TNF flex scheduling approved despite protest from Giants’ John Mara
New York Giants co-owner John Mara once again vehemently opposed Thursday Night Football flex scheduling but despite his best effort, the measure passed on Monday evening.
The final vote was 24 owners (yes) to eight owners (no). Mara, of course, was firmly in the “no” camp alongside the New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I’m disappointed, but certainly not surprised,” Mara said, via Judy Battista.
Back in March, a reportedly “animated” Mara protested against the proposed change with NFL fans in mind.
“At some point, can we please give some consideration to the people who are coming to our games? People make plans to go to these games weeks and months in advance,” Mara said at the time. “And 15 days ahead of time to say, ‘Sorry, folks, that game you were planning on taking your kids to Sunday at 1, now it’s on Thursday night?’ What are we thinking about?”
Mara went as far as to call TNF flex scheduling “abusive.”
The one bit of good news — if you can consider any of this good news — is that teams and fans will have 28 days advance notice as opposed to the 15 days that had been discussed previously.
From The Sporting News:
The league must inform the teams involved no later than 28 days in advance of the event. In addition, any team flexed into the Thursday night game cannot exceed the seven primetime game limit as established previously by the NFL.
Teams can only be flexed to Thursday once during the season and cannot play two on the road, but also cannot exceed more than two Thursday games during the season.
The rule has outlined that flexible scheduling can only be applied to ‘Thursday Night Football’ twice during the season, meaning the league and its partners cannot decide to completely alter the Weeks 13-17 schedule.
For now, the NFL plans just a one-season trial of TNF flex scheduling. However, if it goes unused in 2023 that trial will be pushed to 2024.
The Giants are currently scheduled to play six prime-time games, including one Thursday night game, so they remain an option for TNF flex scheduling. The league could add one additional prime-time game and one additional TNF game for Big Blue, bringing them to the maximum of seven (and two).
