If the Jeff Ireland/Dez Bryant mother dust-up shows us anything, it is how hungry the media is for any kind of news coming out of the NFL. It also shows the NFL dominates the sports landscape — even in its off-season — when other sports fight for cash now in the midst of playoff scenarios. The news? Evidently, 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 loved talking about the issue. Ironically enough, the media response is more of the story than the actual question asked by Jeff Ireland.
The Jeff Ireland/Dez Bryant mother of a story
The fact that is the Jeff Ireland/Dez Bryant story comes from a rich and powerful sports league obsessed with image troubles that are affecting the chance for instant money. The NFL has 32 teams and 1,696 active players — not a large sample, but yearly one or two dirt bags set themselves apart and also the media pounces on them with much delight. Talent is vigorously screened by NFL teams for “character issues.”
Dez Bryant suspended
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, previous 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 information of his interaction…” according to a statement released by Oklahoma State. Even so, most GMs, coaches, and scouts thought he was a very talented receiver. The Dallas Cowboys were ecstatic to select Bryant as their number one pick in the first round.
Miami Dolphins inquisitor, Jeff Ireland
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 children as a teenager, sold drugs and served a prison term. Although Dez Bryant had to live with relatives and family friends growing up, he nevertheless has a close relationship with his mother. Possibly asking if Bryant’s mom was a whore was Ireland’s way of provoking anger. During the interview, Bryant remained calm.
Jeff Ireland Miami Dolphins apology
Jeff Ireland called Dez Bryant Tuesday and apologized for asking him if his mom was a prostitute after his interview with Bryant became a media crapstorm. Possibly taking out a short term loan on a personality, he then released a statement published in the Miami Herald :
“My job is to find out as much info 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
The Jeff Ireland and Dez Bryant story should be done but it won’t be. The final preseason game of 2010, the Cowboys will play Miami at Dallas. Both teams’ starters will stay on the sidelines. As covered by the media, the story of the game won’t be on the field.
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
