Dez Bryant has been the focal point of frustration amongst Cowboys Nation in his first 2 seasons. Most of his off field issues or troubles though were harmless, sagging pants at the mall, a little Miami feud with rapper Lil Wayne, jewelry debt, nothing to bad. At least Bryant wasn’t one of the many NFL players we’ve seen get a DWI or waving guns in traffic like Elvis Dumervil.
Well that all changed when early this week Dez Bryant was arrested on charges of abuse against a family member, his mother. Many in the local media and fan base were quick to dismiss the wide receiver calling for him to be traded, obviously forgetting all the trouble Cowboys are known to get into yet still managing to win Superbowls.
Some questioned whether Dez Bryant was worthy of wearing the historic #88 for the Dallas Cowboys. Whether it was Irvin’s drug problems, and sexual abuse allegations or Antonio Bryant throwing that number in Bill Parcells face.
But Tony Romo, who has long had his leadership questioned, is stepping up and supporting his talented young teammate.
“The one thing I know is that Dez knows I have his back,” Romo told ESPN’s Ed Werder on Friday at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Lake Tahoe. “Dez knows I’ll be there for him. Dez knows that I’m going to stick up for him.”
Dez Bryant should be noted for turning himself in once charges were made and a warrant was issued a couple days after the alleged incident.
“None of us are directly involved in what’s going on in his life,” Romo said. “So everyone, the speculation, the articles and things that are written are just people that are guessing. And they’re going to have their opinions based on it but no one knows exactly the way that Dez grew up, the way that things have shaped his life and his difficulties.”
“Stuff happens and we all wish that certain things wouldn’t, and I know that he’s going to try to make sure in the future those things don’t happen again,” Romo said. “But friends and your teammates don’t leave you during those moments. They come back and they tell you that we’re here for you. Our football team is a close-knit team, and these moments should show that.”
Dez Bryant has had a tremendous offseason and many are expecting this to be a breakout year for the Dallas Cowboys… like last year… and the year before that…. and so on.
“He had a great offseason, he’s improved tremendously in the last six months, and he’s going to have a good season this year and he’s going to continue to develop as a football player,” Romo said.
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