How often does a legal reclamation player work out?

[Bobhaze]

Looking at the history of the Dallas Cowboys under Jerry Jones, there have been more than a few times Jerry rolled the dice on a player who had major legal problems that caused them to either be suspended or even sit out a year (or more) from the NFL.

Before getting into the names of past examples, let’s take Charles Haley And TO off this list. Sure Haley was “troubled” and considered a pain to work with. But he was never banned from the league for an arrest for off field behavior. He was obtained in a trade from the niners in ‘92, and despite being difficult in the locker room at times was a huge reason the Cowboys won those SBs in the 90s. But never compare Charles Haley’s situation or behavior to someone like Aldon Smith.

And Terrell Owens? Sure he eventually became a locker room cancer, but he was not a guy getting arrested and suspended from the league like the guys we’re about to list. Haley and TO we’re difficult but they weren’t guys with a long rap sheet.

So now we can talk about the guys this organization has taken in as “Reclamation projects”. Players who have had major legal or substance problems causing them to miss games due to suspension- some even for a full season or more. Here are some of the names I could remember:

• Ryan Leaf-
• Tank Johnson
• Alonzo Spellman
• Dimitrius Underwood

• PacMan Jones-
• Josh Brent-
• Rolondo McLain
• David Irving-
  
• Randy Gregory- I actually like this kid and think he still has a chance. He’s tested positive for weed several times but no arrests for DV or other things besides weed.
  
• Greg Hardy
• Aldon Smith- at least 6 arrests including domestic violence, making a terroristic threat at LAX, and multiple DWIs.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten some names. How many of these guys were “worth it” and made major contributions to our success, especially in the playoffs? You could possibly argue that Irving and Ro McClain were contributors, but they were so unreliable, you couldn’t count on them being there for long stretches.

So out of that list...maybe two guys...occasionally helped us win. Please don’t say I’m saying we only need “choir boys”. Of course we have and will always have some troubled players. But isn’t there at least some line that can’t be crossed?

Tell me again why this organization keeps doing this stuff? It can’t be because it has worked so well in the past.

 

[Them]

...Good post Bobby....lol...but I have no answers!...JJ and the FO are a paradox for sure!...

 

[Hoofbite]

Spellman and Underwood are a bit questionable to include. Both were Bipolar, weren't they? They had legal troubles, but they also had other issues that likely contributed more to their downfall.

 

[black label]

add dak to that list, ground ball turd

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

I'm starting to think...

Aldon Smith is to @Bobhaze what Zeke is to @aria.

 

[John813]

Wasnt McClain out for a year when they acquired him?

 

[superonyx]

Looking at the history of the Dallas Cowboys under Jerry Jones, there have been more than a few times Jerry rolled the dice on a player who had major legal problems that caused them to either be suspended or even sit out a year (or more) from the NFL.

Before getting into the names of past examples, let’s take Charles Haley And TO off this list. Sure Haley was “troubled” and considered a pain to work with. But he was never banned from the league for an arrest for off field behavior. He was obtained in a trade from the niners in ‘92, and despite being difficult in the locker room at times was a huge reason the Cowboys won those SBs in the 90s. But never compare Charles Haley’s situation or behavior to someone like Aldon Smith.

And Terrell Owens? Sure he eventually became a locker room cancer, but he was not a guy getting arrested and suspended from the league like the guys we’re about to list. Haley and TO we’re difficult but they weren’t guys with a long rap sheet.

So now we can talk about the guys this organization has taken in as “Reclamation projects”. Players who have had major legal or substance problems causing them to miss games due to suspension- some even for a full season or more. Here are some of the names I could remember:

• Ryan Leaf-
• Tank Johnson
• Alonzo Spellman
• Dimitrius Underwood

• PacMan Jones-
• Josh Brent-
• Rolondo McLain
• David Irving-
  
• Randy Gregory- I actually like this kid and think he still has a chance. He’s tested positive for weed several times but no arrests for DV or other things besides weed.
  
• Greg Hardy
• Aldon Smith- at least 6 arrests including domestic violence, making a terroristic threat at LAX, and multiple DWIs.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten some names. How many of these guys were “worth it” and made major contributions to our success, especially in the playoffs? You could possibly argue that Irving and Ro McClain were contributors, but they were so unreliable, you couldn’t count on them being there for long stretches.

So out of that list...maybe two guys...occasionally helped us win. Please don’t say I’m saying we only need “choir boys”. Of course we have and will always have some troubled players. But isn’t there at least some line that can’t be crossed?

Tell me again why this organization keeps doing this stuff? It can’t be because it has worked so well in the past.

Did Aldon Smith sleep with your wife or something?
You seem obsessed with smearing this guy. It’s kind of strange.

 

[aria]

I'm starting to think...

Aldon Smith is to @Bobhaze what Zeke is to @aria.

Lol, I have no words. Well played sir, well played!

Probably balls on accurate as well.

 

[cern]

Looking at the history of the Dallas Cowboys under Jerry Jones, there have been more than a few times Jerry rolled the dice on a player who had major legal problems that caused them to either be suspended or even sit out a year (or more) from the NFL.

Before getting into the names of past examples, let’s take Charles Haley And TO off this list. Sure Haley was “troubled” and considered a pain to work with. But he was never banned from the league for an arrest for off field behavior. He was obtained in a trade from the niners in ‘92, and despite being difficult in the locker room at times was a huge reason the Cowboys won those SBs in the 90s. But never compare Charles Haley’s situation or behavior to someone like Aldon Smith.

And Terrell Owens? Sure he eventually became a locker room cancer, but he was not a guy getting arrested and suspended from the league like the guys we’re about to list. Haley and TO we’re difficult but they weren’t guys with a long rap sheet.

So now we can talk about the guys this organization has taken in as “Reclamation projects”. Players who have had major legal or substance problems causing them to miss games due to suspension- some even for a full season or more. Here are some of the names I could remember:

• Ryan Leaf-
• Tank Johnson
• Alonzo Spellman
• Dimitrius Underwood

• PacMan Jones-
• Josh Brent-
• Rolondo McLain
• David Irving-
  
• Randy Gregory- I actually like this kid and think he still has a chance. He’s tested positive for weed several times but no arrests for DV or other things besides weed.
  
• Greg Hardy
• Aldon Smith- at least 6 arrests including domestic violence, making a terroristic threat at LAX, and multiple DWIs.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten some names. How many of these guys were “worth it” and made major contributions to our success, especially in the playoffs? You could possibly argue that Irving and Ro McClain were contributors, but they were so unreliable, you couldn’t count on them being there for long stretches.

So out of that list...maybe two guys...occasionally helped us win. Please don’t say I’m saying we only need “choir boys”. Of course we have and will always have some troubled players. But isn’t there at least some line that can’t be crossed?

Tell me again why this organization keeps doing this stuff? It can’t be because it has worked so well in the past.

easy. crisis management. desperate to win.

 

[Ranching]

Lol, I have no words. Well played sir, well played!

Probably balls on accurate as well.

You just had to say balls!!!

 

[Ranching]

Of he plays well, it'll be worth it. That's all.

 

[Section446]

Quality post...

I think that Jerry's head is still stuck in the 1990's when these worked out. It's a alot harder to do hoodrat stuff in today's NFL.

 

[JoeKing]

I'm starting to think...

Aldon Smith is to @Bobhaze what Zeke is to @aria.

That's a great observation.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Looking at the history of the Dallas Cowboys under Jerry Jones, there have been more than a few times Jerry rolled the dice on a player who had major legal problems that caused them to either be suspended or even sit out a year (or more) from the NFL.

Before getting into the names of past examples, let’s take Charles Haley And TO off this list. Sure Haley was “troubled” and considered a pain to work with. But he was never banned from the league for an arrest for off field behavior. He was obtained in a trade from the niners in ‘92, and despite being difficult in the locker room at times was a huge reason the Cowboys won those SBs in the 90s. But never compare Charles Haley’s situation or behavior to someone like Aldon Smith.

And Terrell Owens? Sure he eventually became a locker room cancer, but he was not a guy getting arrested and suspended from the league like the guys we’re about to list. Haley and TO we’re difficult but they weren’t guys with a long rap sheet.

So now we can talk about the guys this organization has taken in as “Reclamation projects”. Players who have had major legal or substance problems causing them to miss games due to suspension- some even for a full season or more. Here are some of the names I could remember:

• Ryan Leaf-
• Tank Johnson
• Alonzo Spellman
• Dimitrius Underwood

• PacMan Jones-
• Josh Brent-
• Rolondo McLain
• David Irving-
  
• Randy Gregory- I actually like this kid and think he still has a chance. He’s tested positive for weed several times but no arrests for DV or other things besides weed.
  
• Greg Hardy
• Aldon Smith- at least 6 arrests including domestic violence, making a terroristic threat at LAX, and multiple DWIs.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten some names. How many of these guys were “worth it” and made major contributions to our success, especially in the playoffs? You could possibly argue that Irving and Ro McClain were contributors, but they were so unreliable, you couldn’t count on them being there for long stretches.

So out of that list...maybe two guys...occasionally helped us win. Please don’t say I’m saying we only need “choir boys”. Of course we have and will always have some troubled players. But isn’t there at least some line that can’t be crossed?

Tell me again why this organization keeps doing this stuff? It can’t be because it has worked so well in the past.

pacman had an alcohol problem, got sober, and went on to play at a high level for many years. he is the best analog.

 

[MikeB80]

pacman had an alcohol problem, got sober, and went on to play at a high level for many years. he is the best analog.

Uh. Not in Dallas.

He even went on to say it is basically impossible to get better playing in Dallas.

 

[Stash]

Spellman and Underwood are a bit questionable to include. Both were Bipolar, weren't they? They had legal troubles, but they also had other issues that likely contributed more to their downfall.

This whole list is "a bit questionable", a careful filtering of issues and elimination of hugely successful player gambles like Haley and TO, to reach the desired conclusion. It would be simpler just to state the obvious, the OP is not a fan of the Aldon Smith signing, and leave it at that.

 

[Bobhaze]

This whole list is "a bit questionable", a careful filtering of issues and elimination of hugely successful player gambles like Haley and TO, to reach the desired conclusion. It would be simpler just to state the obvious, the OP is not a fan of the Aldon Smith signing, and leave it at that.

As I said in the post, Haley and TO can’t be on this list because they weren’t guys who got suspended by the league for off field behavior. This list is about guys who were in legal trouble. Haley was difficult at times but never was to my knowledge suspended by the league. Same for TO. And...they were both great contributors to our team. So...no Haley and TO aren’t on this list.

 

[Bobhaze]

Of he plays well, it'll be worth it. That's all.

History shows players with legal problems in their recent background have a less than 10% chance they will play well or for very long. So it’s extremely doubtful.

 

[Stash]

As I said in the post, Haley and TO can’t be on this list because they weren’t guys who got suspended by the league for off field behavior. This list is about guys who were in legal trouble. Haley was difficult at times but never was to my knowledge suspended by the league. Same for TO. And...they were both great contributors to our team. So...no Haley and TO aren’t on this list.

I know. It's very clear that you've gone to great lengths to be selective in your personal criteria for this list, eliminating troubled players that did have success. It hasn't gone unnoticed.

Like I said, just cut to the chase and say you're not a fan of the team signing Aldon Smith. That's at least honest.

 

[Bobhaze]

I know. It's very clear that you've gone to great lengths to be selective in your personal criteria for this list, eliminating troubled players that did have success. It hasn't gone unnoticed.

Like I said, just cut to the chase and say you're not a fan of the team signing Aldon Smith. That's at least honest.

Well....serious question- which players did I leave out that had legal problems and worked out here?