Dallas, TX
My Cause My Cleats: Buddy Johnson is helping kids find their buddy
Johnson grew up with a single mother and lost “LD,” his best friend, the day before he left to start college at Texas A&M. He hopes to use the lessons he’s learned throughout his road to the NFL to teach that anyone can overcome adversity, regardless of when it comes.
“If I can tell them anything, it’s going to be that life is going to throw curveballs at you, and you’re going to get hit with adversity,” Johnson said. “It’s not about what happens, it’s about how you respond.”
The credit Johnson gives to those stepping up to be mentors in his life is widespread, including his mother Michelle Stephens, older brothers and TrueBuzz 7on7 football coach DeMarquis Brooks. They all played a major role in Johnson’s development not just as a football player, but as a person too.
“I tell a lot of people that my mom was my mom and my dad because my dad wasn’t around…” Johnson said. “Good thing that my coaches were always there, I was one of those kids that I’d spend the night at my coach’s house, my coaches used to pick me up and drop me off at school because my mom was working hard, extremely thankful for those guys.”
Now, it’s all about passing the knowledge he’s gained on to the next generation by providing them with buddies of their own.
“I just want to tell the guys that are in my shoes now, it’s definitely possible even if your dad’s not around or you don’t have a father figure,” Johnson said. “As long as you put that work in and always have extreme confidence in yourself, you’ll be just fine.”
The Kimball high school native hosted his inaugural football camp back in June, with about 200 kids showing up to participate. Already, he’s looking forward to the next one in his home community.
“It was super cool for me, mainly because it was the first camp back with the Dallas Cowboys and at home, so it was super cool…” Johnson said. “It was a great turnout, but this second one we’re looking forward to making it way better than it was and having more kids.”
As for right now, Johnson and his Texas A&M teammate and current Cincinnati Bengals running back Trayveon Williams are co-hosting a coat drive for Dallas students in need until December 13. For more information on the coat drive and other ways to contribute to the Everybody Needs a Buddy foundation, you can visit www.everybodyneedsabuddyfoundation.com and follow @enab_foundation on Instagram.
My Cause My Cleats Features:
Dallas, TX
Cowboys news: Former Dallas 1st-round pick weighs in on who should be next DC
Every offseason it seems like I see a linebacker’s name pop up that the Cowboys need to get to help the defense. This year it may be Quincy Williams. Could he be the guy the middle of the defense is missing? I’ve seen some reactions, and when you dig into the type of player he is the coverage numbers may make you second guess. And honestly, I get it because it doesn’t look pretty. When you actually dig into how Quincy Williams plays, and how he is used, the conversation changes fast. So let’s talk it through like fans, not scouts trying to sound smart.
The First Thing You Need to Know: This Dude Lives in the Box
Quincy Williams is not a coverage linebacker, and he never has been. He will not be floating around in space trying to run with slot receivers or carry tight ends down the seams. When you look at the snap data, it’s not even debatable. He spent hundreds of snaps in the box, very few on the edge, only a handful in the slot, and almost none on the outside.
That tells you exactly how defenses should play him. He is there to attack downhill. If you judge this man based on coverage stats alone, you’re grading a fish on how well it climbs trees. How Quincy Williams Actually Plays
What I like about Quincy Williams is simple: when he sees it, he goes. There’s no dancing, no waiting for someone else to make the play. He triggers fast and shows up with bad intentions. Is he perfect? Absolutely not, but were any of the Cowboys linebackers last season even above average.
He will miss a tackle here and there because of his aggressive play style, but I’ll take that every day over a linebacker who catches blocks and gets pancaked. What I found even more impressive was he lines up all over the box. He can play weak side, strong side, and take inside looks, but he rarely just sat in the middle calling things out. He’s a flow-and-hunt guy, so the Cowboys would need to let him scrape, chase, and hit. That is where his game makes sense.
Not Much of a Pass Rusher
This may be another area where people will get twisted. Yes, you will see him walked up near the line sometimes, but he’s not an edge rusher. He is not winning with moves or stacking sacks. Those snaps are about pressure and confusion to make the offense account for him, mess with protection calls, and let the defense work around it. He’s a blitzer, not a technician, and if used incorrectly, it looks ugly.
Dallas, TX
Man dies after dog attack in Dallas home, police say
A man has died after a dog attacked him inside a home in North Texas on Thursday afternoon, officials say.
Dallas police officers responded to a call in the 4100 block of Esmalda Drive at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7. Investigators determined the man was attacked by a dog inside a residence in the 4100 block of Pringle Drive.
The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said.
According to a press release, the Dallas Police Department is treating the case as a homicide.
Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Kenneth Castoral at 469‑781‑1261 or by email at kenneth.castoral@dallaspolice.gov.
Dallas, TX
Every Dallas Restaurant That Closed in 2025
Photos by Allison McLean
According to the Chinese New Year, 2025 was the year of the snake, and Dallas shed more than its fair share of restaurants and bars.
We actually started off on a high note with the closure of Salt Bae’s restaurant, Nusr-Et, which had the audacity to charge upwards of $1,000 for a steak.
After that, local favorites started dropping like flies. Many leases seemed to come to an end with an increase in demand for space sending rent skyrocketing. Along with rising food costs, local restaurants are taking a hit.
It’s not all bad, though. Peppered into the mix are some restaurants and bars in Dallas that closed, but were remodeled and reimagined into new concepts. Others are looking for new spaces with lower rent. The rest, however, are gone for good.
The beginning of this year will likely be no better than the last, and it’s as good a time as ever to get out and support your favorite local spots. Money tight? We know where to go.
These are all the Dallas restaurants that closed in 2025.
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology5 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX3 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Delaware3 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX7 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Iowa5 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Health1 week agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Montana1 day agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says