I've never really thought much about how NFL cheerleaders are selected, because frankly, I don't really care. I just care about the finished product on the field. In all honesty though, I've always assumed you just got hundreds of women to show up, picked the 50 hottest ones, and then saw who of them could actually dance - and there's your team.

Oddly enough, that seems to be more or less how it's done. Anyway, because the recent Houston Texans cheerleader tryout photos have leaked out, here's a look at them, from the disaster of the opening rounds to the American Idol inspired finals.





As you can see here, the opening rounds are a total nightmare. It's a sea of hundreds of women gyrating randomly, and some who just say "Screw it, I'm not doing this." By the way, not gyrating = instant cut.





Now, some of you might be thinking to yourselves, with nearly a thousand women here, it must be tough to whittle it down to a reasonable number for later rounds. Actually, it's not hard at all, like here for instance. Everyone in the above photo is officially cut.





Once you get to the next round, you get to dance in the middle of the football field while a bunch of guys who have nothing to do with the cheerleading squad watch you dance. It's kind of like a strip club, except you don't get paid. Thumbs up for the boots.

Once that's done, you move on to the Finals, which take place in some random hotel lobby. There your athletic abilities are tested to the limits.




You'll be tested on jumping ability.





On flexibility.





On ass shaking.





On random pseudo-drug induced dancing skills.





And of course on the always critical high leg kick.


It's not an easy job, but someone has to do it. And I salute the women who put themselves through this rigorous, but rewarding (for me), ordeal. While the final selections have yet to be made, I'll just offer the Texans some advice.




She better be on the team.





Her too. She clearly hikes it like a pro.