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Taylor: Dez Bryant no lost cause, but likely requires some tough love
By Jean-Jacques Taylor
jjtaylor@dallasnews.com
Published 30 March 2011 10:59 AM
Dez Bryant’s athletic ability leaves most of us in awe. So does his poor decision-making.
For a moment, though, let’s stop trying to figure out whether Dez is a victim of his upbringing or a knucklehead for being named in two lawsuits filed in Dallas and Tarrant counties that allege he owes more than $800,000 for jewelry and sports tickets and being temporarily barred from NorthPark Center last week.
The same goes for those of you debating whether David Wells and state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas — his closest advisers — are helping or hurting him.
Let’s focus on what really matters: Dez’s young sons, Zane and Dez Jr.
Their daddy grew in Lufkin, about 175 miles southeast of Dallas, in an environment you wouldn’t wish on anyone. But he was blessed with rare athletic ability and opportunity to achieve wealth beyond his wildest dreams.
Dez’s life is no longer his own. The day you have kids, your life should be all about them. Football gives Dez an opportunity to provide his kids with the kind of life he never had.
He can use it to create generational wealth, so his kids and their kids never worry about where they’re going to sleep or eat their next meal.
A lengthy NFL career isn’t promised. All he has to do is look at JaMarcus Russell, the first player selected in the 2007 NFL draft who is already out of the league.
The NFL is just a moment in time when it comes to the rest of Dez’s life. Too many players to name have nothing but memories just a couple of years after their careers end because they’ve blown through their money.
Almost any player fortunate to get a long-term contract after his rookie deal has expired, will tell you that he spent his first contract on mansions, cars, jewelry and women because that’s what football players, especially No. 1 draft picks, think they’re supposed to do.
There’s still plenty of time for 22-year-old Dez to mature, but it starts with him assuming responsibility for his mistakes.
It’s not always someone else’s fault.
Dez has access to numerous people who excel in the game of life. Proven winners from Sen. West to his agent, Eugene Parker , to Calvin Hill to Jason Garrett to Jerry Jones.
It only matters if he follows their advice. Doing it his way has proved unsuccessful off the field.
All of us have screwed up.
Dez makes his mistakes in front of the world. We didn’t.
That’s the Twitter, Facebook, smartphone, Internet universe we live in. It comes with the fame of being a first-round NFL pick. Multiply the visibility by a thousand because he plays for America’s Team.
“Dez is going through a maturation process. He will learn from many of these experiences like anyone else,” Sen. West said. “Anything he does is on the front page of the newspaper. He has to learn that.
“You can provide input when allowed to do so, but ultimately the person has to make good choices. I’m not going to abandon him, I’m sticking with him and trying to help him become a responsible young man.”
Playing football for the Cowboys is a culmination of his life’s work. Someone shouldn’t have to drive him from DeSoto to Valley Ranch during the season to make sure he gets to work on time. He should be so excited that he’s the first one in the building — not racking up nearly six figures in fines.
The problem for a kid like Dez is that he set his own boundaries as a youngster. Imagine that.
My parents set my boundaries. Most of you grew up the same way.
There haven’t always been consequences for his mistakes because some friend, fan, coach or adviser fixed the issue.
Sometimes, tough love is the best love. Sometimes, a guy such as Dez needs to be humbled. In the process, maybe he can learn how to succeed instead of merely avoiding failure.
Still, these are all teachable moments for Dez.
Will the lesson be taught? Will the lesson be learned?
Let’s hope so. The next generation depends on it.
Listen to Jean-Jacques Taylor on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310) Sundays from 8-11 A.M., and on Thursdays at 10:50 with Norm Hitzges.
By Jean-Jacques Taylor
jjtaylor@dallasnews.com
Published 30 March 2011 10:59 AM
Dez Bryant’s athletic ability leaves most of us in awe. So does his poor decision-making.
For a moment, though, let’s stop trying to figure out whether Dez is a victim of his upbringing or a knucklehead for being named in two lawsuits filed in Dallas and Tarrant counties that allege he owes more than $800,000 for jewelry and sports tickets and being temporarily barred from NorthPark Center last week.
The same goes for those of you debating whether David Wells and state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas — his closest advisers — are helping or hurting him.
Let’s focus on what really matters: Dez’s young sons, Zane and Dez Jr.
Their daddy grew in Lufkin, about 175 miles southeast of Dallas, in an environment you wouldn’t wish on anyone. But he was blessed with rare athletic ability and opportunity to achieve wealth beyond his wildest dreams.
Dez’s life is no longer his own. The day you have kids, your life should be all about them. Football gives Dez an opportunity to provide his kids with the kind of life he never had.
He can use it to create generational wealth, so his kids and their kids never worry about where they’re going to sleep or eat their next meal.
A lengthy NFL career isn’t promised. All he has to do is look at JaMarcus Russell, the first player selected in the 2007 NFL draft who is already out of the league.
The NFL is just a moment in time when it comes to the rest of Dez’s life. Too many players to name have nothing but memories just a couple of years after their careers end because they’ve blown through their money.
Almost any player fortunate to get a long-term contract after his rookie deal has expired, will tell you that he spent his first contract on mansions, cars, jewelry and women because that’s what football players, especially No. 1 draft picks, think they’re supposed to do.
There’s still plenty of time for 22-year-old Dez to mature, but it starts with him assuming responsibility for his mistakes.
It’s not always someone else’s fault.
Dez has access to numerous people who excel in the game of life. Proven winners from Sen. West to his agent, Eugene Parker , to Calvin Hill to Jason Garrett to Jerry Jones.
It only matters if he follows their advice. Doing it his way has proved unsuccessful off the field.
All of us have screwed up.
Dez makes his mistakes in front of the world. We didn’t.
That’s the Twitter, Facebook, smartphone, Internet universe we live in. It comes with the fame of being a first-round NFL pick. Multiply the visibility by a thousand because he plays for America’s Team.
“Dez is going through a maturation process. He will learn from many of these experiences like anyone else,” Sen. West said. “Anything he does is on the front page of the newspaper. He has to learn that.
“You can provide input when allowed to do so, but ultimately the person has to make good choices. I’m not going to abandon him, I’m sticking with him and trying to help him become a responsible young man.”
Playing football for the Cowboys is a culmination of his life’s work. Someone shouldn’t have to drive him from DeSoto to Valley Ranch during the season to make sure he gets to work on time. He should be so excited that he’s the first one in the building — not racking up nearly six figures in fines.
The problem for a kid like Dez is that he set his own boundaries as a youngster. Imagine that.
My parents set my boundaries. Most of you grew up the same way.
There haven’t always been consequences for his mistakes because some friend, fan, coach or adviser fixed the issue.
Sometimes, tough love is the best love. Sometimes, a guy such as Dez needs to be humbled. In the process, maybe he can learn how to succeed instead of merely avoiding failure.
Still, these are all teachable moments for Dez.
Will the lesson be taught? Will the lesson be learned?
Let’s hope so. The next generation depends on it.
Listen to Jean-Jacques Taylor on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310) Sundays from 8-11 A.M., and on Thursdays at 10:50 with Norm Hitzges.
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