NBC’s Madden skipping Seahawks-Bucs

Here's a shocker: We've learned NBC commentator John Madden is likely to skip Sunday's Seahawks-Bucs game in Tampa. According to NBC, Madden has not missed a regular-season game in 28 years in the booth, a run of 476 games.

The reasons for the decision aren't known, but studio commentator Cris Collinsworth is the likely substitute.

Madden travels to his games via the "Madden Cruiser" because of his widely-known fear of flying. Doing Sunday's game in Tampa would require Madden to travel a significant distance from his home in California. Yesterday's NBC telecast featured the Patriots and Chargers in San Diego. This decision presumably would allow Madden to return home in Northern California and spend extra time there.

UPDATE 4:43 p.m.: After initially declining comment, NBC Sports Communications Director Adam Freifeld
now confirms the news that Madden will take the week off. According to the Washington Post's version of the story, NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol says the move is an effort to give Madden a break in the face of consecutive cross-country trips (Jacksonville to San Diego, then back to Tampa).

"To me," Ebersol told The Post, "it's just a week to rest my best player. It's like giving your best starting pitcher an extra day off in the rotation."