By Michael Heilman

NFL television deals are set to expire in the years 2021 (ESPN) and 2022 (NBC, FOX, CBS). Earlier this year, the New York Times reported that ABC, owned by Disney, who also owns ESPN, want in on an NFL package and a spot for the Super Bowl. With the NFL getting ready for the next round of tv contract negotiations, who should broadcast the NFL and who should go.

Before I get into the networks, I would like to see all of these networks cut their pregame coverage from one or two hours to just half an hour. Back in the day, when the pregame shows first started, they were only fifteen minutes long, then they increased to thirty-minutes. Pre-Game Hosts would welcome us as they do today, give us an update or breaking news, and then cut to their broadcasters at the various games they would be showing for updates, injury reports, weather conditions, and give their opinions on the matchup. After that, the pre-game hosts would provide an analysis of the games and pick their winners. There were no gimmicks, no comedians, no music videos, no two-hour shows, and no cartoons.

The first thing I don’t want to see changed is Sunday Night Football on NBC. Sunday Night Football is fine where it is. They do have the best games of the week. Every once in awhile, they will get a bad game. Luckily, they can change up some of the games later in the season to show the best matchups in primetime.

The second thing that comes to mind is to see CBS keep the AFC package and FOX keep the NFC package. They can still feature the other conferences if those teams are on the road like CBS showing an NFC team if they’re on the road playing an AFC team and vice versa for FOX. Also, there would be one additional game a week for these networks, which leads to number three.

The third thing that should happen is for the NFL to get rid of Thursday Night Football on FOX. While Thursday Night Football has some great games, those games are better suited for either Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football. Let’s face it; there have been some games broadcasted on Thursday and Monday Nights that shouldn’t have been on either network. No one wants to see two bad teams play in primetime. There is a reason why bad teams play Sunday afternoons. The only time football should be played on Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. Over the years, the Thanksgiving Day games have featured two games with the Lions, and the Cowboys hosting before the NFL added a third game for Thanksgiving Day, and quite frankly, I don’t mind having a third game.

And finally, the fourth thing that should happen is the return of Monday Night Football to ABC. Since Monday Night Football went to ESPN in 2006, they have been given some terrible games and could use a boost from some of the games that currently air on Thursday nights. Sunday Night Football can schedule flex games; Monday Night Football should be allowed to do the same, making it more interesting by having the best matchups in primetime.

One thing I would love to see back on Monday Night Football is the return of the opening graphics where the helmets dropped down from the ceiling with the stadium background, and then the helmets would clash together, signaling the start of the battle. Classic but memorable. Back in the day, when your team made it to Monday Night Football, you knew your team was hot, on a winning streak, and stood a chance at a divisional playoff. There was a reason why teams like the 49ers, Cowboys, Oilers, Raiders, Steelers, Broncos were always on Monday Night Football every week. It will be interesting to see who will be broadcasting NFL in 2022 and 2023. What do you think? Have any memories of the clashing helmets?