I think the word "diva" has become one of those catch-all phrases that everyone likes to use because it's convenient - but most people don't know what the word really means. And as a result, people are being described using that word when they don't quite fit the description. This is the origin of the word. As you can see, it has nothing to do with guys who catch footballs for a living. This is its usage in the vernacular. I know of two Receivers in the NFL who most certainly fit the latter definition: Randy Moss and Terrell Owens. Is Dez Bryant a "diva?" I don't believe he can be defined as such. Dez Bryant is a ****-up. Moss and Owens sure are a handful, but no one can deny two things about them: 1. they help win games when games are on the line, and 2. For all their antics, neither has never been accused of being chronically, habitually late to team activities. And, certainly, neither of them has ever been LATE TO A ****ING GAME. Because they may be divas, and they may be difficult, and they may cause headaches for their coaches - but they love the game - THEY LIVE FOR IT. Dez Bryant? ****-up. It's why, when people ask me how I can be in favor of the Dolphins acquiring Brandon Marshall but against drafting Dez Bryant, I can say with confidence that there's no contradiction. Because while Marshall may be an immature young man with authority issues, those can be grown out of. Being a ****-up? Not so much. Not loving the game which is your life enough to SHOW UP ON TIME?! **** that.
Mike Mayock said on TV the other day that he talked to Mike Gundy and he confirmed that Dez was never late to any games or practices. He was late to a meeting as a freshman however, as Dez has admitted to.
Dez had a hundred teammates, any of whom COULD have piped up by now and called bull**** on the reports. NOT ONE has. Isn't it time to stop looking for ways out for this guy? The only ones denying anything are the guy with millions of dollars at stake, and his Head Coach - the guy who routinely inflates his players' 40 times and sizes. I know that if I'm one of Dez's hundred or so teammates, I'm saying something if the allegations are not true. Where are they?
dez bryant is a guy who thinks he deserves more respect than he has earned calling out nfl teams for not taking him.... before the draft that is ridiculous
Zac Robinson has outright said that Dez isn't a diva. Obviously that's not the same as saying he's not a **** up, but it's an example of a teammate backing him up. Really only his draft eligible teammates would be commenting about him anyway as there's no reason for NFL personnel to be speaking to underclassmen. So there would be far less than 100.
That's kinda weak, Pete. My point is that if I'm any one of the hundred or so guys who played with Bryant, and I'm reading these reports - I'm finding the beat writer who covers my team and telling him that my teammate is getting railroaded. The fact that not one of his teammates has said that the allegations - any of them - aren't true, says to me that they're true.
I never said my example wasn't weak, but I don't consider it any weaker than your OP. And as to the bolded, as I said Zac Robinson has said that Dez is not a diva which is one of the allegations that has been levied against him. So that disproves your "fact" right there. But this is the last post in your thread from me, so I hope you get some good discussion out of it from here on.
i think his proday was as damning as anythhing Bryant showed flashes of greatness but certainly didn't "wow" anyone Tuesday. He ran sharp routes, just like he did on game film, and did a good job of catching passes in most drills. He did struggle on routes with his back to the quarterback, where he had to turn quickly and catch passes just as he made his break. In Combine-like drills, he did show explosive athleticism. He recorded an 11-foot, 1-inch broad jump and a 38-inch vertical jump. Bryant, however, showed only average speed. He ran the 40-yard dash with a slight breeze in the mid 4.5-second range and then against the wind in mid 4.6-second range. Scouts said the huge variance in times had more to with Bryant's choppy and inconsistent starts than any wind. More concerning is the fact Bryant seemed unprepared to properly run the short shuttle, long shuttle and 3-cone drills. He had to re-run several of the drills and never once ran hard to the finish, frustrating all in attendance. His hip movements looked tight, and he struggled to change directions quickly. He also quit the 225-pound bench press after 14 reps, even though he obviously could've done more. Overall, Bryant's disappointing day likely will lead to him falling on a number of team's draft boards because personnel men now must question his work ethic. He had six months to prepare for this workout and still failed to shine. http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/art...nt-does-little-impress-scouts-private-workout
Personally I think it's stupid to draft Dez instead of using the #1 on Marshall, I mean you've got two head cases ones fresh out of college and already thinks he's god's gift to the nfl but has yet to play a game. The other one really is god's gift to the nfl and has proven it. OK Maybe exagerating a bit but i'm sure you get the point. Plus I really think most of Marshall's problem have to do with Josh McDaniels I mean the guy had all kind of players quitting on him not just Marshall and hell he even ran Nolan out of town (thankfully for us). It just doesn't make sense to me to take Bryant over Marshall, and before anyone brings up the money Bryant is not going to be cheap either especially with Crabtrees agent he's liable to hold out for money as well causing even more problems...just too much risk with Bryant IMO theres much less risk with Marshall.
Regardless......he's easily one of the 5 most gifted players in this draft. He'd change our offense the very minute he walked onto the field. Like Marshall, he's a monster among men out there on the field and unlike Marshall, he won't cost you 10 million dollars a year and isn't a half step away from suspension. Getting Dez away from the area he grew up would likely help him, bringing Marshall back home to Florida is a risky proposition...with either player it's a gamble. Personally I think it would be easier to keep Bryant in check than Marshall And everyone can believe what they want but IMO he's a steal at #12
I love how people seem to think that Bryant and Marshall have the same type of issues. For the record Dez Bryant has never had legal troubles. Here is a list of Marshalls legal troubles: Arrested for assault against a police officer in 2004 Arrested for domestic violence in 2007 DUI in 2007 Ticketed for an illegal lane change without a license or proof of insurance in 2008 Booked for misdemeanor battery charges also in 2008 Arrested for disordely conduct in 2009 Dez Bryant is no where close the hassle that Marshall is.
If Dez Bryant had kept his nose clean and had he not been suspended last season - and had he put up numbers in 2009 similar to those he put up in 2008 - he might well be the #1 overall pick. He might be signed by now. That's how talented he is. But what good does all of Chris Henry's talent do the Bengals now? Henry too, rest in peace, was a ****-up; he was as talented as anyone playing today, I think; he certainly had a way to make a big play. But his team will not have his talent to use anymore...now imagine if they'd used the #12 pick on him.
He's far from it. If you listen to any of his interviews, he lets it be known that he's misunderstood and he's NOT like "that" at all, and he comes off very genuine and sincere if you ask me. People tend to make fun of his grammar and whatnot which is fine, but it's when people use that against him that is pretty sad and pathetic, IMO. He's made some bad decisions, but he's what, 21 years old? Come on now. I think with the right group of people behind him and a respectable organization with great guidance on and off the field, he'll mature. I don't have a problem with his attitude/personality at all based on what I've heard and seen with my own two ears. To hell with the media. I'm not going to allow some media buffoon like Omar Kelly to throw his "Diva Receiva" crap out there and paint a picture for me. I'm not just defending Dez because he's my favorite prospect in the draft. I'd trade anything on this roster (picks included) for Brandon Marshall and I'll be the first to label him as a "Diva"
I buy into it for one reason and one reason only......guys that play like him, love to play football and what they love about it is scoring TD's...LOTS of them......we need that. If you're gonna use the pick on a Safety that might be a tad small and not a great tackler or a LB that may or may not make a good transition......that's an even bigger gamble because you're gambling with talent. Hoping they become an elite player.. With Dez, that won't be a problem.......he's gonna be scoring 10+ TD's a year for someone....may as well be us.
And if all that turned out as you lay it out, then picking him would have been worth the risk. But Ro McClain, just as an example - might not catch 10 TDs a season, but you can be reasonably certain, given his past ACTIONS - not words, but ACTIONS - that he will be there season in and season out to play for his coaches and teammates. And he would make this team better. How much better could Dez Bryant possibly make this team in order to justify taking the risk with him with the #12 pick, as opposed to taking a player like McClain?
This is the problem, IMO, with saying Dez is a "steal" at #12. 1. He hasn't played since September. No one, and I repeat, no one can absolutely, without a doubt, say he hasn't lost something in the time he hasn't played. 2. When given the opportunity to shine at his Pro Day, he couldn't or just didn't. 3. More than one reported instance of "less than dedicated" behavior. Now, I'm not saying that Dez wouldn't be a good pick at 12, but he had all this time to prepare for his Pro Day and nothing he did that day shouted "Elite!!!" Not a thing. Maybe he's rusty from not playing since September and maybe he can shake that rust off. Maybe he's been given a bad rap for "missing" meetings or "being late" for games, or maybe he has earned that rep. No one knows for certain. I'm not going to be heartbroken if our FO picks Dez at 12, but I also won't be jumping for joy. I'll have to assume that the FO did its homework and that they believe that Dez is the real thing. Then hope they were right. Problem is #12 is not a pick that you should hope works out. (See Ted Ginn, Jr.)
Yeah Marshall has only had numerous girlfriend beating incidents and DUIs....he is so much less of a risk then Bryant.
Making Dansby the highest paid LB in the league was bad enough........using our #12 pick on yet another non core position would be as irresponsible as drafting Pat White was. Dez is an elite talent......McClain is just a very good prospect This team needs an elite receiver far more than it does an upgrade over Crowder....who himself has already been upgraded. FS, OLB fine......ILB has seen all the attention we can afford to give for right now.
real interested in your contingency plan if bryant is not there at 12 will you then be okay with going defense in the pass happy league?
Not a core position......however I can live with it because we are pressed to make that move. Adding to that by using our 1st rounder on yet another ILB is madness tho
Agree. I wouldn't mind using a pick on an ILB, though. Not in the first round, but the second. We need another linebacker that can cover to play in Nolan's defense.
My answer to that is in several diff threads.....if you're that interested search for it.........and don't pretend like you have ever had anything to say worth reading. You're nothing but a pot shot artist and should have been run off this forum long ago. It's guys like you that make the main the zoo I used to try to defend to the club guys, you're an embarrassment.
it is merely a question that is yet to be answered im allowed to ask really ive been down this road with padre and he gave me his thoughts and we had our disagreements but we pull for the same team i know his stance nothing crucial if you cant answer on your back up plan no worries
really he had dinner with Deion Sanders but that just means he is a trouble maker right? The NCAA was wrong for suspending him for a whole year.
It's right there above the post where you asked for it.......had you not been so focused on your usual childish BS, you might have noticed. And I've mentioned it many times.....ask around, or don't.
my guess is you will be happy when we go D you have thought about it be mad at me all day/ everyday js i like you we have a need at linebacker dansby matters but lets keep building looks like we will still talk about all this going forward
Honestly if Dez Bryant at his pro day can't outrun Brian Hartline's time at the Combine I don't want him. I'd rather give the guy we already have a shot at being the #1.
Yeah I agree it's funny that all these reports don't start coming out about him untill a month or so before the draft. Does this remind you of any other WR that is IMO the second or third best WR in NFL history? Who would I be speaking that would be Randy moss it would be a huge mistake to pass on Dez Bryant IMO
You are really going off a fourty time alright if we are going to go off of fourtys didn't the best WR in NFL history run a 4.5 or 4.6 so this is telling me coming out of collegeif Brian hartline was on the team you wouldn't want to draft Jerry rice. Football speed is different then track speed.
