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Dallas Cowboys' Bryant shows off his talent
cjwilliams@star-telegram.com
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Only one thing went wrong for Dez Bryant on Sunday afternoon. The Dallas Cowboys rookie receiver fell hard on his back while pulling in a 48-yard pass from Jon Kitna in the fourth quarter.
Bryant's impact with the ground not only jarred the ball loose -- resulting in a ruling of an incomplete pass after a replay challenge by the New York Giants -- but it knocked out one of Bryant's diamond earrings.
"I really was a little worried," Bryant said of the lost stud.
A security guard got a "big thank you" after finding the earring and returning it to Bryant in the locker room.
Bryant, 22, is a diamond in the rough for the Cowboys.
Dallas showed off its future against the Giants with young players Bryant and Bryan McCann playing starring roles. Although Roy Williams started, Bryant played more than Williams, was targeted more than Williams and had more catches than Williams.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wouldn't acknowledge that the torch was passed from Williams to Bryant on Sunday, but he didn't downplay Bryant's play either.
"We all see what we see there. We like to see him getting the ball," Jones said.
Bryant had his first 100-yard receiving game, catching three passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.
"I feel like if you're a wideout, you should be able to make plays," Bryant said. "I felt like I'm just doing my job."
The Giants entered the game ranked first in total defense, including second against the pass. But the Cowboys passed for 327 yards, with six plays of more than 20 yards.
The first one came on the Cowboys' sixth play from scrimmage. Kitna threw the ball deep down the left sideline toward Bryant, who had beaten safety Antrel Rolle. Bryant stretched out to catch the ball and stumbled to the ground at the 13 after a 45-yard gain. It was the team's longest play from scrimmage since the Tennessee game Oct. 10, though Felix Jones later had a 71-yard touchdown off a screen pass and Bryant caught a 46-yard jump ball in the third quarter.
"When I let it go, I didn't think there was any chance he was getting it, but somehow he tracked it down," Kitna said of the 45-yard pass completion in the first quarter. "That's the kind of player he is. He's just one of those who is a different breed that way. There's times you throw him the ball that he's covered really, and you just kind of throw it out there, because he's going to make a play, and he consistently does it."
Bryant's other two catches, and even the one that wasn't, were spectacular. He also affected special teams as his big-play ability as a punt returner scared the Giants so much that punter Matt Dodge shanked two punts trying to kick it away from Bryant.
"He's amazing," receivers coach Ray Sherman said of Bryant. "I don't care if there are one or two guys on him, he's going to go up and try to make a play. I tell you, he's special. He's a special player. He brings a lot of energy, and he's very talented."
Bryant began the season behind on offense, having missed all but a week of training camp with a high-ankle sprain. He tweaked his right ankle twice during the season, which, for a few weeks, limited his practice time.
But Bryant is up to speed now, as he showed Sunday, which is why Williams might not be long for the job.
"I understand my role," said Williams, who had two catches for 33 yards. "Make the play when it comes my way. If it's blocking, if it's running a certain route and catching it and doing something with it, so be it. I'm just happy to be a part of this football team."
Charean Williams,
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/14/2631018/dallas-cowboys-bryant-shows-off.html#ixzz15MXWTsjk
cjwilliams@star-telegram.com
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Only one thing went wrong for Dez Bryant on Sunday afternoon. The Dallas Cowboys rookie receiver fell hard on his back while pulling in a 48-yard pass from Jon Kitna in the fourth quarter.
Bryant's impact with the ground not only jarred the ball loose -- resulting in a ruling of an incomplete pass after a replay challenge by the New York Giants -- but it knocked out one of Bryant's diamond earrings.
"I really was a little worried," Bryant said of the lost stud.
A security guard got a "big thank you" after finding the earring and returning it to Bryant in the locker room.
Bryant, 22, is a diamond in the rough for the Cowboys.
Dallas showed off its future against the Giants with young players Bryant and Bryan McCann playing starring roles. Although Roy Williams started, Bryant played more than Williams, was targeted more than Williams and had more catches than Williams.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wouldn't acknowledge that the torch was passed from Williams to Bryant on Sunday, but he didn't downplay Bryant's play either.
"We all see what we see there. We like to see him getting the ball," Jones said.
Bryant had his first 100-yard receiving game, catching three passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.
"I feel like if you're a wideout, you should be able to make plays," Bryant said. "I felt like I'm just doing my job."
The Giants entered the game ranked first in total defense, including second against the pass. But the Cowboys passed for 327 yards, with six plays of more than 20 yards.
The first one came on the Cowboys' sixth play from scrimmage. Kitna threw the ball deep down the left sideline toward Bryant, who had beaten safety Antrel Rolle. Bryant stretched out to catch the ball and stumbled to the ground at the 13 after a 45-yard gain. It was the team's longest play from scrimmage since the Tennessee game Oct. 10, though Felix Jones later had a 71-yard touchdown off a screen pass and Bryant caught a 46-yard jump ball in the third quarter.
"When I let it go, I didn't think there was any chance he was getting it, but somehow he tracked it down," Kitna said of the 45-yard pass completion in the first quarter. "That's the kind of player he is. He's just one of those who is a different breed that way. There's times you throw him the ball that he's covered really, and you just kind of throw it out there, because he's going to make a play, and he consistently does it."
Bryant's other two catches, and even the one that wasn't, were spectacular. He also affected special teams as his big-play ability as a punt returner scared the Giants so much that punter Matt Dodge shanked two punts trying to kick it away from Bryant.
"He's amazing," receivers coach Ray Sherman said of Bryant. "I don't care if there are one or two guys on him, he's going to go up and try to make a play. I tell you, he's special. He's a special player. He brings a lot of energy, and he's very talented."
Bryant began the season behind on offense, having missed all but a week of training camp with a high-ankle sprain. He tweaked his right ankle twice during the season, which, for a few weeks, limited his practice time.
But Bryant is up to speed now, as he showed Sunday, which is why Williams might not be long for the job.
"I understand my role," said Williams, who had two catches for 33 yards. "Make the play when it comes my way. If it's blocking, if it's running a certain route and catching it and doing something with it, so be it. I'm just happy to be a part of this football team."
Charean Williams,
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/14/2631018/dallas-cowboys-bryant-shows-off.html#ixzz15MXWTsjk