Seahawks thankful for the very safe Thursday Night Football game

2 of 2

GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 09: Head coach Bruce Arians of the Arizona Cardinals and head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks shake hands after the Thursday Night Football game at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 9, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Seattle Seahawks won 22-16. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Neither players nor coaches want Thursday Night Football

We certainly aren’t the first people to rail against Thursday night games, either. Steven Ruiz wrote this for USA Today Sports. You can read his list of carnage here. One quote:

"All football fans watch Thursday Night Football, but does anyone actually enjoy watching it? Almost every fan, player and coach will tell you it’s the worst, and the Ravens’ injury report is just one example of why that is…"

Mark Sandritter of SB Nation wrote this excellent piece on how NFL players feel about the league’s Thursday night sacrifices – sorry, games. Here’s just two quotes:

"“Go get in a car accident and then try to play two days later,” Former Seattle fullback Michael Robinson said, via the AP. “That’s how it feels.” “The recovery time from Sunday to Thursday is ridiculous, especially after playing a very physical game, and then to have to travel,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said, via the News-Sentinel. “When you add the travel in, you may get some swelling out of your body, but on that airplane, you’re going to swell right back up. (Playing Thursday) is great for television. It’s great for the NFL Network, obviously. But I think it’s very, very taxing on these athletes, especially when we talk so much about player safety. But it is what it is and we all have to deal with it.”"

The recovery time that Coach Arians mentioned is the key. Earl Thomas had three fewer days to heal, so couldn’t play. Richard Sherman’s Achilles tendon had three fewer days to recover from the stress of Sunday’s game as well. Those three days matter.

The NFL loves the Thursday Night Football package, even though it’s questionable that it actually adds to the viewer experience. It’s extra ad revenue, that’s it. We’ll ignore that ratings have been down for two years, not just this year. Mark Cuban said three years ago the league was overexposing the product. Sure looks like he was right.

In the end, we thank Roger Goodell and the NFL owners. We sure do love those Friday morning roster changes.

Home/Seattle Seahawks News