For Dez Bryant, the possibilities are intriguing...
When Dez Bryant was released by the Dallas Cowboys over a month ago, this writer thought he would be wearing another team's jersey by the NFL Draft.
After all, it was Dez Bryant.
Bryant was THE Wide Receiver in Dallas, grabbing 7,465 yards receiving and 16 TDs. Despite two injured seasons in 2015 and 2016, he rebounded pretty nicely in 2017, finishing with 6 TDs - a quarter of Dak Prescott's total inventory, and a quarter of Prescott's throwing yards too (838 to Prescott's 3,324).
Bryant's 'off' 2017 was hampered slightly by Prescott's down sophomore year in JerryWorld, as well as the emergence of Ezekiel Elliott as one of the best running backs in the league. He became less-needed as a force for Tony Romo than he was in his early years - especially in 2014 when the 12-4 Cowboys won the East.
He's also the Cowboys all-time touchdowns leader with 73 - better than some dude called Michael Irvin, who is now in the Hall of Fame.
But by the NFL Draft, he was out of town.
Since then, there's been some conjecture about where he was going to sign, but Bryant has been insistent that he wants a one-year deal so he can negotiate a monster deal after the 2018 season.
His insistence ensured that Baltimore's multi-year offer.
There have been rumours that he'll end up playing for Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. However, why would he go there? The Packers already have Randall Cobb and DeVante Adams, and have just signed one of the best catching TEs in Jimmy Graham. Of course, the media would love a Rodgers-Bryant hook-up, because it'll mean lots of entertainment between one guaranteed Hall of Famer and a very, very good wide receiver. But with the options that Green Bay have, are we absolutely sure they'd do a deal like this?
The NFL's worst six receiving corps (other than Dallas) last year were Chicago, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Baltimore and Carolina. Baltimore's already taken itself out of the game. In terms of who you think Bryant could work with, it suddenly becomes intriguing, especially with young guns Josh Allen (Buffalo), Mitch Tribuski (Chicago) and the old guards Indianapolis' Andrew Luck and Carolina's Cam Newton. A one-year deal with Chicago and Buffalo might help two young QBs, while Luck could really do with a good wide receiver (if he's not injured). The Colts haven't seen one of those since Marvin Harrison (we joke, but still....). And Carolina could be fun, but they are overly dependent on Superman (Cam Newton) and his Superman-like TE Greg Olsen.
The other question we have is: Why isn't anyone taking Bryant?
Firstly, there's a thought that perhaps the 29-year old out of Oklahoma State doesn't have a lot to offer anymore. His numbers have dwindled and he's become more injury prone.
Then, there's the fact that Bryant's 'choosy'. He wants to play for a certain team rather than simply play in the NFL. That stinks, NFL GMs might think, of him being a prima donna. And in the NFL, no-one minds a prima donna when he's doing well on the team, but hiring one can become a hell of a headache.
But one thing's for certain: When Bryant comes to the NFL - as we are sure he will - he'll come to the league with the sort of chip on his shoulder that will make the boulder currently being carried around by Josh Rosen seem like a skipping stone.
"He's got all the tools. Now he has a chip on his shoulder. He's an animal already. It's scary. If he gets to another team and he gets that shot, I promise you he's gonna be ready" - Cole Beasley, Cowboys WR and former colleague of Bryant's.
Gulp.
When Dez Bryant was released by the Dallas Cowboys over a month ago, this writer thought he would be wearing another team's jersey by the NFL Draft.
After all, it was Dez Bryant.
Bryant was THE Wide Receiver in Dallas, grabbing 7,465 yards receiving and 16 TDs. Despite two injured seasons in 2015 and 2016, he rebounded pretty nicely in 2017, finishing with 6 TDs - a quarter of Dak Prescott's total inventory, and a quarter of Prescott's throwing yards too (838 to Prescott's 3,324).
Bryant's 'off' 2017 was hampered slightly by Prescott's down sophomore year in JerryWorld, as well as the emergence of Ezekiel Elliott as one of the best running backs in the league. He became less-needed as a force for Tony Romo than he was in his early years - especially in 2014 when the 12-4 Cowboys won the East.
He's also the Cowboys all-time touchdowns leader with 73 - better than some dude called Michael Irvin, who is now in the Hall of Fame.
But by the NFL Draft, he was out of town.
Since then, there's been some conjecture about where he was going to sign, but Bryant has been insistent that he wants a one-year deal so he can negotiate a monster deal after the 2018 season.
His insistence ensured that Baltimore's multi-year offer.
There have been rumours that he'll end up playing for Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. However, why would he go there? The Packers already have Randall Cobb and DeVante Adams, and have just signed one of the best catching TEs in Jimmy Graham. Of course, the media would love a Rodgers-Bryant hook-up, because it'll mean lots of entertainment between one guaranteed Hall of Famer and a very, very good wide receiver. But with the options that Green Bay have, are we absolutely sure they'd do a deal like this?
The NFL's worst six receiving corps (other than Dallas) last year were Chicago, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Baltimore and Carolina. Baltimore's already taken itself out of the game. In terms of who you think Bryant could work with, it suddenly becomes intriguing, especially with young guns Josh Allen (Buffalo), Mitch Tribuski (Chicago) and the old guards Indianapolis' Andrew Luck and Carolina's Cam Newton. A one-year deal with Chicago and Buffalo might help two young QBs, while Luck could really do with a good wide receiver (if he's not injured). The Colts haven't seen one of those since Marvin Harrison (we joke, but still....). And Carolina could be fun, but they are overly dependent on Superman (Cam Newton) and his Superman-like TE Greg Olsen.
The other question we have is: Why isn't anyone taking Bryant?
Firstly, there's a thought that perhaps the 29-year old out of Oklahoma State doesn't have a lot to offer anymore. His numbers have dwindled and he's become more injury prone.
Then, there's the fact that Bryant's 'choosy'. He wants to play for a certain team rather than simply play in the NFL. That stinks, NFL GMs might think, of him being a prima donna. And in the NFL, no-one minds a prima donna when he's doing well on the team, but hiring one can become a hell of a headache.
But one thing's for certain: When Bryant comes to the NFL - as we are sure he will - he'll come to the league with the sort of chip on his shoulder that will make the boulder currently being carried around by Josh Rosen seem like a skipping stone.
"He's got all the tools. Now he has a chip on his shoulder. He's an animal already. It's scary. If he gets to another team and he gets that shot, I promise you he's gonna be ready" - Cole Beasley, Cowboys WR and former colleague of Bryant's.
Gulp.
