FRISCO, Texas — Kelvin Joseph made himself clear from the outset.
He was not going to talk about it.
“My team is handling the situation,” the Cowboys cornerback said Friday. “I’m not going to really address anything on that topic today. I’m just going to focus on football.”
In an eight-minute conference call, Joseph addressed reporters for the first time since the March 18 shooting death of 20-year-old Cameron Ray. Joseph’s attorney told The Dallas Morning News on April 15 that Joseph, while a passenger inside the black SUV from which several shots were fired in Old East Dallas, was not the shooter.
This account is consistent with the Dallas police investigation. Hours after the attorney’s comments, Joseph met with detectives, and two men confessed to the killing. Tivione English and Aries Jones were charged with murder.
Joseph’s involvement, how it took nearly a month for him to speak to investigators, and how he didn’t do so until after Dallas police released surveillance footage to the public and Cowboys fans recognized the 2021 second-round pick are all facts that may indelibly be associated with Joseph.
But that is not who Joseph is, he said.
“I’m Kelvin Joseph,” Joseph said. “I’m a child of God. I’m a son. I’m a father to a son. I’m a leader. I’m a learner. And most …of all, I’m a smart kid, and I’m not a troublemaker or somebody who is just going to cause problems or do anything like that. I’m happy to be a pro, and I’m going to continue to treat myself as a pro and move as a pro.
“And I appreciate the Dallas Cowboys for taking a chance on me.”
Joseph has played in every game this season, emerging as one of the Cowboys’ top special-teams players. He was most expansive Friday when discussing his role and development there.
He was asked if he wanted to comment publicly to Ray’s family members.
“No, sir,” Joseph said.
He was asked if he has spoken with the league.
“My team is handling everything with the NFL,” Joseph said. “I’m not really going to talk much about that topic.”
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