Mavs embarrass themselves with moment involving Cowboys' rising star
You would think leading the NFL in interceptions with eight and making history with five pick-sixes would force people to know your name. Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland found out that isn't the case on Tuesday night. The second-year cornerback attended a Dallas Mavericks game against the Los Angeles Lakers when he was introduced as […]
You would think leading the NFL in interceptions with eight and making history with five pick-sixes would force people to know your name. Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland found out that isn't the case on Tuesday night.
The second-year cornerback attended a Dallas Mavericks game against the Los Angeles Lakers when he was introduced as Mr. Pick Six to the crows by the P.A. announcer. The problem? He was introduced as Trevon Diggs, per ESPN's Carlos Nava.
The Mavs shortly apologized and corrected their error by re-introducing Bland. What's even more embarrassing is they showed him on the jumbotron with a graphic reading Trevon Diggs.
Bland is a man of few words and he'll likely take in stride. But it's a terrible look on the Mavs to do that to a VIP like the Cowboys cornerback.
By the way, Bland is fresh off of a great performance in coverage in which he allowed just two catches in four targets, allowing eight yards against the Philadelphia Eagles. He spent most of the game covering DeVonta Smith while Stephon Gilmore traveled with A.J. Brown throughout the game.
In Diggs' absence, Bland's rise has been historic. Although he's had a rough couple of moments, his play on the outside has been one of the best in the entire league this season. To this moment, the Cowboys cornerback ranks second in PFF coverage grade and fourth in NFL passer rating allowed. His eight interceptions are double than those players tied for second, who have four.
His play is key to Dan Quinn's defense, as it asks a lot of its defensive backs. The three starting cornerbacks of the Cowboys (Bland, Gilmore, and Jourdan Lewis) rank in the top eight cornerbacks in man coverage rate, per PFF. With the work he's done for Dallas, the Mavs better get it right next time he visits the stadium.
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