Team Glazer members and Raise The Flags co-stars.
When the Raiders and Jets didn’t get one prime time game on their 2026 schedules, Joe knew the NFL seriously turned a corner.
Both teams have big fan bases, but TV dollars rules the league. And that includes keeping networks and streaming services happy spending billions on NFL rights.
Owners want ratings numbers more than anything else. That drives the cash flow. A decade ago, the NFL insisted that every team get a prime time game. Why? Because it was good for growing the league and keeping every franchise relevant. That’s out the window now.
In addition to the Raiders and Jets, the Dolphins and Cardinals have no prime time games in 2026.
Buccaneers insider/legend/preseason game analyst Rondé Barber dove into the NFL ignoring teams during The Rondé Barber Show. He was adamant that no team wants to completely rebuild because it quickly falls into irrelevance.
“You don’t really have time in the NFL anymore to, like, start over,” Barber said. “The league stops paying attention to you when you do that. And we [in Tampa] don’t want to be that. From an ownership perspective, you want people in the stands, you want people to be energized by your team.
“…It’s an absolute trap. You get into that situation and the league passes you by. Like it just says, ‘Alright, next.’”
Joe heard Barber and wondered if was echoing things he’s heard about the Bucs’ interest in re-signing Baker Mayfield to a long-term contract. Keeping Mayfield might be viewed through that relevence lens in the bowels of One Buc Palace, as Mayfield certainly helps the keep the Bucs exciting.
Joe’s not saying Mayfield is unworthy of extension on merit, but the business side of things cannot be ignored.
Barber went on to say the Bucs are very relevant as they retool the roster.
“This is a team that can make runs,” Barber said. “Now are they good enough to go be best in the NFC? That’ll depend on how some of these young guys and some of the free agents take off.”