Dec 2, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) is introduced prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys fans will tell you that is anything but football paradise in Dallas. Once viewed as the model for all NFL teams to follow, even being dubbed America’s Team, the Cowboys have been anything but since. And no, the Cowboys did not give themselves that nickname, it was bestowed upon them.

At one point in time it was the Cincinnati Bengals who were the legal burden of the NFL, but the Cowboys have seemingly added that to their list of names along side “America’s Team.”

But the one thing the Cowboys have managed to do is to get into trouble with the law. If their players aren’t getting in trouble they bring in trouble. Pac Man Jones got into an altercation at a Las Vegas strip club that led this his supsension from the NFL and subsequent release by the Tennessee Titans. The Cowboys brought him in and hired a security team to essentially babysit him, and what happened? Jones got into an altercation with his security team.

The Cowboys this summer watched drama unfold with their star wide receiver Dez Bryant. The young wide receiver was arrested on domestic violence charges involving a dispute with his mother. This came after a string of incidents with rap entourages, specifically Lil’ Wayne’s and amassing debts with various jewelers. At one point, Bryant was even temporarily banned from a local mall for “sagging” and language.

Nothing has developed in the case involving Dez but he had a break out season this year.

Then in this past December the Cowboys saw defensive tackle Josh Brent wreck his car after a night out of partying and drinking. He flipped his Mercedes-Benz on a Dallas highway and his passenger, as well as teammate, Jerry Brown died. Josh Brent’s blood alcohol content that night was 0.189, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 in Texas.

And barely a month since the Cowboys laid their fallen teammate to rest another Cowboys player wrecks his car in an alcohol related offense. Pro Bowler Jay Ratliff wrecked his car in suburban Dallas and like his teammate had a BAC of 0.16, again twice the legal limit. He was allegedly seen drinking at a bar the very next night.

So the question is whether or not their is a cultural problem in Dallas?

Many criticized Wade Phillips when he was the Cowboys head coach for being to soft on the players and babying them. They even went so far to name his summer training camps “Camp Cupcake.” And many believed that this is what led to the lack of post season success by the Cowboys, their players were soft and not battle tested. The Cowboys have won 1 post season game since their last Super Bowl victory and are constantly viewed as underperforming.

But in reality, it might be this approach that has shaped the culture at Valley Ranch.

Current head coach Jason Garrett was Phillips’ offensive coordinator and assistant head coach during the days of “camp cupcake.” Many have said that Garrett isn’t a quality head coach because he lacks emotion and sometimes comes across as robotic in his handling of situations. His press conferences are boring and monotoned. Some say he is too focused on the offense instead of the team as a whole. When other coaches would be throwing tantrums on the sidelines, like either of the Harbaugh brothers, about what is going on in the game, Garrett isn’t because he’s coaching the offense.

The majority of Garrett’s brief tenure as an NFL assistant coach came under Phillips, so in some regards it’s not his fault he is this way, it’s a learned behavior.

Think there isn’t value in a coach learning from their mentor or the coaching tree as it is called?

Think again.

Six out of the past eleven Super Bowls, were won under Hall of Famer Bill Parcells coaching tree (Bill Belichick-3, Tom Coughlin-2, and Sean Payton-1).

If you need more evidence that there is a problem with leadership and culture in Dallas look no further than the current handling of the outbreak of drunk driving incidents amongst Cowboys players.

Owner Jerry Jones didn’t address the media. Neither did general manager Jerry Jones or VP Stephen Jones. And neither did head coach Jason Garrett.

Instead the Cowboys trotted out Calvin Hill, a consultant for the team’s player development program, who released the following statement.

“Having recently experienced the most tragic of circumstances regarding this issue, we, as an organization, understand the ultimate consequences of driving while impaired,” the statement read.

“We know that one incident is too many.

“The critical goal is to effect the decision making process in the hours before the wrong decision is made.

“Our player assistance programs in the areas of preventing incidents such as these are at the highest level in professional sports, but we are always looking to do better and for ways to improve. We will continue to draw upon the best expertise and resources available, both internally and from outside the organization, to work toward being the best in the areas of education, prevention, and effecting the right decisions.

“We have been in communication with Jay Ratliff regarding this incident, and we will monitor the legal process and work within the NFL guidelines for player behavior moving forward.”

Not even a team official… a consultant.

That speaks volumes about the culture in Valley Ranch and within the Dallas Cowboys organization. That they sent a consultant out to do their dirty work.

Dec. 25, 2010; Glendale, AZ, USA; Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent became the topic of discussion on Sunday when he was spotted on the Cowboys sideline despite facing intoxication manslaughter charges for a tragic accident that resulted in the death of his teammate Jerry Brown. While Cowboys owner Jerry Jones initially supported Brent being on the sideline, he has now decided it’s in everyone’s best interest for Brent to stay away.

Per ESPN’s Ed Werder, the NFL and the Cowboys are in agreement that Brent should no longer be present on the sideline.

Brent initially made the trip to Cowboys Stadium because his teammates urged him to be present. They were following the request of Brown’s mother, Stacey Jackson, who asked the team to stand behind Brent and provide him with the support he needs, despite being responsible for the death of her son.

Werder wrote:

According to sources, Brent went to the game somewhat reluctantly. He was driven by a teammate on injured reserve who told Brent that all of his teammates wanted him to be there. Once Brent became aware that his presence was sparking a national debate, he left Cowboys Stadium in the third quarter.

The Cowboys organization wants it to be known that they will continue to support Brent, but he won’t be present on the sideline moving forward.

“It becomes a real sensitive topic to a lot of people when you’re in a public place like the game,” head coach Jason Garrett said. “There were no bad intentions other than to support Josh as part of our football team.

“This is a game and you need to be here. That’s what our players wanted to convey to him and they really encouraged him to come to the game. I thought Josh handled it beautifully the way that he came and then when he felt like there were some issues he felt the right thing to do was to leave. But we’re going to support him in every way that we can. We also will be sensitive to this kind of issue.”

Dec 2, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent (92) on the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys caused a stir when defensive tackle Josh Brent was seen on the team’s sideline during the national broadcast of their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brent is currently facing jail time after being charged for intoxication manslaughter after he was behind the wheel during a drunk driving accident that took the life of his teammate and best friend Jerry Brown Jr.

Dallas was immediately criticized for the decision. During halftime of the broadcast, CBS analyst Boomer Esiason called Brent’s presence on the sideline “disgraceful.”

“Football players are an example and Josh Brent is the worst of those examples,” Esiason said.

Now, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is defending his decision.

Jones points out that Jerry Brown’s own mother has supported Brent through this tough situation and that the team had the blessing of Brown’s family. The organization did not want to turn their backs on Brent when he needs a support group the most.

“Our team and our players wanted him today on the sideline,” Jones said, per the Star-Telegram. “Jerry’s mother asked us directly as a group. She said, ‘Support him. Help him. He needs your help. Jerry wants that. I want that.’ His teammates asked him to come and be down there with them.”

It’s a tough situation, but I think it’s one the Cowboys are handling the right way.

Brent made a horrible decision to get behind the wheel of the car drunk and it resulted in a fatal accident that ended the life of his best friend and created a burden that he must carry with him for the rest of his life. Brent is going through so much right now and it is hard to imagine his mindset.

The last thing Brent needs is to feel alone.

If the family of Brown is standing behind Brent and supporting him, his second family with the Cowboys organization should do the same.

Dec 2, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent (92) on the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent faces intoxication manslaughter charges as a result of a fatal vehicle accident that took the life of his best friend and teammate Jerry Brown, but Brent is currently out on bail and able to work. That is where the Cowboys face a tough decision on how to handle Brent.

For now, they have decided to place Brent on the non-football injury/illness list, per ESPN’s Ed Werder. By placing Brent on the NFI list, he will still have access to the team facilities and receive the support of the organzation, Werder pointed out.

ProFootballTalk.com elaborated on the situation more:

The biggest threshold question is whether the Cowboys will pay Brent; under the CBA, the team has the discretion to determine whether or not a player with a non-football injury or illness will continue to receive his salary.

Either way, the move defers for now the question of whether Brent will be disciplined by the team or the league.  Though the team technically has no ability to impose a suspension on its own, the Cowboys can — as long as Brent and the NFLPA choose not to fight.

The league will not be able to punish Brent until his legal procedures are over, which they will surely do. In 2009, after wide receiver Donte Stallworth served 24 days in jail on DUI manslaughter charges, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Stallworth for the entire season.

Once Brent is hit with his sentence, it would be surprising to see him receive anything less than Stallworth’s suspension.

Dec. 4, 2011; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a Dallas Cowboys helmet on the field against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

A tragedy has rocked the NFL world once again. This time, it was the Dallas Cowboys who will have to deal with the situation first hand.

Practice squad linebacker Jerry Brown is dead at age 25 after being involved in a car accident. His teammate, Josh Price-Brent, was behind the wheel of the vehicle and charged with intoxicated manslaughter. Brown and Brent had been friends and teammates since their time with the Illinois Fighting Illini before joining the Cowboys.

The Irving Police Department confirmed the incident:

“Officers at the scene believed alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash; therefore, Price-Brent was asked to perform field sobriety tests,” a statement from the Irving Police Department said. “Based on the results of the tests, along with the officer’s observations and conversations with Price-Brent, he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. He was transported to an area hospital for a mandatory blood draw. Once it was learned that the passenger of his vehicle had died as a result of the crash, Price-Brent was booked into the Irving City Jail on one count of Intoxication Manslaughter.”

Thoughts go out to the family, friends and teammates of Brown.