NFL Dallas Cowboys

Joseph Randle’s Legal Issues Putting Dallas Cowboys in a Bind

Joseph Randle Dallas Cowboys

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Just when it appeared that the Dallas Cowboys had a few options available to them at the running back position this offseason, Joseph Randle went out of his way to prove that having too much time on your hands is the worst possible thing there is for an undisciplined athlete in the NFL. And once again it was what was found in his hands that landed him in trouble.

Now, the Wichita police have dropped the charges of marijuana possession due to inconsistencies, but this was only done so that they could also pursue charges of domestic abuse brought against him by the mother of his two children; apparently all of this took place on the same night. She was granted a protective order against him and if he is found guilty, he could face up to a six-game ban next season, not counting whatever possible time in jail he could get.

Clearly, when you factor in his getting caught shoplifting four months prior to these incidents, Randle has a lot issues that he needs to deal with so that he can be a functional person in society; but from a football perspective, he may have ended his short and once promising career. The Cowboys’ brass, their coaches, and even Randle’s teammates showed tremendous patience and support for the young head case, but at some point you just have to cut your losses because unless you’re a Hall of Famer, talent can only make up for so many distractions.

He has proven that he cannot be counted on to be the lead back if Jerry Jones decides not to sign Demarco Murray as you can never be certain that he will be available to play each week. So this forces the Cowboys to sign a veteran back, like Murray or Adrian Peterson, to be the focal point of their offense, because if they roll the dice and hand the keys over to a rookie like Melvin Gordon, they would be taking a huge risk hoping that he’d have no issues adjusting to the pro game.

Murray and his team should send Randle a letter of thanks as he has just single handedly given them all the leverage they needed at the negotiation table. If the Cowboys have any shot of making it to the Super Bowl next year, they will need a star running back who can carry the load and be dependable on a week-to-week basis.

Kelly Anderson is a blogger for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @bgipp01 or add him to your network on Google.

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