In a Thursday conference call with reporters, Mike North, the NFL Vice President of broadcast planning, provided an explanation for the New York Jets' demanding schedule for the upcoming season. The Jets have been allocated seven standalone games, six of which will be in prime time, during the first 11 weeks of the season.

North's comments were surprisingly candid, as he stated, "Yes, it's an awful lot of prime-time games early in the season, but, obviously, I feel like Jets kind of owe us one." He went on to explain that last year, the anticipation of seeing star quarterback Aaron Rodgers play for the Jets was cut short when Rodgers sustained an early injury, lasting only four plays. North expressed a desire to "run it back," giving the Jets another opportunity to showcase their team in prime time.

NFL's broadcast partners also emphasized the importance of key storylines, particularly Aaron Rodgers' return from injury. However, the demanding schedule, with three games in 10 days to begin the season, raises concerns about the veteran quarterback's ability to stay healthy after missing much of the previous year.

The notion that the Jets "owe" the NFL seems questionable, as the team did not deliberately have a disastrous season or intentionally prevent Rodgers from playing. The Jets themselves had hoped for Rodgers to lead their team throughout the year. Additionally, it is unrealistic to assume that a 39-year-old quarterback would remain healthy for an entire season, raising doubts about his ability to do so this year as well.

It is important for the NFL to cater to its broadcast partners and maximize ratings, but it seems unfair to burden the Jets and their 40-year-old quarterback with an arduous schedule consisting of multiple night games and two short-week games in the first half of the season. The Jets had already faced immense challenges in the previous season, and it would be unjust to further disadvantage them due to the limited playing time of Aaron Rodgers in 2023.

As the season approaches, questions remain about the Jets' ability to navigate their demanding schedule and the long-term health of their veteran quarterback. The NFL will undoubtedly monitor the situation closely, aiming to strike a balance between entertainment and fairness as the Jets take center stage in numerous prime-time matchups.