Real Pro Football Back on NBC

The Eagles play the Raiders tonight, which may be of some interest to fans in Oakland, Philadelphia, and various penitentiaries throughout the nation. But, since preseason football is mostly boring, the debut of interest tonight is that of the NFL on NBC crew.

Here's the line-up. In the booth, it's Al Michaels and John Madden, whom Bill Brasky used to breastfeed. In the studio, Bob Costas hosts, along with Cris Collinsworth, Jerome Bettis, Peter King, and I think that guy on the left is either Paul Mooney or Sterling Sharpe. Andrea Kremer will roam the sidelines, too. I don't know if we'll be seeing all of these people tonight, but we should be getting some idea of what NBC football will be all about.

I know that a lot of you have reasons to dislike different individuals on NBC's team, but as long as they're a little bit ahead of the work ESPN did on Sunday nights, I'll be happy. And let's be honest, ESPN didn't set that bar all that high. If you can't beat Paul Maguire in the booth and Chris Berman at halftime, you're in serious trouble.

Coverage starts at 8 p.m.

NBC's football season begins tonight [Ohio.com] NFL Sunday Night Football [SNF on NBC]