Cardinals are average through 12 games and the frustration is it feels as if they could be better
Colorado's 2-way star Travis Hunter eyes Big 12 title and more before 'for sure' entering NFL draft
President Biden was adamant that his son “Hunter was treated differently” when he broke his public pledge and issued a rare sweeping pardon spanning almost 11 years for his troubled son late Sunday. But the 54-year-old is far from the only one to have been charged with similar firearm and tax evasion crimes. Several legal experts believe that he already received favorable treatment than others who have committed comparable transgressions. Here are other cases where famous defendants served prison time for their offenses. Darryl De Sousa Former Baltimore police commissioner Darryl De Sousa spent 10 months in jail after being accused of skipping out on some $67,000 in taxes. Hunter, by contrast, admitted to failing to pay $1.4 million to the IRS. De Sousa, who had grown up in a poor household in Queens, New York, decried the pardon as a slap in the face. “It’s unfair. It’s unfortunate,” he lamented to The Post. “The first thing that came to my mind is this two-tiered justice system that exists. It has always existed, and I don’t think it’s ever going to go away.” “Those who are in power and privilege, that come from established communities., vs. those who come from historically underserved communities, are going to be at the opposite end of that.” De Sousa recounted experiencing that “two-tiered” system firsthand while patrolling the streets of Baltimore for almost three decades. “The message that I really would like everyone to know is that the criminal justice system is in dire need of reform,” he added before shifting gears to Hunter Biden’s situation and expressing some sympathy. “[The two cases] should be treated differently. But I have never walked heel to toe in Hunter Biden’s shoes, with his addiction,” he added. “The pardon, I don’t agree to that. There needs to be some consequences.” As for his own tax evasion, De Sousa says there is “no excuse” and he takes “full responsibility” and pinned the blame on negligence. “I put my job first and that was it,” he reflected. “I neglected myself. I neglected my personal responsibilities in life, almost to the point of forgetting about my health.” Notably, prosecutors Leo Wise and Derek Hines, who argued the firearm case against Hunter Biden in June, also prosecuted the case against De Sousa. De Sousa’s charges stemmed from 2013 through 2015. Ultimately, he was forced to resign as Baltimore police commissioner following the 2019 indictment. Rapper Kodak Black Roughly five years ago, Rapper Kodak Black was sentenced to 46 months behind bars at the age of 22 for writing down a wrong Social Security number in his application to purchase three guns. Prosecutors alleged the “Bodak Yellow” rapper was trying to hide his criminal record, which made it illegal for him to own firearms. Hunter Biden was similarly precluded from purchasing the .38-caliber revolver he bought on Oct. 12, 2018, but lied a form to purchase it anyway, a jury concluded back in June. Black’s attorney had previously railed against a plea agreement the first son was set to receive last year, which ultimately imploded. “2 tiers of justice? Kodak was charged for the same crime. Got over three years. Mr. Biden will not serve a day. Feels right? Do FBI agents and federal authorities take cases personally?” Black’s attorney Bradford Cohen vented last year when the Biden scion appeared poised to get off on a plea deal. “After 26 years, I have yet to have a plea in a case with an illegal possession of a weapon and tax evasion, that did not come with some kind of prison sentence. Indigents charged the same way would be getting jail time,” Cohen wrote in a post on X . “Even in the case of paying off coaches to get their kids into college came with a prison sentence. One even got 2 weeks, even though she was scoring no jail time. The system was so petty that they made her surrender to a federal prison for 2 weeks! But in this case nothing,” he added. Ultimately, President-elect Donald Trump pardoned Black on the last day of his first term. Wesley Snipes Actor Wesley Snipes, famous for roles such in flicks like “Blade” and “Demolition” was convicted on three counts of tax evasion in 2008 for bilking Uncle Sam on taxes of up to $15 million. Snipes was later sentenced to three years in prison, though he had been acquitted of felony charges of filing a false claim conspiracy to defraud the government. The actor had claimed that he was “a non-resident alien” of the US despite being a citizen by birth and the IRS said he owed taxes between 1999 through 2004. Ultimately, he served 28 months in federal prison and the rest on house arrest. Hunter Biden’s defense team has stressed that he ultimately “fully paid his past-due taxes with interest and penalties in 2021.” The Biden scion managed to pay back those taxes with assistance from his so-called “sugar brother” Kevin Morris. “As a criminal tax lawyer for a near quarter-century, I confirm how rare & extraordinary the #HunterBiden plea deal is. Indeed, the deal violates DOJ tax official policy, where Biden’s DOJ prohibit prosecutors from even offering this deal to people who did far less than Hunter,” Snipes’ attorney Robert Barnes previously wrote on X last year around the time of the Biden scion’s doomed plea deal. Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino Gym, Tan, Laundry and ... Prison. Five years ago, “Jersey Shore” star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino served out an eight-month sentence for skirting $2.3 million in taxes over a five-year stretch. His older brother, Marc, was similarly forced to serve out a 24-month prison stint for skimping on $8.9 million in taxes. Despite the similarities between the two cases, Sorrentino refrained from comparing himself to the Biden scion when asked by Fox News last year. “I’ll be honest with you, I really can’t compare us; we live two different lives,” the reality star told the network . “I wouldn’t be the man I am today if I didn’t make those mistakes. But again, I can’t compare myself to another man.” Sorrentino claimed that he was “very high” when pressed about taxes after seeing a sudden rise in his wealth. “That one decision haunted me for 15 years,” he reflected. Conservatives agree Hunter was treated differently... Conservative critics contend that President Biden, 82, was correct in saying that “Hunter was treated differently,” but they split sharply from him in their assessment of why. “During his campaign for president, President-elect Trump frequently spoke about the two-tiered justice system in America. Highlighting this unequal system has been a central focus of my work as a United States Congressman and as a member of the House Judiciary Committee,” Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) told The Post. “Joe Biden claimed that no one is above the law. We now know that not only is this statement untrue, but that no one is more above the law than those with the last name Biden.” Mike Davis, the founder of the Article III Project, a conservative legal group that targets what it describes as “lawfare,” estimated that about 97% of cases involving the gun charges Hunter Biden faced result in prison time. “Hunter Biden was certainly treated differently. Almost all other defendants charged with these gun crimes go to prison,” Davis told The Post. Defense attorneys for Hunter Biden have argued that many of those cases involved individuals with prior convictions or who purchases multiple weapons. The 54-year-old budding artist had that Colt Cobra handgun for about 11 days before his sister-in-law-turned-lover threw it in a public trash can. “Moreover, the Biden Justice Department protected Hunter Biden from much more serious foreign corruption charges for years because those charges would implicate Joe Biden,” Davis added. Republican lawmakers in Congress had wanted more scrutiny over Hunter Biden’s dealings in foreign countries amid concerns that he failed to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which could implicate his father. “They prosecuted him on the least that they could have, and he’s complaining about that,” Judicial Watch chief Tom Fitton told The Post. “There was money laundering, the Foreign Agents Registration Act and they came up with the most narrow set of charges.” Others have faced prison time for FARA violations. Former Trump 2016 campaign chairman Paul Manafort, 75, was sentenced to 60 months for failure to register with the Justice Department about his work for a Ukrainian political party. Last year, Gul Luft was slapped with federal charges for working as an unregistered lobbyist for China, among other infractions. Luft had been a witness in Republicans’ probe of the Biden family business dealings. Ironically, President Biden had echoed some of Trump’s grievances with the justice system and issued a defacto rebuke of the DOJ under his Attorney General Merrick Garland in his statement on the pardon. “It is clear that Hunter was treated differently,” the lame duck president said. “The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.” “There has been an effort to break Hunter — who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me,” he added. “Enough is enough.” The pardon came after the Biden family huddled in Nantucket for Thanksgiving.PITTSBURGH — Bryan Rust had two goals and an assist to help the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-4 on Wednesday night. Blake Lizotte scored after missing five games with a concussion, while Kevin Hayes had a power-play goal and Rickard Rakell also scored for Pittsburgh. Erik Karlsson had three assists, while Sidney Crosby had two as the Penguins built a 4-1 lead through one period. Tristan Jarry stopped 25 shots for the Penguins. The Canucks trailed 5-2 entering the third period before Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson cut it to a one-goal deficit. Pius Suter and Aatu Raty also scored for the Canucks. Arturs Silovs made 18 saves. Takeaways Canucks: Vancouver lost for just the second time on the road. The Canucks, who saw a brief two-game win streak end, have lost four of their last seven overall. Penguins: The Penguins ended a three-game losing streak. Pittsburgh had lost eight of 10 and 14 of its last 18 games. Despite the win, the Penguins, who have the worst goal differential in the NHL, have still allowed at least four goals in seven of their last 11 games. Key moment Pittsburgh scored four first-period goals on 10 shots. Rakell and Hayes both scored from the top of the crease, Lizotte converted a carom off the end boards and Rust finished a 2-on-1 with Crosby. Pittsburgh Penguins' Kevin Hayes (13) celebrates with Evgeni Malkin (71) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Pittsburgh. Credit: AP/Matt Freed Key stat Mike Sullivan became the fastest-born U.S.-born coach in NHL history to reach 500 regular season and playoff wins. Sullivan, who also coached in Boston, reached the mark in 948 games, 20 fewer than Peter Laviolette. Up Next Canucks visit Buffalo on Friday, and Penguins visit Boston..
Cardinals are average through 12 games and the frustration is it feels as if they could be betterRemembering poet Nikki Giovanni and her impact on PhiladelphiaGreek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking at the Greek Investment Conference in London, emphasized Greece’s progress but noted it lags behind countries like Ireland and Portugal due to historical political challenges. He outlined a vision for Greece to become a modern European leader in areas where it has a natural advantage, citing successful projects like the Thessaloniki metro as symbols of future progress. Mitsotakis stressed the need for fiscal stability, productive investments and technological advancements, particularly in AI, while ensuring public engagement and shared benefits from growth. He acknowledged inflation’s impact on wages and tax relief but expressed optimism for the coming years. Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s ambition to be one of Europe’s seven “AI factories.” The country aims to attract AI scientists, foster startups and benefit from centralized data management for AI applications in healthcare and climate. Greece is developing its first supercomputer and positioning itself as a hub for data centers powered by renewable energy, said the prime minister. On environmental policy, Greece has reduced emissions by 45% since 2005 and produces over half its electricity from renewable sources. Mitsotakis emphasized balancing green initiatives with industrial competitiveness, urging the EU to lower energy costs for businesses and consumers. Mitsotakis advocated for stricter action against human trafficking networks and a controlled approach to legal migration. He also stressed Greece’s role as a stabilizing force in a turbulent region, pointing to its geopolitical partnerships, including strong ties with the US. The prime minister celebrated 2024 as a record-breaking year for tourism, reinforcing optimism about Greece’s economic trajectory.
EDITOR'S NOTE: On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. No one wants to see any player take a vicious hit like the one that knocked Trevor Lawrence out of the game. It’s easy to agree on that point. Eliminating violent shots is the hard part. The NFL has instituted several rules to protect quarterbacks but football is a physical sport and players have to react instantly and make split-second decisions going at high speeds so injuries keep occurring. Lawrence was carted off the field in the first half of Jacksonville’s 23-20 loss to Houston on Sunday after Azeez Al-Shaair leveled the defenseless quarterback with a forearm to the facemask. The late hit put Lawrence in the fencing position — both fists clenched — and he stayed on the ground for several minutes, while a brawl ensued. Lawrence didn’t require hospitalization for his concussion but it’s unknown when he’ll return. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out/been praying for me,” Lawrence wrote on X. “I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all.” Al-Shaair was ejected from the game and faces a fine and potential suspension after his latest unsportsmanlike penalty. The Texans' linebacker was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard last week. He was fined earlier this year after he punched Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline that wasn’t flagged. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Lawrence was injured on the play. Al-Shaair once got away with grabbing Tom Brady by the throat on a pass rush in a game between the 49ers and Buccaneers. Outraged Jaguars players called Al-Shaair’s hit “dirty” and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans made it known he didn’t condone it. “It’s not what we’re coaching,” Ryans said. “Want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team, get a penalty there. Have to be smarter when the quarterback is going down. Unfortunate play. Not representative of who Azeez is. He’s a smart player, really great leader for us. We felt his presence not being there. His loss really affected us on the defensive side. Just not what we’re coaching. Didn’t want to see the melee and all the aftermath. That’s not what we’re about. Not representative of us. I’ll talk to Azeez, address him personally, and we’ll move forward from it.” Fox Sports color analyst Daryl Johnston, a former fullback for the Dallas Cowboys, didn’t hold back his criticism, calling it a “cheap shot.” “It’s everything you’re not supposed to do,” Johnston said. “Everything. You’ll see this in slow motion and Azeez Al-Shaair does everything you’re trying to prevent in this situation. It’s reckless. It’s disrespectful. There’s an honor that you give to your opponent on the football field and you respect him. And there’s opportunities to be physical and give big hits and play this game in that manner. And there’s other times when there’s a respect that you grant to your opponent.” Some former NFL quarterbacks blasted Al-Shaair on social media. “There is no place in the game of football for dirty hits like this one,” Robert Griffin III wrote on X. Chase Daniel called it “one of the dirtiest hits” he’s ever seen on a quarterback. Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, right, jumps on Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after his late hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, bottom, during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Even defensive players struggled to defend Al-Shaair. “That was uncalled for,” Hall of Fame defensive lineman Michael Strahan said on Fox’s studio show while fellow Hall of Famer Howie Long agreed. But the play also sparked debate about the quarterback slide. Lawrence slid feet first, which signals that he’s giving himself up on the play. The NFL rulebook states: “A defender must pull up when a runner begins a feet-first slide.” But defensive players aren’t automatically penalized if they make contact with a sliding quarterback if they already committed and the contact is unavoidable. The rules state it’s a foul when “the defender makes forcible contact into the head or neck area of the runner with the helmet, shoulder, or forearm, or commits some other act that is unnecessary roughness.” Al-Shaair did that so he was penalized and will face other repercussions. Still, given the hard-hitting nature of the sport, it won’t be the last time this happens. When Caleb Williams took the field for the Chicago Bears' first regular season game against the Tennessee Titans, the anticipation for the rookie's debut game—possibly the most ever—was on full display. Despite a tough debut for the quarterback, the Bears secured a 24-17 win, a notable feat for the rookie. The victory made Williams the first #1 overall pick with a Week 1 win in over 20 years. Going forward this season, Williams is expected to eclipse C.J. Stroud's record-breaking 2023 rookie campaign with the Houston Texans. However, Stroud's success is an anomaly. Drafting a successful quarterback, especially one who is effective right away, is difficult. When teams have a high first-round draft pick, and they're coming off an unsuccessful few seasons, it's assumed that they will use their first pick on a quarterback . That player will assume the title of "the face of the franchise" and will get the central attention, win or lose. To see which quarterbacks have faced that challenge and triumphed, ATS.io compiled a ranking of the 10 best rookie quarterbacks since 1960 using data from StatHead . Rookies were defined as players who are in their first season of professional football and have not been on the roster of another professional team. Quarterbacks were ranked according to adjusted net yards per pass attempt, which quantifies efficient passing skill. Ties were broken using passer rating. Only rookie quarterbacks with at least 10 games played and 200 total passing attempts were considered. Since 1967, 130 quarterbacks have been drafted in the first round. Of those drafted, only 61 have won a playoff game as a starter, according to The Athletic, which used data from NFL Research . The biggest reason this success rate is not guaranteed is because there are differences between college and pro offensive systems. In the collegiate game, the ball is snapped at different points on the field, passing windows are wider, and defenders and linemen are not as quick, making the adjustment to the pro level more difficult. NFL scouts and general managers are gambling on what skills can be transferable and how long those adjustments might take, which is why some teams prefer redshirt quarterbacks to ease the transition. However, just because a team may not want to use their first-round pick on a quarterback, doesn't mean they can't find a diamond in the rough later in the draft. Think about Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, and Dak Prescott, all of which were not first-round picks, but have gone on to make a name for themselves in the NFL. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.44 - Passer rating: 91.2 - Season stats: 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns, 6 interceptions Coming out of college, Gardner Minshew was not a highly sought-after quarterback for NFL teams. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 draft—a draft that was headlined by Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, and Daniel Jones. Nonetheless, Minshew's rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars was filled with many accomplishments. He won Rookie of the Week seven times despite not winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Minshew also had the highest passer rating of any rookie quarterback that started in 2019. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.77 - Passer rating: 93.7 - Season stats: 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions Pressure was high for Baker Mayfield as the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. When he joined the Cleveland Browns, there was an expectation that once the team figured out the quarterback position, it could be playoff-ready. After trading for Jarvis Landry, a young wide receiver from the Miami Dolphins, in the offseason, the Browns were on their way. Mayfield's rookie season was filled with many firsts, and the Landry-Mayfield connection filled the stat sheet. Mayfield set the record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in 2019 with 27 surpassing prior marks from Payton Manning and Russell Wilson. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.84 - Passer rating: 98.3 - Season stats: 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Justin Herbert was the third quarterback selected in the 2020 NFL draft behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. As the No. 6 overall pick, expectations were high, but there was also an assumption that it would be a few years before Herbert's development would take shape. Then, Chargers starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was accidentally punctured in the lung by a team doctor administering a painkiller before the second game of the season, and it wasn't clear what Taylor's status would be moving forward. When Herbert was given the nod to start minutes before the game, fans didn't know what to expect. Herbert shocked viewers when he threw for over 300 yards and only one interception in that game. He continued his strong rookie showing throughout the season and went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.93 - Passer rating: 98.1 - Season stats: 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions Ben Roethlisberger was the third quarterback selected in his draft class behind the likes of Eli Manning and Philip Rivers—though fans wouldn't have been able to tell. From the moment Roethlisberger was called up by the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in his first game—Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens—it was clear he had a special arm, gaining the nickname "Golden Arm." While the next several games were bumpy for Steelers fans, it was clear that Roethlisberger was the future of the franchise. The Steelers had a solid running game and its receiving core, led by Hines Ward, was one of the best in the league . Once Roethlisberger gained his footing a few games in, he was unstoppable. He led Pittsburgh to its best record ever: 15-1. He also started the season on an eight-game winning streak, becoming the first rookie to do so. Additionally, Roethlisberger became the first quarterback to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 87.7 - Season stats: 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions As the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, there were high expectations on Matt Ryan's shoulders heading to the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were coming off back-to-back losing seasons and off-the-field legal troubles with its starting quarterback Michael Vick overshadowing the team's play. Ryan was expected to pick up the pieces. He did that immediately, leading the Falcons to an 11-5 record in his rookie season and becoming the clear favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year halfway through the season, which he went on to win. The tag team of Ryan and running back Michael Turner was one of the best offensive forces in the sport that season. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 100 - Season stats: 3,118 yards, 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Russell Wilson was drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Considering Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck headlined the NFL Draft that year, it was not believed that Wilson would be a starter come Week 1, but that quickly changed. Going into the 2012 NFL Draft, Tarvaris Jackson was the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback, and the team signed NFL veteran quarterback Matt Flynn as an insurance policy on the injury-prone Jackson . It was assumed in the short term that either Jackson or Flynn would lead the franchise. Once training camp arrived, however, the Seahawks' quarterback position was uncertain. Jackson was traded to the Buffalo Bills, and Flynn was underwhelming at camp, forcing Head Coach Pete Carroll to take a gamble on his rookie quarterback, Wilson, in Week 1. Carroll, nor Wilson, ever looked back. Wilson was one of the best passing quarterbacks that season. He led the Seahawks to an 11-5 record and went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.39 - Passer rating: 96 - Season stats: 2,210 yards, 20 touchdowns, 6 interceptions When Dan Marino was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1983, the NFL looked very different. Running the ball was the name of the game. The quarterback would either run the football himself at the line of scrimmage or hand it off to the running back, and the offensive linemen would claw and push the pile forward as the runner powered his legs. It was not a pretty sight. However, Marino took a different approach, throwing the ball with a unique quick release for that era. He led the Dolphins to a 9-1 record after replacing David Woodley midway through his rookie season, ending with a 12-4 record. He went on to win Rookie of the Year and was the first rookie to start a Pro Bowl. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 100.8 - Season stats: 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, 5 interceptions When C.J. Stroud was drafted No. 2 by the Houston Texans last year, there were a lot of questions, not about his ability, but about the organization that he would be playing for. The Texans were coming off of a 3-13-1 season in 2022, finishing with the worst record in the league, and a lot of volatility in its front office. The team fired its head coach and a top executive before the draft. Weeks later, the team hired former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans as its next head coach. While Ryans is a defensive-minded coach, Stroud was seen as a key ingredient to the team's success since Ryans hired his coaching staff around the quarterback. Stroud led the NFL in yards and TD-to-interception ratio during his rookie season, which is an efficiency statistic considering he didn't get his first interception until his sixth regular-season game against the New Orleans Saints. While Stroud was a part of the league MVP conversation for most of the season, he didn't ultimately win the title. However, he was named 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and his rookie season is seen as one of the best in NFL history. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 102.4 - Season stats: 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions Leading into the 2012 draft, it wasn't a matter of whether Washington would pick a quarterback, it was a matter of who. After several seasons of mediocre quarterback play and losing seasons from the likes of Jason Campbell, Donovan McNabb, and Rex Grossman, it was time for a new face to lead the offense. At No. 2, Washington selected Robert Griffin III making him the second quarterback selected in the 2012 NFL draft behind Andrew Luck. Griffin started his rookie year campaign with one of the best performances football fans have ever seen. He completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns, beating the New Orleans Saints. That game earned him the highest passer rating by a rookie ever, 158.3. He now shares that record with Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota. Griffin III went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.86 - Passer rating: 104.9 - Season stats: 3,667 yards, 23 touchdowns, 4 interceptions Dak Prescott is statistically the best rookie quarterback ever, racking up the best passer rating as a rookie. After losing his first game, he led the Cowboys on an 11-game winning streak. That season, he led the team to its fourth-best season ever with a 13-3 record. Prescott was the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and became the first NFL quarterback to be drafted in the fourth round or later to start all 16 regular season games. Data reporting by Karim Noorani. Story editing by Shanna Kelly. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on ATS.io and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Brookfield abandons plan for €6.45-billion takeover of drug maker GrifolsPat King, one of the most prominent figures of the 2022 “Freedom Convoy” in Ottawa, has been found guilty on five counts including mischief and disobeying a court order. A judge in an Ottawa courtroom Friday said the Crown proved beyond a reasonable doubt that King was guilty on one count each of mischief, counselling others to commit mischief and counselling others to obstruct police. He was also found guilty of two counts of disobeying a court order. The Alberta resident was found not guilty on three counts of intimidation and one count of obstructing police himself. King could be facing up to 10 years in prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin on Jan. 16. The Crown is seeking “significant” incarceration time in a penitentiary while the defence wants King to be sentenced to time served and a period of probation. King’s attorney Natasha Calvinho said right now she is focused on the sentencing hearing and will determine if any other action, such as an appeal, will be pursued at a later date. Calvinho said she and her client are disappointed with the ruling, but she said it was well reasoned. “I think what the more important takeaway here, and what we’ve been saying from the very beginning, Mr. King was acquitted of all charges related to inciting any form of violence, specifically intimidation of Ottawa residents,” Calvinho said outside the courthouse. “So yes, he was convicted, a couple counts of mischief for his social media posts, as the judge found, and will continue to fight another day.” The maximum sentence for mischief in this instance is 10 years. In January 2022 the convoy attracted thousands of demonstrators to Parliament Hill in protest against public-health restrictions, COVID-19 vaccine mandates and the federal government. The event gridlocked downtown streets around Parliament Hill, with area residents complaining about the fumes from diesel engines running non-stop, and unrelenting noise from constant honking of horns and music parties. The federal Liberal government ultimately invoked the Emergencies Act to try and bring an end to the protests, which had expanded to also block several border crossings into the United States. Ottawa Police brought in hundreds of officers from police forces across Canada to force the protest to an end. King’s defence argued that King was peacefully protesting during the three-week demonstration and was not a leader of it. But the Crown alleged he was a protest leader who was instrumental to the disruption the protest caused the city and people who lived and worked nearby. The Crown alleged King co-ordinated the honking, ordering protesters to lay on the horn every 30 minutes for 10 minutes at a time and told people to “hold the line” when he was aware police and the city had asked the protesters to leave. The Crown’s case relied mainly on King’s own videos, which he posted to social media throughout the protest to document the demonstration and communicate with protesters. The court proceedings paused for about 10 minutes when King requested a short “health break” after the first verdicts on the mischief charges were read. Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland described the honking as “malicious conduct” intended to disrupt residents, workers, businesses and others from lawfully enjoying downtown Ottawa. Hackland also said that the videos show King was seen as and accepted the leadership role. He pointed to a quote from King, finding it “hilarious” that residents could not sleep for 10 days as “gleefully” aiding and abetting mischief. This evidence also played a role in determining King’s guilt in disobeying a court order and counselling others to do the same. These charges relate to the original Feb. 7, 2022 injunction against using air and train horns in downtown Ottawa which was launched by residents. The city successfully filed a similar injunction days later. As for counselling others to obstruct police, Hackland found King’s call to “hold the line” was telling people not to move from the protest site despite police orders. The judge said that phrase can be seen as a greeting between supporters of the convoy protest, but said there was no other logical interpretation in the context of King’s videos. In the days before a multi-day police removal operation began, King called on people to link arms and sit down with their backs to police if officers tried to move them. On the intimidation charges, Hackland said that a consistent theme of King’s videos were calls to remain peaceful and non-violent. He said that the target was always the federal government and COVID-19 policies, and specific individuals were not targeted by or through King’s actions. As for an intimidation charge related to blocking highways, Hackland said that finding guilt in this instance would be an “overly broad” interpretation of the Criminal Code as the blockade was done as part of a political protest, which is protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. His trial was heard over several weeks between May and July. King still has charges of perjury and obstruction of justice that need to be dealt with which is a separate matter stemming from an April 2022 bail review hearing. Details of the testimony that led to the charges are protected under a publication ban, which exists for all information that arises during a bail hearing.
Carbon Fiber Market to Grow by USD 2.48 Billion (2024-2028) as Aerospace and Defense Adoption Rises, Report with AI-Powered Market Evolution - Technavio