Football players and steak. They just go together.

And the Rose Bowl competitors get to participate in an additional Bowl game every year that combines those two — the Beef Bowl. It’s sharing some amazing prime rib with teammates and getting ready for a highly competitive, important game. It’s camraderie and good food.

It’s really, really cool.

Here’s how the LA Times describes it:

For the last five decades, the participating teams have taken part in the ‘Beef Bowl’ at Lawry’s the Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. The restaurant says it’s fed more than 75,000 pounds of beef to about 19,000 players and coaches.

I’ve decided that since I do not – nor will I ever – qualify to participate in the Beef Bowl, I will just have to replicate it for myself at home.

In fact, to celebrate the new year tonight, we’re going to cook up some steaks, rub elbows with friends and just talk. Sounds just like the Beef Bowl to me.

You can read all about the 2010 Beef Bowl here.

And Happy New Year, everybody! May 2011 be filled with good food and great experiences!

Photo courtesy of Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times.

…they just go together.

Well, at least the Dallas Cowboys’ Dez Bryant thinks so.

If you live in the Dallas area, you’ve no doubt heard about the exorbitant amount of money the rookie player spent on a steak dinner for his teammates recently.

If you haven’t had the pleasure, read about it here.

Needless to say, he gives the term “Big Spender” new meaning.

But, I say, if you’re gonna spend thousands of dollars on something, it might as well be steak. Right? Right?

All that protein has to help the Cowboys’ record, we’d hope.

If you’ve got the money, you might as well spend it making the people around you very happy. Very, VERY happy.

Well done, Dez. And if you’re ever feeling that charitable again, you can reach me here at my blog. I respond personally to each comment. Thanks.

Photo courtesy of TheSportsTender.com.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the Super Bowl is THIS SUNDAY.

And even our beloved steak is getting into the act in the form of a friendly wager.

Check out this article from TheTownTalk.com:

Latest Super Bowl wager: La. shrimp vs. Indiana steak

The latest Super Bowl wager pits La. shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico against prime Indiana steak.

The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints will square off in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 7.

Congressmen Anh “Joseph” Cao of Louisiana and Dan Burton of Indiana decided to bet each other on the winner.

If the Colts win, Cao will ship five pounds of Louisiana Gulf shrimp to Indianapolis. If the Saints win, Burton will ship five pounds of prime Indiana steak to New Orleans.

The representatives offered the following remarks after shaking hands:

“The Saints’ motto all season has been ‘Finish Strong,’ and I expect that is exactly what they’ll do this Sunday in Miami. Congressman Burton, on behalf of the Who Dat Nation, we like our steaks medium rare,” Cao said.

“I very much look forward to enjoying some Louisiana Gulf shrimp,” said Rep. Burton as he purchased cocktail sauce, “and I’m really appreciative to Congressman Cao for offering to supplement our victory party with this dish. Go, Colts!”

Photo courtesy of Travel Channel via Nola.com.