Dallas Cowboys practice facility collapses

We're following the story of the news from Irving, TX, where the practice facility collapsed today during a rookie mini-camp. The Dallas Morning News Cowboys blog is reporting twelve people were taken to the hospital.

Ten people were transported to the hospital and two more were treated as walk-ins after the Cowboys' indoor facility collapsed today, according to Irving assistant fire chief Rusty Wilson.

At least two of the injuries are considered serious. No further information was released due to privacy laws.

"Right now, I don't think we have anybody who is in a life-threatening situation," said Paul Pepe, the head of emergency medical services for Dallas County.

Sportswriter Todd Archer reported what happened to him when the facility went down:

As we attempted to get out the door when the structure buckled, we got jammed until the door gave way. I think the door structure fell on me, knocking me to the ground. It then rested on my leg. Unable to move, I yelled for help, unaware what was going on around me.

I could see feet go by and I hoped somebody would attempt to lift it up so I could squeeze through. At first Eatman, one of the staff writer's for the team's Web site, attempted to lift some piece of the door off me. He said Williams pushed him to the side and he and Smith were able to get whatever was on me off.

I rolled on to my back and crawled out as the rain - and I think hail - pounded us all. As I got up, I saw the structure I've been in hundreds of times down and started to make my way to the facility.

By the way, don't bother watching ESPN for coverage.

So how ugly is the mood in Dallas tonight?

Some reaction to today's game from the Dallas Morning News Cowboys blog:

There's not much I can say about this one," Phillips said to open his postgame press conference. "It was a disaster from the opening kickoff."

"Say what you want about Wade Phillips' performance, but give him credit for succinctly summing up the Cowboys' season-ending stinker." -DMN's Tim McMahon

"Why didn't a reporter throw his shoe at him?" - commenter "Debbie Did Dallas"

Obama reads the newspaper endorsements

The New York Post, The Dallas Morning News and The Washington Times all found themselves off the Obama campaign plane after their newspapers endorsed Senator John McCain.

Former Badger may be cavalry to the rescue

The Dallas Cowboys #3 quarterback Brooks Bollinger may be called on to relieve Brad Johnson this Sunday if the Cowboys' offense sputters against the Giants on Sunday.

After some prodding, Phillips said that Johnson would start Sunday against the Giants. He was hesitant to even do that. Phillips certainly didn't shoot down the possibility of bringing in third-stringer Brooks Bollinger if the Cowboys' offense sputters again.

"I don't know," Phillips said as he headed off to meetings. "We'll have to discuss all that. He really hasn't taken any snaps with the first team."

The hunch here is that will change Wednesday.

Tim MacMahon of the Dallas Morning News has the stats of warning for impatient Cowboys fans.

There's a reason Bollinger was unemployed at the beginning of the season.

Bollinger went 6-of-18 for 62 yards against the Cowboys in his last game action, the preseason finale and his swan song with the Vikings. He does have some starting experience, but it's not exactly of the encouraging variety. Bollinger's team lost eight of his 10 starts.

I'd rather look at John McCain's poll numbers

It didn't take long. Tim McMahon at the Dallas Morning News has the first call for a new head coach:

I'm sure Wade Phillips will point out a few positives, starting with how the Cowboys fought back when hope appeared lost, but the facts are that the Cowboys have lost two of three games and played poorly in the lone win during that stretch.

The Cowboys were lucky that they had any chance to beat the Cardinals this afternoon. From the opening kickoff, which Arizona's J.J. Arrington returned for a touchdown, the Cowboys made mistake after mistake after mistake.

That isn't necessarily surprising. After all, the Cowboys spent the week making excuses for an ugly win before dealing with distractions caused by Adam "Pacman" Jones' stupidity.

This is a team that considers itself a Super Bowl contender, but it sure isn't playing or acting like one. Anybody have confidence that admitted softie Wade Phillips can right the ship?

Unfortunately, I only caught the awful end of the game so I'll have to read the blogs and the newspapers to catch up. But I can guarantee this. There's some yelling in Dallas tonight, and it ain't, "How 'bout them Cowboys?" More likely it's, "Where's our goddam Super Bowl team?"

Oh, and by the way, if you picked the Cowboys in your pool, I do not own the Cowboys. I do not coach the Cowboys. And I do not play for the Cowboys. I do not pick their players. I don't even audition their cheerleaders. If you're a degenerate gambler that bet on the Cowboys, you lost. Do I complain about "your Packers" when I lose money on them? (And you probably own their worthless stock.)

Those classy Packer fans

Author Phil Hanrahan, researching a book on life after Brett Favre in Green Bay, was looking for Dallas Cowboys fans from Dallas who were in Green Bay for the game:

"So far the only Cowboys fan at Lambeau I've made contact with happened to be from Wisconsin, of all places. Poor guy got a beer thrown on him for wearing a Witten jersey. Also said a drunk Packer fan head-butted a Cowboy fan at halftime in the restroom.

Hopefully some other Cowboys fans had better experiences."

Cowboys vs Redskins preview

The Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys are the greatest rivals in the history of the NFL, and it is one of the best rivalries in all of sports.  The rivalry famously began when the owner of the Redskins tried to block the formation of the Dallas Cowboys.  Clint Murchison, the first Dallas Cowboys owner, acquired the rights to "Hail to the Redskins" and then told the Redskins ownership they would not be allowed to play their fight song at games.  Thus a franchise, and a heated rivalry, was born.

The Washington Times' Redskins preview is a fun read this morning - if you're a Dallas Cowboys fan.  The Washington Times rates the Cowboys the Redskins' superior on offense, defense and special teams.

The Dallas Morning News has the top 5 games in the history of the rivalry.  Hard to argue with number 1.

1. Captain Comeback

Cowboys 35, Redskins 34, Dec. 16, 1979

In what is considered one of the great games in NFL history, Roger Staubach rallied his team from a 34-21 deficit in the fourth quarter to clinch the NFC East title.

The Cowboys scored 21 consecutive points to take a 21-17 lead. But Washington came right back to lead, 34-21.

No problem for The Captain, who found receiver Tony Hill for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 39 seconds left.

When the day was over, defensive end Harvey Martin threw a funeral wreath in the Redskins locker room.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has the story of Tom Landry's final win as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

Tom Landry’s 250th NFL regular-season victory also was his last.

It came Dec. 11, 1988, at Washington. The Dallas Cowboys brought a 10-game losing streak into RFK Stadium. Only their pride was at stake that day.

The Redskins were a different story. They were the defending Super Bowl champs who desperately needed to win this game, which ultimately came down to a Michael Downs deflection of a fourth-down Doug Williams pass in the end zone.

It was a doubly great day for Cowboys fans. Their team got a rare win 24-17, and the Redskins were mathematically eliminated from the playoff picture.

This is the final game between the two rivals at Texas Stadium.  Joe Theismann told the Washington Post:

"What I'll remember," the former Washington Redskins quarterback said last week, "is just how stupid that hole in the roof looked while I was lying on the turf."

Football commentary

You can follow me on Twitter, the Dallas Morning News is blogging the game, and Brewed Sports has an open thread.

Hometown boy makes good

Number 9 in your playbook but number one in our hearts Tony Romo returns to Wisconsin to lead his Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field for the first time. David Moore of the Dallas Morning News comments:

Here is what Romo won't tell you. He invited a few friends to his home eight months ago to watch the NFC Championship Game between Green Bay and the New York Giants. Ask the people in that room who Romo wanted to win.

"He still roots for the Packers when he's not playing them and they can't hurt the Cowboys in the standings," said Steve Tenhagen, part of Romo's Wisconsin entourage that day. "He's not going to feed that to you guys [media] and make a big story out of it.

"But yeah, this game is going to be a big deal for him, without a doubt."

Three out of four dentists that watch football at The Green Bay Press Gazette say it will be a triumphant homecoming for Tony Romo.

How about them Cowboys?

If you missed them Monday night, the NFL has decided to let you watch the Dallas Cowboys again on Wednesday night at 8:30.

Talking football

The Wisconsin Sports Bar blog was burned down by its crazed owner and the patrons have moved over to The Cheesehead Corner Pub. With any luck they will be more hospitable to Dallas Cowboy fans.

Meanwhile, I'm commenting occasionally on the game at Twitter, probably until halftime. And there's the Dallas Morning News game blog.

Pass the popcorn

Everybody's happy in the Big D, including TO. He just inked a new contract with the Cowboys and received an interesting signing bonus.

Could have been worse. Could have been pom-poms and Sharpies.

An honest sportswriter

Dallas Morning News sportswriter Tim MacMahon:

Texas A&M TE Martellus Bennett was one of the best talkers in college football the last few seasons. And now he's coming to the Cowboys as the No. 61 overall pick.

Needless to say, I'm on board with this pick.

By the way, the sportswriters in Dallas (far less domesticated than their Green Bay cousins) are not happy who Dallas picked with the first of their two first round picks. Running back Rashard Mendenhall was available but the Cowboys picked running back Felix Jones. I liked what I heard about Jones (can run inside, good outside runner, good hands, can help in the return game right away) so why should I complain?

Then again, the last time I was right about anything concerning the NFL draft was when the Colts picked Edgerrin James.

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