It's a fantastic point. The Cowboys undoubtedly haven't received much sympathy for playing the majority of their season without Dak Prescott, who fractured his ankle all the way back on Oct. 11. Style points also don't matter in the NFL, so long as you beat whoever's next on the schedule.
"It doesn't matter who's in front of us, we've got to keep chopping down wood to make it where we want to go," Lawrence said.
The streak should end on Sunday. Daniel Jones has battled ankle and hamstring injuries in the latter stages of the season, but he started in New York's loss to Baltimore last weekend and is on track to play against the Cowboys.
The Giants rank 30th in the NFL with 48 sacks allowed this season, and Jones has accounted for 43 of those. The second-year signal-caller has developed a reputation for holding onto the ball, as he also has 10 fumbled on the year to go along with all those sacks.
"He's still a young quarterback, has a lot to learn in the NFL," Lawrence said. "It's all about quarterbacks feeling safe and if their offensive line makes them feel safe enough to hold the ball for three or four seconds, so be it. But that's not the case here. You'll see on Sunday."
Regardless of the reason for the win streak, it has put the Cowboys squarely in position to accomplish something few would have seen as possible a month ago – win the NFC East, and secure the playoff berth that goes with it.
If the Cowboys can do that, after the season they've been through, they're not going to care about how it happened – or who has something critical to say about it.
"We had a rough start, but I feel like the guys came together strongly and we're playing awesome football right now," Lawrence said. "All we can do is keep playing awesome football and let everything else fall into place. We can't sit here and dwell on what's going on outside our football complex but getting better, period."
Teuber celebrates her retirement with teachers and faculty at Moultrie Middle School in Mount Pleasant.
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Known as a jokester, life-long adventurer and talented art teacher whose class projects decorate the halls, Claire Teuber left her mark on Moultrie Middle School. As she entered retirement after almost 30 years, the teachers and faculty at Moultrie celebrated her retirement with a drive-thru party.
One of Teuber’s favorite projects to do with her students was a collaborative portrait. She would enlarge a photograph and give each student a section to draw and paint on a small square of plywood. The students wouldn’t know the subject of the portrait until all the pieces were put together. Teuber said throughout the process, she sometimes doubted whether it would turn out all right, but it eventually would and the whole class was very excited when a portrait finally came together.
Over the years, her students completed portraits of Malala Yousafzai, Clementa Pinckney, Chief Joseph, Teddy Roosevelt, Rosa Parks and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The students’ most recent portrait was of Teuber herself, a surprise for her retirement.
Claire Teuber’s students created a portrait of Teuber and her cat to celebrate her retirement.
After spending so many years with middle schoolers, Teuber has many memories and funny stories to tell. “The absurdity cracks me up,” she said.
She remembers two of her students, who never got along with each other, walked into her classroom one day. One of them shouted, “Something stinks,” and the other responded with “you stink” which, of course, bothered that student. She couldn’t help but laugh when she tried to explain to him that if she yelled that at the faculty meeting, she would probably receive the same response.
Another time, two young men were walking down the hallway wearing shorts; she said Mount Pleasant boys wear shorts all the time even in the freezing weather. One was messing with the other, and she asked what was going on and he said the other student told everyone he has a prosthetic leg, which clearly didn’t make sense. She said that was one of many crazy, odd things she had heard throughout the years.
“I know people always say they (middle schoolers) are a pain in the butt, but I think they’re a real treat. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes they will be a pain in the butt,” Teuber said.
She said there are moments where it’s easy to get frustrated with students’ behavior, but looking back over her career, the aspect that really stands out is how truly earnest her students were about what they were learning.
Because she has taught for so many years at Moultrie she sometimes runs into former students.
Claire Teuber covered in silly string at her retirement party.
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“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been at the Harris Teeter or some place and some man will come up to me and say, ‘I was in your 8th grade art class and I just want to apologize,’” Teuber said.
Teuber recently moved to Brevard, North Carolina, but while she was still in Mount Pleasant, one of her neighbors was a former student who is now a mom with two kids. She still refused to call “Ms. Teuber” by her first name.
Two former students, Jessica Lamberson and Matthew Lee, are now teachers at Moultrie Middle.
Lamberson said Teuber is one of those teachers students never forget. “She was that teacher that became kind of like a family member while you were at school,” Lamberson said.
Lamberson has taught 7th grade science at Moultrie Middle for three years. When she returned to Moultrie as a teacher, she said Teuber made her “feel at home again.”
Teuber said Moultrie feels like a tight-knit family. Last December, when Teuber was diagnosed with breast cancer, she said the school community was extra helpful.
“They did everything but stand on their heads and they would have done that, too, if I’d ask them,” Teuber said. “They’re just really solid, true and loyal friends and I’m going to miss the heck out of them.”
Lynne Tart, a Spanish teacher at Moultrie for nine years, said she will miss eating lunch with Teuber, who she described as artistic and talented in many different ways.
Teuber visited Tart the day after her son was born to photograph her newborn baby. Now, Tart’s 8-year-old son retells many of Teuber’s jokes that she shared with him over the years.
“She will be missed, her spirit, her humor. We’re going to miss her,” Tart said.
From day one, Teuber has felt like the community at Moultrie has embraced her, even though she considers herself a “wild-card.”
“Instead of making me feel that I was the odd man out, they made me feel that my differentness was a special thing,” Teuber said. “They do that for kids all the time.”
Teuber is beginning the next phase of her life in a log cabin near Pisgah National Forest. She will be creating many projects of her own, including stain glass windows and woodcarving. One aspect she’ll miss is not having the occasional run-in with a student in Mount Pleasant. She said the atmosphere at Moultrie Middle School is “second to none.”
“It’s just a warm, welcoming place. I think the kids feel that,” Teuber said. “My hope for it is that it keeps going on like that.”
UNION COUNTY, N.C -- In November, Spectrum News shared a story about a Union County High Schooler who decided to publish a book during the pandemic.
Since then, Thomas McDowell Jr. has sold over 50 copies of his book titled, "The Story Of Issac" In December he gave his first presentation to students at East Union Middle School.
“This is amazing,” he said. “It’s kind of a dream come true in a sense because one of my dreams was that one day this would be in the libraries around the world even though its only one library it’s a start.”
Alecia McClendon is a seventh grade English Language Arts teacher. She read the book over the summer and decided to incorporate it into her lesson plan this semester.
“The book it talks about a lot of issues that some people are not comfortable talking about like racism, social class, and things like that,” she said. “So, right now, kids are really opening up to it. They are being receptive to it and they are sharing their thoughts and ideas.”
McClendon’s students have been able to break down different elements from the book which is something McDowell is excited to see.
“I think a lot of kids really took that in,” he said. “Some people may not like what you do and they may not support what you do. They have a right to do that in a sense but you got to get those people out your life cause you’re never going to succeed in life if you have people holding you back.”
McDowell hopes he can get his book into the hands of more Union County students. Thanks to teachers like Mrs. McClendon, he’s slowly making that happen.
“When teachers are teaching it doesn’t have to be the same book over and over again, year after year,” she said. “It can be a different book because we want to get our kids to read and actually enjoy and become engaged and have a relationship with the book that will hopefully one day change their lives."
McDowell says he’s currently writing a sequel, and he’s working on creating an audio version of his book. You can learn more about his book and purchase a copy here.
Felix Vasquez, a defender of environmental and human rights, died on Saturday night after the attack in the village El Ocotal, in central Honduras.
A law enforcement spokesman told Reuters the killing was under investigation.
"Police authorities immediately decided to initiate a corresponding investigation... we hope to have an answer soon," police official Kevin Hernandez told journalists.
Honduras is one of the world's most dangerous countries for activists, with 14 land and environmental defenders killed last year, up from four people in 2018, according to data made available by advocacy group Global Witness.
Vasquez, a member of the indigenous Lenca community, which lives in the mountainous region near the border with El Salvador, had intended to run for Congress as a member of the opposition LIBRE party in 2021 elections.
He had filed complaints to national authorities starting in 2017 over alleged political persecution due to his work in environmental activism, according to the Coalition against Impunity (CCI), a non-government organization.
"The state is directly responsible for his murder due to its omissions in the face of the serious risks of which it was duly aware," the CCI said.
The Honduran government did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Vasquez's killing comes four years after the assassination of Lenca indigenous activist Berta Caceres, a veteran land rights defender who led a battle against a major dam on ancestral lands before she was shot to death at her home.
PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles coach Doug Pederson spoke with a renewed sense of confidence this week that stood in sharp contrast to the bleak state of affairs in Philadelphia.
The Eagles sit at 4-10-1, Pederson's offense ranks in the bottom third in the NFL in points per game (21.3) and passing yards (215.3 per game), and franchise quarterback Carson Wentz regressed from MVP-caliber to bottom-of-the-league bad on his watch. That's enough to warm any coach's chair.
But the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Pederson's home display case still glimmers and his recent résumé is filled with three trips to the postseason since 2016. He leaned on those merits as he shifted posture and sprang from a coach short on answers for much of the season to one full of them.
"Really my confidence lies in myself, that I know exactly how to get things fixed," said Pederson, who earlier Monday said he "fully expects" to return as coach in 2021. "We've won a lot of games around here. Been in the postseason three out of the five years I've been here and a championship and all that. I've seen it, I've done it."
He's right. For as bad as it has been in 2020, Pederson has a proven track record that shouldn't be dismissed after one down, unordinary season. He continues to command the loyalty of his players and his staff. He has earned a chance to turn things around.
In order for it to be a successful venture, though, the team brass needs to fight its instincts and empower Pederson more and themselves less.
Pederson's collaborative mindset is a big reason for the team's success during his tenure. He has embraced Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie's analytics-fueled approach to the game and weekly in-depth meetings with Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman to discuss all things football. Pederson has respected the line between coaching and personnel decisions, leaving Roseman and his staff to their expertise while focusing on his own.
But there's a fine line between collaborative and claustrophobic if the boundaries aren't properly respected.
The public stance is Pederson has final say on his coaching staff, but he did an about-face and fired offensive coordinator Mike Groh and receivers coach Carson Walch a day after he said they would return at the end of last season, aligning himself with his boss', ahem, recommendation.
Lurie wanted to add coaches with fresh ideas to revive a sagging offense and was involved in that search along with Roseman. Lurie was particularly fond of USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell, a source said, but Philadelphia was unable to land him. The Eagles ultimately went without an offensive coordinator and hired Kyle Shanahan protégé Rich Scangarello as senior offensive assistant, Andrew Breiner as pass game analyst and Marty Mornhinweg as senior offensive consultant, and elevated quarterbacks coach Press Taylor to pass game coordinator. The mix struggled to mesh, no identity was formed on offense, and the many voices too frequently caused a cacophony for Pederson and Wentz.
Pederson's frustration this season has been evident, and some close to him suspect it is related in part to the front-office dynamics. That would add to what was described to ESPN as a growing frustration among some members of the Eagles' staff that their evaluation of players is not being weighed heavily enough in personnel decisions.
Pederson, 52, was asked Monday if he would like more say in player talent acquisition.
"I want to be a part of the evaluation process. I want to be a voice that's heard, and I want to have that collaborative communication with Howie and his staff and be a part of that process," Pederson said.
"I don't necessarily want to cross that line because it takes you away from doing your job as the head football coach. I like being on the football side of things as a former football player and obviously now a coach. That's where my passion lies. But yet, I want to be part of the solution. I want to help evaluate and help bring guys in here that can help us win."
However pure their intentions and wise their guidance, the perception of Roseman and Lurie encroaching on Pederson's territory and limiting his power has led some inside and outside the organization to believe Pederson is not being granted the level of respect and sway a Super Bowl winning coach needs and deserves.
Given how poorly things have gone on the field this season, it would be unsurprising if the inclination up top was to assume more control in an effort to get the ship righted if they decide to continue with Pederson as coach. But that would only further push the team in the wrong direction. What Pederson needs is the proper space to build out a staff in his vision. They have to trust in his ability to shepherd this team back to contender status, in his way, and ensure he is an equal partner.
"I know what it takes. Me personally, I've been in three Super Bowls, been on three Super Bowl teams, and I've seen exactly how it can be done," he said. "We've got to get that back."
If they can't grant Pederson that latitude, they might as well move on.
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SAN ANTONIO – A 41-year-old man was shot and killed following a confrontation with a suspicious driver outside his home on the Northwest Side, the San Antonio Police Department said.
Officers were called just after 9 p.m. Tuesday to a home on Brentcove Street in the Finesilver Ranch subdivision after receiving word of gunshots being fired. The gated community is located inside Loop 1604 near Braun Road.
According to police, officers arrived to find the victim on the ground in front of his home with a gunshot wound. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said prior to the shooting the man had walked outside to talk on his phone when he noticed a suspicious truck driving in front of his house. The victim allegedly confronted the driver and there was a brief verbal altercation, police said.
SAPD said the assailant fired two shots at the victim and sped away. The shooter has not yet been found.
The victim’s name has not yet been released, pending notification to next of kin. Neighbors were notified to gather video surveillance of the shooting, police said.
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The Ravens rushed 40 times for 249 yards in their 27-13 win over the Giants in Week 16. It was the Ravens’ fifth game of at least 200 rush yards this season (most in the NFL) and their 38th consecutive game of at least 100 rush yards, which is tied with the 1935-39 Lions for the second-longest streak in NFL history. Only the 1974-77 Steelers had a longer streak (43 games).
In a league that has shifted from run-first to pass-heavy, it is impressive Baltimore has found so much regular-season success despite being the only team in the NFL to rush on more than 50 percent of its offensive plays in each of the last two campaigns.
Baltimore is running the ball on 54.5 percent of their offensive plays this season, a mark that 14 Super Bowl winners also hit during their roads to the Lombardi Trophy. However, 13 of those 14 teams won their titles in 1991 or earlier. The only outlier — the 2005 Steelers led by second-year QB Ben Roethlisberger. While the Ravens boast an NFL-best 177.8 rush yards per game, you have to go all the way back to the 1975 Steelers to find a team that rushed for at least 175 yards per game in the regular season and then won the Super Bowl.
Buried under the Ravens’ avalanche of offensive production in recent weeks are the returns of Williams and Campbell to the starting lineup. Replacements Justin Madubuike, Justin Ellis and Broderick Washington performed well when the two veterans were out with injuries, but the Ravens need their top linemen if they want to get into the postseason and make a run.
“It’s a plus,” coach John Harbaugh said about the return of Campbell and Williams. “I thought Calais played well. It’s good to see him getting healthy again, and I think he’ll be even better as we go forward. Brandon is playing at a high level. [Starting defensive end] Derek Wolfe is playing at a high level. Madubuike had another really good game; he keeps getting better every single week.
“Justin Ellis is playing really well. Those guys all did a great job in the game. So, we have some depth in there. Certainly Calais, he’s one of the best ever. It’s great to have him back, and it makes a difference.”
Campbell can also collapse the pocket, which stops quarterbacks from stepping up to throw. Without any lanes in the middle, Jones became a much easier target for outside linebackers Matthew Judon, Pernell McPhee and Yannick Ngakoue.
Baltimore’s 2019 draft picks Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin haven’t lived up to expectations. Rookies James Proche and Devin Duvernay have been gadget players at best in 2020. Willie Snead IV is an afterthought in the offense and is expected to test free agent this offseason. Dez Bryant is 32 years old and nearly quit the team after testing positive for COVID-19. If Rashod Bateman, Rondale Moore or even Kadarius Toney is still on the board late in the first round, Baltimore might have to prioritize need and sprint the card in.
The Bengals would love to play spoiler again, and no doubt, they’re capable. Although they’re only 4-10-1 this season, they’ve won two straight games and solidly thumped the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cincinnati two weeks ago.
“They’re playing their best football of the season, really, by far,” Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said Monday.
Nonetheless, I’d be extremely surprised if the Ravens didn’t take care of their business Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.
Although the Bengals are feisty, the Ravens are favored by 11 points and have a long, long history of winning such games. Since they moved to Baltimore in 1996, they’re 41-0 in regular season games in which they’re double-digit favorites – quite a stat, huh?
With their playoff aspirations gone, the Bengals surely see Sunday’s game as their postseason. But it’s hard to envision them stopping the Ravens’ powerful ground game, which has dominated several stout rushing defenses recently with multiple extra blockers helping open holes for Jackson, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards.
For the second time in three years, these two teams are meeting in Week 17 in a game the Ravens need to win to keep their playoffs hopes alive and I think we all remember what happened the last time the Ravens needed a Week 17 win against the Bengals.
The 2017 Bengals were a monstrous underdog — the Ravens were favored by eight — but they still managed to pull off the win. This week, the Bengals are also a monstrous underdog, so the planets could be aligning for another upset. The Bengals are playing their best football of the season on defense and actually look competent on offense, which could be an issue for Baltimore. Although I’m an admitted Bengals homer, I’m not going to pick them to win here, but I do think it will be a lot closer than people think.
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