Michael Irvin will host the yet-to-be-named show set to debut in the Spring on Spike TV, as 12 contestants compete for the right to join the Cowboys preseason roster.  For details, go here.   And for your weekend warriors who still think you have what it takes,  download your application here.  Did Michael Irvin type this  up on a typewriter himself?  Put a little effort into it, would ya? Here are a couple of my favorite questions:

ARE YOU CURRENTLY PLAYING FOOTBALL AND WITH WHO?  IF NO WHY NOT?

…

DO YOU HAVE A FOOTBALL MOTTO THAT YOU LIVE BY?  WHAT IS IT?

…

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS?

I’m in favor of them.  Seriously, what would anyone with half a brain cell answer to that question???

On top of that, T.O. is getting a show on VH1 to join the ranks of Flavor Flav, Bret Michaels and other celeb wannabe’s.  The Terrell Owens Project will follow the megalomaniac Cowboys receiver during the offseason.

T.O. will be shadowed in the off-season by his best friends and publicists Monique Jackson and Kita Williams as they battle the two sides of his large personality.  Viewers will discover that behind all the braggadocio, emotional histrionics, and sculpted physique that is the outspoken media magnet known to the world as “T.O.” — there is also a quiet, sensitive, mild-mannered guy from Alexander City, Alabama…that’s Terrell.

Braggadocio?  Who makes this crap up?  What’s next, Newlyweds 2 starring Tony and “Yoko Romo” Jessica Simpson?  What’s up with these Cowboys?  You can blame HBO for planting the seed.  They featured this Cowboy team twice on their Hard Knocks series.  I guess the cameras are addicting.  What kind of circus are Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips running down there in Big D?  No wonder these guys didn’t make the playoffs.

It’s bad enough we get sports stars showing up on “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Apprentice”, but now get entire series dedicated to this crap?  And what about the last guy trying to make the Cowboys roster who doesn’t get to go to training camp because they have to give that roster spot to some reality show winner?  Why don’t we just raffle off roster spots to the highest bidder?  Hopefully, the McCaskeys don’t get any ideas.  They’re always looking for new revenue streams.

When are people going to figure out that the sport itself is the best reality show?  You can’t make up stories like the 2009 playoff run by the Arizona Cardinals or the shocking upset last season by the New York Giants over the heavily favored Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.  Reality TV is anything but that and it just doesn’t compare to the real drama that unfolds on the gridiron.  TO TV?  Only if the TO stands for Turn Off!

BOOM!!!

Philadelphia at Arizona

In this unlikely matchup, the #4 seed Cardinals host the #6 Eagles, who benefit from the choke jobs by the Bucs (and now-fired coach Gruden) and the Bears (and D-coordinator on Sundays only Lovie Smith) to slide into the last playoff spot.  Goes to show, anything can happen if you can get into the playoffs.

Last meeting: The Eagles spoiled the Cardinals’ Thanksgiving with a 48-20 beatdown in Philly.  Philly was coming off the humbling loss to the Ravens in which Donovan McNabb was benched and the Eagles’ season appeared to be on life support.  Aside from stubbing their toe in Week 16 vs the Redskins, the Eagles have been perfect since.  McNabb rebounded with 4 TD against the Cards and been on a run ever since.

Breakdown: Philly comes in with the hot hand, while Arizona rides the momentum of two surprising wins and now a home playoff game.  Boldin’s hamstring injury could prove costly as the Cards need all the help they can get.   Look for Eagles D-coordinator Jimmy Johnson make Kurt Warner’s life miserable.  This is the 5th NFC Championship for Andy Reid’s squad and that experience will prove valuable versus the surprising Cardinals.

Key matchup: Arizona Run Defense vs Brian Westbrook

Prediction: The Cardinals get the home field, but that is where the advantage ends.  With McNabb at the top of his game, the Eagles soar to another Super Bowl.

Eagles 31- 21

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

Put the women and children to bed; this one’s not for the faint of heart as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens strap ‘em up for the third time this season.

Last meeting: The Steelers edged the Ravens 23-20 back in September and barely nipped them again in Week 15 on a controversial call where the leading TD crossed the plane of the end zone by thismuch.

Breakdown: The Ravens haven’t had a BYE since Week 2 and have been road warriors so far throughout the playoffs.  They follow the same formula as they had back in 2000, winning with defense and just enough offense from Joe Flacco to get the job done.  Pittsburgh’s defense is firing on all cylinders and have the experience in their corner.  Big Ben has been sharp and Willie Parker looks fresh after sitting a few weeks with injury.  The Ravens come in banged up with Terrell Suggs questionable and Samari Rolle doubtful while the Steelers look relatively healthy.

Key matchup: Baltimore pass defense vs Ben Roethlisberger

Prediction: With such a tight matchup, I’ll take the healthier, more rested team.  Pennsylvania Bowl, here we come.

Steelers 13-9

The Divisional Round of the playoffs features four re-matches from earlier this season.

Baltimore at Tennessee

Last meeting: The Titans edged the Ravens 13-10 when the teams met back in October.  Rookie QB Joe Flacco’s second interception proved costly late in the 4th quarter as he tried to lead the Ravens back after Kerry Collins took the Titans on the decisive drive with aTD hookup to Alge Crumper with under 2 minutes left.

Breakdown: The Ravens looked really impressive in their defeat of the Dolphins.  The Titans are rested and enter the game with only center Kevin Mawae as a major question mark to play.  As much hype as the Ravens’ defense gets, their offense is actually averaging slightly more yards per game than the Titans.  Coupled with the formidable run defense and opportunistic Ed Reed in the secondary, the Ravens look like the team to beat, yet the Titans enter as a 3 point favorite.  Something just doesn’t seem right.  Everything points to Baltimore, but Tennessee is favored.

Key matchup: Titans rushing attack vs Ravens rush defense.

Prediction: One team has the momentum and the stats while the other is favored.  When it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

Titans 16-13

Arizona at Carolina

Last meeting: Carolina comes back to beat the visiting team which holds double-digit second half lead.  Sound familiar Bears fans?  Carolina did the same to the Cardinals back in October to defeat Arizona 27-23.   Anquan Boldin tallied two touchdowns while rookie running back Tim Hightower added another.  On Carolina’s side, it was Steve Smith’s 65-yard touchdown reception that did the Cards in.

Breakdown: Arizona surprised many (though not this observer) with their opening round win over Atlanta.  The biggest surprise had to be the Cardinals defense, especially the run defense that kept Michael Turner in check.  That defense will need to step up again this week against the Panthers robust running attack that ranked 3rd in the NFL behind the likes of DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart.

Key matchup: Arizona rush defense vs Carolina rushing offense.

Prediction: Carolina is 8-0 at home and they’re rested and ready.  Arizona’s run defense was a one week wonder and without Anquan Boldin, not enough offense to keep up with Carolina.

Panthers 31-24

Philadelphia at New York

Last meeting:These two NFC East team split the season series, with the visitor winning each contest.  The Eagles won 20-14 at the Meadowlands in December, while the G-Men beat the Eagles 36-31 in Philly back in November.  In the Eagles win, Westbrook was on the key for the Eagles as he accounted for over 200 total yards and two TD’s.  In the Giants win, Brandon Jacobs tallied 126 rushing yards with 2 TD’s of his own.

Breakdown: Philly pulled off the upset over the Vikings last weekend thanks in large part to the big play.  The pick-6 from the defense and Westrbook’s huge screen pass touchdown sunk the Vikes.  They’ve been on a roll since the benching of McNabb and definitely come in with the momentum.  The Defending Champs from NY have looked mortal in recent weeks.  In each victory, the winner held the opposing rusher well below his normal average.   

Key matchup: Which rusher will outshine which rush defense? 

Prediction: The Giants might be the champs, but the Eagles come in hot.

Eagles 23-21

 San Diego at Pittsburgh

Last meeting:The Steelers outlasted the Chargers 11-10 when the teams last met in November.  This was another controversial game involving the Chargers, though only the gamblers were affected by this questionable call by the officials.   

Breakdown:The Chargers pulled off the upset last week against the Colts thanks to the big effort by the little running back that could, Darren Sproles, who capably filled the shoes for the injured Ladanian Tomlinson.  Pittsburgh faces injury concerns of their own, as QB Ben Roethlisberger recovers from a concussion suffered December 28^thversus the Cleveland Browns.  I expect the Steelers D to beat up the undersized Sproles and keep him in check.

Key matchup: Chargers passing offense vs Pittsburgh pass defense. 

Prediction:  Pittsburgh comes in with the #1 ranked defense. Defense wins championships. 

 Steelers 19-13

Up in the Metrodome, the Philadelphia Eagles ruined Adrian Peterson’s playoff debut as the Vikings fell 26-14.  Last season’s offensive rookie of the year did his part tallying both of the Vikings’ touchdowns.   The Eagles did just enough offensively, when a Donovan McNabb screen pass to Brian Westbrook turned into a backbreaking 71 yard touchdown with just under 7 minutes left in the fourth quarter.  Philadelphia also cashed in a Tarvaris Jackson interception for their other TD.

The next round features 4 games that are rematches from earlier this season.  On Saturday, the Ravens head to Tennessee to face the Titans and the Cardinals head east to Carolina.  Sunday’s action features the Eagles heading to the Meadowlands to face NFC East rival Giants while San Diego heads to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers.  I’ll have much more on the matchups later in the week as well as my picks for the Divisional Round.  Hopefully, you didn’t blow your mortgage payment on my picks from last weekend.
BEAR DOWN!!!