Thanksgiving 2015 was one to remember for the Dallas Cowboys. Heading into this game, there was reason to believe that the Cowboys would come out firing in this game. The Philadelphia Eagles were blown out in the early and win on thanksgiving and a New York Giants loss would mean the Cowboys would be just one game back in the division. Instead, the Cowboys got trounced by the Carolina Panthers and the season looks about finished.
The headline of this game will be Tony Romo. Yes, the Pro Bowl quarterback re-injured his left clavicle near the end of the game, but Romo threw three first-half interceptions in this game. The Cowboys found themselves at halftime in a 20-point hole.
Caught in the midst of Romo’s forgettable day was Dez Bryant’s performance. Bryant struggled against Josh Norman, the 27-year-old cornerback who’s having a Defensive Player of the Year Award-worthy year. Dez was targeted eight times. He caught just two catches for 26 yards, one of which was a 20-yard reception after the linebacker covering him slipped and fell to the ground.
It was a primetime matchup in a primetime game, but after Norman got the last laugh, he made it known just his exactly what his opinions towards Bryant were.
Josh Norman looks at media standing outside the locker room: “Hey, they need to get Dez’s 70 mil back.”
— Michael Florek (@michaelflorek) November 27, 2015
Bryant has dealt with a plethora of injuries in 2015, but there’s no excuse for his lackadaisical play. Just a few weeks ago, the Cowboys lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when Bryant failed to make a play on a throw that led to a game-ending turnover. The Cowboys are all about done in 2015, but Bryant hasn’t looked the same in 2015. Hopefully a healthier Bryant and a healthier Cowboys team in general will come about in 2016.
Kind of a classless move by Josh Norman, IMO. Enjoy your win and enjoy your stellar play, but talking smack after the game is over is just childish.
With that said, I do agree that Dez is clearly not the same guy he was last year. Is that due to his foot injury? Remember that same injury kept Julio Jones out for 11 games a few years ago (the rest of the Falcons season after his injury in Week 5).
BUT, being that he's out there on the field and playing, it is expected that he's at or near the top of his game. He hasn't even been close in really any of the games he's played this season. He's played in 6 games and gotten a total of 2 touchdowns, averaging less than 50 yards per contest.
Being as they just paid him, all we can hope for right now is that it truly is an issue with his injury and hope he'll be back healthy next year.
How much does his injury factors into it? Those first 2 weeks he came back I can see, but it's been a lot of uncharacteristic drops and less fight for the ball. I look at it like this…
Since his return in week 8, he has caught only 41.8% of passes thrown his way. Compare that to 64% in 2014. He caught a third of the balls thrown to him in his first week back against Seattle. Since then his catch/target percentages are as follows:
Dude's usually a force, but he's not doing it this year. He caught 71% of targets in week 1 against the Giants with Romo healthy and 44% in Miami with Romo healthy. Injury could explain that drop-off but how does a foot that he runs on full-steam affect his ability to hold onto the football with his hands?
Just doesn't add up to me.
Dez got owned yesterday. Prior to this game, he has dropped catchable balls. No pass from me. I wish they would of franchised him.
Oh, don't get me wrong… I hated giving him that contract extension before the season started. I've grown to love Dez as a player, but at the same time he still drives me crazy due to what I perceive as a lack of effort and/or a lack of focus at times. I wanted them to force him to play one more season and be as good as he was in 2014 before locking him up long-term. From my perspective, his stock couldn't have gotten any higher than it was after 2014 and if it did, then you wouldn't have any problem paying him at that point.
So, definitely no pass from me either. I'm just wondering if he's "off" for some reason.
Yeah it's certainly concerning. Like you said on Cowboys Cast, there has to be some level of regret in this contract. Scary times right now for Cowboys fans and Dez Bryant.