ESPN Reporter Claims Aaron Rodgers Deal Affected NFL Schedule Release Timing

With their new quarterback in place, the Jets have gained primetime TV appeal

The New York Jets are relevant again across the National Football League landscape and a number of signs are pointing towards a large bump in primetime television appearances for Gang Green.

The latest hint that the Jets are destined for the spotlight came from ESPN's Adam Schefter. The NFL reporter use his Twitter account to share insight about the league's upcoming 2023 schedule announcement.

While stating that the NFL will unveil the dates and times for its highly-anticipated regular season matchups on May 11, Schefter implied that league officials were waiting on two star quarterbacks prior to settling upon the release date.

"But with Aaron Rodgers traded and Lamar Jackson signed, the coast is clear to move ahead and lock it in," said Schefter in his tweet. 

NFL is targeting Thursday May 11 as the date to release its 2023 schedule, per sources. Roger Goodell and scheduling czar Howard Katz will meet Monday as they continue attempts to finalize it. But with Aaron Rodgers traded and Lamar Jackson signed, the coast is clear to move…

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 30, 2023

The Jets received only one primetime exposure during the 2022 campaign, a Thursday night battle with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that number is likely to multiply in 2023 thanks to their new quarterback.

It wouldn't be a shocking occurrence should the Green & White receive the maximum number of allotted appearances (5) in a standalone TV time slot.

The combination of a future Hall-of-Fame signal caller, the mammoth New York media market, and the expectation to contend for a title should make the Jets primetime darlings in the eyes of the television executives and schedule makers.

Back in March, Longtime NFL columnist Peter King floated the idea of a Week 1 Sunday Nighy Football opener featuring the Jets against either the Buffalo Bills or Philadelphia Eagles.

"The league loves Aaron Rodgers. The league will try to capitalize on the fascination of Rodgers changing teams to have a ratings bonanza in week one," wrote in the March 20 installment of his "Football Morning In America" column. "My money’s on NBC getting, say, Jets-Eagles or Jets-Bills on the opening Sunday night."

While the Rodgers' trade rumors were percolating, King issued a warning to the Green & White faithful regarding 2023 gametimes. 

"If you love the Jets and are used to settling in at 1 o’clock Sunday to watch them, those days are over. In 2023, anyway," said King.

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