jeff ireland is a piece of shit.

[Defense54]

Maybe Ireland was just looking for a hook up.

I laughed out loud at that!!   

[Defense54]

Is this problem specifically with Ireland, is it a problem with the NFL, or is it not a problem?

I don't think that's an appropriate question for a job interview, but at the same time, you want to have character guys around you.  You aren't your family, but I'm guessing by the numbers, that children of drug dealing hookers might not be the most adjusted mentally.

Still, I don't think it's something you ask point-blank like that.

I agree. But he didn't need to ask that question to get the answer. A simple private investigator (like the several he has on retainer) could find out her arrest record in a fax/phone call in seconds). Ireland clearly has a problem talking down to people. Parcells did not get where he is and all his respect by doing that. Hopefully he will have a long talk with him.

[Fau Teixeira]

i'm telling you people .. there is no chance .. 0%.. that ireland didn't already know that his mom was a hooker .. hell he probably could have produced a couple of former johns at the interview.

the question was asked to provoke a response, it was 100% psychological.

[Dave Gray]

It's also be one thing if he asked him if was a hooker, because he was stereotyping him as some kind of ghetto kid.  But, he didn't.  He asked him, because it's known and he was trying to see if the kid would lie about it, confront it, or handle it some other way.

But now, you can bet if Dez Bryant is a bust, I'll say that it's because his mom was a hooker.

[ethurst22a]

I find it funny that people talk about having "character" guys around on sports teams. Name one organization or workplace that has 100% character guys. It's impossible, especially in a nation which has NO CHARACTER, LACK OF INTEGRITY and DEVELOPS SMOKE SCREENS and w lot of deception.

Go no further than your job in a large organization and take a poll. I can guarantee you that the majority of workers are probably jerks that undercut people and say stupid stuff.

That question was way out of line and some of us are just stupid fans that are blinded not to see it because we want a winning team AT all costs. If we're not having a good year, we want our team to "tank" some games to get a better draft slot. We say whatever we want to say. Some of us created Jeff Ireland because some of us don't have sensitivity ourselves.

I'm not going to call this a racial incident because Ireland doesn't have a track record of racially insulting people. It was just plain dumb of him to even go that route with Bryant.

Could you see Wellington Mara or Gil Brant asking these kind of questions?

Then what is a character guy in the NFL? As soon as someone questions something, they are a demon, a locker room "cancer" when they may be right. We've seen so many signs that Jeff Ireland cannot effectively communicate with people. I wish that he had not said anything and I don't believe that he is racist. He needs communication skills.

So where is Roger Goodell? Nowhere to be found.

He would have been better off sharing "ya mama" jokes with Bryant.

[Tenshot13]

Last I saw, Dez Bryant is a 6'2" 215 pound man.  There's nothing "pussified" about that, Tenshot.  This was asked of a man undergoing a job interview, is all.  Some of us object to that type of question, some of you don't.  Trust me, it has nothing to do with being "pussified".

What does Dez Bryant being a 6'2'' 215 lbs man have anything to do with it?  Does Dez have a right to be upset?  Sure, I would be too, but no one else does.  Why is everyone so offended about something that happened to someone else?  I think this is another case of people being way to sensitive and the pussification of the NFL and the media.  Do you think anyone would have blinked an eye if this happened in the '80s?  It's a non story that is being blown out of proportion, like so many other things these days.

[hordman]

Big Boy job, Big Boy questions..............



the Miami media needs to move along to something else.  I know the Panthers suck and aren't in the NHL playoffs, so the news desk is slow.

Ireland was trying to evoke a reaction and got one alright, from the national media.  why isn't everyone up in arms over Toby Gearhart being asked "“One team I interviewed with asked me about being a white running back,” Gerhart says. “They asked if it made me feel entitled, or like I felt I was a poster child for white running backs."

it's time to move on......................next!!!!!!!!!

[Defense54]

About time we had a 100% ruthless asshole running things. The trick is he needs to hide it better.  You just KNOW belichick is a bigger Ahole, but you gotta put on that smile and at least act Professional. Ireland did not and he apoligized. Lets move on.......

[MaineDolFan]

Top secret security clearance for the military is a zillion miles away from playing in the NFL.

Not really.  You are accepting massive liability on this player, contractually, which doesn't begin to speak to the volume of liability you are exposing your BRAND to, one that you have spent 40 years building.  Not sure why people can't see that.

[Phishfan]

Come on Maine. I see the importance of building a brand, but comparing it to national security secrets is way off.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Not really.  You are accepting massive liability on this player, contractually, which doesn't begin to speak to the volume of liability you are exposing your BRAND to, one that you have spent 40 years building.  Not sure why people can't see that.

If he asked that question in an attempt to avoid tarnishing the Dolphin's brand thru negative press about the misdeeds of a potential employee, I would say it backfired miserably. 

[Frimp]

I think this shows even more immature Dez really is. He pitched a fit about shoegate, and tried to play it off by imitating what Manning said to the Colts before he was drafted. Now, that question comes out almost a week after being drafted by the Cowboys. I think he decided to have some more minutes of fame and milk this question. So far, every story about Dez has been bad. I think that after his drama so far this off season, Ireland did the right thing to ask a question that would get under Dez's skin.

Tasteless question? Yes. Should Ireland be fined or fired over it? No. If Goodell insists that Ross fire Ireland over this, it will be painfully obvious that favoritism is given to the Patriots and Steelers. Belicheck cheats and gets away with it. Big Ben rapes girls, and gets away with a suspension. Ireland asks an uncomfortable question, and its the end of the world.

Does it show immaturity on Dez's part? Absolutely. Bookmark this post because I'm calling it right now: T.O. + Ryan Leaf= Dez. He will be a bust, and will hurt the Cowboys. And, I'm sure some of the opponents he faces will throw 'yo momma's a ho' jokes at him, and he will throw a tantrum, and get penalized or ejected.

[Defense54]

I agree with the above. The best way to get preferential treatment and free shit in this world is to make yourself a Victim. Its OK that he's breaking rules left and right , but know he wants to be treated like Joe #1 citizen with his checkered past and expect people to just hand over millions to him.

[Rick]

I'm OK with Ireland asking Bryant about his family and his life growing up.  Let's remember, the question about Bryant's mom being a prostitute wasn't thrown out there from left field.  She wasn't exactly a teacher or nurse....she was a 15 year old self admitted drug dealer with 3 kids by the age of 18 (3 different daddys).  It was a legitimate concern for the reasons Lil B and Maine stated earlier in this thread. 

I also agree with those who think Ireland was trying to see how Bryant reacted to a "touchy" subject that might set him off.  Kind of smart imo, when your considering drafting a guy with character issues.  Dez will hear a hell of alot worse on the playing field and if he blows up on a guy, he hurts the TEAM.

[ethurst22a]

Some of these comments are bullshit.

Character, hurting the team, going to war. I wish that people would stop using these analogies when it comes to pro football. I've been in war and terrorist zones when I was in the military. The people that serve our country have true character. It's too bad that many politicians that send them to war don't.

The NFL is the granddaddy of American sports. Owners make money hand over fist and even the sorriest franchise (take your pick) is worth billions and people treat the NFL like it's NORAD or something. I'm tired of hearing people say that Miami wanted to know what they were "investing"in. If the market calls for a certain salary, then the person should be paid their worth.

Face it. When you go to apply for a job as a Systems Analyst, they don't ask you questions about your mama.

But it appears that there are two type of standards in America concerning the interview process. The rich process (say anything) or the poor process (we'll get back to you)

Gibril Wilson signed a big contract and was released. The way that people talk about it, you'd think that the signing would have wiped the franchise out. News flash! The highest NFL contract is peanuts compared to what the NFL brings in. The NFL has become a year round operation making money ALL year

What is NFL security and investigators for? All teams knew of his background and past. IT DID NOT HAVE TO COME UP TO SEE HOW MENTALLY TOUGH A PLAYER IS! That's bullshit! I've said this before and I've been blasted on this site for saying it. The NFL operates in a total different world behind closed doors which we don't see.

The issue about the white running back? Why should HIS color be a factor? Where in the hell are they getting all of these questions from? Whats really going on in sports?

And for those of you who say that his mother would be a topic of trash talk on the playing field, you're wrong. In sports, when it comes to trash talk, certain items are off limits like mothers and wives. There's certain lines the players will not cross or if they do, they are treated like s*&* in the off-season by fellow players. The NFL is a fraternity with many players and you don't go into certain subjects. It's just like here on the forum...if you get into certain personal attacks, you are banished. Same applies in the NFL.

Like I said, I don't believe that Ireland is racist and there are probably people on other teams that did the same thing. Should he be fired? No. Ireland needs to be careful with his choice of words.