Dez Bryant is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, Greg Hardy one of the best pass-rushers.
Randy Gregory has all the talent in the world and La'el Collins probably should have been a first-round pick.
Each player, in their own way, carries a certain stigma at the moment, whether fairly perceived or ultimately warranted.
This isn't to suggest that Dallas Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones is attempting to amass a team of reclamation projects, but it certainly seems to have become a theme this offseason for America's Team.
Buying low on players whose stock has plummeted due to a tarnished public image is a shrewd, likely well-thought out approach on the part of Jones, son Stephen and the rest of the Dallas brass.
To this point, the Cowboys have suffered some backlash - especially where Hardy is concerned - but Gregory's issues pre and post-draft have seemed difficult to quantify and Collins has essentially been cleared of all wrongdoing. Bryant, while a no doubt trying player to corral and despite a handful of headline-worthy offseason moves, the most notable of which was his decision to part ways with long-time advisor David Wells, has, in fact, done little of late to draw the ire of the NFL, Dallas decision-makers or Cowboys fans.
Taking that and the glaring hole left by the departure of running back DeMarco Murray and his 2,200-all-purpose yards in 2014 into consideration, former Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice should be the latest (and final) reclamation project the Cowboys take a flier on this offseason.
Rice, of course, was first suspended two games by the NFL after video emerged of him dragging the lifeless body of his then-fiancee, now-wife Janay Palmer out of an Atlantic City casino elevator. The suspension became indefinite after TMZ released another video which showed Rice striking Palmer, knocking her unconscious.
Rice was charged with third-degree aggravated assault, charges which have now been dropped thanks to Rice's completion of his pretrial intervention, which included fines of $125 (shocking, right?) and the completion of anger management counseling.
With Rice's legal issues behind him and the Cowboys staring down the barrel of a running back depth chart topped by the oft-injured and uber-disappointing Darren McFadden, a near-perfect marriage exists between the two sides.
The Cowboys need a runner - someone who can make good use of the All World offensive line they boast and take the pressure of quarterback Tony Romo via a balanced offensive attack and a high-volume of receptions out of the backfield - remember, Murray finished last season third on the team, behind Bryant and tight end Jason Witten, in receptions.
Rice, a bowling ball of a runner, actually has incredibly soft hands for the position - since 2009 he caught 78, 63, 76, 61 and 58 balls for the Ravens. In 2011 he topped out at 704 yards and three touchdowns receiving.
Prior to a down season in 2013, Rice also posted four-straight seasons over 1,100-yards rushing, reaching the Pro Bowl three times in that span.
After winning his appeal in December, Rice, appearing on an episode of NBC's "Today" show, said that he understands the difficulties teams would have in signing him and hopes that they can look past his transgressions to the man beneath.
"They would have to be willing to look deeper into who I am and realize that me and my wife had one bad night, and I took full responsibility for it," Rice said, per ESPN. "And one thing about my punishment and everything going along with anything that happened is that I've accepted it. I went fully forward with it. I never complained, or I never did anything like that. I took full responsibility for everything that I did, and the only thing I can hope for and wish for is a second chance."
At the time, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that four teams were interested in potentially signing Rice, specifically naming the Colts and Saints, though Schefter added that neither team seemed likely to actually pursue him.
While the Cowboys have never come up in conjunction with Rice, it's hard not to see the potential opportunity for each side if they were to come together on a deal.
Dallas could, for likely very little financial investment and zero draft pick compensation (Adrian Peterson, ahem ahem) bring in a Pro Bowl-caliber runner to head up their stable of ball-carriers, moving McFadden into a third-down role he's likely better suited for anyway.
For Rice, he'd be given another chance at the life he threw away that fateful night in Atlantic City and, perhaps, vie for a Super Bowl while doing so.
