By Tom Rock
Please note that I'm just wondering aloud on this and have no inside info as of yet. But ...
Most people assume that the Chiefs-Jets game scheduled as the late NBC game for Dec. 30 will be dumped in favor of a more, shall we say, meaningful matchup. I've heard and read that speculated at least a dozen times. However, there is a chance that even if the network is not locked into that time slot, the game itself could be.
With the Giants hosting the Patriots in a game that starts at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29, it would seem very unlikely that the stadium could be turned around in time for an early Jets game the following day. A 4 o'clock start might even be pushing it, in fact, by the time they erase and then re-paint the end zones, put up the green plastic that covers the normally blue walls around the field, and change whatever signage and other things need changing. That doesn't even count the mess that the parking lot would be considering that the last Giants tailgaters will likely be leaving at about midnight or 1 a.m. and the first Jets tailgaters will roll in five or six hours later.
Oh, and it's late December. So it'll definitely be sunny and comfortable and easy to do all of that work.
As I said, I have no idea how this will pan out. I asked a few people at the Jets about it this afternoon and they said they would check it out and get back to me on it. Maybe our WatchDog friend or his newly appointed deputy can figure it out. Until then, all I'm saying is don't assume that the game time will be moved.
Comments (6)
That is a very interesting point, Mr. T-Rock. I will ask about this from people on my end. There is NO WAY that game can be the prime time finale in NBC, though, IMHO.
Neil (and everyone else who reads this): If the Jets are locked into that time logistically, would NBC be able to have two simultaneous late games and show one nationally and the other locally? Sort of how Fox and CBS handle their 4:15 games? We shall see.
I will ask my peeps at NBC about this.
T-Rock:
My mole who's in the know about NBC plans for final weekend has two words about the possibility of keeping Jets-Chiefs on the broadcast schedule: No way.
Maybe you can show up a few hours early to help finish painting the endzones.
T-Rock:
I have been doing my own research with TV moles today and agree with Glauber: There is ZERO chance the Jets will be playing at 8 p.m. that night. They might have to go with unpainted end zones for that weekend's games.
Memo to Neil Best: Who cares what you think? Go root for your beloved Giants on their blog.