Why are Patrick Mahomes and other NFL stars opposing Roger Goodell's TNF flex proposal?

NFL owners recently approved a change that permits teams to play on TNF two times in a single season. That was acknowledged by the NFL's chief media and business officer Brian Rolapp who said that it's "certainly possible" some teams won't have to play on Thursdays at all, given the changes.

Some NFL stars, such as Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay, vehemently opposed this proposal and made their feelings bare on Twitter.

One of the reasons for these elite quarterbacks' opposition to the proposed adjustment to the league calendar is the safety concerns it brings. There are health and safety concerns inherent in playing NFL games on short rest. There's also the notion of fans having to change their plans dramatically to attend such contests.

Unfortunately, players hardly get a say on these matters, as the owners' voices are most heard. Roger Goodell and the owners will likely get their way, and it would be a shame for the fans, players and neutrals involved.

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What makes TNF so unique?

Football on Thursday nights will allow fans to watch teams from around the nation. It's a splendid opportunity for fans whose favorite team may be on the other side of the country, where they rarely have access to regional broadcasts. With football on Thursdays, the problem becomes less unbearable.

While some players aren't keen on the short rest days brought about by TNF games, some prefer getting it over. What's more, TNF has helped the league generate additional revenue and shine the light on cities with lesser-than-average viewing. TNF has been around for over a decade and is here to stay.

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How did the 2022 TNF schedule look like?

While we wait for the NFL to release its TNF schedule for the 2023 season, let's highlight the results of games played last season on Thursday night.

Week 1

September 8: Buffalo Bills 31, Los Angeles Rams 10

Week 2

September 15: Kansas City Chiefs 27, Los Angeles Chargers 24

Week 3

September 22: Cleveland Browns 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

Week 4

September 29: Cincinnati Bengals 27, Miami Dolphins 15

Week 5

October 6: Indianapolis Colts 12, Denver Broncos 9

Week 6

October 13: Washington Commanders 12, Chicago Bears 7

Week 7

October 20: Arizona Cardinals 42, New Orleans Saints 34

Week 8

October 27: Baltimore Ravens 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 22

Week 9

November 3: Philadelphia Eagles 29, Houston Texans 17

Week 10

November 10: Carolina Panthers 25, Atlanta Falcons 15

Week 11

November 17: Tennessee Titans 27, Green Bay Packers 17

Week 12 -- Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 24:

• Buffalo Bills 28, Detroit Lions 25
• Dallas Cowboys 28, New York Giants 20
• Minnesota Vikings 33, New England Patriots 26

Week 13

December 1: Buffalo Bills 24, New England Patriots 10

Week 14

December 8: Los Angeles Rams 17, Las Vegas Raiders 16

Week 15

December 15: San Francisco 49ers 21, Seattle Seahawks 13

Week 16

December 22: Jacksonville Jaguars 19, New York Jets 3

Week 17

December 29: Dallas Cowboys 27, Tennessee Titans 13