"When I was 10 years old, I vividly remember watching football highlights on This Week in the NFL," remembers Steve Andrich, the vice president of cinematography and a 16-year veteran of Films. "I will always remember watching the camera following a pass in slow motion. The ball was just leaving the quarterback's hands and the camera was able to follow its rotation. It was just so different than anything I had ever seen before. I wanted to know more."

Andrich has learned plenty. As the man who decides which cinematographer goes to which game, Andrich is the offensive coordinator for NFL Films. He's also a full-time quarterback, still shouldering a camera and capturing the weekly action from various parts of the field.

So, what does it take to play the game at this level? "For a young guy starting out, they need to be a super action shooter and an even better storyteller," says Andrich. "It's the storytelling that really makes the difference between good and great in this job."

Another critical adjustment is the use of film. After all, it's not called NFL Video.

"Young guys come up using only video. We only use film, and there are some distinct differences," Andrich says. "For one thing, there's a flicker in the viewfinder because of the shutter that young guys aren't used to. You must also clearly understand the intricacies of the camera and how to handle film after you take it out of the camera."

At this point in his career, Andrich is like Jerry Rice running a post pattern. Everything just comes naturally, almost effortlessly. Still, when Sunday arrives, he's like a kid in a candy store.