Dez Bryant believes he is a victim. Of course he does.
It is part of the loser’s creed.
“It’s personal,” he told the NFL Network. “I’m tired of being the scapegoat and I’m going to keep proving that on and off the field.”
Perhaps one day — too late, likely — Bryant will look in the mirror and see the truth. The only person who victimized Bryant during his NFL career has been Bryant.
He has survived this long — and at time flourished — because he found safe haven with the Dallas Cowboys and an enabler/owner in Jerry Jones who coddled and tolerated his irresponsible ways and histrionics.
Ask yourself this — will Bryant’s next NFL team have baby sitters to look after the delusional wide receiver like the Cowboys did for much of his career?
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Think about that — the Cowboys were so distrustful of Bryant’s ability to stay out of trouble and to make sure he fulfilled his responsibilities as a member of the team that they forced him to hire babysitters to look after him and to make sure he showed up for meetings and fulfilled other team duties. And still he reportedly failed to do those things on numerous occasions.
Scapegoat? Hardly.
Bryant is about to find out the lesson that many losers often learn — that, when you are no longer immensely talented, you can’t make your own rules anymore. When you are just average — and Bryant has fallen to average in his production on the field — you aren’t worth the headaches anymore.
After some remarkable seasons in Dallas — from 2012 to 2014, Bryant, who will turn 30 in November, caught 273 passes for 3,935 yards and 41 touchdowns — his numbers have dropped to 69 catches last season for just 838 yards and six touchdowns. That’s not the kind of receiver who can throw tantrums on the field and not show up for team meetings, workouts and treatments. And that’s not the kind of receiver who gets paid a big contract.
Bryant’s sycophants will place the blame for the declining numbers on the departure of Tony Romo and the Cowboys’ offense under quarterback Dak Prescott. But Bryant rarely helped his young quarterback on the field.
Some NFL team will take a chance that they can be the ones to cure Bryant of being a self-indulgent loser. Good luck with that — a diva who was surrounded by a protective environment, now going to a new team and new coaches.
In order for that to work, Bryant will have to change. But those who see themselves as victims don’t see the need to change. It’s everyone else’s fault, not theirs.
Listen to this explanation he gave to the NFL Network as to why he was cut loose by the Cowboys:
“I’ll say this right here: I believe that ’(Jason) Garrett guys’ (are to blame),” he said. “I won’t put no names out, but they know, and I want them to know I know. I’ll shoot them a text message and let them know. Little do they know is, you know, they can wear that ’C’ all they want to, but in that locker room … they know who they communicate with. Everybody knows where the real love is at. I’m not throwing anybody under the bus, but that’s the difference between me and them.”
Yeah, sign this guy. He won’t be a problem.
The reality is that Bryant will never find a more protective atmosphere than he did under Jason Garrett and the Cowboys — a staff and organization far more willing to accept Bryant’s personal baggage, his lackluster effort at times showing up teammates and other issues.
He is clearly upset that he was never made a captain there in Dallas. “I think me not being named a team captain was mostly on a personal level,” he told the NFL Network.
There are few things more personal in a locker room than being captain. Of course it is personal. That’s why you pick your captains.
“I’m just going to be honest because I don’t understand why I wouldn’t be a team captain. Like I said, you’ve seen my teammates, you know? They don’t even understand the decision.
“If I was to go interview those staff workers, what else would they tell you?” Bryant continued. “We love his energy. I’m me. I’m being exactly who I am.”
What they needed Bryant to be was a Dallas Cowboy — a Garrett guy, if you will. After all, he is the head coach.
Upon his exit from Dallas, Bryant said he would return to play the Cowboys twice a season, meaning he hopes to land with a team in the NFC East. He told 105.3 radio in Dallas that his first preference would be the New York Giants.
“The Giants got a helluva defense,” he said. “They’re going to pay [Odell Beckham Jr.], so coming back. Playing with him, Sterling [Shepard] … the tight end [Evan Engram], [Eli] Manning? Crazy.”
Sure. The Giants are going to hand their new coach, Pat Shurmur, a headache like Bryant in his first season.
What about the Redskins? We can only hope.
If the Redskins have matured as an organization, they won’t go near Bryant.
Then again, if Bryant hopes to become a team captain, Washington would be the place for him. New guys usually become captains in this locker room.
• Thom Loverro hosts his weekly podcast “Cigars & Curveballs” Wednesdays available on iTunes, Google Play and the reVolver podcast network.
• Thom Loverro can be reached at tloverro@washingtontimes.com.
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