Week 5: Bills at Titans on Tuesday Night Football

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, oldmanfan said:

Nonsense.  They do every year after the colleges finish conference games.

 

Key being AFTER college finishes. That's why the law is written. Sept to Dec cant play on Saturday. December is open season.

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

3 minutes ago, jeremy2020 said:

 

Yes, as mentioned by @Forward Progress

 

The sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 effectively outlaws NFL games on Friday or Saturday. 

 

" It also, in effect, protects high school football and college football game attendance by blacking out pro football games locally on Friday evenings and Saturdays during those sports' regular seasons; these measures effectively outlawed the broadcasting (and, in practice, the playing) of NFL games on those days, since virtually all of the country is within 75 miles (120 km) of at least one high school game on every Friday night in September and October."

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Broadcasting_Act_of_1961

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title15/chapter32&edition=prelim

 

 

You really think the NCAA is going to say "screw you NFL, find a different day during this pandemic"? If the NFL wants to play Saturday they will reach an agreement. 

[Success]

I'm genuinely embarrassed for the NFL. 

 

Here we are in October, in a pandemic, and they've had the benefit of seeing the other 3 major sports leagues resume seasons & all of the issues that can come up.

 

And they're still in a mode where people have no idea what they're going to do to respond to one team breaking protocol & having multiple cases.

 

There should be no doubt at this point.  If x happens, we do y.   Instead, it's all kinds of speculation, no uniform policy, no set guidelines & no flexibility built into the schedule to accommodate unpredictable events & outbreaks. 

 

Their entire COVID plan centered around wishful thinking.

 

[whatdrought]

The biggest problem with trying to reschedule the game for sometime in the next 7 days is that you have no reason to believe the tests will stop coming back positive. You could jack up the whole schedule and then still have to cancel the damn game.

[YoloinOhio]

7 minutes ago, Forward Progress said:

I'll post it again, since this is such a big thread and you'll never find it any other way...

 

Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which exempts the NFL from antitrust laws for its broadcasting rights. The act prohibits NFL broadcasts on Friday nights and on Saturdays "beginning on the second Friday in September and ending on the second Saturday in December."

Interesting - I knew it usually happened that way but didn’t know it was a law. If that’s the case, why is it being discussed? *I ask into the echo chamber, since no one knows*

Edited October 8, 2020 by YoloinOhio

[whatdrought]

1 minute ago, Success said:

I'm genuinely embarrassed for the NFL. 

 

Here we are in October, in a pandemic, and they've had the benefit of seeing the other 3 major sports leagues resume seasons & all of the issues that can come up.

 

And they're still in a mode where people have no idea what they're going to do to respond to one team breaking protocol & having multiple cases.

 

There should be no doubt at this point.  If x happens, we do y.   Instead, it's all kinds of speculation, no uniform policy, no set guidelines & no flexibility built into the schedule to accommodate unpredictable events & outbreaks. 

 

Their entire COVID plan centered around wishful thinking.

 

 

I still struggle to blame the NFL for one team flipping them off and saying “we got this B word” 

 

I guess the proof will be in the pudding of punishment as to whether they’re going to allow this to derail the season. 

[Mango]

6 minutes ago, Forward Progress said:

I'll post it again, since this is such a big thread and you'll never find it any other way...

 

Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which exempts the NFL from antitrust laws for its broadcasting rights. The act prohibits NFL broadcasts on Friday nights and on Saturdays "beginning on the second Friday in September and ending on the second Saturday in December."

 Curious if that includes Sunday Ticket since that becomes almost like PPV. 

[oldmanfan]

5 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Key being AFTER college finishes. That's why the law is written. Sept to Dec cant play on Saturday. December is open season.

Ok.  

[YoloinOhio]

5 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Key being AFTER college finishes. That's why the law is written. Sept to Dec cant play on Saturday. December is open season.

Not this year

[scribo]

6 minutes ago, PaattMaann said:

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/13/broadcast-games-saturdays-nfl-permission-us-government-big-ten.html

 

An anti-trust law was passed in 1961 which outlaws the NFL from broadcasting on friday-saturday night so that high school and college can show their games. The NFL COULD, and would likely be granted, seek a waiver/permission to work around that rule due to COVID. 

 

I believe, FCC only applies to broadcast over airwaves, meaning not cable, meaning non the NFL Network. That's why the FCC cannot fine a cable network for broadcasting swear words or nudity. I may be incorrect, of course, given the NFL does use ***** airwaves for most of their other games.

[Nineforty]

6 minutes ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

 

I still see it happening Saturday. There are always ways around things like this. NFL very well may have to pay out to the NCAA for the rights to air one game. But that would be money well spent if it means keeping the schedule in tact.

to your point maybe? 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Broadcasting_Act_of_1961

 

"Exceptions[edit]

This portion of the act has since been partially circumvented; the NFL extended its season in 1978 to allow a few weeks of Friday night or Saturday games if the league so wished. Late-season Saturday games have been common since then, but Friday night games are still extremely rare; the league has played only eight Friday games since 1978, mostly because of the NFL's restrictions during Christmas. In 2005, a Miami Dolphins-Kansas City Chiefs matchup, scheduled for Sunday, October 23 in Miami, was moved up to 7pm Friday night due to Hurricane Wilma. The game was televised only within 75 miles of Miami and Kansas City.^[4][5][6]"

[Rochesterfan]

13 minutes ago, Penfield45 said:

I hope you keep this opinion up when they decide to ***** the bills over and move our chiefs game to Saturday and titans game to Monday or Tuesday, basically giving us a massive disadvantage in both games 

 

They are doing everything they can to get games in.

 

Does it suck - maybe, but other options screw other teams.  I am trying to look at the big picture and recognize - the NFL has a protocol in place that obviously works when followed.

 

You have 1 team (one less than in baseball) that decided not to follow the protocol.

 

The league is looking for every option they can - the fairest thing is to get the game in, but in doing that it screws the Bills.  Not playing the game this week potentially screws the Bills later and a forfeit screws other teams (and doubly the Chiefs).  
 

 

[nucci]

4 minutes ago, Success said:

I'm genuinely embarrassed for the NFL. 

 

Here we are in October, in a pandemic, and they've had the benefit of seeing the other 3 major sports leagues resume seasons & all of the issues that can come up.

 

And they're still in a mode where people have no idea what they're going to do to respond to one team breaking protocol & having multiple cases.

 

There should be no doubt at this point.  If x happens, we do y.   Instead, it's all kinds of speculation, no uniform policy, no set guidelines & no flexibility built into the schedule to accommodate unpredictable events & outbreaks. 

 

Their entire COVID plan centered around wishful thinking.

 

Hockey played a tournament in 2 cities and NBA in one....nothing resembling a regular season. Baseball had issues with a few teams when they restarted

[Malazan]

5 minutes ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

 

 

You really think the NCAA is going to say "screw you NFL, find a different day during this pandemic"? If the NFL wants to play Saturday they will reach an agreement. 

 

The NCAA doesn't get to give them permission. It would require congress to act. Good luck with that. 

[DrDawkinstein]

2 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

Not this year

 

Not this year what?

 

They CAN broadcast earlier than December? Or they can't broadcast in December since college will still be playing?

[YoloinOhio]

Just now, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Not this year what?

 

They CAN broadcast earlier than December? Or they can't broadcast in December since college will still be playing?

College playing deep into December 

[thebandit27]

I continue to believe that they’ll suspend the game and move on—make it up in a week 18 if necessary.

 

It buys them time to decide what to do about the Titans, the missed game checks, a potential forfeit, etc. while not messing up the schedule 

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

Just now, jeremy2020 said:

 

The NCAA doesn't get to give them permission. It would require congress to act. Good luck with that. 

 

I still say it would happen if the NFL wants it to. Money talks. And cities and schools are not exactly flush with money right now. Again, any normal year, I would 100% agree with you. Not during a pandemic.

[YoloinOhio]

Just now, thebandit27 said:

I continue to believe that they’ll suspend the game and move on—make it up in a week 18 if necessary.

 

It buys them time to decide what to do about the Titans, the missed game checks, a potential forfeit, etc. while not messing up the schedule 

Right and consider we have no idea if they will even be able to play next week, either. 

[PaattMaann]

Just now, thebandit27 said:

I continue to believe that they’ll suspend the game and move on—make it up in a week 18 if necessary.

 

It buys them time to decide what to do about the Titans, the missed game checks, a potential forfeit, etc. while not messing up the schedule 

 

I think this a very likely option but I think the NFL is going to wait until tomorrow to see if they start getting negative tests from the Titans again - so they can force the game to be played monday or tuesday. Stringing it along 

[PrimeTime101]

how many more games will they miss do to there own stupidity before games are forfitted?

[NewEra]

1 minute ago, thebandit27 said:

I continue to believe that they’ll suspend the game and move on—make it up in a week 18 if necessary.

 

It buys them time to decide what to do about the Titans, the missed game checks, a potential forfeit, etc. while not messing up the schedule 

This.  I fully expect them to add another week (or more if needed) at the end of the season.  

[Mike in Horseheads]

13 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Ive made this Atlanta-Buffalo trip too many times, and Ohio is the worst part. Just sooo long, and the worst drivers of the 6 states.

Ever do the trip through PA on Rt15. now thats one long mf trip

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

Just now, thebandit27 said:

I continue to believe that they’ll suspend the game and move on—make it up in a week 18 if necessary.

 

It buys them time to decide what to do about the Titans, the missed game checks, a potential forfeit, etc. while not messing up the schedule 

 

I would go with the Monday option and they play Friday or Saturday if needed or even a double header on Monday again. But of course that assume the Titans can stop testing positive for a consecutive days.

[SCBills]

11 minutes ago, Success said:

I'm genuinely embarrassed for the NFL. 

 

Here we are in October, in a pandemic, and they've had the benefit of seeing the other 3 major sports leagues resume seasons & all of the issues that can come up.

 

And they're still in a mode where people have no idea what they're going to do to respond to one team breaking protocol & having multiple cases.

 

There should be no doubt at this point.  If x happens, we do y.   Instead, it's all kinds of speculation, no uniform policy, no set guidelines & no flexibility built into the schedule to accommodate unpredictable events & outbreaks. 

 

Their entire COVID plan centered around wishful thinking.

 

 

Not sure I agree.  I do think the NFL should have been more proactive in schedule building, but I don't think they necessarily can be faulted for one team basically going rogue and becoming an absolute dumpster fire. 

 

Take the Titans out of the equation, and I think the protocols have gone pretty well so far.  No games missed and the Falcons, Vikings, Chiefs and Pats are displaying hope that this can be mitigated.

 

Edited October 8, 2020 by SCBills

[Success]

2 minutes ago, nucci said:

Hockey played a tournament in 2 cities and NBA in one....nothing resembling a regular season. Baseball had issues with a few teams when they restarted

 

True, but the NFL approached this whole thing from a position of maximum profitability - they weren't realistic about the situation and did no contingency planning (at least any that I can see).

 

It shouldn't be a full season. They should have reduced it down to 12 or 14 games, built in extra bye weeks & more time at the end of the season for make-ups.  There should be set thresholds for teams that have outbreaks:  if x # of players get infected, the game goes on as scheduled, but if it exceeds that #, we postpone/reschedule.  There should be more clear rules on the protocols and exactly what the consequences are for teams who break them.

 

This is a multi-billion $ industry.  This has been completely mismanaged, imo.

 

[Sig1Hunter]

Move it to week 18, but make it a Bills home game to “punish” the dummy Titans

[TroutDog]

20 minutes ago, jeremy2020 said:

 

Back in June I drove up from Austin back to Buffalo. Arkansas and Ohio were rough, boring drives. 

You can just close your eyes through Arkansas. 

[wjag]

I'm personally in favor or B2B Monday night appearances for the first and likely only time in league history.  

[Big C]

Gotta attach the game to the end of season. 

[Say When...]

I don't want a forfeit for various reasons - the biggest one being i know we win - with the current state of the team and about 70% confident if the Titans were at full strength (excluding current non-covid injuries).

 

make them frankenstein a team; all current COVID listees and those that have been in contact since the facility closure are out.  if they have to have the punter on the OL so be it.  let Buffalo go in there and take their frustrations out on them, drop a 50 burger, just run up the score just thoroughly embarrass them.

 

they know who's been clean for the last 10 days by their consistent negative tests, they have proximity data, the non-sanctioned player gatherings? those players are out.

 

make them put whatever they can muster on the field ensuring a high confidence safe zone and let the Bills play a 1st game preseason team and just have their way.

 

after that punish them to the level of stupidity, belligerence and arrogance they've exuded the last 3 weeks in the form of draft picks (multiple years, make this sting), fines, coaching suspensions, anything... just anything.

[YoloinOhio]

9 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

They are doing everything they can to get games in.

 

Does it suck - maybe, but other options screw other teams.  I am trying to look at the big picture and recognize - the NFL has a protocol in place that obviously works when followed.

 

You have 1 team (one less than in baseball) that decided not to follow the protocol.

 

The league is looking for every option they can - the fairest thing is to get the game in, but in doing that it screws the Bills.  Not playing the game this week potentially screws the Bills later and a forfeit screws other teams (and doubly the Chiefs).  
 

 

Something to keep in mind is the league and Fox may have some motivation to move the chiefs game off of TNF because the 2nd presidential debate is that night... which could impact their ratings. I’m sure they prefer standalone game on Saturday but if they can’t, i wonder about a 4:25 national game on Sunday or even a SNF doubleheader of 7:00/9:00 like they did on Monday. Just a thought 

Edited October 8, 2020 by YoloinOhio

[Malazan]

Just now, TroutDog said:

You can just close your eyes through Arkansas. 

 

I fell asleep for a good 40-50 miles at least once. 

 

Arkansas also had the distinction of having the worst rest stop I've even been to...was traveling with my dogs. At least they seemed to enjoy the open sewer smell it had. 

[Fred Slacks]

I may be in the minority but I definitely don’t want a forfeit. Isn’t point differential a playoff tie breaker (albeit one of the lower tier tie breakers)?  If we win a forfeit the score is like 2-0 or something. Numbers on all levels will be effected including any bid for Josh Allen as an MVP candidate, players bonus incentives, etc. This game gets played in my opinion no matter how they pretend it’s going to go. My guess is Monday or Tuesday. 

[TH3]

13 minutes ago, Success said:

I'm genuinely embarrassed for the NFL. 

 

Here we are in October, in a pandemic, and they've had the benefit of seeing the other 3 major sports leagues resume seasons & all of the issues that can come up.

 

And they're still in a mode where people have no idea what they're going to do to respond to one team breaking protocol & having multiple cases.

 

There should be no doubt at this point.  If x happens, we do y.   Instead, it's all kinds of speculation, no uniform policy, no set guidelines & no flexibility built into the schedule to accommodate unpredictable events & outbreaks. 

 

Their entire COVID plan centered around wishful thinking.

 

Ever run a business?

[TroutDog]

Just now, jeremy2020 said:

 

I fell asleep for a good 40-50 miles at least once. 

 

Arkansas also had the distinction of having the worst rest stop I've even been to...was traveling with my dogs. At least they seemed to enjoy the open sewer smell it had. 

Ha! That’s my memory of it, as well. I’ve only been once and there is a reason for that. 

[thebandit27]

Just now, Fred Slacks said:

I may be in the minority but I definitely don’t want a forfeit. Isn’t point differential a playoff tie breaker (albeit one of the lower tier tie breakers)?  If we win a forfeit the score is like 2-0 or something. Numbers on all levels will be effected including any bid for Josh Allen as an MVP candidate, players bonus incentives, etc. This game gets played in my opinion no matter how they pretend it’s going to go. My guess is Monday or Tuesday. 

I don’t think any of us prefer a forfeit; I do think that Tennessee deserves to forfeit for their negligence.

[die hard bills fan]

Time to forfeit the game. shut the titans down until they can control it.

[YoloinOhio]

Just now, Fred Slacks said:

I may be in the minority but I definitely don’t want a forfeit. Isn’t point differential a playoff tie breaker (albeit one of the lower tier tie breakers)?  If we win a forfeit the score is like 2-0 or something. Numbers on all levels will be effected including any bid for Josh Allen as an MVP candidate, players bonus incentives, etc. This game gets played in my opinion no matter how they pretend it’s going to go. My guess is Monday or Tuesday. 

I honestly think the forfeit won’t happen. Nflpa signed off On no game checks with a cancellation but not on forfeiture. And reports are players on both sides won’t get paid if forfeited. 

[Success]

1 minute ago, TH3 said:

Ever run a business?

 

I have not.

 

Is having foresight and doing some contingency planning a difficult thing, when a few billion $ are on the line?