The Dallas Cowboys seem to fully recognize that wide receiver Dez Bryant’s intensity can be a double-edged sword.
Appearing Monday on podcast/radio show “Hangin With The Boys,” Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones spoke on Bryant and his sideline conduct.
“It is certainly visible to anyone who watches our games, watches our sideline, is Dez is certainly a fiery guy who plays with a lot of emotion both on and off the field,” said Jones, according to SportsDay’s Kate Hairopoulos. “Sometimes that can be a distraction. It can be a distraction for Dez, it can be a distraction for other teammates. And we just have to really get our hands around when you put all the full body of work together where that’s headed.
“Of course we pay Dez a lot of money, and he knows that. He’s as aware of it as anybody,” Jones added of the three-time Pro Bowler. “He knows when you get paid that kind of money there’s high expectations in terms of the productivity. … Those are all things we have to look at as a team, as an organization when we start to put our team together for next year.”
Bryant’s competitive fire is a big part of what makes him who he is as a player. But coming off a 2017 campaign where he logged just 838 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 16 games, his antics are becoming much harder to stomach.
Jones’ comments in the wake of reported uncertainty about Bryant’s future in Dallas, and they probably provide a window into the factors the Cowboys are considering as they approach the former All-Pro’s situation moving forward.
