Charles Barkley Slams Roger Goodell Over NFL Christmas Games Decision

NBA legend and ESPN analyst Charles Barkley called out NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell over his Christmas Day decision that didn’t go as planned.

This year, Roger Goodell and the NFL decided to schedule three Christmas Day games: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs.

Of course, the NFL didn’t expect the three scheduled games to blow up in their faces. Among the six teams in action today, only the AFC West-leading Broncos are in the playoff picture.

Washington had to play third-string QB Josh Johnson. With JJ McCarthy sidelined, the Vikings have turned to backup Max Brosmer. With starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes and backup QB Gardner Minshew II injured, the Chiefs have to play third-stringer Chris Oladokun.

Speaking on “NBA Tipoff”, Charles Barkley ripped Roger Goodell for scheduling NFL games on Christmas Day (via Justin Tasch of the New York Post): Specifically, Barkley thought it was a “greedy” move to compete with the NBA’s five Christmas games:

“The NFL got greedy and started adding Christmas games. We used to have this day to ourself, but Roger Goodell and them pigs at the NFL always want to hog every day of the week now. Christmas is an NBA day.”

Netflix is paying $150 million annually to air a pair of Christmas Day games. But it’s also football, so they should score massive ratings anyway.

Roger Goodell Is Always Business First

Roger GoodellRoger Goodell (Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

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Love him or hate him, Goodell is popular among NFL owners because he prioritizes business above all else. While NFL players may not like having Christmas Day games, it’s a big moneymaker for the league and its teams. $150 million for Netflix to air two games? Goodell will take that any day.

And it’s not just because Christmas falls on a Thursday this year. The league also had Christmas Day games last year, despite it falling on a Wednesday. They had a Christmas game in 2020, even though it fell on a Friday.

Goodell’s decision to run NFL games on Dec. 25 may not sit well with others, but the owners love it. Money is the main draw in this league, after all.