WoodysGirl
12-16-2004, 12:46 PM
something funny...
--------------------------------
Saints punter/kicker, 'Rowdy' involved in pregame run-in
Thursday, December 16, 2004 By Brian Allee-Walsh
Staff writer
The Dallas Cowboys' mascot could have been flagged for running into the kicker before Sunday's game against the Saints at Texas Stadium.
Saints punter/kicker Mitch Berger said the Cowboys' mascot known as "Rowdy" knocked him to the ground while trying to block a kickoff during pregame warmups.
Berger said he landed awkwardly on the mascot, then lit into him as head referee Tony Corrente looked on in disbelief.
"I was practicing my kickoffs, and the big mascot dove in front of me to block the ball, and he took my knees out," said Berger, who was selected NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against the Cowboys. "He could have blown my knee out. I started smacking the guy in the head and screaming at him. I yelled a few expletives at him, and he's screaming back at me under his (costume).
"I tried to rip his head off and throw it but I couldn't get it off. The referee saw it all, but what's he going to do, throw a flag?"
Moments later, Berger shanked the opening kickoff out of bounds, giving the Cowboys good field position at their 40-yard line.
"I hadn't kicked a ball out of bounds in two years," Berger said. "I'm not making excuses. That wasn't his fault. I should have composed myself, but it was crazy. It's really funny as hell when you think about it -- here I am beating up this mascot before the game -- but he could have injured me."
Saints players and coaches erupted in laughter as the incident unfolded in front of them.
"I saw it, and I couldn't help but laugh," Saints snapper Kevin Houser said. "I was laughing all the way through the national anthem. I had the church giggles."
The Cowboys' mascot, Ted Ovletrea, did not return calls to his Dallas office and cell phone.
"I didn't see it, but I heard about it on talk radio here in Dallas. Was it a 5-yard penalty for running into the kicker or a 15-yard penalty for roughing the kicker?" quipped Cowboys director of public relations Rich Dalrymple.
. . . . . . .
Brian Allee-Walsh can be reached at ballee-walsh@timespicayune.dom or at (504) 826-3805.
--------------------------------
Saints punter/kicker, 'Rowdy' involved in pregame run-in
Thursday, December 16, 2004 By Brian Allee-Walsh
Staff writer
The Dallas Cowboys' mascot could have been flagged for running into the kicker before Sunday's game against the Saints at Texas Stadium.
Saints punter/kicker Mitch Berger said the Cowboys' mascot known as "Rowdy" knocked him to the ground while trying to block a kickoff during pregame warmups.
Berger said he landed awkwardly on the mascot, then lit into him as head referee Tony Corrente looked on in disbelief.
"I was practicing my kickoffs, and the big mascot dove in front of me to block the ball, and he took my knees out," said Berger, who was selected NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against the Cowboys. "He could have blown my knee out. I started smacking the guy in the head and screaming at him. I yelled a few expletives at him, and he's screaming back at me under his (costume).
"I tried to rip his head off and throw it but I couldn't get it off. The referee saw it all, but what's he going to do, throw a flag?"
Moments later, Berger shanked the opening kickoff out of bounds, giving the Cowboys good field position at their 40-yard line.
"I hadn't kicked a ball out of bounds in two years," Berger said. "I'm not making excuses. That wasn't his fault. I should have composed myself, but it was crazy. It's really funny as hell when you think about it -- here I am beating up this mascot before the game -- but he could have injured me."
Saints players and coaches erupted in laughter as the incident unfolded in front of them.
"I saw it, and I couldn't help but laugh," Saints snapper Kevin Houser said. "I was laughing all the way through the national anthem. I had the church giggles."
The Cowboys' mascot, Ted Ovletrea, did not return calls to his Dallas office and cell phone.
"I didn't see it, but I heard about it on talk radio here in Dallas. Was it a 5-yard penalty for running into the kicker or a 15-yard penalty for roughing the kicker?" quipped Cowboys director of public relations Rich Dalrymple.
. . . . . . .
Brian Allee-Walsh can be reached at ballee-walsh@timespicayune.dom or at (504) 826-3805.