Let's start with Roy Williams. After amassing three solid productive seasons from 2004-2006 which included a Pro-Bowl in '06, Williams has had a precipitous fall in both numbers and reputation ever since. He did have a somewhat decent season last year statistically, hauling in 38 passes, 7 of which went for Touchdowns but that was hardly enough production for a guy signed to a 6 year, $54 million dollar contract. Jerry Jones and the rest of those in Cowboyland thought the same thing, so they went ahead and drafted Bryant in what seemed like a move destined to doom Roy to the Cut List.
As for Bryant, well he's certainly been no stranger to controversy thus far, has he? We all now know that his mother WASN'T a prostitute thanks to Miami Dolphins General Manger Jeff Ireland double checking that with Dez before the draft. Bryant is also the same guy that didn't fully disclose his dealings with Deion Sanders and therefore had the rest of his eligibility stripped from him by the NCAA in 2009. So it's safe to say that at the very least, Dez doesn't mind being his own man and going his own way versus the conventional route.
As for the "tradition" itself, it's one of the many stupid-ass hazing rituals that take place in the NFL that I wish would just go the hell away. I understand the point of hazing, grab-assing, ball-busting among sports teams but too often the line gets crossed. I can recall the time Jeremy Shockey decided he didn't want to color inside the lines in his rookie tradition expectations, and he ended up brawling with veteran linebacker Brandon Short because he wanted to sing his Alma mater "after I finish eating".
So in summary, I'm OK with Bryant refusing to carry his pads, just as long as he understands everything that comes with that refusal. First of all, veterans have a funny way of evening the odds - just ask Shawne Merriman. The second thing Bryant needs to understand is that if he's going to refuse this expectation, he's raising the stakes for what the Cowboys expect from him. If he's asking for special treatment like this, he has to show that he is a special player each and every time out there. That not only means he must shine on the field on Sundays but also must run 110% on every drill and every practice for the rest of his career - no loafing allowed EVER.
Maybe Bryant will become one of the best receivers in the league, and maybe he won't. Either way though, he has definitely increased the zoom on the microscope of his already carefully examined young career. We shall see exactly whether or not Dez has sabotaged his own chances for success...
Isn't it weird that #88 is not retired in Dallas?
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