Fate of #88: Dez Bryant will meet with Jerry Jones today

By Archie Nino III

And with the 24th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys, select wide receiver Dez Bryant. Dez Bryant has been creating buzz among Cowboys Nation his entire tenure. Recently its for the wrong reasons.

The Oklahoma State WR has put together a solid career thus far in Dallas putting up 531 receptions 7,459 yards and 73 touchdowns. A defensive backs worst nightmare on the highly touted jump or "50-50" ball. Pro Bowler in 3 seasons in 2012 with a stat line of 92 Rec 1,382 Yds 12 Td. In 2013, 93 Rec 1,233 Yds 13 Td. In the 2014 season Dez was something special 88 Rec 1,320 Yds 16 Td and netted himself his only 1st Team All-Pro season. And now that the NFL has finally figured out what a catch is how about the play in GB on 4th and 2. Who can forget plays like that?

Something happend during that magical 2014 off season that has led us to where we are today. Dez got paid 5yr $75 million $45 million guaranteed. Sure he deserved it after a tremendous campaign that proved an onslaught of offense. In the 2015 Dez struggled mightly with his own injuries and finished with a 31 Rec  401 Yds 3 Td season. The following season saw the departure of Tony Romo in exchange for current Qb Dak Prescott. Romo played brilliantly early on but his body had been giving up on him. Through nagging injuries Tony Romo eventually conceded his job to emerging star Dak Prescott in a memorable speech that put team before ego and health before pride. Dez finished that campaign 50 Rec 796 Yds 6Tds. This season with Prescott at the helm and Dez healthy enough to play in all 16 games. He no showed again with a stat line of 69 Rec 838 Yds 6Tds.

One could argue the change of philosophy from Romo to Prescott. The superstar that is Ezekiel Elliott and that the running game behind a mammoth offensive line takes more precedence. No matter how you slice it compared to the other #1 wrs in the league Dez has not measured up and has been more of a distraction on the sideline than a viable offensive threat. With a route tree spanning just 4 routes he runs well it is time Jerry Jones and company addresses this contract offer he received back in 2015. Its been widely reported that the Cowboys went after Sammy Watkins this free agency and had that occured Dez Bryant could have found himself out the door. The Cowboys did aquire DeOnte Thompson and Allen Hurns at wide receiver during free agency and Dez could find himself in a camp battle. If he makes it that far, the Cowboys have gone on and picked up a WR "guru" Sanjay Lal, who was set to work with Dez and the rest of the pass catchers. Almost everyone has worked with or met with coach Lal, except for Dez. His current contract has a $16.5 million cap hit this season and in 2019 it is imperative Dallas figures this out before the draft and start of camps. 

​This NFL draft has a few wide receivers that can shape up the new young trio to fit with Dak and Zeke. Calvin Ridley, D.J Moore and more are intriguing options for Dallas should Dez and the Cowboys split ways. Friday the 13th seems like an appropriate time to have Dez and Jerry Jones discuss so some cutting of sorts happens albeit contract or player. As one Cowboys WR used to say...Get yo popcorn ready.  Til next time #CowboysNation.