Just because the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are arguably the most famous group in the NFL, that doesn't mean they are the best.
CNBC's Darren Rovell recently ranked the top cheerleading squads, taking in consideration everything from presentation of the cheerleaders online to fan interaction, community outreach and overall success of the cheerleading teams.
And when he listed his 10 best, the Cowboys weren't in the top spot.
No, that honor went to the group that cheers on the New England Patriots. While Rovell was impressed by the 16 years of photos on the Patriots' web page, nothing else seemed to declare why this group that cheers mostly in cold weather would be ranked ahead of the Cowboys cheerleaders.
"The Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders are not only the most prestigious squad in the NFL, they're also the most heavily marketed," Rovell wrote. "On the team's website are endless photos and updated cheerleader blogs, not to mention more than 130,000 people have "liked" the squad on Facebook. Additional fan interaction takes place through youth programs and public appearances, including store openings and trade shows targeted at football's key demographic: men.
"The Dallas Cowboy website is truly comprehensive, including a section called "our secrets," which endorses the squad's favorite local businesses, listing everything from the team's official dentist and where the women have their hair and makeup done, to their boot camp and yoga exercises. If there's a negative for this cheer team, it's that the Cowboys don't let the cheerleaders have their own individual social media accounts... and that's a shame."
Here is the complete top 10:
1. New England Patriots
2. Dallas Cowboys
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Houston Texans
5. Denver Broncos
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. New York Jets
8. New Orleans Saints
9. Oakland Raiders
10. Atlanta Falcons
Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota
