Probably mushrooms or other fungal fruiting bodies. Have you gotten a lot of rain recently? A picture of them would really help.

Can't do pictures but I did some looking on the net and I think they are black stinkhorn fungus and they seem to be more widespread than I thought. Yes, lots of rain - 3" in 2 days and some before that. I read there is no way to get rid of them because the spores are everywhere even though you might get rid of what you see now. I was thinking of raking them out of the grass but still do not know if it is bad for my health.

Thanks for replying and PLEASE if you know how to get rid of them before they reach the stink stage. Apparently they attract flies and really smell terrible.

I think they are pretty benign, except the stink. Do some more research, I don't think they will affect your health. You really can't get rid of them without taking drastic measures. A daily harvest with rubber gloves is probably the only way to keep them in check.

Yes, harvest them as soon as you see them coming. Turn a zip locking plastic baggie inside out, put your hand into the bag, pluck the mushroom out, turn the bag right side out, and zip it in. As you have likely determined, the flies spread the spores.