Dallas, TX
Deuce Vaughn details ‘powerful’ day vs. Raiders, reuniting with Cooper Beebe
LAS VEGAS — Depending on who you ask and the … ahem … topic of discussion, size matters, but that is case-sensitive when it comes to the realm of sports. Deuce Vaughn neither towers about nor does he fracture the concrete with his every step, but what the Dallas Cowboys’ former sixth-round pick can do is collect a defender’s ankles like charms on a Pandora bracelet.
Moreover, he’s added some noticeable power to his game, evidenced against the Las Vegas Raiders when, on one of his handoffs, the defender first made contact behind the line of scrimmage but Vaughn unleashed some eye-opening power to move through several defenders to turn the potential loss into a gain.
Well, that’s new, but it’s not a coincidence.
“It’s a testament to all of the work I’ve put in over [the course of] this offseason,” said Vaughn following the victory at Allegiant Stadium. “Some of the things I wanted to do was to get a little bit bigger, and to get a little bit stronger in between the tackles because, in this league, that’s where the hay is made: those four-yard runs, those five-yard runs.
Easily the quickest and most shifty running back on the Cowboys’ roster, Vaughn has clearly added a power element to his skill set — making it more challenging for those who believe he’ll be an easy takedown if ever they’re able to get their hands on him.
“I wanted to be more powerful to put the offense in better situations on second and third down,” he said. “It’s one of those things I wanted to work on in the offseason, so to be able to come out here and put this down as a foundation is huge.”
Having missed the previous several practices, one scrimmage against the Los Angeles Rams and then the preseason opener that followed, due to a hamstring injury — the first time he’s been sidelined by that type of injury in his football career — it was paramount Vaughn have a strong outing in Las Vegas.
As it turns out, the house didn’t win against him.
He led the Cowboys with 34 rushing yards on only five handoffs for a game-high average of 6.8 yards per carry and created a mixed highlight reel that showcased elusiveness and strength.
“For myself, I felt like missing last week because of the hamstring, I wanted to come out and show what I can do,” Vaughn said. “Can’t take all the credit. The O-line did a great job up front. Trey [Lance] did a great job of keeping us under control in the huddle.
“I just wanted to go out there and showcase what I can do — is the biggest thing for myself.”
There was yet another reason for Vaughn to wear an ear-to-ear grin against the Raiders, and that’s the fact it marked the first time he and Cooper Beebe have been on the field at the same time since their days together at Kansas State.
Vaughn departed for the Cowboys in 2023 and Beebe just one year later, and the two former Wildcats are reunited; and it felt so good as their chemistry picked up right where it left off.
“It was huge, man,” said Vaughn of running behind Beebe for Dallas. “We were in the huddle and he called out the down and distance, and I looked up and saw him standing right there and I was like, ‘Man, it’s been a minute.’ It was real cool to be out there with him.
“He’s a fantastic O-lineman and a fantastic person as well, so whenever he got drafted here, and now I’m playing with him again in the preseason, it’s really cool.”
Beebe excelled in his first unofficial start for the Cowboys, and against the Raiders’ first-team for most of his reps at center, dirting/pancaking several defenders and clearing a path for Vaughn to do his work.
Now it’s about replicating and/or building upon that success in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers in the familiar confines of AT&T Stadium.
“That power, and hopefully have some opportunities to show off some pass protection going into this next week — just shoring up all the question marks that were given to me going into this offseason,” Vaughn said of his plans going forward.
It appears he’s hellbent on cutting some of his biggest doubters down to size in 2024.
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Dallas, TX
Aubrey fires up Cowboys with 66-yard field goal
![Aubrey fires up Cowboys with 66-yard field goal Aubrey fires up Cowboys with 66-yard field goal](https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0818%2Fr1374807_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg)
LAS VEGAS — Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey knew immediately that he caught the ball well off his right foot.
Aubrey’s 66-yard field goal in the Cowboys’ 27-12 preseason win against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night would have equaled the NFL record set by Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens on 2021.
“Just kind of feels like nothing’s quite there,” Aubrey said. “Got a little bounce off of your foot, that it sticks onto your foot for like a fraction of a second and then it goes. It kind of shoots off, jumps off your foot. And you know right off the bat it was a good, clean hit.”
In last week’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, Aubrey’s 65-yard attempt was wide and potentially a little short. After the game, coach Mike McCarthy contemplated giving Aubrey a chance at a 72-yarder earlier in the drive but said, “Bones wasn’t feeling it,” referring to special teams coordinator John Fassel.
Trey Lance set up Aubrey’s 66-yarder with a 20-yard run, alertly going to the ground with three seconds left at the Las Vegas 48.
Last year, Aubrey, a former first-round pick by Toronto FC in MLS who only started kicking a few years ago before landing with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL, led the NFL in scoring with 157 points.
He made 36-of-38 field goal tries last season, including a record 35 straight to start a career. From 50 yards plus, he was 10-of-10, including a 60-yarder against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“It’s a great weapon to have when you just got to get to the 50,” McCarthy said.
The kick landed in the net, but it is not clear how far it would have been good from. According to Next Gen Stats, the kick had a field-goal probability of 8%.
“Looked like it had plenty left, that’s for sure,” McCarthy said.
Said Aubrey, “I’m not entirely sure. From back there it’s kinda tough to see.”
Aubrey could tell in pregame warmups the ball was flying pretty good inside Allegiant Stadium.
“Coming out here, there’s no wind, perfect conditions, nice grass field with a little bit of elevation, being in Vegas,” he said. “It’s a good place to play.”
Maybe it’s new dad strength, too.
Minutes after the Cowboys’ lost to the Rams, Aubrey was on a jog to Los Angeles International Airport for a flight home because his wife, Jenn, was about to give birth to their son, Colton.
“The game ended at like 4:39 and I was at the terminal at 5:15 pretty much,” Aubrey said. “I got out there. … I got home at like 12:30 a.m. and we left for the hospital at 4:30. Not a lot of time. That was no sleep, then followed by obviously no sleep the next couple of days. Just catching up and recovering.”
Aubrey returned to Oxnard, California, for training camp in time for Thursday’s practice.
“It’s been hectic,” he said. “It’s been tiring. But, you know, it’s been life changing and exciting. Probably, I would say, the best week of my life.”
When Aubrey returns home from training camp on Thursday, he will have the football and his right cleat as presents for his son.
“The shoe’s about ready to go anyway, so time to retire it,” he said.
So what is Aubrey’s longest kick he has made?
“Messing around on my own? 70 [yards],” he said.
In the regular season, McCarthy might not mess around after Saturday’s showing.
Dallas, TX
Game Recap: Behind Lance, Cowboys win, 27-12
The Dallas Cowboys traded for Trey Lance last season in hopes they could tap into the talent that made him the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. In this preseason matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, he finally gave a glimpse of that potential.
Entering the game in the second quarter, Lance would lead the Cowboys to a 27-12 victory over the Raiders behind a pair of scoring drives. He completed 15 of 23 passes on the night for 151 yards and a touchdown to finish with a 98.3 passer rating. Just for good measure, he also added a rushing touchdown and tied for the team lead with 34 yards on the ground.
Overall, the Cowboys recorded 294 yards of offense, which included 137 rushing yards as a group. Deuce Vaughn sat out the preseason opener at the Rams due to injury, but he made up for it with an impressive showing in Las Vegas. The second-year man shook and shifted for 34 yards on five carries, an impressive 6.8 yards per carry average.
Mike Zimmer’s defense again was effective. While the unit allowed the Raiders to total 315 yards of offense, Dallas only allowed one touchdown for the second straight week. Cornerback Andrew Booth led the Cowboys with eight tackles with safety Juanyeh Thomas shining in limited action with a pair of pass breakups.
First Quarter
Although the Raiders began the game with their first-stringers while Dallas went largely with backups, the reserves held their own against the starters. In fact, after stopping Vegas on a fourth-and-3 at the Cowboys’ 47-yard line, starting quarterback Cooper Rush then moved his side close enough to allow Brandon Aubrey to kick a 54-yard field goal for an early 3-0 lead.
The game was soon tied, though. The Raiders started their possession at the 40-yard line after Aubrey’s kickoff went out of bounds. On their first snap, quarterback Gardner Minshew then connected with Tre Tucker on a deep post pattern for a 48-yard gain. The Cowboys defense held its ground, though, as Vegas settled for a 29-yard field goal.
Second Quarter
Despite the Raiders starters still being in the game, the Dallas defense forced a three-and-out on Vegas’ first series of the second quarter. But on the ensuing punt, a booming 69-yarder, returner Jalen Cropper fumbled the ball with the home side recovering at the Cowboys’ 23-yard line.
The defense again did its job, though. The Raiders decided to go for it on fourth-and-5 at the Dallas 18, but Minshew’s pass sailed high, the Cowboys taking over on downs.
Lance came in at the start of the second quarter, but his first two series resulted in three-and-outs. And special teams again had its difficulties. This time the Raiders’ Tucker found a lane down the left sideline and was able to return the punt 43 yards. With a 5-yard penalty on Dallas tacked on, Vegas was back in business at the Cowboys’ 28-yard line.
The Dallas defense again did its job, but this time the Raiders decided to take the easy points, kicking a 27-yard field goal for a 6-3 lead.
However, Lance came back and displayed some of that talent that warranted the Cowboys taking a chance on him. He completed all five of his pass attempts for 34 yards, and ran for a first down on third-and-1 at the Raiders’ 8-yard line. The last of his throws was a perfect 1-yard fade to Ryan Flournoy in the back right corner of the end zone for the Cowboys’ first touchdown of the preseason
But Lance and company weren’t done yet. Getting the ball back at his own 14-yard line with 28 seconds left, the young quarterback threw a pair of 8-yard passes to tight end John Stephens, scrambled for a 2-yard gain, and then took off on a 20-yard scamper before calling a timeout with 1 second left.
That gave Aubrey a chance to try a 66-yard field goal, and his kick went right down the middle to give Dallas a 13-6 advantage at the half.
Third Quarter
Unfortunately, the lead was soon cut to one. After the Cowboys were forced to punt on their first possession of the third frame, the Raiders marched 57 yards in 13 plays for the score. The touchdown came on a 5-yard pass from Aidan O’Connell to tight end Harrison Bryant, but when the pair tried to connect again on the two-point conversion, the toss fell incomplete.
Fourth Quarter
The Raiders were on the move when the clock ticked into the final quarter, the home side lined up at the Dallas 35-yard line for the first play of the fourth. But Cowboys cornerback Kemon Hall stepped in front of another O’Connell pass attempt to Bryant and took the interception back 69 yards for a pick-6.
With the Dallas defense continuing to take care of business, Lance’s night just kept getting better. He later took the offense on a 13-play, 88-yard drive that saw him complete passes of 17, 15, 12 and 30 yards, but took the scoring honors himself, dashing up the middle on a quarterback draw from 2 yards out for the touchdown to wrap up the scoring, 27-12.
Dallas, TX
Report: Mavericks Hiring Veteran Knicks Scout
![Report: Mavericks Hiring Veteran Knicks Scout Report: Mavericks Hiring Veteran Knicks Scout](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3710,h_2086,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/all_knicks/01j5h16w6sqfctw3bf87.jpg)
How the tables have turned for the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks.
Per Marc J. Spears of Andscape, the Mavericks are set to hire veteran Knicks scout Makhtar N’diaye to serve as their director of pro personnel and international scouting. N’diaye, 50, spent the past nine years working with the Knicks behind the scenes.
N’Diaye is perhaps best-known for his two collegiate seasons at North Carolina, where his physical play was a headline during the Tar Heels’ run to the Final Four in 1998. He would later play four NBA games with the Vancouver Grizzlies during the 1999 season, making history in the process.
Despite his limited NBA tenure, N’Diaye became the first Senegalese player to suit up in an Association contest. That list now includes 2013 first-round pick Gorgui Dieng and current Westchester Knicks head coach DeSagana Diop.
After his historic NBA cameo, N’Diaye spent nearly a decade playing professional ball overseas, primarily in France, though he did return to American hardwood during the 2001-02 season, when he repped the North Charleston Lowgators in the G League (then known as the NBA Development League). Prior to joining the Knicks, N’Diaye was a certified player agent at the Wasserman Media Group and he also currently serves as the general manager of Senegal’s men’s national basketball team, which captured a bronze medal at the most recent FIBA AfroBasket tournament in 2021.
In this day and age, the interconference match between the Mavericks and Knicks is best-known for Jalen Brunson’s transfer from North Texas to Manhattan during the summer of 2022, one that tipped off a slight war of attrition between the two sides.
Frustrated with the Knicks’ hiring of Brunson’s father Rick as an assistant coach prior to the signing, Dallas eventually filed a complaint with the NBA, whose ensuing investigation charged the Knicks with the loss of a second-round pick due to supposed tampering.
Make sure you bookmark All Knicks for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!
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