The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/23/nfl-resumes-quiet-push-for-18-game-schedule/

I am fascinated by the idea of  having an 18 game season, but one in which each player is only allowed to play in 16 games.

Am I the only one who thinks this is a fascinating idea? 

This would add an exciting aspect of the game and would add a new chess game aspect to managing a team.

Do you rotate out out one or two starters each week?

Choose you two toughest games on the schedule and rest your starters for those games and play for the win on the other 16?

Play the first 16 games with all your players trying to clinch a playoff spot and then plan to rest your starters the last two weeks to get them ready for the playoffs.   

awful idea. hate it

Everyone would end up starting their scrubs week 1 & 2.  People would just sit their starters, effectively making the last two preseason games count.

Of course, you could rotate guys and jockey people in and out, but this makes it unnecessarily complicated.

I don't care for it.  I think that it might incentivize "giving up" on your tough games and sitting everyone.  It's already happening like that in the NBA and causing a bunch of stink.

Terrible idea.

Not a good plan at all.

The TV networks will never let it happen. Imagine next Monday night Saints vs Fins ...two teams 3-0. Will be a great game the country will want to see two unbeaten teams play. Lot of intrigue in that game now.

But its a "non-conference game" in September, if ya lose its not a huge deal still would be 3-1. So Miami benches Tannehill to rest him after he got hit a lot this past week. Saints pick this as a game to rest Brees cause...its a non-conference game so whatever.

Think ESPN wants a Matt Moore vs Luke McCown matchup on Monday Night football? Yeah, don't think so.

Which is why this idea will NEVER HAPPEN!  The Networks won't allow it. They pay far too much $$$ for the games to let this ever take place.

2 preseason games
 - bye week -
18 games (over 19 weeks)
Wildcard round - 16 playoff teams (1 game Thurs, 3 Sat, 3 Sun, 1 Mon)
Divisional Round - 8 teams
Conference Round - 4 teams
- bye week - w/ Pro Bowl week (skills competition, rock and jock style flag football, etc) - at Super Bowl site
Super Bowl

Just bring on more games...18 would be great...I guess 2 bye weeks for each team is out of the question, though?

^ I guess not.  You could do 18 games over 20 weeks.

I've heard this idea before.  I think its a bad one.  The season's long enough as it is.  If anything, since we have to pretend Goodell actually cares about player safety, they ought to shorten the season to 14 games, and shorten the preseason to a maximum three games. 

Also since we have 4 divisions in each conference, only the division winners should go to the playoffs.  The season will be over the first or second week of January. 

These guys are just determined to expand the regular season. Its just a matter of time until this monster eats itself. I've never heard a MLB or NBA fan say, "Man, this regular season is just too short. We need more games." Whatever, they're going to do what they want to do.

MLB regular season: 162 games
NBA regular season:  81 games
NFL regular season:  16 games

You see where your argument runs into a wall, right?

I think 18 regular season games and 2 preseason games will happen its just a matter of WHEN and not IF. There is just too much $$$$$ for everyone (owners and players.) It will happen its just about splitting up the $$$$ to make all sides happy. TV networks don't want preseason games, fans don't to be forced to buy preseason game tickets. There is no good reason not to move to 18 regular season games.

One thing that I think could go away though is the weekly Thursday night package. It just isn't working. Fans hate it, the match-up's for the most part aren't intriguing, and coaches and players hate it. I think what you could see is a DOUBLE HEADER every Monday night. An early 7pm game for the east coast folks to keep them happy so they can stay awake and watch a whole game on a Monday and a 10pm game which would feature west coast teams for the most part so they got a nice game in primetime for them too. Two national games on a Monday would be a boom for this league I think.  I think if they go to 18 games you will see them mix up the TV time slots and maybe do away with the Thursday night games which is just failing all around for NFL Network.

Good point on the Thursday night games.  It failed back in the 80's for the same reason it's failing now.  It just doesn't work when teams play on Sunday then have to play again on Thursday. 

I like Thursday Night games.  But two Monday games could be cool, as well.

Maybe you don't like it, but it doesn't have general fan disapproval that you claim, many like it.  One many hated was that it was on NFLN only and several cable companies didn't offer NFLN. 

Getting rid of Thursday night would require one of two things:  (1) giving NFLN a different game - say the MNF package  OR (2) disbanding NFLN.  As TNF is the only compelling reason for NFLN.  It is unlikely the NFL is going to choose option (2) as NFLN makes them money.

As for coaches and player, most would prefer to play in a Thursday night game than a MNF game.  In fact the one thing they really  don't like is having their opponent having played in a TNG when they played in a MNF game.
(see http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/24/peyton-complains-about-eagles-getting-extra-time-to-prepare/)

This isn't about me and what I like!!!!  The NFL Network doesn't like how this package is working out for them. It has been a disaster and they need to tweak it or flat out get rid of it or else its only going to get worse. Moving to a double header on Monday Nights where they get the late game isn't a crazy notion and has been talked about in TV circles. Now there are contracts in place and this isn't happening tomorrow but it is an idea that has been kicked around.

And unless you can back up that the players like it more than monday night football that seems like a made up "fact" you pulled out of thin air to support your stance

I like Thursday night games. I really don't see the difference to them versus ...  say the Thanksgiving Day games. Teams do not do it every week and playing on short week is just part of the plan.

I'm having trouble finding a source for your claim that Thursday Night Football is a failure and that NFLN doesn't like how it's working out.

The Chiefs-Eagles game last week had the highest ratings of any NFLN game ever (source (http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/09/20/chiefs-eagles-highest-rated-thursday-night-football-game-ever-on-nfl-network/204026/)).

Last season was the fourth consecutive year of improved ratings for Thursday Night Football (same source).

Thursday Night Football is consistently the highest rated show on cable that day (50% more viewers than #2 last week) (same source).

NFL boosts NFLN carriage fees 41% thanks to more TNF (source (http://www.adweek.com/news/television/thursday-night-game-changer-nfl-network-152116)).

Affiliate revenue expected to increase 56% thanks in part to a 10% increase in subscribers.

NFLN ad revenue doubled in 2012 (same source).

I was only able to find a few grumblings (or references to such) and the sources quoted were often anonymous and the journalism speculative at best, often downright questionable (citing ratings problems when comparing to non-cable offerings, for example).

I don't doubt that at least some players and coaches dislike having their routine disrupted and risk short weeks, but NFLN is an increasingly huge cash cow for the NFL and, as Hoodie mentioned above, it is the only compelling reason for NFLN's existence.

I like Thursday night games as well. It's nice to have NFL on my TV 3 days a week instead of 2...


Could you do me the huge favor and provide a link to anything from anyone official at NFLN that says they don't like how the package is working out for them? I did a few Googles for variations of that search query and didn't see anything to support that statement. If it's accurate, then cool...but it really does sound like an "assumed" sentiment on your part, rather than an official one.

I'm not a huge fan of the Thursday night games for one reason and one reason only. Fantasy Football!!!!!! If I have a player who gets injured between the Thursday game and the Sunday game and my #1 backup has already played on Thursday it is really annoying. I don't mind it for the holiday games and stuff like that but every week kind of sucks.

You see how they play multiple games a week, right?

Unlike you I actually did provide a link of a player bitching about the short week after a MNF game.

I have read others.  Provide some for your position and I will google more that support mine, b/c there have been others as well. 

With all this talk of Thursday night games vs a Monday night doubleheader, I also think it would be wise for the NFL to allow FOX and CBS to have doubleheaders every week on Sundays.  That way stations can have more variety in which games they show on TV.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/15/report-league-considers-adding-more-thursday-games/

The NFL reportedly is disappointed that the present approach, which expanded last year to cover most Thursdays, hasn’t generated more interest.  In addition to additional Thursday night games, some of the games currently televised by NFL Network could be sold to other networks.


As I was saying weeks ago. The Thursday Night package as it currently stands is an absolute failure. And they are considering  adding more games each Thursday night to make the night more important and selling off games to the Networks to get them off NFL Network

I have to believe that the fact many people simply do not have access to the Thursday night games that it is disliked.

We just got the NFL network. Prior to that I'd go to a bar to watch the Dolphins if they played but I simply did not watch other teams. Now that I have the NFL Network I watch many more Thursday night games.

My father is in a nursing home and watches pretty much every sport that is on. He is always complaining about not getting to see the Thursday night games.

It most definitely is the fact that people don't have the NFL Network and don't want to pay extra for it is the reason for the failure. It was a stupid idea to begin with.

Three strikes -- your out.

Strike one, disappointed it has generated more interest does not equal absolute failure.

Strike two, according to your selected quote from the article it says they are thinking of moving some games to other networks, not getting rid of Thursday night game.

Strike Three, the rest of the article is about the NFL adding MORE Thursday night games. 

If you think this article supports your premise that TNF is going away, you didn't read it. 

adding MORE games and selling it off to the networks possibly!!!

Thank you!! That supports what I said in that the current Thursday Night product on NFL NEtwork is a disaster that needs fixing and tweaking!

No, you said we need to get rid of TNF because of the short week.  Not that it need to be expanded with some of the games on another network. 

Incorrect...this is what I said...


And what that article I posted today backed me up. The NFL and the NFL Network wants to tweak the current Thursday Night package by adding more games or selling the games off to a major network because the status quo and current situation isn't working and is a mess!!! IF it WAS working they wouldn't change anything. They would just ride the wave of success, but there is no success its a train wreck hence they are kicking around ideas of changes that will come in the near future.

Perhaps I'm being dense, but what exactly isn't working about the current Thursday package that would benefit from adding more Thursday games.  I'm not sure that I understand the connection.

I get that players may not like it -- but that seems worsened by expanding to more games, not alleviated.

Or is this just a loss of revenue because people don't have NFLN. 

Explain it like I'm 5.

Currently Thursday night games are on a channel (NFL Network) that aren't on most basic cable packages. Meaning you have to buy a sports pack or whatever "package" for a few extra bucks a month to get the NFL Network to be able to watch these games. SOME Cable providers have the NFL Network on their basic/standard packages, which is great if you are lucky enough to get that....but most don't. Combine that with piss-poor games most weeks nobody cares about (aka bad and un-interesting match-up's) and it's a loser all around. Revenue and Ratings aren't where the NFL thinks it should be for a stand alone Thursday night game. Hence, the current Thursday night package is failing and the league wants to tweak it as the PFT article stated and I stated weeks ago.

Now, by adding MORE games to Thursday Nights at least then on a Thursday night its now almost an "event" and you are creating something. So even if one game sucks, hey there might be 2 or 3 games every Thursday night so one is bound to be good and draw interest nationwide. By selling some or all of the games to a TNT, ESPN, FOX SPORTS, TBS....whoever pays the most, well now EVERYONE can watch the games on their basic/standard package. Increase in ratings, increase in add revenue, and of course now a network will pay the league BIG BUCKS to get the games to be able to air. Win-Win!

Status-quo is not an option and you will see changes to the Thursday Night package in the near future because the current product is failing.

Rich men want more money

DING, DING, DING, DING.  It's not that the Thursday night package is bad, actually it's about the only thing worth watching on the NFL Network; it's the fact the NFL wants so much money for the station that it has to be part of a special package where you have to pay extra.  Who wants to pay extra to watch one game per week???  I have Dish network, which had a free preview of the channel for the past month; so I tried watching the station at various times.  For the most part its terrible programming, IMO.  I did watch the Thursday games, which I liked, but I wouldn't pay extra to get that.

I think the NFLN programming is being misrepresented a bit. It is not part of any "special package" from my provider. You just need to purchase the digital package which I consider a pretty standard option. In fact, there was an argument because my provider wanted to add it as part of their sport programming package but the NFL said if they want to carry it it has to come free and not as part of a sports package. That is why it took so long for Brighthouse to add it. Do you guys really think there are that many people who only purchase basic cable packages in the world today? The only people I expect to have basic cable in this world we live in are not going to care about if the game is on Thursday or not. I expect the amount of homes it is offered in is a bit lower than some other networks but to my knowledge the NFL does not allow it to be a fee based channel.

The NFL wants it to be a free based channel. Cable companies are fighting them on it and have been since day 1. The NFL Network wants to be like ESPN, available to everyone!

And yes in this bad economy more people than you think have gone down to the bare minimum and have only "basic cable" or no cable at all and they stream most of their TV online or just watch Netflix/Hulu stuff.

This just happened during the past year and is why I now have the channel. It hasn't always been that way nor is it included with every cable network.

Are you thinking that there may be multiple games on Thursday, being played at different times, like a 7 PM and then a 10 PM?  One on NFLN and another elsewhere?

I am not sure any games will be on the NFLN much longer. If they can sell them off and make a bundle of money they will. That network can survive without games. I am not sure it will even be a double-header. To keep the "SUNDAY TICKET" people happy and not yank away all of there games and make more games "national" you might get one national game and one that is on the "ticket" at the same time, and they regional it depending on where you live. Make Thursday a "mini-sunday" with 2 games.  Lots of ideas are being kicked around I can tell you that. But its not gonna stay status quo and changes are coming to Thursdays

No, it can't.

It got added to cable lineups for the games.  If the games go away, the NFLN will have to drastically lower its subscription price to the cable providers or it will be sold only in the most expensive packages.

The vast majority of fans couldn't give too shits about the rest of its programming and if it doesn't have the games, they won't complain if their cable provider drops the network.   

I think you might be underestimating the impact of Red Zone Channel.

They aren't always bundled.  For my local provider Red Zone is only in the most expensive package (NFLN is in that package too).  But NFLN is also in some of the midrange packages, just not in the very basic ones. 

I, for example, get NFLN, but not Red Zone.  If the Thursday night games went away and Comcast dropped NFLN from all the packages except the expensive one that already has Red Zone, few would complain. 

My brother in law has red zone.  If it went away he would be pissed.  But the only time he watches NFLN is for the games. 

Thursday night football on NFLN is pretty recent. At least the full seasons worth of games.  The network was doing fine and profitable before it had any games and it wasn't even on most cable providers.  It would be fine if it had no games and now is on all providers.

MikeO, I'll assume you are correct and it was profitable before having Thursday night games. But...how much were they charging cable providers for the network prior to having Thurs night games and how much are they charging now???  I would guess that they jacked up the cost after adding Thurs night games so they could fill their ever deepening pockets.