Dallas Sports Week-in-Review: 3/18/12 to 3/25/12

This is a round-up of all of the major stories involving DFW teams.

DALLAS COWBOYS:

•  Long time guard Kyle Kosier, who was the only offensive lineman on the team that played in the 13-3 2007 team was released in what seemed to be a cap-clearing move. The transaction is estimated to save the team 1.5 million dollars this year as the Cowboys look to get over their cap penalties.
• Speaking of penalties, both the Cowboys and the Redskinks, in what looks to be a move only thought of in low-IQ fan fiction, have teamed up the fight the NFL and what they deem to be unfair restrictions and collusion by the league. ESPN seems to agree, calling the move “the definition of collusion.”
• Giants owner John Mara weighed in on the move, saying the Cowboys and Redskins were “lucky they didn’t lose draft picks.” He also said that both teams “violated the spirit of the salary cap” despite the fact that in 2010 there was no actual salary cap in place. He received a B.S. in Marketing from Boston College, so to use a marketing analogy, he should know that marketers can’t market products that don’t exist.
• The Cowboys also signed Guard Nate Living to a 5 year, 19 million dollar deal. Livings was rated by Pro Football Ratings as one of the worst starting Left Guards in the NFL and chastised by Bengals fans for his complete ineptitude, so for almost 20 million dollars, the Cowboys obviously got their money’s worth.
• The Cowboys signed Safety Brodney Pool to play along Gerald Sensabaugh at Strong Safety.
• The final signing was Kevin Ogletree at wide receiver, presumably so he can drop more passes.

TEXAS RANGERS:

• On Tuesday, the Rangers signed lefty Derek Holland to a 5 year extension worth 28 million dollars. Obviously, the goal is for him to be the starter, but with his stellar World Series when he often pitched in a relief-role coupled with the Rangers’ minor league pitching depth, it wouldn’t be a total shock if he was used as a setup man or closer.
• Closer turned starter Neftali Feliz had some tightness in his shoulder, leaving after three innings on the 21st. Luckily, this isn’t a long term issue, and he is expected to start his next time in the rotation.
• In one of the more bizzare incidents this week, the Rangers released a 26$ hot dog which they call the “Boomstick.” It’s 26 inches long and covered with cheese, chili and what looks to be olives. Meant for two, but most likely consumed by one, it is the largest hot dog served at any stadium in Major League Baseball, if not all sports.

DALLAS MAVERICKS:

• Lamar Odom continued his struggles on the court, recording a triple single, with one point, one rebound and one assist in 24 minutes. Luckily, that’s only on 24 minutes. Adjusted per 48 minutes, that’s 2-2-2, or in other words, an above average game for Lamar.
• Shawn Marion, who’s actually had a positive contribution, also received bad news: he had a knee injury that lasted three games, returning in the San Antonio game when Dallas lost by 17 points.
• That San Antonio game also marked the first time in Lamar Odom’s career that he’s been benched because of a coaches decision. The nadir of Odom’s career, his sheer ineptitude in every facet of the game, from points per game (7.8) to his lack of effort, are so startling that the Mavericks might be better off signing Andy Rautins and having him play. Andy Rautins played 48 minutes all of last season for the Knicks, which is still more than fans would hope Odom plays.
• The Mavericks signed Kelenna Azubuike, who hasn’t played since the 2009-2010 season after tearing his patella tendon. In his four years with the Golden State Warriors, he average 10.6 points with 4 rebounds. He was part of the team that beat the Mavericks as an 8 seed in 2007.

OTHER:

• The US beat Cuba 6-0 in a qualifying match for the London Olympics.
• TCU lost to New Mexico State 10-6 in college baseball.Become part of the SportDFW nation.
• Check us out on Facebook, Twitter or contact us at therealsportdfw@gmail.com