Standing 6-foot-2 inches and weighing in at approximately 220 pounds, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant undoubtedly has the physical tools to be an elite NFL performer. And, wearing Michael Irvin's No. 88 for the Dallas Cowboys, he certainly looks the part when he takes the field.
Hailing from a town called Lufkin in a region of the Lone Start State known as "Deep East Texas," Bryant has been hailed as an NFL-ready receiver since his sophomore year of college at Oklahoma State. But the prodigious talent ran afoul of the NCAA and had his collegiate career come to a close with him on the sideline due to suspension.
Drafted by In Dallas late in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, Bryant has come home to make his bid for stardom while wearing the fabled Cowboys star on his helmet. The precocious 22-year-old is a member of an offense boasting a bevy of electrifying players including Felix Jones, Miles Austin and the remarkably consistent Jason Witten. This is to say nothing of the man who's going to be delivering the ball to him -- the healthy and recently married Tony Romo.
While only playing two-thirds of the season (Bryant fractured his ankle in Week 12 on a kick return) in 2010, Bryant accumulated 561 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns. If you pro-rate those numbers over the course of 16 games, Bryant would have had 754 yards and 8 touchdowns. When one keeps in mind that those stats were racked up by Bryant mostly via the arm of Jon Kitna and also while he was splitting time with washed out veteran Roy Williams, they're fairly impressive.
With a year of experience under his belt, combined with the fact that he will likely face single coverage most of the season, Bryant has the chance to combine with Austin to make up the most formidable receiving duos in the league.
But interestingly, perhaps Bryant's presence will be most felt returning kicks and punts. While some shy away from putting offensive playmakers in special teams roles, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett feels differently.
“They are equally important to offensive and defensive plays," Garrett told the Dallas Morning News. "So Dez will certainly be ready to do those things. And we’ll have other guys ready as well.”
Bryant returned two punts for touchdowns last season, and as we learned from Darren Sproles and Randall Cobb on Thursday night, having an explosive return man can change the entire complexion of a game. One area that Bryant has drawn the ire of NFL fans, and rightfully so, is his questionable attitude.
Even Deion Sanders, who has served as a mentor to Bryant in the past, has voiced concerns about how the young player carries himself. And, when Sanders, arguably one of the bigger divas in sports history, is questioning your attitude, there's probably something off.
Fortunately, if there's one position in the NFL in which having an attitude problem doesn't necessarily affect production, it's wide receiver. Case in point: Two of the best wide receivers statistically in NFL history are Terrell Owens and Randy Moss -- hardly choir boys.
If Bryant can harness his skills even a fraction as well as those two stellar receivers than his personality foibles will become as much a part of his legacy as highlights. After all, phrases like "Manny being Manny" only get uttered about idiosyncratic oddballs who put up outrageous numbers along with their outrageous antics. Bryan seems to have the capability for both and if he maintains focus this year and stays healthy, he has every chance to be the breakout player of 2011.