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If you think the political world is the only whacked-out place when you hear people like Tom Tancredo and Steve King putting their feet in their mouths, you are mistaken my friends.

NFL football teams spend a ton of money on drafting college players and they put them through the mill when it comes to evaluating them, but the Dolphins' GM, Jeff Ireland, crossed the line of decency.

The media criticism has been frustrating, but some of the probing from prospective employers has been downright offensive to Bryant. During one visit, the receiver sat in the office of a franchise’s high-level executive and was asked a shocking question.

“They asked me if my mom’s a prostitute,” Bryant says, an account that was confirmed by Wells, who attended the meeting. “No, my mom is not a prostitute. I got mad – really mad – but I didn’t show it. I got a lot of questions like that: Does she still do drugs? I sat and answered all of them.”

Bryant’s mother, Angela, had him when she was 15 and conceived his younger sister and brother within the next three years. She reportedly sold drugs, and she served a prison term during Dez’s childhood; at various times he lived with relatives and family friends. Dez and Angela are very close, and she will be with him at Wells’ house for a festive draft party Thursday evening.

Jeff Ireland apologized for his lack of judgment after this story was reported.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross will "take appropriate actions if necessary" against general manager Jeff Ireland for asking former Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant whether his mother was ever a prostitute.

Ireland apologized for the question, and the NFL players union raised concerns Wednesday about discrimination and degradation.

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Ireland's apology came only after Yahoo! Sports reported that he posed the question several weeks ago during a pre-draft interview with Bryant.

"My job is to find out as much information as possible about a player that I'm considering drafting," Ireland said in a statement. "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."

Listen, I hate the Cowboys and I wasn't thrilled when they drafted the talented receiver (since I'm a NY Giants fan), but even if Bryant's mom was a prostitute, how is that supposed to shed light on his ability to be a pro athlete or how he'll perform? Dez dropped in the draft because the MSM has said he's had some issues. A thought passed through my mind when I heard this. I wonder: If he were a white player, would he have been asked this question? It just made me wonder momentarily, that's all.

Many great athletes come from all walks of life, including very poor and gang-filled neighborhoods that are chock full of guns and drugs, so now a player's "character" is being used also to determine if a team will draft a player. The NFL does have an exorbitant amount of players who are involved in crimes and violence so I get GMs being thorough, but hopefully no more demeaning questions will be asked of these young men.

And this begs another question. Is this a routine type question that is asked of many players by GM's in the NFL? I'd like to hear from more players on this issue because the teams will offer up that information.

Oh, I almost forgot. Ben Roethlisberger went out of his way to show his contrition by releasing a three paragraph statement via email about his suspension. Nice Ben.

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46 Comments

Whatever, not only is this about sports but also about football. Hell, i rather watch a game of tennis than this crap.

Meh, just saying.

Edit: hell, even cricket looks more interesting.


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

I don't give a toss.

mudshark's picture

I wonder what political party this asshat belongs to?

Can you imagine someone asking you that question?
I have a feelin the Dolphins will have a bad season this time around. And for awhile.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

The douche bag party? Just a wild guess.


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

I don't give a toss.

really sports; it's a business, and who watches business for entertainment?

Alerta_Alerta's picture

The dickwads that make millions out of it. They are laughing there arses off.


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

I don't give a toss.

franca of the US, and it's idiotic and corrupt. Corporate sports like pro football, baseball, basketball are to real athletic competition what fast food is to cuisine.

Sports is a protected monopoly with the NFL the worst of all. Profit sharing, price fixing, entry barriers, etc. are all illegal practices outside of pro sports. Almost all the teams are owned by billionnaires! They are a license to make money. You can't lose. The L.A. Clippers NBA team is the most profitable in history though they never win. That's what revenue sharing does for you. The NFL is white people watching black people shorten their lives with multiple concussions and cripple their bodies. No amount of salary can be worth that unless you come from the poverty we allow and create in our ghettos.

miss_kitty's picture

The participants on every level have no class or manners. Can't say fairer than that. I will never get into American football. The people are creeps.

mudshark's picture

Nuthin like paintin people with a big brush huh?

I like American football. I like British football.
I'm no fan of baseball. Or Hockey. Basketball? a little. But only if the Lakers are in it.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

NoOneYouKnow's picture

I don't think all football fans are creeps. But most of them are dupes. Pro football is like national politics; it's racketeering packaged as honest competition.

miss_kitty's picture

but really, the paid participants = a holes, IMO

mudshark's picture

You paint them all with a broad brush.
Yes, I agree that a lot of them are assholes.
But in the same breath I have to say that some are very decent people.
Jerry Rice. Find the dirt on him.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

miss_kitty's picture

with continual bad behaviour.

mudshark's picture

I think you need to differentiate whom you are talking about.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

mudshark's picture

It only took me a little over 5 years.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

"British football"

BRITISH? Oh dood. *shakes head*


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

I don't give a toss.

mudshark's picture

What do you think they call it?
How do you think they spell it?
Oh, I'm sorry. Soccer.
Geeze.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

"What do you think they call it?
How do you think they spell it?"

If you mean with "they" the Britons. They call it football.


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

I don't give a toss.

mudshark's picture

No Shit? I'm aghast at my lack of understanding.
How I could have done such a thing is baffling.
I always thought that Americans were so self involved that they couldn't decipher between the two .
Geeeze how could I make that mistake.
Just blind ignorance I guess.

oyy.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

Your sarcasm is so cute.


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

I don't give a toss.

mudshark's picture

I don't know what to say. I'm blushing.
I'm so embarrassed, I don't know what else to say.

Except, YO!


What is your conceptual, continuity?

Even more sarcasm. That's even more cute. aawww. If you where a kitten i would pet you!


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

I don't give a toss.

mudshark's picture

D00d, I'm right here.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

¿que pasa?


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

I don't give a toss.

mudshark's picture

You folks have a grate nite.:)


What is your conceptual, continuity?

Hehe, you as well m8 :)


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

I don't give a toss.

mudshark's picture

The topic I want to discuss, has to wait until an open thread opens up or, a thread on it opens up. It's pissin me off pretty good.
Sorry about the ott sarcasm.
I'll give ya a hint.
.
.
.
.
BP.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

BP is oil....oil spill leak at Gulf Coast.....I take a leap here. Obama?


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

I don't give a toss.

Yeah, and also no hooligans. What the hell is up with that? Bunch of pussies!

j/k


Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/

I don't give a toss.

walt kovacs's picture

take a look at the niner super bowl teams and their fans

absolute class

akryan's picture

The only reason it seems like that is because the only time you hear about an athlete's off-the-field stuff is when it's bad. There are over 1500 players in the NFL, the majority of whom are fairly normal. As young and as rich as they are it's amazing more don't get in trouble.

gonzoman1128's picture
MosesZD's picture

Vulgar and stupid questions like this are asked all the time. They're there to see if the young man can refuse to rise to the bait and keep himself under control.

The football field isn't some latte' sipping book-club meeting where you're going to pretend to have new, insightful comments on Proust, or something equally banal. These are rude, vulgar men, many of whom will use trash-talking to rattle opponents and force them into mistakes.

It's part of the game. Don't like it, don't watch it. But don't pretend you whine has anything to do with anything but testing the control, composure and mettle of the potential draftee.

that have been obvious in the many years of high school, Pop Warner, and college football he played? Wouldn't scouts and previous coaches have at least noticed the player has a short fuse? Besides, aren't fights kinda encouraged? Isn't the player's reaction to trash-talk the responsibility of the coaches and not the suits?
But it's good to know that manly men like you are out there making excuses for front-office dicks on the basis of the gosh-darn manliness of it all.

Floridafish's picture

Or, are we to believe that the other 31 teams asked that question? Since they're all rude, vulgar men, as you put it. You do realize that it was a potential employer asking that question don't you. Not some asshole on the football feild? Did your employer ask you questions like that when you applied for a job? Damn.

Old Billy's picture

I'm guessing that the question was just to test Bryant. Big freaking deal. This ain't beanbag. He's going to get a multi-million dollar contract.

akryan's picture

The Dolphins definitely crossed the line with the prostitute question, but there had been a whisper campaign about his childhood going on for awhile. Todd McShay, one of ESPN's top draftniks, speculated on whether the lack of positive role models in his upbringing would raise red-flags about his character. He literally said that on air without anyone batting an eye.

What a total dumb ass.

republicrat's picture

these teams are about to pay these guys millions and millions of dollars. I dont think its all that bad. Though you should always show respect to women. They could have asked a better question to gauge his reaction. As in any job interview, corny but needed questions are asked to see what your response will be and how you might handle different and sometimes uncomfortable situations. Everyone needs to chill and not take this personally or the wrong way.

if i get asked that question in a job interview, im out the door and calling attys

leftykook's picture

I'd be calling attorneys to defend me from assault and battery and attempted murder charges....I probably wouldn't get the job.


"Ronald Reagan is DEAD! His policies live on but we're doing something about THAT!"

J M Ashby's picture

I seriously cannot think in my head for a reason to ask someone this during a job interview. I can't even grasp the level of rudeness present.

littlepitcher's picture

My stepmother was a hooker, and a heroin addict. She promises her family members and druggie friends my job if they can get me fired, tries to get info on my personal possessions to fence, and has advertised my house for sale, had a business broker try to sell both my house and my former business, and pocketed earnest money on contracts written with the proviso that the sale would be completed only if the ("lost") warranty deed was discovered. She's taken an advance on a book I was supposed to be writing and her daughter routinely used my credit and job references before she got caught.
A hooker and drug addict mama might be even more trouble.
Or, the GM might have been trying to purchase sex.

ComradeAnon's picture

Roethlisberger didn't have anything to do with that statement. Obviously that was written by a lawyer. Particularly liked the "though I have committed no crime" part.

What's equally galling about Ireland's idiotic and offensive question is the response by some of the media.

Some asshole "reporters" are questioning Bryant's manhood and toughness because he didn't attack Ireland physically.

Bryant deserves to be commended for his restraint in the face of such stupidity.

kloney99's picture

This is a high-stakes multi-million dollar business. If I am going to spend a lot of money on a player with whom there have been red-flags in the past, I'm going to do as much background research as i can before I hire a guy that could always be in trouble. Whenever players get suspended and fined for violations of the Code of Conduct (Roethlisberger, Pacman Jones, Vick, Chris Henry), their teams are fined as well. If I as a team official can avoid those players by asking tough questions, it's my obligation to do it. Not to mention, we don't know the context or tone in which the question was asked.

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