Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys wowed by Martavis Bryant’s size, speed
The Dallas Cowboys didn’t have a normal practice on Wednesday as coach Mike McCarthy made it a light day because of the late return following Sunday’s 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The team flight didn’t get until after midnight.
But there was a buzz in the team’s locker room, almost like a Bigfoot sighting because of the newly signed practice squad receiver Martavis Bryant.
Quarterback Dak Prescott had yet to see the 6-foot-4, 211-pound receiver, but all he was told was that he was big and recalled a text message from former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant lauding the addition of the former Pittsburgh Steelers star who has been away from the NFL since 2018 due to repeated violations of the substance abuse policy.
Receiver CeeDee Lamb hadn’t seen him yet, but he was told by fellow receiver Michael Gallup that Bryant was big.
And true to their word, when Bryant walked into the locker room to talk to the media for the first time he cast a towering figure.
But an admittedly nervous Bryant was more grateful and appreciative than imposing.
Bryant was visibly happy just be in the NFL locker room again.
It’s been a long journey back for Bryant, who signed with the Cowboys practice squad Tuesday just a few days after being reinstated by the NFL after indefinitely suspended in 2018 for repeated violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.
“It felt good. A little nervous, but nervous is always good,” Bryant said. I’m so thankful for the opportunity. It’s been a long process for me, but I stayed the course and didn’t give up on myself. I’m very grateful to be here.”
“I thank God that I’m here. I’m truly blessed.”
Bryant is grateful and blessed because the journey he has been on since he last played in the NFL in 2018 as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Bryant came into the league as a fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014.
Bryant missed the entire 2016 season due to a suspension before being reinstated in the spring of 2017.
The Steelers traded Bryant to the Raiders in 2018 and he played eight games there before being indefinitely suspended by the NFL for a violation of the terms of his conditional reinstatement.
“[I’ve been] to places that you can’t even imagine,” Bryant said. “Some really dark places and times. I really would not like to talk about it because I worked so hard to get through those moments, but it was a dark time for me.”
“I’ve been through a lot over those last years that I haven’t played ball. Getting down on myself and wanting to give up on football. But at the end of the day, I had to look myself in the mirror and face my own demons.”
Bryant never gave up and then went about the process of trying to get back in the NFL that included six months of testing and meeting with counselors.
“I just had a process that I had to follow, steps that I had to do,” Bryant said. “Maintain my sobriety, meet with my counselor and do the things that I was supposed to do to show that I had changed. I put the work in and I’m very proud of it.”
Bryant spent last summer playing the XFL to get back used to playing football again.
Once he was reinstated by the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, his agent started reaching out to teams and the Cowboys were one of the first teams to express interest.
After an impressive workout on Monday, he was signed to the practice squad.
He said he has grown and matured over the last five years and is willing to do whatever is asked of him.
“Whatever they need me to do, I’m gonna do it,” Bryant said. “I’m the new guy, so I’m really just here to learn and get better. Whatever happens, happens. I’m gonna give it my all on the field and go from there. All I can do is take care of my responsibilities on the field and take care of my business.”
When Bryant last played in the NFL, he was as explosive of an offensive weapon as there was in the league. He was a deep-ball threat and a huge redzone target.
Despite turning 32 next month, he says he still is that type of player.
“The sky is the limit for me,” Bryant said. “I know I’m 31. I’m still fast, still big and still want to play football. I haven’t lost anything. It’s more of a proving point to me. I have a lot of doubters out there. I want to show that I still got it.”
Getting here was a start.
And buzz in the Cowboys locker room shows that he still has a lot believers.
