I’m going to start this out by saying I am a huge Dez Bryant fan. There isn’t one aspect of his game that I dislike or think he should change and I’ve felt that way since he arrived in 2010.
However, Dez has been talking about his contract as of late, and he thinks he should be paid as one of the top wide receivers in the game. Look at what he’s done on the field; he’s put up some huge numbers and has more receiving touchdowns in the last two seasons than anybody else in the league.
No brainer right? Resign the man. Make him a Cowboy for life.
Well, I’m not so sure about that just yet, and hear me out before some of you stop following me on Twitter (and for those that aren’t —> @bleatherman2011).
Get That Man A New Contract:
The man is a beast; I could stop right there and not give any more reasons why Jerry Jones should redo his contract today and that’d be that. Dez brings something to this offense that many other teams would love to have -the ability to make a defense change their scheme just because of what he can do on the field.
He demands double teams. If a defense doesn’t double team Dez Bryant, he’ll make them pay, dearly. We’ve seen it countless times.
Dez has put up 293 catches with over 90 passes in each of the last two seasons, 40 touchdowns and over 4,100 yards in his four years since coming into the league; and that’s with missing five games during his first two seasons. Oh, let’s not forget that he also had two kickoffs returned for touchdowns and four punt returns for touchdowns as well. Not too shabby.
The man has the heart of a lion. Nobody hates to lose on that team more than Dez Bryant. We’ve seen him on the sidelines trying to get his team pumped up, even though the good ole Dallas media tried to portray him as another T.O. . Yes, there’re times where he can go overboard; however, that’s who Dez is. If someone tries to take that away from him, you might as well go ahead and cut the man from your team. He wouldn’t be able to play if he weren’t able to play with that emotion and passion.
He’s what you want as teammate; someone you know will give you his all every single game and you can count on him having your back.
What’s The Problem:
Dez has had back issues and I think some people are either not wanting to acknowledge it, or they’re just pretending it never happened. There’s an issue there folks. It doesn’t matter if you want to admit it.
During the season finale in 2012 against the Redskins he had to be removed from the game and collapsed in the locker room. He was later taken to the team bus in a wheelchair. The reason was because his back tightened up so bad that he couldn’t walk.
Last season we started hearing rumors of his back giving him trouble again after the Chiefs game – he said he was good to go and continued to play. Then the Saints game; the back trouble rumor started arising again. The last week of the season, heading into the season finale, Dez was said to have tweaked his back during practice. However, he played again and he said there wasn’t an issue.
Folks, there’s an issue there! It may not have reared its ugly head just yet, but there’s something there.
I’m not going to mention any off-the-field stuff because frankly, there isn’t anything to mention. Dez has done a tremendous job growing as player and, more importantly, as a person.
Dez wants to be paid like one of the top receivers in the league, and really, he has every right to want that in my opinion. He’s put in the work and put up the numbers.
If indeed he is paid like one of the best receivers in the game, that could total out close to $13 million a year, and it figures to go 5 or 6 years to dish out between $65 to $78 million dollars.
Now also try to remember the salary cap problems this team has had over the last few years and how hard they’ve worked to try to get out of “cap hell.” If signed to that contract, after doing some costly maneuvering this off-season, you’re just taking a step backward.
Something else to consider; there’s a plethora of good wide receivers coming into the league every year that can give you 1,000 yards and and a handful of touchdowns, and won’t cost anywhere near what Bryant wants. That money can be used toward the defensive side of the ball where the team needs the most help.
Tell me this about Bryant’s upcoming contract; has your stance on the subject changed? Think about it for a few seconds, leave me a response in the comments section and let the debate begin.
