Unsurprisingly, the NFL’s insistence on seeking to play all its games in its domestic markets, not in a bubble despite the resumption of the coronavirus pandemic, poses many problems.
With several Patriots as corner superstar Stephon Gilmore still testing positive for COVID-19 this week and Quarterback Cam Newton probably still with that virus, his game in Denver was postponed from Sunday to Monday, with ESPN now using a double in addition to his normal game. between the Los Angeles Chargers and the New Orleans Saints.
Given the sheer length of the NFL list, the unhealthy nature of the game, and the number of developing cases expected nationally as the weather cools in many parts of the country as we reach flu and bloodless season, it makes sense for more normal seasonal games. to take place, to be driven back to Mondays for the rest of the season. And in a twisted way, that would be wonderful news for ESPN. The world leader may be offering more games as the network is only looking to retain Monday night’s football after the league’s existing televised agreement ends after the 2021 season, but most are likely looking to expand their percentage of the pie.
The new FMN ad team consisting of Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick not only settled into their new roles, but ESPN’s most productive pair of school football announcers, Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, were also able to call more games, adding New England-Denver on Monday. Herbstreit told The Big Lead this week that he is now more willing to drop out of school to call the NFL permanently now that he has had this opportunity this season, and that can also be vital for ESPN in the long run when he would possibly have a bigger call for MNF games to take the league into long-term contract negotiations.
We would all like NFL games to be played at their normal times, but that has never been a realistic purpose given the nature of the pandemic and insufficient league coverage measures. But if there’s a positive aspect to all this, it’s that ESPN. you’ll probably get more MNF games than ever before.
Shlomo Sprung is a senior editor of Forbes SportsMoney, is a feature film editor at Awful Announcing and writes on FanSided, SI Knicks, YES Network and
Shlomo Sprung is senior editor of Forbes SportsMoney, also a feature film editor for Awful Announcing and writes for FanSided, SI Knicks, YES Network and other publications. He graduated in 2011 from Columbia University School of Journalism and has worked for the New York Knicks, Business Insider, Sporting News and Major League Baseball in the past. Don’t miss out on Twitter.