USA Today- "NFL wants later times, dates" (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2004-02-26-tv-schedule-changes_x.htm)

I don't think I like many of these proposals. I especially don't like the dropping the AFC/NFC deliniations of the networks. First of all because I hate the FOX announcers and if I have to watch the Jets on FOX other than the once or twice a year they may be on I might explode. Second, I think italmost deflates the AFC/NFC aspect of the Super Bowl. Unlike the NHL and the NBA, I really think the conferences and leagues in baseball and football seem like separate entities. I think this would dilute that a bit in my mind.

All of them are about TV ratings...here we go...

Its bad enough games are running at least half an hour over their run time nowadays, I'll be damned if I have to wait another half hour to watch the Simpsons. People on the West Coast don't go to church, so the 1 o'clock start time is perfect.

Its bad enough games are running at least half an hour over their run time nowadays, I'll be damned if I have to wait another half hour to watch the Simpsons. People on the West Coast don't go to church, so the 1 o'clock start time is perfect.

Hehe...I never even thought about The Simpsons. It's bad enough Futurama was canned because the network never knew what to do with it and stuck it in the almost always pre-empted 7:00 slot on Sundays. Now they're gonna mess with The Simpsons. Bastards!!! :D

Some thoughts on the article:

I like how they assume the ratings in the playoffs went up because of the later start times. Um, maybe the ratings were up because it is the playoffs, and there were some compelling games this year?

I could really care less about the NFC/AFC being on different networks, and the season moving back would not be that big of a deal, but I don't think they will do that.

Adding a game onto Thursday night could be a good idea, however, when this happened before, they were usually some dog matchups. I would much rather watch a solid college game on Thursdays than a Cardinals/Seahawks game.

Adding a game onto Thursday night could be a good idea, however, when this happened before, they were usually some dog matchups.

True, because they gave them to ESPN, who was forced to get the crappy games.

Some thoughts on the article:

I like how they assume the ratings in the playoffs went up because of the later start times. Um, maybe the ratings were up because it is the playoffs, and there were some compelling games this year?

whoa you lost me man... what a crazy thought that more people watched the playoffs just because it was the playoffs... whoa;)

whoa you lost me man... what a crazy thought that more people watched the playoffs just because it was the playoffs... whoa;)
I am the master of the obvious statement ;)

I'm getting a picture of a Don Cheadle commercial.

True, because they gave them to ESPN, who was forced to get the crappy games.

How can anybody know what games are going to be "crappy". Everybody was trying to get Falcons games last year...before Vick was out. It's all a crap shoot. If it wasn't, Carolina would have had 3 Monday night games, 2 Sunday night games and a whole bunch of national coverage. Nobody knew.

The 1 way that would suck would be to schedule game with a knowledge of team's records closer to the date of the game. That, would suck.

"Here you go ESPN, you get a 2 and 12 team against a 1 and 13 team for your primetime Thursday game. What are you bitching about?! Friends ins't on anymore."

;)

How can anybody know what games are going to be "crappy".

Well when there were more Thursday night games, parity hadn't reached the level it has now. You could know which games would suck.

I wouldn't mind any of these changes. I'd rather baseball be more of the focus during the beginning of September, and I wouldn't mind having that extra hour on Sunday afternoon to get stuff done before I waste the rest of the day/night watching football. ANd since I've got DirecTV, I don't care who broadcasts what. I assume this would mean the Sunday night game, if it stayed, wouldn't start until 9pm at earliest.

I don't like change. Why the hell does everybody need to improve a good thing? The NFL is a juggernaut, they make money hand over fist. I hate alienating people that are loyal in the hope of converting people who don't watch. I am very angry.

Can't help but wonder is there is a stealth-like erosion going on in certain segments of the NFL. Sure, the Cowboys and Patriots will always do well, but the Cardinals were barely drawing 30,000 last year. And the Falcons among others were not even selling out the playoffs. Could be the NFL is getting a little staid and tired amongst some of the public?

People on the West Coast don't go to church, so the 1 o'clock start time is perfect.

There are several million people who would beg to differ with that comment. Technically, I'm not on the "west coast", but I'm in the same time zone. I usually miss a good chunk of the early game while I'm at church.

I hated the new & improved playoff times from the past season. I like the games to begin end earlier, rather than later, because it works best with my schedule.

Otherwise, I don't have strong feelings about any of these proposals. I would prefer that the regular season end before Christmas and certainly before New Year's Day.

I loved the the playoffs this year.... I hope, if nothing else they eliminate the break between the 4:00 game and the ESPN game......

I think they forgot to add in showing a breast every halftime. I'll be able to tell my grandkids about what the NFL was like befor it became a roadshow. Tagliabue must be stopped! A commissioner is needed who cares more about THE GAME than the botom line. That bitch judge is ruining college football, not the NFL is going to go all out for the crapper as well. Oh well, at least we'll get to see teams lose 16 games in a season, then win the subpar bowl and fall back into obscurity on a regular basis...

Can't help but wonder is there is a stealth-like erosion going on in certain segments of the NFL. Sure, the Cowboys and Patriots will always do well, but the Cardinals were barely drawing 30,000 last year. And the Falcons among others were not even selling out the playoffs. Could be the NFL is getting a little staid and tired amongst some of the public?
Well, the examples you use are probably the two worst in terms of fan attendance at sporting events. Atlanta doesn't even sell out Braves playoff games and Phoenix is composed of a lot of transplants who still follow their old teams and could care less about the locals. Plus, I mean we are talking about the Cardinals here ;)

I guess that the Sunday night game will also be pushed back later? Why is it more important for people on the west coast to see the beginnings of games than it is for people on the east coast to see the ends of them?*

*Neutral observer from the middle of the country.

I guess that the Sunday night game will also be pushed back later? Why is it more important for people on the west coast to see the beginnings of games than it is for people on the east coast to see the ends of them?*

*Neutral observer from the middle of the country.

My guess would be more commercial time in prime time throughout the country

i don't think any of these moves would kill me.

And the Falcons among others were not even selling out the playoffs.???

The Falcons sold out every home game last season...and they haven't hosted a playoff game since 1998.

There are several million people who would beg to differ with that comment. Technically, I'm not on the "west coast", but I'm in the same time zone. I usually miss a good chunk of the early game while I'm at church.
And I get to miss most Monday night games here on the East Coast because of the late start time. So we're even...

First the change of start times would suck for people that attend the games. Driving home in traffic and getting home at 6-7 from a 1 pm game is bad enough. I don't want to get home even later. Then you're saying the 5 pm games go till 8! No time for the late fans to get home and catch the start of the Sunday night game.

Dropping the AFC/NFC coverage would also stink. I personally don't like the NFC coverage and I am glad to watch CBS every week. As it has already been stated, it also makes the Super Bowl mean more.

I don't know about moving the season back either. That would result in more cold weather games and maybe smaller crowds in northern cities...especially if you get blizzards in January and February.

MNF should NEVER move to any other day.

No Thursday night games, save those for college football.

???

The Falcons sold out every home game last season...and they haven't hosted a playoff game since 1998.
Don't let facts get in the way of a rant. :)

Don't let facts get in the way of a rant. :)


*cackles**


GD, yer a god.....*cackles s'more*

I'm a fairly diehard fan. When my team loses, I'm in a bad mood the rest of the day, so I'd prefer to have later games just to get the day over with in case the worse happens. ;)