John Madden (who had last worked with Al Michaels on "Monday Night Football" for ABC) was one of the first people hired by NBC, chosen to continue as a color analyst. Cris Collinsworth substituted for Madden when he was unavailable. For example, during Week 7 of the 2008 season (that week's game was involved Seattle playing against Tampa Bay), Madden was given an off-week to alleviate a hectic coast-to-coast bus travel schedule which would have taken him from Jacksonville to San Diego to Tampa Bay in three weeks.