Cowboys coach Jason Garrett says that he won't wait around for due process when it comes to domestic violence. If one of his players is charged, they won't play in any games, period.
“Part of what our jobs are as coaches is to create the right environment for our players to function both on and off the field,” Garrett said, via the Dallas Morning News' Brandon George. “So we need to be clear about where we are. We need to be clear that we have a structure in place to help anybody who has any off-the-field issues.
“Me as a coach, position coaches, player programs, departments, we have a lot of resources here to help guys. So that was the first message, if you’re dealing with anything off the field and we can help with, we’re here for you. Having said that, there are standards that we have about all off-the-field behavior and certainly domestic violence applies to that. We’re just very clear with how we’re going to handle things.”
The 49ers have come under scrutiny for their decision to let defensive lineman Ray McDonald play after he was arrested on a domestic violence charge in August. Team CEO Jed York said the 49ers will let "due process take its course," and McDonald has said "the truth will come out" regarding the charge.
Authorities continue to investigate McDonald's case, though he has not yet been formally charged and will not go to court until a charge is filed.
Meanwhile, according to police in Texas, Cowboys defensive back C.J. Spillman is under investigation for sexual assault. But Garrett said Thursday that until Spillman is charged or arrested, his status will remain unchanged.
“I think you have to be careful with just accusations and allegations in this situation,” Garrett said, according to ESPNDallas.com. “When someone is officially charged or arrested for something, that’s when it becomes a different situation in our minds. For now, he’s a member of our football team and will take part in everything we do to this point.”
Spillman, who has just one tackle in four games, signed with Dallas on Sept. 1 after previous stints with the 49ers and Chargers.