Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will have to break out his checkbook to pay for the sins of his players this year.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting the franchise will be subject to roughly $250,000 in fines by the NFL to account for the three suspended players on Dallas’ roster.
With three players suspended this year, Cowboys will be subject to a fine in range of $250,000, based on last year’s club remittance policy.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 27, 2016
The three players in question are defensive ends Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence as well as inside linebacker Rolando McClain. All three players have been suspended for violating the NFL’s drug policy.
McClain was suspended 10 games, Gregory is reportedly facing the same ban (or longer) after failing multiple drug tests this past year and Lawrence is suspended the first four games.
Jones has a history of giving players with off-field issues a chance to make good. He recently gave Greg Hardy a chance in 2015, despite the fact he was accused of brutally abusing his girlfriend in an incident that included throwing her onto a bed full of guns.
More often than not of late, Jones’ moves to give these troubled players hasn’t paid off.
At this point, the only success story in recent years is Dez Bryant, who came into the NFL with plenty of off-field baggage. He’s had his issues since being drafted in the first round back in 2010, too, including being accused recently of trashing a rental home (details here).
It remains to be seen if Jones will continue to take risks on players who have questionable character.