House of Cowboys DT Linval Joseph targeted in series of robberies around the league, NFL says
The Minnesota home of Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Linval Joseph was a part of a series of robberies over the last few months by an organized crime ring that has targeted properties of NFL and NBA players, the NFL said in a memo.
The series of robberies took a national stage when the homes of Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were robbed on consecutive days in October while they were playing on the road against the New Orleans Saints.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had his house targeted on Dec. 9 while he was in Dallas to take on the Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
Joseph, who is in his first season with the Cowboys, discovered that his Sunfish Lake, Minn., home had been targeted on Nov. 18, according to West St. Paul police. That night, Dallas hosted the Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium. Joseph respectfully declined to comment on the ongoing matter to the Star-Telegram this week.
Sources told NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero that the FBI is investigating the crime wave as international organized crime. The league, the NFL Players Association and team security forces also have been monitoring the crime spree, which is believed to be tied to a South American crime syndicate.
The memo sent out by the league following Joseph’s robbery gave players and team personnel precautions on how to prevent their homes from being targeted, including not posting in real time on social media, installing security systems and keeping valuables out of plain sight.
A Dallas Cowboys representative told the Star-Telegram that the team is aware of the memo sent by the league and is taking extra precautions.
Other prominent athletes that have had their homes targeted in recent months include New York Knicks forward Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley and Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis. The stolen property includes cash, jewelry and similar small, but expensive items. Portis had over $1 million taken from his River Hills, Wisc. home, according to a report from The Athletic.
Speaking at the NFL League Meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Las Colinas on Wednesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that the NFL’s security department is in touch with the FBI regarding the string of crimes.
Joseph is in his 15th season playing in the NFL and his first with the Cowboys. After being drafted by the New York Giants in 2010 and spending four seasons there, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings where he played six seasons and earned two Pro Bowl nods. He has since played for the Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles.
