So I finally got the chance to watch the new Spike TV show, 4th And Long With Michael Irvin. If you haven't heard about the show, let me give you a quick rundown on what it's about.



The show has former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin as the host. He brings in a group of WRs and DBs to compete for a spot on the Dallas Cowboys 60 man roster. In order to win the competition, the players will have to go through a series of drills to show their skills and study film on their competition to make it to the next round. In addition to these drills, the players will be tested by some of NFL's best, including WRs coach Joe Avezzano (aka Coach Joe) and DBs coach, former S Bill Bates.



Each player has played football at some level, but each didn't make it to the pros for a variety of reasons. One player said that he was too small (he is 5'7") and that NFL coaches aren't knocking down doors for him. Another player said that his agent tried to put him in a package deal with another player and use that to get teams to sign both players. Well, he's on this show now, so it's clear that THAT plan didn't work out well, now did it??



Here are a couple of things I noticed while watching the first episode:



Michael Irvin being a bad guy is kinda funny to me. He really comes off as this bunghole of a host, but I found it quite amusing. Don't ask me why....but his poker face stares, yelling and cursing made me snicker every time. Sorry Irv, you don't scare me. Now if you still had those lines cut in your fade, THAT would scare me.



Another thing about Irvin, the cliche he used during the first half was very corny. His line, "It's 4th and long, think you got what it takes to move the chains on your life???" made me give my TV this face


Dude.... we get it. This is their last chance.. go sitco dumb-cliche-saying-azz down



This show is not for you if you have a weak stomach. I think this show set a record for most people throwing up on camera in one segment. It was gross! The players were throwing everywhere. I had to keep turning my head when I thought they would get sick. I love football but some of the intangibles I can do without.



The coaches were hard on those players, man. They started with the gunned down drill, then they proceeded to a conditioning drill, known as "110s", running to each side of the field. And then to finish it off, they each had to run the 40 yard dash directly after. I felt bad for those poor boys. Times like that make me glad I'm just a spectator and not a player.



With football season not getting started until July when training camp starts, this is the best way to get your football fix. I loved watching the players fight through pain and injury to live another day for their dream. In all fairness, they're not even guaranteed to make the final roster. But to see them give 100% for something they all want, makes me wish football season would get started already.



I really enjoyed this show. It's a reality show like no other I've ever seen. The coaches physically brake the players down. There is no bachelor pad type house that they lounge in. Instead they stay at the Cotton Bowl in the locker rooms. And this is real life for them, unlike the other reality junk we see on TV. I'm looking forward to watching this every Monday night at 10pm to see what happens next.


Overall, this show is a hit. If you miss football as much as I do, this is the show for you. But remember, it's not for the weak stomachs, or weak hearts either.

If you missed the first episode, check it out here and tell me what you think

I recently found out that former Cowboys RB-turned-NFL analyst Emmitt Smith was let go by ESPN, as his contract had expired and was told he would not receive a new one.

Am I the only person excited about the news??




Listen.... while I think Emmitt was a great NFL player, and an even greater dancer, his analytical skills were sub par at best. He constantly mispronounced names, misinterpreted stats and even his views/opinions of teams or games made a person say, "huh??".

Now, ESPN has been declining for some time in my opinion. So the fact that they are letting him go isn't a bad thing at all.....it's a very good thing. But ESPN could make some other adjustments. Here's what I think they should do:

Bring Back NFL Primetime on Sunday Evenings- I know that they had to end the popular show due to NBC starting their "Football Night In America" (which I really don't care for, by-the-way). But I really enjoyed this program with Chris "Boomer"Berman and Tom "TJ" Jackson.


I know that most folks can't stand Boomer's antics and cliches. But I love them personally. I love to here him say, "WHOOOP", or when he and TJ sing, "San Diego... Super Chargers". It's fun and it's entertaining, at least to me. It could also give NFL's GameDay a little competition, as there is none right now. NFL Network has the best highlights coverage. But Once Upon A Time, In A Place Called Bristol, CT..... There was NFL Primetime, and it ruled the cable world!!!!!


Do NOT Bring Steve Young Back To Sunday NFL Countdown- Now, Young's cute little segment, Young Is Restless, or whatever it's called, is okay. I don't mind listening to Young for 30 seconds to a minute, once a week. But is it just me, or does Young act like he's on a high dosage of Zoloft???



He's very high strong, and if you get him started, it's hard to make him stop. At the end of Super Bowl XLIII, ESPN did a post game interview with Steelers QB Ben Roethlsherieuiwdgw (just kidding, I know how to type out Big Ben's name, by-the-way). Steve Young was kissing up so much, I thought I was watching a bad version of Fatal Attraction. When Young feels like you're wrong on a topic, he attacks you like a pitbull. We like passionate analysts, but he's beyond that. He's way too emotional. Please don't bring him back.

Start A "The Sport Thugs" Segment With Michael Irvin, Jamal Anderson, and Adam "PacMan" Jones-




Imagine these 3 guys doing a segment every Sunday with a set up similar to "The Sports Reporters". The segment would be about current topics around the league, with the song, "Bad Boys" playing in the background as their theme song (sirens included). It'll be great for TV and I would definitely watch.

Irvin was good on ESPN and in my opinion, shouldn't have been let go to begin with. But I believe that Irvin was let go more for image purposes than work related. He was good at it, he had the personality and unless the topic was about about the Cowboys, T.O. or Ray Lewis, he was unbiased and does bring a different element to the table (something Keyshawn Johnson has tried, but can't emulate). That being said, he fits the bill for this segment because of his past endeavors with drugs and court appearances.

Jamal Anderson was recently on ESPN as an analyst, until someone found him sniffing drugs off a toilet seat (When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong, Vol.1). He was alright, but having Irvin on his segment would bring out his raw talent (no pun intended). And Pacman Jones would be a perfect final piece to the puzzle. He needs a job anyway. Michael and Jamal will be the 2 most vocal, with Pacman being visibly quiet until the end of each segment, when he blurts out, "I didn't do it!!"

Okay, so that was kind of mean. I meant to no harm to the Irvin, Anderson and Pacman fans of the world. But that was not as mean as Smith's unnatural analytical skills. It was hard to watch and listen to. I, for one, am glad he's gone.

Dancing With The Stars- Great.



NFL Analyst- Not So Much.




ESPN, you got it right..... for once.