Crowds Aren't Booing Flag Disrespect, But Equal Rights

The picture above, from the Associated Press, was found at the ABC News website. It shows the Dallas Cowboys players, coaches, and owner kneeling arm-in-arm before the football game last Monday night. They said it was to show their support for equal rights (and their fellow NFL players).

They were booed by a significant portion of the crowd there to see the game. My question is -- why were they booed? It cannot be because they "disrespected" the flag or the anthem. The kneeling was done BEFORE the flag was unfurled and the anthem sung. They stood (arm-in-arm) during the singing of the anthem.

All I can figure is that those who booed don't respect the First Amendment to the Constitution (which guarantees the right to peaceably demonstrate), or the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution (which guarantees equal rights under the law to all citizens), and don't believe the police should be required to treat minorities the same way they treat whites (which is what the kneeling is about).

That's a sad commentary on our society -- that many people would put a piece of cloth and a song above the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Why don't they realize that those rights are far more important to our democracy than showing respect to symbols (a flag or a national anthem)?

Fortunately, a new poll shows that although those people disrespecting our Constitution are a minority (albeit a significantly large minority). The survey is the Reuters / Ipsos Poll -- done on September 25th and 26th of a random national sample of 1,622 adults, with a 2.8 point margin of error.

It shows that 57% of the public disagrees with Trump that NFL players who kneel should be fired, while only 29% agree with Trump. In fact, 53% don't think Trump should be commenting on the players kneeling anyway, while only 35% think he should be commenting.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks In 2016 NFL Draft

As regular readers of this blog will probably know, I am a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. I have only missed seeing or hearing one Cowboys game since their inception in 1960. That was when I was having surgery to repair a gunshot wound in 2005 -- and even then, my first question when waking up was "Did the Cowboys win?" (they had not won that one).

So, I hope you'll bear with me as I part with politics for a minute to celebrate the Cowboy's draft picks for this year.

Here are those picks:

4th pick (round 1) -- Ezekiel Elliott, running back, Ohio State (6'0", 225 lbs)

34th pick (round 2) -- Jaylon Smith, linebacker, Notre Dame (6'3", 229 lbs)

67th pick (round 3) -- Maliek Collins, defensive tackle, Nebraska (6'2", 311 lbs)

101st pick (round 4) -- Charles Tapper, defensive end, Oklahoma (6'4", 260 lbs)

135th pick (round 4) -- Dak Prescott, quarterback, Mississippi State (6'2", 226 lbs)

189th pick (round 6) -- Anthony Brown, cornerback, Purdue (5'11", 192 lbs)

212th pick (round 6) -- Kavon Frazier, safety, Central Michigan (6'0", 217 lbs)

216th pick (round 6) -- Darius Jackson, running back, Eastern Michigan (6'0", 221 lbs)

217th pick (round 6) -- Rico Gathers, tight end, Baylor (6'8", 273 lbs)

I have no doubt that Ezekiel Elliott will make an immediate impact, especially running behind the great offensive line of the Cowboys. But this draft will be judged by the players taken after him.

Jaylon Smith was originally projected to be a top five pick in this draft, but then he hurt his knee. He is expected to recuperate fully, but probably will not play until the 2017 season. If he does return to the form he had in college, this this will be remembered as a great pick. He just won't be able to help the team this season.

For me, this draft will be judged as good or bad by how the next four players work out. Can Maliek Collins, Charles Tapper, and Anthony Brown help to improve the defense in the coming season? Will Dak Prescott turn out to be the team's future quarterback (as expected)? Nobody knows, but I hope they are all as good as I think they are. We'll find out when training camp opens in July.

Cowboys Use #4 Pick To Select Running Back Ezekiel Elliott

The Dallas Cowboys used their number 4 pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft to select Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott.

I was a bit surprised, because I think the Cowboys have more holes on defense than offense -- but Elliott seems to be the consensus best running back in this year's draft. If it takes us back to the type of run offense Dallas had with Emmitt Smith, then I won't complain. And that could happen, since Dallas has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.

The pick of Elliott could also take some pressure off of quarterback Tony Romo, as defenses will have to respect the run now. And according to the sports pundits, Elliott is also an excellent blocker and pass receiver.

I think this might have been a very good pick -- and I'll like it even better if the Cowboys can get some defensive help in the second and third rounds.

(NOTE -- The "fashion-plate" picture of Elliott is from Newsday. The football photo of Elliott is from WKYC.com.)

Cowboys Picks In Rounds Four Through Seven

The Cowboys drafted well in the first three rounds, and I expect all three of the players chosen to make the team and contribute (at least as a backup) in the coming season. But the players chosen in rounds four through seven are never "sure-things". The Cowboys have struck gold in the past in the lower rounds (Everson Walls was a 14th round pick), and they've made some draft mistakes. How will they do with those picks this year?

If nothing else, they did try to address some needs for the team -- drafting a linebacker in the fourth round, a defensive end in the fifth round, and a linebacker, an offensive tackle, and a tight end in the seventh round. The tight end choice was somewhat a surprise for me, since they are pretty well set at that position. I expect he will mainly be used as a blocker. Here are those picks:

4 (127th overall) -- Damien Wilson of University of Minnesota, inside linebacker (6'2", 240 lbs)

5 (163rd overall) -- Ryan Russell of Purdue University, defensive end (6'4", 269 lbs)

7 (236th overall) -- Mark Nzeocha of University of Wyoming, outside linebacker (6'2", 232 lbs)

7 (243rd overall) -- Laurence Gibson of Virginia Tech University, Offensive tackle (6'6", 305 lbs)

7 (246th overall) -- Geoff Swaim of University of Texas, tight end (6'4", 245 lbs)

It will be interesting to watch these players, and to see if they can make the team and contribute.

 (Photo of Damien Wilson is from minnesota.cbslocal.com.)

(Photo of Ryan Russell is from youtube.com.)

(Photo of Mark Nzeocha is from bloggingtheboys.com.)

(Photo of Laurence Gibson is from hokiesports.com.)

(Photo of Geoff Swaim is from espn.go.com.)

Cowboys Make Their Second And Third Round Picks

After drafting one of the top cornerbacks in the country (Byron Jones -- University of Connecticut) in the first round of the NFL draft, the Cowboys stood firm in the second round -- and their patience was rewarded.

With the 60th pick of this year's draft, the Cowboys selected Randy Gregory (6'6'', 240 lbs.) -- a Defensive End / Outside Linebacker from the University of Nebraska. The Cowboys needed a good pass rusher, and that's exactly what Gregory is -- one of the best pass rushers in the nation.

According to many experts, Gregory has the talent to have been in the top 15 selections. He dropped because of some off-field problems. But Jerry Jones says the Cowboys talked with Gregory and did their "due diligence", and are comfortable with drafting him. That's good enough for me at this point. If Gregory is serious about becoming a great player in the NFL, then this pick was a steal for the Cowboys.

In the third round (the 91st overall pick), the Cowboys made their pick for the other side of the ball -- picking Chaz Green (6'5", 314 lbs.), an offensive tackle from the University of Florida. The Cowboys offensive line is set, but they could use some back-ups -- and that seems to be the thinking in taking Green. This pick was a surprise to me, but you can never have too many really good linemen -- and Green is supposed to be pretty good.

On the last day of the draft, the Cowboys have a fourth round pick (127th overall), a fifth round pick (163rd overall), and two seventh round picks (236th and 243rd overall). It will be interesting to see what they can do with those picks.

(This photo of Randy Gregory is from football.com.)

(Photo of Chaz Green is from USA Today via scout.com.)

Is An Apology Needed? - Absolutely Not!

Many people have been demonstrating against the police killings of far too many unarmed Black men (and children), and the police aren't happy about that (even though they know there is nothing they can do about it). But they are even more upset when it is a celebrity making the same statement as the demonstrators. Why? Because they think that celebrities (like star athletes) taking a stand on something can influence a lot of other people to do the same -- and they are probably right about that.

That's why the St. Louis Police Officer's Association (SLPOA) hit the roof when some St. Louis Rams players entered the stadium before a recent game with their arms up (imitating the pose of those demonstrating against the shooting of Michael Brown). The SLPOA demanded an apology from those players and the team. And they went even further by demanding the players be punished.

It's also why the union for Cleveland police officers is demanding an apology from Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins. Hawkins entered the stadium wearing a t-shirt demanding justice for 12 year-old Tamir Rice and John Crawford, both of whom were killed by police -- Rice because he was holding a toy gun in a public park.

Do the St. Louis and Cleveland police officers deserve an apology from these celebrities (i.e., NFL players)? In a word, NO! And both of these police organizations should be deeply ashamed of themselves for even asking for an apology.

They seem to have forgotten that they represent government employees, and any citizen has the right to criticize his/her government if he/she feels they are not living up to the hig standards they have sworn to uphold (and are indeed paid to uphold). In fact, this right is so important that our Founding Fathers wrote it into the Constitution (in the First Amendment). If any of these officers can't stand to be criticized when some of their fellow officers fail to uphold those high standards, then they should find another line of work outside of government service.

If an apology is needed, it is not from either the demonstrators or the celebrities offering their opinion. It should come from the police, who sprang to the defense of those killing unarmed Blacks and refuse to institute policies that would prevent those incidents from happening in the future.

Is It Time To Consider Changing Or Even Banning Football ?

(This image of football violence is from the website SHED Avenue.)

“Football is a moral abomination. We’re not just talking about people limping at the age of 50. We’re talking about brain injuries that are causing horrible, protracted, premature death. This…is appalling. Can you point to another industry in America which, in the course of doing business, maims a third of its employees?”

Malcolm Gladwell (writer for the New Yorker)

I want to start by saying I am a huge football fan at all levels, and have been nearly all of my life. Since they started in 1960, I have missed only one Dallas Cowboys game (either in person, on TV, or on the radio if blacked out) -- and that was when I was in the operating room (Sept. 2005) after having been shot in the stomach by a carjacker. Even then, after waking up, my first question was "Did the Cowboys win?".

The idea of having no football is not one that I like. But after seeing recent data, not only on the growing number of football injuries, but also on the brain damage that playing football can cause players (possibly shortening the lives of many), I reluctantly believe it is time for this nation to have a discussion about the violence in the game. Can the game be changed to better protect players? Or must it be banned? These are valid questions, whether we fans like them or not.

My friend Jack Cluth, who writes the excellent blog What Would Jack Do?, has written a very good post on this question -- and I reprint most of it here in the hope of giving it a bit wider readership. Mr. Cluth says:

Football has always been a tough game, and the professional version has become significantly more dangerous as players have become faster and stronger with the passage of time. A friend who spent time in the NFL once described it to me as enduring an automobile accident on every single play. For those of us who’ve experience an auto accident…and have no desire to repeat it…that’s a pretty powerful image. The human body was not designed to absorb repeated high speed impacts of the sort a football player experiences during a game. Multiply that by 16 games (not including preseason and playoff games) and over an average 3-4 year professional career (or longer)…and by the time a player is 25 or 26 there’s a very good chance they’ll be damaged goods. Concussions, memory issues, joint damage…the list is lengthy and the damage can last a lifetime. Repeated head trauma can lead to significant brain trauma and long-term impairment. There’s also research showing that playing in the NFL can adversely effect a player’s life expectancy

What of Gladwell’s assertion that football is “a moral abomination?” No one forces players to take the field, and those who play the game understand the risks they take. They know that every time they step on the field could be their last. A catastrophic, career-ending injury is never far away, and there’s no way for an athlete to know when their time is up. What they may not understand so well (or not be willing to admit or recognize) are the long-term effects of playing football that may be with them for the rest of their lives. As one whose years of contact sports is exacting a toll on, I’m here to tell that denial is a powerful thing. There’s something to be said for the perception of the invicibility of youth.

As much as I want to reject Gladwell’s premise, I recognize that my reasons for wanting to do so are purely emotional. When I look at his argument rationally, it’s difficult to refute. He’s right; what other industry maims fully 1/3 of its employees? If any other industry were to do that, the hue and cry demanding reform would be loud and long…and completely justified. Yet we allow football to continue its carnage because we love the gladiatorial nature of the game. We love the primal, physical nature of football; it’s as close to combat as the civilian world comes. Football is what George Will once called “violence punctuated by committee meetings.” It’s the violence, and the toll it exacts on players that’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

The concern has reached the point where many professional athletes- LeBron James(who played in high school) chief among them- won’t allow their children to play football.

Because of the heightened concerns- particularly surrounding head injuries- participation in youth league and high school has dropped. This doesn’t bode well for the future of the game; unless something is done to reduce the carnage, there may not be a long term future for football. For the NFL, a multi-BILLION dollar enterprise, this is no small concern.

Theodore Roosevelt once saved football when it turned deadly at the beginning of the 20th century. The college and high school game was even more brutal than it is today, killing dozens and placing the future of the game in peril. Roosevelt urged a number of reforms that ultimately gave birth to the game we know it today…but it appears that history is repeating itself. Without significant reforms, football may well die. Without change, the degree and severity of physical damage to players simply isn’t sustainable.

Then again, there’s no arguing it’s better for the game to die than its participants. Should football be banned? That’s a debate this country may well need to have- and soon- but I can’t help but wonder how many more young men will have to be maimed or die before we take that question seriously.

Recent Bad Publicity Hasn't Hurt Professional Football

During the past few weeks and months, the National Football League (NFL) has gotten a significant amount of bad publicity. First there were players who were violent to women in their lives. Then came a player who physically abused his 4 year old son so badly with a "switch" that ugly scars were still visible several days later. The NFL was pilloried not only for what those players did, but also for the league's rather tepid reaction to those crimes (and they were crimes).

Then PBS aired a documentary about research that is showing that collisions (a part of the sport) may be causing brain damage in players -- damage that grows even more serious after players grow older and retire. The NFL's only answer to this growing body of research is to deny there is a problem (pointing to a thoroughly inadequate study of their own).

With all the negative publicity the NFL has gotten recently, a reasonable person might think it would have hurt the popularity of professional football -- but he/she would be wrong. The charts in this post were made from information in a new Harris Poll (done between September 10th and 17th of a random national sample of 2,543 adults). It shows that the popularity of professional football has not waned in light of the bad publicity.

Note that the popularity of professional football has actually risen a point over last year (from 54% to 55%) -- and it remains the most popular professional sport in America. And when you break the population down demographically, you find that every group but one has a majority following the sport -- and that one group, women, has 43% still following the sport. It is readily apparent that, while the negative publicity got a lot of headlines and airtime, it has not put even a small dent in the popularity of professional football.

The Argument Over Being Gay In A Professional Sport

(The picture of Michael Sam above from Sports Illustrated is by Matthew Visinsky.)

A few days ago, college football player Michael Sam admitted publicly that he was a gay man. This should not have been a news story, but it has become one -- mostly because the owners, coaches, and players in the National Football League seem to still have some growing up to do. Some of them have tried to make the idiotic argument that he would be a disruptive factor in the "locker room". But the truth is that they would be the disruptive ones -- not Mr. Sam.

The sad fact is that Mr. Sam, through his public admittance of something that should not even matter, has probably cost himself a lot of money. As the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, he was a very highly rated player and would probably have been drafted in the top couple of rounds of the NFL Draft. Now he is being projected to go in the fifth round or lower (which would mean his initial contract would be for much less money).

Frankly, I don't understand why his sexual orientation should matter at all -- whether he's a football player or doing some other job. He can either do the job, or he can't -- and his sexual orientation doesn't have anything to do with that. And if he can do the job (and his college career has shown he most likely can do it very well), then that is all that should matter when it comes draft time (and time to field the best players a team can get).

I know some people will try to say sports is different, because the men must shower together. But that is an incredibly stupid argument -- and one that shows that person's own insecurities and inadequacies, not those of Mr. Sam (or his ability to do the job).

It is time for this country to get past this kind of bigotry, whether in sports or any other profession. And fortunately, most Americans agree with that. The charts below show that. They are taken from a new YouGov Poll (taken of 1,000 nationwide adults on February 10th and 11th, with a 3.7 point margin of error).

Note that a large majority of Americans would approve of their team signing a gay athlete (65%). For them, the talent level would be far more important than whether the athlete preferred a man or woman in a love relationship. In fact, most of the public (68%) don't think it would be appropriate for the team to even investigate a player's sexual orientation. And an even larger percentage (74%) think it would be inappropriate for the news media to "out" a person as being gay (it seems that Mr. Sam came out publicly because the media was investigating that question).

It's time for the NFL and the news media to do some growing up. It's time for them to take a cue from the public at large, and dump their bigotry.

Young Cowboys Look Good In HOF Game

(The picture above is from the website of dallascowboys.com.)

Almost none of the starters for the Cowboys played in the Hall of Fame Game last Sunday night, but the Cowboys won the game 24 to 20 anyway. Neither of those two things is important. Pre-season wins or losses mean nothing, and the pre-season is not a place to look at the veteran players. Pre-season is to look at draft choices and acquisitions, and see if they can improve the team as starters or at least add some depth as substitutes. And on that count, I was happy with a lot that I saw in the HOF game.

There were several players who did very well. The offensive line is one place where the Cowboys definitely needed some improvement, and it looks like there are a couple of players ready to do that. One was the Cowboys first choice in this last NFL draft -- center Travis Frederick. In only his first NFL game, Frederick showed he may be a good upgrade at the center position. Ronald Leary, who spent last year on the practice squad, also looked like he may well be ready to step up and take a starting position at guard.

Another group of players that did well was the running backs. Lance Dunbar, Phillip Tanner, and Joseph Randle all ran very well -- and showed they are capable of providing some help if starter Demarco Murray goes down with an injury this season. That's good. Last season, when Murray got injured the running game just disappeared (although the offensive line has to take much of the blame for that).

And some defensive players stepped up too. George Selvie, who was signed after the start of camp, wound up with two sacks and several hurries from his spot at defensive end. He won't start, since those positions belong to Demarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, but it's nice to know we may have some depth at that position. Devonte Holloman looked good on special teams and at linebacker -- intercepting a pass and running it back 75 yards for a touchdown. He could also be a solid back-up for the starting linebackers. And Jeris Pendleton played well at defensive tackle.

The one area I'm  still a little nervous about is the safety positions. The back-ups, all young and inexperienced, showed they still have some learning to do. But there are still four more pre-season games, and maybe a couple of them will come forward and prove themselves.

It still feels good that football is back though. And it was nice to see Cowboys guard Larry Allen take his rightful place in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Football Is Back !

(This image of the camp's opening press conference is from DallasCowboys.com.)

Football is back! Dallas Cowboys players arrived at training camp on Saturday, and took their physicals -- and camp will officially open on Sunday, July 21st.

Yes, I know the season doesn't officially start for another six weeks or so (with the Cowboys playing their first game on September 8th against the New York Giants). But I'm a die-hard fan, and for me the first day of training camp marks the return of football. Training camp, and the pre-season games, give us an idea of how the off-season moves of the team went -- whether the draftees and free agent acquisitions are going to work out or not.

This year the Cowboys will play five pre-season games instead of the normal four games. That's because they have been chosen to play in the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. That game will be played on August 4th against the Miami Dolphins. Here is the full pre-season schedule:

August 4 -- Miami Dolphins
August 9 -- Oakland Raiders
August 17 -- Arizona Cardinals
August 24 -- Cincinnati Bengals
August 29 -- Houston Texans

I believe the biggest questions the Cowboys face this year is in improving the offensive & defensive lines, and finding the two best starting safeties. It will be interesting to keep track of what happens in these areas as training camp proceeds.

I may do some posts on the Cowboys in the coming weeks (if something happens that interests me). Like with the Tour de France, if that doesn't interest you then ignore them. I will, as always, continue my regular posts on the political and economic scene.

Cowboys Sign 11 Undrafted Free Agents

The draft is over, and the Cowboys did get seven players -- who will hopefully contribute to making the team better. But they didn't stop there. Immediately after the draft ended the Cowboys got on the phone searching for undrafted players who might help the team. They have signed 11 of those undrafted free agents.

Of course, the chances of those free agents making the team is pretty slim. But the Cowboys are better than most teams at finding a few really good players from the players not drafted. Good examples of this on the current squad are Tony Romo (quarterback) and Miles Austin (wide receiver), both of whom the Cowboys signed to a free agent contract after the draft had ended. So maybe a player or two will make the squad from the eleven free agents signed this year. Here are the players they signed:

Jakar Hamilton (safety)
South Carolina State

Dalton Williams (quarterback)
Akron

Brandon Magee (linebacker)
Arizona State

Kendial Lawrence (running back)
Missouri

Devin Smith (cornerback)
Wisconsin

Dustin Harris (cornerback)
Texas A&M

Cameron Lawrence (linebacker)
Mississippi State

Greg Herd (wide receiver)
Eastern Washington

Paul Freedman (fullback/tight end)
Virginia

Taylor Reed (linebacker)
SMU

Jeff Heath (defensive back)
Saginaw Valley State

Now it will be interesting to see if any of these players (or the drafted players) make it through training camp and on to the season roster.

Popular Cowboy Selected To Hall Of Fame

In his first year of eligibility, Larry Allen has been selected to enter the NFL Hall of Fame. Allen was not only very popular with Cowboys fans (including me), but was one of the best offensive linemen the Cowboys have ever had. He was all-Pro in ten of his seasons with the Cowboys -- all but his rookie year of 1994 and the year he suffered an ankle injury (2002).

I congratulate Allen on his marvelous career with the Dallas Cowboys, and on this deserved honor of being selected to the Hall of Fame. Joining him in this year's Hall of Fame class are Bill Parcells, Chris Carter, Curley Culp, Dave Robinson, Jonathan Ogden, and Warren Sapp.

NFL Players Answer GOP Homophobe

There's an old saying that you can let people think you're a fool, or open your mouth and remove any doubt. That seems to be the case with Emmett C. Burns, who represents (rather poorly in my opinion) the 10th Legislative District in the Maryland House of Delegates. Burns is one of those bigots who believes gays/lesbians shouldn't have the same rights as all other Americans, and when he learned that a linebacker on the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, Brendon Ayanbadejo, had publicly spoken out on behalf of marriage equality, Burns just lost it.

He fired off a letter (pictured above) to the owner of the Baltimore Ravens, wanting him to muzzle the players and deny them their constitutionally-guaranteed right of free speech. In case you're having trouble reading the letter, here is what Burns wrote:

As a delegate of the Maryland General Assembly and a Baltimore Ravens Football fan, I find it inconceivable that one of your players, Mr. Brendon Ayanbadejo, would publicly endorse Same-Sex marriage, specifically, as a Raven Football player. Many of my constituents and your football supporters are appalled and aghast that a member of the Ravens Football Team would step into this controversial divide and try to sway public opinion one way or the other.Many of your fans are opposed to such a view and feel it has no place in a sport that is strictly for pride, entertainment and excitement. I believe Mr. Ayanbadejo should concentrate on football and steer clear of dividing the fan base.

I am requesting that you take the necessary action, as a National Football Franchise Owner, to inhibit such expressions from your employee and that he be ordered to cease and desist such injurious actions. I know of no other NFL player who has done what Mr. Ayanbadejo is doing.

Please give me your immediate response.

Well, he got his response -- from Brendon Ayanbadejo, who tweeted:

Football is just my job it's not who I am. I am an American before anything. And just like every American I have the right to speak!!!

And he also got another response from an NFL player. That player is Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, who fired off a letter of his own defending his fellow NFL player -- and Mr. Kluwe pulled no punches. Here is what he wrote:

Dear Emmett C. Burns Jr., 

I find it inconceivable that you are an elected official of Maryland's state government. Your vitriolic hatred and bigotry make me ashamed and disgusted to think that you are in any way responsible for shaping policy at any level. The views you espouse neglect to consider several fundamental key points, which I will outline in great detail (you may want to hire an intern to help you with the longer words): 

1. As I suspect you have not read the Constitution, I would like to remind you that the very first, the VERY FIRST Amendment in this founding document deals with the freedom of speech, particularly the abridgment of said freedom. By using your position as an elected official (when referring to your constituents so as to implicitly threaten the Ravens organization) to state that the Ravens should "inhibit such expressions from your employees," more specifically Brendon Ayanbadejo, not only are you clearly violating the First Amendment, you also come across as a narcissistic fromunda stain. What on earth would possess you to be so mind-boggingly stupid? It baffles me that a man such as yourself, a man who relies on that same First Amendment to pursue your own religious studies without fear of persecution from the state, could somehow justify stifling another person's right to speech. To call that hypocritical would be to do a disservice to the word. Mindfucking obscenely hypocritical starts to approach it a little bit. 

2. "Many of your fans are opposed to such a view and feel it has no place in a sport that is strictly for pride, entertainment, and excitement." Holy fucking shitballs. Did you seriously just say that, as someone who's "deeply involved in government task forces on the legacy of slavery in Maryland"? Have you not heard of Kenny Washington? Jackie Robinson? As recently as 1962 the NFL still had segregation, which was only done away with by brave athletes and coaches daring to speak their mind and do the right thing, and you're going to say that political views have "no place in a sport"? I can't even begin to fathom the cognitive dissonance that must be coursing through your rapidly addled mind right now; the mental gymnastics your brain has to tortuously contort itself through to make such a preposterous statement are surely worthy of an Olympic gold medal (the Russian judge gives you a 10 for "beautiful oppressionism"). 

3. This is more a personal quibble of mine, but why do you hate freedom? Why do you hate the fact that other people want a chance to live their lives and be happy, even though they may believe in something different than you, or act different than you? How does gay marriage, in any way shape or form, affect your life? If gay marriage becomes legal, are you worried that all of a sudden you'll start thinking about penis? "Oh shit. Gay marriage just passed. Gotta get me some of that hot dong action!" Will all of your friends suddenly turn gay and refuse to come to your Sunday Ticket grill-outs? (Unlikely, since gay people enjoy watching football too.) 

I can assure you that gay people getting married will have zero effect on your life. They won't come into your house and steal your children. They won't magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster. They won't even overthrow the government in an orgy of hedonistic debauchery because all of a sudden they have the same legal rights as the other 90 percent of our population—rights like Social Security benefits, child care tax credits, Family and Medical Leave to take care of loved ones, and COBRA healthcare for spouses and children. You know what having these rights will make gays? Full-fledged American citizens just like everyone else, with the freedom to pursue happiness and all that entails. Do the civil-rights struggles of the past 200 years mean absolutely nothing to you? 

In closing, I would like to say that I hope this letter, in some small way, causes you to reflect upon the magnitude of the colossal foot in mouth clusterfuck you so brazenly unleashed on a man whose only crime was speaking out for something he believed in. Best of luck in the next election; I'm fairly certain you might need it. 

Sincerely, Chris Kluwe

Wow! That is exactly the response Burns deserved -- and I agree with every word of it. I am getting pretty sick of Republican idiots who think some Americans should have more rights than others, and that free speech is only for those who agree with right-wing fundamentalists.

Bill Clinton Vs. The NFL

The Democrats have done a little shuffling of their convention speakers. Normally, the vice-presidential candidate will speak on the next-to-last night of the convention, while the presidential candidate speaks on the last night. This traditional arrangement gives the vice-presidential candidate one of his few moments in the sun (the only other one being the vice-presidential debate). But this year, both the vice-president and the president will address the Democrats on the last night of their convention.

Now this was not done to slight Mr. Biden in any way. In fact, he wholeheartedly agreed with the decision. Why? because the next-to-last night of the convention will have to compete with the opening of the NFL season -- and even worse, the featured game has the Dallas Cowboys facing the New York Giants (two very popular teams with huge fan bases). Mr. Biden, not known as a great orator to begin with, would have basically been speaking to no one outside the convention hall.

So what were the Democrats to do on that next-to-last day of the convention? They couldn't just call the whole thing off because a football game was being played. They needed a "heavy-hitter" so to speak -- someone who was well liked enough to get at least some viewers to tune in the convention. And the person they got to deliver the big speech for that night was Bill Clinton.

Now this is not a bad choice. A recent Gallup Poll shows that more than two-thirds of the population has a very favorable view of Mr. Clinton (about 66%). His popularity has been growing recently, and that 66% ties his highest rating ever received (which was shortly after he took office in 1993). And Clinton is a very good speaker. This was probably the best the Democrats could have done.

Will it work? Probably not. Political conventions are not huge ratings winners in the best of conditions, and I doubt the convention viewership will be anywhere close to that of the NFL football game. I'm a political junkie who loves to watch the conventions (especially the Democrats), but I have to admit that my TV will be tuned to the NFL game like most of the rest of the American viewing public. I like Bill Clinton (and on a different night I would love to hear him speak), but it's the Cowboys versus the Giants!

Cowboys Sign 21 Undrafted Free Agents

The NFL draft is over, and the coaches will get their first look at the seven players they drafted in next weekend's first mini-camp. But the draftees won't be the only players attending that mini-camp. They will be joined by a few of last year's rookies, and by a bunch of undrafted free agents the cowboys were able to sign after the draft -- about 21 of them. Here are the free agents who are now Cowboys (at least for a while):

OFFENSIVE LINE
Jeff Adams, tackle, Columbia
Levy Adcock, tackle, Oklahoma State
Taylor Dever, tackle, Notre Dame
Harland Gunn, guard, Miami
Ronald Leary, guard, Memphis
Tyrone Novikoff, tackle, Idaho
Charley Hughlett, long snapper, Central Florida

RECEIVER
Cole Beasley, wide receiver, Southern Methodist
Tim Benford, wide receiver, Tennessee Tech
George Bryan, tight end, North Carolina State
Saalim Hakim, wide receiver, Tarleton State
Donavon Kemp, wide receiver, UTEP
Andrew Szczerba, tight end, Penn State

OFFENSIVE BACKS
Lance Dunbar, running back, North Texas
Darrell Scott, running back, South Florida

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Adrian Hamilton, linebacker, Prairie View A&M
Aston Whiteside, linebacker, Abilene Christian
Isaac Madison, cornerback, Arkansas
Lionel Smith, cornerback, Texas A&M
Troy Woolfolk, cornerback, Michigan
Eddie Whitley, safety, Virginia Tech

Will any of these new Cowboys still be with the team when the season opens? Most will not. But if history is any teacher, there is a chance that one or two could impress the coaches enough to stick around (remember that Romo and Austin were not drafted and made the team this way). But we won't know for a while -- when training camp is over about four months from now. But for right now, the dream is still alive for all of them.

Cowboys Get 5 Players On Draft's Final Day

Any player drafted in the first round is expected to immediately contribute to his new team, and should be a starter right away. In the second and third rounds the players might not be expected to be immediate starters, but if correctly picked, they should make the team and work their way into a starting position. The same cannot be said of players picked in the fourth through seventh rounds. They might turn out to be great players, or they might not even be on the team on opening day. We simply won't know until they get to training camp and compete for a position on the team.

But on the draft's third day, all teams are excited about the players they were able to pick in the final four rounds -- and the Cowboys are no exception. They drafted five players on day three, and hope that those players will turn out to be wise choices and real contributors to the team. Here are the five players chosen by the Cowboys in rounds four through seven:

Fourth Round, 18th pick (113th overall pick)
Kyle Wilber (6'4", 250), outside linebacker, Wake Forest

Fourth Round, 40th pick (135th overall pick)
Matt Johnson (6'1", 212), safety, Eastern Washington

Fifth Round, 17th pick (152nd overall pick)
Danny Coale (6'0", 200), wide receiver, Virginia Tech

Sixth Round, 16th pick (186th overall pick)
James Hannah (6'3", 245), tight end, Oklahoma

Seventh Round, 15th pick (222nd overall pick)
Caleb McSurdy (6'1", 245), inside linebacker, Montana

Now that the draft is over, the Cowboys can get busy trying to sign some undrafted free agents. Most of them will just be fodder for training camp, but the Cowboys have been as good as any team in finding some real players among the undrafted -- remember, Romo and Austin were both undrafted free agents.

Cowboys Draft Boise State Defensive End

It was a long stretch between the Dallas Cowboys first and second draft picks -- about 75 places (because they had traded away their second round pick), and that made for a fairly boring second night of the draft. I'm not really complaining. I think it was well worth losing the second round pick to get Morris Claiborne, the LSU cornerback, in the first round -- a player who makes the defense much better (and probably will for a long time).

The Cowboys finally got to pick again in the third round, with the 81st pick of this year's draft. The player they picked was Tyrone Crawford, a 6'4", 275 pound defensive end who played for Boise State. The Cowboys needed a little more help on their defensive line, but from what I hear Crawford is a little raw. Hopefully, he is a fast learner and a hard worker and can contribute in the coming season. Here is what NFL.com had to say about him:

STRENGTHS

 Crawford is quick to get out of his stance off the snap and has the instincts to slant and hit a gap without being touched. He is consistently disrupting plays in the backfield and is a solid tackler. He is a strong player who shows an explosive arm jolt when keeping blockers at bay. Crawford shows good change of direction when stopping to pursue plays laterally. As a rusher, his motor is the key to his success. He never gives up on a play and can use a strong burst to get to the quarterback. He has a ton of upside, which undoubtedly increases his values to teams who are set at the position and willing to patient and work with him. Despite his size, he could even play special teams early on in his career because he has such a nasty demeanor.

WEAKNESSES

 Crawford is a raw prospect who only has one year of collegiate playing experience at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. He would be a project early on for the team that selects him, and he could have a tough time adapting right away. He has had trouble getting off double teams, which could be a technique issue, a likely possibility given his well-documented strength. Crawford will need extra coaching and attention to adjust to the NFL.

Today, the draft finishes up with rounds four through seven. The Cowboys have five picks -- two in round four, one in round five, one in round six, and one in round seven. Will there be any future Cowboy greats among those five picks? There's no way to know. In picks past the third round a team can strike gold or strike out. It will be interesting to see who they are though.

Cowboys Move Up & Draft LSU Cornerback

It's no secret that one of the biggest weaknesses of the Dallas Cowboys last year was in their secondary. They just gave up too many receptions last year, especially late in the game. The Cowboys had already addressed this problem in free agency -- by signing a top-notch cornerback (Brandon Carr) and a solid safety (Brodney Pool). Because of this, most people thought the Cowboys would use their pick (14th in the draft) to get a pass rusher (either a defensive lineman or an outside linebacker).

But Jerry Jones is nothing, if not unpredictable. In his 21 years of NFL drafts, he has traded his first round pick in all but six years. Usually that meant he traded down to get more overall picks. But this year he went the other way. Jones traded the Cowboys first and second round picks to the Los Angeles Rams for their first round pick (the 6th overall pick of the draft).

With that 6th pick of the draft, the Cowboys chose LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne -- who was generally regarded as not only the best cornerback in the draft, but also the best overall defensive player in the draft. With the addition of Claiborne ( a true "shutdown" corner) to Carr (considered one of the league's top corners), Orlando Scandrick (just signed to a new long-term contract), and Mike Jenkins (still recovering from an injury), the Cowboys have gone from a weak secondary to having possibly the best secondary in the league.

I think trading up to get Claiborne was a stroke of genius, and I can't believe it only cost them a second round pick. That's almost highway robbery. Even Stephen Jones said he was surprised they didn't have to give up more than just a second round pick to get Claiborne -- who the Cowboys said was the only player they would trade up to get. He was the second player on their draft board (behind quarterback Andrew Luck who was picked first in this draft).

Well done Jerry, Stephen, and Jason! I hope you can repeat this magic in your remaining draft choices.

NFL Players Paid To Injure Opponents

I am a big fan of American football -- at all levels. The epitome of football in this country is the National Football League. It has millions of fans, and it's championship (the Super Bowl) is virtually an unofficial holiday. True fans live for the day that their favorite team wins the Super Bowl (and I'll admit there are few things that can make me as happy as a Super Bowl win by my beloved Cowboys).

But like most people, I understand that football is just a sport. And for any sport to have value, there must be rules that are followed by all players and coaches. Breaking those rules, commonly called cheating, devalues the game and disgraces those who engage in it. I am not talking about minor infractions (like being "offsides" or "holding"), but an intentional cheating to give one team an unfair advantage over another. I believe most players and coaches do their best to follow the rules, but there are a few for whom winning is the only important thing -- even if it must be done by cheating.

And that cheating becomes even more vile and distasteful when it involves the intentional hurting or maiming of a player on an opposing team. Unfortunately, it has recently come to light that this is exactly what has been going on with one or more NFL teams. An NFL coach, Gregg Williams, has admitted that while he coached for the New Orleans Saints he offered his defensive players a "bounty" for intentionally injuring a player on another team. He said the team kept a fund of $50,000 to pay the bounties -- which were $1000 for "cart-offs" and $1500 for "knock-outs".

Williams has also coached for NFL teams in Tennessee, Washington, Jacksonville, and Buffalo (and was recently hired by St. Louis). At least one Washington player has said Williams did the same thing when he coached for the Redskins. One would have to believe it is likely he also did that at his other coaching stops. And some NFL players are now saying the same thing was done by other coaches and at other teams.

This is a shocking revelation, and it could turn out to be a black mark against the entire league. Football is a violent sport, and even when the game is played by the rules there are going to be some players hurt -- some of them seriously. But to pay players a bonus for intentionally hurting an opposing player is way beyond the pale. It is a sick and perverted practice (and if done off the field would be a felony criminal offense).

The NFL has launched an investigation into this. I hope it is a thorough investigation involving all NFL teams. This kind of thing must be stopped -- for the health of the players and the good of the league. Any team found to have engaged in this practice should be very heavily fined and probably even lose some draft choices. The penalties should be severe enough to discourage anyone from ever doing this again.

Williams said offering the bounties was a "terrible mistake" and "we knew it was wrong while we were doing it." Of course they did, and so did anyone else doing it. I'm glad Williams has finally seen the light, but I think he should be banned from ever coaching in the NFL again -- and so should any other coach found guilty of the same thing. This kind of intentional brutality must be stopped.

Let me add one final thought. There is no honor in winning if it was done by cheating. That is true of sports, politics, or any other endeavor.