Cowboy’s rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant has always been one of those outspoken guys. In fact so many NFL owners questioned his character this spring that the potential top ten pick dropped all the way down to the twenties before he was snagged by Jerry Jones’ Cowboys. And early on in his NFL career the rookie has been praised for his hard work and good behavior on the practice field.
Well of course that was over a span of just a few days and although Bryant was the first early pick to agree to terms and enter training camp on time, the rookie is certainly not quickly making any friends in Dallas‘ camp. On his third day as a professional football player Bryant has already instigated his first locker room problem. When demanded to carry former Lions receiver Roy Williams pads off the field following practice, Bryant refused to do so.
And as we all know rookies are supposed to do these types of things especially in training camp and other duties such as: bringing the team bagels for breakfast every morning, singing your college fight song, and picking up the dinner tab are all unspoken laws and requirements for NFL rookies.
But Bryant apparently has a chip on his shoulder and the former college standout believes that he is above such bylaws. Here is what Bryant had to say about the issue:
I’m not doing it. I feel like I was drafted to play football, not carry another player’s pads. If I was a free agent, it would still be the same thing. I just feel like I’m here to play football. I’m here to try to help win a championship, not carry someone’s pads. I’m saying that out of no disrespect to [anyone].
Of course what Bryant doesn’t understand (because he’s an idiot) is that by not doing these chores he is not only disrespecting his entire Cowboys team, but every single vet in the league. All players have to go through this period and by claiming you are only there to play football and win championships, you are basically ignoring everyone that has ever been a rookie in the history of the NFL and also claiming that you are too important to be subjected to such mundane tasks.
If Peyton Manning had to do these things when he was a rookie then why is Bryant any better?
The truth is this is the first sign of a new T.O. in Dallas. I wonder if Bryant ever made an Oklahoma State freshman do something that he didn’t want to do? My bet is that at some point of time he did play the seniority card. And years from now I wonder if Bryant will ever make an NFL rookie do something against there own will? Because if he is claiming that he doesn’t have to do any of these rookie rituals then he certainly can’t tell other rookies in the future to do them for his own amusement.
The first year players are supposed to be denigrated and publicly humiliated. It might not be fair or right, but it is a part of sports culture and every legendary player was at some time been a water cooler carrier, shaving cream target, or errand boy for experienced players. It’s not just an NFL thing, but a college football thing, and a high school football thing, and a sports thing in general.
Bryant better quickly learn this rule and if he doesn’t then down the road he will be ordered to do a lot more then just carry someone’s pads off of the field. But it appears Dallas is attracted to troubled, arrogant receivers and Dez Bryant is the perfect fit for a team of cocky postseason underachievers.
If Bryant won’t carry someone’s pads then he certainly won’t carry the Cowboys to a Super Bowl either. Because football is a team game and you have to earn the other player’s trust.
