NFL Notes: Texas Legislature fetes former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo

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AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Legislature is honoring retired Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, praising his character and humble roots almost as much as his football accomplishments.

Romo appeared Wednesday before the Texas House, which halted work so lawmakers could take photos with him. Romo was also appearing before the state Senate.

State Rep. Richard Raymond, a Laredo Democrat, wore a Romo jersey and state Rep. Jeff Leach, a Plano Republican, donned a Cowboys helmet.

Romo recently retired to become a CBS game analyst, and Raymond says he thinks Romo will be better TV commentator than any ex-player -- even fellow ex-Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman.

Romo was born in California, grew up in Wisconsin and played college football in Illinois. He played for the Cowboys from 2003 to 2016.

Court rejects ex-NFL star Sharper's rape sentence appeal
NEW ORLEANS -- A federal appeals court has dismissed former NFL star Darren Sharper's appeal of his sentence for drugging and raping women.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' two-sentence order Wednesday came almost a month after prosecutors filed their brief. The court granted a prosecution motion to dismiss.

Sharper's lawyers contended that U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo did not adequately explain the consequences of Sharper's guilty plea.

Sharper had pleaded guilty or no contest to criminal charges in state courts in Arizona, California, Nevada and Louisiana, and in federal court in New Orleans.

A nine-year sentence was expected. But Milazzo said that was too light. She gave Sharper a chance to withdraw his guilty plea, then sentenced him to 18 years and four months in prison.

SUV in Aaron Hernandez trial pulled from auction website
BOSTON -- The SUV prosecutors say Aaron Hernandez was in when the ex-NFL star killed two men is no longer up for auction.

Westford Auto Sales owner Buddy Clair tells The Boston Globe that eBay pulled the ad on Tuesday night. Clair was handling the sale of the Toyota 4-Runner on behalf of the owner, a car dealer who leased the vehicle to Hernandez as part of a promotional agreement.

An eBay spokeswoman tells WPRI-TV the listing violated the company's offensive materials policy.

Prosecutors had alleged Hernandez was in the SUV's passenger seat in 2012 when he shot at the men's car after an encounter at a Boston nightclub. He was acquitted April 14.

Hernandez was serving a life sentence in the killing of a man in 2013. The former New England Patriots tight end killed himself in his cell days after the acquittal.

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