News: NFL-Amazon, CFP, MLB

Some NFL scheduling nuggets and more, including the College Football Playoff and MLB lockout.

Amazon wants Black Friday game, NFL uninterested

Amazon — which next season assumes exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football — is interested in carrying an exclusive NFL game on Black Friday, Sports Business Journal reported Monday. Per the report, the NFL is “lukewarm” toward the idea.

Per the same report, the NFL intends to continue scheduling competing doubleheaders on FOX and CBS in Week 1 of the season. The network did so for the first time this past season and FOX — which had the Week 1 doubleheader to itself in past years — took a ratings hit. FOX reportedly asked the NFL to move the dueling doubleheaders to later in the season and was rebuffed.

In addition, both FOX and CBS are asking to carry a Christmas Day game in the late afternoon window this season. FOX has contractual rights to an annual Christmas game in its new media rights deal (when the calendar allows), though it is not clear whether that kicks in now or when the deal officially begins in 2023. As Christmas is on a Sunday this year, NBC will have the primetime Christmas game on Sunday Night Football. [SBJ 2.21]

CFP staying at four; Big Ten payday ahead

The College Football Playoff will remain at four teams through the conclusion of the event’s ESPN rights deal in 2026, it was announced Friday. There had been discussions about expanding the playoff to as many as 12 teams and such a move was viewed briefly as a fait accompli until talks fell apart last summer. Per ESPN, the Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 voted against the expansion.

In other college sports news, Sports Business Journal reported last week that a number of industry sources expect the Big Ten to generate more than $1 billion per year in its next media rights deals. The conference is currently in an exclusive negotiating window with ESPN that is expected to expire without a deal, allowing for the rights to hit the open market. [ESPN 2.18, SBJ 2.15]

MLB says February 28 is deadline for deal

Major League Baseball, which last week chose to cancel the first week of Spring Training as part of its ongoing lockout of the players union, has per multiple reports identified February 28 as a date by which a new collective bargaining agreement is needed before it will begin canceling regular season games. The season is set to begin March 31. It should be noted that leagues can, and have, played games under an expired collective bargaining agreement. [AP 2.20]

The Cowboys-Giants rivalry delivered the top audience so far in Week 1 of the NFL season.

NFL ON CBS - New England Patriots versus the New York Jets game on September 24, 2023. Pictured: Jim Nantz and Tony Romo. Photo: Mary Kouw/CBS ©2023 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Romo remains out for Weeks 2 and 3 of NFL on CBS

by Jon Lewis

3 days ago

Tony Romo will be out through at least the rest of September on CBS.

Solid, unspectacular debut for Nantz and Watt

by Armand Broady

3 days ago

A review of how JJ Watt and Jim Nantz fared in the debut of their temporary -- perhaps --...

CFP to open talks with ESPN in prelude to 24-team expansion

by Jon Lewis

1 week ago

The ever-shifting college football landscape appears to be heading toward yet more change. The College Football Playoff announced Tuesday...

Comments 2

Nate Johnson says:

5 years ago

There are people who really believes that the NFL is “uninterested” because of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, however I doubt that 60 years ago they had streaming in mind. With that said, in the new TNF deal local market will be able to watch the game locally on TV. It would be my understanding that the NFL only wanted the new deal to still be on TV for the teams playing close to the market. Even with that, why would the NFL want to have a Friday game? Normally that is is meant for High School and while many would be playing deep in the playoffs on the day after Thanksgiving it just wouldn’t feel fitted. At least when Christmas falls on a Friday it feels fitted because it’s a holiday similar to Thanksgiving where not much productivity is going on compared to any other days of the year. So very smart by the NFL and hopefully Amazon can have a seat for the moment.
Nate Johnson says:

5 years ago

None related to the post. I figured this would be a great time to evaluate the Super Bowl Champions Los Angeles Rams 2022 Home opponents and see who they should face on Opening Night 2022 (aka NFL Kickoff Game). I will break it down into 4 sections which would be Division, Intra-Conference, Interconference, and then Conclusion. Without further ado

NFC West:

49ers- 100% they should be considered

Cardinals- This is a challenging one. The Cardinals did start the year off very well and then Green Bay came into Arizona on a Thursday Night and ended their strong 2021 start. Now that there is some issues with Kyler and the organization, I must say that if they go in another direction at QB then it’s a not. However, if things stand pat, they should at least be discussed and not waived off.

Seahawks- Aaron Donald was the killer to the Seahawks season. He broke Russell Wilson’s index finger on his throwing hand and Wilson missed a few games. Even when Wilson came back the team was still out of sort. The 2nd time they Hawks/Rams played, Aaron Donald dominated at the end and closed the door on the Seahawks playing bonus football and also ended a likelihood of 4 teams from the NFC West all making it to the playoffs. It’s one of those situations where we have to look at the Seahawks as a worthy Opening Night opponent, but first they need to keep Russell Wilson.

NFC Interdivision:

Cowboys- More on them later

Falcons- Copying Simon Cowell by saying “It’s a No”

Panthers- Go and look and see what was said about the Falcons

AFC:

Bills- Absolutely worthy of talk

Broncos- This could be very interesting assuming they get Aaron Rodgers or Deshaun Watson. It will bring a lot of buzz back to the Mile High.

Raiders- This one is really tough. What we know is that they have a new coach, but we don’t know what else they’ll do in the offseason. After a year of so much that organization went through they were still able to make it to the playoffs after a movie like ending in the Regular Season. After all, they should be discussed.

Conclusion:
Since the 2002 Opening Night, only two teams played with a new Head Coach (2008 ‘Skins and 2019 Packers). It seems to me that the league won’t go so far to having a Opening Night opponent with a new Head Coach so I will eliminate the Broncos and Raiders. Additional case for the Raiders not being on there is for their fans to not take over SoFi Stadium because the city of LA’s favorite NFL team is the Raiders.

Cowboys name alone gives them this spot. To the Cowboys credit, they did reclaim their division which helps enhances their credibility following the 2020 season they had. However, for them to be there for 2 seasons in a row would have to be a stretch. I would understand if the Rams didn’t have much to offer, but they honestly do now.

The Cardinals and Seahawks has questions on rather they will keep their current QB. Right now we don’t even know who the 2022 Starting QB will be for the 49ers. So for the sake of me posting right now, they all should be eliminated and let’s be honest, which leaves the Bills as my selection for the Rams opponent on Opening Night. Buffalo definitely qualifies for that match-up. I had the Bills back when discussing the Bucs opponents 54 weeks ago, but the league didn’t agree. I believe there’s no denying it now. I understand that TV deals no longer carry the conference package like that, so if CBS wants that match-up sometime in the RS they would have a strong case on wanting to get that especially considering how we’re talking about the Super Bowl Champions. Barring what I said about the Broncos, them and the Raiders won’t bring a lot of buzz into their match-up vs the Rams during the Regular Season like the Bills would. So while I say Opening Night 2022 should be the Bills/Rams, I honestly won’t be surprised if that won’t be the case especially if the 49ers keeps Garoppolo as QB. To me the 49ers would be clear cut choice #1.