The Bravado Of Bryant

By now we have all heard the ”audacious” remarks by Dez Bryant that a season with 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns “might be possible”.  Of course, the only reason this is being blown out of proportion or even covered for that matter, is because it is Dez Bryant.

Dec 2, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant (88) celebrates after a victory against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium. The Cowboys beat the Eagles 38-33. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

How long is the majority of the media going to harass this kid?  How long will they pick apart every statement, attempting to twist and turn it into something scandalous or, at the very least, controversial?

Yes, Dez got into an altercation with his mother.  I can’t tell you exactly what happened as I wasn’t there, but by her own account, it basically amounted to him grabbing her shirt and hitting her with a ball cap.

Christian Bale, by comparison, was arrested for assaulting his mother AND sister.  People talked about it for a week and then went on to give him an Oscar.

As far as everything else, I really couldn’t care less.

Dec 23, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant (88) reacts on the bench in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Cowboys Stadium. The Saints beat the Cowboys 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The media has been on a mission to vilify this young athlete since he entered the league.  Who cares if he was involved in an altercation at a bar where no punches were thrown and no one was arrested?

Who cares that he didn’t pick up and carry Roy Williams’ pads?  Roy Williams should have been carrying Bryant’s jock instead.

The media even tried to make the astronomical $55,000 dinner tab his teammates stuck him with as something to paint Bryant in a bad light, even though the defense also shared a night out on then rookie linebacker Sean Lee (nobody seemed to hear about that).

Bryant is not the kind of athlete that is telling the media that his team would win if they just gave him the ball more.  He’s not the kind of athlete that is bad mouthing his coaches or owner/GM on twitter or in interviews.  He’s not the kind of athlete that throws teammates under the bus and blames the quarterback for his poor numbers in a particular game.

Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett celebrates a third quarter touchdown with receiver Dez Bryant (88) against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Dez Bryant has rarely spoken of himself as an individual without focusing more on the team aspect of the game.  In fact, the 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns quote included a statement about the most important thing being team performances and wins.  For some reason a lot of stories left that part out, I can’t imagine why.

I admire Bryant.  He has come through one of the most tragic childhoods I have heard, yet continues to mature and try to better himself despite the media’s best efforts to continue dragging him down.

Furthermore, I believe Bryant CAN reach 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns.  He is so freakishly athletic, there is no limit to the records he could break.  But here’s the thing, even if Bryant was completely incapable of ever reaching those numbers, I would still want him to believe he could.  Wouldn’t you?

Does anyone want the best receiver on their favorite team to believe that he is not good enough to accomplish such goals?

I believe in Dez’s ability to shatter any record in the NFL, Bryant believes he can too.  As for those of you that don’t, my belief doesn’t require you to.