Former Special Teams Coach Joe Avezzano Dies at 68
Numerous media sources including ESPN.com are reporting that former Dallas Cowboys Special Teams coach Joe Avezzano has passed away from a heart attack at the age of 68. The Washington Post has reported that,
”Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple confirmed that Avezzano died in Italy. He had moved to Milan earlier this year to coach an Italian Football League team, the Milan Seamen. That team said on its website that Avezzano died of a heart attack. Attempts to resuscitate Avezzano were unsuccessful, the team said.”
Dallas Cowboys fans and family are crushed by this news. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had this to say about the beloved coach:
“Joe Avezzano was a very special part of our Dallas Cowboys family and our organization’s history. He was also a wonderful father, husband and friend. No one enjoyed life more than Joe, and no one that I know had a greater appreciation for the people that he loved and the lives that he touched. We grieve with Diann and Tony and the thousands of fans who loved Coach Joe. He was an original. There was no one else like him.”
Avezzano spent 12 years with the Dallas Cowboys and won three Super Bowls with them in 1993, 1994 and 1996. He was a very popular figure among Dallas Cowboys fans and appeared on TV and radio shows regularly as an analyst.
Former NFL Quarterback Ryan Leaf Arrested
Former 1998 NFL 1st round pick and San Diego Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf has been arrested on burglary and drug possession charges according to numerous sources. He was arrested in his hometown of Great Falls, Montana. According to NBCMontana.com, Leaf released a statement early this morning say this:
“I’ve made some mistakes, and have no excuses. I am using the tools I’ve learned to move forward rather than backwards, and will be open to talking about the details in the days to come. I am confident that there will be further understanding when the facts are revealed, and feel very blessed for all of the support, especially from my friends and family.”
Leaf was in Montana for a book tour about how how he had turned his life around. Apparently that is not the case. According to NBC Sports,
“In 2010, Leaf was placed on 10 years’ probation after pleading guilty to eight felony drug charges in Texas.”
This occurred while coaching at West Texas A&M. He was also said to have been fined $20,000 in that case.
Leaf played in 21 games for the Chargers over three seasons after they drafted him in 1998. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys in 2001 appearing in four games over that period. He finished his career with 14 touchdowns, 36 interceptions and 3666 yards over 25 games played.
Brandon Jacobs Signs with 49ers
Former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers worth $2 million, according to NFL Network insider Jason La Canfor. Giants coach Tom Coughlin had mentioned that he would be open to bringing Brandon Jacobs back to New York. I guess Jacobs felt he was not wanted there.
The once 6’4″ 256 pound feared running back, that ran over defenders, only had 571 rushing yards last year when he averaged 939 yards a season from 2007-2010. Some believe Jacobs is worn down and couldn’t take the punishment of running over and through the defense as he had done in years past. He didn’t run downhill as he had used to do. He attempted to bounce outside more, which for years he rarely did when handed the ball.
San Francisco now has four running backs when it looks like Jacobs is a third or fourth option. Frank Gore leads the pack in San Francisco with Kendall Hunter and Anthony Dixon following him for playing time. I don’t think it could hurt to have Jacobs as a back up plan. When he is not carrying the ball every other down, he may be more willing to pound the ball inside like he did when he entered the league. He is a force to be reckoned with when he is on his game. Just don’t get in his way.
Warren Sapp Tweets Jeremy Shockey is the Snitch
Twitter can be a great tool for social media and making something popular. It can also make people look really bad, whether that be the person tweeting or the person that is being tweeted about at that point in time. Warren Sapp, an employee of the NFL, has tweeted that Jeremy Shockey was the snitch in the New Orleans Saints bounty program. Why is Sapp being an NFL employee relevant to this story? The NFL has stated very clearly it will protect any “whistleblowers” who report violations and this looks like Sapp is undercutting them.
Shockey was quick to say that he had no involvement in telling the NFL about the bounties and that he was not aware of anything. Yahoo Sports had more on the issue:
“I was never in the defensive meeting rooms to know anything about what went on in there and I’ve never been asked to try and hurt someone on the opposing team. Nobody ever said, ‘Oh, go take out [Minnesota defensive end] Jared Allen and you can make some money.’ I never been about hurting someone. I’ve paid guys for getting a big interception or returning a kickoff for a touchdown, if you want to call that a bounty.
“But that was just among the players. When we did that stuff, we told the coaches to leave. I called Heath Evans and Drew Brees to talk to them about this to make sure they knew I would never talk about stuff that happened in the locker room.
“Sapp can say what he wants about me, but if he really says that he’ll put his life on the line for his source, we’ll see. I’ve never been a guy who failed multiple drug tests. I’ve never been divorced. I don’t have four kids by four different women. I don’t lie. This attacks my character and it’s not fair.”
You can check that article out here.
New Orleans Saints Slammed with Penalties
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has come down hard on the New Orleans Saints for their “bounty” program that paid Saints defensive players to hurt key players for the opposing team.
Tim Tebow Traded to Jets
Tim Tebow was traded to the Jets this afternoon for a fourth and sixth-round pick for 2012.