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Derek Akunne goes from sporting goods cashier to Cowboys contract

IRVING, Texas -- The transaction was announced the day after the Dallas Cowboys' season ended; one of eight "futures" signings and barely registered.

On Jan. 4, when Jason Garrett med the media for the final time, there were more important things than the signing of linebacker Derek Akunne.

Akunne, a linebacker, joined the Cowboys' practice squad on Dec. 22, another move that went largely unnoticed late in a miserable season. He joined the roster in part because he was in the area and in part because he spent two months on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad before his Oct.