The Dallas Cowboys knew why KaVontae Turpin was a bargain when they signed him as an undrafted free agent, because he comes attached with an invisible alarm clock that you can neither hear nor see.
You just know it’s there. That alarm went off, but do not expect the Cowboys to do much about this other than hit “Snooze.”
Turpin, 28, was arrested in Allen on July 5 on charges of possession of marijuana and unlawfully carrying a weapon. According to Collin County records, he was jailed. These are two misdemeanor charges; his bond amount was $500 for the marijuana charge, and $1,000 for the weapon.
These offenses rank well down the list in the celebrated history of Dallas Cowboys players who run afoul of those pesky laws.
The Cowboys did not respond to a request for comment.
Turpin has a history of off-the-field issues that ended his career at TCU; those “issues” are why a player of his talent and production went undrafted and forced him to go to football’s minor leagues before making it to the NFL.
What makes this latest transgression a concern is that it is a continuation of a pattern that Turpin began during his career at TCU; people with the Cowboys, and TCU, hoped that pattern was over.
Between 2018 and 2019 at TCU, Turpin was involved in multiple incidents of assault and domestic violence against his girlfriend. He eventually pleaded guilty to “assault causing bodily injury — family violence” in Tarrant County Criminal Court, served two years of deferred adjudication probation, and a 27-week partner abuse intervention program.
An additional charge of assaulting his girlfriend in New Mexico was eventually dropped, and was reduced to a disorderly conduct charge.
TCU coaches and administrators liked Turpin, and they were well aware of the challenges and circumstances in his home life that were not great. They also knew he had some “friends and family” who were not great influences, and he would unintentionally push the line that made his spot on the team iffy.
Then TCU coach Gary Patterson had no choice but to kick Turpin off the team after a player he routinely went to bat for had lied about the incident in New Mexico, and embarrassed the school.
Despite his considerable success at TCU, and now in the NFL, there is a reason why when TCU lists its current, and past, players in the NFL, it never touches Turpin.
After an MVP season in the USFL in the spring of ‘22, Turpin was given a chance by then Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys during training camp. Turpin not only made the team, but in three years with the Cowboys has established himself as one of the best returners in the NFL, and a nice gadget player.
In 2024, he was the only player in the NFL to score a touchdown on both a punt and kickoff return.
In the offseason, the Cowboys signed him to a three-year, $18 million deal.
Given the nature of Turpin’s latest offense, it’s doubtful the team will do much of anything. This looks to be one of those that will be handled “internally,” which is a cute way of saying not at all.
The Cowboys will hit “snooze” and hope the alarm doesn’t go off again.