Cowboys Rookie Dez Bryant Starts Own ‘Just say NO’ Campaign
Not even a week into training camp, nor a preseason game under his belt and Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant’s rookie rebellion has given birth to quite a national storyline around the NFL.
After Monday morning’s practice at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Bryant was supposed fall in line to the normal hazing rituals for rookies during training camp. And with the Cowboys, once the whistle blows signaling the end of practice he was to follow orders- like tote the shoulder pads for veteran receivers such as Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin when they handed them over to him.
But instead he pretty much told Williams to get ’em himself.
“I’m not doing it,” Byrant said. Oh really, and why not?
“I’m here to try to help win a championship, not carry another man’s pads.”
Hmm, ok.
Well no one can make Bryant do what he wasn’t feeling. It’s an adopted tradition, which I, for one, think he should have allowed himself to have fun with. Many touchdowns later Dez will be laughing out loud about it anyway. The greatest players to ever play have humbly-carried equipment. They have bought food. Even worse some have been duck-taped up to goal post and splashed with buckets of water. And remember some of the most jacked up haircuts? But it was all good. These rookies lived laughed about it later, and as vets or retired players they tell the stories to any of us who will listen.
But as a league the NFL doesn’t swear by it. Coach Wade Phillips reminded us when he said Bryant doesn’t have to do it if he’s uncomfortable. And, well, Jerry Jones made it top priority to get Bryant signed to a sweet rookie contract making certain his first pick of the 2010 draft was on the bus to San Antonio last Friday, so we can all assume his job isn’t on the line for insubordination.
So what could have been so bad if Bryant had just played personal assistant by carrying some ol musty shoulder pads that weren’t his?
Pride perhaps. All those fans booing Williams every time he looks like he’d drop a pass, while chanting “Dez” since he hit the field for camp, will suddenly start laughing at his expense if he loaded down with equipment. They know what’s up.
Williams may be right in saying Dez is “ornery.” And even if this incident is no big deal to them he and any other receiver who tries may have his hands full dealing with Bryant.
They’ll definitely be carrying their own shoulder pads.
© 2010 The Sports Diva