Dez Bryant: 'I feel like this is the year'; 'I’m going to be in full effect'
Special contributor to SportsDayDFW.com
Published 08 July 2011 02:21 PM
It’s going to take more than an NFL lockout and a highly publicized off-season to dishearten Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant.
The standout rookie is “very healthy” and anxious to show everyone that he is ready for a breakout season when the lockout is lifted.
“I feel like this is the year,” Bryant said Friday. “I’m going to be fully healthy, I’m going to be in full effect. I’m just trying to start where I left off at.
“I would show you all what I’ve been working on, but wait until the lockout’s over and that’s when you’re all going to see the full effect.”
The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder had his rookie season cut short by a broken ankle in Week 13. However, Bryant still managed to gather 561 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns. Along with finally being back to full strength, Bryant said he is using last season’s 6-10 finish as motivation.
One thing that will not be used as motivation is the recent success of the NBA champion Mavericks.
“We’re not going to let that put pressure on us,” Bryant said. “We’re just going to go out and work hard and do what we got to do each and every day to get better. And I feel like we’re going to improve a lot this year.”
The Cowboys voluntary team workouts have been well documented this summer and Bryant believes they have paid significant dividends. Cowboys quarterback Tony romo headed up the player-only practices, and Bryant is a fan of the organization and effectiveness that romo exhibited.
“The way Tony had it structured, it felt like coaches were out there,” Bryant said. “Tony had it going right and the leaders of the team had it going right. It felt no different (than regular practices). … Tony is doing a good job with us. I just know that he is going to carry it out through the season and make us better.”
Bryant was so confident in the team’s off-season preparation that he added: “I’m pretty sure we’re going to (return to) practice like the lockout never even existed.”
Bryant was in Frisco on Friday for a celebrity baseball training camp at the Dr. Pepper Ballpark. The practice session was designed to get the participants prepared for Saturday’s Reebok Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game at the same venue. It was the second time in two weeks that Bryant has participated in a charity event. He played in a celebrity basketball game on June 26 that benefited charities of former Mavericks guard Josh Howard.
Special contributor to SportsDayDFW.com
Published 08 July 2011 02:21 PM
It’s going to take more than an NFL lockout and a highly publicized off-season to dishearten Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant.
The standout rookie is “very healthy” and anxious to show everyone that he is ready for a breakout season when the lockout is lifted.
“I feel like this is the year,” Bryant said Friday. “I’m going to be fully healthy, I’m going to be in full effect. I’m just trying to start where I left off at.
“I would show you all what I’ve been working on, but wait until the lockout’s over and that’s when you’re all going to see the full effect.”
The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder had his rookie season cut short by a broken ankle in Week 13. However, Bryant still managed to gather 561 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns. Along with finally being back to full strength, Bryant said he is using last season’s 6-10 finish as motivation.
One thing that will not be used as motivation is the recent success of the NBA champion Mavericks.
“We’re not going to let that put pressure on us,” Bryant said. “We’re just going to go out and work hard and do what we got to do each and every day to get better. And I feel like we’re going to improve a lot this year.”
The Cowboys voluntary team workouts have been well documented this summer and Bryant believes they have paid significant dividends. Cowboys quarterback Tony romo headed up the player-only practices, and Bryant is a fan of the organization and effectiveness that romo exhibited.
“The way Tony had it structured, it felt like coaches were out there,” Bryant said. “Tony had it going right and the leaders of the team had it going right. It felt no different (than regular practices). … Tony is doing a good job with us. I just know that he is going to carry it out through the season and make us better.”
Bryant was so confident in the team’s off-season preparation that he added: “I’m pretty sure we’re going to (return to) practice like the lockout never even existed.”
Bryant was in Frisco on Friday for a celebrity baseball training camp at the Dr. Pepper Ballpark. The practice session was designed to get the participants prepared for Saturday’s Reebok Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game at the same venue. It was the second time in two weeks that Bryant has participated in a charity event. He played in a celebrity basketball game on June 26 that benefited charities of former Mavericks guard Josh Howard.
