Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones must avoid Antonio Brown temptation
The 2019 Dallas Cowboys possess a roster that has a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl run. They must avoid adding any more distractions like Antonio Brown.
Not that long ago, the Dallas Cowboys were a team willing to take risks by signing troubled players. The Cowboys were willing to add controversial players to their roster in pursuit of that ever-elusive Lombardi Trophy. Names like wide receiver Terrell Owens, defensive tackle Greg Hardy, and quarterback Ryan Leaf come to mind.
The one name associated with all of these signings is still at the heart of America’s Team today. And that’s owner and general manager, Jerry Jones. And although he’s shifted a lot of power to his son, executive vice president Stephen Jones, as well as vice president of player personnel Will McClay, Jerry still calls the shots in Big D.
Yet, one temptation Jerry and company must avoid is signing someone like Antonio Brown. The talented, but disgruntled receiver was released by the Oakland Raiders on Saturday after a bizarre set of events that only highlighted a drama-filled summer. The Raiders traded a third and a fifth-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 31-year old wideout in March. And now, Oakland has released Brown just two days before the start of their regular season, making him an instant free agent.
After burning bridges with both the Steelers and the Raiders’ organizations, the lingering question is what team is willing to put up with the potential drama and distractions that signing someone like Brown brings.
On the surface, the Cowboys might seem like a logical landing spot for Brown. Jerry Jones has been willing to sign controversial players in the past. Plus Dallas appears to be better than most when it comes to dealing with high-profile players and the distractions that come with them.
The Cowboys seem unfazed following a drama-filled summer with contract talk dominating headlines and a long holdout by All-Pro running back Ezekiel Elliott. But distractions do take their toll, as we witnessed during Elliott’s pending six-game suspension back in 2017.
Yet, the current roster in Dallas has a legitimate shot of repeating as NFC East champions and making a run at a Super Bowl title as is. Adding a talent like Brown to the mix could enhance those chances. But the move also has the potential to send your locker room and team chemistry into utter disarray, something the Cowboys shouldn’t risk.
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No one questions the talent of Antonio Brown. Despite entering his 10th season in the NFL, and all the drama surrounding Brown in Pittsburgh last season, the uber-talented wideout was still able to post 104 receptions for 1,297 yards and a career-high 15 touchdowns in 2018. But the presence of wide receivers like Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and Randall Cobb leaves little room for the likes of someone like Brown in Dallas, and the potential baggage he brings along with him.