Brady makes Bucs prime-time players
The Buccaneers’ signing of Tom Brady, above, didn’t just create ripples with fans. It caused networks to drastically rework their last-minute requests with the NFL scheduling office to make sure the Bucs got as many high-profile dates as possible.
When the NFL’s regular-season schedule was announced Thursday night, all of the league television partners were satisfied with how the Buccaneers’ games were distributed. The Bucs are slated to make five prime-time appearances (one Thursday, two Sunday night, two Monday night) with all of them slated between Weeks 5-12. That’s a pretty big audible for a team that was expected to have maybe two at best before signing Brady.
Pending developments in the coronavirus pandemic, the Bucs’ opener at New Orleans will be Fox’s featured “America’s Game of the Week,” as will the Oct. 18 game against the Packers.
CBS will showcase the Bucs in the 4:25 p.m. EST window Nov. 29, when they host the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Fox — which has the NFC and Thursday night packages — has the Bucs nine times, while CBS, ESPN and NBC each have them twice. The Week 16 game at Detroit will be on either Fox or NFL Network, which will be determined later in the season.
Fox has five of Tampa Bay’s first six games, including its first prime-time game Thursday, Oct. 8 at Chicago.
“I can’t think of a single player move ever that adjusted requests and turned the process upside down as much as this,” said Fox Sports senior vice president Michael Mulvihill about Brady signing with the Bucs. “I think the league treated everyone well with Tampa Bay because they knew how great everyone’s interest was. It was a significant curveball.”
Brady’s former team isn’t dropping off the radar. The Patriots have five scheduled prime-time appearances (one Thursday, two Sunday night, two Monday night).