In 2010, the Dallas Cowboys traded up one spot ahead of the Baltimore Ravens to select wide receiver Dez Bryant in the NFL draft. Now, in Week 13 of the 2020 NFL season, Bryant will be facing his former team as a member of the Ravens.
Baltimore signed Bryant to their practice squad on Oct. 27. after initially having him work out for the team during training camp and once again before inking a contract. It didn’t take long for Bryant to make a positive impression at practice and not much longer after that to make his way to the Ravens’ 53-man roster.
Bryant and the Ravens face off against a Cowboys team that is still in the playoff hunt despite having a 3-8 record, thanks to being in the terrible NFC East division. Baltimore is in the AFC playoff picture themselves, currently a game behind the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 7 and final seed. A win this week wouldn’t just help the Ravens, however; it would be the exclamation point on Bryant’s comeback story.
But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves here and need to take it back to Bryant’s time with the Cowboys to get the full picture of why this game might mean so much to him.
Bryant became one of the league’s best wide receivers during his eight years in Dallas. The three-time Pro Bowler and 2014 First-Team All-Pro Bryant played in 113 games, catching 531 passes for 7,459 yards and 73 touchdown receptions with the Cowboys. But despite his production, Dallas released Bryant in April 2018 when he still had two years remaining on his contract.
While Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones put out a heartfelt statement following Bryant’s release, the love didn’t go both ways initially. Bryant accused then-coach Jason Garrett’s staff and favorite players of pushing him off the team. Though Bryant wouldn’t say specifically which people were “Garret guys,” he was upset at the group for not being named a team captain near the end of his tenure.
With a few years and Bryant admitting he’s matured, those feelings have softened though.
“For the most part it’s water under the bridge,” Bryant said to reporters during a Zoom call Saturday. “That’s two years I had to get myself together.”
Bryant’s comeback to the NFL has been one of the more interesting and inspiring storylines during a very difficult and confusing 2020 season. After signing with the New Orleans Saints in 2018, Bryant suffered a torn Achilles before his first game. The injury not only ended his venture in New Orleans but put him out of football through the 2019 season too. By the time 2020 rolled around, most people thought Bryant’s playing days were behind him. Bryant himself seemed to think the same thing, but it was his daughter’s questioning made him give it another shot in earnest.
“My daughter kept asking me if I was going to play football and I just ignored the question,” Bryant continued Saturday. “I was like, ‘You know what, baby? I’m going to give it a go.'”
Bryant has been active for three games with the Ravens this season, catching four passes for 28 yards. While fans have been wanting Bryant’s role on offense to increase — especially with the lackluster production from others — he’s just doing what he can to be prepared for when his number is eventually called.
“Whatever the coaches have for me, I’m going to be prepared for,” Bryant said. “I’m going to let the coaches do what they feel is best, and I’m just going to follow their lead.”
Where Bryant hasn’t been much of a factor for an ailing Baltimore offense so far, this week against his former team might just finally be the game it all comes together for the 32-year-old wide receiver. At the least, offensive coordinator Greg Roman seems to think this game might mean a little more to Bryant.
“I’m sure there’s an extra glimmer this week for him,” Roman said Saturday. “There always is when you go up against one of your old teams – and in his case, his old team.”
Despite being released by his former team and the harsh words he had for them at the time, Bryant and Jones are like two peas in a pod and there’s some legitimate respect to be found.
“One thing about Mr. Jerry Jones is he’s very passionate and I am very passionate,” Bryant said. “The one thing I’ll always have for Mr. Jones is respect. I’m thankful that he drafted me and gave me the opportunity to play for his franchise.”
Bryant will take the field on Tuesday standing across from defenders that wear the jersey he once wore for eight seasons. With Tuesday’s game possibly being a must-win for the Ravens to stay in the playoff hunt, we may see Bryant throw up his first “X” in the end zone this season.
“I’m a Texas boy so I grew up a Cowboys fan,” Bryant said. “I’m excited to be a Baltimore Raven. I’m looking forward to going up those guys on Tuesday.”
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