think this is it. NFL Network's contract says they get every team once. The opening Thursday night game between Denver and Baltimore wasn't on NFLN, so it didn't count.
Long Ball Larry
Footballguy
Ratings are up like 10% this year, apparently, to an average of 8 million viewers, which is good, though it pales in comparison to Sundays. I'm just saying that any reason that relates to business seems far more plausible to me than something that is good for the players and/or the overall game.
http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2013/december/despite-bad-matchups-and-lousy-results-thursday-night-football-viewership-climbs-by-10-percent.html
Long Ball Larry
Footballguy
That's a good point. The agreement with the teams is that no team would have to play on Thursday more than once?
I do wonder about the lack of Saturday games this year? Hasn't there been at least 1 every year? I know that there was last year.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Yes, they have had their fun screwing with us this season.
They will be back next year to do it again.
flysack
Footballguy
I did learn recently that the reason there's no NFL Friday or Saturday games during the NCAA and high school seasons is a stipulation in the NFL's tax exemption. The NFL is tax exempt. Not the teams, just the league itself (which still accounts for over $200 million per year). Part of the agreement rendering that status is the NFL won't schedule games to compete with college and high school.
And here I always thought they were being courteous.
And here I always thought they were being courteous.
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NFL Network didn't get the Ravens, Steelers, Cowboys, Raiders, Packers, or Lions on their network as their Thursday games were on Thanksgiving Day. Each team has played one Thursday game coming off a prior regular season week (whether any played on Thursday coming off a bye, I do not know).Long Ball Larry said:
Outside of last year, there have not been Saturday games in many years, at least since the full season Thursday night package began (there were a few seasons with a smaller Thursday night package where I don't know if they did Saturdays as well). The only reason there was a Saturday game last year was because Monday was Christmas Eve, so they moved MNF to Saturday night to avoid the conflict.
I thought they were just being courteous as well.
I understand the the multiple items at play with TNF but was really wondering what was up with no Saturday NFL. I don't know how it is in most places but this week is the last week of HS football in Texas. But I could have sworn that HS games occurred on past NFL Saturdays as well as lower division college playoffs?
Either way you know what this past Saturday felt like it? Like a weekend in the off-season with nothing to look forward to. Depressing sign of things to come.
TheLurkerBelow
Footballguy
I'm much more likely to buy into the reason being ratings and money related than anything else. But I have no actual knowledge of the reason.
MattFancy
Footballguy
Mr. Irrelevant
IBL Representative
That's both utterly fascinating (you really do learn something new every day) and utterly unsurprising. Though it leaves me scratching my head as to how a professional sports league competing with HIGH SCHOOL games could possibly affect its status under tax law. I'd love the concept of FNF and think in general a ton of the complaints about Thursday games would go away if they moved them back just one day.
Todem
Footballguy
I wish it would go away. I really do.
Keep it on Sundays and the MNF game (which has become a huge non-event since the Advent of the Football Night In America game which is a great game typically now). If not for Monday Night Countdown.....I probably would not even turn on the MNF game to begin with. It has been lame for years. But I still enjoy watching those guys (sans Berman who is done....just done) chat and talk about the league and bring back Jacked Up!!!!!!
Oh wait.....Roger Goodell would go after ESPN for taunting for reviving "Jacked Up" as not only is it offensive but too violent for the NFL.....imagine that. What with all the concussion lawsuits now.....LMFAO.
99% of the Tursday night games have been utter trash and non-essential television.
Watered down the NFL has become.
Keep it on Sundays and the MNF game (which has become a huge non-event since the Advent of the Football Night In America game which is a great game typically now). If not for Monday Night Countdown.....I probably would not even turn on the MNF game to begin with. It has been lame for years. But I still enjoy watching those guys (sans Berman who is done....just done) chat and talk about the league and bring back Jacked Up!!!!!!
Oh wait.....Roger Goodell would go after ESPN for taunting for reviving "Jacked Up" as not only is it offensive but too violent for the NFL.....imagine that. What with all the concussion lawsuits now.....LMFAO.
99% of the Tursday night games have been utter trash and non-essential television.
Watered down the NFL has become.
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buddhacwru
Footballguy
Seriously? First off its BS its a non-profit but second its BS that they have this situation.... Anyone know more about this?
Mr. Retukes
Footballguy
I think the correct answer is in post #14: in order to keep things fair and balanced, each team plays ONLY ONE Thursday game during the season.
(The season opener does not count because the teams did not play a regular season game the week before, and therefore did not have a "short week" of practice.)
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
I assume each level is given one "day" per week to be somewhat exclusive. Friday = High Schools, Sat = College, Sunday = NFL
flysack
Footballguy
The agreement with the feds was made in 1966 (I believe - look it up yourself if you want). I guess they figured Friday is when high school kids played and back then the whole community turned out for the games? I don't know. Maybe they were worried that if the Packers were on Friday night, ticket sales would plummet for Wisconsin high school games, and support (financial and emotional) for the team would fall, endangering youth football. I'm pulling at straws here, but it kinda makes sense..
Raiderfan32904
Footballguy
Next year avoiding the teams that are scheduled to play week 15 TNF game. I don't care who it is. I will avoid these players like the plague. TNF sucks and the quality of the games on a short week is scaled back, why not call it what it is, replacement quality football. Horrible.
Todem
Footballguy
My credibility with anyone on this message board is the very least of my concerns. And what's wrong with Monday Night Countdown?
Lmfao. Because you don't like it.....it's the gospel?
Sheesh.
