NFL inflates Super Bowl attendance numbers...why should they be different?

Cowboys stadium/Courtesy: zimbio.com

This is kind of laughable, but at the same time very commonplace in professional sports. The bean counters of the NFL and King Jerry of JerryWorld were hoping to break a Super Bowl record for attendance in the gigantic, palatial Cowboys stadium. They didn't.

Not from lack of effort though. They announced the crowd at 103,219, which would have put the game just shy of the all-time record, held by the 1980 Super Bowl in the Rose Bowl.

However.....The paid attendance for Sunday's game. 91,060. And yes, that includes everyone who appeared as a celebrity cutaway in the FOX broadcast. We have our doubts as to whether or not they paid for their tickets.

But we digress. The NFL's total numbers are including the 3,000 who paid to stand outside the game in what they called "The Party Plaza". Which would make it 88,060 in the stadium. Oh...they counted the media too, all 12,159 of them. While we are sure our media brethren liked to be recognized, they were there working. At least most of them. That would be roughly akin to counting the "Event Staff" security people and concession workers and other stadium staffers. And we are assuming it doesn't count the 400 or so who found themselves without a seat after paying for one.

Read more from NBCDallasFortWorth (NBCDFW.COM) RIGHT HERE

Okay. We get it. King Jerry wanted to make a "Texas" sized impression on everyone. And yeah, he wants them (the NFL) to come back so he can get some help paying bills on his creation. We get that.

We also are well aware that pro-sports leagues overcount fans. You don't have to be at an NBA, NHL, MLB or NFL game to be counted as being there. If you are a season ticket holder and don't come, you still count. If you received a free ticket from someone or as a prize and don't go, you still count. That's why you can go to a half filled stadium or arena, listen to them announce a sellout to you....the only guy in your row of 30 chairs.

It capped off what many feel was one of the worst run, disorganized Super Bowls in recent memory. Yeah, we know the weather was bad. But if you think this was bad, just wait until 2 years from now when the game will be played in New Jersey/New York.

Leave it to OSG Favorite and WFAA-TV Sports Guy/Crumudgeon Dale Hansen to summarize the experience:

When Is A Seat In JerryWorld Not A Seat...???

((HT: WFAA-TV Dallas))

When your seat is deemed a safety concern...

850 tickets in temporary seating were able to be relocated... 400 more were not...

"The safety of fans attending the Super Bowl was paramount in making the decision and the NFL, Dallas Cowboys and City of Arlington officials are in agreement with the resolution," according to a statement issued by the NFL late Sunday afternoon.

The letter given by the NFL sayeth quote:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please be advised that due to the unforeseen conditions, the installation of temporary seating at Super Bowl XLV was not fully completed.

Your assigned seat is unavailable for today's game.

The NFL and the Cowboys sincerely regret this inconvenience.

The NFL was offering displaced ticket-holders a payment of three times the face value. But what we don't know is if that's three-times ticket broker value or just three times face value...

Here's Jason Whitely standing outside since he can't be inside...


Don't know about you folks, but I'd still be majorly pissed...

DEVELOPING: JerryWorld Thawability Update- Is There A Hole In The Roof...?

((HT: MyFoxDFW))

Despite appearances, an official says there is no hole in the roof of Cowboys Stadium. Arlington ((TX)) Fire Chief Don Crowson denied there was any damage to the world's largest enclosed dome.

"There is no hole in the roof," Crowson said. "It's a matter of ice pack."

Despite Crowson's explanation, an apparent opening remains on the roof, which is made of Teflon-coated woven fiberglass.

In fact, aerial footage showed what appears to be a peel back and a gash...

Both marks appear on the roof along one of the joining girders to the roofing edge...
And it doesn't look pretty...

Here's an interview with Chief Crowson, thanks to our friends at Fox 4...

Hole in Cowboys Stadium Roof?: MyFoxDFW.com

Your JerryWorld Thawability Update

((HT: WFAA-TV Dallas))

Here's your update as we get closer to the last game in the NFL season...
They hope it'll be super...

Gary Reaves is outside...
It may be a little warmer today than yesterday...

Speaking Of Dallas: Cowboys Settle With Player On Collapse

A former Dallas Cowboys player who was inside the practice facility when it collapsed in 2009 has settled a lawsuit against the company that designed the building and companies operated by team owner Jerry Jones.

UTEP grad and tight end Jamar Hunt was attempting to make the team as a rookie free agent at the time of the bubble's collapse in 2009.

Attorney Michael Guajardo says Hunt received an undisclosed amount to settle his claim that he suffered a neck injury when a steel beam landed on him. Hunt maintained in his lawsuit that the injury prevented him from making any NFL team in future seasons, and that he was subject to a double standard if he did want to pursue a job in the league.

He couldn't get clearance to play until doctors gave an all-clear, but then he would be viewed as untouchable because of his injury history.

Here's the piece WFAA-TV ran after Cowboys employees settled with the builder

BREAKING: 5 Injured By Falling Ice At JerryWorld

((HT: WFAA-TV Dallas))

At least five people were injured, including one critically, after ice fell onto them outside Cowboys Stadium in Arlington ((pictured, thanks WFAA-TV)).

The person who was critically injured was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in nearby Fort Worth.

A safety zone has been created completely around the stadium as ice continues to melt and fall off the stadium in chunks.

Watch live coverage from MyFoxDFW/Fox 4 hyah...

Here's WFAA-TV's update from above the scene...

Guess What...??? The Media Hate The Dallas Weather...

((HT: WFAA-TV Dallas))

Full disclosure...

The HQ has been part and parcel of RNC coverage before- three, actually... 28, 33, and 34. The 34th renewal gave the HQ's home city a freak ice storm that paralyzed the city and gave the visiting media something to bitch about.

Atlanta hasn't had a sniff of another RNC since...

The Metroplex is getting the same thing this week... freakishly cold weather, but the temps should be in the 60's by the weekend.

Ya think JerryWorld will get another one down the line...???
You bet your capitalistic ass it will...

But the media are still complaining...

Casey Norton turns the camera on the credentialed...


Guys... guess what...???
The game is indoors, and if you've got a parking pass, leave early...

We covered the baseball Winter Meetings when the weather sucked. We made fun of it the whole time and took a few extra minutes to get from Point A and Point B.

It MUST be too simple a solution...

Why JerryWorld Never Loses Power This Week

Not just because Jerrih says so...

But the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI asked for an exemption for the property during "rolling blackouts" that are going on in the Metroplex during their Ice-A-Pa-Looza 2011...

Lari Barager is freezing outside with an explanation...
((HT: MyFoxDFW))

Why Cowboys Stadium Never Lost Power during Rolling Blackouts: MyFoxDFW.com

Good to know that terrorists won't disturb the BlackEyed Peas performance after all.

DEVELOPING: Garrett Takes Interim Title Away In Dallas

The Dallas Cowboys have called a 2:30 eastern press conference to announce their new head coach- Jason Garrett.

Garrett went 5-3 as interim coach. The team was 1-7 under then head coach-new Houston Texans DC Wade Phillips before Garrett was promoted from offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.

The other candidates Jerry Jones is known to have interviewed are receivers coach Ray Sherman ((to quickly satisfy the Rooney Rule requirement)) and Miami assistant head coach Todd Bowles.

Here's Garrett getting his first one-on-one grilling as head coach...
((HT: WFAA-TV Dallas))

Sunday Carousel: Weis And Garrett Make An Odd Couple

Only because they're in the same story...

Charlie Weis looks like he's going to take the OC job in Boomtown after all.
Nothing like being an overbearing, Type-A personality that will be paired with another Type-A personality for a coaching staff.

Will Muschamp will be the enthusiastic one in Gainesville, and the question now becomes: Who gets to recruit...??? And how do they recruit as a unit...???

Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun has the details about Weis and Aubrey Hill joining the staff.

Now, to the NFL... and it looks like Jason Garrett, winner of 4 of the 7 games he's coached as the interim leader in Dallas, may get that "interim" label pulled after all.

But David Moore of the Dallas Morning News has things still in flux and indecision.

But if you check in to Michael David Smith at PFT, it's a done deal since the Cowboys brought in Ray Sherman to satisfy the Rooney Rule.

OTHER STUFF: Looks like Tom Cable is in question for a return to Oakland, Gary Kubiak is returning to Houston and the Texans, and Marvin Lewis can stay in Cincinnati if his staff changes- which Lewis may balk at...

More when we know more...

UPDATING: Wade Phillips Is Still Fired

((HT: WFAA-TV))

Wade Phillips spoke, in paper form, after his dismissal Monday afternoon...

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the fans of the Cowboys and to the entire Jones family for all of the support that we received here in Dallas. I would also like to thank our coaches and players for their loyalty and dedication.

“I told the team today that I have been proud to be a part of their family, and that will never change. I have enjoyed the privilege and responsibility of representing this franchise as its head coach.

“I am disappointed in the results of this season to this point, but I am also very proud of what our team and our players accomplished in the previous three years. In good times and difficult times, our players stuck together and never lost hold of their belief in each other and the strong team bond that they have shared. Family and coaching football have always defined my life and I will always be grateful for my experiences here with the Dallas Cowboys.”

Jerry Jones held a 5:00 eastern time press conference on Monday afternoon at Valley Ranch...

"Obviously, this is a very difficult decision for me, our team and our organization," Jerry Jones said. "We're grateful to Wade and his contributions to the Cowboys leading us to two division titles in his first three seasons with the club. We're not where we want to be at this time, and that's an understatement."

"An in-season coaching change is something that I've not done before; it's something that I was reluctant to even consider as late as this past week," Jones added. "But at this time, I believe in what's the best interest of the organization and the fans is a coaching change."

Dale Hansen and Joe Trahan discuss...

BREAKING: Wade Phillips--Fired! Or It's not true unless ESPN says it is....

Wade Phillips/Courtesy: KTVT.com

Well, true to his word, Darth Jones has fired now former head coach Wade Phillips. Dallas TV station KTVT is reporting that happened this afternoon and that the Cowboys will hold a press conference at 5:00pm eastern to announce Jason Garrett as the interim coach.

Interestingly, 3 of the 4 major TV Stations and several radio stations in Dallas are reporting this. However ESPN's Adam Schefter and FOX Sports Jay Glazer are saying that "The local stations are jumping the gun".

Now reports are starting to circulate that it may not have happened....yet. Schefter re-tweeting from Todd Archer--Spoke to Wade Phillips agent and asked if true. Reply: I don't think its true.

3pm Eastern--Reports are now circulating that none of the coaches or players have been notified. Also, Wade has apparently walked out of the executive offices and not talking.

3:03pm--It's official now because ESPN says it is. Their people are now confirming it. So it must be true.  They seem to be refusing to admit the locals kicked their asses.

This is getting stranger by the minute...keep tuning in.

We will update this story as the day progresses

Jerry Jones making threats...finally realizes his team sucks...

We've been laughing all morning about the quote from Jones "I think there are a lot of people here that certainly are going to suffer and suffer the consequences". Why, because he sounds like the Emperor from Star Wars for one.

Yeah, the Cowboys looked pretty darn pathetic last night against the Packers and yeah, there needs to be changes made, but the question we have is..."Couldn't you have phrased it a little better?"


Needless to say, the scribes in Dallas are in a feeding frenzy right now.

Here is the Dallas Morning News with excerpts from the Jerry interview RIGHT HERE

Yeah, we know. We all get it. Wade Phillips is going to fired. It's just a matter of when. Wade is a really good person, everyone likes him. They should. But Wade has been patently unsuccessful everywhere that he's been as a head coach. Really. Look it up.

Not really being Cowboy fans, we find some humor in their current struggles. We find it funny as hell that Jerry spent a Gazillion dollars building Jerry World and now has a crappy team playing in it. We also are going to say "Told you so"...to all the various football writers who pre-ordained them the best team in the NFL before they played a game this year.

Here is an OSG Fave, Dale Hansen opining on Wade's future. Thanks WFAA:

Cowboys looking for answers to questions that nobody knows....

Cowboys fans//courtesy: sharon ellman/ap

This is why you have to take the football expert predictions with a grain of salt. To listen to most of the "NFL Pundits", guys who make a living predicting the NFL, you'd have thought it was pre-ordained that the Dallas Cowboys would be playing in there own Jerry World this year for the Super Bowl.

But, that's why nobody has ever won a title on paper.

The Cowboys are now 1-6 after losing 35-17 to Jacksonville on Sunday and the head scratching and looking for blame has officially gone over the top.

So much so that owner Jerry Jones has apologized to his fans.

Read that story from the Dallas Morning News RIGHT HERE

The local media...they are calling for Coach Wade Phillips' head. Phillips, a likable sort, who has coached for short periods of time for several teams, doesn't appear to be the guy to fix it. For his part, Jones says that Phillips is safe....for now.

NBCDFW.com has the list of people calling for Phillips's head RIGHT HERE

Here is the Jerry Jones post-game interview. Yes, he may be the only owner in the NFL who has his own post-game presser. Please don't mind the laugh track....it was the only place we could get this video from

Thanks mrdallassuxx/YouTube:

TWTW: Mallett Wins Southwest Classic Over Texas A&M

((HT: KATV Little Rock))

And, as TBH said, we know Jerry Jones HATED giving that trophy to Arkansas after winning the Southwest Classic in his place...

Mallett finished 27 for 38 passing for 310 yards, most of that in the first half.

Arkansas is now 4-1 on the season after winning 24-17.
The Hogs play at Auburn next Saturday.

Really, that's all we need to say about this one...
A&M is blatantly average, even if Jerrod Johnson is a tremendous athlete.

Here's your highlights... enjoy the play-by-play...

Jerry Jones Has A Plan For The Big !2 Conference

While the Big 12 coaches (Mack Brown of Texas & Bob Stoops of Oklahoma) like the fact the Big 12 Championship game has been eliminated that doesn't seem to please Jerry Jones, who was to stage this big event in his palace Cowboys Stadium, a.k.a. Jerry World.

It appears Jones has a plan to solve that problem, use his power and influence to expand the Big 12. The Lawrence (KS) Journal World and News cites a source familiar with Jones' thinking that he wants his alma mater, that would be Arkansas, to play in the conference with their former Southwest Conference rivals Texas and Texas A&M and bring in Notre Dame and shower the conference in cash.

Click on the link below for the full story.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/jun/16/notre-dame-arkansas-come-down/?sports

The folks at the University of Arkansas appear to like their current conference affiliation, the SEC. Athletic director Jeff Long issued this statement Wednesday released by the Arkansas media relations:

"In recent weeks and months there has been much national dialogue regarding conference affiliation in intercollegiate athletics. In the course of that dialogue some have suggested that the University of Arkansas was an institution that may be pursued by other conferences. From the beginning, we have been very clear that the University of Arkansas is a proud member of the Southeastern Conference and has no interest in joining another conference. Chancellor Gearhart has been unwavering in his support of our institution's continued membership in the SEC. Recent events have not in any way altered our commitment or desire to remain a member of what we believe is the strongest conference in the nation."

No comment from Notre Dame.

Cowboys Stadium was to host the Big 12 Conference championship game through 2013. With Nebraska and Colorado leaving this year 2010 appears to be the final year of that event.

Now that the Big 12 is saved Jerry Jones is using his clout to save the conference championship game.

Photo Courtesy: Dallas Morning News

Sean Payton may owe Jerry Jones some Wine...

One of our favorite weekly columns to read here at the OSG Satellite HQ is Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback on SI.com. We mention that because the esteemed Mr. King had an item in it today that we found very amusing...and worth repeating.

The whole MMQB Column from SI.com is RIGHT HERE

((Sean Payton likes his wine//Courtesy: BostonHearld.com))

The blurb that we are referring to is the Sean Payton mention on page 1. In it, the Saints Head Coach and his staff were having dinner at a Steakhouse in Indianapolis during the scouting combine. While there, Payton was informed that Jerry Jones was bringing his folks from the Cowboys for dinner the next night. It was also mentioned that Jones had requested a magnum of his a specific wine that he enjoyed.

Well, upon being informed of that, Payton decided he'd like to try the wine as well. He was informed the restaurant only had one bottle and they were holding it for Jones. Payton insisted and was brought the wine.

Afterwords, Payton apparently left a note on the label of the bottle and left it for the Cowboys the next night.

According to King, the bottle said: WHO DAT! World Champions XLIV Sean Payton.

Funny stuff, but it raises the obvious question...Will Jones look for revenge? Only time...and wine...will tell.

Here are some highlights of the Cowboys beating Payton and his Super Bowl Champs in Week 15...Thanks You Tube:

Two Workers Injured In Jerry World Accident

((HT: Dallas Morning News/Acosta))
Two workers fell on the Dallas Cowboys Stadium roof while doing maintenance about 7 a.m. this morning.

The men fell and slid as much as 70 feet from the roof's peak onto a lip around its edge, according to Don Crowson, an assistant fire chief in Arlington.

Neither man was using a safety harness...

One worker suffered a broken leg, chest and head injuries, and had lost consciousness. The other man injured his back but was alert and talking to rescuers.

Here's WFAA-TV's coverage from Big Dee...
Cynthia Vaega got to freeze outside for her live shot...

The Anticipation Grows At JerryWorld...

Our intrepid reporter, Big Marty, has this shot for you from The Ballpark Across The Parking Lot at the traffic as it increases for tonight's grand opening...

We'll have updates as the night goes on...

Greetings from Jerry World

As a bonus for you, the OSG Sports reader, we bring you some up close and personal stories...and photos from honorary OSG Member Brother Marty.

Marty will be amongst the 100,000+ in attendance for the "Official" Cowboys opening of Jerry's Folly, The Jerry Mah Hall, Jerry Land or whatever other witty name that you can come up with.

Today's pictures are the "Painting of the Star" in the large locale. Please enjoy and note that we will add to the gallery whenever Marty sends us some new photos....and one of us has time to post them.

This Star is for you !