Tank... am I the only one appalled at the double-standard?

[JimRome]

Jerry Jones is the ethical wonder of the world. Incredible. OJ Simpson wants to know where his moral fiber is............

 

[5Stars]

. Bob Merrideth smoked as much weed as Quincy Carter ever did (per Pete Gent), there just wasn't drug testing in those days.

:doh:


:laugh2:

 

[joseephuss]

Read My Heros Have Always Been Cowboys by Peter Golenbock ... it's a history of the Dallas franchise. The entire book is composed of stories right out of the players mouths. If you think the Cowboys franchise had more "good guys" back in the old days, you're seriously deluded. Seriously, you think players are bad now, think when they worked "real jobs" in the offseason on oil fields or as farm hands. NFL players were just a shade above fair carnys in those days. Bob Merrideth smoked as much weed as Quincy Carter ever did (per Pete Gent), there just wasn't drug testing in those days. There are stories of drunken hunting expeditions gone awry by Bob Lilly and LeRoy Jordan, illegal actions, coverups.


The only thing that has changed is the scrutiny by the players and the fans, and the interest on what goes on in their personal lives. Babe Ruth had more prostitutes than homeruns. Mickey Mantle was an absolute mess. None of that stuff was ever made available to the public, even when the media and beat writers knew all about it (of course, they didn't have to fill a 24 hour news cycle in those days either). It's suddenly become a media story as to what players do in their personal lives. It's especially become a huge issue since Goodell made it league mandate. Even in the last year, it's become more and more of a media sensation. I don't believe Tank Johnson is any worse than Leo Carson, but his signing seems to be getting 10X the press.

I can't remember which Cowboy it was I saw in an interview many years ago. He talked about how he and several teammates looked down on hippies and others who smoked marijuana. They thought they were losers. He said it wasn't until years later that he laughed about that line of thinking because he and most of his close teammates were all popping painkillers and other things to cope with the rigors of the season. He was as much a druggie as the people he made fun of at the time. I wish I could remember who it was. Maybe Dutton or Jordan. Too long ago to remember.

 

[InmanRoshi]

I can't remember which Cowboy it was I saw in an interview many years ago. He talked about how he and several teammates looked down on hippies and others who smoked marijuana. They thought they were losers. He said it wasn't until years later that he laughed about that line of thinking because he and most of his close teammates were all popping painkillers and other things to cope with the rigors of the season. He was as much a druggie as the people he made fun of at the time. I wish I could remember who it was. Maybe Dutton or Jordan. Too long ago to remember.

According to Gent, Meredith wanted to keep their weed smoking a secret because he didn't want to loose face with the "good ole boy" segment of the lockerroom headed by LeRoy Jordan. Jordan was about as country as you can get, and he hated Gent because he thought he was a "long hair". Gent thinks part of the reason he was dismissed by the Cowboys is because Landry thought he was a bad influence on Dandy Don (like he needed any influence). That and he was one of the leaders trying to organize the player's union, which got him on Tex's bad side.

It seems the team in the late 60's/early 70's was as polarized as the rest of the country.