The NFL reportedly nixed NBC's plans to use Mike Tirico to broadcast Thursday night games this season, and is now pointing the finger at the network.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy released a statement that said NBC agreed to use its lead broadcast team (Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth) for both its Thursday and Sunday night broadcasts.
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To summarize the NFL's response, they basically say, "NBC can use Tirico if they want, but they better use him for both Thursday and Sunday night games."
Why the NFL wants the same "lead" broadcast crew for both Thursday and Sunday games remains a mystery. Would fans really care if Tirico called play-by-play on Thursday games while Michaels did just Sunday games? Someone in the NFL must think so.