Prehistoric Mammoth and Whale Bones Found in San Diego

A Columbian mammoth's remains were found at a construction site in San Diego three weeks ago bringing the construction of the Thomas Jefferson School of Law to a halt. The mammoth was likely to have died about 500,000 years ago. Scientists were called in to excavate the site.
Yesterday just 10 feet below the mammoth's bones, those of a prehistoric whale were discovered.

According to the scientists, these prehistoric whale bones could belong to an ancestor of the modern gray whale. It is thought to have died some 600,000 years ago and to have measured about 40 feet long.

The curator of paleontology at the San Diego Natural History Museum, Thomas Demere, explained that gray whales were part of the baleen group of whales that filter feed through baleen plates and, even though the bones unearthed so far, suggest that it could be an early ancestor of the gray whale, more bones need to be found to confirm this.

Unearthed so far are the whale's jaw, shoulder blade, neck bone and upper spine. The bones are spread across an area about 40 feet. Field paleontologist Pat Sena said that sea currents were no doubt responsible for spreading them around like that.

The mammoth and whale remains could provide clues to their evolutionary history and to global weather patterns in prehistoric times.

As Sena said:"When sea levels are in, it's a warmer climate. Polar ice caps are melting and sea levels are rising. We're looking at periods of global warming and global cooling in a real short package of time here."

Paleontologists, using hand axes, shovels, trowels and brushes to excavate the rest of the whale, expect to be on site for some time longer.

Information from: The San Diego Union-Tribune

Keith Brooking Signs with Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys strengthened their
linebacking corps by signing the eleven year
veteran Keith Brooking for three years. He was
released on Friday by the Atlanta Falcons after
being with them for all 11 of his seasons.

In his rookie season he played in the Super
Bowl XXXIII.

In 2008 he started all 16 games with the
Falcons and went on to lead the team with 133
tackles of which 80 were solo. So far in his career, he has 972 tackles,
17 sacks and 12 interceptions.

His contract terms have not been disclosed as
yet. Expectations are high for another great season.

Brian Dawkins signs with the Broncos

All season long Brian Dawkins said that he was hopeful that he'd work out a way to stay with the Eagles. Less than 24 hours into free agency, though, that looks like an impossibility. The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that Dawkins and the Broncos have agreed to terms on a contract that will be formally announced in Denver on Saturday.

Dawkins fills a huge hole for the Broncos. Their defense will be stocked with new, presumably young for the most part, faces. Dawkins gives them an experienced leader who can help the team forge a new defensive identity.

Dawkins has lost a step over the past couple of years, but he's still several steps ahead of the guys that the Broncos have been trotting out there for the last few seasons. He's still strong against the run, another Denver anomaly, and no one's going to throw anything at him that he hasn't seen 50 times before.

In a division with Darren Sproles, Darren McFadden and (for now) LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson, the Broncos needed a serious upgrade to their run defense. Dawkins gives them one....

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