When it comes to non-gridiron related matters, do NFL franchises pay attention to the entertainment desires of their fans? If the Dallas Cowboys are any indication, then the answer is an emphatic “no.”

“America’s Team” announced yesterday that the nation’s favorite glorified boy band with instruments, the Jonas Brothers, will serenade Cowboy fans and all of us at home during the halftime show of their Thanksgiving match-up with the Seattle Seahawks. That’s sure to keep the average football fan riveted, right?

The red hot Jonas Brothers band will perform live at the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game in a nationally televised halftime show that will air on Fox television network on November 27, 2008 at 3:15 pm CST, it was announced today. The performance will officially kick off the 2008 Salvation Army Red Kettle Christmas campaign, which runs nationally through Christmas Eve, December 24th.

“There are no other artists more in touch with America’s youth than Jonas Brothers,” said Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones. “So, this is a great chance for us to get the word out about The Salvation Army’s vital work to a whole new generation of donors.”

This is for charity, so maybe we shouldn’t bust on it. But it seems pretty clear that Jones has greatly misjudged the NFL’s target audience. “America’s youth” may love the Jonas Brothers, but “America’s youth” won’t be controlling the remote on Thanksgiving. America’s middle-aged football fanatics will. After a few hours of deep fried turkey, beer and the traditional family arguments that greet most major gatherings, we have to believe that when the Jonas Brothers hit the stage they will be met by viewers at home with groans of “What is this shit?” and “Turn this garbage off,” much to the chagrin of the ‘tweens huddled together at the kids’ table, the one that only comes out for holidays and grandma’s bridge game.

And the crowd in the stadium? If they don’t ignore it, they’ll boo it. If you’re looking for proof, just ask Destiny’s Child how things worked out in Philly during the 2001 NBA Finals:

NFL executives need to realize that the vast majority of football fans could care less about pop culture, and resent any effort to force it down their throats. Every year they load up the Super Bowl halftime show with “Who’s hot now?” pop acts, yet the only show any football fan can recall is the one where that girl from Good Times whipped out her boob. And since they won’t show us girlies anymore at halftime thanks to Ms. Jackson, would it be too much to ask for a dog Frisbee exhibition?

Jonas Brothers to Play Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Game to Kick Off Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign [PR Newswire]
Image [gravyandbiscuits.com]