I’ve been trying to let this play out until we have truth to what actually occurred in that now notorious pre-draft interview that has forever linked in infamy Oklahoma State wide receiver, Dez Bryant, and Miami Dolphins GM, Jeff Ireland, before I pass judgment. The beat-a-dead-horse topic of the week unless of course you haven’t gotten enough of the “Jimmy Clausen falls out of the 1st round” phenomenon that has swept the sports world.
It seems like profootballtalk.com has been reporting a different version of the story faster than a Chad Henne fastball gets from Ted Ginn’s hands to the ground. I know Ginn is gone now, I’m sorry, I can’t help myself. I just have to learn to let it go. Maybe I should just watch more Ginn game film then. See what I did there? Sorry. It’s really become an annoying habit. Like Ginn dropping passes. Anyhoo…
There has been an uproar from the media and fans that want Ireland’s head on a stake for asking Bryant in some form or another if his mother was a prostitute. Those inside the league and NFL circles actually see it differently with several NFL GM’s and/or Executives stating on record that worse questions have been asked and it is indeed the right of the employer to ask these very difficult questions in order to see if you react rather than respond before they pay a 21 year old $20 to $50 million. Simply pawning it off as old custom where change has yet to be mandated. Fighting is still common practice in the NHL today remarkably so what gives.
In a release, the Dolphins claim the interrogation went down like this: (1) Ireland asked Bryant what his father does; (2) Bryant openly admitted he’s a pimp; (3) Ireland then asked what his mother does; (4) Bryant said that his mother works for his father; (5) Ireland then asked if his mother is a prostitute.
Bryant’s people are claiming that is “bulls@*#” and sticking to the original claim that Ireland directly and spontaneously blurted out the question “Is your mother a prostitute?”
That has been the ongoing debate back and forth since the story broke last week. My initial impulsive reaction was that of disgust that the organization I love so much has been marred in the public eye recently for lacking class recently for their less than tactful decisions – allegedly – to shun franchise icons Jason Taylor by holding him hostage and by dissing Zach Thomas by not allowing him to hold an exit press conference before he went to the Dallas Cowboys. Adding even further insult to injury the Dolphins issued rookie LB A.J. Edds Thomas’s esteemed #54. An obvious intentional slap in the face when you consider that rookies are never issued jersey numbers of players of Thomas’ magnitude, a certain Ring of Honor inductee. Throw in the Ireland fiasco and all of the sudden you have the Dolphins Front Office simmering in huge pot of “No Class Stew”.
All of those things may be acceptable, they all may not warrant punishment since technically nothing was done wrong as it pertains to the letter of the law but the court of public opinion can be equally if not more devestating. Wasn’t it a history of allegations or less than admirable decisions based on hearsay or just putting yourself in a bad light enough to get Ben Roethlisberger suspended by the league and nearly exiled in Pittsburgh?
Lost in the translation here really are the two most important things as far as I’m concerned.
1.) If true, it is profoundly sad that Dez Bryant’s father is a pimp and his mother was a prostitute. Think about that. How deep must the scars run with the lifetime of facing such an awful reality? Again, if true, I have a whole new respect for the person Dez Bryant is because frankly, if your biggest problems in a life raised under these conditions are not being very punctual and telling an occasional fib then he should be commended. Give the man a hug an a Humanitarian Award.
2.) My problem isn’t with the league deciding whether the question is right or wrong? If you want to ask the question, fine. My problem is the class and tact of the person willing to make the decision to ask that question. Should someone ask that question? That is not for me to decide but I will pass judgement on the character of someone that is willing to ask it. My opinion of Jeff Ireland as a man has changed. Would Tony Dungy have asked that question or better yet, would Don Shula or Rick Spielman or Wayne Huizenga? Hardly.
As a Dolphins fan I am currently ashamed of the way our organization is being represented. Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland and Tony Sporano (it may be unfair to link him in this actually) are great talent evaluaters and football minds but they are also employees and I don’t think it’s too much to ask for them to represent the franchise with class, dignity and respect.
And Dez Bryant has character issues.
No comments:
Post a Comment