Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones yesterday defended Thursday night games, saying there is "not one shred of statistics" to show the games are a "disadvantage, inordinately challenging physically for the players," according to Drew Davison of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. Jones, appearing yesterday on his weekly radio segment on KRLD-FM, said, “We’re the poster child of playing on Thursday and, as a result, what it does to the demand for players being rested or being healthy.” Davison notes the Cowboys are set to play consecutive "TNF" games this month -- against the Chargers on Thanksgiving and the following Thursday night, Nov. 30, against the Redskins. Jones also defended "TNF" from a league standpoint. Jones: "Thursday Night Football, to be direct, has increased the number of eyeballs that watch television. I can understand networks' issues over ... each network wants the highest quality game and the NFL does too. But the way for the most eyeballs to see the game is to have Thursday Night Football" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 11/15). YAHOO SPORTS' Frank Schwab wrote, "I don’t think you need stats to prove that playing an NFL game on Thursday, right after playing one on Sunday, is physically challenging." The players "aren’t the only ones who have questioned Thursday games, and player safety isn’t the only complaint." CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus said that "TNF" games are "diluting the product and harming Sunday ratings." It is "harder to figure out why Jones would challenge the players on the physical challenge of playing an NFL game on just three days rest." But Jones has "rarely held back, and he’s really letting loose with all his opinions this season" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/14). The Washington Post's Sally Jenkins tweeted "TNF" is "not going anywhere, because it was the biggest driver of increased NFL revenue, worth $450 million" (TWITTER.com, 11/15).
STEELERS TALK THURSDAY GAMES: In Pittsburgh, Tim Benz noted Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger "ripped the existence of Thursday night games" as he prepares to face the Titans tomorrow. Roethlisberger said, "It's miserable. It's terrible. They've got to get rid of this game." But Steelers LB Arthur Moats said, "Give me a Thursday any day over adding two more games. Adding two more games is going to be harsh.'' Steelers G Ramon Foster: "Do Thursday games all the way until Week 8 or 9. That way you still get them. But you aren't oversaturating people. I'd rather play a Thursday night game in Week 4. Anything beyond that is pushing the envelope when it comes to health and recovery" (TRIBLIVE.com, 11/14).
DEALING WITH ISSUES: Criticism around Thursday night games is one of several issues the NFL has dealt with this season, and SportsCorp President Marc Ganis noted the league "remains enormously strong" despite the problems. He said the issues are coming to the surface "in part because of the unique position the NFL holds as being the most popular, the most visible, the most consistently highest-rated of all the entertainment or sports options that we have in the nation today." Ganis noted the NFL has been "unwillingly thrown into the divisive vortex we have going on in our nation today, though the league does not "want to be a part of it" (BLOOMBERG.com, 11/9).
