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Does David Irving's looming suspension mean Jason Garrett doesn't care about the right kind of guy?
By David Moore , Staff Writer
FRISCO -- Critics will use David Irving’s looming suspension to chip away at Jason Garrett’s bedrock assertion that he wants the right kind of guy on his teams.
That’s understandable, given how often the Cowboys head coach parrots that line. But it’s not a particularly accurate or fair depiction of what’s taking place.
Yes, this will be the fourth consecutive year the Cowboys open the season with a starter or key contributor on the defensive side of the ball under suspension. That alone leads some to label him a hypocrite. His refusal to acknowledge repeated questions on the trend doesn’t aid his defense.
“I don’t know that I want to get into all of those specific situations," Garrett said in Wednesday’s news conference at The Star. “We addressed those when they came up."
Let’s step back for a second and look at those specific situations.
Defensive end Greg Hardy and linebacker Rolando McClain were lugging plenty of baggage when the Cowboys took a chance on them. To a lesser extent, the same goes for draft picks Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence.
Irving, plucked off Kansas City’s practice squad, falls into the same category. You think a 6-foot-7 defensive end with promise goes undrafted as a rookie if there aren’t issues?
Orlando Scandrick? Let’s remove him from the discussion since his one-time suspension had to do with a recreational drug taken at a party.
The Cowboys knew these players didn’t fit the ideal character profile. They took a chance because of their defensive deficiencies and the desperate need to upgrade that side of the ball with blue chip talent.
Garrett didn’t compromise the team’s identity or his principles. Club officials made a calculated decision that the culture in place would be strong enough to make it work with an isolated player or two. When it hasn’t, the Cowboys have generally moved on.
Hardy was gone after one season, McClain after two. Their presence didn’t corrupt the concept. Their quick departures actually reinforced a player won’t be around long if he’s not the right kind of guy.
Irving faces a four-game suspension, sources say, because he took an over the counter performance-enhancing drug banned by the NFL.
“I don’t feel like from a mistake you can be labeled as the wrong kind of guy," defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford said. “I think everyone in here is the right kind of guy.
“Some of us make mistakes, but so do you all (media)."
So do Cowboys coaches and staff members. That’s what Garrett will tell you. No one is infallible.
“Hopefully you’re accountable for your mistakes, you learn from them and you move on," Garrett said.
That’s the key. A player who makes a mistake but buys into the culture at The Star will stay if he also has the talent. If he’s not the right kind of guy, he’ll soon be gone.
That’s not hypocritical.
That’s reality.
By David Moore , Staff Writer
FRISCO -- Critics will use David Irving’s looming suspension to chip away at Jason Garrett’s bedrock assertion that he wants the right kind of guy on his teams.
That’s understandable, given how often the Cowboys head coach parrots that line. But it’s not a particularly accurate or fair depiction of what’s taking place.
Yes, this will be the fourth consecutive year the Cowboys open the season with a starter or key contributor on the defensive side of the ball under suspension. That alone leads some to label him a hypocrite. His refusal to acknowledge repeated questions on the trend doesn’t aid his defense.
“I don’t know that I want to get into all of those specific situations," Garrett said in Wednesday’s news conference at The Star. “We addressed those when they came up."
Let’s step back for a second and look at those specific situations.
Defensive end Greg Hardy and linebacker Rolando McClain were lugging plenty of baggage when the Cowboys took a chance on them. To a lesser extent, the same goes for draft picks Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence.
Irving, plucked off Kansas City’s practice squad, falls into the same category. You think a 6-foot-7 defensive end with promise goes undrafted as a rookie if there aren’t issues?
Orlando Scandrick? Let’s remove him from the discussion since his one-time suspension had to do with a recreational drug taken at a party.
The Cowboys knew these players didn’t fit the ideal character profile. They took a chance because of their defensive deficiencies and the desperate need to upgrade that side of the ball with blue chip talent.
Garrett didn’t compromise the team’s identity or his principles. Club officials made a calculated decision that the culture in place would be strong enough to make it work with an isolated player or two. When it hasn’t, the Cowboys have generally moved on.
Hardy was gone after one season, McClain after two. Their presence didn’t corrupt the concept. Their quick departures actually reinforced a player won’t be around long if he’s not the right kind of guy.
Irving faces a four-game suspension, sources say, because he took an over the counter performance-enhancing drug banned by the NFL.
“I don’t feel like from a mistake you can be labeled as the wrong kind of guy," defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford said. “I think everyone in here is the right kind of guy.
“Some of us make mistakes, but so do you all (media)."
So do Cowboys coaches and staff members. That’s what Garrett will tell you. No one is infallible.
“Hopefully you’re accountable for your mistakes, you learn from them and you move on," Garrett said.
That’s the key. A player who makes a mistake but buys into the culture at The Star will stay if he also has the talent. If he’s not the right kind of guy, he’ll soon be gone.
That’s not hypocritical.
That’s reality.
) he can't get back on the field for us. 
