Dat Nguyen to retire

[PonyPride]

(Portions of a press release from Friday morning)

NGUYEN TO ANNOUNCE RETIREMENT

The Dallas Cowboys released defensive tackle La’Roi Glover and placed linebacker Dat Nguyen on the reserve/retired list. Nguyen is expected to make a formal announcement on his retirement to the media in the near future.
....
Nguyen, an eight-year veteran was originally drafted in the third round (85th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. He made an impact with the Cowboys from the beginning, leading the team in special teams stops as a rookie and becoming Dallas's starting middle linebacker in his second season. In 2001, he completed his first full season as a starter and recorded 172 tackles, the second highest single-season tackle total in Cowboys history. Since taking over the middle of the Cowboys in 2001, Dallas finished with one of the top four defensive units in the league twice, including the top ranked unit in 2003. Nguyen led or tied for the team lead in tackles 37 times in his 65 starts. In his last 36 starts, Nguyen led or tied for the team lead in tackles 22 times.

In 2005 Nguyen led the team in tackles twice in his four starts with a season-high nine tackles against both Washington (9/19) and at San Francisco (9/25). In the season opener at San Diego (9/11), he finished second on the team with eight tackles. He posted the nine tackles against Washington (9/19) and tied that effort the next week at San Francisco (9/25). He also recovered a fumble and had an interception - the seventh of his career - against the 49ers. At Oakland (10/2) he recorded five stops and one pass break up, before a neck injury caused him to miss the next three games. Nguyen returned to action against Arizona (10/30) in a back-up role. Nguyen played in the nickel package at Philadelphia (11/14) recording seven tackles. In the final game of his career, Nguyen played in the nickel against Denver (11/24). He was placed on Reserve/Injured on Nov. 28....

[SMUltimedia]

Maybe Dat will come here and be LB's coach. Who wouldn't love that?


Too bad about Glover, I never met a nicer pro athlete. He will probably head for the booth.

[Corso]

Maybe Dat will come here and be LB's coach. Who wouldn't love that?

Coach Tumpkin, for one.

Too bad about Glover, I never met a nicer pro athlete. He will probably head for the booth.

Actually, I bet someone picks him up (albeit at a lower salary). He can still play.

[JasonB]

Maybe Dat will come here and be LB's coach. Who wouldn't love that?


Too bad about Glover, I never met a nicer pro athlete. He will probably head for the booth.

Unfortunately, Dat has no interest in coaching right now. He is going to concentrate on tending to his investments.

[mrydel]

Would it be allowable for him to come to the SMU camps and give pointers and insight to the players as a friend of Coach B? If so, there are other players we may be able to persaude to so the same.

[PK]

Maybe Dat will come here and be LB's coach. Who wouldn't love that?


Too bad about Glover, I never met a nicer pro athlete. He will probably head for the booth.

Unfortunately, Dat has no interest in coaching right now. He is going to concentrate on tending to his investments.

...and family.

[Buddha]

Think Jerry Jones is re-thinking his decision to veto the Dat-for-Darren Howard trade?

[Hal]

Absolutely. Howard didn't have a good season last year, but everything I've read suggests that there are a lot of teams clamoring for his services.