Lions and Cowboys on Thanksgiving

[Dave Gray]

The Lions have been playing on Thanksgiving since 1938 (I think).  The Cowboys have been much more recent.  The games aren't usually great, and aren't the teams that we really want to watch.

Should this be updated to give us the best game available, or should we stick to tradition.

I gave you a few different choices.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I think other cities should get a chance to host the game.  Maybe that's why NFL Network went with a third game. 

[Frimp]

I think they should be based on the previous year's record.

[Thundergod]

I'm sometimes a sucker for tradition. I say leave it, but like Frimp said, match them up with an opponent equal to their records the prior year.

[StL FinFan]

No other teams wanted to do this when it was proposed, so I think Dallas and Detroit should continue to host.  All the other teams had their chance and missed the boat on that one.

[Frimp]

I heard on the radio that the Lions owner came up with the idea, and scheduled the game on Thanksgiving to help attendance. It worked, and became a tradition. Not sure how the Cowboys got on board.

[Dave Gray]

I am going away from tradition here.

I used to think it was somewhat important, but every year it's the same story -- crap games of teams I don't care about.  ...and the AFC isn't adequately represented.

[Brian Fein]

Then don't watch the games if you don't care.  No one's holding a gun to your head.

The Lions and the Cowboys are on TV on Thanksgiving Day.  That's just how it is.  Stop trying to change history just because YOU don't care and the Lions suck right now.

When Barry Sanders was in the league, I was thankful for the Lions being on TV.

[Dave Gray]

Then don't watch the games if you don't care.  No one's holding a gun to your head.

I didn't watch the games.  But, what kind of thinking is this anyway.  I don't want to just not do things when I don't like them.  I want to make them better, so that I do like them.

The Lions and the Cowboys are on TV on Thanksgiving Day.  That's just how it is.  Stop trying to change history just because YOU don't care and the Lions suck right now.

Nobody's trying to change history.  We're trying to change the future.  Besides, that's not just how it is.  They're most likely going to change it.  Why do things shitty just because that's how we've always done them?

When Barry Sanders was in the league, I was thankful for the Lions being on TV.

I don't like it being any ONE team.  It should be whatever teams are interesting to the general public.

[Spider-Dan]

I think Detroit and Dallas deserve to be rewarded for their foresight.

As was said, the other teams didn't have a problem with it when the NFL was a third-rate league.  Now that Thanksgiving day games are a huge cash cow, other teams want to get involved?  No thanks.

If Dallas (extremely unlikely) or Detroit (OK, maybe) relocate, then I'd say to give one of the spots to an AFC team... probably the Steelers.

[Brian Fein]

I didn't watch the games.  But, what kind of thinking is this anyway.  I don't want to just not do things when I don't like them.  I want to make them better, so that I do like them.

Sadly, Dave, while I understand what you're saying, its not about what YOU like or don't like.  It affect a LOT more people than just you.

Nobody's trying to change history.  We're trying to change the future.  Besides, that's not just how it is.  They're most likely going to change it.  Why do things shitty just because that's how we've always done them?

Because they've been doing it for 80 years and that's what "tradition" is all about.  I know you're a tradition-hater, but for some people, it is important to maintain tradition.

I don't like it being any ONE team.  It should be whatever teams are interesting to the general public.

Disagree - there's a billion opinions in the "general public" - if we relied on the networks to determine who the "general public" wants to see, it'd be the Patriots, Colts, and whatever team Brett Favre is playing for every season.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I like the tradition. 

Plus I would rather have games that don't matter to the AFCE during Thanksgiving.  In my family the TV goes off when we sit down for dinner, no matter who is playing or what the score is. 

[DZA]

  No.  Screw tradition, I want to watch a good game