Chris Cooley Burns a Dead Cow, Blogs About the Experience

In "news" sure to get someone's panties in a bunch, Chris Cooley posted an interesting, we'll say, entry on his personal blog recently. Apparently on his land in Wyoming, the Redskins tight end stumbled upon a cow carcass. Naturally, he and his cohorts set the already-deceased animal on fire to "get rid of it." Cooley has teased a video of the fire, but it's not yet posted. Update: He has decided to not post the video.

My first reaction to this was, "Oh great, now a bunch of people are going to be all up in arms about how disgusting this was." Frankly, I am surprised he posted it on the Internet, what with all the wackos around who will stir up controversy over just about anything nowadays. I guess he doesn't care if it does ignite controversy, so kudos to him for that.

For the record, Cooley did post a message he received on Facebook in his blog's comments section to explain a very reasonable stance:

As the Director for adoptions for a rescue, an animal rights activist, a Vet Tech and a member of the HSUS this is not an act of cruelty. It all rights burning the corpse of a dead farm animal is the right thing to do to stop the spread of disease.

As an animal lover yes it is hard to see it but it was the right thing to do to save the other animals around.

I hate that I feel this way, but it seems like someone is going to complain about this. I don't know who or why, but it's a gut feeling. I sincerely hope I'm wrong because this doesn't seem like anything to be worried about. In fact -- and I'll admit to being a "city boy" and knowing nothing about dead animal procedure -- it seems as though they did the proper thing.

My only other response would be that my second thought -- as a big-time steak-lover -- was the loss of all that great meat. What a shame.

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Dallas Cowboys players Marc Colombo, left, and Leonard Davis perform with their band, Free Reign at the House of Blues, Saturday, June 27, 2009, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Dallas Cowboys player Marc Colombo performs with his band, Free Reign at the House of Blues, Saturday, June 27, 2009, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Dallas Cowboys players Marc Colombo, center, Leonard Davis, right, and Cory Proctor perform with their band, Free Reign at the House of Blues, Saturday, June 27, 2009, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Dallas Cowboys player Leonard Davis acknowledges the crowd during a performance with his band, Free Reign at the House of Blues, Saturday, June 27, 2009, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Dallas Cowboys players Marc Colombo, left, and Cory Proctor laugh while waiting back stage before performing with their band, Free Reign at the House of Blues, Saturday, June 27, 2009, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

6-29-2009 @ 11:04PM

horatiowrd said...

to be fair, the meat was probably already a loss.

6-29-2009 @ 11:09PM

Matt Snyder said...

Oh, yeah, that's what I meant ... like they didn't get there in time to salvage it. I should have been more clear. Thanks.

7-01-2009 @ 9:54AM

aaron2525 said...

I grew up on a ranch. We would drag them with a tractor to the back of the ranch out of site and smell and let the buzzards eat them. And to people talking about the meat. Do you really think its a good idea to eat something when you dont know why it died? Come on, use your brain. The thing died for some reason or another.

6-29-2009 @ 11:32PM

imshortyk said...

Hey man, if PETA complained because Obama killed a fly buzzing around his nose, they (or somebody else) will complain about this. It'll probably be the Green people. "You could've burned down the nearby trees!" Hahaha.

6-30-2009 @ 11:51AM

into228 said...

peta is not going to say a word he is the right color.

7-01-2009 @ 8:54AM

Daryl said...

into228....you are a dumbass

6-30-2009 @ 8:37AM

sharffj said...

ITs Called CREAMATION

6-30-2009 @ 9:52AM

dtenore said...

Or "cooking". I'm sure Matt is correct that **someone's** gonna get their panties in a bunch over this... but this DOES stop disease from spreading. Oh, and we're not talking about Cooley killing the cow (PETA would call that "murder", right?); it was already dead, so he simply did an environmentally-responsible cleanup.
Yes, some morons will complain. No matter what, some morons will complain.

6-30-2009 @ 11:38AM

Peggi said...

hee hee - CREAMation... that's udderly funny!

6-30-2009 @ 11:33PM

dwadddd said...

creamation? No such word.

7-01-2009 @ 10:59AM

Rachel said...

nice one sharffj

6-30-2009 @ 8:44AM

mdnman3431 said...

It is common to burn a dead horse are cow. You do not eat the meat of the cow you find because you do not know what killed it, was it sick are just natural death

6-30-2009 @ 8:53AM

II ANF II said...

Why is this news?

7-01-2009 @ 2:35AM

gigglygayle1007 said...

Someone asks “How or why is this news?” about many of the stories I have read. My theory is now that the internet has become our main source for news anything can be made into news because there is no trouble getting it out to the public quickly. Also almost anything to do with celebrities is considered news. I myself hope to become a Journalist so I find this entire phenomenon fascinating. As for the cow I don’t think anybody will be upset since it was already dead and they did not have to deal with it on their property.

6-30-2009 @ 10:35AM

gonzo1 said...

hey chris , i burned myself a hunk of cow on my grill last night ; man was it good !!! hell as a matter of fact , i think i'll do a repeat performance tonight . i'm a cowboy's fan , but you cook 'em son !!

6-30-2009 @ 10:44AM

Gary said...

Where's the sauce?

6-30-2009 @ 11:11AM

Beth said...

He must not have much else going on if this was the highlight of his day. Get a life.

6-30-2009 @ 11:52AM

Im sure somebody will make a COWardly statement. About the bar-b-que

6-30-2009 @ 12:02PM

hip167 said...

who cares burn the dam cow if thats what you want to do and if peta comes out there burn them also.they are just breathing up air im gonna need later they to get a few liberals while your at it that will do the world a lot of good in the long run