Oklahoma Silver
Mother Of All Stories: Jeff Ireland And Dez Bryant
If the Jeff Ireland/Dez Bryant dust is going to show us anything, it is how hungry media tends to be with anything involving the NFL. It also shows that the NFL dominates the sports landscape — even in its off-season — while other sports fight for money now in the midst of playoff scenarios. What is this great news? I guess Jeff Ireland, Miami Dolphins GM, asked former Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant if his mother was a prostitute in a pre-draft interview. Bryant mentioned this to a columnist, who wrote ”a piece of opinionated outrage”. The Internet content machine gobbled up the issue. Ironically enough, the media reaction is more of the story than the actual question asked by Jeff Ireland.
The Jeff Ireland/Dez Bryant story
The fact that is the Jeff Ireland/Dez Bryant story comes from a rich and powerful sports league obsessed with image problems that are affecting the chance for instant cash. The NFL has 32 teams and 1,696 active players — not a large sample, but every year a few dirt bags set themselves apart and the media pounces on them with unrestrained delight. Talent is vigorously screened by NFL teams for “character issues.”
Dez Bryant suspension
The Dez Bryant suspension by the NCAA, which destroyed his junior season at Oklahoma State, saddled him with “character issues” when he entered the draft. The Dez Bryant suspension occurred after Bryant visited his friend and mentor, former eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Deion Sanders, at his house in Texas. When the NCAA grilled Bryant about the visit, he “failed to openly disclose to the NCAA the full details of his interaction…” according to a statement released by Oklahoma State. Even so, most coaches, scouts, and GMs thought he was an extremely talented receiver. The Dallas Cowboys were ecstatic to select Bryant as their number one pick in the first round.
Jeff Ireland, Miami Dolphins inquisitor
Jeff Ireland, Miami Dolphins inquisitor, no doubt also knew, as Michael Silver reported on Yahoo! Sports, that Dez Bryant’s mother, Angela, had Dez at age 15, had two more kids as a teenager, sold drugs and served a prison term. Dez Bryant has a close relationship with his mother even though he had to live with relatives and family friends while growing up. Maybe asking if Bryant’s mom was a whore was Ireland’s way of provoking anger. Bryant continued to be calm during the interview.
Apology Jeff Ireland Miami Dolphins
After his interview became very publicized, Jeff Ireland called Dez Bryant on Tuesday and apologized for his questioning about his mother being a prostitute. Perhaps taking out a short term loan on a personality, he released a statement published in the Miami Herald :
“My job is to find out as much information as possible about a player that I’m considering drafting. Sometimes that leads to asking in-depth questions. “Having said that, I talked to Dez Bryant and told him I used poor judgment in one of the questions I asked him. I certainly meant no disrespect and apologized to him. “I appreciate his acceptance of that apology, and I told him I wished him well as he embarks on his NFL career.”
Jeff Ireland/Dez Bryant won’t go away
Although the Jeff Ireland/Dez Bryant story should be over with, it won’t. The Cowboys play Miami at Dallas for the final preseason game of the 2010 season. It is likely that both teams will leave starters on the sidelines. The story of the game won’t be on the field as it is covered by the media.
Sources for the article
”a piece of opinionated outrage” (via Yahoo! Sports)
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=An2SVLsiaNOzI7amLRxRxxZDubYF?slug=ms-trippintuesday042710
The Dallas Cowboys
http://www.dallascowboys.com/
Miami Herald
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2010/04/jeff-ireland-apologizes-to-dez-bryant.html
Silver BMW M6 Convertible… from Oklahoma?