Off-season issues continue to play havoc with the Dallas Cowboys’ depth chart. Tuesday night linebacker Damien Wilson was arrested on two counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Frisco, Texas.
According to the report, the alleged incident happened at Freedom Fest at Toyota Stadium Tuesday night. Wilson has since been released on $10,000 bond.
“We are aware of the situation and we are in the process of gathering information,” the Cowboys said in a statement. “We will not comment at this time.”
.@dallascowboys linebacker Damien Wilson arrested last night at Toyota Stadium for agg assault w/ deadly weapon, has bonded out of jail pic.twitter.com/FwVaAD70wv
— Lynnanne Nguyen (@LynnanneNguyen) July 5, 2017
Wilson started five games for the Cowboys last season and recorded 30 tackles with 0.5 sacks and a pass defense. He was a fourth round pick out of the University of Minnesota in 2015. Before this happened, Wilson had a real shot as an opening day starter.
If Wilson does face any league punishment (regardless of the legal issues he faces), he’ll just be tossed on the growing pile of other Cowboys’ defenders who are dealing with league discipline this season.
Defensive lineman David Irving has been suspended four games for violating the league’s performance enhancing drugs program. Defensive end Randy Gregory has been suspended for the entire 2017 season.
Brady doesn’t deny he had a concussion last season
That’s not to say he admitted he had a concussion, just that when asked about his wife, Gisele Bundchen’s comments that he’d suffered a concussion during the 2016 season, Brady chose his words carefully.
“She (Bundchen) is there every day,” Brady told ESPN. “I mean, we go to bed in the same bed every night, so I think she knows when I’m sore, she knows when I’m tired, she knows when I get hit. We drive home together (from games). But, she also knows how well I take care of myself. She’s a very concerned wife and very loving.”
Tom Brady finally broke his silence about Gisele's concussion comments.https://t.co/CXeLn34zTJ pic.twitter.com/cYGspZk9o7
— For The Win (@ForTheWin) July 4, 2017
The truth is, Brady may have thought he had a concussion, but wasn’t diagnosed with one. It’s pretty much in the lawyer speak from his agent, Don Yee, released after Bundchen’s interview.
“Tom was not diagnosed with a concussion last year,” Yee said. “Many of the protocols and safeguards still are evolving, and it’s obviously a good thing the organization and everyone close to him is vigilant and always looking out for his health.”
The NFL too has stated they had no records showing Brady suffered a concussion. Which doesn’t mean he didn’t, but unlike your usual issues with the New England Patriots, there doesn’t appear to be any rule breaking here. Just a concerned wife and a banged up husband.
Catching Up on the Holiday Weekend
Davis wants a new deal with Panthers
Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Harris is asking for a contract extension before training camp begins. Davis, 34, is in the final year of his current contract that will pay him $3.25 million in 2017.
“That’s something all players in the last year of their deal, especially for guys who have put up the numbers I’ve put up and played the way I’ve played the last few years,” Davis said. “You’d hope something gets worked out. We’re not actively talking now, but hopefully we can do something before training camp happens.”
Listen, you sign Thomas Davis. There's no discussion. If ANYONE deserves to retire a Panther, he does. I'll never forgive DG if he fs it up.
— Kelli (@kellkelllz) July 3, 2017
Davis has been one of the best linebackers in the league for years and famously played in the Super Bowl in spite of having surgery on a broken arm just the week before. Last season Davis recorded 106 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, four passes defended, three interceptions and one defensive touchdown.
Ravens’ Waller suspended
If Darren Waller thought he was going to compete for the open starting tight end position with the Baltimore Ravens, that dream is dead. Waller was suspended for the entire 2017 season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
The 6-7,. 242-pound Waller started three games last season and caught 10 passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
Steelers’ Burns arrested
Pittsburgh Steelers 2016 first round pick Artie Burns was arrested last Friday for driving on a suspended license in Dade County, Fla. The Steelers did not comment on the arrest.
Burns was pulled over for driving an SUV with a suspended license plate. Last year Burns started three games for Pittsburgh and played in all 16, recording 64 tackles, 13 passes defended and three interceptions.
Eagles lose two players Friday, one on purpose
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jordan Hicks was doing something as innocuous as exiting a pool Friday when he injured his hand. Hicks was in Greece on his honeymoon and the whole thing was just a freak accident.
The injury doesn’t appear to be too serious, but there’s a chance Hicks could miss the beginning of training camp. Hicks sent a video of his hand moving for the Eagles’ team doctors to review. Last year Hicks recorded 86 tackles, a sack, one fumble recovery, 11 passes defended and five interceptions. Hicks was a third round pick for the Eagles in 2015.
Jordan Hicks injured his hand in a bizarre incident on his honeymoon, a source confirms to @RoobCSN.https://t.co/LoHAf5L742
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) June 30, 2017
While losing Hicks, at least for part of camp, was an accident, cutting wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham wasn’t. Philadelphia is the second team to toss DGB on the trash heap in as many seasons. Reportedly, he was the last wideout on the depth chart behind even rookie Mack Hollins.
Green-Beckham was originally drafted in the second round of the 2015 draft by the Tennessee Titans and had a decent rookie season, catching 32 passes for 549 yards and four touchdowns. It didn’t matter as DGB got in the Titans’ dog house and was shipped off in a trade to the Eagles last off-season for reserve guard Dennis Kelly.
Green-Beckham started seven games for the Eagles last season and played in 15, catching 36 passes for 392 yards and two touchdowns. At 6-5 and 225-pounds, DGB is a specimen and was a touchdown machine at Missouri before off-the-field issues ended his NCAA career.
Will he get another shot? It seems impossible that he won’t. But whatever is broken inside him that keeps screwing up these opportunities needs to get fixed. He should reach out to a guy like Brandon Marshall of the New York Giants for some help.
In a corresponding roster move, the Eagles signed back up quarterback Dane Evans to a three-year contract. The former Tulsa quarterback went undrafted out of Tulsa after throwing for 3,348 yards and 32 touchdowns last season.
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