👋 Good morning! - Happy Labor Day! I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend. We’re now just three days away from the start of the 2025 NFL season. While the Micah Parsons trade still lingers in the headlines, let’s not let that overshadow the excitement of a brand-new season. College football gave us plenty to enjoy this past weekend, and the energy only builds from here. This time of year really feels like Christmas for sports fans, with the NFL ready to kick off, NBA season right around the corner, WNBA playoffs approaching, and MLB postseason on deck. The calendar is stacked, the storylines are fresh, and the next few months promise nonstop action. - Ali Jawad

DaRon Bland’s rise is the kind of story you couldn’t script. Just three years ago, he was a fifth-round pick out of Fresno State simply chasing a dream. Now? He’s cashed in as one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive backs.

The 25-year-old All-Pro just landed a monster contract extension, locking him into Dallas through his prime. For Bland, the moment was about more than just the money — it was validation.

“Really just want to thank God for the opportunity,” he said. “A lot of people don’t get this chance.”

But the deal doesn’t come without drama. The Cowboys are still picking up the pieces from the stunning Micah Parsons trade that shook the entire city of Dallas, and Bland admitted even he didn’t see it coming. His reaction, and the way the team rallies now, could define their season before it even begins.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer made it clear: this team is leaning heavily on Bland. He praised his instincts, versatility, and leadership, the qualities that convinced Dallas to pay big and build around him moving forward.

And while the numbers tell part of the story, Bland’s journey is still fueled by the chip on his shoulder. From overlooked draft pick to cornerstone playmaker, his climb hasn’t just been about interceptions, it’s been about resilience, timing, and proving everyone wrong.

The Texas Rangers finally snapped their road skid, pulling off their first sweep away from home this season against the Oakland A’s. That’s no small feat, the same A’s had just stunned baseball by sweeping the AL-best Detroit Tigers. Now, Texas heads to Arizona riding a wave of confidence and searching for momentum down the stretch. Can this sudden road magic ignite a late-season surge?

In case you missed it, we may have already witnessed catch of the year and its only the beginning of the season.

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Ali Jawad
Dallas Cowboys ​Content Creator/Newsletter Writer
[email protected]