45 Million Reasons

It really doesn't make any sense in terms of player safety to play a game on Thursday night after one on Sunday. Whenever there is money involved, the NFL ceases to use logic.

The league has a license to print money with their television contract. The new one for Thursday night brings more money to the table. Over the next few years, the networks will pay an average of $45 million to televise each game.

The quality of the product doesn't matter when there is that much money at stake. The NFL will mumble some concern about the players, but will move forward.