The Cowboys have been eliminated from the playoffs and the 2017 season is effectively over. It was a shame because everything was falling into place with the Lions and Falcons losing in week 16 and Dallas had an opportunity to control their own destiny. Unfortunately one of the best defensive performances of the season was squandered and the Cowboys found a way to lose to Seattle. There is plenty of blame to go around for the failure of the 2017 Season. Coaches, Management, Quarterback, players, everyone is accountable. That includes the Cowboys’ $70 Million star Wide Receiver Dez Bryant.
We all witnessed those all too familiar sideline antics that tend to surface when things don’t go so well. It was an unwelcome sight considering Dez put in an uninspired performance. He had a key fumble and a dropped pass turned interception that helped seal the defeat. With declining production and the constant outbursts it begs the question… Does Dez Bryant provide more passion or poison?
Dez was once widely considered one of the top wide receivers in the league, which led to the Cowboys signing him to a lucrative contract following the 2014 season. Since then his performance has drastically declined. He has struggled to stay healthy and that has contributed to some degree, but even if you project his stats across a 16 game season it is clear that he has not lived up to expectations.
Dez Bryant is not solely to blame for his regression over the last 3 seasons. Aside from a slew of injuries, the major difference between 2012-2014 and 2015-2017 is the absence of Tony Romo. Dez Bryant clearly had much better chemistry with the franchise’ all-time leading passer. Dez is not the most well rounded or most gifted receiver in the league. He is not the crispest route runner and he does not separate from defensive backs like Antonio Brown does. He does not possess elite speed like Julio Jones and he does not have reliable hands like Larry Fitzergald. What Bryant does do as well as anyone in the league is gain yards after the catch and high point the jump ball. If Dak Prescott can establish timing and chemistry with Dez the same way Tony Romo did, I believe we will see him put up All Pro numbers once again. Bolstering the wide receiving corps in the offseason will certainly help take some pressure off of Dez and help Dak establish trust and confidence in that connection.
As for the sideline drama, appearances can often be far worse than reality. It is well known that Dez Bryant is one of if not the hardest working players in practice and on game days. Similar to Michael Irvin in the 1990’s, Dez is a vocal leader who drives and challenges his teammates on a daily basis. That kind of fire and competitiveness is an essential ingredient for success. When mixed with the right amount of calm leadership to offset it, it is a powerful tool that can alter the course of a game or a season for the better. It can also have the opposite effect if left unbridled and untamed. Just like a winning recipe in the kitchen, too much of a certain ingredient could ruin the dish. I believe Dez Bryant has the passion required to help lead this team to a Super Bowl, but without the addition of a few more ingredients he could spoil the championship soup.
