The Dallas Cowboys and wide receiver Dez Bryant have agreed to strict guidelines regarding his conduct away from the field.
The stipulations to which Bryant agreed took effect on August 23, when the team returned to Texas from its three weeks of training camp in California, according to ESPN.
Among other things, the rules mandate that Bryant adhere to a strict midnight curfew, while abstaining from alcohol or visits to any nightclubs or strip joints.
Additionally, Bryant must attend twice-weekly counseling sessions, while always under the watchful eye of his own security personnel. Bryant’s adviser, David Wells, will hire the security team for the 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 rarely-seen behavioral guidelines stem from a July 14 incident where Bryant was charged for allegedly assaulting his own mother, Angela Bryant. Dez Bryant was charged with a Class A misdemeanor by the DeSoto, Texas police department.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s office is yet to decide if it will pursue charges. Angela Bryant has said she doesn’t want the case to proceed.
Bryant’s attorney, Texas state senator Royce West, denied at a news conference that his client had committed any violence against his mother.
“They ask that there not be a rush to judgment concerning their family,” West said at the time. “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. According to the police affidavit, Bryant grabbed his mother by the T-shirt, causing her bra to tear.
Bryant was released a few hours after turning himself into police.
The Cowboys have a history of dealing with troubled players, dating back to Adam “Pacman” Jones and Tank Johnson. Jones, however, got into a fight with one of his team-issued guards and was eventually suspended by the league. He had no further incidents upon his return to the Cowboys.
Jerry Jones said Bryant was the not the first Cowboys player to have restrictions placed on his behavior.
Coach Jason Garrett has praised Bryant for his professionalism so far this preseason, having no issues regarding his being to meetings, practices or games.
