[Bobblehead]

OK, I'll apologize for the gripe in advance....

<rant>If the networks want to improve viewership for prime-time football, then how about showing the game? I get really annoyed when they are showing the backs of the players on the bench, then cut to the game just in time to see someone tackled in the middle of the line. For the amount of actual action in a football game, there really needs to be more of an emphasis on showing all of it. And while I'm glad Jeff Gordon or Charles Barclay like NFL, I don't really enjoy the game more because they are in the booth for a few minutes. On the contrary, time is now spent talking about their sport/season/show/nipples instead of the play on the field - the actual reason I tuned in. None of the guests or pretty graphics are going to gain new viewers, but the missed plays and abundance of TV timeouts is costing them viewers. We come back from a commercial to hear that there was no challenge because it wasn't a challengeable call? WTF? Couldn't they have figured that out before we were paraded another commercial for psyllium fibre? I like to see the game. I'm no genius, but when the QB goes under centre with an empty backfield, I'm guessing he will pass. It is nice to be able to see the backfield and the shifts, and the motion, and how the defense responds. At least half of football is the cat and mouse game between the offense and defense, and you rarely get to see any of it on the broadcasts! Instead they are too busy showing stats like on Monday night games after a bye week in November when the game is outside and above 50% the home teams have a winning percentage. Just **** off.</rant>