The NFL wants NBC’s top team of Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth for Thursday Night Football, with a caveat. Due to scheduling conflicts, a pair of the NFL Network-only Thursday night games will be handled by Mike Tirico and Doug Flutie.
NBC made the announcement on Monday, a limited exception to the Thursday night contract that CBS has employed from time to time. For example, Jim Nantz and Phil Simms didn’t work last year’s ketchup-and-mustard game between the Rams and Buccaneers.
Tirico also will host Football Night in America on Sundays from the site of each game, with Bob Costas becoming the stadium-site host of Thursday Night Football.
It all gets starting in 10 days, when the Panthers face the Broncos from Denver to start the 2016 NFL season. Three days later, NBC has the Patriots-Cardinals game to cap the first Sunday of the season.