Tyron Smith: His Family May Have Stolen His Money, But They Claim They Just Hate His Girlfriend

Tyron Smith, a hulking offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys, was the 9th pick in the 2011 draft, and signed a 4-year, $12.5 million contract. He comes from a large, poor family, and sadly, Smith and his lawyers say the family is simply demanding money from Smith. The Dallas Morning News has details:

"On Tuesday afternoon, Dallas police responded to a 911 call to Smith’s North Dallas home, where siblings showed up to “harass and torment” him “in the pursuit of collecting financial gain,” according to the police report. Smith has three stepsisters and two stepbrothers. Two of the stepsisters, Tiari Dennis and Brittany Pinkney, were among at least three people who showed up at Smith’s home Saturday and Tuesday, Frankie Pinkney confirmed. The police report did not name the individuals."

Smith’s family tells another tale: They are worried about their brother because he is dating an older woman and she lives with Smith. So far, they have offered no evidence as to why they dislike her.

Two wildly different stories. Which do you believe? I’m inclined to lean toward Smith and the financial angle. Here’s why:

"“It was structured over a period of time. He’s agreed to give us a certain amount over a certain period of time throughout his contract,” Pinkney said. “Ridiculous claim,” Schorsch said late Thursday night, “but very revealing of her inability to recognize the innate parasite mentality that is systemic around these young athletes. Obviously the enemy within the family is most dangerous to these young athletes.” Around the time that Smith was drafted, he hired Florida-based Merrill Lynch financial adviser Rich DeLuca at the urging of his parents. Smith has since parted ways from DeLuca, who could not be reached for comment. During the time that DeLuca and Smith’s parents helped manage Smith’s finances, sources said a substantial amount of money turned up missing. “I’m not certain of the amount of money that’s gone,” Schorsch said. “I would suggest to you that the numbers are in the seven digits that need to be accounted for. I don’t know how much of that, if any, is a legitimate gift and how much of that is squeezed out of him or how much of that is flat out taken. And I know of the latter two categories it’s a bunch."

It is unclear why his parents would push him to sign with a financial adviser in Florida when he’s from SoCal, but whatever. Then Smith dumps said adviser, and his lawyer now says “seven digits” may be missing. Sounds like somebody got cut off, and isn’t happy. [Dallas Morning News]