Former Cowboys and Bears receiver Sam Hurd stands accused of orchestrating major drug deals during his time as an NFL player, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones described himself as surprised and saddened to learn that Hurd was allegedly involved in drug deals during his five years with the Cowboys.
But Jones defended the background checks the Cowboys do before signing or drafting players as appropriate.
“We are very thorough,” Jones told the Star-Telegram. “I do have first-hand input to know how the league does it and what we do as a team. This doesn’t make me wonder about our thoroughness.”
Jones said this is just one of those cases that slipped through the cracks.
“Anytime we have any player, family friend or friends that are like family that have an issue, then I worry,” Jones said. “Obviously, I don’t know any facts. I know the quality of person I thought and know Sam to be. . . . I can tell you there wasn’t anybody anywhere, including our league reps or anybody they knew, that had any inkling about this until his arrest.”
Jones’s comments are consistent with those of Bears officials, and of Hurd’s teammates. If Hurd actually committed the crimes he’s accused of committing, then Hurd seems to have done a remarkable job of hiding the drug-dealing side of his life from the people on the football side of his life.