Lone Star Struck

Is it me or do people put way to much thought into the overtime rules in the NFL? We have heard the arguments for years. Should things stay the way they are? Should teams get at least one possession in overtime? Should a team win by at least a touchdown? Should overtime be taken away all together?

The latest proposal from the competition committee is below as reported by ESPN.com…

Under the new format, both teams would get the ball at least once unless the first team to get the ball scores a touchdown, Greg Aiello said. If the first team to get the ball makes a field goal and the other team ties the game, action would continue until a team scores again.

I’m just not sure things have to be so complicated. This whole overtime thing has been over-thought for years now making it harder than it has to be.  I agree that both teams should have a chance to win the game. I never liked the rule that the first team to score wins the game.  I know the percentages show that the team getting the ball first does not win the game. The last two examples were from this past seasons playoffs. Arizona beat Green Bay when Aaron Rogers fumbled on the first possession of overtime. Then New Orleans beat Minnesota when they won the coin toss and drove down for the winning field goal. Minnesota never had a chance to get the ball. I also do not believe that the overtime rules should be different in the playoffs then in the regular season. The rules should be the same for both. Let’s forget about all these wild ideas to change the overtime rule and make it simple.

Here is my idea. For overtime all you need to do is play half a quarter. Put 7:50 on the clock and let the teams play. Both teams will get two time-outs and all reviews would come from the booth.  This seems like a simple solution to a problem that has been around for years. Let the two teams battle it out for half a quarter right down to 00:00.  It seems like a fair solution for all teams.

I know the networks don’t like the idea of games going so long, but it makes sense to make overtime fair for all teams. Sure there will be arguments on this idea just like any other overtime ideas. The overtime rules have been the way they are for way too long now. It’s time for a change.

As the NFL Draft quickly approaches and festivities at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis get underway, big names like Ndamukong Suh, Tim Tebow, and Sam Bradford will take the spotlight and dominate the headlines. But as we have seen in past drafts, it is sometimes the not-so-famous prospects from smaller schools that go on to make the biggest splash in the NFL (see Marques Colston, Tim Hightower, Joe Flacco, Brandon Marshall). Like in every draft, there are sure to be a few small school gems in this draft as well. Here are a few names to keep an eye and ear out for as the draft nears.

Vladimir Ducasse – Offensive Lineman, UMass

Vladimir Ducasse was not a name that appeared high on many teams’ lists until his performance at the Senior Bowl. Ducasse certainly has the size that you like in an NFL lineman, measuring 6 foot 4 and 332 pounds at the combine. He also has the intangibles that you look for as well, with great agility and footwork. He played offensive tackle at UMass, but would likely slide inside to guard in the pros. He may be a bit raw right now since his first exposure to football was in 2002, but he possesses tremendous upside. This year’s draft is the deepest in easily a decade for offensive linemen and Ducasse could go as early as the late first round for a team looking to fill voids along the offensive line. If he slides into the late second round however, look for the Cowboys to seriously consider him to add much needed depth to their interior line.

Brandon Lang – Defensive End, Troy

Another small school product that has flown under the radar, Brandon Lang had a fairly productive career rushing the quarterback at Troy, registering 19 sacks in his last two seasons. At 6 foot 4, 256 pounds, Lang is a “tweener” who will likely make the transition to outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. The NFL Combine will go a long way in determining where Lang goes in the draft. His 40-yard dash time as well as his 3-cone drill time will help determine if he is athletic enough to switch to outside linebacker. If he is still on the board when Dallas picks in rounds 3 to 4, they will strongly consider him. Given the recent success of pass rushers coming out of Troy (Demarcus Ware, Osi Umenyiora), he could be well worth the risk. As a man named Bill Parcells used to say, “You can never have too many linebackers.”

Jared Veldheer – Offensive Tackle, Hillsdale

Jared Veldheer is another name that has climbed up the draft boards in recent months with his performance in the Texas vs the Nation Invite in 2009.  Hailing from tiny, ultra-conservative Hillsdale College, up in my neck of the woods, there is no doubt that Veldheer possesses the fantastic size that teams look for in a left tackle, at 6 foot 8, 312 pounds. He also possesses rare athleticism for his size and has exceptional footwork. Like Brandon Lang, the combine will help determine where he will go in the draft. Pending the results, he could go as early as the second round. Given the aging of Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo, Dallas will certainly be interested in his services.

The Cowboys will play in the NFL Hall of Fame game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday August 8th this summer. The game will air on NBC at 7 p.m. Central time.

It will be great to have the Cowboys play in Canton following Emmitt Smith’s enshrinement into the Hall of Fame.

This will mark the Cowboys fourth time in franchise history to play in the NFL’s Hall of Fame game, the last was in 1999.

The special exhibition game also means the Cowboys will have five preseason games instead of the usual four.

It’s nice to know the team that Emmitt loved so much will be there supporting him during this memorable time in his life.

Props to the NFL for recognizing Emmitt and the Cowboys (for a change).

One of the things the Cowboys need to do is get some momentum going again. There’s all kinds of momentum and it doesn’t just happen on the field of play. I’d like to see the Cowboys get out there and start making some noise by signing some of their key players and getting that rumor mill churning as they look toward the draft and potential free agents and trades. When the new season begins, I’m looking for the ‘Boys to bust out of camp oozing with confidence and getting off to a fast start.

From fast starts to false starts…

The Dallas Morning News had an interesting take on one of the Cowboy’s big problems last season; the offensive line.

They believe That Marc Colombo is getting a free pass while Flozell Adams catches all the heat regarding the excessive amount of false starts.

Adams has 24 false-start penalties in 48 games during the last three regular seasons. Marc Colombo, who mans the right side, has had the same problem at nearly the same rate. He has 20 false-start penalties in 41 games during the last three regular seasons.

Add one mistake by Doug Free last season, and the Cowboys have 45 false-start penalties by their tackles in the last three regular seasons. Only one team has had more false starts by its tackles in that span: dreadful Oakland, with 47.

Penalties have haunted this team for a few seasons now. Each time training camp opens, we’ll hear how they plan to focus on reducing the penalties, but the fact is nothing really changes. Hopefully this year will be different.

One of the problems is that our O-Line is getting older, and to compensate for the reduced burst in their first step they move too early. Flozell will be 35, Colombo is 31, Gurode is 32, Davis is 32, Kosier 31. That may very well be one of the oldest lines in the NFL.

I wonder if this becomes one of our primary objectives in the NFL Draft?

According to a recent post at Star-Telegram.com the Cowboys will not franchise Miles Austin nor will they sign him to a long term deal. What?

“We don’t need to use the franchise tag,” said Stephen Jones. “How many times have you seen another team give up a one and a three?”

“It’s very difficult for us to make an offer when we don’t know what the system is going to be. I’m not saying that it won’t happen, but it may be difficult,” Stephen Jones said. “We want to win next year, but we want to win in the future.”

Jerry Jones was quoted on ESPN radio saying the Cowboys will do whatever it takes to retain Austin.

“We’re just not going to have Miles Austin any place but with the Dallas Cowboys,” Jerry Jones said on ESPN/103.3 FM radio.

I’m sure that the recent comments from Stephen Jones will send some into a tizzy and spur on an onslaught of posts raising the panic alert, but all Jones did was explain the course of action regarding Miles Austin and the current climate surrounding the yet to be determined collective bargaining agreement.

Obviously the owners want to reduce the rate of salary growth while the players union want the opposite. It may take some time before they come to an agreement that suits both of them.

With the financial picture so cloudy and hard to predict, it makes it difficult for all NFL teams to negotiate long term deals with their current players.

Would you go out and buy a new house after finding out that your company was laying off 300 workers next month?

How can the Cowboys negotiate a big deal with Austin when there’s even a slight chance that there still might be a cap, and if the owners get their way, a smaller cap…

Another huge contract on top of those already given to Roy Williams, Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware and Marion Barber could suffocate the Cowboys and prevent them from making any other additional moves.

Hopefully, a new collective bargaining agreement will be in place by March 5, 2010, thus making it easier for the Cowboys and every other NFL franchise to navigate through their offseason plans and better prepare for the new season.

Miles Austin isn’t going anywhere. He is now one of our most prized possessions and there is no way the Cowboys would risk losing him.

The Dallas Cowboys have been the center of criticism and unwarranted jabs for a long time.

That said, I can honestly state that this team is one of the best in the league, especially since it won its first playoff game in over a decade. It was a long time coming for us Dallas fans, and I treasure that moment up with the ones you would have on today’s holiday of Valentines Day.

However, I was sitting with my close friend and the conversation included college majors, the artwork in our homes, old memories, and finally it drifted to sports.

And I heard something from her I couldn’t believe. She actually wished that Tony Romo was off the Cowboys.

Immediately I was stunned because Tony’s coming off his best season ever.  347/550 pass completions to attempts with a 63.1 completion percentage, 4,483 yards passing, 26 passing touchdowns to only NINE interceptions, and a 97.6 quarterback rating.

Plus, we won a playoff game!!!

What else do you want? Yeah, I know. You want to win the Super Bowl; who doesn’t?

It just ruffles my feathers when I hear the fans I represent take advantage of what Dallas has in its possession. We have a top ten quarterback and they want to catapult him out of Dallas?

I think of the days when we had Quincy Carter or Drew Bledsoe starting for us. Or how about that three game stretch in 2008 with Brad Johnson as a starter?

Those were some dark times. With Tony Romo however, we are never counted as an automatic loss ever. No team suits up against us thinking they can just check this one off the to-do list.

It’s offensive and somewhat asinine to be against Tony Romo after what he has done for us. We finally have a shot at the whole thing; Lombardi Trophy, parade, and all with Romo.

That’s something we never had with Drew Bledsoe, who looked more like a worn-out punching bag at times.

That first year in 2007 when Tony Romo took over as the starter, you knew that Dallas actually had a shot. That we weren’t battling for a lower draft spot or a season about .500, we actually had a shot.

What does Tony do? He throws 36 touchdowns and we win 13 games. Get first round bye, but are knocked out by the eventual champions, the New York Giants.

Yeah, we didn’t win it all, but we made progress! Rome wasn’t built in a day.

I think the fans or viewers that harshly critique the Cowboys as losers, and Tony Romo as a incompetent player, should either jump in a lake or read Football For Dummies.

Is their any legitimate argument that Tony Romo needs to be replaced other than the fact that he doesn’t have a Super Bowl ring yet?

Is that all that the negative people have?

Ok, lets see, just a few weeks ago, Drew Brees didn’t have a title. Should the Saints have looked for someone else instead?

Peyton Manning was in his ninth season before he won the Super Bowl. Should the Colts have scrapped him back in 04?

I think it is pure impatience by fans who want to win the Super Bowl, and since Dallas has this great history of winning the Super Bowl, they believe that the team should win it right now.

Football is not royalty, there is no entitlement to the fans for anything. All we can do is hope and pray for our players. They are trying very hard to win the Super Bowl, but we need to be patient because this isn’t Troy Aikman, who actually took five years to win the Super Bowl, and the 90s Cowboys. These are the 2010 Cowboys fresh off a playoff win and ready to kick some butt.

There are all these fans that think the solution is to change quarterbacks and every time I hear that, I just scoff and roll my eyes.

Who can we get that’s better than Romo? Better yet, who is better than Romo?

Ok, lets say: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, and Kurt Warner are better.

If anybody says Eli Manning or Ben Roethlisberger are better because they have rings do not have any idea of how average-good passers they are while Tony Romo routinely throws for 300 yards.

Kurt Warner is retired. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees are staying where they are without question for now.

Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers are unlikely going anywhere barring some scandal or them demanding a trade.

Face it people. Tony’s the best we got. He may not have a ring, but we as fans need to give him time.

This team was sorting out its kinks when he started here, and now the first year where we actually look like a Cowboys team of the past, we win a playoff game.

You got to win a playoff game before you win the Super Bowl.

Yeah, we did lose to the Vikings the next week, but I don’t think the 85 Bears could’ve knocked Favre off his rhythm that day. They just had our number and it happens.

‘Next time, we’ll have their number’ is the kind of attitude I need to see more of. How can anyone say that Tony Romo is a bad quarterback when he threw for nearly three times as many touchdowns as he did interceptions?

Please view the rest here: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/dear-fellow-dallas-fans-why-do-you-want-romo-gone/

James Williamson is also an accomplished writer for SB Nation, NFLtouchdown, and Bleacher Report.

Marcus Spears, Steven Bowen and Jason Hatcher are all becoming free agents this year. To lose them all would be a heck of a blow to a very stout D-line. Marcus Dixon , a two year practice squad vet who recently signed a reserve/futures contract, is the only valid backup. To understand what could happen with the free agents this year, you must first look at the compensation and salaries to be earned.

Four years of experience

Original pick compensation: $1.176 million

Second round tender: $1.759 million

First round tender: $2.521 million

First and third tender: $3.168 million

Five years of NFL experience

Original pick compensation: $1.226 million

Second round tender: $1.809 million

First round tender: $2.621 million

First and third round tender: $3.268 million

I believe it would be naive to think the Cowboys would simply ignore Spears and let him test the waters. The five year experience original pick compensation tender makes the most sense, since it would ensure the Cowboys a first round pick should someone sign him away and keep his salary relatively low. I know it’s a no-cap year, but Jerry most likely will be spending a little extra cash on eliminating a certain safety or o-lineman’s (or two) contract(s). I’m not naming names. You figure it out.

As for Hatcher and Bowen, I think that Bowen will receive a contract. Original pick compensation goes out the window for Bowen since he was a rookie free agent acquisition. Since Hatcher was a third round pick in ‘06, it would make sense to stick the four year original draft pick compensation tender on him and let him walk for a third round pick from a team that needs 3-4 Defensive End help. Believe me, there are quite a few. A second round tender might be pushing it and Dallas might end up stuck with a higher paying contract than Spears. (Not Smart)

Letting Hatcher walk for a third round pick would give Dallas more ammo in the draft and also would allow Dixon to take his next step in the pros. I doubt he would last another year on the practice squad. It’s do or die time for him.

Olshansky remains under a very friendly contract and should remain in place at least for the next couple of years. I think we would all agree he did very well this year replacing Canty.

Have any of you heard about the new reality show called NFL Full Contact?  The show is to air on Monday evenings at 10 pm on TruTV. I plan on watching this as often as I can so I can get my “football fix” during the off season. According to their website, the show will give us an in-depth look into the NFL.

NFL FULL CONTACT reveals the sides of football the game day cameras never show, providing the ultimate look at what goes on behind the scenes of the National Football League. Every episode lets you eavesdrop into the tense and chaotic world of making a professional football game run smoothly and features crucial events of the 2009-10 pro football season: NFL KICKOFF, COWBOYS STADIUM OPENING, THE LONDON GAME, THE PRO BOWL, THE SUPER BOWL and THE DRAFT.

I know I’ll DEFINITELY be watching the episode showing the Cowboys Stadium opening! I wasn’t able to attend the actual event and would really like to see it. The show is scheduled to run for 6 weeks but I’m hoping they get good enough ratings that they continue clear through next season so I don’t have to go through football withdrawals!

Even though most Cowboys fans began offseason weeks ago, its official now that the big game is behind us. Congratulations to the Saints for winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Drew Brees, Sean Payton and the rest of the Saints worked hard all year and definitely deserved to win it all. At least we can have joy in saying we were the first team to ruin the Saints undefeated season.

In other news, I think its sad that no one is shocked that Michael Irvin was fired from his ESPN show and at the same time was accused of rape. What else can you say?

Congratulations to Emmitt Smith for his Hall of Fame induction announcement. I cheered so loud when they announced his name at the Super Bowl to do the coin toss. Emmitt has always made us so proud, I can’t wait until he gets his moment on the stage in August.

As for the Cowboys offseason, I believe it will be relatively quiet compared to recent years. I don’t think there are any players who are unhappy… wait a minute, maybe I’m wrong. A couple of players may be ‘unhappy’ but none that have earned the right to make any noise.

I am looking forward to next season, and our road to six. The Cowboys have a great chance to play in the Super Bowl which will be extra special since its in their house! And maybe I’ve mentioned this several times, but it happens to fall on my birthday. I know every year we believe the Cowboys will win the Super Bowl but I’ve got extra high expectations for 2010!

So Cowboys fans – sit back, relax and enjoy the offseason. Hopefully it won’t last too long.

Within the next 24 hours it will be official that Emmitt Smith has made the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I can not wait for the announcement. Emmitt Smith became my favorite player early in career. As I explained in an earlier post about Emmitt he was the kind of player that gave it everything he had in every game. Sure some people say he benefited from great teams where he had a great offensive line, great quarterback and receivers. Well, I guess one could say that those other players also benefited from having Emmitt Smith as well. I never got tired of him running the ball. He took the air out of defenses to the point you could just see them give up at times.

I thought back to some of my most memorable games for Emmitt Smith. I could have listed so many more games then I did, but then my post would have been way too long.

1992 – Dallas over Washington, 23-10

It was opening night of the 1992 season on Monday Night Football. The Cowboys made a statement to the Redskins and the NFL that they were back. Emmitt Smith rushed for 140 yards on 27 carries and one touchdown.

1992 – Dallas over Philadelphia, 20-10

After getting crushed by the Eagles 31-7 a month earlier, the Cowboys came out in the rematch and took it to the Eagles. Emmitt Smith rushed for 163 yards on 30 carries as the Cowboys improved their record to 7-1.

1992 – Dallas over NY Giants, 30-3

Thanksgiving Day against the hated the Giants. A huge win which made my turkey dinner taste even better. Emmitt rushed for 120 yards on 17 carries. He scored on a 68 yard touchdown run to increase the Dallas lead to 23-3 in the third quarter. He also caught a touchdown pass from Troy Aikman in the third quarter.

1992 – Dallas over Atlanta, 41-17

This win clinched the NFC East for the Cowboys for the first time since 1985. It was also the game that Emmitt Smith had one of his greatest runs. He entered a crowd of Falcons only to get loose, bounce to the outside and beat Deion Sanders to the end zone on a 29 yard run. He added another 29 yard touchdown run in the game as he rushed for 174 yards on 24 carries.

1993 – Dallas over Philadeplphia, 23-10

Halloween on a rainy day in Philadelphia. Troy Aikman could not throw the ball in the rain and only passed for 96 yards. So Emmitt Smith had to take control. He had his only 200 yard rushing game of his career as he rushed for 237 yards. He sealed the game in the fourth quarter with a 68 yard touchdown run as he beat Eric Allen to the end zone.

1993 – Dallas over NY Giants, 16-13 (OT)

The greatest performance I have ever seen from a player. Emmitt Smith played through the pain of a separated shoulder and showed how much heart he really had and that he would do anything to win a game. Emmitt Smith scored the Cowboys only touchdown on a pass from Troy Aikman in the first half. He rushed for 168 yards on 32 carries and added another 61 yards on 10 receptions. The Cowboys kept giving him the ball in overtime and Emmitt put them into position for the game winning field goal.

1993 – Dallas over Buffalo, 30-13 (Super Bowl XXVIII)

With the Cowboys and Bills tied at 13-13 in the third quarter, Emmitt Smith led the Cowboys to the go ahead score and they would never look back. Emmitt scored from 15 yards out and then sealed the game in the fourth quarter with his second touchdown. He rushed for 132 yards on 30 carries and earned the Super Bowl MVP.

1995 – Dallas over NY Giants 35-0

Opening night of the season and Emmitt Smith could not have started the season any better. On his first carry of the season he scored from 60 yards out. He scored three more times in the game as he rushed for 163 yards on just 21 carries.

1995 – Dallas over Minnesota, 23-17 (OT)

Emmitt Smith shredded the Vikings defense as he rushed for 150 yards on 20 carries. He also scored twice. The last score coming in overtime as he broke free and scored from 31 yards out to improve the Cowboys to 3-0.

1995 – Dallas over Green Bay, 38-27 (NFC Championship)

With the Packers leading going into the fourth quarter it was Emmitt Smith who took control and tired out the Packers defense with two scores in the fourth. Emmitt Smith totaled three touchdowns in the game and rushed for 150 yards on 35 carries.

1999 – Dallas loses to Minnesota, 27-17

A few days after the death of the great Walter Payton. Emmitt Smith wanted to dedicate the game to Payton and try to break his single game rushing record. He was well on his way as he pushed the Cowboys to a 17-7 halftime lead. He scored from 63 and 24 yards, but late in the second quarter he injured his finger and could not return. In one half Emmitt Smith rushed for 140 yards on 13 carries to go with his two scores. One can only imagine what kind of game Emmitt Smith would have had if he had not been injured.

2002 – Dallas loses to Seattle, 17-14

This was the game that Emmitt Smith broke the all-time rushing record that Walter Payton held for so long. It was an unbelievable moment that I will never forget. The emotions Emmitt Smith showed were great, especially the moment on the sideline with Daryl (Moose) Johnston who blocked for him for so many years. Emmitt Smith was the one who tied the game in the fourth quarter, but the Cowboys could not get the win. Emmitt Smith rushed for 109 yards in his record breaking game.

Hall of Fame wide receiver, Michael Irvin, has been accused of forcible rape by a young woman at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in 2007, a month after he gave a moving speech at the Hall of Fame.

There are no criminal charges yet, but the woman is filing against him in civil court with a lawsuit. She will be known as the woman because her name has been kept confidential. Even the lawsuit states her as Jane Doe.

Irvin’s lawyer, Larry Friedman scoffed at the charge calling it, “totally untrue.”

In fact, he is stating that no kind of contact of any physical nature, consensual or forced, happened between the plantiff and Irvin.

I’m sorry, but I refuse to graphically state the alleged crime because I’m not sure how young my readers are.

But, to put it in plainly, she states that Irvin got her drunk, tricked/escorted her to his room where he and another man had some fun with her, and then Irvin committed the alleged felony. After he was done, the other man had the woman ‘Lewinsky’ him.

Irvin’s brother, Derrick, was accused of helping Michael silence his crime after the deed was done by taking the woman to another room and “assisted in covering the sexual assault and rape up.”

Friedman, Irvin’s attorney, is basically calling the woman a blackmailer/extortionist.

The woman apparently spoke up after Irvin appeared on a few episodes of the television show Dancing With the Stars.

She wanted to settle for a million dollars, then went down to $800,000.

Each time, Friedman said no.

“This complaint is tantamount to criminal extortion,” Friedman said. “There is no merit to the complaint.”

Plaintiff’s lawyer stated that his client has passed a polygraph test (which, by the way, are not used in criminal courts of law because they can be fooled).

No criminal charges have been filed, but the district attorney’s office will ponder their options for a little while until a decision is made.

I can’t believe that the Super Bowl is only a few days away. I also can not believe that we are up to Super Bowl XLIV. The very first Super Bowl I remember a little of was Super Bowl XII when the Cowboys beat the Broncos, although I really had no idea what was really going on. It was the game that made me a fan. Here is my post from last July.

http://lonestarstruck.com/2009/07/what-is-this-game-they-call-the-super-bowl.html

As far as my favorite Super Bowls? That’s a tough question. How do you rate Super Bowls? By how close the game is? By the exciting plays? Was their a great finish? Can a blowout be a great game? Here are some of my favorites over the years.

Super Bowl XII – Dallas over Denver, 27-10

This has to be on my list because it was my first ever Dallas game and the reason I became a fan.

Super Bowl XIII – Pittsburgh over Dallas, 35-31

Yes, the Cowboys lost, but you can not deny that this was one of the all-time classic showdowns.

Super Bowl XIV – Pittsburgh over LA Rams, 31-19

Great game that I was fortunate enough to get a copy of. The Rams put up a great fight and actually led 19-13 late in this game.

Super Bowl XVII – Washington over Miami, 27-17

This game does not get the credit it deserves.

Super Bowl XVIII – LA Raiders over Washington, 38-9

One of the great blowout games I think and not boring in my opinion. Complete domination by the Raiders.

Super Bowl XXV – NY Giants over Buffalo, 20-19

Yes, I know. Hated that the Giants won this game. I was actually mad for weeks, but again you can not deny this was a great game.

Super Bowl XXVII – Dallas over Buffalo, 52-17

Finally, my first chance to see the Cowboys in the Super Bowl. Amazing game by an amazing team. Final score should have been 59-10. Cowboy’s fans know what I’m talking about.

Super Bowl XXVIII – Dallas over Buffalo, 30-13

Ok, I could do without the first half. The second half? Wow!!! Dallas took control and stomped on the Bills.

Super Bowl XXXIII – Denver over Green Bay, 31-24

One of my all-time favorite Super Bowls. From start to finish it was entertaining. It was great to see John Elway finally win one.

Super Bowl XXXV – Baltimore over NY Giants, 34-7

Hahahaha!!!!! As a Giants hater I could not have been more happier with this Super Bowl. Complete domination.

Super Bowl XXXVI – New England over St. Louis, 20-17

This was back when the Patriots were unknowns and underdogs. I thought it was great how the dominated the Rams until the 4th quarter and then drove down for the winning field goal after the Rams had tied the game.

Super Bowl XXXVIII – New England over Carolina, 32-29

Great 4th quarter of scoring and exciting football. A total of 37 points were scored in the 4th alone.

On with this years Super Bowl. I know some people don’t even like to watch when their teams are not playing in it, but for me it’s still the Super Bowl. I love watching the game every year. This year we have the Colts and the Saints. The Saints are the feel good story with everything New Orleans has gone through with hurricane Katrina. But they also have Jeremy Shockey and that alone keeps me from cheering for them. The Colts are a likable team that I can cheer for. Plus their Manning is not named Eli. So I guess I will pull for the Colts, but in the end I just want a great game that comes down to the end.

The new logo for Super Bowl XLV in Cowboys Stadium has been released. Wouldn’t it be something to have our Cowboys playing in their own house?

Charles Haley. Man, what can I say about this guy.

When you think of success, in terms of football, one of the first images that should pop into anyone’s mind is Charles Haley. No player had more success than he did.

To be on five Super Bowl teams and have five Super Bowl rings is an accomplishment that no one has been able to match, and I doubt if anyone else ever will.

The addition of free agency and salary caps have prevented dynasties from surviving in the NFL. “The teams that do stay intact, like the Patriots, are unusual,” to paraphrase my idol, Paul Zimmerman.

Therefore, it is almost impossible for a man to be on five different teams and win the Super Bowl. He’d have to be a mid-level player for one, because teams try to lock up their stars for several years.

He’d also have to be extremely lucky as well.

But, Charles Haley was more than that. Charles Haley was a difference maker. Charles Haley was a man that scared opponents. He made every defensive line he played on a better line. He made every linebacking corp he played with a better crew, and he was probably the most angry and violent man to ever play professional football.

This defensive end/outside linebacker belongs in the Hall of Fame.

To truly understand why this man is a must for a Hall of Fame, you have to look at the player. You can’t just look at numbers. You have to get inside Charles Haley’s head and understand what kind of player was he.

Was he driven? Was he a leader? Was he a locker-room cancer? Was he someone who made clutch plays? Was he a constant threat to other teams? Did his teammates respect him?

All of those things come into perspective now. We are talking about the Hall of Fame here. Charles Haley is on a list with 14 guys, and only a maximum of five of those men are going into Canton this year, and with two slots being locks for Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice, that means Charles Haley will have to beat out a minimum of ten players for a bust in Canton.

For voters to choose Charles Haley, they will need to judge every aspect of Charles Haley besides the statistics he has on football websites.

Charles Haley was born in Gladys, Virginia on January 6, 1964. He went to James Madison University and is the best player to ever come from there.

Since James Madison is not relatively known for its NFL talent or has what one would call a high competition level, Haley’s success there was overlooked.

However, arguably the greatest talent judge of all time, Bill Walsh, saw something in Charles Haley.

In 1986,  Bill Walsh realized that the 1986 draft really was weak in terms of talent. “One of our chief scouts after the draft said to other people, “That’s the worst draft I’ve ever seen.””

Walsh realized that he could make trades and accumulate multiple draft picks in order to really build depth to the 49ers. He turned eight draft picks into 14 through a variety of trades.

Out of those 14 picks, he drafted eight starters for at least one Super Bowl, most started two, in the 88-89 Super Bowls.

Walsh and his assistants saw Charles Haley in the fourth round, and Walsh knew that Haley was something to get.

Haley had very long arms that could extend and get to the passer. He was 6-5, around 250 lbs and very fast. An ideal defensive end.

Combine physical talent with Haley’s almost Viking-like warrior persona and an intense dedication that was rivaled by few, and you get a great football player.

Haley was frequently used as a pass-rusher his rookie year, and he compiled 12 sacks, despite the fact that he was playing linebacker instead of his college position of defensive end.

His second year, he only played in 12 games, and the Niners were upset by the Vikings in the playoffs.

However, in Haley’s first year as a starter at left outside linebacker, he was elected to the Pro Bowl with11.5 sacks, and the Niners won their third Super Bowl title.

Remember that the left outside linebacker is really, to the quarterbacks point of view, on the right. So, Haley managed to record 11.5 sacks with the quarterback able to see him coming most of the time since most quarterbacks are right-handed.

I’d like to know how many sacks he would have gotten if he had rushed on the quarterback’s blind side.

Not only was Haley crowned a champion, he also was recognized as a great player by one of the game

“Charles is one of the greatest players of our era,” said 49ers Vice President/General manager/Head Coach Bill Walsh. “At one point he was considered the best pass rusher in all of football. He’s been a credit to the game and very well could be a Hall of Fame candidate.”

Bill Walsh understood Charles Haley and how to deal with a man like Haley. Haley was… I can’t spin it or try to fudge the facts, he was crazy. The guy was nuttier than a cuckoo clock.

He was a manic-depressive. He could be happy and sweet as well as helpful with other players, and down and mean as a mother-in-law the next.

One of the most common similes used today to describe someone when they’re mad is to compare them to a volcano. I think that simile is used as a hyperbole too often.

Yet, that simile is what one can use to perfectly describe Charles Haley. He had so much anger in him that it did come out like ash and lava out of a volcano when he lost his temper.

He even wrote an autobiography entitled, All The Rage, which was a first person perspective of the thoughts and words of Charles Haley himself.

It really is a book that I would recommend because it can help one understand how an NFL player would think, and how to handle people with severe psychological problems.

He also was a guy who would ride you. You could not have thin skin or sensitive feelings around Haley. He was always testing you. He made fun of Joe Montana’s nose, he went after Troy Aikman’s crooked smile, he messed with Deion Sanders’ uniforms, and he even went after Jimmy Johnson’s hair.

Haley accepted teasing as well. People would talk about his head, how it was pointy and shaped like a bullet.

Some could take it, some couldn’t. Matt Millen, a highly talented linebacker for the Raiders joined the 49ers in 1989, and he said, “Now, I get to the 49ers.Within a week, I want to kill him.”

No one was safe from Charles Haley. The players needed to have thick skin or he’d eat them alive.

One of Haley’s closest friends and largest supporters is Hall of Fame cornerback/safety Ronnie Lott. Ronnie Lott was the guy that could keep Haley from going over the edge whenever Haley started pushing it too far and becoming a locker room chaos.

After the 1988 season, Bill Walsh retired from the 49ers. Defensive coordinator George Seifert was chosen to replace Walsh, and Haley was not happy with the transition.

Seifert did not know how to talk to Charles Haley. Seifert was not a good choice for a mediator, and as a coach, you have to be able to talk to your players, especially with guys like Charles Haley.

An excerpt of Haley’s book tells of what George Seifert was like as a communicator.

“When I was in San Francisco, Seifert’s way of dealing with black players was to bring in Harry Edwards. Dr. Edwards is a professor of sociology at Cal-Berkeley. He used to be a radical, but now I think he’s all about the money. Give him a check and he’ll help your team solve its racial problems. It was kind of pathetic, really. He’d come around, acting like he belonged, telling stories about how he used to be with the Black Panthers and shit. Most guys would just try to ignore him. We all knew why he was there: to be the mediator between the coaching staff and the black players. It was like Seifert said, “I’ll handle the white guys, you talk to the black guys.” What kind of bull**** is that?”

Bill Walsh was not that kind of coach. He talked to all of his players, and Haley respected him for it, but Seifert did not make that effort.

Since the 49ers were such a dominant team to begin with, the 89 season was really a breeze for them to repeat. They were 14-2 and blew out the Broncos in  Super Bowl XXIV 55-10.

One signature play in that game was when John Elway throws an interception to Michael Walter, and that would not have happened had Charles Haley not been in his eyesight. Elway could not see Walter because Haley’s pass rush prevented him from seeing that Walter was in a position to intercept the ball.

Charles Haley was the owner of two Super Bowl rings with that victory. Things did not go well after that though.

After losing the 1990 NFC Championship game to the New York Giants, the 49ers did not resign Ronnie Lott, and Lott went to the Los Angeles Raiders instead.

Matt Millen said, “It was like the ship was rudderless, and that drove Charles crazy. And so, when Ronnie left, they lost Charles Haley at the same time.”

Charles Haley said in an NFL Films interview, “Just seeing the anger and hurt in his (Ronnie Lott’s) eyes man, and that hurt went over into me and uh, because I’m a loyal friend, I could not deal with it, I could not deal with it. It just festered into everything. I just started hating being here, hated wearing the uniform.”

Forget money, strength, physical attractiveness,  and all that other stuff; my main criteria for the Pro Football Hall of Fame along with great play is great character and there is no greater measure of character than loyalty to one’s friends.

The bond that Haley shared with Lott is one that I can describe best by another use of Haley’s book.

It was 1991. The Raiders had Ronnie Lott on their team. The 49ers were in Los Angeles, and the Raiders are a decent team that finished 9-7, but the Niners should have beaten them.

The Niners didn’t even score a touchdown. They lost 12-6 in what I would definitely call an embarrassing fashion with Steve Young throwing two interceptions.

Losses like this happen though, right? This was more than just a “loss,” this was the final blow to the already unstable and frustrated Charles Haley.

“My frustration reached a peak in the fifth week of the ‘91 season, when we lost to the Los Angeles Raiders, Ronnie Lott’’s new team. After the game I had a slight nervous breakdown–or whatever you want to call it. Basically I lost control and gave the 49ers reason to believe that I really was crazy. It just seemed like I was the only guy out there playing hard, and I went up to George and told him, “You know, you’ve got to start coming down on these guys.” Everybody had big contracts, everybody was fat, with full pockets. They weren’t playing hard anymore. They weren’t hungry. But when you try to point out something like that, when you try to express your opinion, coaches always think, You’re a dumb-*** football player and you can’t tell me anything.

I tried, though. Man, did I try. When the game ended those motherf****** came in, and I really gave it to them. I started cussing out the whole team. George got sick of listening to me, I guess, so he grabbed my arm, and when he did that I just lost it. I took a swing right at his smug little head. Fortunately, I missed. But I did hit the wall, and it hurt so much–left a big knuckle print–that I got even more pissed off. I started bouncing around, cursing, yelling, throwing s***. Then I put my hand through a window and cut it to pieces. They had to stitch me up in the locker room.

I don’t know what I was thinking. My temper had gotten me in trouble before, but this was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I was in a complete f******* rage. Some of the other players tried to hold me down after a while, but I wouldn’t let them. Finally, they tracked down Ronnie in the other locker room, and he came running in. I remember he was half-naked–shorts, no shirt, no shoes. He sat down next to me, held my hand, and kept telling me everything would be all right. I just sat there shaking, crying. It was so emotional. I can’t really explain what happened, except to say that I felt like they were trying to destroy me…and they almost succeeded.”

That is as close to brotherhood as you will find. To find a man like Charles Haley, who is one of the toughest men to ever step on a football field and is willing to let another man hold his hand as he is crying is the ultimate symbol of trust.

That was the beginning of the end for Charles Haley. After the 91 season, the 49ers made a deal with the Dallas Cowboys, exchanging Charles Haley for a pair of second and third-round draft picks.

You can quote me on this. It was the trade that finished the championship roster for the Dallas Cowboys.

In 1991, the Cowboys had allowed 310 points to finish 17th in the league in defense. After Haley showed up in 1992, the Cowboys were 5th in defense and allowed only 243 points for the season.

The only change to the defensive starting roster was Charles Haley. He brought a championship attitude. A guy who had two rings in the Niners dynasty and was still as hungry as fox in a chicken house. His strength and leadership made the defense dominant enough for the Cowboys to win Super Bowl XXVII.

One play that really changed the momentum of the Cowboys in that game was when Jimmie Jones caught a fumble in mid-air on the two yard line and he dived into the endzone as fast as he could.

The only reason that play happened was because Charles Haley got his hand on Jim Kelly and forced the fumble.

Dallas got the lead with that play and never gave it back. It was one of the biggest blowouts in Super Bowl history with a score of 52-17.

A year later, they won it all again. The Cowboys beat the Bills again with a score of 30-13.

Charles Haley became one of the few players in NFL history to have four Super Bowl rings. It is hard to get one ring, but four?

Who would have thought that he’d be getting one for the thumb in two years when the Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 30-20 in Super Bowl XXX.

That would be the end of championships, but not challenges for Charles Haley. He would later face a challenge that you cannot defeat by working out or sacking the quarterback or winning a Super Bowl. He would have to face the challenge of a father.

His daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. Nothing hurts more to a man than when he sees his little girl in pain, and he cannot do anything to stop it. That and an injured back led Charles Haley to retire from football in 1996.

He was there for her and her fight to overcome it made him realize that he could come back to football. At the age of 35, he came back to football in 1999. He would rejoin his former team, the 49ers, who now had Bill Walsh back in charge as the Vice President and General Manager. Haley was welcomed with open arms.

It is strange though when you think of it. He’s got injuries, he has five Super Bowl rings, he definitely had done enough to be considered for the Hall of Fame. Why come back?

It is the same reason as a lot of people. For the love of the game, he came back and played.

Another oddity about Haley is that he doesn’t wear his rings. He said, “I believe that if I put it away, then I’d always keep driving and trying to get another one.” He doesn’t even remember where he put them. That’s the kind of man he is.

And you know what? He’s right. It is human nature for us to have goals and a lot of the times as we get closer to our goals or once we complete them, we lose our will to keep climbing the mountain. Charles Haley never would let that happen to him. That’s why he was a part of five championship teams.

He never wanted to stop winning, and he never did stop. After the 1999 season, he retired. He realized that he would probably end up in a full body cast if he kept playing.

Despite all the things that he may have done off the field (I’m not going to get into details because this is a PG-13 case at most), he’s a Hall of Famer. Even Jeff Pearlman, the author of the tell-all book “Boys Will Be Boys” that states all the activities, legal and illegal, of the 1990s Cowboys, believes the man belongs in the Hall of Fame which he stated on the Jim Rome Show.

If this guy, who knows everything good and bad, Charles Haley has done says he belongs, how can anyone argue he doesn’t belong?

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