If you ever needed evidence that the NFL is primarily a TV sport, just consider the vote owners are taking next week. At the upcoming league meetings, they will be asked to consider adding Thursday Night Football to the list of TV packages with flex scheduling options.
John Ourand and Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal write that rarely does a resolution make it this far if they are not highly likely to pass. There is reason to believe things may no go so smoothly though. Coaches are present for the annual March meetings and could lobby against a rule that would likely create some competitive disadvantages for the league’s best teams.
On the table are two proposals. First, would be the ability to shift games scheduled for Sunday afternoon into the Thursday night window. Doing so would require at least 15 days notice to the two teams involved. The other proposal would allow teams to play a Thursday game following a Sunday game twice per year. Currently, teams are only allowed to do that once.
Roger Goodell first suggested that flex scheduling could come to Thursday Night Football on Prime Video earlier this year during his annual Super Bowl press conference. If adopted, the measure could go into effect this season.
Thursday Night Football is the national television package that has routinely struggled to put together compelling matchups. The aim of flex scheduling is to maximize the number of desirable matchups in primetime windows throughout the week.
