Despite the Bears’ Objections, Thursday Night Football Flex Scheduling is Coming

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport has the details regarding a big change coming to your NFL television viewing. Thursday Night Football games will soon be eligible for flexing:

An additional wrinkle to this news nugget is that the Bears were one of the few teams who voted against the flex. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Bears were joined by the Packers, Giants, Jets, Raiders, Lions, Bengals, and Steelers. Seeing the Bears and Packers (as well as the Steelers-Bengals-Raiders) pull from the same side of the rope is a bit of a trip. But I get it. What I do not understand is why only eight teams voted against this measure. It is truly mind-boggling from where I stand that this passed by a 24-8 count.

Try as I might, I just don’t see the potential flexing games to other dates brings. Admittedly, most of that is rooted in not loving what the NFL looks like when two teams are on short rest. Too often, Thursday Night Football looks bad. Two teams sluggishly going through the motions just four days after going full bore against other NFL gladiators often looks ugly. There have been too many unwatchable TNF games in recent years. And not just games featuring the Bears. This is a league-wide issue. One that I don’t believe flex scheduling fixes. Part of me can’t imagine this lasting long — especially if the product doesn’t look better. But perhaps that might not matter because this feels like yet another cash grab by owners at the expense of players and fan sensibilities.