Rosenthal: Dallas Cowboys' Tyron Smith's family ordeal

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Dallas Cowboys' Tyron Smith's family ordeal

By Gregg Rosenthal
Around The League Editor
Published: May 17, 2013 at 10:19 a.m. Updated: May 17, 2013 at 10:26 a.m.


Earlier this week, we passed along Tavon Austin's concerns about all the cousins he never knew coming out of the woodwork looking for money. There was a light-hearted tone to his comments, but it is undoubtedly a serious problem for many players.

For Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith, it's broken up his family.

You may remember last year when Smith called 911 after his siblings showed up at his Dallas home to "harass and torment" him "in the pursuit of collecting financial gain," in the words of the police report. He also was forced to file a restraining order against his mother and step-father.

For the first time, Smith spoke about the ordeal this week to the Dallas Morning News. He agreed to pay his parents in four installments after getting drafted, but they kept coming back for more. When he told them about a move to left tackle, they didn't say congrats. They talked about the next contract.

"There was a certain amount I agreed to give them, but it went way beyond that and I was just like, 'I'm done,'" Smith said. "I feel like I shouldn't have given them so much. There was nothing wrong with helping them out and making sure they were taken care of, but not something to where they live the same lifestyle as you."

Smith's lawyer alleged that his mom and/or step-dad threatened Smith's well being and the life of his girlfriend. The lawyer also alleged that Smith's family took more than $1 million from him. The money went missing when Smith was using a financial advisor his parents recommended.

"There was money missing, but I just don't know where it went," Smith said. "There were times I would check my statements and it wouldn't make sense and I hadn't authorized it at all. I just felt betrayed and I was like, 'Who can I trust?'"

Smith says he's open to a reconciliation someday with his family if they give him "the space" he's asked for. But his story is a sad, cautionary tale for incoming rookies.

"The takeaway from this is don't let people take advantage of you. And it's all right to say no to certain people," Smith said.
 
There are some people you just don't want in your life, those kind of people qualify.
 
It's easy to say, but cutting ties with your parents, no matter how big a dildo they are is tough.
 
Making an agreement to pay your parents in installments is just plain sad. If you want to give your parents a gift that is awesome, but for them to sit there expecting something is just ridiculous.
 
This whole ordeal had to play in his somewhat stagnant performance last season. I hope he's done with it and can continue to progress into the player he's expected to be.
 
Tyron Smith seems like he has his head on straight. Hope this guy becomes the best LT in the game for more than one reason.
 
What kind of people act like this though....I agree it's tough to cut out family but they just suck
 
Iamtdg said:
Only the most despicable.
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Truth. They're putting him in a terrible position purely for their own self-interest/greed. Shitty thing to do to your son, who was already giving them what he considered to be a fair allowance.
 
Cowboysrock55 said:
Making an agreement to pay your parents in installments is just plain sad. If you want to give your parents a gift that is awesome, but for them to sit there expecting something is just ridiculous.
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This is exactly what I was thinking. Helping your parents, helping them move up the ladder in life is one thing but signing an agreement to help them??? Wow.
 
SfielDallas said:
What kind of people act like this though....I agree it's tough to cut out family but they just suck
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Some folks have been so beaten down by life, maybe for generations, that their perspective is poor to begin with. When they see their one shot at something more they can totally forget what matters most.

This reminds me of that movie, Million Dollar Baby.
 
The same reason you see people act like idiots when people die. Money gets involved and people start thinking it belongs to them.
 
ravidubey said:
Some folks have been so beaten down by life, maybe for generations, that their perspective is poor to begin with. When they see their one shot at something more they can totally forget what matters most.

This reminds me of that movie, Million Dollar Baby.
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I think these are the sort of people who beat themselves down by being lazy and dishonest.
 
Hats off to Smith for getting as far as he has with such a piece of shit family.
 
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