Before I do that, lets take a look at the history of this once proud franchise. In 1960 a new expansion team was born in  Texas. The Dallas Cowboys. After the interview process, they brought in a young defensive assistant from the New York Giants to be the first head coach. His name was Tom Landry. He already had a colorful resume.

Landry played professional baseball  in 1949 for the New York Yankees, then  in 1950 made a career move and decided to play professional football for the  New York Giants. In 1954 he was selected as an all-pro. He played through the 1955 season. He was the 1st and probably the last person to have the role of a player/coach, from  1954 through 1955 as the defensive coordinator. Landry ended his playing career with 32 interceptions in only 80 games. He was never the fastest guy on the field, just the smartest. His ability to read offenses was unmatched.

Landry then became the official defensive coordinator for the Giants, working with the great  Vince Lombardi, who was the offensive coordinator. Landry led one of the most elite defensive teams in the league from 1956 to 1959 with no prior NFL coaching experience. The two coaches shared not only a great friendship, but a coaching chemistry that led the Giants to three appearances in the NFL championship game in four years. The Giants beat the Chicago Bears 47–7 in 1956, but lost to the Baltimore Colts in 1958 and 1959.

Landry invented the well known 4-3 Defense, while serving as the Giants defensive coordinator. It was called the 4-3 because it was composed of four down lineman, two DE’s  and two DT’s on either side of the of the center and three linebackers, middle, left, and right. The innovation was the MLB. Previously a lineman was placed in front of the center. Landry on the other hand, had this person stand up and move back two yards. The Giants’ MLB at that time was the legendary Sam Huff. A  new era of  NFL defense began. It was at that time Tom inherited the title the great innovator.

“Landry built the 4-3 defense around me. It revolutionized defense and opened the door for all the variations of zones and man-to-man coverage, which are used in conjunction with it today. —Sam Huff”

After Landry was hired by the Cowboys in 1960, he had one major concern. His former partner, now rival, Vince Lombardi. In light of this, Landry  invented and popularized the use of keys, (analyzing offensive tendencies) to determine what the offense might do. Lombardi used what was called the “Run To Daylight Offense”. It was feared across the league and the innovator went to work to come up with a way to stop it.

The story continues on the next page…

Dez Bryant had an airing of grievances today.  He believes he is being unfairly maligned by the media.  He cited that he does not have a criminal history, and while this is true, he is guilty of assault on the English language.

“I’m not the type of person that will try to confront somebody but now I feel like it’s gone too far. It’s gone too far,” Bryant said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I ain’t never got in trouble with nobody. I never said anything. I don’t say anything wrong to nobody. I’m friendly. This here is too far.”

“What do this got to do with me playing football? Even if I did forget my cleats, what do that have to do with me playing football? I don’t think it has anything to do with me playing football.”

He invokes the name of Randy Moss:

“Whoever passes up on me, it’s over with. I feel like I’m going through the same situation Randy Moss did,” he added. “That man had issues and teams were passing up on him, and when he got on that field, he killed them. He murdered them. Look at him today: One of the best players in the NFL.”

The question is, how much is he like Randy Moss?  In 1998 the Dallas Cowboys passed on a future hall of famer for a future pro-bowler.  While Greg Ellis had a good productive career, it boggles the imagination what the Cowboys offense could do with Michael Irvin and Randy Moss at the wings.  Moss grew up in West Virginia and was a Cowboys fan.  Dez Bryant grew up in Lufkin, TX (171 miles from Dallas which is known by Texans as a short trip).  Moss was led to believe that the Cowboys would draft him if he was available at the eighth pick in the draft.  Dez Bryant was invited to Valley Ranch for a personal visit.  Moss fell to 21 where he was scooped up by the Minnesota Vikings.  The future is as yet undetermined for Bryant.

Moss’s transgressions prior to the draft have been well documented:  misdemeanor batter, marijuana use, failed drug tests, losing his scholarship with Florida State.  Bryant’s transgressions are less egregious; some are a product of bad judgment and others are a product of classification (not to be confused with stereotyping).  Bryant was suspended not for having dinner with Deion Sanders, but rather lying to NCAA investigators about having had dinner with Deion.  The punishment certainly seems excessive, but Bryant made a relatively harmless situation worse; therefore, it brings his decision making into question.  His decisions on whether the CB is in press or zone coverage is not in question; the small decisions that become big and consequently affect both himself and his team.

Bryant compares himself to Randy Moss.  Moss has been a high maintenance wide receiver and has played on three teams.  During his career has has had one failed drug test, one meter maid nudged with his car, a miming performance that rivals Marcel Marceau, and caused countless QB headaches.  Other than the amount of aspirin consumed by teammates, all of the questionable decisions by Moss have been off the field.  The Cowboys certainly should be worried about Bryant’s ability to discern what is the right decision.

As for Bryant’s talent, he has only had one productive season in his collegiate career.

YEAR	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FUM	LST
2007	43	622	14.5	39	6	2	16	8.0	9	0	0	0
2008	87	1480	17.0	80	19	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
2009	17	323	19.0	46	4	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0

Bryant was poised to have another great season in 2009, but it was cut short due to the suspension.  Physically Bryant is similar to Roy Williams.  Randy Moss has reportedly ran a 40 yard dash in 4.25 seconds.  Bryant at his private workout, on the other hand, ran 4.52, 4.68 and 4.52 seconds.  It’s not an awful time for a wide receiver, but considering Dez has not practiced nor played since October, it was presumed that he was training to be a professional football player.

The question is placed into the minds of scouts.  Is Bryant lazy?  Is there an internal drive that will compel him to improve?  Will be be the next Charles Rogers?  Will money affect his drive negatively?  Those questions are asked of all players, but the volume is lower for those who throw up 225 lbs. 30+ times and run a 4.3 forty time.

It wasn’t merely the high 40 time, though.  Dez did not run during the combine due to a hamstring injury and it was expected he would perform a full workout at his pro-day or the private workout.  In addition to his less than spectacular effort in the forty, he reportedly was ill-prepared for the 3 cone-drill and shuttle run.  Dez stated he had several pairs of shoes at the private workout, but did not have his preferred cleats.  He used a new pair of cleats which caused some slipping.  What was perceived by scouts is that he simply wasn’t trying.  Unfortunately for Dez, sports is often overcoming unexpected adversity.  A players attitude when faced with that adversity can mean the difference between winning and losing.

Bryant’s public response to the criticisms could be viewed as a tantrum from an immature player.  Scouts have their reputation and livelihood on the line.  They cannot afford to sugar coat what they perceive.  Body language in practice may divine information that hours of film study does not.  The media on the other hand, they can be vicious in New York, Philadelphia, and Dallas.  While most will deny it, media members will provoke players to get a response.  News is like the big bang theory.  Something can be created from nothing; it takes only one explosion.

The Cowboys have experience with “diva” wide receivers.  There are numerous stories about Michael Irvin.  The one that pops out of my memory is the one where a marginal player wouldn’t get out of the barber chair, so Irvin cut his throat.  It’s graphic and unbelievable, but apparently tolerated.  Most recently, the Cowboys have dealt with Antonio Bryant and Terrell Owens.  Bryant’s most notable act of immaturity occurred when Bryant threw his jersey at Bill Parcells’s face.  Bryant was traded to the Cleveland Browns for Quincy Morgan later that summer.  Bryant has since played for the 49ers, the Buccaneers, and Cincinnati.  The last stop on Bryant’s train will be the Raiders, though reports are that he is not fast enough.

Despite references to off the field issues prior to the draft, nothing is specifically cited in regards to Antonio Bryant.  The Ranch Report indicated:

THE BAD: Seemingly gives half hearted effort at times; lazily releases off the snap of the ball, does not always work to make the reception if the pass is not in his immediate area nor is he always willing to fight for the difficult catch. Loses focus, concentration and drops the easy throw just as quickly as he makes the one handed acrobatic reception. Not fast, lacks the top end speed and not big for a possession receiver. Must also improve his ball security. Confident in himself to the point where he’d be classified as arrogant.

Where will Dez Bryant land?  Will he have a role in Cowboys history?  Is it possible he will mature mentally?  These are questions that only time will answer.  I see more pressing needs on the Cowboys roster than WR.  He had only one impressive year while in college, and while 40 yard dash times can be deceptive (see Jerry Rice & Emmitt Smith), it certainly suggests the third round makes the risk more palatable.

Steve Smith, the Carolina Panther’s best player, has smacked a teammate in the face before. The Panthers suspended Smith for one game in 2002 after he punched teammate Anthony Bright during a film session. Yes, a film session.

Karma is real, folks. The incident happened one day after this post citing Steve Smith as the greatest receiver ever, and then the blogger backtracking, saying he was only kidding with the headline. Then the blogger trashes the Dallas Cowboys because that is what jealous fans do when facing adversity.

However, there is a larger problem evolving in Carolina. Steve Smith is an ass. He’s an angry troll. His team doesn’t win Super Bowls or games lately. He cannot take criticism. Per the post and article on CatCrave, he thinks he can reach greatness in the NFL, along the likes of Jerry Rice. The kid also has a serious ego problem.

Now, the Panthers are thinking about suspending the jerk again.

That means Fox and Hurney almost have to suspend Smith for at least one game and possibly more. But that’s not going to easy because the Panthers open their season with a difficult game in San Diego and the absence of Smith would make that game much more difficult.

Looks like John Fox has a serious decision to make. Let me offer some expert advice, John. Trade Steve Smith Now!

Not only is he a disruption to the organization, he is an egotistical bad attitude, walking time bomb. It’s all him or nothing. When a player starts a fight on the sidelines, where no hormones are pumping and there is no flash of energy from being on the field, you could compare what Smith did to terrorism. Why hasn’t Smith, the offensive captain, been charged with felony assault?