NFL expands 'Thursday Night Football' package

[Denver Native (Carol)]

NEW YORK -- The National Football League will expand Thursday Night Football in 2016 and 2017, continuing its partnership with CBS while also adding NBC as a partner, it was announced today by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corp., and Steve Burke, CEO, NBC Universal.

Both CBS and NBC will broadcast five Thursday Night Football games, growing the package to 10 broadcast games in 2016 and 2017 from eight in 2014 and 2015. All Thursday Night Football broadcast games will continue to be simulcast on NFL Network. NFL Network will also exclusively televise an eight-game schedule of regular season games comprised of Thursday Night Football, late-season games on Saturday, and additional games to be determined.

Both CBS and NBC will produce Thursday Night Football with their lead broadcasters and production teams, and both will contribute to the production of Thursday Night Football exclusively on NFL Network. CBS and NFL Network will televise the first half of the Thursday Night Football schedule with NBC and NFL Network televising the second half.

rest - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000630862/article/nfl-expands-thursday-night-football-package

[Joel]

All Thursday Night Football broadcast games will continue to be simulcast on NFL Network.
Even as increasingly desperate marketing shows trying to make NFLN profitable is futile. Thus cable providers answered "Please include NFLN in basic cable" with ":lol:!"
I wonder when networks will start telling the NFL, "Instead of charging us to broadcast your white elephant, why don't you PAY us: Like all our OTHER advertisers."

[Ravage!!!]

we should just cancel Thursday night games, altogether. They are horrible and it's pathetic to try and travel then follow that up with a thursday night game.

[Dapper Dan]

I don't mind Thursday games, just because I like the most football possible.

[Joel]

I don't mind Thursday games, just because I like the most football possible.
256 gms/yr is 256/gms/yr, whether played on Sunday, Thursday or February 29th. You don't need TNF, you need Sunday Ticket (I'm sure the NFL would agree. ;))

[Dapper Dan]

256 gms/yr is 256/gms/yr, whether played on Sunday, Thursday or February 29th. You don't need TNF, you need Sunday Ticket (I'm sure the NFL would agree. ;))

No.

[OrangeHoof]

I was afraid "expanding Thursday Night Football" meant games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights also.

Seriously, how can the league preen itself about player safety and expect players to go full tilt four days after their last contest?

[Dapper Dan]

I was afraid "expanding Thursday Night Football" meant games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights also.

Seriously, how can the league preen itself about player safety and expect players to go full tilt four days after their last contest?

Idk. They get like 7 days off after. How many injuries happen on Thursday?

[Joel]

Idk. They get like 7 days off after. How many injuries happen on Thursday?
How many days do they get off BEFORE the game? 4, unless they're coming off a bye (which they all should be if the NFL's serious about player safety.)

[Dapper Dan]

How many days do they get off BEFORE the game? 4, unless they're coming off a bye (which they all should be if the NFL's serious about player safety.)

Have they done studies that show you are more likely to be injured after 3 days of "rest" instead of 6? I use the term "rest" loosely, since they still practice. How many players have been getting hurt on Thursdays? Is this an issue?

[MOtorboat]

256 gms/yr is 256/gms/yr, whether played on Sunday, Thursday or February 29th. You don't need TNF, you need Sunday Ticket (I'm sure the NFL would agree. ;))

Um.

Clearly they don't agree.

[Joel]

Um.

Clearly they don't agree.
Not about the first part, only the second. THEY think you need anything and everything they sell. Their customers clearly disagree, else they wouldn't be letting people watch TNF free while desperately trying to convince those same people they should PAY to see it. Maybe the idea's to get everyone "hooked," then jerk all TNF games back from broadcast TV so the audience flocks to NFLN. If so, all I can say is "good luck with that...."

[Joel]

Have they done studies that show you are more likely to be injured after 3 days of "rest" instead of 6? I use the term "rest" loosely, since they still practice. How many players have been getting hurt on Thursdays? Is this an issue?
Have they done studies that show fatigue increases injuries? Um, yeah, a few.... ;)

Maybe they should just play the whole season in 2 weeks; it's not like that would cause more injuries, right? It's not like most guys are playing hurt by midseason, or that that makes previously mild injuries serious because they haven't had time to fully heal, right? Honestly, why even have byes; they're just wasting valuable time that would be better spent giving fans 18-game seasons.

[Dapper Dan]

Have they done studies that show fatigue increases injuries? Um, yeah, a few.... ;)

Maybe they should just play the whole season in 2 weeks; it's not like that would cause more injuries, right? It's not like most guys are playing hurt by midseason, or that that makes previously mild injuries serious because they haven't had time to fully heal, right? Honestly, why even have byes; they're just wasting valuable time that would be better spent giving fans 18-game seasons.

I know I've won when you start using sarcasm instead of trying to back up your point by writing a novel.

[Joel]

I know I've won when you start using sarcasm instead of trying to back up your point by writing a novel.
Yes, countless medical studies have shown fatigue raises injury occurrence and severity. Most workplaces with any degree of repetitive physical effort rely on regular and frequent rest periods to reduce injury occurrence and severity, and OSHA advises them to do so. One could even call NFL seasons themselves a "study" (albeit with little or no control group) showing that the occurrence and severity of player injuries rises as the seasons short and long term fatigue increases. Better?

[Dapper Dan]

Yes, countless medical studies have shown fatigue raises injury occurrence and severity. Most workplaces with any degree of repetitive physical effort rely on regular and frequent rest periods to reduce injury occurrence and severity, and OSHA advises them to do so. One could even call NFL seasons themselves a "study" (albeit with little or no control group) showing that the occurrence and severity of player injuries rises as the seasons short and long term fatigue increases. Better?

Much better.

So have we seen more injuries on Thursday than Sunday? What about the Sunday after a Monday game?

[BroncoWave]

Much better.

So have we seen more injuries on Thursday than Sunday? What about the Sunday after a Monday game?

I don't have numbers on this, but one thing you definitely see is players who get hurt one week and probably could have played a week later, but have to sit out the Thursday game because it's not enough time to heal. You see all the time a guy gets hurt on Sunday, is limited Wednesday, does light practice Thursday-Friday, then is good to go on Sunday.

[Joel]

Much better.

So have we seen more injuries on Thursday than Sunday? What about the Sunday after a Monday game?
I don't know that anyone's studied that, but OSHA doesn't mandate rests to prevent accidents and injury just for the sake of screwing businesses out of productivity and profits: It's necessary, and if a few years of TNF proved the exception to decades of medical research that would certainly be noteworthy. A mountain of longterm data exists, so doesn't that put the burden of proof on TNF advocates to prove it's the exception to the rule that's always applied EVERYWHERE ELSE?

If nothing else, look at the concussion protocol: Why don't they just send concussed players right back on the field as soon as they (more or less) regain consciousness, instead of waiting DAYS for their tests to return to the baseline before they can even PRACTICE?

If the best argument FOR TNF is "I want to see 24/7 football without getting Sunday Ticket and Tivo," I need a bit more evidence the NFL's the LONE exception to repetitive stress injuries. "We don't know it's NOT" won't cut it.

[Slick]

we should just cancel Thursday night games, altogether. They are horrible and it's pathetic to try and travel then follow that up with a thursday night game.

Agreed. I don't like it at all. It's fine on Thanksgiving but that's it. Plus, if you're living with a woman who doesn't really like football but tolerates you sitting on your ass for 9 hours on a Sunday, then again on Monday night for 3 hours, the Thursday night game is a strain.

[BroncoWave]

Agreed. I don't like it at all. It's fine on Thanksgiving but that's it. Plus, if you're living with a woman who doesn't really like football but tolerates you sitting on your ass for 9 hours on a Sunday, then again on Monday night for 3 hours, the Thursday night game is a strain.

Do you really feel that compelled to watch the jaguars play the titans on a Thursday though? I almost never watch the Thursday game unless it's the Broncos or if it's a really good matchup, which seems rare for the Thursday game.

[Dapper Dan]

I don't have numbers on this, but one thing you definitely see is players who get hurt one week and probably could have played a week later, but have to sit out the Thursday game because it's not enough time to heal. You see all the time a guy gets hurt on Sunday, is limited Wednesday, does light practice Thursday-Friday, then is good to go on Sunday.

And a guy may be banged up on Thursday but he's healed up next game because he has a week and a half. I think the universe works itself out.

[Dapper Dan]

I don't know that anyone's studied that, but OSHA doesn't mandate rests to prevent accidents and injury just for the sake of screwing businesses out of productivity and profits: It's necessary, and if a few years of TNF proved the exception to decades of medical research that would certainly be noteworthy. A mountain of longterm data exists, so doesn't that put the burden of proof on TNF advocates to prove it's the exception to the rule that's always applied EVERYWHERE ELSE?

If nothing else, look at the concussion protocol: Why don't they just send concussed players right back on the field as soon as they (more or less) regain consciousness, instead of waiting DAYS for their tests to return to the baseline before they can even PRACTICE?

If the best argument FOR TNF is "I want to see 24/7 football without getting Sunday Ticket and Tivo," I need a bit more evidence the NFL's the LONE exception to repetitive stress injuries. "We don't know it's NOT" won't cut it.

So Thursday Night games are in violation of OSHA?

[Slick]

Do you really feel that compelled to watch the jaguars play the titans on a Thursday though? I almost never watch the Thursday game unless it's the Broncos or if it's a really good matchup, which seems rare for the Thursday game.

No. Not at all. Me either, true.

[Dapper Dan]

No. Not at all. Me either, true.

I like how this is short but is an adequate reply to his post. Well done.

[Ravage!!!]

Much better.

So have we seen more injuries on Thursday than Sunday? What about the Sunday after a Monday game?

I'm confused if you are being sarcastic or just trying to start an argument with this. Because I think it's pretty obvious as to why the lack of time to let the body heal can and will cause more problems with players. It's obvious that it doesn't allow players to pla;y because they haven't had enough time from the Sunday game to get back onto the field by Thursday. That alone tells you just how much time is important for the body to heal between games.

Not to mention the crappy football that is on the field due to the fact that both teams don't have any time to heal nor prepare, especially if you have to travel. HEll, the Chiefs had to come from playing in Europ, and then TRAVEL for a Thursday night game. Seriously, does the NFL not look as to what they are asking players/teams to do while on the road? When can you practice? When can you rest? When can you prepare? We want to know why there is so many BAD games on Thursday night (well, mainly because there are so many bad teams in the NFL)...but because players just don't WANT to be on the field trying to play on Thursday night (ask them, I've never heard a single player say they like it).

So I'm trying to understand your line of thinking here, other than "I just want to watch a game." Which is cool, if that's what you want. But personally, not only are the games crap 90% of the time, but it's hard to find ANOTHER night of the week to spend watching a 3 hour game when I spend 9 hours on Sunday and 3 hours on Monday.

The Thursday night games have been a failure for the NFL network, which is why they are scrambling to save face by letting the networks now have 10 of the games (seriously?).

[weazel]

awesome! more mediocre football!!!

[Dapper Dan]

What has the NFLPA said about TNF?

[Dapper Dan]

I'm confused if you are being sarcastic or just trying to start an argument with this. Because I think it's pretty obvious as to why the lack of time to let the body heal can and will cause more problems with players. It's obvious that it doesn't allow players to pla;y because they haven't had enough time from the Sunday game to get back onto the field by Thursday. That alone tells you just how much time is important for the body to heal between games.

Not to mention the crappy football that is on the field due to the fact that both teams don't have any time to heal nor prepare, especially if you have to travel. HEll, the Chiefs had to come from playing in Europ, and then TRAVEL for a Thursday night game. Seriously, does the NFL not look as to what they are asking players/teams to do while on the road? When can you practice? When can you rest? When can you prepare? We want to know why there is so many BAD games on Thursday night (well, mainly because there are so many bad teams in the NFL)...but because players just don't WANT to be on the field trying to play on Thursday night (ask them, I've never heard a single player say they like it).

So I'm trying to understand your line of thinking here, other than "I just want to watch a game." Which is cool, if that's what you want. But personally, not only are the games crap 90% of the time, but it's hard to find ANOTHER night of the week to spend watching a 3 hour game when I spend 9 hours on Sunday and 3 hours on Monday.

The Thursday night games have been a failure for the NFL network, which is why they are scrambling to save face by letting the networks now have 10 of the games (seriously?).

Im rarely able to watch 9 hours of football on Sunday.

[Joel]

So Thursday Night games are in violation of OSHA?
Now who's being sarcastic; that mean I win? ;) Just because repetitive stress injuries have been SO thoroughly studied AND documented that OSHA rights regs on them doesn't mean OSHA also wrote football regs—but it DOES prove they're a documented fact we don't need MORE tests to "re-prove" specifically for TNF games. What makes pro football so uniquely exceptional that it'd defy a rule otherwise UNIFORM THROUGHOUT HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND KINESIOLOGY?


Do you really feel that compelled to watch the jaguars play the titans on a Thursday though? I almost never watch the Thursday game unless it's the Broncos or if it's a really good matchup, which seems rare for the Thursday game.
That's the principle thing NFL games on NFLN and ESPN have taught me: Pro football no longer entertains me enough to watch just because it's on, so except for games involving or affecting teams I care about, I couldn't care LESS.

That's great news for Goodells product, right? That someone who used to religiously watch ALL games he could now willfully ignores many as not worth his time?

[Dapper Dan]

Now who's being sarcastic; that mean I win? ;) Just because repetitive stress injuries have been SO thoroughly studied AND documented that OSHA rights regs on them doesn't mean OSHA also wrote football regs—but it DOES prove they're a documented fact we don't need MORE tests to "re-prove" specifically for TNF games. What makes pro football so uniquely exceptional that it'd defy a rule otherwise UNIFORM THROUGHOUT HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND KINESIOLOGY?


That's the principle thing NFL games on NFLN and ESPN have taught me: Pro football no longer entertains me enough to watch just because it's on, so except for games involving or affecting teams I care about, I couldn't care LESS.

That's great news for Goodells product, right? That someone who used to religiously watch ALL games he could now willfully ignores many as not worth his time?

Which still is not very specific. You could argue that a week is not enough and they should not have a game every sunday. How much rest is enough? 2 days? 3 days? 5 days? 7 days? 10 days?

[Joel]

Which still is not very specific. You could argue that a week is not enough and they should not have a game every sunday. How much rest is enough? 2 days? 3 days? 5 days? 7 days? 10 days?
Darian Stewart and TJ Wards last game was 11 days ago, but this was the FIRST day they fully participated in PRACTICE. Jared Allens last game was 18 days ago, but he's playing a SB with a broken bone, as is Thomas Davis, whose break was 11 days ago. I'm not sure if Brandon Marshalls midseason break is healed or not, only that he had the screws removed at seasons end. They probably need >4 days to get fully healthy, since 11-18-? haven't done the trick.

Back spasms cost DeMarcus Ware a couple weeks in 2013, and even two full offseasons since weren't enough to prevent them costing him a month of 2015.

I'm not a doctor, so don't know the precise number, but it's probably not "less is more." Why's it so important we risk it anyway? So you can watch football during dinner instead of a sitcom? Do you have stock in an NFL team (and, if so, could you tell it to stop hemorrhaging cash in the money pit that is NFLN? ;))

[Dapper Dan]

Darian Stewart and TJ Wards last game was 11 days ago, but this was the FIRST day they fully participated in PRACTICE. Jared Allens last game was 18 days ago, but he's playing a SB with a broken bone, as is Thomas Davis, whose break was 11 days ago. I'm not sure if Brandon Marshalls midseason break is healed or not, only that he had the screws removed at seasons end. They probably need >4 days to get fully healthy, since 11-18-? haven't done the trick.

Back spasms cost DeMarcus Ware a couple weeks in 2013, and even two full offseasons since weren't enough to prevent them costing him a month of 2015.

I'm not a doctor, so don't know the precise number, but it's probably not "less is more." Why's it so important we risk it anyway? So you can watch football during dinner instead of a sitcom? Do you have stock in an NFL team (and, if so, could you tell it to stop hemorrhaging cash in the money pit that is NFLN? ;))

So if the NFL genuinely cares about its players they will start having 1 game per month.

[Joel]

So if the NFL genuinely cares about its players they will start having 1 game per month.
There's a happy medium. It's not 2 gms/wk. And Rav's right: That "play @London & @Denver in 4 days" crap they pulled on KC WAS crap. Though considering how the second game went and that we only won homefield on an OT tiebreak, maybe I shouldn't complain.

[Dapper Dan]

There's a happy medium. It's not 2 gms/wk.

Not really. One week isn't long enough for players to heal. That's not really a happy medium. Maybe one game every 2 weeks and that will be close.

[Joel]

Not really. One week isn't long enough for players to heal. That's not really a happy medium. Maybe one game every 2 weeks and that will be close.
The NFLPA would probably go for that, but the owners would probably fire them all and hire scabs for $25/gm/wk. And yet somehow the draft is legal.... :confused:

[BroncoWave]

I'll tell you one thing. These Thursday games definitely do not expand my package.

[Dapper Dan]

I'll tell you one thing. These Thursday games definitely do not expand my package.

Some guys just don't have it. You'll have to learn to use your tongue better.