Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant Won't Need to Carry Anything for Roy Williams in 2011

It all started with Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver Dez Bryant refusing to carry the shoulder pads of fellow wideout, Roy Williams. The two players got off on the wrong foot right off the bat.

A year later, the Dallas Cowboys have told Williams, a former Longhorn, his services are no longer needed. Bryant was probably all too willing to carry Williams' bags out to his car for him as soon as he heard the news.
Owner Jerry Jones has not only released what could quite possibly be the worst trade for this franchise in quite some time, but he's now handed the keys to the wide receiving corps to a guy who can't seem to keep his name out of the news. And not a good way, either.
There was no surprise that the Cowboys made the move they did although from what was said over the radio air waves earlier in the week, it sounded as if Dallas was going to take a $12 million cap hit if they did end up releasing Williams.
But, thanks to a certain rule that allowed the team to make the move retroactive to June 1st, that $12 million cap hit turned in to a $5 million pay day for the team.

Bryant will not be trusted as the number one option for quarterback, Tony Romo, regardless of what anyone else wants to say about no-name turned star wide receiver, Miles Austin.
All the problems the Cowboys have had with Dez Bryant and all the times they've had to do some public relations work to cover for yet another stupid decision, it seems as if Jones is ready to let the young athlete show his potential on the field.
They are now apparently ready to allow Bryant to show fans he can put the off the field drama behind him and become the star Jerry Jones believes he can be. He did draft the young wide receiver out of Oklahoma State for a reason, right?
Bryant and Williams weren't exactly the best of friends. In fact, I'm not even sure you could say they were acquaintances. And now with the team deciding to move on without the veteran wide receiver, Bryant is now laughing all the way to the perverbial bank.

Now Bryant is saying to himself, "see, I knew he wasn't worthy of me carrying his pads."
Was this the smartest move for the Cowboys to make? Was Williams that bad that they just didn't believe he belonged with this team for the 2011 season?
That question could have mroe answers than one and it could be a debate that could be completely one sided. There is one thing we know for sure.
It's certainly not the first time Roy Williams has been dismissed.

Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant Gets Himself Into More Hot Water

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One has to wonder what it's going to take for the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones to throw up their hands and admit, maybe we shouldn't have drafted this guy after all.

Dez Bryant, the Cowboys first round draft pick back in 2010, has made a habit of getting himself into trouble during the offseason.
A run in with police at North Park Mall in Dallas and owing a jewelry store more than $100,000 for bling he never paid for. Oh yeah, and then there was former Cowboy Deion Sanders telling the media he wanted nothing more to do with Bryant, a guy he used to mentor.
Now comes this.
According to Richie Whitt of the Dallas Observer, Dez Bryant was apparently supposed to show up at NJ Expo Center in Edison, New Jersey to sign autographs for the Collectors Showcase of America show that was to take place there.
According to Whitt, Bryant was given three round trip airline tickets plus hotel for himself, his advisor David Wells, as well as another friend. He was also supposed to receive $10,000 for two hours of signing autographs, a limo for the three of them to Atlantic City and two more hotel rooms there as well as a suite.
For all that you would think Bryant would have gladly showed up especially with former NFL players like Terry Bradshaw, Bo Jackson, Ray Lewis, Frank Gifford and Joe Greene in attendance not to mention former Dallas Cowboys Tony Dorsett and Jay Novacek were also in attendance.
But, in true Dez Bryant style, he decided he was going to no-show.
"There's a professional code that most players adopt," Marco Rol, the president of the Collectors Showcase of America, told Whitt. "They feel a responsibility to their fans, not to mention they're paid handsomely to show up. What Dez did happens probably only one out of 100 times.You get cancellations and re-schedulings in our business, but it's very rare to get the total no-show like that one."
Bryant apparently wasn't the only current Dallas Cowboy to be a no-show in Edison. Jay Ratliff also did show up to the event but he did apparently call Rol to let him know before hand that he would not be there and offered to sign additional items just to make up for his absence.
What excuse could he have possibly used to no-show to the event who was willing to give so much to him and his "advisors?" Bryant apparently said his father had a heart attack.
But according to a source Whitt spoke to, the Cowboys' wide receiver and the friend of advisor David Wells apparently complained about details already discussed with them almost a month earlier.
"He's asking me how long he had to sign, how many fans will be there, complaining about the money, things like that," a liaison for the collector's show said. "Next thing I know his father is sick and dying and he's not coming to Jersey because he has to go to Houston. David came up, but that's like a jockey showing up with no horse."
The question now might be, is Dez Bryant becoming too much of a hassle and too much of a public relations nightmare for the Dallas Cowboys to put up with?
His problems all started so innocently with refusing to carry the shoulder pads of veteran wide receiver, Roy Williams. Since then, it's been all downhill for the former Oklahoma State Cowboy.
If things continue down this same path, Deion Sanders won't be the only one cutting ties with Dez Bryant.

The Dallas Cowboys Have The Talent to Win, But Can They Put it Together?

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What comes to your mind when I mention players like Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Jay Novacek, and Emmitt Smith?

How about champions, greatness, tradition, and everything that epitomizes who the Dallas Cowboys are. Those four players were some of the biggest reasons the Cowboys were called "America's Team" for so long. It's the reason the Cowboys are still known as one of the best franchises in NFL history.

When those four players left for retirement, a new era of players donned the silver star on the helmet.

But in each of the last 16 seasons, the Cowboys haven't shown the greatness this franchise use to be all about. In fact, they've been everything but great.

A single playoff victory is all this franchise has been able to accomplish since the aforementioned four players hung up their gear for good.

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The team formerly known for greatness is now known for underachieving and mediocrity with no end in sight.

With the 2011 season very much in question, new head coach Jason Garrett, quarterback Tony Romo, and a list of talented offensive and defensive players, this team has no more room for error.

During the 2010 season all of the team's problems were blamed on then head coach, Wade Phillips. While the team played better under Garrett after Wade was fired, this team still missed the playoffs by a long shot. Now that their reason for losing is out the door, their excuses have no room to make their presence known.

No longer are they able to say they aren't motivated to play and no longer can they say their head coach isn't holding them accountable.

It's time for the Dallas Cowboys to step up and become the team they once were.

After the team drafted running back DeMarco Murray, it became the first step in moving on from Marion Barber who has been less than impressive over the last few seasons. The guy who used to be one of the up and coming stars did a disappearing act and has fans begging to see a trade to send Marion out of town.

Murray, a former running back with the Oklahoma Sooners, along with current running backs Tashard Choice and Felix Jones, makes a scary trio out of the Cowboys backfield.

Romo will return to the quarterback position after sitting out most of the 2010 season with a broken collarbone. Though some of his teammates say he should have to earn the starting role again against backup Jon Kitna, it's not likely that Garrett will have any sort of battle between the two veterans.

Wide receivers Roy Williams, Miles Austin, and Dez Bryant are arguably three of the most talented wide receivers in the league and it doesn't hurt that they play for the same team.

There's no reason this Dallas Cowboys' team can't make it deep into the playoffs if the 2011 season ever gets underway.

They have no excuse as to why they would falter or sputter and die before getting to the Super Bowl for the 17th straight season. The players are in place and the head coach is in place.

All they need to do now is show it on the field.

Jim Harbaugh Ready to Return the San Francisco 49ers Back to Their Glory Days

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For those of you who have followed the coaching career of Jim Harbaugh you will notice there is one thing that sticks out--Winning.

His first stop as the man in charge came prior to the 2004 college football season when he was hired at the University of San Diego. After a 7-4 start to his very first season with the Toreros, Harbaugh would lead USD to a 22-2 record over his final two years, winning the conference championship in each of those two years.

After the 2006 season, Harbaugh was offered the head coaching job at Stanford University. Though his first two seasons were rough, a combined 9-15 record, Stanford turned things around with an 8-5 record in 2009 and a 12-1 record in 2010. His final season finished with a lopsided 40-12 win over Virginia Tech in the 2011 Orange Bowl.

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During this past off season, with the job at Harbaugh alma mater, Michigan, being open most thought he was a shoe-in to be the next head coach of the Wolverines. Surprisingly, he did the opposite, electing instead to remain in the Bay Area as the head coach at Stanford.

His decision to remain there prompted junior quarterback, and 2012 Heisman hopeful, Andrew Luck to also remain in school instead of declaring for the 2010 NFL Draft where he was almost assured of being the No. 1 pick overall.

Not long after Luck made his decision, Harbaugh was offered a job he couldn't turn down. So he took a chance and became the new head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

A team steep in tradition and a franchise who has had names like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Roger Craig, Ronnie Lott and so many others don the uniform, had lost their way and had lost the ability to be the team everyone respected.

Mike Singletary tried to bring it back to the bay area but failed miserably.

Harbaugh has won at each level of his coaching career. From the University of San Diego of the Pioneer League to the Stanford Cardinal of the now PAC-12. He has found a way to bring in the right players who mesh together perfectly to make an unstoppable team.

He brings out the best in his players like USD quarterback Joe Johnson or Stanford quarterback, Andrew Luck. These two players became stars at their respective schools as well as in their own conference.

So it's only fitting to bring in a coach who knows how to do all of those things. Say what you want about college coaches failing and it's a legitimate argument. Steve Spurrier, now at South Carolina, and Nick Saban, now at Alabama, have both tried their luck at becoming successful NFL coaches.

Both failed.

Harbaugh has a chance to prove that exact theory wrong. He gets a chance to prove that it has everything to do with the coach and not where he came from.

He has a young team and he will have the ability to shape them just the way he needs them to be. When or if the NFL lockout comes to an end, he will have young quarterbacks Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick to lead his offense into the future.

While Smith's status is uncertain as he will become an unrestricted free agent once the lockout is lifted, he told NFL.com he's very secure in the fact he will be back with the team in 2011.

"For the feeling I got from Harbaugh, the offensive coaching staff, from every time I've been in there, from before the lockout, from when the lockout ended that day and a half. But I have such a good feeling. I feel they've been up front about everything they've told me."

Smith is so secure, in fact, he's been leading the 49ers in throwing sessions during this off season.

He may not be the future for this team, especially with a young quarterback out of Nevada (Kaepernick) seemingly ready to take the reigns, I wouldn't expect Smith to let them go without a fight.

The new head coach of the 49ers has a lot of work to do before this season gets underway, if we have one at all. But give him a few years and watch this young head coach return the 49ers to their days of glory.

Jim Harbaugh has won everywhere else, why not here?

Could Dwayne Harris Be the Next Miles Austin for the Dallas Cowboys?

When a wide receiver gets drafted in the sixth round there are not a whole lot of expectations that come with him. The same was said about another sixth round pick back in 2000 before New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady became a Super Bowl champion and a husband to one of the hottest women on the planet.


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For former East Carolina wide receiver Dwayne Harris, he is not expecting to be the next star wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys but he does want a chance to at least compete. "Every player is going to come in and fight to earn their spot," Harris told the Dallas Morning News. "I don't want anything given to me., I am going to fight for my job and fight for my position."

It is that exact mindset which could make Harris a dangerous player to the other wide receivers on the roster. His wanting to compete could make him fight that much harder to make sure he stays in the thoughts and minds of head coach Jason Garrett as well as the rest of the coaching staff.

While no one expects this young wide receiver to battle Miles Austin, Roy Williams, or Dez Bryant for their starting roles, Harris is still a guy who received praise from a coach of a rival Conference USA team.

“I just know when we played them the last two years, he was their heart and soul,” Rice head coach David Bailiff told the San Antonio Express-News. “I think they got a great pick. I can’t believe he went in the sixth round. You look at him going in the sixth and you say, ‘Wow. He’s a couple of rounds higher than that.’ ”

Baliff wasn't done praising the former ECU receiver, “He was such a great weapon for them. He could take the short or intermediate route and go the distance, and he could do the long ball. You had to be aware of him every snap and do something to bracket him. He's that special."

Harris, the all-time leader in catches and receiving yards at East Carolina, finished his senior season with 1,123 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, good enough to land him the Conference USA MVP

Don't expect Harris to contribute from the wide out spot with the Dallas Cowboys any time soon but Garrett did say he's physical enough to possibly be a returner for the team and even get some special teams experience.

“He was a guy that was both very productive as an offensive player and as a special-teams guy,” Garrett said. "He's a potential returner for us, but could also contribute on special teams in other ways. He's a physical guy. We've had receivers in our history who filled this role, a guy who can be productive on offense but also be physical and willing to play special teams.”

That is high praise coming from an NFL coach about a sixth round pick who really will not get more than a few column inches in any newspaper or online sports website.

If Harris is as good as David Bailiff says he is or as physical as Jason Garrett says he is, maybe he could be a player the Dallas Cowboy fans might get to know sooner rather than later.


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Dallas Cowboys: Will DeMarco Murray Force Marion Barber out of Dallas?

With the 71st pick of the 2011 NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select DeMarco Murray, running back, Oklahoma Sooners.

With those words, Dallas Cowboy running back Marion Barber cringed and began to wonder if his days in Dallas were numbered.

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Since rushing for 24 combined touchdowns between the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Barber has become enemy number one and a sports talk radio punching bag in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. But is it completely his fault?

If you think back to the two really good seasons Barber had, you might remember he was not an every down back. Barber was the kind of guy who would get the call close to the goal line because he was a guy the Cowboys could count on to close the deal and get them in the end zone. He was a 'closer' so to speak.

Then the team decided they were going to make Barber a featured running back in their offense and that's when things began to go downhill in a hurry.

His problems with injuries as well as hanging on to the ball have led to the Cowboys beginning to use former Alabama running back, Felix Jones, more in the offense than Barber. When Jones and even former Georgia Tech rusher Tashard Choice, began seeing more time this past season, the writing on the was became even clearer.

Then came the NFL Draft just a few weeks ago. The first two rounds were spent on an offensive tackle and a linebacker, but then came the third round.

Former Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray's name was announced and he became the newest Dallas Cowboy back which was already four deep to begin with.

Barber, along with Jones, Choice, as well as second year back Lonyae Miller, the newest draft pick signaled what could be a dramatic shift in rank at the position. A shift that new head coach Jason Garrett new he would need to see at the position.

Between Choice, Jones, and Barber the Dallas Cowboys only saw eight rushing touchdowns through the entire 2010 season. They relied heavily on the passing game and put it squarely on the shoulders of backup quarterback Jon Kitna after Tony Romo went down for the season.

With Murray now in the mix it could give this team the boost they need to be able to not put so much pressure on Romo or Kitna to move the team down the field. The Dallas Cowboys have never been a one-dimensional team and they can not afford to continue to operate as they did last season.

As for Barber, the addition of a new running back could mean that he has seen his final days in a Cowboy uniform. While nothing is set in stone, the writing is definitely on the wall especially with three younger, more capable, running backs behind him.

Chalk it up to mis-use by the Cowboys or chalk it up to Barber just not being able to transition from a closer to a starter, something even a baseball player has a hard time with.

Whatever the case, the Dallas Cowboys will have a tough decision to make when they begin to make roster cuts during training camp. They will take an especially long look at who they want behind their quarterback and who will make the greatest difference to a team that's been lackluster and full of underachievement over the past 16 seasons.

Marion Barber still has a lot to prove and he's going to need to be in the best shape of his playing career if he hopes to have any chance at all at sticking with the Cowboys. Maybe a little competition will do him good.


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Dez Bryant a No-Show to Dallas Cowboys Team Workout

Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver Dez Bryant just can not seem to keep his name out of the news. Whether it's getting into a verbal confrontation with Dallas police at an upscale shopping mall or owing thousands of dollars for jewelry he didn't pay for.

Over the last few weeks the stories surrounding Bryant seemed to have died off and the conversations about him on sports talk radio also grounded to a stop.



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Until, that is, the media found out Bryant did not show up to a workout put together by the Dallas Cowboy players.

The location was unknown and while quarterback Tony Romo refused to say who was there and who wasn't, a source leaked it to the Dallas media that one of the no-shows was in fact Dez Bryant. It relit the already short fuse some of the fans, and media alike, have for the 2010 first round draft pick.

Drama started his career with the Cowboys after the "shoulder pad gate" after Bryant refused to carry Roy Williams' pads. That incident alone was blown into a story that never should have been as big as it was. Then there was the incident at NorthPark Centre followed by the money owed for jewelry.

It has not been a good off season for the second year wide receiver. There are things he could have done to make sure his name didn't stay synonymous with negative press.

The best thing Bryant could have done for himself was to show up to this team workout. He could have done everything in his power to make sure he was visible at the workout and made absolutely sure people knew he made the decision to be there.

We do not know what kept him from being at the workout and it's what makes this particular story a slippery slope because we have nothing but assumptions at this point. He could have had an absolutely legitimate reason for not being there.

But because of everything Bryant has been through and because of all the negative press that has surrounded his name, the assumptions of those who hear he wasn't at the team workout are going to be that he just decided he did not want to be there. Fans and media are going to assume the worst when it comes to Bryant.

Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones, prior to the start of the NFL Draft, was supposed to have a sit down meeting with his wide receiver. During a press conference, Jones made it clear he was going to discuss all of the things surrounding Bryant and make sure the two sides were on the same page.

When the date for the meeting came and went, Jones said the meeting had not taken place and when asked why Jones only responded by saying ,"their schedules had been mixed up."

There are a lot of frustrations with Dez Bryant since he was drafted by the Cowboys. There is no question he has tremendous talent and ability but his actions and decisions away from football could be a lot better.

If he can not stay out of trouble and if he continues to be a no show for the team workouts, one might wonder just how long the Dallas Cowboys are willing to keep explaining things away until they are forced to cut and run.


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2011 NFL Draft: San Diego Chargers Draft Needs and Strategy

San Diego Chargers 2011 NFL Draft picks: No. 18 (first round), No. 50 (2nd), No. 61 (2nd), No. 82 (3rd), No. 89 (3rd), No. 183 (6th), No. 201 (6th), No. 233 (7th)

Traded: Fourth, fifth, and seventh round picks

Team needs: DE, WR, SS, OT, LB

The San Diego Chargers, at this point, are probably wishing they hadn't traded away three of their draft picks for this year's NFL Draft. With the needs this team has to fill they could use every pick they could get.

Their biggest need right now is at the defensive end position, something ESPN's Mel Kiper thinks they will fix by drafting Muhammad Wilkerson, a defensive lineman out of Temple, with the 18th overall pick in the draft. He's someone who fits what the Chargers will be looking for and he is a guy who brings outside pressure from the defensive end position.

Fix that glaring need with Wilkerson, assuming he is still available, and they can move on to other issues they will need to take a look at. While a wide receiver is something this team will need to add in this draft, I'm not exactly sure they will do it in the second round no matter what Kiper has on his board.

The Chargers' defense needs a lot of help so there is no reason they should not draft a safety or a linebacker with their 50th pick in the second round. According to Bolt Hype, they believe a guy who could be a solid choice in the second round is Martez Wilson a 6'4" 250-pound linebacker out of Illinois.

However, if you ask Ernie Padaon of Bolt Beat he seems to believe defensive ends J.J. Watt and Cameron Jordan should be the first two picks the Chargers should be looking at. Only problem with those two players is neither may be off the board before the 18th pick rolls around for San Diego.

A great regular season team needs to find a way to become a great post season team, something the Chargers haven't been able to figure out how to do. This year's draft could be a good starting point and a good place to find the young players who could affect this team's future.

Players I like for the Chargers:
Muhammad Wilkerson, DL, Temple
Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
Titus Young, WR, Boise State
Marcus Cannon, OT, TCU
Quinton Carter, S, Oklahoma
Edmund Gates, WR, Abilene Christian


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Philip Rivers, Ryan Mathews Key to Success For the San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers continue to feel as if they have the right pieces in place to make a significant run at the Super Bowl. Only problem is, that feeling seems to come around each and every year and the only thing they seem to find is disappointment.

But there's a new feeling in San Diego area coming in to the 2011 NFL Draft. Could this team finally be putting together the kind of team that can, finally, make the type of run they have talked about for so long?

They do have two pieces already in place that could make the biggest difference going forward. One is quarterback Philip Rivers and the other is second year running back Ryan Mathews.

Say what you want about these two players and how both have underachieved at times, but if the Chargers want to do what they have never done in franchise history, win a Super Bowl, it is going to begin and end with the performance of these two players.

Rivers has one of the strongest arms among the NFL quarterbacks and he can shred any defense for 300 yards or more on any given Sunday. Though there are times he makes bad decisions and telegraphs his passes, he can also look like one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

The knock against him, at least from other teams, is how much Rivers likes to talk trash on the field. He gets a tad too fiery and might run his mouth a little more than he should. Outside of that, his teammates love him and the Chargers as a whole love him. It's why they drafted him in the first place as the new face of the franchise.

Ryan Mathews, the second year running back out of Fresno State, was drafted by the Chargers during the 2010 NFL Draft amid hype from the local media and the Chargers themselves.

Though Mathews was the heir apparent to former star running back LaDainian Tomlinson, his slow start and fumble problems led fans to wonder why they drafted him in the first place.

But the team wasn't giving him many chances to really show what he was capable of. There were a few points during the 2010 season where Mathews was able to run through a hole in the opposing defensive line and show the burst of speed everyone talked about.

While the Chargers were giving their former running back more than 20 carries per game, Mathews was seeing just above 10 per game. Not exactly enough to show why the team wanted him to be their next star at the running back position.

When they finally did give him more than the 20 carries usually reserved for someone at Mathews' position, he put up his best game of the season, rushing for 120 yards and three touchdowns against the Denver Broncos.

While the team has seen great regular season performances, the playoffs have been a completely different story.

In 2004, the Chargers were led to a 12-4 season by Brees after he took the majority of snaps during training camp thanks to a Rivers hold out due to a contract dispute. They would capture the AFC West division crown but would face defeat in overtime, 20-17, to the New York Jets in the very first round of the playoffs.

Two years later, in 2006, the Chargers would win 14 games during the regular season but would fall again in the playoffs this time to the New England Patriots after blowing a fourth quarter lead at home.

In each of the following three seasons, 2007 and 2008, the Chargers would again be bounced from the playoffs by the Patriots in the 2007 AFC Championship game and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2008 AFC Divisional round game.

After three straight seasons of playoff disappointment, the Chargers finally looked like they were going to break through during the 2010 season. After losing three of their first five games, the Chargers went on a blitz and ran off 11 straight victories to close out the regular season with a 13-3 record, captured their fourth straight AFC West title, and a first round bye in the playoffs.

Their divisional round game against a playoff foe they had faced before, the New York Jets, ended the way every other playoff game had ended for San Diego. This time a 17-14 loss to the Jets at Qualcomm Stadium, sending the players and fans home wondering how this continues to happen.

In 2010 the team got off to what most would call a shocking start. Thanks to mental lapses, turnovers, and terrible special teams play, the Chargers would love five of their first seven games and were never able to recover. They finished the season with a respectable 9-7 record but would miss the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

Things just don't seem to be going right for this NFL franchise. Whether it's playoff losses and losing games they had no business losing, they just can't seem to dig their way out of the hole they've been stuck in.

With a new season and new possibilities on the horizon, Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews will be looked to by the Chargers' offense to move them in a new direction. These are the two players would could make the most impact to a team looking to finally accomplish greatness.

Though Mathews is mostly unproven, especially after an ankle injury kept him from really being able to show what he can do, there's going to be a lot of skepticism around the team from the media as well as the fans.

As for Rivers, everyone knows what's capable of and they know what he brings to the table. His leadership has both brought them to the highest peaks as well as the lowest valleys. He knows that this team needs and he knows that they need from him to be able to be the team to beat in the AFC once again.

The team's success and ability to do something only done once in franchise history lands squarely on the Chargers' quarterback and second year running back. 

Find greatness and there is no limit to the heights this team can soar. 

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Is Dez Bryant Considering Suing the NCAA Over His Suspension from Oklahoma State?

Dez Bryant just can not keep his name out of the news.

After being kicked out of an upscale mall in the Dallas area to owing several thousand dollars to a jeweler, it just seems wherever Bryant is drama is not far behind.

On Friday morning, according to a report from The Ben and Skin show on 103.3 FM ESPN Radio in Dallas, Bryant is apparently kicking around the idea of suing the NCAA over his suspension from Oklahoma State.

It apparently has to do with all the NCAA violations at Ohio State and head coach Jim Tressel only getting a give game suspension for withholding information and lying about what he knew. Bryant seemingly did the same about a relationship with former NFL star Deion Sanders and got handed a 12 game suspension.

If this is something he is seriously going after it's absolutely the wrong move. It will not do him any good to pursue this right now and it won't change the fact he was suspended and virtually forced to jump ship from college to the pros.

The NCAA is not going to apologize for the suspension they handed him and it's not going to change anything in how they handle the Ohio State situation. Nothing good comes of this so I'm hoping this is nothing but a rumor.


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Andre Gurode, Dallas Cowboys Say They Have Reached Out to Dez Bryant

Dez Bryant has been the source of a lot of headaches for the Dallas Cowboys during the off season.

With his run-ins at an upscale mall in Dallas and owing money to a jewelry store, some wonder what we still might not know about the Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver.

His former mentor, Deion Sanders, has jumped ship and is no longer speaking to the second year wideout. He told ESPN radio a few weeks ago that Bryant needed help and he had told the Cowboys as much in earlier conversations with them. He, however, was done trying to help him out when it seemed Bryant wouldn't help himself.

While "Prime Time" might not be there for Bryant, it seems his Cowboys teammates are ready to pick up the slack.

Cowboys' center Andre Gurode joined 105.3 FM The Fan in Dallas on Wednesday morning and was asked about reaching out to Bryant and trying to keep him in line.

"You know, I think we have a close-knit group and we all want the best for Dez," Gurode said. "We have reached out to try and get in contact with him and tell him that this is a situation that you’re going through and we want you to get through it, and get over it. And if you need any help, call one of us and we’ll definitely sit down and talk to you."

Whether or not Gurode of any of his teammates can get through to this young wide receiver isn't a given but Gurode and the rest of his teammates need to make this an internal conversation. If there is anyone Bryant is going to listen to it has to be the veteran's in the locker room, right?

I know there was the drama surrounding him and Roy Williams during training camp last year and it didn't start Bryant's career off as a Cowboy on the right foot. But when it comes to guys who can get through to a young guy who needs to be turned around and put on the right path, Gurode is the right guy to start things off.

Nothing has worked yet, maybe this is a latch ditch effort to see how Bryant responds. If he doesn't and continues to get in trouble, one has to wonder whether Jerry Jones and the rest of the front office and coaching staff might have to make other plans for his future.


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NFL Lockout: Will There be a 2011 NFL Season? Don't Hold Your Breath

The players and owners still haven't come to an agreement and both sides want to blame each other. It's been the same old same old for the past few months since the players decided to "de-certify" or "strike" if you will.

There are now lawsuits, a judge with the middle name of 'Richard', players unable to contact their coaches and are not allowed to show up to NFL Draft parties where the media is present. At least that's the word here in Dallas when local radio stations were told only former Dallas Cowboys would be allowed to show up.

So, if you're holding your breath hoping these two sides will all of the sudden grow a conscience and come to some sort of an agreement, you're begging for a letdown.

Those who tell you there will be a season and that this will be figured out before training camp begins are only feeding you what they want to believe. They're not in the know and they're living on hopes and dreams like the rest of us.

We can talk about how this is about money, player safety, new rules, regulations, etc or we can just sit around and make jokes about the entire situation.

This isn't what anyone wanted. Not the players, not the owners, not the fans. No one. But the two sides decided they were going to play Democrats and Republicans and not agree on a single thing. They decided politics was better than facts and working through differences was just too difficult for any of them to do.

I'm not going to spare anyone and I'm not going to take blame away from either side. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees are just as much to blame as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones, and the rest of the ownership who are making far too much money already.

The NFL is a business and the players are the ones you see outside a building carrying white signs which say "We Deserve More Money," or "We're on Strike." It's kind of like the people you've seen at the airport or outside the grocery stores who are daring you to cross their picket line. Then you do so with a sinister smile and an uncaring attitude about what their problem really is.

The most immature move to date, at least the one a lot of us know about, was the current NFL players pulling in the incoming draftees into this mess. Something that wasn't their fight all the sudden became very much a concern for them and their families.

The players wanted the incoming rookies to not attend draft day. They technically didn't "demand" it but the hint was thrown out where everyone caught wind of it. They wanted to take something away from these players, something these long time NFL players themselves had the chance to take part in. Yet, because they were on strike, they wanted to ruin this same opportunity for players who had nothing to do with it.

We don't what's going to happen from here or even if there's going to be an NFL season when October rolls around. We don't know if the two sides are ever going to get back to the bargaining table and sort out their differences without Judge Susan Richard Nelson getting involved.

Nothing good comes from bashing each other in a court room. It just builds the wall between the players and owners and creates even more animosity towards each other.

The bottom line is, this won't end well.

Goodell has already blamed the players for these problems and a few of them have fired back at the commissioner and have gone so far as to call him a flat out "liar." If that doesn't give you a good indication about how things are going to go from here, I don't know what will.

The NFL doesn't deserve a season in 2011. The players should stay home and watch college football and the Major League Baseball playoffs on their televisions. The UFL and IFL will thank them for more television coverage that normally they wouldn't get.

Fans will be the ones I will feel sorry for the most. Those who can't wait to root for their favorite team as they make the run to the Super Bowl. Not only them, but the ones who count on the NFL for employment. I'm speaking of ticket takers, concessions, team store sales clerks, and those who work at the stadiums each and every Sunday.

Those are the ones who will be left in the cold if this squabble isn't decided in the next few months.

Honestly, I'm just fine watching baseball instead of hearing about NFL's training camp, something which means less than baseball's spring training.

So, if you're ready to hear more about what's going on in the courtroom than what's happening on the field, than the next few months will be right up your alley.

But if you look forward to watching training camp coverage on the NFL Network every year, maybe you want to look forward to something else this time around.


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Dallas Cowboys: Should Tony Romo Have to Earn the Starting Role Again?

For the past few seasons the Dallas Cowboys fans have become restless with their starting quarterback, Tony Romo. Most who call into the sports talk radio shows want him traded, benched or otherwise while others will back him tooth and nail.

There really is no middle ground to be seen.

 

The players and owners haven't been able to get together and come to an agreement to make sure there is going to be an NFL season. If there was going to be one, it seems some of Romo's teammates believe he should have to battle for the starting role instead of getting it handed to him.

One such teammate, tight end Martellus Bennett, seems to be lobbying for Jon Kitna who took over for Romo last season after a season ending injury.

Bennett was on the Ben & Skin show on 103.3 FM ESPN Radio in Dallas and said, "I loved playing with Kitna. Kitna is one of my favorite people to play with. Just being out there on the field with that guy just makes you play even harder. He made some things happen in limited time, so I think if he got a longer chance, he'd be able to do more. I hope there's a chance for a quarterback competition this year. Every position, I think we need to put more competition into it."

Bennett isn't the only Dallas Cowboy to favor Kitna over Romo. Wide receiver Roy Williams said Kita is "just as good" as Romo.

While Kitna I'm sure enjoys the support and is flattered, his response was predictably of the political correct variety.

"[Romo] understands that my role here is to support him and to serve him the best way that I can," Kitna told ESPN's Tim McMahon. "There's no awkwardness at all. He understands that, and more importantly, I understand that. That's my job."

However, while there may be more who agree with both Bennett and Williams in that locker room, Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones will apparently keep his loyalty and love behind Romo. Especially since he still has three years left on what was a six-year, $67.4 million contract.

The fans here want to see a change because nothing has really changed with this team since Romo became the starter. The team has a single playoff victory in the past 16 seasons. What used to be excellence in Dallas has now turned into a little bit less than mediocrity.

Jones seems to believe he's doing what's best for the team but apparently isn't seeing the lack of results. He can be as upset as he wants after a loss and get in front of the cameras promising brimstone and fire. But when it comes right down to it, not much change takes place.

The Cowboys will come in to the 2011 season with a brand new head coach, Jason Garrett, and apparently a new found outlook for their future.

Don't tell that to Bennett, Williams, or the fan base who don't believe this team is headed for anything but more disappointment.

Until bigger changes occur and until Jerry Jones decides to really shake things up, the Dallas Cowboys will become just another team searching for their identity in the National Football League.


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2011 NFL Draft: Could TCU's Andy Dalton Be the Surprise of the Draft?

For the TCU fans who have watched quarterback Andy Dalton, they know there's more to him than most of the college football world cared to see for themselves.

They were too busy watching the likes of Auburn's Cam Newton, Arkansas' Ryan Mallett, Washington's Jake Locker, and Missouri's Blaine Gabbert.

Though Dalton started all four years at TCU, his final three seasons is what the fans will remember him for. He led the Horned Frogs to a combined record of 36-3 over his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. Wrapping up his final year in purple and white with a perfect 13-0 record and a Rose Bowl win over the Wisconsin Badgers.

What a better way to wrap up your college career.

Now, with the NFL Draft bearing down on him, he's gone from one of the top college quarterbacks in the country to a guy who seems to be lost in the spotlight of the other so-called "stars."

There's been talk about Mallett being the number one overall while others think Gabbert will be the man going No. 1 to the Carolina Panthers.

While you watch for that first pick with anticipation, keep your eyes focused closely on the young man from Katy, Texas. You may be surprised when his name is called before some other names you thought for sure would be already off the board.

He's not your prototypical NFL quarterback and a guy you would call the next "face of the franchise," but his name seems to be gaining strength over the last few weeks. If this continues, we might actually see Dalton as the third or fourth quarterback taken in the draft.

GASP! What did he say?

You heard me right. After Gabbert and Newton leave the board before the 10th pick is called, it won't be Mallett or Locker who will be up next. It will be TCU's own, Andy Dalton.

In 2010, Dalton set career numbers in completion percentage (66.1), total passing yards (2,857), touchdowns (28), and yards per game (219.8) which included an astounding 355 yard 3 touchdown performance against Utah when the Utes were ranked in the top five.

There are certain quarterbacks NFL teams will take chances on. Most of the time, they are guys who weren't the biggest stars in college but put up numbers that made believers of just about every scout who came across this young man.

We can talk about the teams TCU did or didn't play and you can try to argue with me that anyone who plays outside of the SEC and Big Ten isn't ready to play at the next level. If you want to use that argument, you're more than welcome to. I just think someone forgot to tell former LSU quarterback, JaMarcus Russell.

I'm nto the only one who believes Dalton will be off the board before the first round comes to an end. Former NFL quarterback turned ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer gave his guarantee Dalton would be off the board in the first round.

SI.com draft analyst Tony Pauline also weighed in on Dalton saying he'd be off the board before the 40th overall pick came around.

He's been compared by some to Green Bay Packers' quarterback, and Super Bowl Champion, Aaron Rodgers who was someone most didn't see anything in when he came out of Cal.

Whatever your take is on the quarterback out of TCU, it seems he's not only passed Mallett but could be gaining on Newton and Gabbert as well.

Ok, maybe that's stretching it a tad too much.

Still, Dalton could absolutely be the surprise of the NFL Draft next month. Not only that, he could surprise his future teammates by challenging for the starting job in 2011. Unless of course the NFL can't find a reason to play any of their games this season.


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Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Aqib Talib is a Person of Interest in Shooting

While all the talk over the last week was surrounding Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver Dez Bryant being thrown out of a local mall, there could be another former Texas athlete in trouble with the law.

Aqib Talib, a former high school standout at Richardson Berkner and current cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is being called a "person of interest" by Garland police after an incident back on March 21st.

According to Richie Whitt of the Dallas Observer, Talib could be arrested and charged with discharging a firearm within a municipality (class A misdemeanor) or aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (second-degree felony).

Though the Garland Police Department says the investigation is ongoing, according to the report from that night, Talib and Shannon Billings the boyfriend to Talib's sister got into an altercation. Talib tried to pistol whip Billings and then apparently fired several rounds at him as Billings ran from the scene on foot.

For the Bucs cornerback, it's not the first time he's been in trouble because of his violent temper.

In August of 2009, Talib was arrested for battery and resisting arrest after assaulting a taxi driver. A few months prior to that, he got into a fight with a teammate during training camp. While he and the teammate were being separated by other players, Talib apparently swung his helmet and hit another player in the face.

At the end of the 2010 season, Talib got into a shouting match with a referee after the Buccaneers lost to the Baltimore Ravens and apparently threatened to punch the official but only after Talib was cussed at. Something he apparently took personally and had to be restrained.

Until more details are known of the alleged incident and the outcome of the investigation by Garland Police, it's premature to say one way or the other if there is going to be any reaction either by the Bucs of the NFL themselves.


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Dallas Cowboys: The Affects of a Lockout in a Town Where Football is King

During the NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys are king and Cowboys' Stadium is always the most happening place in town on a Sunday afternoon.

If you've ever driven down Randal Mill Road you know the feeling of getting stuck in the kind of traffic that makes you wonder if getting out and walking the rest of the way wouldn't be faster. Sometimes you even consider paying someone just to put your car in park so you you don't have to wonder if you'll ever get to a parking lot.

With the NFL lockout looming and the possibility of not having a football season in 2011, it leaves some fans to wonder if the $1.15 billion stadium and its 80,000 seats will remain empty. Leaving the Arlington area to become a ghost town reminiscent of the old west.

Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant, Deion Sanders Cut Ties For Good

Dez Bryant couldn't be having a worse week than this one. Even though it's Friday, which is normally a good thing, it's not a Friday Bryant is going to remember.

After being kicked out of Dallas' upscale mall, NorthPark Center, former Dallas Cowboy Deion Sanders told ESPN Radio's Ben and Skin Show this morning he wants nothing more to do with the young wide receiver.

"I'm upset but not surprised whatsoever," Sanders told them. "He needs help. He needs help. I told the Cowboys from day one that he needs help. Matter of fact, they have a team in place to help him. But you cannot tell a grown man what to do."

When the news reached Bryant, as you can imagine his reaction was less than cordial. "I wish Deion would come to me as a man and talk to me," Bryant told ESPN Dallas. "I've been reaching out to Deion. I've never done anything wrong to Deion or disrespected him. I've never lied to Deion."

Though Sanders stopped mentoring Bryant more than a few months ago, this news send "Prime Time" over the proverbial edge and forced him to cut ties with him completely.

"I don't have a problem with you lying to me. That's one thing," Sanders said on the air Friday morning. "But when you lie to yourself as a man, you have a serious problem and that's where this kid is. And I can't condone it. I really can't. It tarnishes everything else I'm trying to develop in these kids [in his youth program]. I can't allow you to poison other kids that I'm trying to mentor and take to another level."

When asked if he would reach out to Bryant or speak to him Sanders replied, "I haven't spoken to the kid. I have no desire to speak to the kid. In regards to me, I can forgive, but I can't forget. You can't tarnish the other things that I have going on and the other kids. It's sort of like I can't allow something to poison the fruit of many other kids. I can't do it, so I cut off those ties a long time ago."

This is just the latest hit to the Cowboys' wide receiver. A player who came in with a lot of baggage and speculation he would be a problem.

Though it doesn't seem like he's had any negative affect on the field, his off the field problems have been what most would call a public relations nightmare for Jerry Jones. A man who had a lot of faith in Bryant when he drafted him out of Oklahoma State in the 2010 NFL Draft.

There's no indication if the Cowboys will punish Bryant internally and there's been no comment from Jones himself. But that probably has more to do with him worrying about the lockout more than a player's conduct off the field.

However, Jones won't be able to ignore this for long. Whether or not it will affect Bryant's status with the team may not be seen for some time.


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Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant Gets Himself Into Hot Water Again

Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Dez Bryant is in the news again and not the good kind.

Bryant and some friends were apparently asked to leave NorthPark Mall in Dallas on Saturday and given a criminal trespass warning from off-duty officers.

According to a police report filled out at the scene, Bryant and three other men were asked by mall security to "pull up their pants" because their underwear was showing. "It really wasn't me in the wrong," Bryant told Calvin Watkins of ESPN Dallas. "It's not even an issue."

Bryant went on to say, "I told the guy I'm not trying to get in trouble. I'm not trying to destroy my image. The [warning] wasn't toward me. I was trying to figure out what was going on. It was a big misunderstanding. I was the wrong guy."

Rumors flew that he and his friends were banned from the mall for three months but the Cowboys' wide receiver later tweeted, "Headed to North Park tomorrow to get these Lebrons....I am not banned from North park lol."

Ever since Bryant was drafted by the Cowboys, it seems drama has followed him wherever he's gone.

First it was the shoulder pad situation with teammate Roy Williams during training camp last year, then he was involved in what was called a "major disturbance" at a restaurant located inside the same mall he was booted from over the weekend.

If you're wondering when the young wide receiver out of Oklahoma State is ever going to grow up, the answer to that question may be a resounding 'NO' especially if these incidents continue to pile up.

Whether he becomes a public relations' nightmare for the Cowboys may be more of a 'when' than 'if.'


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NFL Lockout: Is Antonio Cromartie the Voice of Reason?

Antonio Cromartie isn't the most popular player in the NFL. In fact, he's probably not even in the top 25.

But while he may not be anyone's favorite, he's certainly saying all the right things during the lockout. Well, at least some might think that way.

The players are probably wondering why he's saying anything at all. Why is he crossing the proverbial "picket line" instead of sticking with the players' union against the owners? The answer to that is simple. He wants to play and I'm sure he's not the only one who feels the exact same way.

Just last week, Cromartie took to his twitter and called out both the owners and his fellow players who are in charge of putting together a new collective bargaining agreement.

"Im tired of all this emailing each other," he said. "How about the owners and the NFLPA get your behind's back to the table and talk it out there."

It started a firestorm of response from fans. Some were on his side while others wanted to know when he would ever stop talking.

Well, he wasn't done.

"We as players are depending on the April 6th hearing which could go either way. [Judge] Susan Nelson could side with us or keep the lockout going, then what? If Judge Nelson keeps the lockout we lose all the leverage. So in others words bump April 6th ruling get back to the table and handle it."

Say what you want about whatever side you're on in this battle between the players and owners. Cromartie is saying exactly what the fans believe to be true. He's saying exactly what the fans want him to say. This game is about them, right?

The verbal jousting back and forth between the players union and the owners has almost gotten to a point of no return. The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, has already been called a liar by a San Diego Chargers' linebacker Kevin Burnett during a rant on XX Sports Radio in San Diego, California.

"Goodell's full of it. He's a liar. You're a blatant liar," Burnett said of Goodell. "It's our league, it's we, we love the players, we want the league,' but what have you done for the players? What have you done, in all honesty, to improve the game, besides fine guys, besides take money away from guys, besides change a game that you've never played? … He's done nothing to improve the game."

The players want this game to get back on the field and away from the microphones and cameras just begging for the next quote so they can hand it to the other side for a response.

It's a never ending game that could destroy any chance the two sides could ever return to the bargaining table.

There's no question in my mind both sides want to get a deal done, that much is certain. What I'm not sure of is either side agreeing to anything. They have their list of demands but there are too many egos in the room to give in to any of them.

Antonio Cromartie is just one voice in a room of voices who aren't being heard. Everyone is trying to say their peace but they're all saying it at the exact same time, making it a room full of nothing but noise.

This should have never been put in the hands of a federal judge. Now that it is, this situation can only get worse.

Leave to a voice who's not always, or hardly ever, known as the voice or reason. Now, maybe people will wonder if he's speaking more truth than we've ever given him credit for.

He doesn't have the personal life most us would approve of, but when it comes to the NFL, Cromartie is dead on.

These two sides need to stop talking, get back to the table, and get a deal done before the NFL season goes completely up in flames.


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2011 NFL Draft: Is Missouri's Blaine Gabbert Just Another Chase Daniel?

Blaine Gabbert could be the number one overall pick when the 2011 NFL Draft rolls around. Most scouts and experts praised his performance during his pro day last week and even more say he could be a starter in the NFL from day one.

In the words of the great Lee Corso, "not so fast my friend!"

I'm not going to bash the former Missouri quarterback because his numbers show what kind of quarterback he was for the Tigers.

Through two seasons as the team's starter, Gabbert amassed 6,779 total passing yards, 40 touchdown passes, and 18 interceptions.