Here We Go Again

The Xpress make 2 more major signings last week. The Xpress signed 2 time outstanding offensive player of the year Chris Choice, and OLB Ced White, but the signings did not stop there, February 23rd the Xpress make 2 more major resigning, this time they resign 6'4 280lb defensive tackle Kenneth Mcgill and monster defensive end Dameon Collins to two year deals.

When coach Vernon was asked why is he still signing defensive players? his response was " You can never have too many great defensive players, this keeps everyone well rested and you can keep the offense on their heels at all points of the game". When we played the Dallas Bengals a few weeks ago Collins was a constant disruption against our offense, so what do we do? we go after the player that was causing that disruption and after 48hrs of negotiations we land Collins. In signing Mcgill, we talked after the season opener against the Pitbulls we work out some details and inked him to his contract on the 23rd. What does this do for us in signing both players? think about the Baltimore Ravens and their defense and then picture them adding Julius Peppers and Albert Haynesworth this will tell you what the Xpress has just done.

Xpress make 2 Major Resigning

That's right you heard it hear first! The DFW XPRESS make to major re-signings, when the organization resigned 2007, 2008 outstanding offensive player Chris Choice, and 2008 starting weak side linebacker Ced White to 2 year deals. It was a long fought process in negotiating to re-sign Chris Choice. Choice had originally left the Xpress at the end of the 2008 season to sign with the expansion franchise the Dallas Bengals of the TUFL, after several pre-season games and a lot of missed promises that were made. Mr. Choice was called by his former coach and organization about re-signing with his former team after a week of talks both the Xpress and Mr. Choice came to an agreement, and he re-signed on Feb.16Th 2009, what does this do for the Xpress? this just bolstered their offense and gives them an excellent receiver, who last year lead the Xpress in catches with 40, second in yards with over 650, and tied for second in TD with 7. When coach Vernon was asked why did he re-sign Choice? His response was "we needed an experience play maker that can do the dirty work in the middle of the field but still has the speed to get vertical" and an experience player who could teach our young guys. The Xpress also resigned OLB Ced White who last year lead the team in special team tackles, and finished 4Th on defense with over 35 tackles as he fought through nagging minor injuries throughout the 2008 season. In signing Mr. White the Xpress just made the defense faster and more aggressive. and the Defense in my opinion was already going to be one of the best defenses in the league. White being signed also makes the kick coverage a lot stronger and he brings a good understanding to the Vernon style 4-3 defense.

LOVE AND HATE

What is so important and why is it that so many people in the semi-pro football world hates me? I can give you plenty of reasons, and in the end I think most people who read this article will agree with me, that respect goes along away. I have been around semi-pro for over 15 years, as a player, a coach and a owner. I played for 6 years, made 2 all star teams as a corner back, I have been an owner of 3 different teams and I have started all 3, The Mesquite Falcons which it took 3 years before we started really winning games, I then became the Dallas Titans that team went to 3 consecutive playoffs, and now the Dfw Xpress formally the Dallas Xpress, and over the last 2 years I guided this team with the help of my staff to two 6-4 seasons. There is not a team in Dallas that does not either have a coach are a player on that team that has either coached with me, played with me are played for me. I have coached are played in over 200 games. As a player I have played on a team that has been beaten by 60 pt's, I have coached a team that has been beaten by 60pts and I have coached a team that has beaten a team by 50pts, I have seen all that you can see at this level. But what I have never seen at this level is this much hate for me. What is so funny is that I have never once disrespected any athlete on any team that I have played against played for are even coached, but yet still I have old players, and old coaches that don't like me! Why? Could it be that I am 7 feet tall and 340 lbs? no that cant be it because I am 5'9 185 lbs, maybe its because I am wealthy? No that cant be it because I am just a school teacher, maybe because I drive fancy cars? No that cant be it because I drive a 2000 Tahoe, so what is it? Maybe its because I don't put up with B.S. I will not allow a player to disrespect me are my staff, I will not let the inmates run the jail, in other words if you are going to play for me are an organization that I am associated with then you are going to have to follow rules, if you cant do that then you don't have to play for me, go and play for those other organizations that allow you to do what you want to. But as a reader of this article can you do me a favor? if you hear are see someone talking about me behind my back and its always behind my back, can you walk up and ask them why they don't like me? and listen to their answer, I guarantee its never an answer that makes sense, because people that really know me know that I don't do anything wrong to anyone, I wasn't raised like that! nor do I lie to my players about anything, those same people that are talking about me ask them have I ever lied to them? are disrepected them? the answer you will receive will be NO then ask them once again then why do you not like Coach Truman?

XPRESS LOSE PRESEASON GAME

The Dfw Xpress lost their pre-season game to the Dallas Bengals 20-14. It was the Xpress first pre-season game of the 2009 season and the Bengals 4Th game. There were a lot of bright sspots for the Xpress who didn't have all of their weapons, on offense the Xpress were missing their starting right tackle because he had to attend a funeral, and their starting right guard who had a previous engagement. On defense they were missing their starting Free Safety and their starting Defensive Tackle, the offense line gave up 5 sacks all early in the game do to a lack of practice time together, lets make no excuse the guys that filled in did an admiral job! the offense had no turnovers and 9 penalty's 7 delay of game which was expected with this being the first game, 1 personal foul penalty, but no holding penalty's and 1 false start Now lets get to the stats of the game, young rookie RB sensation Rocky Frank finished with 7 carries for 48 yards, and 1 reception for 75 yards and 2 kick off returns for 65 yards before being retired before the end of the first half, Qb Tre Fields was 1-3 for 25 yards and a T.D. Backup Tight End Tremon Jackson 1 reception for 25 yards and a T.D. James Roberts had 3 carries for 12yards. On the Defense side of the ball the Xpress finished with 12 sacks and 1 interception Rookie standout Jeremy Rutherford had 4 sacks, and 3 QB pressures, Strong side Linebacker Quetin Sarpy had 3 sacks 3 QB pressures and 1 interception, Montrel Grace 2 sacks 2 QB pressures, and Derrick Blount 1 sack 2 QB pressures. Other defensive players that stood out, were Rookie Chris Hicks who was playing out of position playing free safety instead of his Corner back spot, landing vicious hits on Bengal Running backs, Demarcus Nixon showing excellent run support, and lets not forget Carnell Livingston playing his normal roll as a lock down corner giving up one catch while playing 3 Quarters of football. But in the end the Bengals escaped with a victory. When asked at the end of the game, How did coach Vernon feel about the outcome, his response was "I never like losing games regardless if its a pre season game are not but like I said in the beginning If this team stays healthy I feel this team will be fighting for the Magnum cup".

XPRESS Make Major Signing

Thats right you heard it first right here the Xpress re-sign 2008 TUFL ALLSTAR nominee Diondre Shamlin to a 1 year deal. It had been rumored that Shamlin had signed with the Dallas Bengals, but that was just a rumor, When coach Truman and Mr. Shamlin talked the negotiations lasted 3 days, but in the end Shamlin wanted to re-sign with the club that he had his best season with. Shamlin led the Xpress and the TUFL in forced fumbles with 9 from his defensive tackle spot, he is 6'3 310lbs and a monster in the middle of a defense that already is looking great. When coach Vernon was asked about the signing of Shamlin all coach Vernon could do was Smile, and say oh my god! With us adding Shamlin, our Defense will be the best in the league, just his presence will make life a whole lot easier for Robert Teal Jeremy Rutherford and Derrick Blount the team should respond with at least 40 sacks! that's 4 a game for this defense, and it should take a lot of pressure off our secondary.With our different blitz packages we should be able to create havoc on opposing offenses from all angles.