Bruce Arians Expects Maximum Primetime Games
April 5th, 2021
Last year when the NFL announced its 2020 schedule, Bucs fans were jolted when they learned Tampa Bay would play in five primetime games during the regular season, most in franchise history.
Why was it stunning?
Because Bucs fans were lucky if the NFL forced FOX, BSPN or NBC to broadcast a Bucs game in primetime once a year. But five? This is what happens when your signal caller is park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing Bucs Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
So recently when Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians did a spot on “Basketball and Beyond with Coach K” on BSPNU Radio, heard exclusively on SiriusXM with famed Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, the NFL broadcast schedule for 2021 came up.
And Arians told Krzyzewski he believes fans will get quite a few night games in 2021. The NFL plans to release the schedule in May.
Mike Krzyzewski: You being the Super Bowl champions, so when someone says you have a 17-game season, they are not all going to be played on Sunday afternoons. They’ll put you in every damned time slot.
Bucco Bruce Arians: (laughs) We’ll have at least six of them. I think that is the max. It will be an adjustment.
Well, unless something has changed that Joe cannot find with a rudimentary Google search, the maximum number of games a team can play in primetime in a regular season is five.
Arians previously discussed a 17-game schedule but opened up more about it with Krzyzewski. Arians noted he’s going to have to monitor players’ snaps in preseason and in regular-season practice a bit more closely than before, especially if the Bucs get an early bye.
“If it is a Week 6 or 7 bye, and you have 10 [weeks] to go, you are going to have to really adjust practice how much you are running and the number of reps in practice versus walk-throughs,” Arians said. “There will be a fine line in three preseason games between how much you play each guy.”
The positive for Arians, he said, is that all 22 starters are back so they already know what they are doing. As a result, snaps in preseason games can be dialed back for starters if needed.
April 5th, 2021 at 12:10 am
Still don’t know why they didn’t do 17 weeks with 2 bye weeks – the NFL just wants that TV money, and 2 bye weeks gives them an extra week of TV. The NFL already did 2 bye weeks in 1993 I think, so it’s nothing new.
Also any word on them expanding the rosters? It seems like one or two extra spots wouldn’t be a bad thing.
April 5th, 2021 at 12:14 am
Yes, and will add to that: By pushing the season one week or two weeks later into February, that’s more money because networks pay out the ying/yank for shows/events in February because of sweeps month.
Guess the NFL is considering Labor Day weekend with no NFL as a “bye week.”
(Don’t know about 1993.)
April 5th, 2021 at 2:24 am
Agreed. Add an extra bye week then expand the roster and raise the salary cap.
Thursday night football is an inferior product because of the inevitable short time frame.
More money by expanding, sure. Now more rest for safety and a better overall product.
Slightly off topic, but what kind of BS was it the Saints played game against a team with no QB. I’m glad it didn’t matter in the end, but how awful would it have been if that game mattered for the division, playoff, home field etc…
In BA I Trust!
April 5th, 2021 at 3:43 am
Can you imagine when a star player gets injured week 17?. Fans are gonna flip out!! I know I would… Knock on wood….
April 5th, 2021 at 6:35 am
Didn’t we absolutely STINK in all of those 5 Prime Time games last year?
April 5th, 2021 at 6:50 am
^^^ Scotty, the 4 other “prime time” games we did NOT stink in were the last 4 games at WFT, at slimy Aint’s, at NFC Championship vs GB and of course that last one at home vs the Chiefs. Last one was my fav – wifey and I went to that one!!!
April 5th, 2021 at 7:11 am
Here is my statement as president of alcoholics everywhere:”Primetime games suck, we have jobs and like to be in bed early”.
April 5th, 2021 at 7:44 am
Well, at least it looks like we’ve gotten over our prime time difficulties….
April 5th, 2021 at 7:59 am
Current TV deals: 5 games
New TV deals: 7 games
April 5th, 2021 at 8:14 am
Slightly off topic: I brought the following up to the NFL (with no response) and a local talk radio station. I think the Thursday night games should be played by both teams coming off a bye. Think about it; each team would have 10 days off followed by 9 days off. Neither team would have a short week or travel considerations. Also, there could be 2 games on Thursday (East coast and Wet coast), giving every team a Thursday game. Joe – Could you bring this up to The Powers That Be?
GO Bucs!
April 5th, 2021 at 8:35 am
Bucman – there are more weeks with Thursday night games than Bye weeks. Who would want a week 1 bye? Who would want a week 16 bye?
April 5th, 2021 at 9:20 am
Man it feels great to be relevant thank you Tom Brady!!
April 5th, 2021 at 11:09 am
17 Weeks means you need depth. The Bucs are in the best roster position because they can draft rotational talent.
April 5th, 2021 at 6:14 pm
BFF – with 32 teams there would be 16 games; 2 games a night for 8 weeks.
Go Bucs!
April 6th, 2021 at 6:33 pm
It is INDEED GREAT to be even MORE relevant in the NFL now ! We ARE a feared Team for the upc Season and rightly so . We have a “target” on our backs and our BOYS realize that and I’m SURE will be up to the challenge . BA & Brady will NOT let them “slack off” ! Their message will be that last year means nothing !