For All of You Jeff Ireland Bashers

[DasNootz]

This at least puts the question in perspective.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writ....html?eref=sihp

[Gugny]

This at least puts the question in perspective.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writ....html?eref=sihp

This part of the article is what puts it into perspective. It was unecessary, tasteless and irrelevant.

 

"This kid may have led the league in [pre-draft] visits," one GM said of Bryant. "He was pounded by clubs. But I haven't heard about anybody else asking the type of question about the mother that the Dolphins did, so that tells you that no one else felt comfortable about going that road. You hear about all types of crazy questions being asked, but this is really the first time where there was something as insensitive as this. I'm sure Jeff wasn't the only one in the room. I wish somebody else had said, 'You know what? We don't need to go there.' "

[Peter]

PFT has been covering this all day. According to Dez Bryant, it did not go down like this at all.

 

This is the Dolphins trying to save face. The funny thing is that if it went down like this, why did Ireland apologize rather than put out this version of events then.

[DasNootz]

This part of the article is what puts it into perspective. It was unecessary, tasteless and irrelevant.

 

"This kid may have led the league in [pre-draft] visits," one GM said of Bryant. "He was pounded by clubs. But I haven't heard about anybody else asking the type of question about the mother that the Dolphins did, so that tells you that no one else felt comfortable about going that road. You hear about all types of crazy questions being asked, but this is really the first time where there was something as insensitive as this. I'm sure Jeff wasn't the only one in the room. I wish somebody else had said, 'You know what? We don't need to go there.' "

I have a feeling that the GM quoted above said that without knowing the context of the question.

[Lori]

The counter, from Mike Silver (via Twitter), who wrote the original story:

 

I just got off the phone with a source very close to Dez Bryant, and we had a long talk about context...

 

This is what the source close to Bryant said about the things the Dolphins are putting three days after the fact, without names attached: "That's bull ****. It didn't go down like (the Dolphins are implying it did). There's nothing to say. If a guy calls and apologizes, what else is there to add on? Enough said. (The apology) confirmed (Dez's version). The apology was accepted, and now it's time to move on."

and

Just got a text from Dez Bryant. "I did not say that... this guy is lying." By "this guy" he means "unnamed Dolphins sources...

 

By "I did not say that" he means that his father was a pimp & that his mother worked for her. So Bryant, on the record, stands by his story

 

Again, Dez Bryant stands by his story, with name attached. Ireland, who apologized, leaks anonymous "context" explanation. You make the call

 

http://twitter.com/RealMikeSilver

[DasNootz]

PFT has been covering this all day. According to Dez Bryant, it did not go down like this at all.

 

This is the Dolphins trying to save face. The funny thing is that if it went down like this, why did Ireland apologize rather than put out this version of events then.

We'll never know, unless Richard Nixon had hidden recorders in Miami as well. Personally I think the truth lies closer to what the Dolphins are saying than what Dez is saying, but that's based on nothing but a gut feeling.

[kota]

Dez Bryant is a walking nightmare who is about to be paid Millions. He group up in Texas and now all his Homies will have easy access. He is going to flunk out of the NFL very quickly. He's another Pacman Jones.

 

I don't think the question was out of line at all given that a NFL club is about to give him a nice payday. If Dez Bryant was any sort of man he would have told Jeff Ireland in the meeting that the question was out of line and not answer it.\

 

I bet he holds out.

[syhuang]

Bryant: I didn't tell Ireland dad a 'pimp'

 

It looks like Dolphins try hard to save their face.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

Personally I think the truth lies closer to what the Dolphins are saying than what Dez is saying, but that's based on nothing but a gut feeling.

And what do you think about the equally big issue...that the Dolphins, after the apology, leaked the "context" of the interview to make their position more defensible?

[LongLiveRalph]

I don't think the question was out of line at all given that a NFL club is about to give him a nice payday.

 

It was widely known for a LOOOOONG time that Dez Bryant's mother had problems. It was widely known that Dez grew up in a house where drug use was rampant and there were constantly people moving thru. Dez Bryant has told this story before. So obviously every NFL team knew he didn't have a "1950's suburban" upbringing, including the Dolphins.

 

Now to this question you don't think was out of line...What if the answer was "Yes"? What if the answer was "No"? Knowing what you know already about Dez Bryant, how does the answer to the prostitute question factor into your evaluation of the player?

 

Additionally, what if the Dolphins drafted Dez Bryant? Can you imagine starting out your term of employment with a company who asks you in the interview if your mom is a whore? Is that the appropriate way to begin a relationship? Would that employer EVER have your complete respect?

 

I think it was extremely unprofessional. Nobody has been able to explain to me how this information benefits the Dolphins. The only answer I get is, "They're going to pay him $30 million." So the F what??? You don't turn off your human filter, ever. And giving someone a boatload of money isn't an excuse to disrespect him.

 

Why didn't they ask him if he surfs for child porn and likes fondling children? Don't they have a right to know??? I mean, they're going to give him all that money...It's not out of line...Right???

[DasNootz]

And what do you think about the equally big issue...that the Dolphins, after the apology, leaked the "context" of the interview to make their position more defensible?

I guess I'm not following:

 

Do I think that it was wrong for the Dolphins to leak this? No worse that Dez leaking the question originally.

Do I think that the Dolphins are trying to save face? Possibly. I invision a scenario where Jeff was told by the NFL or by the Dolphins to issue his apology. He did what he was told, issued the apology and moved on. His co-workers thought he got the shaft, and came out to support him.

 

Do I think that it's possible that Dez Bryant is now lieing to save face. Possibly. He did lie to the NCAA in an attempt to save himself.

[Lori]

And what do you think about the equally big issue...that the Dolphins, after the apology, leaked the "context" of the interview to make their position more defensible?

Silver asks a good question. Bryant's version is on the record. Ireland's isn't. Why?

 

Then again, Jim Trotter counters with the equally valid point: Bryant was on the record about his relationship with Deion, too, and that turned out not to be true.

 

Whole bunch of he said-he said here, and right now, I'm not sure I believe EITHER story.

[DasNootz]

Silver asks a good question. Bryant's version is on the record. Ireland's isn't. Why?

 

Then again, Jim Trotter counters with the equally valid point: Bryant was on the record about his relationship with Deion, too, and that turned out not to be true.

 

Whole bunch of he said-he said here, and right now, I'm not sure I believe EITHER story.

If I were Dez Bryant, entering the NFL with the "diva" tag after having been suspended at the college level, I'd want to fly as far under the radar as possible in my rookie season. I would not be looking to add any new targets to myself. It says something to me that he's this outspoken.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

I guess I'm not following:

 

Do I think that it was wrong for the Dolphins to leak this? No worse that Dez leaking the question originally.

Do I think that the Dolphins are trying to save face? Possibly. I invision a scenario where Jeff was told by the NFL or by the Dolphins to issue his apology. He did what he was told, issued the apology and moved on. His co-workers thought he got the shaft, and came out to support him.

 

Do I think that it's possible that Dez Bryant is now lieing to save face. Possibly. He did lie to the NCAA in an attempt to save himself.

 

 

Silver asks a good question. Bryant's version is on the record. Ireland's isn't. Why?

 

Then again, Jim Trotter counters with the equally valid point: Bryant was on the record about his relationship with Deion, too, and that turned out not to be true.

 

Whole bunch of he said-he said here, and right now, I'm not sure I believe EITHER story.

Just a thought pursuant to nothing in particular...I wonder if the interview was audio or videotaped?

 

Anyways, this was an interesting subject.

[DasNootz]

Just a thought pursuant to nothing in particular...I wonder if the interview was audio or videotaped?

 

Anyways, this was an interesting subject.

I'll bet you anything that it was taped. Whether or not we'll ever see those tapes is another story.

[purple haze]

This at least puts the question in perspective.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writ....html?eref=sihp

 

 

There is no perspective needed. No need to ask that man a question like that about his mother. Period. If she were a prostitute then what? Will that have an impact on his football skills or is she going to be playing for the Dolphins? If yes, in spite of the fact that he has no criminal record himself, would this make him "undraftable"? If that's the case then why bother to interview him at all? Take him off your board and keep it moving. If he had punched Irelandit in his mouth it would have been fine by me.

 

Bryant has no criminal record yet folks are acting like he's done something criminal, been in and out of court, etc... Being a flake or irresponsible is not good, but does not make one a danger to society or a criminal.

[Mr. WEO]

I guess I'm not following:

 

Do I think that it was wrong for the Dolphins to leak this? No worse that Dez leaking the question originally.

Do I think that the Dolphins are trying to save face? Possibly. I invision a scenario where Jeff was told by the NFL or by the Dolphins to issue his apology. He did what he was told, issued the apology and moved on. His co-workers thought he got the shaft, and came out to support him.

 

Do I think that it's possible that Dez Bryant is now lieing to save face. Possibly. He did lie to the NCAA in an attempt to save himself.

How come no one asked him if he ever f*cked his sister??

 

Anyway, the obvious question is "what if Bryant said--'yes, my mother was a prostitute'"? How does that have any bearing on any team "giving him millions of dollars", as several goofballs have suggested?

[dwight in philly]

Dez Bryant is a walking nightmare who is about to be paid Millions. He group up in Texas and now all his Homies will have easy access. He is going to flunk out of the NFL very quickly. He's another Pacman Jones.

 

I don't think the question was out of line at all given that a NFL club is about to give him a nice payday. If Dez Bryant was any sort of man he would have told Jeff Ireland in the meeting that the question was out of line and not answer it.\

 

I bet he holds out.

could not agree more!, this should be a non-story, really, i am quite sure there have been way worse Q&A'S over the course of the "football e v a l" process. too much of a TMZ mentality for me.

[Gugny]

could not agree more!, this should be a non-story, really, i am quite sure there have been way worse Q&A'S over the course of the "football e v a l" process. too much of a TMZ mentality for me.

Would you feel that way if someone asked you, your son or daughter, "is your mother a prostitute?" during the course of a job interview?

[DrDawkinstein]

Silver asks a good question. Bryant's version is on the record. Ireland's isn't. Why?

 

Then again, Jim Trotter counters with the equally valid point: Bryant was on the record about his relationship with Deion, too, and that turned out not to be true.

 

Whole bunch of he said-he said here, and right now, I'm not sure I believe EITHER story.

 

what does "on the record" mean? its not like either have been sworn to testify. all it means is that Bryant told a journalist his account directly. Doesn't automatically make it truthful or exact.

 

im with you in not believing either story. the truth always lies in between. and really, at this point, who cares?

[Peter]

what does "on the record" mean? its not like either have been sworn to testify. all it means is that Bryant told a journalist his account directly. Doesn't automatically make it truthful or exact.

 

im with you in not believing either story. the truth always lies in between. and really, at this point, who cares?

 

 

True, but the Dolphins are cowards "leaking" a story today without attribution after Ireland already apologized. If he had nothing to apologize for, why did he do so instead of telling his side when the original story came out.

 

To me, it just sounds like the Dolphins are trying to save face. They already are getting heat down here for not letting Zack Thomas use their facilities to announce his retirement and playing games with Jason Taylor (at least that is the way a lot of Dolphin fans are perceiving it down here).

[BillsfaninSixburgh]

Ireland's a bum, Parcells is a bum. Bellicheat is a bum. Ryan is a fat bum. They're all bums!!!!

 

Why...because they aren't Bills!!!!

 

And that's all that really matters!

[DrDawkinstein]

True, but the Dolphins are cowards "leaking" a story today without attribution after Ireland already apologized. If he had nothing to apologize for, why did he do so instead of telling his side when the original story came out.

 

no matter how it was asked, or in what context, Bryant came out and said he was upset by the question. Ireland's apology is needed, whether he feels the question was ok or not. The apology was the right thing to do regardless of anything else, unless he hadnt asked the question at all, which we know he did.

 

an apology is not a clear indicator that everything happened exactly as Bryant said.

[Peter]

no matter how it was asked, or in what context, Bryant came out and said he was upset by the question. Ireland's apology is needed, whether he feels the question was ok or not. The apology was the right thing to do regardless of anything else, unless he hadnt asked the question at all, which we know he did.

 

an apology is not a clear indicator that everything happened exactly as Bryant said.

 

 

I appreciate what you are saying, but (at least to me) the apology does fly in the face of the Dolphins' belated attempt to justify what happened. Also, the fact that the Dolphins are now leaking this version without attribution is cowardly and self-defeating. By doing what they are doing, they have given this story another news cycle. They should have just let it die.

[el Tigre]

Jeff Ireland is an incompetent dumbass and should be fired. Obviously,any organization is going to want to know the background of a person they plan on paying lots of money to. A good interviewer can obtain all the information needed without ever asking a question as stupid as "is your mom a prostitute". If I owned the Dolphins I'd fire Ireland and hire somebody that has some common sense.

[DrDawkinstein]

I appreciate what you are saying, but (at least to me) the apology does fly in the face of the Dolphins' belated attempt to justify what happened. Also, the fact that the Dolphins are now leaking this version without attribution is cowardly and self-defeating. By doing what they are doing, they have given this story another news cycle. They should have just let it die.

 

agreed, they should have let it die.

[Peter]

Jeff Ireland is an incompetent dumbass and should be fired. Obviously,any organization is going to want to know the background of a person they plan on paying lots of money to. A good interviewer can obtain all the information needed without ever asking a question as stupid as "is your mom a prostitute". If I owned the Dolphins I'd fire Ireland and hire somebody that has a some common sense.

 

 

I think that they are in a bit of a pickle. I suspect that they will not fire Ireland for fear of Parcells leaving.

[Green Lightning]

Not our issue and we don't ask questions like that so I really don't care how eff'd up the Dolphins are. All it does is give players second thoughts about who they want to play for. Bottom line, stupid question.

[DasNootz]

Would you feel that way if someone asked you, your son or daughter, "is your mother a prostitute?" during the course of a job interview?

If my son had just told them that I was a pimp, and that his mother worked for me, I wouldn't have an issue.

[Lori]

what does "on the record" mean? its not like either have been sworn to testify. all it means is that Bryant told a journalist his account directly. Doesn't automatically make it truthful or exact.

 

im with you in not believing either story. the truth always lies in between. and really, at this point, who cares?

Untrue. "On the record" means the source agrees to let a journalist publicly identify them and attribute information/quotes to them. Lots of people tell me things directly, but are unwilling to see them in print with their name attached. Even at the prep sports level, you'd be amazed how often I hear, "Please don't put this in the paper, but..."

 

In other words, Bryant is publicly willing to stand behind his story. The sources leaking the other version -- who presumably also spoke directly to a journalist at some point -- aren't. Why not?