Have you checked your video cord? It might be loose if you are playing with Component cables.
The funny thing is that your post brought me back to when I was like 8 and playing Atari and NES on a 13" CRT and I would mess with the Tint Dials and such.
*Memories*
I am already missing my Franchises at this point. I picked a nice project in the Jaguars and really want to see it through.
Not to mention, I still have my Browns Franchise saved and really want to play out the careers of the guys I drafted for that squad. I miss Davonnie Chapman, Derek Gaston and Nick Hardaway at MLB. That team is a true dynasty at this point and Chapman and Gaston will in most certainty be lifelong Browns as they already have 7-Year contracts and look like they could set big records.