The announcement was the highlight of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s annual state of the league address on Friday, ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl. The Thursday Night Football schedule on NFL Network will now feature 13 games from weeks 2-15 of the regular season. Week 12 is excluded from the agreement as this is when NBC televises the Thursday night game on Thanksgiving. “Adding these games to the NFL Network schedule will give more players, teams, and cities the primetime stage,” said Goodell. “Our fans can now get an early start on the NFL weekend in the season’s first 15 weeks.”
With the expansion of the Thursday Night Football schedule, all 32 NFL teams will now play at least one primetime game in 2012. In addition, every club will play on one Thursday following a Sunday game. NFL Network will also unveil a new Spanish-language NFL RedZone channel in 2012. NFL RedZone, produced by NFL Network, debuted in 2009 and covers every NFL game on Sunday afternoons, delivering the touchdowns and most exciting moments as they happen. The channel keeps fans up-to-date in real time, switching from game to game with live look-ins, highlights and a chance to see the important plays.
The remainder of the commissioner’s address, and subsequent press conference, saw talk centre on the NFL’s potential for expansion and the possible relocation of existing teams. Goodell moved to backtrack on comments he made to NBC on Thursday stating if the League were to expand it would be to 34 teams, not adding just one to reach 33. “We have not discussed expansion in the league at all,” said Goodell when asked about the NBC interview. “It has not been on our agenda and has not been something we've focused on with our membership. I don't see that in the foreseeable future.”
The NFL’s potential return to Los Angeles was also on the agenda, with Goodell maintaining that he wants to see current teams remain where they are. With the Jacksonville Jaguars currently under new ownership and the St. Louis Rams experiencing stadium issues, both franchises have been talked of as strong possibilities for relocation. Goodell stated he hopes to reach a deal with one of two groups bidding to build a stadium in Los Angeles.
“I look at this as a partnership,” he said. “I believe there is a way to make the partnership work. We've proven throughout the country where we can get stadiums built, they are great for the communities, they're great for the team and they're great for the league overall. I think it's important for us to make smart decisions. We would like to be back in Los Angeles if we can do it correctly, but there are a lot of issues that have to be met.”