HeHateMe
03-28-2005, 05:40 PM
http://www.cowboysplus.com/topstory/stories/032905cpcowlede.182ab1358.html
Rivera 'panicked' after back injury
04:46 PM CST on Monday, March 28, 2005
By MATT MOSLEY / DallasNews.com
IRVING – Cowboys guard Marco Rivera said he "panicked" after injuring his back on a hotel treadmill three weeks ago. And that's what led him to tell Cowboys head trainer Jim Maurer and director of corporate communications Brett Daniels that he was willing to forfeit his $9 million signing bonus and five-year, $20 million contract.
"The last thing I wanted to do was cause problems for the Cowboys," Rivera said Monday. "I wanted to work for that money or not have it at all. I told them if they wanted to walk away, I wouldn't have a problem."
Rivera, who will turn 33 next month, underwent surgery for a herniated disk on March 10 and now thinks he'll be ready for the team's first veterans minicamp in late May. The Cowboys signed Rivera, who played the past nine seasons with Green Bay, on March 3.
"When the doctor [Drew Dossett] told me I'd only be out six to eight weeks, it was music to my ears." Rivera said. "When it first happened, it felt like my leg was on fire. But I'm not feeling any pain at all now."
Rivera said he "apologized" to owner-general manager Jerry Jones the day before he underwent surgery, but they never discussed his contract.
"He told me everything was going to be fine," Rivera said. "And that I would get through this."
Jones told The Dallas Morning News on Thursday that he had not spoken to Rivera about forfeiting any money. Rivera has started 99 consecutive games, which is one of the reasons Jones was willing to sign him to a long-term deal.
"They brought me here to win championships," Rivera said. "And now that I'm OK, that's what I plan to help them do."
E-mail mmosley@dallasnews.com
Rivera 'panicked' after back injury
04:46 PM CST on Monday, March 28, 2005
By MATT MOSLEY / DallasNews.com
IRVING – Cowboys guard Marco Rivera said he "panicked" after injuring his back on a hotel treadmill three weeks ago. And that's what led him to tell Cowboys head trainer Jim Maurer and director of corporate communications Brett Daniels that he was willing to forfeit his $9 million signing bonus and five-year, $20 million contract.
"The last thing I wanted to do was cause problems for the Cowboys," Rivera said Monday. "I wanted to work for that money or not have it at all. I told them if they wanted to walk away, I wouldn't have a problem."
Rivera, who will turn 33 next month, underwent surgery for a herniated disk on March 10 and now thinks he'll be ready for the team's first veterans minicamp in late May. The Cowboys signed Rivera, who played the past nine seasons with Green Bay, on March 3.
"When the doctor [Drew Dossett] told me I'd only be out six to eight weeks, it was music to my ears." Rivera said. "When it first happened, it felt like my leg was on fire. But I'm not feeling any pain at all now."
Rivera said he "apologized" to owner-general manager Jerry Jones the day before he underwent surgery, but they never discussed his contract.
"He told me everything was going to be fine," Rivera said. "And that I would get through this."
Jones told The Dallas Morning News on Thursday that he had not spoken to Rivera about forfeiting any money. Rivera has started 99 consecutive games, which is one of the reasons Jones was willing to sign him to a long-term deal.
"They brought me here to win championships," Rivera said. "And now that I'm OK, that's what I plan to help them do."
E-mail mmosley@dallasnews.com