Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant recently took a major step toward cementing his financial future when he signed an endorsement deal with the Jordan Brand, as in Michael Jordan. Bryant is obviously a risk for Jordan’s company because of his checkered past, which includes but is not limited to assaulting his own mother and causing a scene at the mall with his pants.
However, Dez also has the potential to be a superstar in the making and a major marketing tool. That’s why His Airness wants the 24-year-old to keep his head on straight.
“The only thing he told me was ‘stay out of trouble'”, Bryant said of the first time he met Jordan, via the Star-Telegram. “Hearing it from him, he is a strong voice. His opinion matters. It just adds fuel to trying to do things great at all times, that’s something you don’t want to mess up. Now, I do pay attention to that, just because of the fact of who he is and what he is about. Everybody knows Michael Jordan is about his business, so that makes you want to be about yours.”
For the most part, Bryant has kept his nose clean since the Cowboys gave him a strict set of rules to abide by last season. If he respects Jordan as much as he says he does, signing a contract with the Jordan Brand should only help motivate him to stay on track.
“I don’t know one guy who doesn’t admire him,” Bryant said. “It’s very rare to be a part of that group (a Jordan Brand athlete endorser). Just to be blessed to be part of that group means a lot to me. Before I was even signed to the brand all I rocked were Jordans. I’m blessed to be part of that. I’m going to stay focused and do my job and hold myself accountable with my actions.”
Bryant caught 92 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, so we know what he is capable of on the field. If his new deal with the Jordan Brand inspires him to keep a low profile off the field, Tony Romo could be getting an even better Bryant in 2013.
