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Former Cowboys FB Daryl Johnston on Dez Bryant: 'When Deion Sanders gives up on you that speaks volumes to me'
By Rainer Sabin / Reporter
rsabin@dallasnews.com | Bio
11:55 PM on Fri., May. 13, 2011 | Permalink
Since Dez Bryant fractured his right ankle Dec. 5 in a game against Indianapolis, the Cowboys' wide receiver has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. He had a widely-publicized episode at NorthPark Center, where he received a criminal trespass warning and was temporarily banned from the mall.
News then leaked that he was facing two separate lawsuits -- one of which has since been settled -- involving money owed to other parties.
And just last month, he failed to show up at the Cowboys' headquarters at Valley Ranch on the day when the NFL lifted its restrictions that had forbidden players from working out at team facilities, receiving medical treatment and meeting with the coaching staffs. Although Bryant reportedly participated in a player-only practice organized by quarterback Tony Romo earlier this month, former Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders, who had developed a relationship with Bryant, had long since severed ties with the young wideout.
To outsiders, Bryant's problems and the decisions that led to them were disconcerting. And FOX Sports analyst Daryl Johnston, a former Cowboys fullback, is one man who seems unable to understand Bryant's recent actions and behavior.
"I don't know what you do with Dez Bryant because when Deion Sanders gives up on you that speaks volumes to me," Johnston said at the Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational on Friday. "Deion goes out of his way to help young guys and try to help them reach their potential in the NFL. And when Deion says, 'I can't work with you anymore,' that's the first time he has ever done that.
"This is a person with unique talent but with unique issues. And it would be a disappointment for Dez, number one, his family, the Cowboys, and their fans if he doesn't live up to the potential he flashed as a rookie . He was by far the most talented guy on that field many times during last fall. And the sky's the limit for that kid. And I just hope that at some point he understands and realizes that he shouldn't waste two or three years because his head is not in the game."
Last season, Bryant collected 45 catches, 561 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. He also scored twice on punt returns. His natural ability and the number he wore on his back -- 88 -- invited comparisons to Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Michael Irvin. But Johnston said that Bryant and Irvin are nothing alike.
"Don't ever to compare him to Michael Irvin because they are polar opposites," Johnston said. "Michael was high-profile and he had the 'playmaker' nickname, but Michael was the hardest worker on that team. So, one of things you have to be careful with is that all of a sudden [because] he's high-profile and he's dynamic as a player you reach back and compare him to Michael. It couldn't be further from reality.
'We had big personalities but we had guys who came to work and all they wanted to do was win football games. And hopefully that's what Dez realizes - that this is not about finishing your rookie contract."
That's when Johnston changed his tone and seemed to be speaking directly to Bryant.
"You got drafted in the first round last year," Johnston continued. "Your hard work has just begun. If you don't bust your butt in the NFL, you won't be there very long."
Those are sobering words Bryant may want to consider.
By Rainer Sabin / Reporter
rsabin@dallasnews.com | Bio
11:55 PM on Fri., May. 13, 2011 | Permalink
Since Dez Bryant fractured his right ankle Dec. 5 in a game against Indianapolis, the Cowboys' wide receiver has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. He had a widely-publicized episode at NorthPark Center, where he received a criminal trespass warning and was temporarily banned from the mall.
News then leaked that he was facing two separate lawsuits -- one of which has since been settled -- involving money owed to other parties.
And just last month, he failed to show up at the Cowboys' headquarters at Valley Ranch on the day when the NFL lifted its restrictions that had forbidden players from working out at team facilities, receiving medical treatment and meeting with the coaching staffs. Although Bryant reportedly participated in a player-only practice organized by quarterback Tony Romo earlier this month, former Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders, who had developed a relationship with Bryant, had long since severed ties with the young wideout.
To outsiders, Bryant's problems and the decisions that led to them were disconcerting. And FOX Sports analyst Daryl Johnston, a former Cowboys fullback, is one man who seems unable to understand Bryant's recent actions and behavior.
"I don't know what you do with Dez Bryant because when Deion Sanders gives up on you that speaks volumes to me," Johnston said at the Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational on Friday. "Deion goes out of his way to help young guys and try to help them reach their potential in the NFL. And when Deion says, 'I can't work with you anymore,' that's the first time he has ever done that.
"This is a person with unique talent but with unique issues. And it would be a disappointment for Dez, number one, his family, the Cowboys, and their fans if he doesn't live up to the potential he flashed as a rookie . He was by far the most talented guy on that field many times during last fall. And the sky's the limit for that kid. And I just hope that at some point he understands and realizes that he shouldn't waste two or three years because his head is not in the game."
Last season, Bryant collected 45 catches, 561 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. He also scored twice on punt returns. His natural ability and the number he wore on his back -- 88 -- invited comparisons to Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Michael Irvin. But Johnston said that Bryant and Irvin are nothing alike.
"Don't ever to compare him to Michael Irvin because they are polar opposites," Johnston said. "Michael was high-profile and he had the 'playmaker' nickname, but Michael was the hardest worker on that team. So, one of things you have to be careful with is that all of a sudden [because] he's high-profile and he's dynamic as a player you reach back and compare him to Michael. It couldn't be further from reality.
'We had big personalities but we had guys who came to work and all they wanted to do was win football games. And hopefully that's what Dez realizes - that this is not about finishing your rookie contract."
That's when Johnston changed his tone and seemed to be speaking directly to Bryant.
"You got drafted in the first round last year," Johnston continued. "Your hard work has just begun. If you don't bust your butt in the NFL, you won't be there very long."
Those are sobering words Bryant may want to consider.
