News: NFL Schedule Release, TNF, Czarniak, Smith

Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire

The NFL schedule release included one major new wrinkle. In other news, Thursday Night Football could move to FS1 in the event of a World Series conflict, Lindsay Czarniak has a brief new gig, and Kenny Smith is in the running for the Knicks job.

Saturday Flex Biggest Surprise in NFL Schedule

The 2018 NFL schedule release took place on Thursday, with few notable changes other than the move of Thursday Night Football to FOX. The season begins September 6 with the champion Eagles hosting Atlanta on NBC. Bears-Packers will open NBC’s Sunday Night Football schedule on September 9, followed by Jets-Lions and Rams-Raiders leading off ESPN’s Monday Night Football on September 10.

The FOX Thursday Night Football schedule begins in Week 4 with Vikings-Rams.

Other notable games include Patriots-Jaguars on CBS and Giants-Cowboys on NBC in Week 2; Vikings-Eagles on FOX in Week 5; a special Dallas-Washington cross-flex on CBS in Week 7; Packers-Patriots on NBC in Week 9; Cowboys-Eagles on NBC in Week 10; Vikings-Patriots on FOX in Week 13; and Patriots-Steelers on CBS in Week 15. The full schedule is here.

In what is likely an unprecedented move, the NFL has set aside four possible games for a Saturday NFL Network doubleheader in Week 16. The NFL will pick between Giants-Colts, Ravens-Chargers, Jaguars-Dolphins and Washington-Tennessee, with the two games not selected taking place on Sunday. The flex decision will be made no later than Week 8. [SBD 4.20]

TNF Could Move to FS1 if World Series Conflicts

In the event that any World Series games are pushed to Thursday night due to rain, Thursday Night Football would move from FOX to FS1, Sports Business Daily reported Friday. NFL Network would still simulcast the games.

It has been ten years since any World Series game was postponed due to rain. Games 2 and 7 of the World Series are scheduled for Wednesday nights, with FOX scheduled to air Dolphins-Texans and Raiders-49ers respectively the following nights.

Czarniak in Midst of CNN Gig

The former ESPN SportsCenter anchor Lindsay Czarniak has begun a short stint working as a sports correspondent for CNN. Czarniak made her first appearance last Friday and said on her Twitter account that she will be making appearances for “a few weeks.” [The Big Lead 4.17]

Kenny Smith in Running For Knicks Job

TNT NBA analyst Kenny Smith is in the running for the vacant New York Knicks head coaching job and met with the team this week, according to multiple reports. Smith, who has been with TNT since 1998, has previously sought front office positions — interviewing for the Knicks’ general manager position a decade ago. Smith once served as a game analyst for Knicks games on MSG.

New York has also interviewed ABC NBA analyst and former Warriors coach Mark Jackson. [Newsday 4.20]

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Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.