NFL | To Schedule Two Monday Night Football Games?--Interesting

- from www.KFFL.com
Sun, 4 Jul 2004 09:21:16 -0700

Jeff Duncan, of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, reports NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said the league is considering the idea of scheduling two Monday Night Football games in the future and selecting the better one to televise nationally. "We could start out with a single game on Monday night in the schedule and go to two games scheduled on Monday night later in the season, when the uncertainties are bigger," Tagliabue told the Los Angeles Times. "So there would be a lot of ways to do it. That's a priority, and it's also a priority for Sunday night as well."

I'm opposed to this idea. In theory, it sounds good. Fans get to see the more interesting or potentially more important game. But what about the other game? Teams are rewarded it seems with Monday Night appearances, yet if their game isn't as important, they're going to get knocked off of the national exposure. If I'm the coach of a team leading the NFC and I'm playing the NFC-worst Cardinals, I don't want to be denied national exposure and a national spotlight for my guys because the match-up isn't as interesting as an AFC East battle also taking place that night.

I guess that's okay, but I don't want to see the NFL move toward a night game dominated schedule (like MLB has). Football, first and foremost, should be a game for Sunday afternoons.

If a Ram matchup is bumped by a "bigger" game, I better be able to watch the Ram game through my Directv NFL package or I say leave it as is.

I hear you loud and clear on the direct tv issue. The price has now hit $200, but if you want to watch every rams game and dont live in st louis, you really have no choice at all. Excluding the squad from even one week on direct tv would defeat the purpose of having it. I suspect the league would make sure that both games got covered in some way.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

I don't like it... I don't. I think that it is good to get to watch different teams on Monday nite even if they are not the top performers. I would imagine having a team get bumped out of the monday nite hype would be a huge drag for the team and the fans.

That would still suck for those fans who don't have DirecTV's NFL package. Unless the NFL plans on offering the bumped game on another national cable spotlight, I think it's a bad idea. Teams who have been chosen to perform on Monday night deserve that national attention. It shouldn't be taken away by the broadcaster if they perceive the game to be weak.

New Coke, Mondale's 1984 Presidential platform, Gigli, Star Wars 1978 Christmas Special, the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, Howard Dean's "aowwwww" yell, Ishtar and now....two MNF games.

There you have it ladies and gentlemen, the worst ideas of the last 2.5 decades.

This should not be done, period. The bottom line is they are using an old formula for a new league. What should be done is make the formula more equitable to everyone, maybe make it so all teams get shown at least once. It would eliminate the possibilities of repeat showings by teams, but might make it a little more fair. Also, make the perennial losers (Arizona, etc.) play theirs early and the perennial winners (Green Bay, New England, etc.) play theirs at the end. Just a thought. The networks would NEVER let the NFL swap or switch games.

I say keep it the way it is. The way the league schedules these Monday night games is the problem. They are looking into thier crystal ball and trying to find the, "99 Rams", each year with some of thier choices, instead of top divisional foes that always play each other tough. Ratings, ratings, ratings !! Thier willing to gamble on a, "better matchup", that MAY give them a point or less more in the ratings, than a tried and true tough battle that may not be as fancy. Leave it alone, and if the ratings aren't what they are after, drop Monday night. If they want to make these games go up in ratings, let's see some half time shows like the last Super Bowl !!

Maineram

Another problem with alternate games is that there are no guarantees the "better" matchup will produce the better game. While the pupose seems to be showing the game with bigger post season implications closer to playoff time, I think they are also trying to hedge against any bad picks they make as far as scheduling.

If both games have playoff implications and the game they choose to air is a blowout, do they switch to the other game? If both games are barn burners do they switch back and forth? The more I look at this, the more I think it is a bad idea.

The great thing about MNF is it's a one shot deal where anything can happen with a national audience watching. If there were two games to choose from the night of the classic Colt comeback against the Bucs, would they have stayed with that game to the end or switched? If they had a policy to never switch or chose not to air that game, how bad would it have looked to have the nation miss that incredible contest???

Well I don't think the NFL is going to find too many fans who will take a liking to this idea. I imagine that ratings folks at ABC are behind this idea.

Shut up ABC and quit your whinning!!!!!!!!!!

:tongue:

I agree with all you guys that this is a lousy idea, however, i would point out that L Ron Hubbard has sold millions upon millions upon millions of books. I would not put him in a category with new coke. I am not endorsing L Ron, merely pointing out that from a marketing perspective, the guy is the Tom Clancy of the religious publishing game.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

Quote:

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Originally Posted by r8rh8rmike

Another problem with alternate games is that there are no guarantees the "better" matchup will produce the better game. While the pupose seems to be showing the game with bigger post season implications closer to playoff time, I think they are also trying to hedge against any bad picks they make as far as scheduling.

If both games have playoff implications and the game they choose to air is a blowout, do they switch to the other game? If both games are barn burners do they switch back and forth? The more I look at this, the more I think it is a bad idea.

The great thing about MNF is it's a one shot deal where anything can happen with a national audience watching. If there were two games to choose from the night of the classic Colt comeback against the Bucs, would they have stayed with that game to the end or switched? If they had a policy to never switch or chose not to air that game, how bad would it have looked to have the nation miss that incredible contest???

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I agree with this, kep it as is and hope for the best

Quote:

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Originally Posted by general counsel

I agree with all you guys that this is a lousy idea, however, i would point out that L Ron Hubbard has sold millions upon millions upon millions of books. I would not put him in a category with new coke. I am not endorsing L Ron, merely pointing out that from a marketing perspective, the guy is the Tom Clancy of the religious publishing game.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

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And new Coke sold millions of cans...still doesn't make it a good idea. Just like having 2 MNF games.