There the word trouble and you can spell it with a capital T when it comes to Texas and the Dallas Cowboys. America’s team has been a magnet for players with questionable resumes. Signing Aldon Smith is the latest risk Jerry Jones is taking in hopes of a huge reward.
Josh Brent
On Dec. 8, 2012, Josh Brent flipped his car on the Texas State Highway 114 at 2:21 a.m. while driving under the influence, killing his passenger, college and Cowboys teammate Jerry Brown. Brent announced his retirement on July 18, 2013, to focus on his off-the-field issues pertaining to the charges of intoxicated manslaughter. After serving his punishment in prison and going through a rehabilitation process, he was reinstated by the NFL following a 10-game suspension. On Nov. 11, 2014, he was activated from the team’s reserve/suspended list. His troubles with the law have continued long after his NFL career.
Dez Bryant
On July 16, 2012, Dez Bryant was arrested on a class A misdemeanor domestic violence charge for allegedly striking his biological mother, Angela Bryant. The Cowboys enrolled Bryant in a strict conduct policy that included curfews and chaperones. In March 2013, Bryant spoke at an event for Dallas Men Against Abuse. At the event, he stated, “I’m done with domestic abuse.”
La’el Collins
Regarded as a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Collins started to drop when it was announced that he was scheduled to talk to the Louisiana State police days after the draft, about the shooting death of a pregnant woman with whom he previously had a relationship, even though he was not considered a suspect in the crime. He eventually went undrafted after his agents threatened that he would sit out the season and enter the 2016 NFL Draft, if any NFL team selected him after the third round. On May 7, 2015, Collins signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. His entire three-year contract was guaranteed and worth $1,599,000 with a $21,000 signing bonus. He has turned out to be a great asset on the Cowboys’ offensive line.
Randy Gregory
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory was suspended indefinitely in 2019 for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, the fourth time the troubled player has been banned by the league. The suspension came seven months after Gregory was reinstated by Commissioner Roger Goodell following a lengthy process aimed at reviving his career. Gregory missed 30 of the 32 games over two seasons as a result of his first three suspensions.
Greg Hardy
Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesOn March 18, 2015, Hardy signed as a free
On May 13, 2014, Hardy was arrested for assault and communicating threats, after he was alleged to have assaulted an ex-girlfriend by grabbing her, throwing her into furniture, strangling her, and threatening to kill her. On July 15, a judge found him guilty of assault and communicating threats, and sentenced him to 18 months’ probation, suspending a 60-day jail sentence. When Hardy appealed the decision, requesting a jury trial, the victim failed to appear in court to testify. As a result, the prosecutor’s office dropped the charges, citing their inability to locate the victim, and “reliable information” that the two parties had reached a civil settlement. On March 18, 2015, Hardy signed as a free agent a one-year, $11.3 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys. On April 22, Hardy was suspended for the first 10 games of the 2015 season without pay due to violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy. On July 10, the NFL reduced it to a 4-game suspension, in order to avoid a possible legal action on Hardy’s part
Charles Haley
On August 26, 1992, Charles Haley’s volatile temperament and clashes with head coach George Seifert prompted the team to trade him to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for two draft picks. In 1993, Haley made headlines after smashing his helmet through a wall in the locker room following a home loss to the Buffalo Bills, showing his displeasure with the team’s inability to sign holdout running back Emmitt Smith, which contributed to an 0–2 start and put the season in jeopardy. Haley eventually had a career that landed him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Anthony Hargrove
Dalla signed Anthony Hargrove, who was was involved in the infamous Bountygate scandal as a player for the New Orleans Saints. Hargrove also has missed many games due to substance abuse problems earlier in his career. The team signed Hargrove on May 16, 2013 and released him on June 20.
Hollywood Henderson
Thomas Henderson earned the nickname “Hollywood” because of his flamboyant personality and lifestyle. Henderson battled drug and alcohol addiction. His constant substance abuse would eventually derail his career and nearly his life.
Michael Irvin
Hall of Famer Michael Irvin ran into trouble off the field. He ran into some legal issues during and after his career. He was involved in a stabbing incident using a pair of scissors in a dispute with a teammate over a haircut.
Adam Jones
Adam Jones’ troubles could be a long-form article. He found trouble almost everywhere he went. Of course, that made him a perfect candidate for the Dallas secondary.
Leon Lett
Leon Lett served a four-game suspension in the middle of the 1995 season. He violated the NFL substance abuse policy multiple times, missing a total of 28 games during his career.
Rolando McClain
The Dallas Cowboys traded for the troubled linebacker in 2014 after Sean Lee suffered a season-ending injury in training camp. Rolando McClain, was a former first-round pick with unquestioned talent but huge character concerns. During his tenure with the Cowboys, McClain’s performance on the field was spectacular but injuries and suspensions kept him off the field frequently. McClain was arrested multiple times, and was involved in an arson incident as a member of the Cowboys.
Clint Longley
Clint Longley was a hero on Thanksgiving when he came off the bench in 1974 to replace an injured Roger Staubach to lead the Cowboys to a wild comeback over Washington. On Aug. 30, 1976, after a training room incident in which he sucker-punched Staubach during the 1976 preseason, the team suspended and eventually traded him to the San Diego Chargers
Joseph Randle
John Randle was arrested multiple times during his time as Cowboy and following his exit from the NFL. On Sept. 7, 2018, Randle was arrested on a suspicion of rape charge in his hometown of Wichita.
Lance Rentzel
In 1970, Lance Rentzel was leading the Cowboys in receiving yards, when he was arrested for exposing himself to a 10-year-old girl. At the time the accusation was made, the press revealed a nearly forgotten incident that happened when as a Minnesota Viking in September 1966, he was charged with exposing himself to two young girls in St. Paul, and pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of disorderly conduct. Because of the nationwide reaction and publicity from the scandal, his wife, singer and actress Joey Heatherton, divorced him shortly thereafter. Rentzel asked the Cowboys to place him on the inactive list so he could devote his time to settling his personal affairs.
Duane Thomas
Duane Thomas decided to not speak to the media despite the fact he was the team’s star running back.During the 1972 offseason he became isolated and insubordinate, so he was traded in early August to the San Diego Chargers.
Alonzo Spellman
On July 28, 1999, after being out of football for a year, the Dallas Cowboys took a gamble and signed Alonzo Spelleman as a free agent after he was diagnosed and received treatment for bipolar disorder.
Aldon Smith
The Cowboys signed Aldon Smith Wednesday and it wasn’t an April Fool’s joke. Smith, 30, has not played in a game since 2015 because of legal and substance-abuse issues.
Dimitrious Underwood
Underwood was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round (29th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft, after his stock rose with his pre-draft workouts. On Aug. 1, he signed a five-year, $5.3 million contract with a $1.7 million bonus. He walked out of training camp the next day, after the first practice and never returned. On August 13, he was waived and forfeited a $1.75 million bonus saying he could not resolve the conflict between playing football and serving his Christian faith. On March 10, 2000, he signed a two-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys. In January 2001, he tried to kill himself by running into traffic twice on a busy suburban highway.
