Tag: Dez Bryant

How Dez Bryant inspired fellow Oklahoma State WR Tylan Wallace

Oklahoma State wide receiver prospect Tylan Wallace talks about the inspiration he gets from former Pokes legend Dez Bryant

A decade ago, Dez Bryant was torched Big 12 defenses on his way to being an All-American pass-catcher and a first-round draft pick.

This year, it’s Tylan Wallace who is hoping to parlay his track record of success in Stillwater into a high draft slot, and a successful career at the next level.

Wallace draws inspiration from Bryant, particularly in one area of his game (via Pro Football Focus).

We all know Dez caught it, and Wallace will be doing the same, regardless of where he lands in this year’s draft.

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Dez Bryant expresses desire to play for Cardinals in ‘dope’ offense

The free agent receiver would like to team up with Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk.

The Arizona Cardinals are getting a bit of attention this offseason. The move to sign J.J. Watt opened eyes around the league. They are becoming a bit of a destination team. Draft prospect Travis Etienne said his dream scenario would be to be drafted by the Cardinals.

Now, a veteran receiver wants to come here.

Receiver Dez Bryant, a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro, expressed his desire to be teammates with DeAndre Hopkins and play for head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

“I wouldn’t mind being in Arizona,” he told TMZ Sports. “I think that would be dope being next to my boy D-Hop, Christian Kirk (and) Kyler Murray.

“I think they have a dope offense. I feel like they’ve got a dope defense. I think they’ve got a dope coach. If I had to choose, yeah, if that opportunity presented itself, I think I would take it.”

Bryant played six games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, catching six passes and scoring twice. He did not play in 2018 or 2019.

The Cardinals could use another receiving threat but Bryant hasn’t been that in some time. He would certainly benefit from having Hopkins on the field.

But going with Bryant would feel a lot like when they signed Michael Crabtree. He caught four passes for 22 yards in two games and was cut after that.

Sure, Bryant on the roster in the offseason is fine, but if he is on anything other than a minimum deal, it doesn’t make sense.

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6 top free-agent WRs Ravens should target in free agency

With free agency right around the corner and the Baltimore Ravens needing help at wide receiver, these are the best options available.

One of the milestones of the offseason is the start of free agency. The “legal tampering” period begins on March 15, meaning teams can begin negotiating with free agents ahead of the start of the league year on March 17. The Baltimore Ravens, having more available salary-cap space than most of the league, could be among those signing deals in the first wave of free agency.

One of Baltimore’s top offseason needs is at wide receiver, something the Ravens will need to address either in the 2021 NFL draft or free agency. While Marquise Brown has managed to flash on some big plays over his two seasons in the league, he only recently became a more consistent weapon late last season and into the playoffs. With the team clearly needing to improve their passing attack, finding a top wide receiver to pair with Brown makes quite a bit of sense.

With money tight around the league, it’s expected that free agency will be flush with great options for Baltimore to choose from. Let’s take a look at six free-agent wide receivers that would fit well in the Ravens’ offense.

Tweets by Willie Snead, Dez Bryant, and Marquise Brown point to growing unhappiness in Ravens’ offense

The Baltimore Ravens seemingly have a growing problem with their current and former WRs after three players bashed lack of opportunities

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh might not be willing to beg free agent wide receivers to join the team, but he might want to beg his current and former wide receivers to stay off social media.

On the same day Dez Bryant said Baltimore wasn’t a good fit for him, fellow pending free agent Willie Snead posted a cryptic message on Twitter that was seemingly pointed at the Ravens. In that and subsequent posts, Snead seemed to be calling out Baltimore’s offense and coaching staff for a lack of opportunities.

While this was the most obvious instance, this isn’t the first time this offseason Snead has posted enigmatic tweets that seemed to diss Baltimore.

It might be easy to dismiss Snead’s comments considering his role and production have steadily diminished over his three years with the Ravens. After seeing 95 targets in 2018, Snead had just 94 targets over 2019 and 2020 combined. Snead could also be trying to improve his value with free agency looming, throwing out an excuse for his dropping production. However, what is far more alarming is the fact Snead doesn’t appear to be alone in sharing this viewpoint.

Not only have Bryant and Snead both effectively called out Baltimore over the past week, but Marquise Brown hasn’t exactly been silent on the matter either.

With Brown agreeing with Snead’s opinion, it puts into question his tweet from earlier in February, just minutes after it was announced the Ravens had hired passing game coordinator Keith Williams and wide receivers coach Tee Martin.

I’m not one for reading too much into what players post on social media but the sheer number of head-scratching tweets from current and former Ravens wide receivers aren’t a great sign.

With Baltimore acknowledging their struggles throwing the ball and their intent to continue being a run-first offense, three players are now being far more vocal about their displeasure. Considering the Ravens have finished no higher than 22nd in passing yards over the last three seasons and dead last in passing attempts in 2019 and 2020, it makes sense Snead, Bryant, and Brown would all be upset. It’s unclear whether the players are simply upset about the lack of opportunities in a run-first offense or if they’re more frustrated with offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Regardless of their individual concerns, Baltimore’s coaching staff needs to get with these players to find out what the problem is and fix it quickly.

An offense can’t function nearly as well if a chunk of the players aren’t buying into what’s happening. And for a team that desperately needs help at tight end and wide receiver this offseason, these public complaints can’t be doing the Ravens any favors with pending free agents. It’s these types of issues that can completely derail a team and with Baltimore so close to a Super Bowl, not addressing these concerns would be malfeasance by the Ravens’ top brass.

We’ll see what Baltimore does this offseason to potentially address these concerns, but by the sound of these tweets, increasing the number of pass attempts is the solution.

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10 best phrases and stories from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is always good for a quote or headline. Here are 10 of Jones’ best phrases and stories.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is at it again.

Jones, who is also the Cowboys’ president and general manager, is alleged to have said owls like to make love with chickens — somehow an analogy for what happens when times are insane. Of course, Jones spun it with his folksy Arkansas style, just as he has with many stories and phrases since buying the team in February of 1989.

Here are 10 of the best stories and phrases from Jones.

Dez Bryant wants to play 2 more years but not with the Ravens

Dez Bryant posted a series of messages on Twitter that all but confirm he’s moving on from the Baltimore Ravens.

Wide receiver Dez Bryant made his return to the NFL last season, being signed by the Baltimore Ravens. After having sat out of football for two years, Bryant played in six games for the Ravens as they looked for more production from their passing attack. As Baltimore looks to bolster their wide receiver corps this offseason to help take quarterback Lamar Jackson to the next level, many wonder if Bryant is still a part of the Ravens’ plans.

Bryant has often taken time out to answer questions from fans on Twitter and when Willie Snead’s recent comments sparked some controversy, Bryant was pretty open with his thoughts. Though Bryant said he plans on playing for another two years, he admitted Baltimore isn’t the place for him.

 

Though Bryant didn’t get as much playing time as many would have hoped, he made sure to clarify there was no bad blood between him and the Ravens and that he was grateful for the opportunity to show what he could do.

With fans peppering him for a little more clarity on why things didn’t work out, Bryant made sure to note that his chemistry with Jackson wasn’t an issue. However, he insinuated Baltimore values receivers who are more familiar with the playbook.

Bryant’s tweets come a few weeks after he was seemingly critical of the lack of playing time on Instagram. He posted several videos of his play in Ravens practice, including catching touchdowns against the likes of Marlon Humphrey.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKO9Sl6juoX/

Bryant isn’t the only Ravens player to be vocal about his time in Baltimore this offseason. Marquise Brown, Willie Snead, and others have posted and/or liked cryptic messages on social media that seemingly point the finger at Baltimore’s coaching staff for not making the passing game work with the talent. While fans will often look a little too deep for meaning in some posts, blowing them out of proportion in the process, the fact so many of the Ravens’ wide receivers are speaking up adds a little more validity to the messages.

It’s safe to say that Bryant will not be returning to the Ravens in 2021. He called Baltimore a “first-class organization” but even that fact wasn’t enough to make him want to stay in purple and black. It will be interesting to see where the Ravens go from here, as well as which receivers are interested in coming to Baltimore to play football in the coming months.

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NFL players collaborate in support of Cam Newton following video of trash-talking kid

Cam Newton’s NFL family found nothing funny about this altercation.

Cam Newton was one of the most-talked about NFL players over the weekend.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t for his next move in free agency or charitable work in the community. Newton hosted a camp for young players and he dealt with a heckler that persistently trash-talked the 31-year-old. The unnamed kid repeatedly took shots at Newton’s ability on the field, while saying he was going to be poor.

Newton initially reacted to the kid and fed into the trash-talk, but he eventually tried to calm the situation down and have a real discussion. Regardless of the tough season Newton had in 2020 —  he’s still a former MVP and Super Bowl quarterback who doesn’t need to be at the camp.

The NFL community quickly came together and strongly advocated on Newton’s behalf.

Newton’s future with the New England Patriots is unclear, but a return to the team isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

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Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, Dez Bryant go in on joint business venture in fitness

The stars are part of a larger group supporting OxeFit, a company set to compete with Peloton and Mirror with AI-powered fitness gear.

Dak Prescott is making a connection with former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant one more time. This time, though, it’s in the world of business and in particular, high-tech smart gym equipment.

Prescott and Bryant have joined forces (and wallets) with Cowboys players of the past and present by becoming early investors in OxeFit, a Plano-based startup developing AI-powered exercise gear. Jason Witten and Blake Jarwin are also on the investment team, along with Broncos wideout Demaryius Thomas, it was announced Wednesday.

The company disclosed that it had raised $12.5 million, though it is not known how much the players’ group added to that figure.

OxeFit is set to debut its fitness equipment later this year and is expected to compete in the same category as devices like Peloton, Tonal, and Mirror, using physical equipment and software that are connected to one another via a network. The company will use tech tools to track “performance and muscle metrics through motion, providing advanced coaching” directly through the platform, according to OxeFit.

Aimed at elite athletes, fitness clubs, and rehab centers, the gear will combine robotics and artificial intelligence to aid in strength training.

“As a professional athlete currently rehabbing from a significant injury, I see the unbelievable opportunity OxeFit affords athletes and their physicians and trainers to cater activities to their specific needs,” Prescott said in a statement. “I believe OxeFit will change how athletes build strength and rehab from injuries.”

The company says users will also be able to “compete virtually” with each other and even professional athletes online.

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Free-agent WR Allen Robinson likes tweet saying Ravens should sign him

Let me know if you’ve heard this one before . . . The Baltimore Ravens enter the offseason needing help at wide receiver. Though Baltimore has made some strides at the position, there’s a clear lack of top talent to help the Ravens get over their …

Let me know if you’ve heard this one before . . . The Baltimore Ravens enter the offseason needing help at wide receiver. Though Baltimore has made some strides at the position, there’s a clear lack of top talent to help the Ravens get over their playoff hump. While it’s far from the only problem the passing offense has, it has continuously been an issue for the franchise over the last decade.

So when Bryan Perez of Bears Wire pointed out that Baltimore should hand Chicago wide receiver Allen Robinson a blank check this offseason, it was well-received by fans. And apparently, Robinson himself, who was among the more than 2,000 people who liked the tweet.

Robinson is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and is my top choice for Baltimore to target when free agency begins. As Perez noted, Robinson is everything quarterback Lamar Jackson needs and could completely transform the Ravens’ 32nd-ranked passing offense overnight.

Robinson should be considered one of the top wide receivers in the league by most metrics. He can play both outside and in the slot, and is an impressive route runner who uses his 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame to make contested catches. Robinson would be a great compliment to Marquise Brown, who came on strong at the end of the season and has great deep speed as well as the shiftiness to make quick completions big plays.

Indeed, that sure-handed possession receiver was exactly what the Ravens’ offense was missing this season. It was hoped Miles Boykin would develop into that role but it never really materialized. Baltimore signed Dez Bryant to help out and while the veteran receiver certainly made some big plays, it was little more than a band-aid on a much bigger problem.

Robinson has often performed under less than ideal circumstances. Having played for both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears over his seven years in the league, Robinson hasn’t ever had a top quarterback throwing him passes. Yet, despite often being the lone weapon on offense, Robinson has broken the 1,000-yard mark three times, including the 2015 season where he caught 80 passes for 1,400 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdown receptions. Even this past season on the Bears’ awful offense, Robinson 1,250 receiving yards and six touchdown catches, earning his quarterback a 92.3 passer rating when targeting Robinson.

The Ravens already have a dominant rushing attack and a defense that, even when not playing at their best, is among the top in the league. Adding another weapon for Jackson and improving the passing scheme might be all it takes to turn Baltimore from a playoff team into Super Bowl champions. At the very least, Robinson appears to be open to the idea.

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Cowboys News: Best and Worst from 2020, takeaway review

The Cowboys have a number of former players finding success in the NFL, as players or coaches. Plus, names to remember for the NFL draft

With the Dallas Cowboys watching the playoffs from home, more attention is being paid to former Cowboys, at least for this weekend. Saturday night, Dez Bryant has a chance to get farther in the playoffs than he ever did in Dallas, as does Cole Beasley. Former Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan is the leading man to run Urban Meyer’s offense in Jacksonville, and former Cowboys TE Dan Campbell might potentially land his first head coaching gig with the Lions.

The Cowboys draft needs are abundant and clear, and the theme of the needs is defense. Get familiar with names of potential defensive prospects that Dallas could add come late April. A pair of young defensive backs were a bright spot for the Cowboys this season. The Cowboys staff writers going over their best and worst events from the 2020 season. Plus, is it already time for this young Dallas defender to switch positions again?