Cowboys Wide receiver Dez Bryant just learned that a 911 call from your own mom and a domestic violence arrest by the local police are a sure-fire route to the national media.  Commentators nationwide are ripping Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for drafting and paying Dez.  However, its easy to see the risk premium of a remarkably poor family upbringing was already built into Dez’s contract.

Dez Bryant at Oklahoma State

To get a sense of the financial value of intact families, consider two highly skilled African-American college athletes leaving college to play in the National Football League in consecutive years.   The first, Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith was widely considered not only a top 5 talent but also an individual of exceptional character and work ethic.  The scouting report on Jason Smith trumpets, “A model program player with no known off-field issues.  He is a vocal leader…  He is a “yes sir, no sir” type…. A good mentor for younger players…a classic warrior on the field with a good work ethic in the training room…spirit and enthusiasm are evident on the field…a team leader … putting in long hours in the film room to study…”[i]

Despite coming from a single parent family, Jason was mentored and raised by a family that got involved in his life.  His de facto “foster” father was himself a former semipro football player with a wife, a livelihood, and a spiritual center.  Between a stable mom and male mentor, Jason Smith was not isolated from the older generation; he received this intangible of a connection to the older generation.  The result for Jason Smith was that he was the second pick in the NFL draft in 2009 and signed a contract for 5 years and $61.8 million including $31 million in guaranteed payments.[ii]

Jason Smith at Baylor

Dez Bryant, however was another story.  Coming out of Oklahoma State University wide receiver Dez Bryant was considered an exceptional talent in the 2010 draft.  Commentary regarding Dez prior to draft day included this from NFL.com, “there is absolutely no doubt in the world that …Bryant is a top 5 player when you look at him on tape.”[iii]   However, it was common knowledge prior to the draft that various small-scale behavior problems exhibited by Dez Bryant were being traced back to his home life and casting doubt on his likelihood of success in the NFL.  One reporter, Bob McGinn, summarized it this way, “Bryant’s mother, Angela, reportedly was 15 when she gave birth and had three kids by 18. Bryant was raised off and on by Angela, a convicted drug dealer, and in other unstable environments that contributed to his frequent emotional outbursts.”[iv]

The mere perception that family influence could derail success in the NFL was sufficient on draft day.

Despite the obvious talent, Dez Bryant was drafted 24^th and received a 5 year deal for $11.8 million including $8.3 million in guaranteed money.  The perception, in nanocivics terms, was that Dez Bryant’s absence of roots created a risk that he would manifest behavior problems and extinguish his own chance for football greatness.  The perception was costly.

Dez Bryant with the Cowboys

$61.8 million was the salary for A+ talent with unusually high character traceable to good nanocivics.  $11.8 million was the salary for A+ talent with simply the perception of low character traceable to poor nanocivics.  That is a $50 million premium in the NFL for the perception of potential character problems.

NFL talent scouts make an explicit link between family and character with powerful economic results.  Why did Dez loose out?  No intact family to shape his decision-making during a crucial time in his football career.  Why did Jason Smith do better?  Wisdom donated to him which shaped his behavior during the “prep-to-be-paid” time of his life.  Perhaps being a Dad has some value, after all.

Jason Smith with the Rams

Finally, did Jerry Jones really make a mistake?  He at least got the player he wanted for a $50 million salary reduction due to the perceived risk of incidents like this one and Dez may still weather this storm and produce some real results on the football field, maybe.

You know you love footnotes in a blog post!

[i] From NFLDraftScout.com as reported by CBS news, http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/516673.