Published: June 15, 2010
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Joneswill also appear throughout the series.The 12 elite athletes were selected during a nationwide search with theassistance of Scout to unearth the best overlooked, underrated andunsigned talent at the wide receiver and defensive back positions.The 10-episode series was shot at various locations in Dallas, Texas,primarily at the stadium first called home by the Dallas Cowboys in 1960: thelegendary Cotton Bowl where the athletes lived and trained. ABOUT MICHAEL IRVINIrvin, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, was a three-timeSuper Bowl champion and five-time Pro-Bowl wide receiver for the DallasCowboys (1988-1999). Irvin was a standout receiver for the University of Miamiand a key component to their 1987 National Championship team. A first roundpick by Dallas (11th overall), Irvin was integral in restoring the Cowboys tonational prominence and the moniker, “America’s Team.” From 1991-1998, Irvintallied more that 1000 yards in all but one season, and in 1995 set teamsingle-season records for receptions and yards.
His many football accoladesinclude being named to the NFL All-Decade Team (’90’s), Texas Sports Hall ofFame and the Dallas Cowboy Ring of Honor. ABOUT BILL BATESBates, who played 15 seasons (1983-1997) for the Dallas Cowboys and appearedin three Super Bowls and a Pro Bowl, will coach the defensive backs. Bates canempathize with the contestants on the show, as he went from an undrafted freeagent and a long shot to make the roster to an extensive career with theCowboys, including being named special-teams captain in 1990. ABOUT JOE AVEZZANOJoe Avezzano, a three-time NFL special teams coach of the year with the DallasCowboys, will coach the wide receivers. Avezzano, who played briefly in theAFL for the Boston Patriots in 1966, has a long coaching career including mostnotably serving as Dallas Cowboys special teams coach (1990-2002), head coachat Oregon St. (1980-1984), head coach for the Arena Football Dallas Desperados(2002-2003), offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee (1977-1979)and offensive line coach for the national champion University of PittsburghPanthers in 1976. “4th and Long” is produced by 3 Ball Productions and was created by Irvin andhis production company, Playmaker Productions.
Todd Nelson and JD Roth of 3 Ball Productions serve as executive producersalong with Irvin. Overseeing the creative for Spike TV are Sharon Levy, seniorvice president of original series and Tim Duffy, vice president of originalprogramming for Spike TV.Spike TV is available in 98 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. Aunit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leadingcreators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’sInternet address is and for up-to-the-minute and archival pressinformation and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http:// TVDavid Schwarz, +1-212-767-8639, or Shana Tepper, +1-212-767-4275, both ofSpike TV.