NFL invokes the 'Patriot Act,' brings CBS, NBC on board

The New England Patriots' pursuit of a perfect record within the imperfect guidelines established by the NFL Network has somehow been rectified.
CBS and NBC were granted permission by the league Wednesday to simulcast the NFL Network's otherwise exclusive telecast of the Patriots-N.Y. Giants game from the Meadowlands on Saturday night, allowing those who've feared they'd be shutout in watching New England's quest for a 16-0 record now view it on their over-the-air network of choice. Even on their cable systems.
Why Fox and ESPN weren't included in this deal was unexplained. With New England as the road team, AFC rights holder CBS would have normal first dibs on it. NBC comes into play somehow because it has the national prime-time package.
In a statement, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says the league has "taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans. What we have seen for the past year is a very strong consumer demand for NFL Network. We appreciate CBS and NBC delivering the NFL Network telecast on Saturday night to the broad audience that deserves to see this potentially historic game. Our commitment to the NFL Network is stronger than ever.”
NBC Sports chief Dick Ebersol: "We're happy to accommodate the NFL's request for a joint national simulcast of this potentially historic game to make it available to the widest possible audience."
The NFL Network has been trying to turn the screws on cable systems to carry its channel as a basic tier offering,, but the companies have been resisting passing the costs onto its subscribers. DirecTV and the Dish Network both have added the NFL Network. Comcast carries NFL Network on a special sports tier.
In recent weeks, politicians such as Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry have tried to intercede in the negotiations -- Kerry, because his constituents would have been most directly affected by having Patriots games unavailable outside the Boston area (where it is being offered free on over-the-air TV anyway).
For those who care about such historial matters, this will be the first time three networks are simulcasting an NFL game. At the first Super Bowl in 1967 from the Coliseum, CBS and NBC both had their own network employees and productions of the game.