Pro Football Hall of Famer and former television actor Merlin Olsenhas died. He was 69. Utah State University assistant athletic media relations director Zach Fisher says Olsen died Wednesday night at a Los Angeles hospital.
After the NFL he was an annoucer for NFL football games and also had a stint as an actor starring in the show "Little House on the Praire" with Michael Landon who went to my high school in Collingswood NJ.
Free agency starts this week and the Cowboys will be handcuffed by the NFL Final Eight Plan.
This will hurt the Cowboys as they try to get better. Looks like the Draft will be even more important this year.
Any team that reaches the divisional round of the playoffs is subject to the Final Eight Plan which is defined as:
During the Final League Year, the eight clubs that make the Divisional Playoffs in the previous season have additional restrictions that limit their ability to sign unrestricted free agents from other clubs. In general, the four clubs participating in the championship games are limited in the number of free agents that they may sign; the limit is determined by the number of their own free agents signing with other clubs. They cannot sign any UFAs unless one of theirs is signed by another team.
For the four clubs that lost in the Divisional Playoffs, in addition to having the ability to sign free agents based on the number of their own free agents signing with other clubs, they may also sign players based on specific financial parameters. Those four only will be permitted to sign one unrestricted free agent for $5.5 million (estimated) or more in year one of the contract, plus the number of their UFAs who sign with another team. They also can sign any unrestricted free agents for less than $3.7 (estimated) million in year one of the contract with limitations on the per year increases.
In the case of all final eight teams, the first year salary of UFAs they sign to replace those lost cannot exceed the first year salary of the player lost with limitations on the per year increases.
The Dallas Cowboys NEVER have an easy season. 2010 will be no exception.
Not only will they play six games against tough NFC East rivals but they will play a tough NFC Central including rematches with the Packers and Vikings. They will also see the Super Bowl Champion Saints (who the Cowboys beat) come to town.
They will also play the AFC South including cross state rival Texans and AFC Champion Peyton Manning and the Colts.
There will be no charges filed against Michael Irvin for an allege assault at the Hard Rock Casino in Florida. This is not Irvin's first time at this which means at minimum he should not be stupid enough to put himself in that position. This is always a bad issue to discuss because you never really know what happened behind closed doors.
NOTE TO WOMAN AND MEN: IF ASSAULTED GO DIRECTLY TO THE POLICE AND FILE CRIMINAL CHARGES. DO NOT WAIT 3 YEARS AND THEN ASK FOR MONEY.
From the Wire Report:
According to the woman's lawsuit, Irvin got her drunk and took her to his hotel room where he and another, unidentified man insisted on sexual favors. The woman claims Irvin raped her and the other man forced her to perform oral sex. (NOT KNOWN WHO THE OTHER MAN WAS)
Irvin has had previous brushes with the law, including a no-contest plea to a cocaine possession charge in 1996. Later that year, Irvin and another Cowboys player were accused of sexual assault by a woman, but an investigation found the story was false and the woman recanted.
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South Florida prosecutors said Wednesday they will not file rape charges against former Dallas Cowboysstar Michael Irvin.
A woman filed a lawsuit Feb. 4 in Broward County Circuit Court seeking unspecified damages for a sexual assault that allegedly occurred July 4 or 5, 2007, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. The Broward State Attorney's office reported it would not file charges.
The incident was reported to Seminole tribal police on July 20, 2007, but the woman later signed a waiver of prosecution, according to tribe officials.
The Broward State Attorney's office was investigating the claims, but a spokesman said there was no physical evidence because the woman waited more than two weeks to report the incident.
Irvin, 43, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Famewho starred at wide receiver for the Cowboys from 1988 to 1999. The Fort Lauderdale native was also a star in college for the University of Miami, playing on the Hurricanes' 1987 national championship team. Irvin is now an analyst for the NFL Network.
After-hours telephone messages left Wednesday with attorneys for Irvin and the woman filing the lawsuit were not immediately returned.
Earlier this month, Irvin's attorney, Larry Friedman of Dallas, said he was approached by the woman's lawyer shortly before Irvin was to appear on last season's “Dancing With The Stars” competition. Irvin was told he must pay the woman $1 million, according to Friedman, or a lawsuit would be filed to coincide with the Super Bowl, which was being played Feb. 7 in Miami.
Friedman called the lawsuit “civil extortion,” saying the woman's entire story is false.
Friedman has filed a counter-suit against the woman claiming, among other things, civil extortion and defamation.
The Cowboys have just hired NFL Kicking veteran Chris Boniol to be a tempary consultant to figure out the Cowboys Field Goal problems. Boniol was the Cowboys' kicker from 1994 until 1997 when he went to the Philadelphia Eagles and then on to the Chicago Bears.
Boniol will try to resolve the Cowboys FG issues. He will try to get kickoff specialist David Buehler to become a FG kicker in his second year or Connor Hughes, who was signed to a reserve/futures contract on Feb. 1, or Shaun Suisham who was signed to replace Nick Folk (now a Jet) midseason 2009.
Buehler has a great leg but failed to take over the job when Folk struggeled during the season. Maybe Super Bowl veteran Boniol can help.
Stay with TheCowboysCorner.com all during the 2010 off-season for the latest news and insight for the Combine which starts February 25th, Free Agency which starts March 5th, OTAs and more...
"I was just trying to say something to whoever wanted to listen on their sidelines," Brooking said. "Whoever was in charge of calling that play and making that decision. It was B.S."
The Vikings lead by Farve ran up the score throwing a TD pass on 4th down with less than 2 minutes to go in a game that was a blowout.
The Cowboys will be playing the Vikings during the 2010 regular season. Start the Clock now and go Saints!
In another sad story out of the NFL Chicago Bears DE Gaines Adams was found dead. No cause of death is yet known.
Career Statistics
Year
Team
G
tckls
solo
ast
sacks
int
yds
avg
lg
td
2009
TB
5
10
8
2
1
0
0
0.0
0
0
2009
CHI
9
5
4
1
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
Adams Bio:
Early years
Adams attended Fork Union Military Academy in 2001 and recorded 58 tackles, 22 sacks, and two interceptions in 10 games. He was a three year starter at Cambridge Academy, a small private school which only had an 8-man football team, where he was a dominant wide receiver and defensive end. His coach during high school was former University of South Carolina quarterback, Steve Taneyhill. In 2000, his team won the state title. During that year, Cambridge shut out four different teams, beating one team 80-0. They had suffered only one loss that season to arch-rival King Academy. He had 158 career receptions for 4,394 yard and 65 touchdowns, as well as 341 tackles, 10 interceptions, and 33 sacks in his career, and was a two-time All-state honoree. He chose Clemson over Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. He had narrowed down his choices to North Carolina and Clemson, then signed with Clemson after the Tar Heels unexpectedly rescinded their offer. At Cambridge, he was named to the Greenwood Touchdown Club/Index-Journal All-Lakelands Team (which included four counties)
In 2003, as a redshirt freshman, he did not see much action as the second-team defensive end, only totaling 15 tackles and a sack.
In 2004, he had 35 tackles with 8 sacks, and two blocked punts playing on special teams. For his hard work on special teams, Adams was awarded the 12th Man Award for Clemson's defense. Adams considered coming out for the NFL Draft after his sophomore year, but after the underclassman panel gave him a conservatively low ranking he decided to stay for his junior year.
Adams' 2005 junior year was the year he broke out. Adams totaled 56 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and forced three fumbles while starting at boundary defensive end.
For Adams' senior year, 2006, he was slated to be among the best defensive ends in the college football. Adams lived up to his reputation by starting all 12 games, recording 12.5 sacks, causing 2 fumbles and recovering 3. By the end of the 2006 season, Adams recorded a total of 28 career sacks, tying the school record set by Michael Dean Perry (1984-1987)[1]. In addition, Adams was named to all five official All-America teams acknowledged by the NCAA in 2006, one of seven unanimous All-Americans that year.
Professional career
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Adams was chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 4th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, despite his admissions during interviews at the scouting combine of previous marijuana use.[4] He signed a six-year deal with the Buccaneers on July 26th, 2007, worth $46 million, with $18.6 million guaranteed. He registered his first solo sack against the Atlanta Falcons in week 11 of the 2007 season.
At the end of the 2007 season Adams had 35 tackles, 6 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in 2007, he led all 2007 rookies with his six sacks. This performance gained him a place in the 2007 NFL All-Rookie team. He also played in Tampa Bay Buccaneers playoff loss to the New York Giants and finished the game with five tackles and one sack. Against the Colts on Week 5, he blocked a field goal attempt by Adam Vinatieri.
In 2008, Adams recorded two sacks against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. He recorded his first career interception and returned it for his first career touchdown in a Week 3 overtime win over the Chicago Bears. The following week, Adams recorded another interception off of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to seal a Buccaneers victory. In Week 8, in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Adams recorded two sacks.
The question is...is it his time? Brett Farve has had his time in the sun. He has won a Super Bowl and done many amazing things. Can Romo show that it is not hype - he is a great NFL quarterback.
To be the best you have to beat the best and the Vikings are loaded. The are not a fluke. They were good (sometimes great) this year and they were good the previous year.
They have the most players (8) going to the Pro Bowl of any team. The Cowboys have the second most six. To me there are three Vikings that if controlled will lead to a Cowboys victory.
Jared Allen, Brett "Who do I play for now?" Favre and Adrian Peterson are the keys to the game. If Allen can be minimized by Flozell Adams which should be the case it will give Romo time to pass. The Cowboys will need that at the Vikings were 2nd against the rush this season. That may be a little misleading in that early in the season the Vikings were ahead in the score in many games so other teams abandoned the run early.
Farve can have his bad days. He does throw into tight spost which can get him in trouble and once you get one interception more are sure to come. Put him on his butt and watch the mistakes happen.
Peterson is great and with two weeks off to re-fresh his legs he will be ready to go. Expect him to get the ball alot. If the cowboys can keep him under 100 yards they can win the game.
Note: Kick Returner Percy Harvin will be minimized by the kicks of kickoff specialist Beuhler.
PREDICTION:
COWBOYS 24
VIKINGS 23
Pro Bowl Selections:
Minnesota (8)
Jared Allen, defensive end Heath Farwell, special teamer Brett Favre, quarterback Percy Harvin, kick returner Steve Hutchinson, guard Bryant McKinnie, tackle Adrian Peterson, running back Sidney Rice, wide receiver Kevin Williams, interior lineman
In a great piece of news for the Cowboys their offensive emotion spark plug look like he is ready to go on Sunday versus the Vikings. The Three Headed Monster will be in full force which should help ge tthe Cowboys over the top.
Dallas Cowboys Injury Report
RB Marion Barber - knee (1/7) Barber returned to practice Thursday, though on a limited basis, with the sore knee that limited in the Eagles game. He had full participation on Friday, and told others his knee was feeling well. In two preseason trips to his home state of Minnesota, Barber has not played a down in his former college stadium. That should change this week, as the Cowboys listed him as probable for the Vikings.
LB DeMarcus Ware - back/wrist (1/7) Ware has battled neck, back and wrist injuries all year, and missed a day of practice last week with a sore back. But it didn't force him from any action and Ware had another solid game against Philadelphia. He'll be monitored for all of his injuries, including a stress fracture in his foot and a fractured bone in his wrist, but he had full participation this week and it's likely he will be ready against the Vikings after another probable listing.
S Pat Watkins - sprained knee (12/13) Watkins has had full participation this week, a good sign he'll be able to play Sunday after missing four games with a sprained PCL. One of the team's top special teams players, Wade Phillips said he would likely be active versus Minnesota if he was healthy. Watkins was listed as probable on Friday.
OT Marc Colombo - ankle (11/15) Colombo played last week for the first time since the Nov. 15 Packers game, when he suffered a high ankle sprain and broken fibula in his left leg. Colombo started the game and said he didn't have many problems in his return. He has had full participation this week and it's likely he will be ready for Minnesota after being listed as probable.
S Gerald Sensabaugh - thumb (10/4) The starting strong safety has played the majority of the season without any major problems since having thumb surgery and, following another probable designation, is expected to start again Sunday. He has said he will keep wearing a cast for support.
The Cowboys announced today that Todd Grantham the defensive line coach who has done a great job will be leaving at the end of the season to take the defensive coordinator job at the University of Georgia. Grantham must be given credit for the outstanding D-Line play that has carried the Cowboys deep onto the playoffs.
The Cowboys have announced that Paul Pasqualoni will replace him. Pasqualoni was with the Cowboys before but went to the Dolphins to work with the Big Tuna Bill Parcells. Parcells fired him earlier this week.
Why he was fired has yet to be disclosed. I hope that Jerry Jones realizes that these kinds of moves can change the teams mental state of mind which is not good the week of a playoff game.
Merlin Olsen, DT 