A Super Bowl oddity: No cheerleaders for Packers or Steelers

A Super Bowl oddity: No cheerleaders for Packers or Steelers

DALLAS - A Super Bowl without cheerleaders ... at Cowboys Stadium, no less?

One of the league's major marketing tools – the sideline sex appeal of women wearing revealing outfits and performing enticing dance routines – will be on hiatus Sunday in Super Bowl XLV. Sunday's game featuring the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers is believed to be the first Super Bowl without cheerleaders since Super Bowls II, said NFL Films president Steve Sabol.

Only six NFL franchises do not use official cheerleaders, including the Steelers and the Packers. The others: Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and New York Giants.


"We will have a great game – we don't need eye candy," laughed Steelers guard Trai Essex on Wednesday.

Teammate Antwaan Randle El, asked if he cared that there would be no dance squads, quickly replied, "Yeah, I care – I'm glad they're not here.

"They are a distraction. You want to focus on the game. If you happen to look at the (giant overhead screens), it's "Oh, my Lord!' Especially in Dallas. They not only have cheerleaders, they have go-go (-style dancers) hanging from poles" on concourse levels.

Some fans, such as Washington, D.C. resident Martin Corboy, are dismayed. "Without cheerleaders, in hard times like these, who will we turn our eyes to?'' said Corboy, a Redskins fan who will attend the game.

"Who wouldn't want to see Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders -- right?'' said Robin Perlman, a former Cowboys cheerleader. "They would be ready to perform at the drop of a hat ... or a pom-pon.''

Cowboys cheerleaders made multiple appearances this week at public and private functions, but they are "not scheduled to be part of the football game,'' said team spokesman Rich Dalrymple. "We think Steelers and Packers fans will have lots of 'cheerleaders' at the game (in the way of fans). They will be just dressed differently."

Said Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel, "I'm surprised that Jerry Jones didn't say, 'If we're playing the game in Dallas, my cheerleaders are going to come out at halftime and put on a show.' "

But it is not Jones' call.

"It's a team issue,'' said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. "If the team has cheerleaders, they are part of the Super Bowl."

read the full article on usatoday.com