What Happened Between Tyron Smith and His Parents? Inside the Shocking Financial Feud of the Jets ‘Cheap’ OT

They say blood is thicker than water, but you’re lucky if that’s true. We’ve all had spats with relatives (particularly around election season), and inheritances are a touchy subject. That’s if you get as far as inheritances, of course. Things can get pretty ugly even before the lawyers are rolling out the will. It starts innocuously, but it starts ramping up. To put it bluntly, entitlement is the hill love dies on. And no one knows that better than Tyron Smith.

The offensive tackle was famously involved in an incident where he was forced to call the cops on his family on October 30, 2012. It came at a time when there was already friction between Smith and his family. His girlfriend, Leigh Costa, had already had to call the cops just 3 days prior when his sisters had shown up unannounced and demanded to be let in. The police report on the 30th said the three individuals there, two of whom were sisters of his, had intended to “harass and torment… in pursuit of financial gain.” By this point, he’d already filed a protective order against his mother and stepfather, so you can imagine how things were.

Smith grew up with 5 siblings, and right from the start, they were on the hustle. Pinkney’s Cleaning Service (named for his stepdad, Roy Pinkney) became the driving force and the bane of his life. He would have to bundle into the company van and head out to clean buildings miles from his home. This started when he was a wee lad in elementary school. When he grew older and taller, he had to work even harder; he could now reach the high windows. Smith describes feeling treated more like an asset than a family member.

Smith played football in high school not because he’d grown up dreaming of it, but because he was a natural. He was 6’5″ and 310 and agile as can be, who wouldn’t want him on their team? But when he did well enough to earn a scholarship to USC, his family found a new cash cow. With his rookie 4-year $12.5 million contract, he bought his parents and siblings cars, paid off mortgages, and fulfilled dreams. But it was never enough. He paid for plane tickets, game tickets, and hotel rooms, he even offered to buy his mom a $300,000 home. Imagine his surprise when she asked for a $800,000 home instead.

It’s pretty obvious why Tyron Smith had to cut his family off, he had no choice. But still, he maintains that he loves them and just wants to have a great relationship with them. He remains open to the possibility of reconnecting with them in the future, though it has been some time since we’ve heard about how things stand.

How’s Tyron Smith doing with the Jets?

As an offensive tackle, Tyron Smith doesn’t have measurable metrics, but he looks steady on the field. He had an explosive entry into the league when he was drafted at #9 way back in 2012 by the Dallas Cowboys. He earned that $12.5 million contract, which makes it all the more frustrating when you hear about how he was swindled out of at least $1 million by a shady wealth manager his parents recommended. His performances on the field have earned him 8 Pro Bowl appearances in the time that he’s been with the Cowboys.

When his 8-year $97,600,000 contract with the Cowboys ran out, they didn’t extend him, and the New York Jets picked him up instead. At $6.5 million for a year, they’ve got a pretty good deal out of it. Sadly though, it’s not been good enough for the Jets. At 2-6 and with Aaron Rodgers not living up to the hype, things aren’t looking good for their campaign. If things keep going the way they’re going, it’ll be their 14th year running if they don’t make the playoffs.

Here’s hoping it doesn’t come to that, with talents like Tyron Smith on their side.

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