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NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said Wednesday the treatment of Dallas Cowboys first-round pick Dez Bryant and other prospective draft picks needs to be conducted in a professional manner.
Mike & Mike in the Morning
Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic discuss the controversy surrounding Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland and Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant. Ireland had asked Bryant if Bryant's mother was a prostitute in a meeting the two had before the NFL draft.
Smith was reacting to Bryant being asked if his mother was a prostitute by Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland during a predraft visit in March.
Ireland apologized to Bryant on Tuesday after a Yahoo! Sports report said Ireland asked the question of Bryant.
Dolphins owner Steve Ross declined to comment on the matter and Bill Parcells, a former Cowboys coach, who is now an executive with the Dolphins was unavailable for comment. Parcells hired Ireland.
"We need to make sure the men of this league are treated as businessmen," Smith said in a statement. "During interviews, our players and prospective players should never be subjected to discrimination or degradation stemming from the biases or misconceptions held by team personnel. NFL teams cannot have the free reign to ask questions during the interview process which can be categorized as stereotyping or which may bring a personal insult to any player as a man."
Bryant has not commented on the incident since Ireland apologized.
Mike & Mike in the Morning
Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic discuss the controversy surrounding Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland and Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant. Ireland had asked Bryant if Bryant's mother was a prostitute in a meeting the two had before the NFL draft.
Smith was reacting to Bryant being asked if his mother was a prostitute by Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland during a predraft visit in March.
Ireland apologized to Bryant on Tuesday after a Yahoo! Sports report said Ireland asked the question of Bryant.
Dolphins owner Steve Ross declined to comment on the matter and Bill Parcells, a former Cowboys coach, who is now an executive with the Dolphins was unavailable for comment. Parcells hired Ireland.
"We need to make sure the men of this league are treated as businessmen," Smith said in a statement. "During interviews, our players and prospective players should never be subjected to discrimination or degradation stemming from the biases or misconceptions held by team personnel. NFL teams cannot have the free reign to ask questions during the interview process which can be categorized as stereotyping or which may bring a personal insult to any player as a man."
Bryant has not commented on the incident since Ireland apologized.
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