Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has already made it clear that he's not happy with the NFL schedule changes, and it has been reported that owners around the league are on his side.
A number of alterations to the rulebook have already been made this week, with an adjustment to the personal foul penalty one of the most substantial ahead of the 2023 season. But the NFL are also making changes to their scheduling process, as teams could be facing more Thursday night games next season.
Until now, teams have only been able to make one appearance on Thursday Night Football per season, but the NFL are now upping that to a maximum of two appearances. Mahomes isn't happy about it, and according to Front Office Sports, it has not gone down well with some NFL owners either.
Following the news, Mahomes took to Twitter and posted a facepalm emoji as he took issue with the prospect of playing two Thursday night games. This prompted NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to make a statement, as fans and players began to side with the two-time Super Bowl champion.
"I don’t think we’re putting Amazon over our players. …The data doesn't show higher injury rate," Goodell said following Mahomes' reaction. "I hear from players who also love the 10 days after a Thursday Night game. We have to try to balance all of it."
In March 2021, Amazon acquired rights to become the exclusive broadcaster of Thursday Night Football initially starting with the 2023 season. Their deal lasts for ten years, and the changes are being made to boost their coverage for the foreseeable future.
And one unnamed NFL owner told Front Office Sports that "not everyone likes it", with the owners recently meeting up in Arizona. Thursday games remain unpopular with many NFL stars, as it can be a brutal turnaround from playing a Sunday night game just four days prior.
With a Thursday game, teams then do have a 10-day lay-off following that, but the change in routine is what disrupts most professionals rather than the prospect of playing the game itself. It has been proposed that teams coming off a bye-week should play on Thursday nights too, but that idea has never taken off.
There's not much that Mahomes or any other NFL star can do, as the league aren't one to bow to pressure over decisions. Tom Brady was hugely critical when they extended the regular season, but his complaints never amounted to anything.
