ESPN: Mosley: Cowboys release Rivera

[Angus]

Cowboys release Rivera
June 7, 2007 6:00 PM
Cowboys right guard Marco Rivera called a few minutes ago to say he'd been released. Rivera, a former sixth-round draft pick who went to three consecutive Pro Bowls with the Packers, said he'll continue to rehabilitate his injured back and remains hopeful he can play somewhere next season.

"It's tough to take, but I completely understand," said Rivera, who's coming off his second back surgery in three years. "With the personnel this team has, it would be a travesty if they didn't win 12 games. With [Tony] Romo coming on and that offensive line, they're not going to miss me."
​

Rivera, who signed a five-year, $20 million contract with the Cowboys in 2005, will cost $1.2 million against the club's 2007 salary cap. He may play down his role on the team, but he became a sounding board for the team's young offensive linemen, tight end Jason Witten and Romo. When he injured his back during a freak accident on a treadmill machine shortly after signing with the Cowboys, he contacted a team official and offered to give back a portion of his signing bonus.
That's why it wasn't surprising to hear him take such an upbeat approach to being released.

"I just want to get healthy and then root for the Cowboys," he said. "I really bonded with this team and I got excited about the new stadium and the Super Bowl coming here. I want to try to get back to 100 percent, and then decide if I still want to play."
​

Rivera said he felt something pop in his back early in the Cowboys' wild-card playoff loss to the Seahawks. He wasn't even able to sit down on the bench he was in so much pain, but he never missed a down. When the team arrived back in Dallas, Rivera was taken directly to the hospital.
On Thursday afternoon, he thought back to when the Packers released veteran Frank Winters several years ago.

"We were like, 'They can't do that,'" he recalled. "But it happens and guys get over it."
​

If Rivera doesn't play again, the league has lost one of its classiest players.


http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-1-54/Cowboys-release-Rivera.html?post=true

 

[stealth]

he is a class act wish him well

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Also from Mosley:

We'll be attending Cowboys Field Day tomorrow

June 7, 2007 11:45 AM

Hashmarks will be making a road trip (21 miles) to the Cowboys' voluntary minicamp tomorrow. Head coach Wade Phillips has invited a few of his starters to stop by the facility and say hello, so hopefully I'll bring back some interesting nuggets.

Since my editor laughed recently when I asked for one of those Blackjack phones, I'll be using the old-fashioned method of making you wait at least two hours between entries.

I'm expecting some awkward moments at Valley Ranch because of reports that a local blogger is occupying my old desk in the media workroom. I've asked the Cowboys beat writer from the San Antonio Express-News, Tom Orsborn, to rule on this dispute, but I fear he may be blowing us off to focus on basketball.

Quick question: Who will be the best rookie in the league this year? I have to answer this for the dot.com "Best" series and then I'll return with more important NFL news.

Wade Phillips, Tom Orsborn

 

[BouncingCheese]

he is a class act wish him well

Agreed; but he was being paid too much... He would have been a great backup... I wish he would have taken a pay cut..

But business is business.

 

[sago1]

I don't think it was about taking a pay cut. He's simply not physically ready at this point to play and it's doubtful if he'll ever be ready to play. Still like the effort he gave to helping his OL teammates along with Witten & Romo. I don't think it's an accident that players on either side of him (Gurode & Colombo) improved their play significantly this season.

 

[BouncingCheese]

I don't think it was about taking a pay cut. He's simply not physically ready at this point to play and it's doubtful if he'll ever be ready to play. Still like the effort he gave to helping his OL teammates along with Witten & Romo. I don't think it's an accident that players on either side of him (Gurode & Colombo) improved their play significantly this season.

I think he can be a decent coach.

 

[jumanji]

class act...who was the other guy that we should have signed that year? we all knew the other guy was younger and better for the long haul...but jerry never listens to us!

 

[Bob Sacamano]

gotta go w/ class-act again here, remains classy to the end, good man

 

[big dog cowboy]

"With the personnel this team has, it would be a travesty if they didn't win 12 games.

Interesting observation.

 

[Wolfpack]

I think he can be a decent coach.

Ding Ding!

I was iffy on that signing and he really never helped on gameday but Marco brought a bit of leadership to an OL lacking in that department.

Hope he does well in the next career.

 

[eduncan22]

Rivera said he felt something pop in his back early in the Cowboys' wild-card playoff loss to the Seahawks. He wasn't even able to sit down on the bench he was in so much pain, but he never missed a down.

When the team arrived back in Dallas, Rivera was taken directly to the hospital.

This guy should not have played.

How many plays did this guy cost us in that playoff game? You cannot play in the trenches when you should be on a hospital bed.

No way.

He hurt the team.

 

[Alexander]

Interesting observation.

And very commendable.

You don't see many players who are released like this show nearly as much humility and graciousness.

He even said he has grown close to the players and wants to stay involved with the team.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

And very commendable.

You don't see many players who are released like this show nearly as much humility and graciousness.

He even said he has grown close to the players and wants to stay involved with the team.

alot of people really want to see that go down

get 'er dun Jerrah!

and Sparano probably could use some help

 

[big dog cowboy]

And very commendable.

You don't see many players who are released like this show nearly as much humility and graciousness.

He even said he has grown close to the players and wants to stay involved with the team.

alot of people really want to see that go down

get 'er dun Jerrah!

and Sparano probably could use some help

There sure seems to be a lot of support for this among the players. I suspect when Rivera realizes his playing days are over something could be done to keep him in our house.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Man, I hope Mr. Jones hires him as a OL coach.

 

[kTXe]

Unfortunate the way his time as a Cowboy went down, but he was always a model of class and professionalism. Sad to see one of the team's only legit leaders go, though we all knew it was inevitable.

 

[silverbear]

Cowboys release Rivera
June 7, 2007 6:00 PM
Cowboys right guard Marco Rivera called a few minutes ago to say he'd been released. Rivera, a former sixth-round draft pick who went to three consecutive Pro Bowls with the Packers, said he'll continue to rehabilitate his injured back and remains hopeful he can play somewhere next season.

"It's tough to take, but I completely understand," said Rivera, who's coming off his second back surgery in three years. "With the personnel this team has, it would be a travesty if they didn't win 12 games. With [Tony] Romo coming on and that offensive line, they're not going to miss me."
​

Rivera, who signed a five-year, $20 million contract with the Cowboys in 2005, will cost $1.2 million against the club's 2007 salary cap. He may play down his role on the team, but he became a sounding board for the team's young offensive linemen, tight end Jason Witten and Romo. When he injured his back during a freak accident on a treadmill machine shortly after signing with the Cowboys, he contacted a team official and offered to give back a portion of his signing bonus.
That's why it wasn't surprising to hear him take such an upbeat approach to being released.

"I just want to get healthy and then root for the Cowboys," he said. "I really bonded with this team and I got excited about the new stadium and the Super Bowl coming here. I want to try to get back to 100 percent, and then decide if I still want to play."
​

Rivera said he felt something pop in his back early in the Cowboys' wild-card playoff loss to the Seahawks. He wasn't even able to sit down on the bench he was in so much pain, but he never missed a down. When the team arrived back in Dallas, Rivera was taken directly to the hospital.
On Thursday afternoon, he thought back to when the Packers released veteran Frank Winters several years ago.

"We were like, 'They can't do that,'" he recalled. "But it happens and guys get over it."
​

If Rivera doesn't play again, the league has lost one of its classiest players.


http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-1-54/Cowboys-release-Rivera.html?post=true

Even if he was a disappointment with the Cowboys, I like Marco... the guy WANTED to be the player they paid for, his body just failed him...

 

[silverbear]

This guy should not have played.

How many plays did this guy cost us in that playoff game? You cannot play in the trenches when you should be on a hospital bed.

No way.

He hurt the team.

Oh, sweet Jay-sus...

Are you EVER right about ANYTHING?? Do you have to work at being this obtuse, or does it come naturally to you??


:splat:

 

[eduncan22]

Oh, sweet Jay-sus...

Are you EVER right about ANYTHING?? Do you have to work at being this obtuse, or does it come naturally to you??

I never liked his signing. There was a reason the Packers didn't want this player.

He couldn't play.

 

[lspain1]

I never liked his signing. There was a reason the Packers didn't want this player.

He couldn't play.

Rivera started every game for the Packers for the six years preceding his signing with the Cowboys.

2002 Pro Bowl
2003 Pro Bowl
2004 Pro Bowl

Yes, the man just "couldn't play"