Cowboys Owner Not Shy About Words
Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is never one to shy away from drawing controversy with his actions--or his words for that matter.
In a bizarre quote week to kick off Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, California, one that has already included a "glory hole" comparison to the Cowboys glory days of the early 90's, to proclaiming that his Dallas team will "beat the (New York) Giants' asses" this season, Jerry added yet another quote for the books; this time, it was for his troubled wide receiver, Dez Bryant.
With Bryant's legal issues stemming from speculation of possible family violence against his own mother, Angela, (charges that she has wished to drop against her son) making national headlines for most of the month of July, many critics and Cowboys fans alike were questioning just how Jones was handling the task of damage control and if he was really, truly trying to be assertive in disciplining Bryant.
The days after the initial incident on July 14th passed, with an arrest and more information publicly leaking on what transpired that fateful day. And, yet, Jones stayed mum on the issue.
Bryant, his mother, and his attorney/mentor/advisor, Senator Royce West even arranged a seemingly hasty press conference together nearly a week after his arrest to posture their united, remorseful stance on the entire incident; one that saw Senator West reading a prepared written statement which professed: "Did a family disagreement occur? Yes. Did Dez Bryant commit family violence against his mother? No."
To the frustration of many observers who are used to the typical flamboyant Jones, he still continued to keep his silence, even as the distressful facts of the story unfolded around him, the district attorney alluded to the possibility of moving forward with their case against Bryant, and the NFL maintained their on-going investigation into the matter.
In fact, during a press conference on Sunday, Jones would only say the following as to the reason he hadn't spoken with Bryant regarding his disconcerting situation: "I don't know why. When I say that, it hasn't been a deliberate thing. I just haven't sat down and talked with him. I want to have more information."
That was until this morning.
Jones spoke with "The Elf and Slater Show" on the Cowboys' flagship station (CBS Radio Dallas 105.3 the fan) to reveal the real reason he hadn't confronted Bryant: "Because I'm too pissed to talk to him"
But wait, Jerry. Didn't you just say that you didn't really even know why you hadn't spoken with your prized wide receiver?
And obviously, you weren't too "pissed," to use your own word. You allowed him to be gifted with the role of punt returner this upcoming season.
We go back to the old adage of "you gotta take the good with the bad." Exactly how a player like Bryant should be handled is quite baffling.
In Bryant, the Cowboys have a player that Jones has called, "like a man among boys" on the field. Bryant is a complete wide-out with a strong jumping ability, presence in the red-zone and aptitude to use the corners. Even ESPN Dallas' Tim MacMahon remarked of a specific Bryant play during his first practice in training camp yesterday: "It was the kind of play that can cause an owner/general manager to display extreme patience with a receiver's off-field issues."
So once again, Jerry and the Cowboys are left to pull out the proverbial weight scale and ask the obvious questions. Does Bryant's exceptional talent outweigh the danger? Is Bryant doubtlessly worth the negative downside for the team?
And maybe Jones' "I want to have more information" position is merely supporting the words of Senator West's prepared statement in defense of Bryant where he adamantly claimed that his client will be exonerated of any sort of mal intent, "when all the facts are reviewed" and the plea that "there not be a rush to judgment" concerning what actually happened.
The 2012 season will be Bryant's redemption. Post up the big numbers and make the big plays, and all is forgotten.
But, in the meantime, the ball is in your "court" now, Jerry.
And hopefully not in a court of law.
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