After getting the 5-year, $70 million contract he wanted, Dez Bryant had the worst season of his career, after he missed seven games due to injuries. Across the board, whether it be receptions, targets, yards, touchdowns, Bryant had his worst year statistically since his rookie year in 2010.
This certainly was a concern for the team, especially the front office. But one person in particular thinks that his string of injuries was related to his contract situation. That person is Dallas Cowboys Director of Player Personnel Stephen Jones.
Jones felt that because of Bryant’s holdout, and spending a great deal of time away from the facility, it raised his chances for injury, which of course happened.
Jones told ProFootballTalk:
“He’s done an outstanding job and been committed to being around and I think that’s only getting better. That’s what we need of him, is to get well and do his rehab and then get in great shape. I think one of the tough things about last year for Dez, he plays with such energy, that with the contract dispute, if you will, he wasn’t around, which is business, and consequently he probably wasn’t in his best shape going into the season and then you start to add the injuries when players aren’t in shape and they continued on through training camp and then on into the season and we ended up not having him much last year, so if he can get his rehab done and get himself in top condition, then I think we’ll see the same Dez that we saw two years ago.”
The idea that Bryant suffered injuries due to a lack of being in top physical condition isn’t entirely farfetched, and isn’t really a dig on Bryant. The team activities and workouts before the season are there for a reason. But that’s also not to say that in a physical, violent game that injuries don’t just happen by themselves.
If Bryant is able to get in the best shape of his career, surely Jones and the rest of the Cowboys organization will be pleased. The Cowboys had a very interesting, and at first glance successful draft. If Ezekiel Elliott and Jaylon Smith are able to have effective rookie seasons, on top of a good Dez Bryant year and a healthy Tony Romo, it could be a very fun season for the Dallas Cowboys.
