Comments on: Rob Konrad speaks out in support of Jeff Ireland

By: texasPHINSfan

texasPHINSfan — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:30:44 +0000

kudos to konrad. all good points that it seems no one here has thought of.
this can’t possibly be the worst question asked by an NFL executive.
why no backlash to Dez for publicizing this? If it’s embarassing and you’re offended, don’t bring it up again by telling the world in a press conference. it’s over and done with.
braylon edwards did this after his draft too – cried because he “thought” a team was going to take him and didn’t. give me a break. rich baby millionaires.

By: antneejay2

antneejay2 — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:05:42 +0000

“And so while most agree that Ireland’s question to Bryant crossed the line, it will be difficult if not impossible to determine where the line resides” – Florio
How about between the player and his mother?

By: jplantz

jplantz — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:37:24 +0000

Seriously Florio, why are you carrying water for Ireland? There’s a world of difference between an interviewer questioning a prospects toughness and questioning a prospects mothers character with such a vile question.

By: SeantheFinFan

SeantheFinFan — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:35:13 +0000

Me personally i would have probably broken irelands neck ……. but i do understand where Konrad is coming from.
Florio this is one of your better articles

By: redsquare

redsquare — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:30:09 +0000

“I’m not attempting to defend the question asked”
That’s a baldfaced lie.

By: tj.52

tj.52 — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:57:07 +0000

The only thing guaranteed to come out of this whole mess is that as soon as “Dez” lines up against his 1st NFL cornerback, the inevitable question will be: “So, is yo mamma really a ho?”
If Dez smiles and says “no more than yours”, its over.
If he gets indignant and upset like he has been, he’ll be hearing “yo mammas a ho” until he retires. (or until the libs make it illegal to call someones mamma a ho)

By: REST_IN_P_I_S_S

REST_IN_P_I_S_S — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:52:45 +0000

Hey your mom sold dope, went to prison, had three kids before she was 18 and had you with a man 30 years older, right? I guess she is normal and in no way turded you up along the way. I wont ask you any questions about any of that even though I may pay you between 5 and 10 million dollars in guaranteed money because there is no way possible that may have affected you negatively. So instead of asking if your mom was a prostitute, I will just ask you if you how tall you are even though I have it right i front of me.

By: geek

geek — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:43:04 +0000

Here are a few simple rules to help teams out:
1.) “Yo’ Mama” is off limits.
2.) References to a players sexuality is not OK.
3.) Use of any word you wouldn’t use in a press conference is not acceptable.
4.) Any comment made to a player that could be considered libel if made in a press conference is not acceptable.
Here is a clue: any question you ask could come back to the press once you don’t draft the guy (or before). If you don’t want people to know you asked the question, chances are you shouldn’t have asked the question…

By: Fizz

Fizz — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:11:11 +0000

It’s funny how no one knows the questions that were being asked before that question was asked. Rumor has it that his dad was a pimp and his moon use to work for his dad. What do u think the next question would be

By: tobago

tobago — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:49:10 +0000

The question was out of line, Konrad can try to rationalize it all he wants.

By: jimicos

jimicos — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:47:42 +0000

bobinpuertorico says:
April 28, 2010 5:57 PM
If anyone wants to claim that this question was just part of Miami’s battery of tests to see how players react, there is a simple way to prove that this question was appropriate. Just survey the other 100 or more players interviewed by Miami and determine if they were asked the same or a similar question (e.g., is you sister a prostitute, was your grandmother, etc.). If they all were asked this type of question, then it is justified. If 90% were asked, it is still alright. If only black players were asked this type of question, but not white players, then there is a problem. If only a few were asked this question, or if Dez Bryant was the only one asked this question, then Goodell should suspend Ireland for half or more of the season and Miami should forfeit their 2011 first round draft pick.
—————————–
This makes no sense whatsoever. The league wants to keep “the shield” clean, right? That’s why Goodell suspended Vick and Roethlisberger, right? So doesn’t it make sense for teams to find out whether or not they’re drafting “turds”?
Part of the impetus behind asking the question may have been to judge Bryant’s reaction. However, I’d be shocked if Ireland asked any other potential draftees that same question, and for good reason. Dez Bryant is probably the only draftee (or at least the only high 1st round talent) they interviewed whose mother might actually be a prostitute.
Maybe Ireland already knew the answer before he asked, and was attempting to judge Bryant’s composure and truthfulness.
Maybe he really didn’t know the answer and just wanted to find out Bryant’s family situation.
Maybe none of us know how that conversation went or how the question was phrased.
But to suggest that Ireland should be suspended and Miami should lose draft picks over this is beyond ridiculous. Ireland got lambasted in the media, he apologized to Bryant, Bryant accepted his apology. Personally, I don’t care whether Ireland gets punished by the league or not.. But I don’t think it’s completely out of line for him to inquire into Bryant’s background and family life. It could directly impact his production as an NFL receiver and it’d be foolish and irresponsible not to figure out whether or not Bryant’s family will be a distraction to him and a stain on “the shield”.
Had they drafted him, the Dolphins would be responsible for Bryant’s actions as an employee of the NFL. Given the level of monetary commitment, doesn’t it make sense that they’d want to safeguard that investment?
Ask the Vikings if they should’ve asked Dimitrius Underwood a few more questions a few years ago. If they’d known he wouldn’t complete a single practice session with the team I’ll bet they wouldn’t have spent the 29th overall pick on him. That’s what this question was about. And clearly, Miami decided they weren’t comfortable with Bryant. Rather than draft him with the #12 pick, they traded down to #28 and selected Jared Odrick.

By: dcryan82

dcryan82 — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:36:04 +0000

Drat says:
April 28, 2010 6:03 PM
Dear dcryan,
Oh, you are a tough man. And you are wrong. Nobody ever asked me if my mom was a whore. And guess what? I bet nobody ever asked you that question. And I also guess that if they did, you wouldn’t take it.
so stop being a silly little boy hypocrite.
_____________________________
LOL! I played football for 12 years. I never got asked. I was told those things about my family members on the field all the time. It was all trash talk.
In the interview, Ireland ASKED if she was a prostitute.. Which is a profession (legally some places haha). He didn’t call her a whore. And you dont know me so how could you “bet” anything about me? I’m not a hypocrit of any sort, I would have laughed because I know it’s not true (maybe in Bryant’s case, she was and that’s why he made such a big deal about it.. Truth hurts sometimes). I’m sorry that I am not a sensitive child, and have thick enough skin to not let a stupid question like that bother me to the point that it is bothering some of you.

By: DeathSpiral

DeathSpiral — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:15:42 +0000

Rob & Jeff,
Would you like it if someone asked you in an interview if your mom was a prostitute? No.
You want to see if they are tough, why don’t you water board them? Hit them with a tazer.
My point is there are boundaries of common sense and good taste and Jeff abso-freaking-lutley crossed it. Matt Millen’s stupid comment is quaint compared to this dumb*ss question.
If Jeff apologized before this blew up in the media, then good for him. If not, he should be ashamed.
-DeathSpiral

By: willmose

willmose — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:14:08 +0000

Sportswritting is a tough giff. Konrad, I just did your wife and mom for ten bucks and got nine fifty back in change. Your mom said she always gets a buck to do you.

By: Omega

Omega — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:09:00 +0000

Those of you who are whining and complaining about the harshness of the question are a bunch of sensitive, weak-minded, crybabies who must walk around with a vag between your legs infused with extra estrogen.. Get over it. I’m sure we’ve all been called/asked worse. Boo.. Hoo..
dcry82, if you read my comments as being sensitive then you have read me wrong.
My comments as being about integrity. Support of your family. About reacting when you have been insulted.
dcyan83, I take it you would take an insult like this about your Mom with no reaction? And you would do this because to react would make you sensitive? I think no reaction would make you hollow, dense, numb, cadaver like.

By: Drat

Drat — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:03:40 +0000

Dear dcryan,
Oh, you are a tough man. And you are wrong. Nobody ever asked me if my mom was a whore. And guess what? I bet nobody ever asked you that question. And I also guess that if they did, you wouldn’t take it.
so stop being a silly little boy hypocrite.

By: jimicos

jimicos — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:02:02 +0000

GangGreenCominAtYa says:
April 28, 2010 5:26 PM
the dolphins suck and so does whoever supports them and there offensive management. i wonder if Ireland asked Tony Sparano if his mom is a whore or if his father works in waste management, or did that old ass Tuna ask him?
————————-
Did he have reason to suspect Tony Sparano’s mom was a whore? The bottom line is there’s a reason Dez Bryant was asked this question, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the position he was interviewing for (player vs coach) or the color of his skin.

By: bobinpuertorico

bobinpuertorico — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:57:51 +0000

If anyone wants to claim that this question was just part of Miami’s battery of tests to see how players react, there is a simple way to prove that this question was appropriate. Just survey the other 100 or more players interviewed by Miami and determine if they were asked the same or a similar question (e.g., is you sister a prostitute, was your grandmother, etc.). If they all were asked this type of question, then it is justified. If 90% were asked, it is still alright. If only black players were asked this type of question, but not white players, then there is a problem. If only a few were asked this question, or if Dez Bryant was the only one asked this question, then Goodell should suspend Ireland for half or more of the season and Miami should forfeit their 2011 first round draft pick.

By: robert ethan

robert ethan — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:55:41 +0000

Omega…..if you have to ask……
No, seriously, Bryant should not have run to the teacher with that one. He or Wells, one of the two had to be the person who pointed the definitive finger. They both fancy themselves tough dudes, they shouldn’t need the extra help.
Silver is slime, no good comes out of this for anyone other than him. Lots of people get hurt, Silver gets a raise.
There are a hundred different “right” reactions. Doze Bryant, Drug Laundering Wells, and Yahoo! Silver! found the very “wrongest” way to deal with it.

By: BigBenBangedBarbisBackside

BigBenBangedBarbisBackside — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:55:36 +0000

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY????
ONCE A WHORE ALWAYS A WHORE!
IF THIS COMMENT MAKES ANYONE CRINGE? HE IS NOT WORTH THE STRESS AND MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AS AN UNPROVEN ROOKIE!!! THIS WHOLE STORY IS A NON STORY AND JUST A BUNCH OF FOOTBALL FANS HAVING NOTHING BETTER TO DO BECAUSE THE SEASON DOESNT START FOR 4 MORE MONTHS…..
SAD,,,REALLY….WHAT ABOUT BASEABLLL…..THE TWINS ARE SURE FUN TO WATCH THIS YEAR!!!!

By: biggs13

biggs13 — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:55:06 +0000

Give me that kind of money and you can talk about my Mama all you want, then I’ll buy her a house…maybe even a whore house.

By: Gailikk

Gailikk — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:50:41 +0000

I don’t care about the feelings of any football player. Look, I work for a living, I make a paycheck and because I don’t get paid a lot I have rights I expect to be respected. The truth is if my job offered 850,000 a year and wanted to call me a bastard and question my parentage I would smile and keep working. Hell they could call me Mr. Bastard on my paycheck as long as I get to cash it.
These athletes have done nothing to earn their money, except get asked a few tough questions prior to the draft. If you don’t like it, try real work for 10/hour somewhere. Just hearing about this makes me question Bryant’s sensitive nature.

By: dcryan82

dcryan82 — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:30:35 +0000

By: Omega

Omega — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:28:34 +0000

I still ask if the purpose was to get a reaction then what is the right reaction, or the reaction that you want to see?
Emotional, may indicate you are a hot head. But it also shows passion and support of your Mother.
A calm reaction shows constraint. Or perhaps in his neighborhood every Mom is a whore, so what is the big deal.
I could understand the question if I could understand what the correct reaction was.

By: GangGreenCominAtYa

GangGreenCominAtYa — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:26:50 +0000

the dolphins suck and so does whoever supports them and there offensive management. i wonder if Ireland asked Tony Sparano if his mom is a whore or if his father works in waste management, or did that old ass Tuna ask him?

By: jimicos

jimicos — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:20:30 +0000

Playmaker’s Dealer says:
April 28, 2010 5:10 PM
No excuse to ask about someones mom in these interviews…unless of course she’s 6-3, 230 and runs a 4.3. But I heard Bryant’s mom only ran a 4.7
————————-
In all honesty, her 4.7 was judged to have been aided by two things.. Wind and police dogs. Her adjusted 40 time was 5.4

By: dave

dave — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:19:23 +0000

the question was fine
it’s a sport, they’re determining mental makeup before they unload millions to a person
you people trying to compare this to a normal job interview are dumb as hell

By: Vikes#28Owns

Vikes#28Owns — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:17:51 +0000

I also read that some NFL executives told Toby Gerhart that he wouldn’t succeed in the NFL because he is white. Say that to someone who isn’t white and we would have an uproar on our hands. Where is DeMaurice Smith with his public comments on that. Oh right that didn’t make the News so why would he.
Seems to me the only thing DeMaurice really wanted was a chance to throw his face into the media a little bit more. I’m surprised he didn’t mention that the NFL has guaranteed TV contracts while he was at it.

By: jimicos

jimicos — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:16:58 +0000

Am I the only one who thinks it might be a legitimate question? Seriously, if you knew the stuff below (quoted text) about a guy you were preparing to give millions of dollars guaranteed, wouldn’t you want to know what his family life was like?
I would. I wouldn’t ask a point-blank blunt question as we all assume Ireland did, but I’d definitely set someone to work to find out what his mom’s doing. It could have a direct bearing on his career. To dismiss it would be neglectful.
And I think it’s more than a little hypocritical for a site that routinely refers to players who run afoul of the law as “turds” to question a team that tries to ferret out character issues. Go ahead and question the way it was done, but give them credit for at least investigating.
“Bryant was born to a teenage mother who had three children by age 18 and sold drugs to get by (she spent 18 months in jail when Dez was 8). Endured an unstable upbringing and was placed in special education classes as a high school freshman because of a learning disability. It was around that time when he left his mother and moved in with his father (who is nearly 30 years older than his mother) and stepmother. In October of 2008, Bryant’s high school coach told the New York Times, “I’ve taken him to probably six or seven different places he called home. It wasn’t an ideal family situation. He was from trailer to trailer and house to house.” Combative and stubborn during his high school years, Bryant was kicked out of the house and moved in with his girlfriend at the time before qualifying academically.”
http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/03/17/top-10-wr-prospects

By: ShootahCowboy

ShootahCowboy — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:10:15 +0000

Couldn’t you get the appropriate response from asking, “What would you or say if someone called your Momma a whore?”
Much better than actually asking if she is one.
I make no apologies, and I guess I’ll never make it to the NFL, but if he had asked me, I would’ve went over the table at him. You DO NOT mess with a man’s mother, period….
Just sayin’…