The Dallas Cowboys have forever been a team that looks the other way in regards to off-field incidents and illegal behavior. They have virtually no qualms about grabbing up anyone with talent; even before Roger Goodell has reinstated them back into the NFL.
It is far more important to the Dallas Cowboys if you can catch or defend a pass than it is to resist the urge to possess narcotics or illegal weaponry. Perform on the field, and a contract will be waiting for you to sign.
Adam ‘Pacman' Jones was released yesterday "due to new allegations of a possible shooting outside of an Atlanta Strip club in 2007". This statement almost sounds as though they are concerned about legal matters or locker room disruptions.
The truth is, Pacman was in fact released because he recorded 0 INT's and managed just 4.6 yards per punt return. These were the two key factors of bringing Jones into Dallas, and his diminished skills were no longer needed.
Jones accumulated six arrests stemming from twelve situations demanding police intervention before sporting the star on his helmet.
One of these arrests involved, you guessed it, an "alleged shooting outside of a club." This time it was a strip club, and this time an innocent man was left paralyzed. This still was not enough for Jerry Jones to resist trading for him...he's a great athlete!
Pacman also punched out the very bodyguard assigned to protect him from himself. Jerry still could not release him even when a lengthy suspension was on its way. After all, the playoffs were on the horizon.
Only after the Cowboys were embarrassed in week 17, and Pacman concluded his season of disappointment, was it prudent to wash their hands of the troubled CB.
Dallas has attracted more felons than Alcatraz, and it is not going to stop any time soon.
Tank Johnson will be a Cowboy for as long as he can plug up the running lanes. It doesn't matter that he was charged with harnessing a concealed weapon, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and possessing 6 loaded guns in a house with children.
Michael Irvin stayed in Dallas as long as he could get in the end zone. It didn't matter that he assaulted a teammate, or that he had a serious cocaine problem.
However, it was a problem that Quincy Carter had a cocaine problem. After all, he did throw for more INT's than TD's, had a terrible QB rating, and never blossomed into the terrifying mismatch Dallas had hoped for.
This is what makes me really feel for Terrell Owens sometimes. He may be a pompous and selfish jerk that cares about publicity much more than his teammates, but he has never been arrested. He receives far too much negative media attention for simply being a Prima Donna.
TO has never assaulted someone, fired off a gun, been caught with possession of narcotics, or even driven home after a night of drinking. He is as clean as the pearly white teeth he loves flashing the TV cameras after a big catch.
It won't be long now before we see Michael Vick managing the ‘Wildcat' formation for the Cowboys, or running a reverse or bubble screen in a Devin Hester role. Luckily for Vick, his #7 is available in Dallas, last worn by the great Martin Gramatica.
Sometimes I sit back and wonder if it could get any worse in the Dallas locker room, and then I remember the Bengals and Raiders are still somehow in the NFL.
I will leave you all with one question. In 9 years, when Marion Barber has retired from the NFL... would any of us truly be surprised if OJ Simpson (fresh out of prison and desperate for $$) suited up for one final comeback with Dallas?
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In ANY sport, it is about winning only!
These teams are businesses and if you are a stud player...IE...Michael Irvin, you will get a pass b/c you put points on the board and wins in the W column...therefore more money into the owners pocket.
Granted, I can not argue that Jerry has put more questionable people in Boys uni's than others yet at the same time, I can think of at least 15 other NFL teams that have had player issues that do not get near the same press.
Heck, the Bengals have had more issues in the last 2 seasons than Dallas has had in 15. Check it out and see.
Yet, because it involves Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys, it will get hyped by everyone involved.
Who really has Dallas brought in over the years? Carter was a product of his own un-doing and got cut...the Cowboys had no clue that he was a crack head. Irvin? his issues stemmed after seasons in Dallas. Nate Newton, same deal.
Then what? who else? PacMan was a risk but for the potential reward, Jerry took it and missed but did it REALLY hurt the team? NO
Tank....nope...and he will be allowed to leave via free agency quietly...
I give credit to Jerry for taking risks....some pay, some don't and that is what you get with a gunslinger as an owner.
I can also think of many things Jerry has done to get Dallas to meaningful again.
Jimmy Johnson for 1...Bill Parcells for another.
JeffHart24
Boca Raton, FL
Total Comments (343)
First i would like to say thank you for your input, i wanted to hear from the perspective of a Cowboys fan....
I am well aware of the Bengals situation, and i agree that they are a terribly run franchise. That is why i mentioned them and the Raiders near the end of my article as WORSE situations by far than what currently exists in Dallas.
Your reference to the Dallas Cowboys and all sports franchises as a "business" further emphasizes my point actually.
I agree that they ARE businesses... and employees who are addicted to drugs, are arrested for assault, are involved in the paralysis of an innocent man, possess illegal guns, resist arrest, and are cited 12 times including 6 arrests lose their jobs.
As a Yankees fan i have to appreciate owners that will spend and do virtually anything to put a winning product on the field. The Steinbrenner family does the same thing, and i respect Jerry for that.
I cannot respect the way he attempts to do it, however, and he is giving the Cowboys a very bad name. For one of the most important sports franchises in the world, they are known more right now for Terrell Owens' issues, Tony Romo's girlfriend, and locker room deterioration than they are for winning.
Heartbeat of the…
Park Ridge , NJ
Total Comments (132)
Here's another perspective from a Cowboy fan...........and Jeff and I seem to hit the same blogs, and have discussed these things at length. The Cowboys, as with other teams, have had their fair share of malcontents, and what have you. Even in the days of Tom Landry. He had the likes of Lance Rentzel, Raphael Septien, Duane Thomas, and what have you. The fact of the matter is, and I may be wrong, but I don't think they purposely signed these people knowing they had problems. The problems came out AFTER they were onboard and a few years down the road. Thomas never was in trouble with the law, (that I am aware of) but was a malcontent, and didn't fit in with society, or the team, for some reason. What a waste of talent too.
In 1970, Rentzel was arrested for exposing himself to a ten year old. Four years earlier he had a similar incident at a playground but was charged with disorderly conduct in exchange for promising to have psychiatric treatment.
A Dallas County, Texas grand jury indicted Rafael Septien in 1987 on a charge of mishandling of a minor. Septien pleaded guilty to a charge of indecency with a child in an agreement with prosecutors that brought him a sentence of 10 years' deferred probation and a $2,000 fine.
Are these guys any different than what we're seeing in this day and age? Today, there is more violence, but what Rentzel and Septien did, was still a crime, although violence was not used. Do we judge todays athletes by yesterdays?
I think, as in the case of Pacman, that what Jones did with him, (before this cutting) was commendable. Trying to save a talented athlete from his own self destruction. Now, let's compare Owens to Duane Thomas. Neither of them have been in trouble with the law,but both are and were disruptive. Thomas had a piss poor attitude about life in general, and Owens is all bout Owens. But, both are and were superior athletes. Thomas refused to speak with any of the Cowboys players, coaches or management for the entire 1971-1972 season. Despite his lack of communication, Thomas helped the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl (Super Bowl VI in 1972) win that same season. He called Landry "Plastic Man". Owens helps the 'Boys win, yes, (so did Thomas) but is his disruptive behavior any better or worse than Duane Thomas's? Either way, disruption is disruption.
I think all teams have their share of human misfits, as it were. But, the 'Boys being the 'Boys, and as media crazy as Jones is, they're going to attract the most attention. While I'm at it, they did not dub themselves 'America's Team". The media did that, and Tex Shramm saw a golden opportunity to bring this team to prominence. What team wouldn't do that if the opportunity presented itself?
Bull_of the_Woods
Orange, TX
Total Comments (4078)
Now, in my honest opinion about the State of the Union, as it is now, I think Jones has gone a bit too far in signing and handling of some of these man children.
To Quote Bronx.....""I cannot respect the way he attempts to do it, however, and he is giving the Cowboys a very bad name. For one of the most important sports franchises in the world, they are known more right now for Terrell Owens' issues, Tony Romo's girlfriend, and locker room deterioration than they are for winning."" ......I have to wholeheartedly agree and this coming from a man who has lived and breathed Dallas Cowboys for 40 something years. Guess we'll see next year, if we do another 5-11 or be lucky enough to have a winning season. A SB is likely out of the question.
Bull_of the_Woods
Orange, TX
Total Comments (4078)
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