Dallas turns to Hurns as its top WR

Original plan was to form tandem with Dez Bryant

FRISCO, Texas — If not for a snowstorm in New York in March, wide receiver Allen Hurns probably wouldn’t be with the Dallas Cowboys.

The New York Jets already had an offer on the table but a canceled flight, which allowed him to visit to the Cowboys first, set the stage for him eventually signing with Dallas as the primary replacement for Dez Bryant.

But even that wasn’t his initial plan. He thought he was coming to Dallas to play with Bryant.

He’s now the top name on a nondescript receiving corps looking to find an identity without the Cowboys’ alltime leader in touchdown receptions.

As for pressure to replace Bryant, who was released April 13?

“I don’t feel any pressure at all,” Hurns said. “Pressure comes when people have high expectations of you. I have always held myself to a higher standard. I felt it was a big opportunity to come to Dallas to play with Dez. But with him not being here, it’s a bigger opportunity. It’s a matter of me making the most of the opportunity.”

Hurns’ focus is rebounding from two injury-plagued seasons the past two years in Jacksonville where he missed 11 games while catching a combined 74 catches for 961 yards and five touchdowns.

This was after a breakout season in 2015 when he caught 64 passes for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“For me, the last two years I didn’t enjoy my best years,” Hurns said. “I missed 11 games. That’s unacceptable. I feel this is a big year for me in my career.”

It’s a big year because the two-year, $12 million contract he signed with Dallas could easily turn into a oneyear, $5.625 million deal if the Cowboys decide to walk away before 2019. But Hurns believes in himself. He says he can be a No. 1 receiver because he plays all three of the receiver spots and can run all the routes.

Still, he knows what is being said about him and the Dallas receivers without a big-name proven performer like Bryant.

Some pundits have already rated the Cowboys as having the worst corps of receivers in the league.

Hurns said the group, including veteran additions Deonte Thompson and Tavon Austin, holdovers Cole Beasley, Noah Brown and Terrance Williams and rookies Michael Gallup and Cedrick Williams, is using the negativity as motivation.

“We got a lot of guys that have a lot to prove,” Hurns said. “We got Bease not coming off his best year. We got (Terrance Williams) the same thing. Tavon was hurt a lot last year. Noah going into his second year. Deonte Thompson and a lot of young guys. We all got something to prove each and every day. We will go out there and push each other. I feel we will be okay. We got a lot of guys with a lot to prove.”

Hurns said he has already been working to get on the same page with quarterback Dak Prescott. The two began throwing three times a week immediately after he signed, and also before the start of the offseason program.

“I love what Allen does,” Prescott said. “He’s a very smart guy. One of the smartest receivers we have and can move all the way across the board from X to Z to inside. Knows defenses, Knows when he needs to come in and make blocks. He’s very talented as well. He’s just getting better and he’s a guy that I love to come in each and every day and work with.”

Hurns is excited to be working with receivers coach Sanjay Lal, whom he calls a technician who is going to help all of them get better.

The presence of Lal was one of the things that attracted Hurns to the Cowboys after that fateful flight change from New York to Dallas in March.

“I was supposed to go visit the Jets first,” Hurns said. “They already had an offer for me. I didn’t have an offer before I came here. Once I came, saw the facilities and met with the coaches I was in love. I told my agent if I would be blessed to come here I would be willing to take that chance.”

Hurns kept his promise and visited the Jets after he left the Cowboys. But he already knew where he wanted to sign.

Of course, he also admits that he if would have visited the Jets first and took their initial offer, he may not have made the trip to Dallas.

Fate brought him here. Now he hopes to make the most of it.