Troubled Players Nothing New For The Dallas Cowboys
By Jeff Magnia
The Dallas Cowboys can’t seem to get a break from having players that are on their roster with bad reputations.
Dec 8, 2012; Irving, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys player Josh Brent as seen in an Irving police department mugshot photo. Mandatory Credit: Irving Police Department/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Former defensive tackle Josh Brent is awaiting trial for intoxication manslaughter for the death of former teammate Jerry Brown on December 8th of last year. Brent is required to wear an alcohol ankle monitor and attend regular meetings with a county officer. He also has to provide breath and urine samples as a part of his deal with the police. Brent has a $100,000 bond and, unfortunately, this is not the first time he had drinking trouble. Three years earlier, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor “driving under the influence” charge.
Dallas recently signed yet another misfit player, defensive end Anthony Hargrove. Hargrove was involved in the infamous Bountygate scandal as a player for the New Orleans Saints. Hargrove also has missed many games due to substance abuse problems earlier in his career. Dallas must have looked at his suspension to actual game play ratio and decided: “He’s our guy!”. Incidentally, Hargrove has 22 games missed due to suspension to 25 games played.
Of course, we can’t talk bad reputation without mentioning wideout Dez Bryant. Bryant loves his momma so much he loves her enough to slap her. Bryant was arrested for assaulting his mother back in July of 2012. He allegedly grabbed his mother by the t-shirt and bra, then proceeded to slap her across the face. Luckily, Bryant had former Cowboys’ running back Emmitt Smith on his side as he stated that the “Cowboys should be patient.” Bryant did attend a violence rally with Smith and Cowboy legend Roger Staubach. He also had a run in at the NorthPark Mall for cursing after being told to “pull his pants up”. Off-duty officers eventually had to call the local police to settle the situation. No arrests were made in the incident, but it certainly made the news.
Jan 1, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys former receiver Dez Bryant waves to the crowd during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at the Cotton Bowl. The Cowboys beat the Boilermakers 58-14. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas’ original bad boy, running back Duane Thomas, started it all back in the 1970’s by not talking to the media. Linebacker Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson was no saint either. Although there wasn’t really a bad boy on the team in the 1980’s, wideout Michael Irvin filled that role in the 1990’s. The Cowboys were so bad on the field in the latter part of the 80’s, they didn’t have any troubled athletes. But in the 90’s, Irvin was suspended for several games for various incidents.
One player that didn’t really cause trouble for Dallas, but did so for the San Francisco 49ers was defensive end Charles Haley. Haley was known for urinating on cars in the parking lot and just causing havoc. When he was with Dallas, Haley was more of a jokester than a menace.
Dallas continues to follow in the footsteps of the old regime by having troubled players on the roster. From the days of Duane Thomas to Dez Bryant, the Cowboys can’t help but have some player(s) that gets them in the news for the wrong reason. Having been in the amateur football world for the last few years, I’ve seen my fair share of troubled players. I guess it doesn’t matter the level of football played, there will always be teams with players who continue to push the disciplinary envelope…no matter where they are.