DWare News

DeMarcus Ware was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in helping the Cowboys earn their first win of the season on the road at Houston. It marks his fourth career defensive player of the week.

Ware led the team with 3.0 sacks in the Houston game to tie his career high (five other times). It also marked the 14th multiple sack game of his career. He is tied with Randy White for the third-most multi-sack games in club history since sacks became an official statistic:

Multi-sack
Player.................Games
Greg Ellis................19
Jim Jeffcoat............19
Randy White...........14
DeMarcus Ware.....14

Ware now has 68.5 career sacks with 29.0 coming on third down, including all three of his sacks in the Houston game. He also led the team with three tackles for loss and three pressures while his eight tackles tied for second on the team.

PURCHASE, NY - The votes are in and more than 500,000 fans have spoken - Drew Brees is the winner of a $100,000 Pepsi Refresh grant that will help New Orleans-based Hope Lodge provide rooms for cancer patients and their caregivers. This past week, fans had the opportunity to cast their votes at www.nfl.com/PepsiRefresh or via text by typing the player's first name to P-E-P-S-I (73774) for the idea they believed should be awarded a grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project.

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware also campaigned for votes for their ideas to further projects important to them Sanchez: building awareness around the signs of type 1 or juvenile diabetes and Ware: providing a safe environment for abused, abandoned and neglected children. Although their idea didn't receive the most votes, Pepsi is awarding each a $25,000 Refresh Project grant to help make a difference in America's communities."I'm thrilled that $100,000 will be going to the Hope Lodge, which will provide cancer patients and their caregiver's rooms through the Pepsi Refresh Project," said Brees. "We're all winners in this project. These grants will help make a real difference in our communities. Thanks to the fans who voted, the support has been outstanding for all of us."The Pepsi Refresh Project is a groundbreaking effort to foster innovation in social good that will award more than $20 million this year to fund great ideas that improve America's communities.

Throughout 2010, Pepsi will fund ideas that will move the world forward in six categories: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, The Planet, Neighborhoods and Education. The Pepsi Refresh Project will feature significant social engagement around people and the power of ideas. Pepsi Refresh Project launched on Jan. 13 and exceeded expectations by receiving the monthly limit of 1,000 submissions in less than seven days. People are encouraged to submit their ideas and cast a vote for their favorite projects at www.refresheverything.com.

Copyright © 2010, WGNO-TV

Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware will be one of three NFL players competing for the charity of his choice in the Pepsi Refresh Project--part of the Pepsi Refresh Everything Campaign.

Ware, Mark Sanchez and Drew Brees each put together a video in association with PepsiCo and the NFL, aimed at funding worthwhile projects nation- and even world-wide. The winner--to be voted on by you, the people--will receive a $100,000 grant for his charity. Fans can see the videos and vote at the league's official website, here.

Ware will compete for Jonathan's Place, a Dallas emergency shelter for abused, abandoned and neglected children. "I want to help provide a safe environment for abused, abandoned and neglected children by supporting Jonathan's Place," Ware said in a statement. "With your help we can improve their lives with better medical care, counseling, clothing, food and shelter." Established in 1994, Jonathan's Place provides emergency relief for children, from infants to 17-year-olds. It is the only licensed local shelter providing emergency relief for children under the age of ten.
Voting ends on February 5, 2010. Fans can either vote online here, or by texting "DEMARCUS" to PEPSI (73774).

BY Scott Crisp // Saturday, Jan 30, 2010

COMPLETE ALL-DECADE TEAM REVEALED DURING ESPN’S PRO BOWL BROADCAST ON SUNDAY, JAN. 31

The NFL’s annual Pro Bowl is a celebration of the season’s best.  The 2010 version is also a chance to honor some of the decade’s biggest stars.

Twelve players named to the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team will compete in Sunday’s Pro Bowl before a sellout crowd in excess of 70,000.  Broadcast live on ESPN at 7:20 p.m. ET from Sun Life Stadium, the Pro Bowl will for the first time be held prior to the Super Bowl and serve as the signature kickoff event of Super Bowl week.

The complete 2000s NFL All-Decade team will be revealed during a special Pro Bowl edition of ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown (5:30 p.m. ET).

The members of the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team that will see action in Sunday’s Pro Bowl.

The 12 2010 All-Stars to be selected to the All-Decade team have been named to the Pro Bowl a combined 77 times.

This is a tremendous honor for me to be recognized as one of the best out of all the safeties who have played in the NFL this decade,” says Denver safety BRIAN DAWKINS, who was selected to his eighth career Pro Bowl and is one of the four All-Decade safeties.  “To know I’ve been able to do the things I’ve been able to do, with the help of my teammates, to earn a spot on the league’s All-Decade Team means a lot.”

The NFL All-Decade teams are chosen every 10 years by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee members.  The 2000s will mark the ninth All-Decade team to be selected in NFL history.

This decade’s 53-player team will be comprised of two quarterbacks, four running backs, one fullback, four wide receivers, two tight ends, four offensive tackles, four guards, two centers, four defensive tackles, four defensive ends, six linebackers, four cornerbacks, four safeties, two kickers, two punters, two kick returners and two punt returners.  Two head coaches have also been chosen.

All-Stars from the Super Bowl competing teams will not participate in the Pro Bowl, but they will attend the game and be honored as part of the pregame festivities.  Three of those players have also been selected to the All-Decade Team: quarterback PEYTON MANNING and defensive end DWIGHT FREENEY of the Colts and safety DARREN SHARPER of the Saints.

NFL/Michael Signora

IRVING – Jay Ratliff, a tight end at the start of his collegiate career, joined the ranks of elite NFL defensive linemen Thursday.

Ratliff and Cowboys defensive teammate DeMarcus Ware, the pass-rushing outside linebacker, were named first team All Pro in media voting conducted by The Associated Press. It marked the first time the Cowboys' defense has had multiple first-team selections since 1996, when cornerback Deion Sanders and safety Darren Woodson were honored.

This was Ware's third selection. He was delighted to receive the recognition in what has been an injury-plagued season but was more pleased for Ratliff.

"I'm really happy for Jay," Ware said. "He deserves it. From where he came from to making the Pro Bowl and now All Pro, it lets everybody know he has arrived."

Ratliff, a seventh-round draft choice from Auburn in 2005, performs double duty on defense. In the three-man front, he lines up as a nose tackle and usually takes on double-team blocks. In the four-man front, Ratliff moves to a tackle spot to rush the passer. He tied for third in the league for sacks by tackles with six.

"It's a blessing, and I thank God for it," said Ratliff, who also praised position coach Todd Grantham and his teammates. "But there's still a lot of work to."

Five other Cowboys received votes, with Andre Gurode finishing second among centers. The others were tight end Jason Witten, wide receiver Miles Austin, offensive guard Leonard Davis and outside linebacker Anthony Spencer.

By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News

Miles Austin started this season as a third-string receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. Now, he's a Pro Bowler.  Austin was among six Dallas players chosen to the all-star squad Tuesday, and the team's lone first-time honoree. He's earned it by leading the NFC with 1,230 yards receiving. He also has 11 touchdowns among his 74 catches.

Austin is only the second Cowboys receiver to make the Pro Bowl since Michael Irvin. The other was Terrell Owens in 2007.

Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware and center Andre Gurode were chosen as starters, while tight end Jason Witten, nose tackle Jay Ratliff and guard Leonard Davis made it as reserves.

This was the 30th time the Cowboys have had at least five honorees.

This is Ware's and Gurode's fourth straight year on the squad. Ware has been a starter all four times. Gurode's four straight invitations is a club record for centers.

Witten will make his sixth straight appearance -- the most invitations for a tight end in Cowboys history. Davis will make his third straight, and Ratliff was tapped for the second straight year.

Tony Romo has thrown for more than 4,000 yards, but was bypassed in favor of the three quarterbacks with higher ratings than his 97.0: Drew Brees of New Orleans, Minnesota's Brett Favre and Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers.

The Pro Bowl will be played in Miami on Jan. 31, one week before the Super Bowl is held there.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

First Published: Dec 29, 2009 7:11 PM CST

USA Football, the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, and the NFL Players Association have selected linebacker DEMARCUS WARE of the Dallas Cowboys and 25 other NFL players to the inaugural USA Football/NFLPA “All-Fundamentals” Team. This 26-man roster honors the NFL’s most fundamentally-sound players who also commit themselves to service in their communities.

This honor recognizes Ware as an example for youth players – particularly linebackers – to emulate due to his extraordinary pass rush skills.

The USA Football/NFLPA “All-Fundamentals” Team was selected by a six-person selection committee:

• JASON BELSER, former NFL player, USA Football board member, and NFLPA senior regional director
• TOM CARTER, former NFL player and NFLPA regional director
• HERMAN EDWARDS, former NFL head coach and player, ESPN NFL analyst
• SCOTTIE GRAHAM, former NFL player and NFLPA regional director
• LARRY KENNAN, former NFL assistant coach and NFL Coaches Association executive director
• CARL PETERSON, USA Football chairman, former NFL team executive and assistant coach

In addition to his fundamentally-strong play, Ware does exemplary work in the Dallas area. Ware participates in an array of events benefitting the Cowboys’ numerous charitable initiatives.

As part of this honor, Ware will designate a youth or high school football program to receive a $1,500 equipment grant from USA Football. USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFLPA, the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys and the league’s 31 other teams. Each player also receives a pewter-dipped “All-Fundamentals” Team helmet trophy produced by Riddell, USA Football’s official helmet and equipment partner.

A video clip of each of the 26 players, spotlighting their sound football technique for young players to emulate, resides at AllFundamentalsTeam.com. These exciting game-action clips offer visual instruction for youth players and coaches alike.

The USA Football/NFLPA “All-Fundamentals” Team consists of:
• All 11 offensive positions
• All 11 defensive positions
• Four (4) special teams positions (LS, K, P, KR/PR)

USA Football teaches the game’s fundamentals and inherent values through more than 80 annual training events and innovative football training resources employed by its members who reside in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

2009 USA Football/NFLPA “All-Fundamentals” Team:

NAME	POSITION	TEAM	FOOTBALL FUNDAMENTAL
Tony Gonzalez	TE	Atlanta Falcons	Catching in traffic
Ryan Clady	T	Denver Broncos	Hands in pass protection
Joe Thomas	T	Cleveland Browns	Pass blocking footwork
Alan Faneca	G	New York Jets	Combo/zone blocking
Steve Hutchinson	G	Minnesota Vikings	Pulling, run blocking
Jeff Saturday	C	Indianapolis Colts	Snapping and blocking
Larry Fitzgerald	WR	Arizona Cardinals	Proper catching with hands
Wes Welker	WR	New England Patriots	Proper catching with hands
Ryan Grant	RB	Green Bay Packers	Ball security/proper cuts
Moran Norris	FB	San Francisco 49ers	Run blocking
Drew Brees	QB	New Orleans Saints	Throwing mechanics
Osi Umenyiora	DE	New York Giants	Takeoff and pass rush
Kyle Vanden Bosch	DE	Tennessee Titans	Playing the run
Darnell Dockett	DT	Arizona Cardinals	Defeating blocks
Haloti Ngata	DT/NT	Baltimore Ravens	Footwork and leverage
Mike Vrabel	LB	Kansas City Chiefs	Shedding blocks
London Fletcher	LB	Washington Redskins	Angle tackling
DeMarcus Ware	LB	Dallas Cowboys	Pass rush/bull rush
Cortland Finnegan	CB	Tennessee Titans	Man-to-man coverage
Nnamdi Asomugha	CB	Oakland Raiders	Breaking up the pass
Troy Polamalu	S	Pittsburgh Steelers	Playing the ball
Eric Weddle	S	San Diego Chargers	Open-field tackling
David Akers	K	Philadelphia Eagles	Kicking mechanics
Brian Moorman	P	Buffalo Bills	Punting mechanics
David Binn	LS	San Diego Chargers	Long-snapping mechanics
Clifton Smith	KR	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Kick catching and returning

About USA Football
USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, hosts more than 80 football training events annually offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners. The independent non-profit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL Players Association, the NFL, and its 32 teams. USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competition and provides $1 million annually in equipment grants and subsidizes youth league volunteer background checks. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.

Thursday, July 9: DeMarcus and Taniqua Ware join Gatorade to raise awareness to Parents and Coaches about the importance of heat safety.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD "THE HEAT SAFETY KIT"

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"Beat The Heat" Video

Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware was making the rounds Thursday morning, courtesy of Gatorade, spreading the word about the NFL’s "Beat The Heat" campaign.

He is trying to save lives of youth football players, so it felt a little awkward to just jump in with, "Good morning. So did you really hide from coaches on the sidelines so Greg Ellis could play?" So I began asking about heat and hydration and how to stay healthy instead.

"Guys are fighting for jobs, so they don’t want to come out," DeMarcus explained. "But you have to take yourself out sometimes."

Well, DeMarcus, since you brought it up, did you?

Because Ellis kind of, sort of, totally implied you were very good at taking yourself out of games. In fact, in a radio interview with Michael Irvin on Wednesday, Ellis said you tapped out and hid from coaches to allow him to have more playing time. And he kind of made it seem like you put your friendship above what was best for the team.

"I didn’t do that," Ware said.

So do you want to address his claims?

"I don’t," Ware said. "Certain things come out that way and you just have to deal."

He stepped very diplomatically around the train wreck that is Ellis, noting only that he had played most defensive snaps. He refrained from calling Ellis a liar, or just generally voicing what the rest of us have been thinking, which is "Good gosh, this dude is imploding."

Ware is a good guy, and what is the point?

Ellis is a Raider. His whining is irrelevant.

What this needs to be is the last time Ware steps gingerly around any Cowboys issues. What this team needs from Ware, aside from another monster season, is for him to be an unabashed leader, willing to jump butts, speak truth and step in, lest we have a repeat of last season’s locker-room disaster where players were tattling and calling each other snitches and cowards and just basically backstabbing. And who was going to stop them? Coach Cupcake? T.O.? Ellis?

Good news: Ware says he’s ready to step into that leadership void.

"I think I have to ... and this year, this team, is one of the best teams I have been on in terms of listening and cooperating," Ware said. "I can go talk to Romo, and he’ll take criticism. And he can come talk to me, and I’ll take criticism."

And I believe Ware when he says this.

He’s sick of losing and failing in December and failing in playoff games and just generally of not being as good as expectations. Just in case anybody wonders if Ware has enough mean in him to be a leader, he promises he’s neither as soft-spoken nor as nice as he appears — especially on the field and in the locker room.

Could a more in-your-face Ware have saved last season? Probably not.T.O. had that locker room so screwed up by December that Oprah did not have a chance. And with him gone, guys like Ware have a much easier time in cohesion, right?

"I’ll just put it this way: When guys feel like they are part of the team, they are more willing to cooperate because they are part of something," Ware said.

Hmmm, I wonder what he might be inferring?

Of course, the giggle is Ellis’ tall tale of Ware trying to right coaching wrongs by tapping out began with leadership talk. Ellis said his ability to quell the T.O. insurrection had been stripped by Cowboys coaches who insisted on playing Anthony Spencer. Or else by his own growing rep as a selfish whiner.

Not that Ellis understands this. He obviously and disappointingly has lost touch with reality.

"It’s a disgrace when DeMarcus Ware comes off the field just so I can get in the game and, when the coaches tell him to come on the field, he tries to hide so I can play," was exactly what Ellis said to Irvin.

Luckily the Hall of Famer followed with a form of "huh?"

"He would say, 'G, come on,’ " Ellis said. "And I would tell him, 'No, DeMarcus, go ahead, man. You’re coming up on your contract year. Don’t mess that stuff up. Go ahead and do you, and we’re just going to do what the coaches, or whoever the powers that be, what they want to do.’ "

Guessing about the motivations of a tortured soul like Ellis is dangerous. Who knows why a guy would go scorched-earth on his good name, which he had spent most of his time in Dallas building? I have not a clue, but what I think Ellis was trying to say is, "I know nobody takes my whining about playing time seriously any more but, see, it is not just me. My teammates agreed the Cowboys coaches are idiots."

This is just Ellis being Ellis. So Ware was right to mostly ignore.

But if anybody else tries to drop a grenade in this locker room, like a year ago, Ware absolutely has to be willing to get in his face. Has to. Or else whoever the next Ellis is has a chance to ruin another season.

Beat the Heat The NFL, including DeMarcus Ware and his wife, Taniqua, and Gatorade have joined forces to educate coaches, athletes and parents about the importance of hydration in helping to avoid heat-related illnesses. Go to www.nfl.com/trainingcamp for more information on the campaign. And every time there’s a unique download of the Gatorade Heat Safety kit on the Web site, Gatorade will donate $1, up to $25,000, to Beat to Heat charities.

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