Dallas Cowboys: Predicting the Punishment of Dez Bryant's Offseason Mishap

While news is pouring in about the long days at Oxnard, Dallas Cowboys fans are finding themselves in football euphoria. Names like Cole Beasley, Ronald Leary and Ed Wesley are generating preseason underdog excitement, and Cowboys fans are getting lost, forgetting about the important news and obstacles that still await their team.

Wide receiver and potential breakout star, Dez Bryant, still has a mountain to climb in front of him. After a quiet offseason, Dez Bryant was involved in a family altercation that ultimately led to his arrest on misdemeanor domestic violence charges. 

In a turn of events, Angela Bryant, Dez’s mother, dropped the charges a short time later and held a press conference stating that no violence has occurred and the family is working on their issues, according to ESPN.

While I wish that could be the end of it for Dez, it likely will not be.

The commissioner has a strict conduct policy in which he punishes heavily for. As reported by Yahoo Sports, news came yesterday of a punishment handed down to Green Bay linebacker Eric Walden, who was arrested on domestic violence charges during last years season. Walden was hit with a suspension for the first game of the 2012 season. 

There's a significant difference between Dez and Walden’s situation. Walden was arrested on felony domestic violence charges and settled the situation out of court. Settling doesn’t leave the commissioner with the feeling that nothing occurred in the case. 

When looking at Dez Bryant’s case, the situation is still incredibly unclear, and it would be tough to punish a player harshly when we live in a country which was founded on a principal of “innocent until proven guilty.”

My take?

I think that Dez Bryant gets a hefty fine, not for his arrest, but because of the negative attention that he brought to the Dallas Cowboys organization and the NFL. Not to mention that regardless of the outcome, if Dez isn’t punished, then there will likely be people who call out the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys and identify them as organizations who support domestic violence. 

It’s a win-win for the Dallas Cowboys. While there's no excuse for violence against women, or violence against anyone for that matter, Dez’s case will likely always be a bit foggy.

Dez will be punished, which saves face and allows Dez to play Week 1 against the New York Giants.  Week 1 is widely thought of as a must-win game for a Cowboys team that needs confidence and will likely get a large jolt if they can make good on Jerry’s promise. 

For what it’s worth, I think Dez puts this behind him pretty quickly. He’ll get the help he needs and really shine this season. I’ve made predictions regarding Dez during this offseason, and I truly think you’re looking at 1,100-plus yards and 12 touchdowns from a soon-to-be elite receiver who just happens to be a little lighter in the wallet.