WEBVTT - Flex Scheduling with the NFL's Onnie Bose 0:00:07.266 --> 0:00:09.666 The Season with Peter Schraeger is a production of the 0:00:09.826 --> 0:00:23.946 NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio. What's Up, everybody, Welcome to 0:00:23.946 --> 0:00:27.026 the Season with Peter Schrager. We're here in week eleven. 0:00:28.026 --> 0:00:29.626 We had a bit of a bye week last week. 0:00:29.706 --> 0:00:32.666 I figured it was election week. Well, we'll let you 0:00:32.866 --> 0:00:35.066 listen to that stuff and we'll take the week off. 0:00:35.106 --> 0:00:37.066 It wasn't this great of a slate that we have 0:00:37.146 --> 0:00:40.626 in week eleven. And as we look towards these games, 0:00:40.746 --> 0:00:44.306 I am counting on my hands four different awesome matchups 0:00:44.666 --> 0:00:50.906 like Chiefs versus Bills is amazing to have in any week, 0:00:50.986 --> 0:00:53.906 and it's Week eleven where the stakes couldn't be higher. 0:00:53.986 --> 0:00:55.866 And yet I don't even know if that's the game 0:00:55.866 --> 0:00:58.266 of the week because on Thursday night you've got Eagles 0:00:58.266 --> 0:01:01.266 commanders first time they're playing this season. And then you 0:01:01.306 --> 0:01:04.146 also have a Steelers Ravens game, where the Steelers schedule 0:01:04.226 --> 0:01:07.586 is so interesting they haven't even played a divisional and 0:01:07.586 --> 0:01:11.586 we're entering mid November. The Steelers still have you know, 0:01:11.866 --> 0:01:14.946 obviously they got to play the Ravens this weekend. They're 0:01:14.946 --> 0:01:19.026 gonna play Bengals twice, Browns twice, and the Ravens again, 0:01:19.786 --> 0:01:21.866 and the other one is Sunday Night one that I think 0:01:21.866 --> 0:01:24.346 it's really interesting over the last couple of weeks because 0:01:24.346 --> 0:01:26.986 of the way the teams have performed. The Bengals offense 0:01:27.026 --> 0:01:31.986 has exploded, and though they lost last Thursday, there's still 0:01:32.146 --> 0:01:37.306 four and six and they're going up against a very good, 0:01:37.506 --> 0:01:42.506 very hot Chargers team on Sunday Night and again that 0:01:42.546 --> 0:01:46.586 I can't imagine is going to be a ratings bonanza 0:01:46.666 --> 0:01:49.826 when you have the Chargers and the Bengals square and off. 0:01:49.826 --> 0:01:51.826 But you better believe I'll be watching. They'll be good. 0:01:52.826 --> 0:01:54.746 I have so many thoughts about this week. Where do 0:01:54.826 --> 0:01:59.266 I begin. Let's start with a little unpacking of what 0:01:59.426 --> 0:02:03.546 happened today in Chicago, and I put this on social media. 0:02:03.546 --> 0:02:05.226 I said a little bit on Good Morning Football, but 0:02:05.346 --> 0:02:07.186 this is my podcast. Could talk a little bit more 0:02:07.186 --> 0:02:10.066 about it. I'm not angry about it. It happens. Teams 0:02:10.226 --> 0:02:13.666 don't go through the process and always have it all 0:02:13.666 --> 0:02:17.146 work out. But I look at my friend and a 0:02:17.226 --> 0:02:21.906 guy who I thought was I don't know, I thought 0:02:21.986 --> 0:02:24.826 he was not as highly coveted as he should have 0:02:24.866 --> 0:02:28.626 been over this hiring cycle in Cliff Kingsbury, and I 0:02:28.666 --> 0:02:31.786 look at his path of how things went in January, 0:02:31.826 --> 0:02:35.026 once he made it known that after a year away 0:02:35.066 --> 0:02:37.626 from the NFL and working with Caleb Williams at USC 0:02:38.266 --> 0:02:42.466 and basically a pro bono gig for Lincoln Riley just 0:02:42.506 --> 0:02:45.946 so he could work with Caleb Williams and and you know, 0:02:46.066 --> 0:02:48.266 I have an opportunity to go back to his roots 0:02:48.306 --> 0:02:51.026 and work with a star quarterback and build an offense. 0:02:51.506 --> 0:02:53.546 Cliff made it known that he was ready to come 0:02:53.586 --> 0:02:57.906 back to the NFL if there was an appropriate offer 0:02:58.026 --> 0:03:02.426 or taker. He thought he was going to Vegas. They 0:03:02.426 --> 0:03:04.266 brought him in for an interview. He hit it off 0:03:04.266 --> 0:03:07.106 with Antonio Pears. They brought him back to Vegas. He 0:03:07.186 --> 0:03:10.426 hit it off with Tom to LESCo, the GM And 0:03:10.786 --> 0:03:13.946 from what I am told, and it's not directly from Cliff, 0:03:14.026 --> 0:03:17.306 but this is pretty well known. The years on the contract, 0:03:17.826 --> 0:03:21.266 there was a miscommunication as to what was expected and offered. 0:03:21.266 --> 0:03:25.586 And standard standard deals are three year deals for coordinators. 0:03:25.866 --> 0:03:28.266 Now I don't know what Antonio Pierce's deal is. You 0:03:28.346 --> 0:03:31.866 certainly wouldn't want a coordinator's job to be longer than 0:03:31.906 --> 0:03:34.386 the head coach's job, and there might have been something there, 0:03:34.386 --> 0:03:37.706 but the three year deal was not offered in Vegas, 0:03:37.746 --> 0:03:41.546 so Cliff did not take that job. Earlier in the process, 0:03:42.186 --> 0:03:48.186 the Chicago Bears flew out to California and met with 0:03:48.226 --> 0:03:50.306 Cliff at a hotel and they met for many hours, 0:03:50.346 --> 0:03:53.106 and he said they obviously meant he wanted to be 0:03:53.146 --> 0:03:55.306 the OC of the Bears, or at least have an 0:03:55.306 --> 0:03:58.426 offer from the Bears. He had Caleb Williams in college. 0:03:58.466 --> 0:04:01.346 They were obviously taking Caleb Williams first. Overall, they knew 0:04:01.346 --> 0:04:03.626 that in their heads, and they met with them for 0:04:03.706 --> 0:04:06.626 several hours and at the end of it there was 0:04:06.666 --> 0:04:09.786 no offer made. I point to those two teams because 0:04:09.986 --> 0:04:13.066 you have two teams who are obviously going into the 0:04:13.146 --> 0:04:17.186 draft and going into the season with giant questions at quarterback, 0:04:17.226 --> 0:04:19.906 but with hopes at the quarterback position. And Cliff has 0:04:19.946 --> 0:04:21.426 proven at the very least, if you don't think he's 0:04:21.426 --> 0:04:24.066 a good head coach, it's fine, But through Mahomes and 0:04:24.186 --> 0:04:27.106 through experience with Kyler Murray in those first few years, 0:04:27.106 --> 0:04:30.386 and of course what we're seeing with Jayden Daniels now. 0:04:30.466 --> 0:04:33.266 But like at the very least, he's great with young quarterbacks, 0:04:33.306 --> 0:04:35.986 and he's great with drawing up offense and great speaking 0:04:35.986 --> 0:04:37.786 with quarterbacks and if he's not gonna be your head coach, 0:04:38.026 --> 0:04:40.306 I think he's a worthy candidate to consider it for 0:04:40.346 --> 0:04:43.346 offensive coordinator. Raiders say they don't want to give him 0:04:43.386 --> 0:04:45.986 that commitment. Years wise, they move on. They hire Guy 0:04:46.026 --> 0:04:48.706 luke Getzy. Luke Getzy was fired eight weeks into the 0:04:48.706 --> 0:04:50.906 first year of a three year deal which they did 0:04:50.906 --> 0:04:55.106 give luke Getzy. First month of the season did not 0:04:55.146 --> 0:04:57.226 go well. Second month of the season, he didn't survive it. 0:04:57.346 --> 0:05:01.586 Luke Getzy was fired before Halloween. The Raiders passed on 0:05:01.666 --> 0:05:06.866 Kingsbury over years on a contract. Okay, the Bears, Caleb 0:05:06.906 --> 0:05:08.826 william is going to be the quarterback. Caleb Bincliff have 0:05:08.826 --> 0:05:10.746 a great relationship. They already have a year under their 0:05:10.746 --> 0:05:15.026 belt together. The Bears. They decide that after meeting with Cliff, 0:05:15.066 --> 0:05:18.186 Shane Waldron, who was in Seattle last year, was the 0:05:18.266 --> 0:05:20.826 more appropriate pick and that that was going to be 0:05:20.866 --> 0:05:24.226 their guy. And Shane Waldron, who had I think very 0:05:24.306 --> 0:05:27.346 little history with Matt Abraflus, he was the guy. Well, 0:05:27.346 --> 0:05:30.066 Shane Waldron's been fired as of today, and that's ten 0:05:30.106 --> 0:05:33.026 weeks into the season. He didn't last to Thanksgiving either. 0:05:33.026 --> 0:05:34.866 That's the first year of a contract as well. Both 0:05:34.906 --> 0:05:36.946 of those guys, Getsy and Waldron will be paid out 0:05:36.946 --> 0:05:39.546 the remainder of their contracts. They'll be paid in full. 0:05:39.906 --> 0:05:41.946 They'll be taken care of. They'll be making millions and 0:05:41.986 --> 0:05:46.906 millions of dollars. Kingsbury, who also interviewed with Philadelphia. Ironically 0:05:47.106 --> 0:05:49.946 they went with Kellen Moore. Ironically they're going to be 0:05:50.026 --> 0:05:52.626 the division they're playing Thursday night. Cliff did not get 0:05:52.666 --> 0:05:55.346 offered the job in Philly either. He goes to Washington. 0:05:55.386 --> 0:05:57.226 It all works out. Everyone's happy, and it's great, and 0:05:57.306 --> 0:06:00.666 Jaden's having success. But I go back to how important 0:06:00.946 --> 0:06:05.706 a young quarterback and who you pair him with is. Now, 0:06:06.506 --> 0:06:09.866 would the Raiders offense be sputtering if Cliff Kingsbury was 0:06:09.906 --> 0:06:14.226 with Gardner, Minshew and O'Connell. Maybe would the Bears offense 0:06:14.306 --> 0:06:17.026 be worse with Kingsbury? I doubt it, I really do. 0:06:17.826 --> 0:06:20.226 Would the Washington commanders be just as good with Shane 0:06:20.226 --> 0:06:23.226 Waldron or Luke Etzi. I don't think so. I'm not 0:06:23.826 --> 0:06:26.186 in the business of hiring coaches. I don't know the 0:06:26.466 --> 0:06:28.626 mechanics behind it all. I do know the importance of 0:06:28.666 --> 0:06:31.266 a young quarterback. I do know the importance of a 0:06:31.266 --> 0:06:34.226 good quarterback. Mine. I do know the importance of an 0:06:34.226 --> 0:06:37.946 offensive coordinator, and sometimes I could see it a mile away. 0:06:37.986 --> 0:06:40.346 This one, to me was wild that the Bears didn't 0:06:40.386 --> 0:06:43.546 consider Cliff. It was surprising to me that the Raiders 0:06:43.666 --> 0:06:47.026 thought that they should, you know, have issues with the contract, 0:06:47.106 --> 0:06:49.946 or that Cliff would be okay taking a hometown discount, 0:06:50.026 --> 0:06:54.066 whatever it was, when they had such a giant, voided quarterback. 0:06:54.146 --> 0:06:57.626 So those teams go back to the drawing boards. Cliff 0:06:57.706 --> 0:07:00.746 now is the obviously the offensive coordinator Jayden Daniels. That's 0:07:00.746 --> 0:07:02.306 going well. And I'm not saying Cliff needs to be 0:07:02.306 --> 0:07:03.906 a head coach next year. In fact, I don't even 0:07:03.906 --> 0:07:05.866 know if he's going to be a head coach or 0:07:05.946 --> 0:07:07.866 is gonna get in interviews. I don't, But I know 0:07:07.906 --> 0:07:10.186 he's a good offensive coordinator, and I know those players 0:07:10.186 --> 0:07:13.066 like him, and I know that Commander's offense looks pretty good. 0:07:13.866 --> 0:07:18.186 What's my point. It's sliding doors, it's ships in the night, 0:07:18.226 --> 0:07:22.346 it's all this stuff. But like those decisions, those decisions 0:07:22.346 --> 0:07:26.226 can separate a young quarterback from having great success, and 0:07:26.306 --> 0:07:30.706 a team from having great success from being you know, 0:07:30.826 --> 0:07:32.826 back at the drawing board. And now we're going to 0:07:32.946 --> 0:07:37.666 our second or third or fourth option to run our offense. 0:07:38.146 --> 0:07:40.346 You could say I'm a Kingsbury fanboy. You could say 0:07:40.386 --> 0:07:42.066 what I want, or I'm just taking care of my 0:07:42.146 --> 0:07:44.906 friends and saying this stuff. I genuinely believe he's very 0:07:44.946 --> 0:07:47.466 respected around the league. And I also don't make a 0:07:47.466 --> 0:07:50.306 single dollar off saying that. You know, I'm not bought 0:07:50.306 --> 0:07:52.706 and paid for by anybody. I just cover the league. 0:07:52.866 --> 0:07:54.906 I watch the league, and I think Cliff and Caleb 0:07:54.946 --> 0:07:57.266 would have been a great mix, but that wasn't the 0:07:57.266 --> 0:08:00.626 direction the Bears wanted to go. All right, So that's 0:08:00.666 --> 0:08:03.866 the Bears and their season's not done, but it's going 0:08:03.906 --> 0:08:07.466 the wrong way, and I don't know. Maybe i'm a pessimist. 0:08:07.546 --> 0:08:09.586 I don't know if they suddenly turn it on and 0:08:09.666 --> 0:08:12.746 last year, I'll say it like it is. Last year, 0:08:12.786 --> 0:08:14.666 I thought the Bills were going in the wrong direction. 0:08:14.746 --> 0:08:18.226 They fired an offensive coordinator, Joe Brady came in, and 0:08:18.226 --> 0:08:21.546 that team soared all the way to an AFC divisional 0:08:21.626 --> 0:08:23.386 round game where they were hosting it and they won 0:08:23.426 --> 0:08:26.586 the division and the whole thing. So maybe it could happen, 0:08:26.826 --> 0:08:29.226 but I just I don't know. With a rookie quarterback 0:08:29.386 --> 0:08:32.906 and Thomas Brown doesn't have the same pedigree maybe that 0:08:33.026 --> 0:08:36.746 Joe Brady had, who obviously was with LSU and then 0:08:37.226 --> 0:08:39.506 was with the Panthers and had that whole stuff. All Right, 0:08:40.106 --> 0:08:43.826 then there's the Jets, and I want to use the 0:08:43.866 --> 0:08:47.306 next few minutes to address the millions of Jets fans 0:08:47.346 --> 0:08:53.786 out there who a had to sit through Sunday's horrendous 0:08:54.426 --> 0:08:58.106 thirty one to six loss to the Cardinals, and to 0:08:58.266 --> 0:09:03.306 be the thousands of people online who tweet me every 0:09:03.346 --> 0:09:07.906 single day and say that led them astray by telling 0:09:07.946 --> 0:09:09.866 them that the Jets would be the number one seed 0:09:09.866 --> 0:09:11.946 in the AFC and Aaron Rodgers would be MVP this year. 0:09:11.986 --> 0:09:14.466 It was a bad call. It was a horrendous call. 0:09:14.626 --> 0:09:18.386 This is my maya kopa. I'm doing it on November. 0:09:19.106 --> 0:09:19.946 What day is today? 0:09:20.066 --> 0:09:20.106 Er? 0:09:20.266 --> 0:09:22.106 November eight? What do we got? I don't even know. 0:09:22.466 --> 0:09:26.306 Twelfth Tuesday, Tuesday the twelfth, a week after the election, 0:09:26.426 --> 0:09:28.266 when a lot of other people who are paid a 0:09:28.266 --> 0:09:30.026 lot more money than me got a lot of different 0:09:30.026 --> 0:09:33.586 things wrong on television. I will say this, I am sorry. 0:09:34.146 --> 0:09:38.906 I led you astray. If you use my prognostication as 0:09:38.986 --> 0:09:42.506 a as a fuel for optimism and you feel misled. 0:09:42.706 --> 0:09:46.866 I apologize if you use my prognostication to I don't know, 0:09:46.906 --> 0:09:49.506 make a small wager somewhere with one of those companies 0:09:49.506 --> 0:09:51.826 that may or may not sponsor this podcast. I am 0:09:51.866 --> 0:09:58.226 sorry about that. It ain't happening, it's done. I'm sorry. 0:09:59.226 --> 0:10:01.026 And yet they still have all these games to play, 0:10:01.026 --> 0:10:04.306 and I'm fascinated to see how it plays out. Rogers 0:10:04.386 --> 0:10:08.266 still does McAfee every week for like a long time. 0:10:10.106 --> 0:10:14.106 They still have Rogers under contract, they still have all 0:10:14.146 --> 0:10:17.226 of these veterans that they have signed. Devontae Adams is 0:10:17.306 --> 0:10:20.626 under contract, like they have to. Hey, Sauce Gardner, who's 0:10:20.666 --> 0:10:23.466 having a season that I don't think even in his 0:10:23.546 --> 0:10:26.786 worst nightmares Sauce Gardner would imagine. They have to figure 0:10:26.826 --> 0:10:29.906 out Garrett Wilson's deal. They're gonna have a high draft pick. 0:10:29.986 --> 0:10:33.866 Do they take a quarterback, do they bring back Joe Douglas, 0:10:33.906 --> 0:10:36.946 can he salvage his job? Or is it even in jeopardy? 0:10:36.986 --> 0:10:40.506 I don't even know. Okay, Well, Trump just won the presidency. 0:10:40.866 --> 0:10:44.466 The last time Trump won, Woody Johnson went over to 0:10:44.706 --> 0:10:47.666 the UK and served as the ambassador for the United 0:10:47.666 --> 0:10:50.306 States in the UK for four years and his younger 0:10:50.346 --> 0:10:54.906 brother Christopher ran the team. Is that happening again? The 0:10:55.026 --> 0:10:59.586 Jets are still very interesting. They might not be good, 0:10:59.946 --> 0:11:03.506 they might not be watchable, but they're still very interesting. 0:11:03.666 --> 0:11:06.626 And how the next few weeks play out, and as 0:11:06.626 --> 0:11:09.386 we head towards December when they might be spoilers for 0:11:09.466 --> 0:11:11.466 a lot of teams on the schedule, because you know, 0:11:11.546 --> 0:11:13.266 Rogers is gonna get a few of these squads. You know, 0:11:13.346 --> 0:11:15.506 Rogers is gonna pick and pluck you. They're gonna beat 0:11:15.506 --> 0:11:17.226 one of these teams, like they play the Rams in 0:11:17.306 --> 0:11:19.186 late December. I'm not putting anything out there, but like, 0:11:19.266 --> 0:11:21.226 I feel like that might be a game. They play 0:11:21.266 --> 0:11:24.386 the Seahawks Thanksgiving weekend, Like that might be a game. 0:11:24.466 --> 0:11:26.906 The Jets are gonna be annoying. They're not going anywhere, 0:11:26.906 --> 0:11:29.346 but they're gonna be annoying, and they're gonna win a 0:11:29.386 --> 0:11:32.626 few more games and they're gonna have to finish out 0:11:32.666 --> 0:11:35.226 the string. I am just so interested to see where 0:11:35.266 --> 0:11:38.826 this goes. But I am sorry, and unlike many of 0:11:38.826 --> 0:11:40.906 the political pundits who came out there the day of 0:11:40.906 --> 0:11:42.666 the election and said things were gonna go one way 0:11:42.666 --> 0:11:44.666 and then they didn't and then just hit and turned 0:11:44.706 --> 0:11:48.626 around and moved right along. I'm not I am apologizing. 0:11:49.186 --> 0:11:52.586 I was wrong about the Jets, and I will wear it. 0:11:53.266 --> 0:11:56.026 But I did say the Chiefs were gonna win the AFC, 0:11:56.066 --> 0:11:58.066 and I did say the Packers were gonna win the NFC, 0:11:58.186 --> 0:12:02.986 and I never never have strayed from either of those predictions. 0:12:03.226 --> 0:12:06.106 All Right, we got a really interesting guest on the podcast. 0:12:06.146 --> 0:12:09.146 This is like going to be educational. It's also going 0:12:09.226 --> 0:12:11.266 to be kind of enlightening how it all goes down 0:12:11.266 --> 0:12:15.546 when it comes to flex scheduling. Annie Bose from the NFL, 0:12:15.626 --> 0:12:18.346 who is in the group that deals with schedules but 0:12:18.386 --> 0:12:21.826 also how they flex and which networks get which games. 0:12:21.906 --> 0:12:24.026 Over the next few weeks, he's going to join us 0:12:24.066 --> 0:12:36.706 and I'm looking forward to it. Our guest today is 0:12:36.946 --> 0:12:39.186 one of my favorite people at the NFL League office. 0:12:39.226 --> 0:12:41.986 I actually think his job might be the coolest of 0:12:42.026 --> 0:12:45.786 all the jobs at the league because he has a 0:12:46.186 --> 0:12:48.226 major role and plays a major hand in how we 0:12:48.306 --> 0:12:54.586 consume the game on Thursdays, Sundays, on Mondays, and even 0:12:54.626 --> 0:12:58.866 Saturdays and Wednesdays. This year, his title is the NFL 0:12:59.266 --> 0:13:03.106 Vice President of Broadcasting. But I almost wanted to bring 0:13:03.186 --> 0:13:05.426 him on for a tutorial on how the schedule can 0:13:05.546 --> 0:13:08.386 change over the next few weeks. He's a pal of mine. 0:13:08.386 --> 0:13:10.666 I think you're really going to enjoy him. Everybody, let's 0:13:10.666 --> 0:13:14.426 welcome to the podcast, mister Annie Bow's Annie. Welcome to 0:13:14.466 --> 0:13:15.666 the season with Peter Schrager. 0:13:16.586 --> 0:13:20.746 Thanks Peter, appreciate that very kind and fun introduction. Always 0:13:20.826 --> 0:13:23.986 love coming on with you guys on TV after the 0:13:24.026 --> 0:13:27.146 schedule comes out in April or may so love being 0:13:27.146 --> 0:13:28.586 on your podcast and looking forward to this. 0:13:28.906 --> 0:13:31.546 Yeah, so this podcast is a little bit in the weeds. 0:13:31.546 --> 0:13:34.386 I often say we will have head coaches, but we'll 0:13:34.426 --> 0:13:38.466 also have like offensive line coaches, and we will have players. 0:13:38.506 --> 0:13:41.466 But sometimes it's the best story. It's the kicker from 0:13:41.506 --> 0:13:44.146 the Lions who was selling bricks over the summer, like 0:13:44.186 --> 0:13:47.746 as opposed to having Matthew Stafford. And I take pride 0:13:47.746 --> 0:13:50.306 in that. Now, this topic that I want to get 0:13:50.306 --> 0:13:53.586 into with you is more than just the NFL's schedule release. 0:13:54.266 --> 0:13:58.266 It is flex scheduling. I think a lot of us 0:13:58.426 --> 0:14:00.306 look to flex schedule. We have no idea when we're 0:14:00.306 --> 0:14:02.346 going to find it out, We have no idea the rules, 0:14:02.386 --> 0:14:03.786 and I thought it would be cool to bring you 0:14:03.826 --> 0:14:06.666 on as we have now eight weeks left in the 0:14:06.666 --> 0:14:10.106 regular season to kind of go through flex scheduling, who 0:14:10.146 --> 0:14:12.826 can do what, when we can do it, and what 0:14:12.866 --> 0:14:16.106 we can anticipate. And as part of your job, if 0:14:16.146 --> 0:14:18.946 you could just give the listeners your role. If you 0:14:18.946 --> 0:14:21.026 were to say in an elevator speech, you meet somebody 0:14:21.026 --> 0:14:22.946 at a conference and they said, annie, Bo's good to 0:14:22.946 --> 0:14:25.026 meet you. I work at the NFL, how would you 0:14:25.066 --> 0:14:26.946 sum up your job and your day to day duties 0:14:26.986 --> 0:14:27.586 in season? 0:14:28.826 --> 0:14:31.186 Sure? First of all, you and I love this stuff, 0:14:31.226 --> 0:14:33.586 so we can go deep into the weeds. It's always fun. 0:14:33.626 --> 0:14:35.306 I can talk about this forever. So part of that 0:14:35.826 --> 0:14:38.386 elevator pitch is that that you know, people love talking 0:14:38.426 --> 0:14:40.826 about the NFL, and I love talking to them about it. So, 0:14:41.146 --> 0:14:42.946 you know, my job, my day to day job. I 0:14:43.026 --> 0:14:47.626 really oversee our relationships with our live game partners. I 0:14:47.746 --> 0:14:49.626 used to say TV partners, but some of them aren't 0:14:49.666 --> 0:14:53.426 TV anymore. But you know, so really managing the relationships 0:14:53.466 --> 0:14:57.866 with Fox, CBS, ESPN, NBC, Amazon, YouTube. Now you know 0:14:57.946 --> 0:14:59.866 the day to day of what the game looks on 0:14:59.946 --> 0:15:03.466 TV looks like on TV from where they're putting cameras 0:15:03.506 --> 0:15:06.426 out to you know, can we get interviews with players 0:15:06.666 --> 0:15:10.546 before the game and everything else that goes into it. 0:15:10.546 --> 0:15:13.426 It's a really fun thing that I feel pretty fortunate 0:15:13.466 --> 0:15:14.706 to get to be a part of. And then, as 0:15:14.706 --> 0:15:18.186 you alluded to, you know, a smaller group of our 0:15:18.266 --> 0:15:20.866 broader broadcasting team, we are the ones who make the 0:15:20.986 --> 0:15:26.226 NFL schedule and that's just a infinitely fascinating, challenging and 0:15:26.346 --> 0:15:28.946 cool thing to get to do. And my realization is 0:15:28.986 --> 0:15:31.186 that people love to talk about it. They love to 0:15:31.186 --> 0:15:33.026 talk about it in May, they love to talk about 0:15:33.066 --> 0:15:36.106 it now here in November. And feel very fortunate to 0:15:36.546 --> 0:15:37.506 really be a part of that. 0:15:38.546 --> 0:15:41.306 Yeah, and now we're at the point where flex scheduling 0:15:41.346 --> 0:15:44.746 window is open. We've already seen two different primetime games 0:15:44.746 --> 0:15:47.866 be flex. We've seen now a Vikings Colts game be 0:15:47.946 --> 0:15:52.466 flex into primetime instead of Jaguars Eagles, and Jets Colts 0:15:52.666 --> 0:15:55.306 was moved back down to the day window. And this 0:15:55.386 --> 0:15:58.266 weekend we have a really cool and I said it 0:15:58.306 --> 0:16:00.506 in the lead, it might not be a Ratings monster, 0:16:00.706 --> 0:16:04.986 but a really cool and significant Bengals Chargers Joe Burrow 0:16:05.266 --> 0:16:08.186 justin Herbert match up. I want to ask you, could 0:16:08.186 --> 0:16:12.306 you take us through the flex process, how it's decided, 0:16:12.746 --> 0:16:15.986 who decides it, and how it is determined and when 0:16:16.066 --> 0:16:17.066 in the NFL schedule. 0:16:17.986 --> 0:16:20.826 Yeah, absolutely, And you know you captured the two Sunday 0:16:20.866 --> 0:16:23.626 night games. We flexed one other note, just you know, 0:16:23.706 --> 0:16:27.866 interesting for us. We moved a Bears commander's game a 0:16:27.866 --> 0:16:30.306 few weeks ago from an early to a late window 0:16:30.346 --> 0:16:32.866 just to kind of capture that attention. And obviously we 0:16:32.906 --> 0:16:35.306 know what happened in that game, but you know, that 0:16:35.386 --> 0:16:38.306 attention on the first two picks in the draft and 0:16:38.306 --> 0:16:41.146 those two young quarterbacks, it's an opportunity. We had to 0:16:41.186 --> 0:16:43.746 put that into a bigger window too. So I think 0:16:43.826 --> 0:16:45.786 what that gets at is that you know, we're always 0:16:45.826 --> 0:16:48.066 looking when we make the schedule in May, and then 0:16:48.186 --> 0:16:50.706 you know we have certain tools in place. Now let's 0:16:50.706 --> 0:16:53.306 make sure we can get the most interesting, the biggest 0:16:53.306 --> 0:16:56.026 games into those windows where most more of our fans 0:16:56.066 --> 0:16:58.106 can see them. And we put a lot of time 0:16:58.146 --> 0:17:00.346 and effort to that in May, and then you can't. 0:17:00.386 --> 0:17:02.666 You know, your crystal ball is never perfect. It's usually 0:17:02.666 --> 0:17:04.506 pretty cloudy. And now we have the opportunity and a 0:17:04.506 --> 0:17:08.106 lot of tools in our toolbox to games into other places. 0:17:08.186 --> 0:17:11.266 So you know, to answer your question, ultimately, as we say, right, 0:17:11.306 --> 0:17:14.106 all scheduling decisions are ultimately made by the Commissioner of 0:17:14.106 --> 0:17:16.706 the NFL. But our job is to kind of be 0:17:16.826 --> 0:17:19.946 in the weeds, do the research, make recommendations to him. 0:17:20.466 --> 0:17:22.826 And with that goal of just make let's make sure 0:17:22.866 --> 0:17:25.226 as the season evolves, let's make sure that you know, 0:17:25.306 --> 0:17:27.186 we're not going to flex a game just speak, for 0:17:27.226 --> 0:17:29.426 the opportunity to get to quote unquote a better game. 0:17:29.866 --> 0:17:31.866 But if a primetime game and we've had Sunday night 0:17:31.906 --> 0:17:34.986 flex for a long time now really falls apart due 0:17:35.026 --> 0:17:38.586 to kind of injuries or just teams really not hitting 0:17:39.066 --> 0:17:43.106 our you know, expectation, and really both teams we have 0:17:43.226 --> 0:17:45.706 that opportunity to flex. But the other core piece of 0:17:45.706 --> 0:17:48.066 that too is we really look at what are the 0:17:48.066 --> 0:17:50.506 teams who we didn't think about in May who have 0:17:51.026 --> 0:17:53.506 played their way on so to speak, whether that's into 0:17:53.506 --> 0:17:56.106 primetime or in the Bears commanders into a four to 0:17:56.146 --> 0:17:59.866 twenty five window. Let's really use those opportunities to do that. 0:17:59.946 --> 0:18:03.466 And so the two games you reference, right, the Vikings cults. 0:18:03.466 --> 0:18:05.586 There cults at Vikings game. Right, you know, at the 0:18:05.586 --> 0:18:07.786 time when we made that decision. The vikings were five 0:18:07.826 --> 0:18:09.546 and zero and it was like, we don't have a 0:18:09.586 --> 0:18:11.626 lot of prime time for them. We didn't really know 0:18:11.666 --> 0:18:13.946 what to expect, and it was a great opportunity to 0:18:13.986 --> 0:18:15.706 move them in there. And you know, again, you know, 0:18:15.746 --> 0:18:18.426 it reflects on the game that was scheduled, and we 0:18:18.506 --> 0:18:21.066 don't try to dwell on that, but what's our opportunity 0:18:21.066 --> 0:18:23.386 And we'll look and the Commissioner himself will challenge us, 0:18:23.426 --> 0:18:25.346 you know, what are the opportunities over the next few 0:18:25.386 --> 0:18:27.986 weeks for the teams we didn't expect so on our radar, 0:18:28.506 --> 0:18:32.066 you know, the Falcons at some point Denver at Arizona, 0:18:32.146 --> 0:18:34.666 now right, where are the opportunities to you know, could 0:18:34.666 --> 0:18:37.066 we flex if we have situations where we want to flex, 0:18:37.226 --> 0:18:40.306 or can we get them wider distribution at one o'clock 0:18:40.386 --> 0:18:42.746 or four o'clock. So we're always thinking about those things, 0:18:42.746 --> 0:18:45.626 and we were generally meeting with the Commissioner on a 0:18:45.666 --> 0:18:48.186 weekly basis looking ahead over the next few weeks. What 0:18:48.226 --> 0:18:49.146 are our opportunities? 0:18:49.666 --> 0:18:52.706 Are there protection rules like could Fox and CBS, who 0:18:52.746 --> 0:18:55.546 have these two windows in the daytime, say hey, hey, 0:18:56.106 --> 0:18:59.426 primetime doesn't take prior to it, we pay our money too, like, yeah, 0:18:59.506 --> 0:19:02.666 I know the Jets and the CBS bosses probably aren't 0:19:02.666 --> 0:19:05.666 crying over losing Bengals Chargers this week because they have 0:19:05.706 --> 0:19:08.186 that Bills a game and they also have that Raven 0:19:08.226 --> 0:19:11.346 Steelers game. So what are the protections and are there 0:19:11.466 --> 0:19:12.946 rules in place? Is it written or is it just 0:19:13.026 --> 0:19:14.266 kind of we're going to talk it out. 0:19:14.986 --> 0:19:18.026 No, there's some pretty you know, well established rules. And 0:19:18.066 --> 0:19:21.026 as you imagine when we do TV deals and you know, 0:19:21.066 --> 0:19:23.186 everybody wants to protect the value of what what are 0:19:23.186 --> 0:19:25.746 we getting, what's our package and things like that and 0:19:26.146 --> 0:19:28.346 one hundred percent right right, you know, the four twenty 0:19:28.346 --> 0:19:31.826 five window is really our traditionally biggest fewed windows, so 0:19:32.386 --> 0:19:34.066 you know, we have to be very mindful of that, 0:19:34.146 --> 0:19:35.906 and we also want to make sure we've got strong 0:19:35.946 --> 0:19:38.146 games at one o'clock. You know, you're going to see 0:19:38.186 --> 0:19:39.986 your home team if you're in that market, But if 0:19:40.026 --> 0:19:41.586 you don't have a game, or you don't live in 0:19:41.626 --> 0:19:43.546 an NFL market, we want to get you a great game. 0:19:43.586 --> 0:19:46.146 We want Baltimore Pittsburgh to go pretty wide. It's a 0:19:46.426 --> 0:19:49.426 huge game this weekend. So CBS and Fox, do you 0:19:49.466 --> 0:19:51.986 get to protect the game. There's some other factors in 0:19:52.026 --> 0:19:53.986 there too, where you know, one end of the divisional 0:19:54.026 --> 0:19:56.346 games series are always going to be on there, So 0:19:56.706 --> 0:19:59.786 there's a bunch of factors in play. So Baltimore Pittsburgh 0:19:59.826 --> 0:20:03.546 for example, you know, uh, of course they protected KSE Buffalo, 0:20:03.586 --> 0:20:05.906 but Baltimore Pittsburgh also because they have to get one 0:20:05.986 --> 0:20:08.506 end of that was not a game we were necessarily 0:20:08.586 --> 0:20:10.266 going to get into. But you know, you said it 0:20:10.306 --> 0:20:12.026 at the top, you know, when we were looking at 0:20:12.026 --> 0:20:14.186 that and what are the Jets and Colts and what 0:20:14.266 --> 0:20:16.866 decision we're going to make? You know, the Bengals Chargers 0:20:16.946 --> 0:20:18.786 is a great example of you know, here's a couple 0:20:18.866 --> 0:20:21.666 of teams. You know, the Bengals are are you know, 0:20:21.906 --> 0:20:25.146 frisky and playing well, and they're exciting and interesting, you know, 0:20:25.346 --> 0:20:27.266 a whole bunch of kind of tough end of the 0:20:27.306 --> 0:20:30.906