Dallas, TX
Cowboys 5-round mock draft post Jonathan Mingo trade lands star RB
The Dallas Cowboys decided to make a move on Tuesday, sending a fourth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for Jonathan Mingo.
They took a lot of heat for the move, but Mike McCarthy says they had a third-round grade on the Ole Miss wideout in the 2023 NFL Draft. If they’re right, and Mingo develops into a serviceable No. 2, then they’ll get the last laugh. Especially if they hit on the remainder of their picks.
With that in mind, here’s a look at what direction they might go now that Mingo is in the mix with this 5-round mock draft.
The greatest need in Dallas right now has to be at running back. Rico Dowdle is leading the way in 2024 with 484 yards from scrimmage. He’s been good but he’s not a game-changer. That’s why Ashton Jeanty is the pick in Round 1.
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The Boise State running back has 1,525 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground through eight games. He’s a local product who played at Frisco and could be exactly what this offense needs to become dominant once again.
Zack Martin is a free agent and might be done playing at the end of the year. Dallas isn’t likely to find someone who can truly fill his massive shoes but they’ll need more talent for the line. Enter Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson.
He has the skill set to start from day one and even if Dallas believes T.J. Bass can start, having options is never a bad thing. Especially if Terence Steele continues to struggle. Jackson’s presence could lead to some shuffling since Tyler Smith can play left tackle and Tyler Guyton might be a better fit on the right side.
Once again, a need based approach takes over in Round 3. Osa Odighizuwa will be a free agent this offseason, and Dallas isn’t going to break the bank to keep him around. Instead, they use the draft for their next 3-tech and land T.J. Sanders from South Carolina.
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A 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, Sanders was built to play the position. He’s proven to be a solid pass rusher with 7.5 sacks the past two seasons but most importantly, he’s a plus defender against the run.
After taking the fourth round off, the Cowboys are back in Round 5 and target a defensive player once again. This time, it’s Nickolas Martin, a redshirt junior from Oklahoma State.
Martin is undersized at 6-foot-0 and 220 pounds but is decent against the run, while being solid in coverage. He brings a lot in the pass rush department as well, recoding six sacks in 2023.
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Dallas, TX
Luka Doncic’s Shot in Dallas Mavericks vs. Chicago Bulls Goes Viral
Very few players are capable of creating highlight reel moments like Luka Doncic. Unfortunately for Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams, he was the next victim of Doncic’s creativity.
During last night’s game between the Bulls and Mavericks, Doncic put Williams on skates and rendered his defense useless in a moment that went viral.
Doncic had his usual spectacular performance against the Bulls, putting up 27 points, 13 assists, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals on 42% shooting from the field. He had five turnovers, but it didn’t matter because Doncic was a +35 on the night.
Chicago was playing without both Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball tonight, and it showed on the court. The team failed to score 100 points and shot only 42% from the field and 29% from three.
One bright spot was the play of 20-year-old rising star Matas Buzelis. Bulls fans have been waiting for the forward to have his moment, and he put up 13 points and 9 rebounds on 44/75/100 shooting from the field.
After the loss, the Chicago Bulls finished the night with a 3-5 record. The number isn’t too alarming, but the team definitely needs LaVine as the schedule is getting much more difficult. The next five opponents for the Bulls are the: Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Dallas, TX
Texas Seven prison escapee will get new Dallas trial in killing of Irving police officer, court rules
Texas Seven prison escapee Randy Halprin will get a new trial in Dallas County because the judge at his 2003 capital murder trial harbored antisemitic views, the state’s highest criminal court ruled Wednesday.
Halprin, who is Jewish, is one of seven inmates who escaped from the John B. Connally Unit near Kenedy in December 2000 before fatally shooting Irving police Officer Aubrey Hawkins during a Christmas Eve robbery. Halprin was convicted and sentenced to death for his role in Hawkins’ killing, but he has denied being one of the men who shot the officer.
Texas’ Court of Criminal Appeals previously halted his execution because of allegations former state District Judge Vickers Cunningham who presided over Halprin’s trial was prejudiced against him.
The ruling takes a step toward “broader trust in the criminal law by throwing out a hopelessly tainted death judgment handed down by a bigoted and biased judge,” Halprin’s attorney Tivon Schardl said in a statement.
“By upholding the Constitution’s requirement of fair and equal treatment, the Court of Criminal Appeals promoted faith in the criminal law,” he said. “It also reminded Texans that religious bigotry has no place in our courts.”
When reached over text Wednesday afternoon, Cunningham said “I’m in court right now.” An employee at his law office declined to comment and said Cunningham would have no comment. Cunningham has previously denied the allegation, saying the accusations were “lies from my estranged brother and his friends.”
In their 5-4 opinion, the justices found Cunningham had a history of using derogatory language toward Jewish people; made “offensive, antisemitic remarks” about Halprin during his trial; and ridiculed Jewish donors to his failed campaign for district attorney.
“The uncontradicted evidence supports a finding that Cunningham formed an opinion about Halprin that derived from an extrajudicial factor — Cunningham’s poisonous antisemitism,” the ruling reads.
In a concurring opinion, Judge Bert Richardson said the case isn’t just one where the action of a trial judge may look bad or there’s the appearance of impropriety. “This is a case,” he wrote, “where a person’s lifelong hatred and prejudice against Jews made him unfit to preside over this case.”
Cunningham’s brother, Bill Cunningham, told The Dallas Morning News in 2018 that Vic Cunningham was a lifelong racist. The then-judge said he wasn’t a bigot but confirmed a trust fund set up for his children has a stipulation that includes rewards for marrying a person who is white, Christian and the opposite sex.
Since Halprin’s execution was stayed, another district judge reviewed and weighed in on the case, recommending his conviction and death sentence should be tossed. After a three-day hearing, Tarrant County prosecutors also agreed Halprin’s right to a fair trial was violated. Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot recused his office from the case.
A spokeswoman for the Dallas County district attorney’s office declined to comment. The Tarrant County DA’s office did not immediately respond to an email.
“It is indeed unfortunate that Aubrey Hawkins’ family, our officers, our department, and our city will have to endure the reopening of old wounds and relive the horrors of what transpired,” Irving police Chief Derick Miller said in statement. “Waiting almost 24 years for justice has already been a long and difficult journey, and it appears that we must now prepare to wait a bit longer.”
The chief added: “We remain steadfast in our commitment to seeking justice for Aubrey Hawkins and his loved ones, and we hope that the legal process will ultimately lead to a resolution that honors his memory and the sacrifices made by all involved.”
All members of the Texas Seven were sentenced to death except for Larry Harper, who died by suicide to avoid capture. Four were executed. Patrick Murphy remains on death row.
Before the escape, Halprin was serving a 30-year sentence for beating a child in Tarrant County.
Schardl, Halprin’s lawyer, said Halprin will likely be sent to Dallas for the proceedings in the 283rd District Court. Creuzot has not sought the death penalty since taking office in 2019.
Dallas, TX
Dallas Cowboys Stock Watch: Week 9 risers & fallers
The Dallas Cowboys have dropped three straight games following a 21-27 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Though the final score appeared close, the game was largely in Atlanta’s control after the first half.
Once again, Dallas struggled to find an offensive rhythm in crucial moments, and the defense couldn’t keep them competitive. Questionable fourth-down play-calling only added to the defensive challenges, putting them in difficult positions throughout the game.
Here are the players who saw their stock rise or fall after another disappointing week for the Dallas Cowboys.
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Dak Prescott, QB
Dak Prescott’s season has been a disappointment for the Cowboys, and that doesn’t inspire confidence in their future, especially with him being the highest-paid player in the NFL.
His passing numbers have been underwhelming when he’s been in the game, and, for the first time in over a season and a half, he started running the ball more frequently.
Normally, this would be a positive, as Cowboys fans have missed Prescott’s dual-threat ability. Unfortunately, during one of his runs, he sustained a hamstring injury, which ultimately landed him on IR.
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Trevon Diggs, CB
Trevon Diggs has struggled in recent weeks, with his latest outing against the Atlanta Falcons possibly marking his lowest point of the season.
He allowed two touchdowns while in coverage, including a back-shoulder fade to Drake London in the red zone and a 36-yard pass to Darnell Mooney where he appeared to be significantly out of position.
Diggs’ first season back from injury has raised concerns, though it’s not uncommon for players to face challenges regaining their previous form following an ACL tear.
Tyler Guyton, LT
Tyler Guyton has become a regular mention for all the wrong reasons this season. Despite hopes for his development, he has shown little improvement and, in fact, seems to be regressing as the season progresses.
At left tackle, Guyton has been a liability, frequently allowing defenders easy access to the quarterback. Even when he’s not giving up pressures, he’s stalling drives with an array of penalties, including repeated false starts and holding calls.
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Rico Dowdle, RB
While Rico Dowdle hasn’t been the game-changing solution the Cowboys offense needs, he has consistently exceeded expectations both this week and throughout the season.
On Sunday, Dowdle was arguably the best performer on offense, showing his reliability as a runner and his value as a passing threat.
Re-signing him should be a priority for the Cowboys, as he’s proven to be a versatile and dependable contributor. Still, the Cowboys’ top objective in the draft should remain focused on selecting Ashton Jeanty.
Carl Lawson, DE
Elevated from the Cowboys practice squad, Carl Lawson is quickly re-establishing himself as a highly capable pass-rusher.
On Sunday, Lawson was a standout, registering two sacks and generating the only semi-consistent pressure on the defense outside of a few blitzes.
His recent performances suggest he deserves another shot in the NFL, and he could be an excellent rotational piece for the Cowboys once the rest of their edge rushers return to full health.
Brandon Aubrey, K
Just as Tyler Guyton has been a regular on the list of fallers, Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey has been a consistent bright spot. Aubrey went 2-for-2 on field goals and converted his only extra point attempt, continuing his perfect season.
He’s been the most reliable player for the Cowboys in 2024 and deserves consideration to become one of the league’s highest-paid kickers in the offseason.
Ironically, his success could mean his days in Dallas are numbered, as he may attract significant interest from other teams looking for a steady presence at kicker.
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