Good for Dez
The Dallas Cowboys are behaving badly but there’s one name notably absent from the shenanigans.
The Dallas Cowboys are behaving badly. Arrests. Suspensions. Investigations.
So many players are having so many offfield issues that blocking and tackling, running and catching have almost become secondary since the Cowboys opened training camp last week.
But there’s been a name noticeably absent from the tumult. Dez Bryant.
The former Oklahoma State standout had so many missteps and mistakes early in his NFL career that Jerry Jones and Co. took nearly unprecedented steps. They created “The Dez Rules”. They wanted him home by midnight and cameras at his home to record all comings and goings. They mandated around-the-clock security/hand holding.
But these days, the training wheels are off.
Bryant is not only riding high but also staying on the straight and narrow.
“College to playing for America’s team,” he said earlier this summer, “it’s kinda hard to deal with.”
He said those words while talking to reporters about Ezekiel Elliott,
one of his teammates who’s found trouble recently, but he just as easily could’ve been talking about himself.
Bryant had some rough stretches during his early years with the Cowboys. There was an incident at a metroplex mall when he and some friends were booted for wearing saggy pants. There were lawsuits filed by jewelers who claimed they hadn’t been paid for wares taken by Bryant. There was even an arrest five years ago; Bryant hit his mom during a family argument.
Since then, there have been other gaffes. Missed treatments. Late arrivals. Sideline blowups.
But frankly, Bryant’s past indiscretions seem minor compared to what’s now happening with the Cowboys, who have three players already facing suspensions
of differing lengths this season and three others awaiting possibly disciplinary action by the NFL.
Elliott is one of the players waiting to hear from the league after having three separate run-ins with law enforcement in the past year. There was a domestic violence accusation, the most serious of his issues. Then came a citation for driving 100 mph in a 70-mph zone, and most recently came an incident at a Dallas bar that left a man with a busted nose.
The NFL is investigating and trying to determine if Elliott, who garnered several MVP votes during a monstrous rookie season a year ago.
“It’s just a steppingstone that he’s gonna get over,” Bryant said of Elliott’s off-field issues. “Zeke’s a young guy. I’m not blaming it on that.
“But as the years pass, as he gets older, he’s gonna mature and things are gonna get a lot smoother.”
Dez Bryant, voice of reason.
Whoda thunk it? I’m not here to suggest everything’s hunky dory with Bryant. He grew up with a lot of dysfunction in his life. Not his fault, just the extremely unfortunate hand that he was dealt. But years of turmoil are bound to have an effect.
But since Bryant signed a five-year, $70 million contract two summers ago, things have largely been quiet on the Dez front.
That contract negotiation was contentious, you’ll remember. Bryant threatened to hold out because the initial offer was light on guaranteed money and heavy on the handedness. Those in the know say the Cowboys wanted to continue using “The Dez Rules” and overseeing his off-field activities.
Bryant wanted more guaranteed money and less oversight.
Ultimately, the Cowboys caved. They couldn’t risk losing Bryant’s playmaking or personality.
They’ve been rewarded with a superstar who seems to have matured. Seems to have grown up. Seems to have turned a huge corner.
Bryant even had one of the biggest feel-good moments of the preseason with a young fan who was having a birthday. The receiver not only brought the kid out on the field but also played catch with him. The kid was brought to tears he was so happy.
Bryant didn’t get to this point without getting help along the way. He likely still gets help. But at the end of the day, Dez Bryant had to decide how he was going to live his life.
He doesn’t need “The Dez Rules” anymore.
A few other Cowboys sure could.
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at (405) 475-4125 or jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Like her at facebook.com/ JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok or view her personality page at newsok.com/jennicarlson.