Who dat? Dez joins the Saints
Drew Brees and the Saints offense just got more potent.
Ex-Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant finally found a new NFL home and will be signing a one-year deal with New Orleans, according to multiple reports. He is expected to sign the deal Thursday.
Bryant, a three-time Pro Bowler during his eight — often controversial — seasons with the Cowboys, was cut loose by Jerry Jones' team in April. Bryant reportedly turned down a multiyear offer from the Ravens during the offseason and had not found a team to give him the one-year deal he wanted until the Saints stepped in.
The former Oklahoma State star hasn't played in a game since the Cowboys' 2017 season finale against the Eagles on Jan. 1. The Bryant signing comes as the high-flying Saints (7-1) are coming off a 45-35 win over the previously unbeaten Rams on Sunday at the Superdome.
“I'm happy for Dez,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett told reporters Wednesday, “happy he has that opportunity to finish his career strong.”
Bryant, 30, had 531 catches for 7,459 yards (5th all-time among Cowboys) and 73 touchdowns during his time in Dallas. His production dropped last season as he caught just 69 passes for 838 yards and six TDs. He signed a five-year, $70 million extension with the Cowboys before the 2015 season.
“This was not an easy decision,” Jones told in a statement in April. “It was made based upon what we believe is in the best interest of the Dallas Cowboys. Ultimately, we determined it was time to go in a new direction.”
Bryant and the Cowboys played in just three playoff games over the last eight seasons. Bryant infamously had a fourth-quarter touchdown overturned via instant replay during a 2014 NFC divisional playoff game against the Packers at Lambeau Field. It took the NFL's competition committee a few years, but eventually the Bryant play helped the NFL clarify its catch policy. The committee ruled before the 2018 season that Bryant should have been credited with a catch. The Cowboys ended up losing to Green Bay, 26-21.
Bryant called being dumped "very personal" and originally wanted to find a free-agent home with a rival team in the NFC East. He vowed to play against the Cowboys twice this season and reportedly had the Giants in mind. Although Big Blue's GM Dave Gettleman said “we're interested in everybody” when asked about Bryant before the draft, nothing materialized.
While Bryant wanted to get revenge on his former team twice, he'll have to settle for one showdown against the Cowboys. The Saints will be heading to Jerry World — AT&T Stadium — on Nov. 29 to face the Cowboys (3-5).
But Bryant made it clear that his anger was just at management and not the fans of the only organization he has known since being selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft.
“Cowboy nation I need you to know this wasn't my decision,” Bryant tweeted at the time. “I will always love y'all… forever Dallas in my heart.”
In the Saints, Bryant joins an explosive unit led by Brees. Only the Chiefs and Rams have scored more points this season than the Saints. He'll join a receiving corps that already features Michael Thomas (70 receptions/880 yards/5 TDs) and Alvin Kamara (51/427/3), but has little depth.