Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant has agreed to strict guidelines from team officials regarding his conduct away from the field.
The guidelines Bryant agreed to took effect Aug. 23 when the team returned to Dallas after three weeks of training camp in California, according to sources.
Sources say some of the rules Bryant must abide are as follows:
• A midnight curfew. If he’s going to miss curfew, team officials must know in advance;
• No drinking alcohol.
• He can’t attend any strip clubs and can only attend nightclubs if they are approved by the team and he has a security team with him.
• He must attend counseling sessions twice a week.
• A rotating three-man security team will leave one man with Bryant at all times.
• Members of the security team will drive Bryant to practices, games and team functions.
Bryant’s adviser, David Wells, will hire the security team for the wide receiver.
“Oh yeah, very much willing to do anything he can to help himself and help the team,” Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said of Bryant. “He’s very open-minded and cooperative. He’s doing the right things by his teammates and everybody is counting on him.”
The rules stem from a July 14 incident where Bryant was charged with allegedly assaulting his mother, Angela Bryant. Bryant was charged with a Class A misdemeanor by the DeSoto Police Department.
The Dallas County district attorney’s office hasn’t decided if it will pursue charges.
On July 25, Bryant’s attorney, Texas state senator Royce West, said at a news conference the receiver didn’t commit any violence against his mother.
A spokeswoman for the Dallas district attorney’s office said it’s still reviewing the case and it’s treating it like any other domestic violence complaint. Bryant’s mother filed an affidavit of non-prosecution from the complaint. The affidavit means the complainant, Angela Bryant, doesn’t want the case to proceed.
“They ask that there not be a rush to judgement concerning their family,” West said July 25. “They also ask for your continued prayers and support for their family as they work through this matter.”
Police issued the arrest warrant for Bryant after he allegedly hit his mother in the face with a baseball cap. The police affidavit said Bryant grabbed his mother by her T-shirt, causing her bra to tear.
According to the DeSoto Police Department, Bryant is charged with a Class A misdemeanor for assaulting a female family member and after he turned himself in, was released a few hours later without talking with police.
Bryant, who hasn’t been made available to reporters during training camp, is out because of a knee injury, though he’s expected to be ready for the regular season opener on Sept. 5.
The Cowboys have a history of dealing with troubled players, most recently cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones and nose tackle Tank Johnson. However, Adam Jones got into a fight with one of his team-issued body guards and eventually was suspended by the league. When he returned, he didn’t have any further incidents as a member of the Cowboys.
Jerry Jones said the Cowboys have placed restrictions on other players previously and when asked if this is the strictest of rules for a player he said, “No this is (not) the strictest at all.”
So far this preseason, coach Jason Garrett said Bryant has been outstanding in practices, and there have been no issues regarding him being late to meetings, practices or games. Bryant did switch agents, leaving Drew Rosenhaus and returning to Eugene Parker.
-WRITTEN By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com & FULL STORY HERE
