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Frederick announces retirement at age 29

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Former Wisconsin Badger football center, who went on to play in five NFL Pro Bowl games, announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 29 on Monday.

Frederick retired after saying he “could no longer perform at my highest level”.

Frederick just went to his fifth Pro Bowl after recovering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which is a rare autoimmune disease.  Frederick missed the 2018 season but returned last season and played in the all 16 of the Cowboys games.

Frederick was a first round pick by the Cowboys in the 2013 NFL draft (31st pick overall).  He became the first rookie in franchise history to start every game at center and was named to the NFL’s All-Rookie team.

Frederick signed a six-year contract extension in 2016 worth $56.4 million, making him the highest-paid center in the NFL.

Former Badgers & Packers quarterback Tolzien joins Cowboys coaching staff

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Scott Tolzien File Photo – UPI/Robert Cornforth

Former Wisconsin Badger and Green Bay Packers quarterback Scott Tolzien has reportedly been hired by the Dallas Cowboys as an assistant coach.

Tolzien spent three seasons with the Packers under coach Mike McCarthy, who has now hired Tolzien in Dallas.

Tolzien made a pair of starts with the Packers during the 2013 season with Aaron Rodgers sidelined by injury.  He made two more starts during a stint with the Indianapolis Colts.  Tolzien spent seven-years in the NFL.

Tolzien spent the last season scouting upcoming opponents for the Wisconsin Badgers.

McCarthy has also added former Packer Al Harris as an assistant secondary coach and former Packers director of player development Rob Davis as an assistant coach.

McCarthy expected to take over as head coach of the Cowboys

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Mike McCarthy

Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is expected to become the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.  The news was first reported by Fox Sports and later by ESPN.

According to reports, McCarthy stayed at the home of Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones on Saturday night.

McCarthy takes over Jason Garrett, who wasn’t retained after going 85-67 as the Cowboys head coach from 2010 to 2019.

McCarthy compiled a 125-77-2 record with the Packers and made the playoffs in nine of his 13 seasons.  He led the Packers to a Super Bowl XLV win and two additional NFC Championship games.

Before interviewing with the Cowboys over the weekend, McCarthy interviewed with Carolina, Cleveland and the New York Giants.

The Cowboys also interviewed Marvin Lewis before deciding McCarthy was their man.

While coaching the Packers, McCarthy had a 7-3 record against the Dallas, twice ending the Cowboys season in the divisional playoffs in the 2014 and 2016 playoffs.

Frederick sidelined by rare disorder

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Former Wisconsin Badger and current Dallas Cowboy center Travis Frederick has been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome.  It causes weakness in various parts of the body, attacking a network of nerves around the brain and spinal cord.

The 27-year-old Frederick received two treatments over the last two days and those treatments will continue for several more days.

Frederick is a four-time Pro Bowl player who has started 83 NFL games, including three playoff games.  He was drafted in the first round by the Cowboys in 2013.

There is no timetable for Frederick’s return to the field.

 

Adams catches game winner in return from concussion

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Davante Adams

Davante Adams returned to the Green Bay Packers lineup, less than two weeks since being knocked out of the Bears game with a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit from Chicago’s Danny Trevathan that led to a concussion, not to mention a night in the hospital.

Adams was cleared from the Packers concussion protocol on Friday and Aaron Rodgers didn’t waste any time getting his wide receiver back into the mix.  Rodgers went to Adams for a short completion (7 yards) on the very first offensive play for the Packers.  Adams went on to finish with seven receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns.

Adams would wind up catching the games first and last touchdown passes, the final of which came from 12 yards out and 11-seconds to play, to lift the Packers to a 35-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

Rodgers threw twice at the end to Adams with the first of the two off the mark.  Adams returned to the line of scrimmage and motioned to Rodgers to throw it again his way.  They ran the same play, but this time Rodgers pass was on the mark and the Packers would once again be come-from-behind winners. [Read more…]

Romo leaving pro football for the broadcast booth (AUDIO)

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Tony Romo

Dallas quarterback and Burlington, Wisconsin native Tony Romo is leaving the NFL and headed to the broadcast booth with CBS.

Romo has reportedly reached a verbal agreement with CBS to be its number-one color commentator, pairing with play-by-play man Jim Nantz, replacing former NFL quarterback Phil Simms.

Dallas is expected to designate Romo as a post-June 1 release, which softens the blow against the Cowboys’ salary cap this season.  Instead of counting $24.7 million against the cap in 2017, Romo would count $10.7 million this year and $8.9 million in 2018.  The Cowboys would gain $14 million in cap space this season, but it won’t be available until June 2.

Romo will turn 37 on April 21 and his decision came down to his family and his health.  He has battled collarbone and back injuries, which eventually led to Dak Prescott taking over as the starter in Dallas.

AUDIO: Cowboys coach Jason Garrett on Romo, after playoff loss to Packers last season :19

 

Free announces his retirement from the NFL

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Doug Free – Photo Courtesy of DallasCowboys.com

Manitowoc native Doug Free, announced his retirement from the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys over the weekend.  Free played 10 seasons for the Cowboys and his departure opens a hole on the Cowboys offensive line.

The 33-year-old Free was entering the final year of his contract and passed on $5 million with his decision.

The former Manitowoc Lincoln standout was a fourth round pick of the Cowboys in 2007 out of Northern Illinois and turned into a big leader on their offensive line.  He started every game he played in since 2010 and made the switch to right tackle in 2012.

Free has been troubled by foot and ankle injuries the past few years but maintained his spot in the lineup.

The Cowboys will gain $5 million in cap relief with Free’s retirement, but they now have to find a replacement for Free, not to mention their many needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Free has no definite immediate plans but he said he ultimately plans to put his Bachelors degree in Industrial Technology to use.

(Thanks to WOMT’s Damon Ryan for contributing to this story)

 

Nelson ruled out of Sunday’s divisional playoff game

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#87 Jordy Nelson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson has been ruled out of Sunday’s divisional playoff game in Dallas against the Cowboys.  Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Friday morning that team doctors would not clear Nelson to practice on Saturday.

Nelson suffered rib injuries after taking a helmet shot to the ribs from Giants safety Leon Hall in the Packers 38-13 wildcard playoff win last Sunday.

Asked if Nelson could play in the NFC Championship Game if the Packers were to win this weekend, McCarthy said they’ll further evaluate him on Monday.

Geronimo Allison likely will move into the Packers’ three-receiver set along with Davante Adams and Randall Cobb.  Allison filled in for an injured Randall Cobb during the final two games of the regular season.  He caught eight passes for 157 yards and a touchdown.

Nelson led the Packers this season with 97 receptions, 1,257 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.

 

Packers offense is a mess in 30-16 loss to Dallas

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Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers

A week ago, Mike McCarthy’s Green Bay Packers were 3-1 and he felt he didn’t need to explain what was up with the offense after putting up 400 yards in a win over the Giants.  Many of his players followed suit, either not believing they had issues, or weren’t willing to discuss it with reporters.

After Sunday’s 30-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, coach and players weren’t nearly as combative.  They admitted they have issues but didn’t offer any thoughts on how to fix the problems.

The Packers turned the ball over four times in the loss.  Aaron Rodgers threw his third interception in the last two weeks.  He also fumbled twice, losing one after trying to run a quarterback keeper on first and goal at the four yard line, ending a golden opportunity for the Packers to try to score a touchdown. [Read more…]

McCarthy’s successful challenge is his first this season (Audio)

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Mike McCarthy

Mike McCarthy

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was confident that Dez Bryant’s reception in the fourth quarter would be overturned, and he was right.

Mike McCarthy said he got a good look at the play on the Lambeau Field Jumbotron and threw his second challenge flag of the day.  This one proved to be the one for McCarthy, who won his first challenge of the season.

After the review, it was announced that Dez Bryant did not maintain possession of the ball.  It also meant instead of the Cowboys having possession of the ball at the 1-yard line with a chance to take the lead, the ball went over to the Packers, who ran out the final four minutes to pull out their 9th win at Lambeau Field this season.  Final score:  Green Bay 26, Dallas 21.

As it turns out, McCarthy was one of only two NFL head coaches to not have won a challenge this season, with the other being former Atlanta head coach Mike Smith. [Read more…]