There is a new twist in the saga of the alleged Dez Bryant video that puts the situation into a whole new perspective and helps explain why rumors of the video are resurfacing at this time.
According to college scout/draft analyst Scott Bischoff, Bryant was being blackmailed with a potentially incriminating video and his old agent was paying hush money. Now that he has switched agents, the matter has been complicated.
Here is what Bischoff tweeted Wednesday:
On Dez Bryant: I have not seen it, but I have heard about the video, heard all the details about what's on it and why it's coming out (1/4)
— Scott Bischoff (@Bischoff_Scott) February 25, 2015
Bryant changed agents in November to Roc Nation and it was insinuated that the old agency was paying blackmail $$ to keep the video (2/4)
— Scott Bischoff (@Bischoff_Scott) February 25, 2015
away from the public eye. Look at Jerry Jones’ reaction to Dez switching agents, not happy at all. Sounds like that $$ is no longer (3/4)
— Scott Bischoff (@Bischoff_Scott) February 25, 2015
being paid and the Cowboys know it’s coming out, leading to a deal with Dez totally in limbo. Again, I have not seen the video. (4/4)
— Scott Bischoff (@Bischoff_Scott) February 25, 2015
Some of this sounds like Bischoff connecting dots, while other information seems like it comes from concrete details. Either way, it seems like much more than informed speculation. And it would make sense, too.
Bryant was represented by Eugene Parker when he entered the NFL in 2010. He switched to Drew Rosenhaus in Dec. 2011 and then went back to Parker in Aug. 2012. Did he switch back because Rosenhaus knew how much dirt Parker was covering up for Bryant? Or worse yet, did Rosenhaus not want to pay the blackmailers?
In November, Bryant switched to Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports. A report said Jerry Jones was unhappy with the switch. There didn’t seem to be a good reason why Jones would be upset with Bryant switching agents, but this would make sense. After all, if anyone knows about the importance of paying hush money, it’s definitely Jerruh.
Amid reports that the video was holding up a new contract for Dez, the Cowboys said they had no knowledge of such a video. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed Wednesday that such a video does exist.
Pro Football Talk reports that the video took place in 2011 and was captured by Wal-Mart surveillance cameras.
The one thing we do know is that some seriously shady stuff is going on. This alleged scenario also reminds me a lot of the lessons we learned from players who pay for fake identities (e.g. Fausto Carmona): If you stop paying the money, problems will arise. Also, the alleged blackmailers probably know Bryant is set for a new contract and want to renegotiate to get a bigger cut. If this is indeed what is going on, Bryant might want to consider going to the police, depending on how bad the contents of the tape are.
