When Tom Brady decided to end his “retirement” after just 41 days, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans were understandably thrilled.
That sentiment likely wasn’t shared across the rest of the league, including by those who are tasked with the massive challenge of creating the league’s reguar-seasons schedule.
Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times recently spoke with NFL broadcasting chief Howard Katz, who admitted that while Brady’s return helped bring some weight back to the NFC’s 2022 slate, it did force a restart on the whole project (via Joe Bucs Fan):
“When Tom Brady retired, we were concerned about the strength of the NFC package because there were so many terrific Tampa Bay games we were looking at,” Katz said. “Then a month later he un-retires and we sort of started all over again.”
Even without Brady, the Bucs would have had a strong roster on both sides of the ball this season, but they were likely headed for plenty more 1 p.m. games on Sunday afternoons with anyone else at quarterback. Once Brady made his about-face, it looks like the league had to make one of their own.
When the NFL unveils the schedule Thursday night, don’t be surprised if Brady and the Bucs are heavily featured, with plenty of nationally televised slots and prime-time matchups.
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