Cowboys' Scout Paralyzed in Facility Collapse

A devastating windstorm over the weekend rocked the Dallas Cowboys in a way that few would have ever anticipated. Tragically, scouting assistant Rich Behm suffered permanent paralysis from the waist down as the team's practice facility in Irving, Texas collapsed (video) Saturday during a mini-camp practice that included rookie players, coaches, front-office employees, and members of the media. According to multiple reports, Behm suffered a severed spinal cord and was rushed into surgery following the collapse.

The team released the following statement Sunday:

"To the Behm family we extend our love, comfort, and the full support of every person and resource within the organization," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "Rich is a courageous member of our family and someone for whom we care deeply. We ask for all friends and fans of the Dallas Cowboys to join us in embracing him and his family with their thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time."

All told, there were a dozen people who received treatment and many others who came away with cuts and bruises because of the collapse, including special teams coach Joe DeCamillis, who suffered multiple broken vertebrae in his back. Fortunately he didn't suffer permanent paralysis as well.

And fortunately somehow no one was killed.

It's fortunate as well that the Cowboys didn't have 125-150 people in the building at the time, which would have been the case had they been running a full practice.