Rich Eisen and the NFL Network Hijack Football on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is supposed to be about giving, right?

Then why will families have to buy an NFL Network bundle to watch a huge game on Thursday?

I have nothing against NFL Network itself. In fact, it's covers pro football more in-depth than any other channel out there.

But I do have something against NFL Network for hijacking the San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens game on Thanksgiving, a game that pits the Harbaugh brothers against each other as they lead two elite teams.

Mark Quenzel, senior vice president of programming and production at the NFL Network, couldn't have said it better when he explained what a great game this is for the whole family to watch.

Said Quenzel, via The Baltimore Sun:

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"When I looked at the schedule six months ago and saw Thursday night's game, I thought that's going to be a great one because of the Harbaugh brothers' story. And what's happened now because of the standings so far this season, is that you have arguably our biggest game of the year. It's two great teams with great records. And then, you have this incredible brothers story — on Thanksgiving night when football on television has historically been such an important part of the holiday for many families."

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For 49ers and Ravens fans in particular, this only causes anger, the same anger the network has dealt with throughout the years for stealing games from cable subscribers.

Nobody should have to buy NFL Network on Thanksgiving to watch what is sure to be a great game. It seems to run counter to what Thanksgiving is supposed to be about.

I understand that NFL Network has to make a living, but did it really have to do this on Thanksgiving? It's a good way to ruin a holiday for football fans.

We'll still get to watch the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions battle it out on FOX, but there are so many elements to the 49ers and Ravens game that it's a shame not everybody will get to watch it.

As for me?

I'll be protesting outside NFL Network headquarters with a nation of angry families.