Will no industry emerge unscathed from this recession?

The announcement that the NFL would be cutting 150 jobs made it clear that no business — no matter how well run — is impervious to this economic downturn.

With that in mind, here are some cost-cutting suggestions for the league, its teams and NFL-related employers. These are the budget-conscious Sundays of Our Lives.

Week 15 action

Bears 27, Saints 24 -- Recap | Box
Bucs-Falcons -- Preview | Notes
Redskins-Bengals -- Preview | Notes
Titans-Texans -- Preview | Notes
Lions-Colts -- Preview | Notes
Packers-Jaguars -- Preview | Notes
Chargers-Chiefs -- Preview | Notes
49ers-Dolphins -- Preview | Notes
Bills-Jets -- Preview | Notes
Seahawks-Rams -- Preview | Notes
Vikings-Cardinals -- Preview | Notes
Steelers-Ravens -- Preview | Notes
Broncos-Panthers -- Preview | Notes
Patriots-Raiders -- Preview | Notes
Giants-Cowboys -- Preview | Notes
Browns-Eagles -- Preview | Notes

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Analysis

• Whitlock: T.O. is Romo's problem
• Schein 9: Wild NFL adventure
• O'Connor: Jones should coach 'Boys

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Video

• Marvez: Plaxico done in New York?
• Online OT: Complete NFL coverage

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Photos

• Week 14's best shots
• Schein: MVP candidates

The plan at $1 billion-plus Dallas Cowboys Stadium is to install 60-foot plasma screens along the facing that separates the seating levels. That's foot. 60-foot screens. In an acknowledgement of tough times, Jerry Jones could scale back to 53-foot screens. Sure, fans might not be able to make out exactly what T.O. is screaming at wide receivers coach Ray Sherman, but we all have to make sacrifices.

Redskins Go Without a Head Coach

The honeymoon is clearly over for Jim Zorn. So when Daniel Snyder adds Zorn's pelt to his wall, he should cut costs by going without a head coach for a season.

Many of us have wondered what exactly it is a head coach does and this would be a great opportunity to find out if his absence matters. The offensive coordinator calls the plays, the defensive coordinator calls the blitzes, the special teams coach yells. For those few responsibilities that are purely the province of the head coach — replay challenges and fourth-down decisions — Snyder could get a knowledgeable fan to volunteer and come out ahead on both scores.

Don't Waste Big Money on a Rookie RB

The first four running backs taken in the 2008 draft — Darren McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, Felix Jones and Rashard Mendenhall — have combined for 1,428 rushing yards.

Chris Johnson (24th overall), Matt Forte (44th) and Steve Slaton (89th) have all gone over 1,000 yards and combined for 3,199 yards.

McFadden signed a six-year, $60M deal with $26M guaranteed. Kevin Smith, drafted by the Lions with the first pick of the third round and signed to a three-year, $1.79M deal, is one of five rookie running backs that have outgained McFadden. A sixth, Tim Hightower (5th round), has scored 10 touchdowns.

And while McFadden and Jones have showed flashes of brilliance worthy of first-rounders, their fellow Razorback (and former blocker) Peyton Hillis (7th round) was a much better bargain, averaging five yards a carry and scoring five touchdowns for the Broncos before getting hurt.

Relegation

Every spring as the English Premier League soccer season is winding down, there are two races being followed feverishly: the battle for the top spot and the mad scramble to stay out of the bottom three.

The teams with the three worst records in the league are essentially sent down to the minors, replaced by the three best teams in the highest minor league. The fight for 17th place — teams 18, 19 and 20 get relegated — is sometimes followed more closely than the race for the crown.

You want to create some excitement (and paying customers) for the Bengals (1-11-1), Rams (2-11), Seahawks (2-11) and Chiefs (2-11) remaining three games, just have two of them joining the Lions in the Arena League next year.