I dint think I could disagree more with you.. Take out ur home team bias n just because the Saints aren't playing one week doesn't mean the rest of the country aren't gathering around their tv's, stadiums, sports bars and such to enjoy their team..
All the network cares about is that there are games being played so they can charge their sponsors the "NFL" rate.. Don't think for a second that 1st Sunday that there wasn't NFL football on TV that advertisement dollars didn't slump significantly... Advertisers won't pay the same money to show their spot during (whatever comes on tv after football is over) as they will during a football game..
I own a sports bar n my Monday's dropped 50% n my Sunday afternoons feel off the map.. I'd pay more to add 2 more bye weeks if it means the season is extended EVEN with no extra games...