You must have heard the story by now. During a formal interview of draft candidates – which without fail throws up an eye-raiser or two each year – Jeff Ireland, the General Manager of the Miami Dolphins asked Dez Bryant if his mother was a prostitute. According to Yahoo! Sports’ Michael Silver – who put this out in the world – Dez was ‘really mad’ but managed not to show it.

I think there’s little arguing that it was a crass thing to ask to anyone, but moreso given Dez’s – and his mother’s – background and struggles over the years. However, can I see why it was asked? Absolutely. Here was a guy, of questionable character, being sounded out for a big contract. I’m sure in every interview to every draftee there were questions designed to raise their ire to see how the respond to it and how they handle it. The drafting process is lengthy and thorough. Also pretty unpleasant at times, it seems.

I’m a rational guy. Sensible. I find it difficult to get excited over this, though I don’t know if that is partly a cultural thing or if it’s purely that some people are… well, see the image. If someone asked that of me, it would tell me more of them than it would of me. I certainly wouldn’t get really ‘really mad’. I’m pretty sure I would laugh it off as it’s so misguided, though it’s obviously hard to put myself in Dez’s shoes. But to me it seems that a lot – too much, in fact – is being made of it all. I’m reminded of the scene in Roadhouse (which is an under-appreciated classic, by the way) where Dalton explains that it’s just two words put together to get a response, so don’t get angry.

Silver’s article, whilst probably factually correct is provocative, not very professional and pretty hypocritical. Apart from that, I’m sure Dez himself does not want it to drag on and on. He has a camps and OTAs to prepare for, a playbook to learn and all the other rookie-related activity that is part and parcel of going into the NFL. I’m sure his mother isn’t thrilled either, though she’s overcome much worse in her life. Despite my lack of passion, I suspect we’ll see more on this issue yet. Be it from Dolphins’ management, Roger Goodell or any number of late-night hosts.

What matters is that Dez has impressed already at the Cowboys minicamp, and we await to see how he performs with the rest of the team and then into the season. It’s looking like he’ll be given a chance to grow and develop in a deep corp.

As an NFL fan and blogger, I wish him good luck. As a Redskin’s fan, I’ll boo him all day long. That goes for any player, and that’s how I’ll treat him – just another player.