4th and Long
Reality competition for a Dallas Cowboys training camp spot.
Michael Irvin hosted the reality competition 4th and Long, which debuted on Spike in May 2009. Its winner secured a place at Dallas Cowboys training camp with a chance to join the roster. The show matched six wide receivers against six defensive backs, filmed at the Cotton Bowl. Joe Avezzano coached the receivers, while Bill Bates coached the defensive backs.
Quick Facts
- Runtime
- 60 minutes (including commercials)
- Creator
- Michael Irvin
- Executive producers
- J. D. Roth; Todd Nelson
- Presenter
- Michael Irvin
- Joe Avezzano
- Bill Bates
- Language
- English
- Country
- United States
- Network
- Spike
- First aired
- 18 May 2009
Facts from the source article.
Episode progress
The contestant who won the competition earned the roster opportunity. Contestants were summoned to the war room when at risk. A contestant was cut, sometimes immediately after a drill or practice. The best performer in a challenge won a reward, though could still be called into the war room. In episode 6, all remaining players were safe. In episode 7, all eliminated players returned to compete for one remaining player's jersey.
Episodes
The first episode aired May 18, 2009. Three of the twelve players were called into the coaches room and given one last chance to explain why they should stay. After consideration, Irvin sent Stephen Andrews home, telling him he was cut and could still play in the NFL, just not for Dallas. Before Steve Gonzalez left the room, Irvin pulled out a sports bag of jerseys, gave one to Gonzalez, and gave him the bag to give to the rest. The bottom three were Stephen Andrews, Steve Gonzalez, and Montrell Jones; the bottom two were Andrews and Gonzalez. Andrews was cut for his poor showing in the punt return drill. The second episode aired May 25, 2009. In the war room, Irvin and the coaches told the three players why they were there and let them have one last chance. Irvin told Steve he was safe. The final two were lectured by the coaches; Irvin told Preston McGann he could still play in the NFL, just not for Dallas. Preston left a note to the remaining cast members. Irvin gave Montrell Jones a set of playbooks, telling him not to lose it or he would be cut immediately. Jones agreed and was given the rest of the playbooks to give to the team. Irvin told him to tell the others not to lose their playbooks or they would be cut immediately, as would Jones for not stressing the importance of the book. The bottom three were Preston McGann, Steve Gonzalez, and Montrell Jones; the bottom two were McGann and Jones. McGann was cut for his perceived lack of interest in getting physical during the drills. The third episode aired June 1, 2009. In a game with unnumbered players rounding out roster spots on two complete teams, the DBs took on the WRs to see who was better at their positions. On one play, Luke Swan, billed as "Prone To Injury," stretched to catch a touchdown pass and got injured when a DB landed on his legs as he hit the turf, suffering a groin injury that hampered his playing ability. His senior year of college play had been cut short when he was tackled awkwardly and his hamstrings were torn from the leg bone, ending his season as he recuperated from surgery. One coach questioned whether the groin injury was as bad as Swan made it out to be, or whether he was having "ghost pain" from his earlier hamstring trauma.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes of 4th and Long are there?
4th and Long has 10 episodes.
When did 4th and Long end?
4th and Long last aired on 20 July 2009.
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