What Does Al Michaels Know?
April 9th, 2020
Accidental Bucs game leak?
Joe isn’t sure if it was just a slip-up or if veteran NBC broadcaster and the voice of Sunday Night Football, Al Michaels, let loose with a leak of sorts about a Bucs primetime game(s) this fall.
This week NBC Sports Network debuted the weekday show “Lunch Talk Live” hosted by Mike Tirico. Michaels, arguably the best play-by-play man in the free world, appeared yesterday.
Of course, the topic was breaking down Bucs quarterback Tom Brady’s remarks heard earlier in the day on “The Howard Stern Show,” broadcast exclusively on SiriusXM Radio.
Michaels recounted a conversation he had with Brady mid-season last year where Brady told him he was “unhappy. This got Michaels’ ears to perk up.
Michaels then asked Brady if he would return to New England for 2020 and Brady just laughed. Michaels doubled down, incredulous that Brady would even think of leaving New England.
Michaels said to Brady, “In fact, Tom, I will give you odds of 43,000-to-1” (that Brady would remain with the Belicheats). “One of our great research people, Andy Freeland, then plunked down $2 on the table to take the bet. So I now owe Andy Freeland $86,000 when we do our first Tampa Bay game this year.”
Whoa! “First” Tampa Bay game?
NBC only airs Sunday Night Football in the regular season, aside from the season opener played on a Thursday night. Joe figured the Bucs would get five or more prime time games this fall if the Bucs signed Brady. But at least one Sunday night game? That’s big.
Of course, someone will ask how would Michaels know? The schedule won’t be released until early May.
Well, Michaels travels in a world few of us do. It would not surprise Joe whatsoever if NFL suits Howard Katz or Mike North (no, not that Mike North!), the two guys responsible for cobbling together the NFL schedule, mentioned to Michaels over glasses of Johnny Walker Blue on the rocks following a crisp 18 holes that he should ready himself for a trip to Tampa this fall.
Hell, it wouldn’t surprise Joe if NFL strongman Roger Goodell himself told Michaels the Bucs will appear on Sunday Night Football.
It also is likely someone in the NFL hierarchy mentioned this to an NBC big shot (which happens to be shelling out nearly a billion dollars for the broadcast rights) who then relayed the information to Michaels.
You can watch Michaels talk about Brady below.
Tom Brady told Al Michaels, “I’m the most unhappy 8-0 quarterback in football” during the 2019 season.
Al and @miketirico discuss Brady’s move on #LunchTalkNBCSN pic.twitter.com/u6tVEZ6nNb
— #FootballWeekNBCSN (@SNFonNBC) April 8, 2020
April 9th, 2020 at 5:19 am
This is news? Of course we’re going to get a bunch of prime time games now. We just don’t have a new QB, we have an icon. We have a brand, an A list celebrity as our QB now, the man is world known. We have Tiger Woods, Phil, Manning, and our QB playing golf together on national T.V.. Get use to it Joe. This was the best money the Glazer’s ever spent. Win, or lose, people will be tuned into the Bucs now. Tom against Mahomes, Brees, it’s prime time TV, count on it.
April 9th, 2020 at 5:34 am
Of course we will get at least one SNF game….
And, with $5 billion in TV rights…..there will be a season, with or without fans.
Some teams may even to be forced to play at neutral stadiums…..but the show will go on. Players, coaches & Refs will be tested prior to each game…(15 min tests)…….
April 9th, 2020 at 6:26 am
Common sense.
April 9th, 2020 at 6:37 am
With the SB being played in Tampa, you can expect the league to focus on advertising the stadium and surrounding area. You can also rest assured there will be no 7 week road trip this season unless Tom Brady requests it.
April 9th, 2020 at 6:38 am
talk about going from zero to hero….. if we win 9-10 games …. we are very relevant the financial pay back on TB12 is unmeasureable…
April 9th, 2020 at 7:06 am
Bank on the fact that it will be VERY early in the season too. Brady hysteria will exist at the start nationwide, but you can bet your sweet bippy that if the Bucs start slow again, everyone will call us the same ol’ Bucs, TB12 or not.
They want keisters on couches, eyes glued to the TVs. Early in the season, that’s not a gamble; by week 5, it is.
April 9th, 2020 at 7:22 am
Going to the Vegas game(if we are allowed to). Thinking that will be some kind of prime time game with the whole gruden thing.
April 9th, 2020 at 8:09 am
With the Chiefs (Mahomes), Packers (Rodgers), Saints (Brees), Rams (look at last years game), Raiders (Vegas/Brady), Bears (because of their D), Giants (History against Brady) and Lions (Stafford & Patricia) I can just about guarantee you we play at least 4 prime time games. One Thursday night and three Sun/Mon night games. It’s pretty damn oblivious we’ll be playing on Primetime.
April 9th, 2020 at 8:39 am
If there is a season, then I think the Chiefs open up the season on the road at Raymond James Stadium on that first Thursday night.
Think of the hype for that game!
tickrdr
April 9th, 2020 at 8:52 am
When the NFL messed up our schedule, we were told it was a computer glitch because it was automated.
Now, suddenly they can purposefully do it the way they want?
As suspected, the NFL has been ripping the Bucs off for years.
April 9th, 2020 at 8:53 am
Bucs new slogan:
The Brady Bunch
April 9th, 2020 at 9:09 am
I just hope this young secondary will be able to perform early under the spotlight of national television – the Auburn guys have been there, but not to this magnitude.
April 9th, 2020 at 9:10 am
Agree mostly with JP09. However neither the Lions or Giants will be prime time games….especially the Lions. I am sure the Chiefs game and one Nee Orleans game will be prime time games.
April 9th, 2020 at 9:20 am
Buccaneer Bonzai:
Schedule starts with setting prime time games and then the rest of the regular season. How many prime time games did the Bucs have last year? Same thing happened to the Raiders last year as well. How many prime time games would we have with the same qb this year? Probably as many as last year, we have a needle mover now in Brady. Completely different.
April 9th, 2020 at 9:32 am
Well then that means Al will be making a trip to Bern’s Steak House.
April 9th, 2020 at 9:46 am
Nothing about nothing
April 9th, 2020 at 9:48 am
Wasnt that kind of expected? Least surprising news of day. Frankly im expecting 2 or 3 sunday night games.
April 9th, 2020 at 10:21 am
@BradyBunch, I agree highly doubt the lions or giants games will be on prime time, just a consideration with Brady’s connection. The Saints game will definitely be a primetime game, and I expect that to be later in the year, that matchup should have implications on who will win the division
April 9th, 2020 at 10:24 am
Adding ice to J.W.blue is a crime.
April 9th, 2020 at 11:01 am
yep
April 9th, 2020 at 12:27 pm
Yes, we are now in the prime time w TB12… Lots of 4pm , TNF & MNF Get ready!!
April 9th, 2020 at 12:29 pm
chiefs
packers
saints (only one in prime time)
raiders
vikings
maybe rams, giants or falcons
i say 6 games between monday, sunday and thursday
and maybe 7 if…
they put the second saints game late in the season and flip it into a prime spot with flex scheduling…
April 9th, 2020 at 12:32 pm
we might play a crappy team in prime time as well…like the lions or bears…
because…
the nfl is gonna want brady to thump a team or two on national tv…
it’s good for the nfl…
we are going to start getting all the calls this year too…
the nfl is now officially in our corner…at least for a couple years
April 9th, 2020 at 11:44 pm
Maybe the Lions on Thanksgiving .