Not so Lucky
New Jet never received an explanation from Cowboys about release
Lucky Whitehead said he was never given an explanation by the Cowboys over his sudden release from the team.
The wide receiver and kick returner, now a Jets hopeful, was waived by Dallas on Monday following reports he had been arrested on shoplifting charges in Virginia. However, it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.
“It was very confusing,” Whitehead told reporters following Jets training camp Saturday. “I came off the field [and] found out I had an arrest warrant I didn’t know about. And it was kind of shocking with the whole release thing.”
The Cowboys choosing to waive him over bogus charges seemingly was not the only shocking thing that happened to Whitehead.
He was asked by reporters if he was satisfied with the explanation the Cowboys gave him when they let him go. His response:
“The explanation? I don’t think I really got an explanation.”
Not only did Whitehead not receive an explanation, but the Cowboys offered no apology even after it was revealed that police in Virginia never had arrested him. In fact, the head coach of the Cowboys, Jason Garrett, doubled down on the organization’s decision to cut Whitehead.
“In evaluating the particular situation, and the context of that situation, we felt like we made a decision in regards to Lucky that was right for our team,” Garrett said.
Instead, only the Prince William County Police Department issued a statement saying that the department “regrets the impact these events had on Mr. Whitehead and his family.”
Nevertheless, Whitehead is trying to leave the past in the past and move forward with his new team, which claimed him on Wednesday.
“No,” Whitehead said when asked if he still holds a grudge toward the Cowboys. “I’ll move on, try and build a chemistry with these guys here.”
With all the outside talk surrounding his unfortunate situation, Whitehead is trying to stay positive and focus on the new opportunity he has been given.
“It’s been crazy. Lots [of things] have been going on,” Whitehead said. “I’m just happy to get the opportunity to start over, [and] clean my slate.”